Apple iPhone 12 review

You know I can’t afford to change iPhones every year. Most of the time, I’m perfectly content with the current iPhone that I have. The last time I changed my iPhone was from an XR to an 2020 SE. It was because the former was too heavy to hold all the time. My next iPhone was going to be radically different from my current one, in terms of design and specs, preferably with 5G. Then suddenly comes the iPhone 12 which fits all the bill. And when suddenly I got a windfall from my retirement scheme, I wasted no time getting one.

I was tempted to get the 12 mini but after reading how the battery life sucks and wireless charging is slow and that thing, I opted for the larger 12 instead. Yes I preferred smaller iPhones but the slightly larger iPhone 12 is also fine by me.





First impressions, the iPhone 12 looks similar to the iPhone 4 and 5 of yore with its rectangular design which is my favorite iPhone design. The glass sandwich cover looks and feels very fragile with touch and I would not dream of using it without a case. The only problem is, this Nomad leather case that I got adds a lot of weight to the phone that it’s almost like iPhone XR all over again. Solution? Get a super-thin plastic case with a lot less protection but more lightweight and aesthetically pleasing.







Performance-wise, I did not expect less from “the fastest iPhone yet”. Everything works great and fast. Apps, streams, the usual stuff. The screen is beautiful and the speakers are awesome. The 12 megapixel twin cameras take good pictures and videos including in low light. The 2815 mAh battery can last between 14 to 17 hours from heavy use. I don’t get to test 5G speed yet with this iPhone because this government sucks but the 4G and Wi-Fi speeds are top notch. MagSafe charging is great and all but I can't justify spending RM179 for it when my not-so-mag nor safe Qi wireless chargers works just fine.





In terms of specs, the iPhone 12 is an expected incremental improvement from its predecessor. Except for 5G of course which is a significant tech upgrade. In terms of design, it’s a good refresh. Apart from that, it’s a new iPhone. If you’re upgrading from an older one, it’s a fantastic choice.

Keychron K1 mechanical keyboard review

I love my last mechanical keyboard, the Anne Pro II. But I love my new mechanical keyboard, the Keychron K1 even more. Here’s why.



First of all I love the dark grey and grey colour scheme. It looks so classy and modern. The white of Anne Pro II was pleasant to look at but it gets boring after a while. The Keychron, while marginally wider, has a pretty slim profile. The Anne Pro looks clunky in comparison despite being a 60% keyboard.



After using exclusively blue Gateron switches before, I decided to try a red Gateron switch for the Keychron. And it was my best decision yet. The red switch is much quieter without the springy noise that you get from the blue switch if you know what I mean. The red switch is a pleasure to type on.



I also love the default Mac layout with dedicated Mac keys like the brightness (both screen and keyboard), multimedia playback and volume control. The Anne Pro while supporting Mac has none of those dedicated. Copy-pasting with the Anne Pro felt like a chore hence why I started to use it less and less every day. As a matter of fact, I stopped using the Anne Pro altogether because I could not find joy in it anymore. It all changed with the Keychron K1. I find typing on a mechanical keyboard enjoyable again.

Just like the Anne Pro, the Keychron K1 supports connection to three different (not simultaneously) devices and changeable at a flick of two switches. While I love my bland white background light, the Keychron is capable of a dozen RGB backlight patterns. The 87 key layout is just the perfect width for me. It doesn’t feel as cramped as the 60% keyboard I’ve had before. The base and sides of the keyboard are made of aluminium while the front cover just below the keys is made from plastic.



The Keychron K1 is about 100 ringgit more expensive than the Anne Pro II but to me it’s worth every ringgit. I find pleasure in typing on my keyboard again and that’s really important for a self-professed blogger like me and for work in general. I definitely recommend the K1 or any of the Keychron series as your next mechanical keyboard.