If you love playing Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) like me, then the news of the upcoming May 29 0.5.0 patch (Return of the Ancients) is going to be pure bliss. But if you haven’t, well, this is a good time as any to try out the ARPG, because this major patch comes with a ton of new content, including a more intuitive endgame, a reimagined skill tree, and more loot.

With a tweaked endgame, Grinding Gear Games’ PoE 2 will now feel easier to get into, especially once you complete the campaign (though the campaign isn’t actually finished, just up to Act 4 with two more chapters coming). It also introduces a new league mechanic (what GGG calls seasons) that’s basically about rune crafting on a rock that you will find on maps.

Doing so will attract monsters when you finish the process, but you’ll be rewarded by runes that you can socket onto your gear. The rune system also has a buffing system that gives you more survivability, too.

Other things include the ability to explore a new area and the oceans in the endgame, more storylines that help explain endgame mechanics, more bosses to fight, and more classes to try out.

Given that it’s the last major patch before the game leaves early access for 1.0 (likely to be announced in November at GGG’s ExileCon), that means there’s plenty of time to explore the patch. But it’s likely you’ll be like me and get about two weeks to a month of awesome playtime before you get bored and move on to a new game before eventually coming back when a new patch releases.

Check back soon for our full review once it releases, but if you’re hankering for some great APRG action, Diablo IV’s Lord of Hatred expansion is a really fun experience that should hopefully tide you over until Return of the Ancients releases.

It’s one of those baffling things you never really pay attention to. Until you notice it, then you can’t unsee it.

I’m speaking, of course, about how Apple’s Macs and MacBooks in general require very specific monitor resolutions in order to show you crispy text. Basically, you’ll have no issues if you’re just using a MacBook’s display, but if you want to hook it to external monitors, I recommend not settling for a standard 1080p screen.

Basically, macOS requires a pixel density of around 220 PPI (pixels per inch), and MacBooks such as the 14-inch MBP come with 254 PPI, while the 15-inch MacBook Air skirts it a little with just 224 PPI.

But if you’re connecting that MacBook to an external 24-inch 1080p monitor? Well, that’s just 92 PPI, which will make your screen look fuzzy. So what happens if you get a 4K display? Well, it’s not too bad, though you may feel it won’t be as sharp compared with a proper 5K. You also may notice some shimmer when scrolling, and this is really obvious on 1080p screens.

Ironically, 27-inch 2K monitors — those with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels — are fine. They have a pixel density close to 110 PPI, which works well with macOS’ native scaling. But if you want the sharpest of text, a 5K monitor is your best bet. With LG’s 5K UltraFine displays not readily available anymore, you have to go with Apple’s own Studio Displays if you want the best Mac experience, which can be pricey.

Thankfully, if you want to save quite a bit of moola, Taiwan’s BenQ now sells monitors designed for Macs, especially one with a 5K display. The MA270S, which I recently reviewed, matched the Apple Studio Display in colours and sharpness, and comes with 450 nits of brightness and Thunderbolt 4 for daisy chaining.

That said, it’s not a perfect comparison, as the S$2,199 Apple Studio Display comes with 600 nits of brightness and Thunderbolt 5. There’s also a matte display option, which costs an additional S$400.

But when you look at the price, which can dip as low as S$1,450 with vouchers on Shopee or Lazada, well, it becomes a no-brainer. Factor in that LG’s almost-impossible-to-get version can retail for more than S$4,000, and you’re looking at a really good deal.

BenQ also has a bunch of 4K monitors for Macs, and while they may not feature the desired PPI to satisfy your eyes, they will still look fine, and they also support the P3 colour gamut to accurately match the MacBook’s screen.

This week, we take a look at Honor’s iPhone doppelganger, Huawei’s all-rounder earbuds, and a fun turn-based roguelite that has you playing as a skull.

Not only does it look almost identical, the Honor 600 Pro also comes with an AI button that’s similar to the iPhone’s Action button, as well as a Liquid Glass look and feel for the UI. But it does have its own unique deepfake detection features, and a huge 7,000mAh battery in its slim frame for just S$1,099.

Honor 600 Pro

Huawei’s S$240 FreeBuds Pro 5 comes with lots of control options, including head gestures, and offers pretty good noise cancellation, with a natural-sounding transparency mode as well. It’s competitively priced, especially against premium models, where this pair of earbuds compete.

Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5

Demon Lord: Just a Block offers fun turn-based rougelite gameplay where enemies only move as you move, with bosses to beat, and plenty of weapons to unlock and use. You play as the Demon Lord’s skull, and move around with just the arrow keys. Sounds simple, but the game can feel quite difficult until you get the hang of it.

Demon Lord: Just a Block

Memory prices have skyrocketed with the boom in AI infrastructure. Despite some positive signs recently, the price dip may be temporary. Instead, the demand “could remain high through the end of the decade”, according to a recent report by Melius Research.

That’s good news if you have invested in memory manufacturers like Micron and Sandisk, which saw their share prices reach all-time highs in recent weeks. But consumers are bearing the brunt in the form of higher prices for electronics.

Sony, for example, recently announced higher retail prices for the PlayStation 5 console (both standard and Pro models), as well as the PlayStation Portal remote player. Meanwhile, Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine console has been delayed with no release date in sight, though the accompanying Steam Controller is coming out next month. And of course, we have already seen how the higher memory prices have inflated the price of everything from laptops to smartphones.

In fact, Samsung is apparently headed for its first annual loss for its smartphone division. Obviously, they can blame memory prices for this. But having tried Samsung’s latest flagship and upper mid-range phones, I don’t think Samsung can pin everything on inflation. Their phones have have offered few reasons for consumers to upgrade, especially compared with the ones from Chinese competitors. If not for their moat in the US smartphone market, which has been hostile to Chinese smartphones, I think Samsung would have been less complacent.

On the flip side, Samsung’s semiconductor arm is making big bucks from the higher memory prices, so I guess it pays to be a giant conglomerate. No such relief for the average consumer that’s being squeezed by inflation — the impact of the Iranian war has yet to be fully realised in every country — and a relatively lacklustre job market.

This week, we tested DJI’s more affordable drones, heard Denon’s new wireless speakers, and played the sequel to one of our favourite PlayStation 5 games.

The DJI Lito 1 and DJI Lito X1 are light (under 250g) in terms of their actual physical weight, and also on your wallet. These budget drones start from S$379 for the DJI Lito 1 and S$469 for the Lito X1, making them perfect for beginners. The pricier Lito X1 has a better camera and onboard storage. But they are both easy to fly and take good videos and pictures.

DJI Lito 1 and Lito X1

Denon takes on Sonos with its latest wireless speakers. The middle of the three speakers in the new lineup, the Denon Home 400, is somewhat analogous to the Sonos Era 300. Both come with up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos, though the Denon is significantly more expensive. However, the HEOS platform used by Denon is also compatible with a couple of other brands, and offer just about everything you’d want, from streaming music services to multi-room audio.

Denon Home 400

Saros offers a similar gameplay as the developers’ previous Returnal game. It is still a third-person single-player sci-fi shooter with rogue-like elements, but the game now features an ensemble cast. There’s also a new gameplay mechanic in the form of a shield that lets you block and absorb projectiles. Besides the exciting gameplay, the story pulls you in, especially the excellent voice-acting.

Saros (PS5)

You’ll be able to pick from the Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics (Gen 2) and Ray-BanMeta Scriber Optics (Gen 2), with interchangeable nosepads so they fit better — in particularly the lower version, which sits better on Asian faces like mine.

These are designed for all-day comfort, as well as optician-adjustable temple tips. I’m still waiting for my prescription lenses, but they feel quite comfortable, though heavier than my usual pair of glasses. Of course, compared to my usual pair, they are much thicker, especially the temples.

One thing to note though, these start from S$699, if you want the cheapest, that’s the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer, which starts from S$629. But that’s just for the black version and with normal or green lenses. The prices go up if you want polarized lenses to use them as sunnies, and up to S$759 for transition lenses

If you’re the sporty sort, the Oakley Meta HTSN and Oakley Meta Vanguard will be your jam. The Oakley Meta HTSN is a mix between sporty and lifestyle, and prices start from S$659 with the Prizm lenses (which boost contrast for sporty stuff such as snow so you can see better).

Then there’s the Oakley Meta Vanguard, which are wraparounds with Prizm lenses as well. It’s also the only one with the camera placed in the centre, which should give you a better balanced view. Prices start from S$819.

