Singapore may have achieved over 95% nationwide 5G coverage via Singtel’s 5G network. But for the average 5G smartphone user, the day-to-day experience has probably remained the same. Yes, speeds are faster, but they aren’t as amazing as predicted. And the much-touted 5G use cases e.g. augmented reality (AR), autonomous cars, and remote surgery have yet to materialise. It’s fair to say 5G has yet to live up to the hype.
But everyone will probably be on 5G — perhaps in a few years’ time. After all, the Singapore government is pushing 5G adoption in commercial scenarios like remote piloting of ships and augmented/mixed reality for unique multimedia experiences and healthcare tech. Lenovo, too, is doing its part to accelerate this process. The PC market leader recently introduced new ThinkPad laptops with integrated 5G eSIM. These business notebooks span Lenovo’s ThinkPad range, from the premium ThinkPad X1 Carbon to the Qualcomm-powered ThinkPad X13s to the ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2-in-1 convertible. The firm has also partnered with local telco M1 to offer 5G plans (S$12.62 a month for 30GB or S$36.84 a month for unlimited data).
Now if your smartphone isn’t yet 5G capable, you should know that most mid-range, and even some budget phones already support the standard. For instance, Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy A14 gets you 5G at around S$300.
This week, we checked out LG’s air purifier/table, Oppo’s latest camera phone, and a Made-for-Zoom keyboard from Dell.
Useful for those with smaller homes: The LG PuriCare AeroFurniture does double duty as both an air purifier and a small coffee table, complete with mood lighting and even wireless charging. And all that for just S$499.
The Oppo Reno10 Pro+ 5G sports superb triple cameras that take excellent photos and videos, even in low-light conditions. Portrait modes with bokeh also stand out with good subject separation. Its slim frame and curved edges also make this smartphone very comfortable to hold.
Are you always glued to your computer for Zoom meetings? Then you’re the ideal user for the Dell Premier Collaboration Keyboard and Mouse. The keyboard comes with Zoom-specific controls — which work rather well — that show up when you're using the desktop Zoom app. The wireless mouse isn’t that special, but it’s pretty comfy.