MacBook Pro M1X Rumoured To Have 120Hz Mini-LED Display, 1080p Webcam

With Apple’s recently announced “Unleashed” event coming up soon, rumours and leaks have been flooding out about the speculated MacBook Pro refresh. While we don’t know how accurate these claims are, they’ve set expectations high and even analyst Mark Gurman says that people have been asking about the new MacBook nonstop.

According to leakster @dylandkt, the new lineup will consist of a 14-inch and a 16-inch MacBook Pro, instead of the current 13-inch and 16-inch options. He also claims that the base models will have 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Moreover, the Pro is said to come with a new charging brick as rumours suggest that the USB-C charging port might be replaced by a Magsafe port.

Sticking with his claims from earlier this year, Dylandkt says that the 720p webcam will finally be upgraded to 1080p and the anticipated M1X chip will sport the same ten cores for both MacBook configurations at similar prices. The M1X MacBook Pro variant was expected to be launched back in June during WWDC but it never came to fruition.

As for the screen, display analyst Ross Young tweeted that both MacBook Pros will feature a mini-LED display with 120Hz refresh rate. Similarly, Dylandkt revealed that Apple has been working on a 120Hz display but says he doesn’t know when it will actually be implemented.

If the M1X MacBook Pro does come with a 120Hz display, then Apple will officially have another addition to its list of products that support the high refresh rate, alongside the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPad Pro. The Unleashed launch event will take place on 19 October at 1:00 AM Malaysian time and is expected to unveil the M1X MacBook Pro and Mac Mini, as well as the AirPods 3.

New Samsung S4 Monitor Comes With Pop-Up Webcam And Windows Hello

Samsung has launched a new monitor focused on hybrid workers and students doing distance learning. The 24-inch Webcam Monitor S4 has 2W built-in speakers, microphones, and a stealthily-hidden pop-up webcam so users don’t need to have a bulky setup full of accessories.

The 2-megapixel FHD webcam comes equipped with an infrared camera that acts as a biometric sensor, making it Windows Hello certified. All you need to do is push down on the pop-up camera and it’ll immediately activate. Samsung claims that the monitor logs in the user and unlocks in as little as two seconds through facial recognition. Windows Hello also allows users to use the feature in lieu of passwords for Windows 10 devices, apps, and websites, similar to Face and Touch ID on Apple Devices.

The 24-inch IPS monitor only has a 1080p resolution with 250 nits of typical brightness and only runs at 75Hz but that should be enough for online meetings and even online classes. It also has a wide 178-degree viewing angle with flicker-free, low blue light features that Samsung claims will reduce eye strain. As a bonus for gamers, the monitor is compatible with AMD FreeSync.

You’ll be happy to hear that the VESA compatible stand is also height adjustable, as well as being able to tilt, swivel, and pivot for customisable ergonomics. As for peripherals, the Webcam Monitor S4 comes with three USB 3.0 type-A ports, Display Port 1.2, HDMI 1.4, audio out, and even a VGA port.

Local pricing and availability have not been revealed yet but it’s being sold in the US for USD$319 (~RM1327). For that matter, the S4 monitor is being made available in the US, Europe, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, which means we should be officially getting it soon. Keep in mind that even with the built-in webcam, you’ll still need to connect a desktop computer or laptop to use the monitor for video conferencing.

Razer Announces Kiyo Pro Webcam; Priced At RM1149

Razer has released a number of items that aren’t strictly for gaming before, like the Seiren series of mics. The company also has the Razer Kiyo Pro, which is the company’s second webcam.

The company claims that the Kiyo Pro solves most issues faced by built-in laptop webcams. For one, it comes with a Type 1/2.8 CMOS sensor with STARVIS back-illuminated pixel tech. These two combine to produce better video feeds in all sorts of lighting conditions. These range from dimly lit rooms to harsh backlighting.

The video feed from the Razer Kiyo Pro also goes up to Full HD and 60fps. There’s also a HDR 30fps mode that further helps with harsh backlighting. It also offers 103, 90, and 80-degree fields of view, the former for groups of people sharing one webcam. It also has an omni-directional stereo microphone array for that.

Another feature of the Kiyo Pro is the multitude of mounting options. You can clip it on your monitor, or mount it on a tripod to be placed on a desk. That being said, that latter is not included when you buy webcam.

The Razer Kiyo Pro is available for RM1149. You can get it now from the company’s online store, linked below.