The other spectacles feature one camera that can take up to 3K portrait photos and videos located on the left side of the frame. This does mean you may need to turn a little for more centered view I guess. I’m still testing this, though, and will have more thoughts on this soon.

Jabra may have abandoned the consumer audio space back in 2024, but its latest Evolve3 85 and Evolve3 75 headsets don’t stick out like a sore thumb (or should I say boom arm) when placed next to Sony or Bose headphones.

Yes, the boom arm found in the previous Evolve2 headsets is gone in the new versions. Instead, these headphones rely on AI and multiple concealed microphones to ensure your voice remains clear even in busy environments. Now you could always hide the boom arm in the older headsets, but that would also mute the microphone.

Like before, the higher-end and more expensive Evolve3 85 is an over-ear headset while the Evolve3 75 has an on-ear design. Both Evolve3 headsets have also switched from leatherette, which was susceptible to flaking and peeling, to fabric ear cushions. The new ear cushions are also more breathable and usable in Singapore’s climate.

That’s important because Jabra wants you to feel comfortable wearing these headsets outside the office. Not only are the new models lighter than before, you can fold them into a more compact, travel-friendly form that fits in the new, flatter carrying case. It helps that these headsets look premium. You wouldn’t mistake them for the inexpensive headsets used by call centres.

Battery life, too, has improved significantly, with Jabra quoting up to 120 hours and 110 hours of media playback with ANC off for the Evolve3 85 and Evolve3 75 respectively. In comparison, the Evolve2 75 was rated at just 36 hours with ANC off.

Then again, it’s been almost five years since the Evolve2 75 was introduced. And the world isn’t the same. For example, companies are no longer just paying lip service to sustainability. Jabra, too, has made tweaks — the battery and ear cushions are user-replaceable — to extend the longevity of the Evolve3 headsets.

Then there’s AI, of course. Jabra says it has trained its algorithm on a deep neural network fed with around 60 million sentence examples so that it will be able to better make out what you’re saying. And the headsets will also have Windows Copilot integration — a world’s first — via the Teams button at the side of the headset in a future update.

Having tried previous Jabra Evolve2 headsets, we are pretty confident that the new versions will turn out great, especially for voice calls and comfort. The Jabra Evolve3 85 and Evolve3 75 are available now in Singapore at an MSRP of S$890 and S$688 respectively. However, they are currently selling for much less on Jabra’s official Lazada and Shopee stores. The Evolve3 85, for example, is in the S$500 range, while the Evolve3 75 is around S$440. Sounds like a sweet deal at these prices.

This week, we tested DJI’s first robot vacuum, which comes in this cool, transparent design. We also fried up a storm using Ninja’s Crispi air fryer, and compared Samsung’s mid-range Galaxy A57 smartphone against the competition.

DJI’s first robot vacuum grabs your attention with a cool transparent design. But the actual performance is merely decent. While it didn’t get lost or stuck during our testing, it didn’t seem to understand how to handle some obstacles. The mop heads also smelt mouldy after a few uses that couldn’t be removed despite drying them as best as we could. On top of that, the DJI Romo P is pretty pricey at S$1,729.

DJI Romo P

The Ninja Crispi FN101 is more versatile than the typical air fryer. For one, it can cook for six or just for two, depending on the size of the glass baskets used. These baskets also double up as a serving dish, and come with a lid for storage. This air fryer is also easy to use, though cleaning the grate, where grease can accumulate, can be tricky. However, it’s a bit more expensive than other air fryers at S$299.

Ninja Crispi FN101

The Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (from $598) is a mid-range model that doesn’t do enough against similarly-priced smartphones from Chinese brands to justify its price. In fact, the price has crept up, which isn’t surprising given the current economic climate. But the Galaxy A57 only has incremental hardware gains over last year’s model, while key features like battery capacity remain unchanged. The cameras, too, are looking dated.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G

I had to throw away several pairs of headphones recently. The ear cushions and headband — made from synthetic leather — had rotted away while the headphones were left unused in the cabinet. I also unearthed a couple of wireless earbuds that had gone bad in the same manner. They all got binned.

