It's IT Show-time
What to expect from one of Singapore's largest tech pasar malam
Missed the 3.3 sale earlier this month? Don’t fret, the IT Show 2024 arrives this week (Mar 14 to 17, 11am to 9pm) at Suntec Singapore Levels 3 and 4. This year’s edition features over 500 brands, ranging from homegrown ones like Prism+ and Omnidesk to established names like Asus and Xiaomi.
While buying online is probably more convenient, you should always check out big ticket items like TVs in-person. The IT Show has also thrown in some sweeteners for visitors. For example, there’s an instant lucky dip, Challenger vouchers, and limited deals (only 150 daily) for select gadgets. Several new products will also debut at the IT Show, such as Prism+ refrigerators (from S$599), Ruhen’s Disney-themed water dispensers, and Ergotune’s new Hexon table, and Joobie chair.
We’ll be heading down to the show later this week, but we spotted some interesting deals while perusing the IT Show’s Facebook page. For starters, myFirst’s latest products — the S$299 Fone R2 smartwatch (we liked this upgraded version), and the S$149 Frame Live photo frame are going at a bundled price of S$349, which is a pretty solid deal. Hisense will be pushing its more affordable TVs such as the U6K Pro (S$1,499 for 55-inch), and throwing in freebies like a soundbar. Not to mention that with PC makers launching their 2024 laptops, you can likely find older models, such as the MSI Cyborg 15 on sale at the show. And if you’re curious about the gaming handheld trend, both the new MSI Claw and last year’s Asus ROG Ally will be at the show.
In other news, we tested the eye-catching, and very competitively-priced Nothing Phone 2a, an expensive, but excellent curved gaming monitor from Asus, and Xiaomi’s new flagship smartphone series.
The Nothing Phone 2a is one of our top picks for a mid-range 2024 smartphone. It punches above its weight in terms of design, and features. Its unique transparent look is definitely a highlight. And while the performance is nothing to shout about, it’s decent for its affordable S$499 price tag.
For a most immersive gaming experience, consider the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDM. It feels all-encompassing, thanks to its aggressive curvature. And it comes with useful features like a KVM switch and USB-C power delivery that make it more than just for gaming. However, it’s fairly expensive at S$1,899.
A premium phone that won’t cost a bomb. That’s the Xiaomi 14 (S$999), which sports a flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a bright 120Hz AMOLED screen, wireless charging, and Leica-tuned cameras. The new Xiaomi HyperOS interface also feels snappy, and responsive.