So I made a promise to myself then that I wouldn’t buy any m…

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For those looking for an old school iPhone, the Apple iPhone 17e has all the features you want in a nice and compact package. Sure, there are some downsides. It’s a single camera system, no Dynamic Island, and no Camera Control button. But everything else works great, from its brilliant 6.1-inch display to the powerful A19 chip. And you get MagSafe charging up to 15W, which was missing from the iPhone 16e.

It certainly screams no-frills, and yet, that’s exactly what makes the Apple iPhone 17e perfect for those who want an entry-level iPhone. Yes, it’s not as good as the Apple iPhone 17, which feels like it got all the right upgrades this time, but it’s a perfect introduction for those looking to get into the Apple ecosystem without breaking the bank.

Apple iPhone 17e quick specs

• A19 with 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

• 6.1-inch OLED

• 48MP Fusion main camera

• 256GB/512GB

• IP68 water and dust resistance

After all, the Apple iPhone 17e is the cheapest iPhone of the range at just S$949, and is actually pretty good. I used this phone for a week as part of the review, and had zero issues. The smaller 6.1-inch screen is just a tad smaller than say the 6.3-inch of the iPhone 17, but everything looked crisp and sharp. Is it enough, though?

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Apple’s Mac mini desktop computer, which was launched back in 2024, has surprisingly emerged as one of the year’s hottest tech products. Apparently, it’s been selling out in many places, including Singapore.

And it’s all because of AI. Specifically, users are trying out OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent that has…

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This happened a few years ago. I put on a new pair of wireless earbuds (I can’t remember the actual model), turned on the transparency mode, and swore out loud at the clarity. Thanks to the earbuds’ highly sensitive microphones, I was hyper-aware of my surroundings. It felt almost like a superpower.

So I wasn’t surpri…

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Gamers are up in arms over Nvidia’s latest DLSS 5 frame-gen technology, which moves into generative AI territory.

While previous DLSS iterations have enhanced games by upscaling lower-resolution content or added frames to improve performance, DLSS 5, which Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hailed …

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Vacuum cleaners have always been a fascination of mine. From robot vacuums to stick cleaners, I’ve always liked testing and trying out new models. And I’ve gone through plenty of brands, from the usual suspects of Dyson and Ecovacs to the ones from Korean tech giants Samsung and LG.

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I have been binge-playing Slay the Spire 2 (StS2) over the weekend. Well, me and over half a million players apparently, according to Steam. At one point, there were almost 200K players. It’s an incredible start for a game that’s still in Early Access. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise to fans of the genre. Slay the Spire (2019) lau…

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Mobile World Congress 2026 is happening this week, and while Can Buy or Not is not in Barcelona covering the “most influential connectivity event”, our inboxes have been inundated by tons of press releases about the new products and tech introduced at the event.

Instead of launching products at MWC, the bi…

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I’m expecting the review unit of Google’s latest Pixel 10a today. It will either be the easiest or the hardest product that I will likely test this year. Easiest because it’s essentially a rebadged Pixel 9a. And the hardest as there’s hardly anything new that I can write about.

There’s a new coat of paint, along with some miniscule differen…

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Third time’s the charm, I suppose, for Singapore-based Aftershock PC. They first had a “showroom” at their Bendemeer offices, then a retail space at Suntec City, before reopening again at Bendemeer, but this time on the more accessible ground floor with a 1,120-square-foot space.

Featuring tons of PCs in various configurations to gi…

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There’s always a big AAA game in February — last year we had Civilization VII and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. This time, we got Nioh 3, the latest in the action RPG series from Japanese developer Team Ninja. A meaty demo with around 8 hours of gameplay dropped last week. And I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, even if…

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So, Micron is building a new US$24 billion factory in Singapore to make memory chips. It sounds great for the city state — 1,600 jobs to be created — but for consumers struggling to cope with the current memory chip shortage that is causing higher RAM and SSD prices, it’s no panacea. All those memory chips are intended…

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It never ceases to amaze me that we are still coming up with new ways of making televisions. Aren’t they supposed to be mature products that hardly get any attention? But it certainly wasn’t the case at CES 2026, where we got barraged by the new display tech that every TV man…

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Well, it looks like the days of clowning on Siri and Apple Intelligence are ending soon. Apple has picked Google’s Gemini models to power a more personalised Siri and other future Apple Intelligence features, presumably after a thorough evaluation of other options, including ChatGPT, which Apple has been using as a stop-gap fo…

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