14/09/2026

LYFE MONDAY | SEPT 14, 2026

23

SLEEK SMARTPHONES

Vivo V80 Lite 5G Price: RM1,499

Vivo Malaysia has launched the Vivo V80 Lite 5G, a battery-focused smartphone built around a 10,000mAh BlueVolt battery, the largest battery used in a Vivo device. Designed for users who want to avoid carrying a power bank, the phone uses fourth-generation silicon anode technology and magic cube battery packaging to fit the large battery into a slim body. It also supports reverse charging, allowing it to power other devices when needed. Built for Malaysia’s weather, the V80 Lite 5G is rated to deliver stable power at temperatures of up to 45°C and includes a 3.8K Ultra Large VC Cooling System to manage heat. It also comes with battery life extender for essential functions when power is low. The phone features rounded corners, ultra-slim bezels and a 6.83-inch 1.5K Oled display for work, entertainment and content creation. 5, a 6.83in 1.5K CrystalRes Amoled display, IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G comes with an 8,340mAh battery, 67W hypercharge, Snapdragon 6s Gen 4, 50MP main camera with OIS and the same IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K protection. The Redmi Note 17 5G and Redmi Note 17 carry a 7,700mAh battery with 45W turbo charging, 22.5W reverse charging, 6.99-inch FHD+ Amoled display, 50MP main camera, IP65 dust and water resistance and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i.

Poco F9 Series and Poco X8 Price: RM1,499–RM4,799

Poco has launched the Poco F9 Series and Poco X8 in Malaysia, with the lineup covering flagship gaming performance and large-battery midrange endurance. The Poco F9 Series consists of the Poco F9 Ultra and Poco F9 Pro, both built around flagship mobile platforms, VisionBoost D8 visual processing and up to 185FPS gaming support. The Poco F9 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform and features a 6.9in Poco HyperRGB Amoled display, an 8,050mAh battery, 100W wired and 50W wireless hypercharge, Sound by Bose tuning and a 200MP camera system with a 5× periscope telephoto camera. The Poco F9 Pro uses the same 185Hz display technology in a smaller 6.59-inch body, with a 6,330mAh battery, 100W wired and 50W wireless HyperCharge, Bose-tuned stereo speakers and a 200MP main camera paired with a 50MP 2.5× floating telephoto camera. Prices start at RM3,299 for the Poco F9 Pro and RM3,599 for the Poco F9 Ultra, going up to RM4,799 for the 16GB RAM and 1TB storage F9 Ultra variant. The Poco X8 is positioned as the endurance model, featuring an 8,340mAh silicon-carbon battery, 67W HyperCharge, 22.5W reverse charging, Snapdragon 6s Gen 4, 6.83-inch 1.5K display, IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 50MP main camera with OIS and EIS, 16MP front camera and Xiaomi HyperOS 3. The Poco X8 is priced from RM1,499, with promo prices from RM1,299.

Google Pixel 11 Series Price: RM3,999–RM7,999

Pro models. Powered by Google Tensor G6, the phones add Gemini Intelligence features for proactive help across apps, improved voice-to text that can remove filler words and format spoken thoughts, Live Translate, Circle to Search through the Pixel Camera and upgraded camera tools. The camera system adds magic capture, camera looks, improved night sight and up to 120× pro zoom on the pro models, while the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold offer up to 30× super zoom. The Pixel Watch 5 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, priced from RM1,799 and RM1,999 respectively.

Google has released the Pixel 11 Series in Malaysia, made up of the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The Pixel 11 starts from RM3,999, Pixel 11 Pro from RM4,999, Pixel 11 Pro XL from RM5,999 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold from RM7,999. The series features a redesigned edge-to-edge glass camera bar, refreshed colour options, IP68 dust and water resistance and brighter displays, including a 3,000-nit Actua display on the Pixel 11 and 3,600-nit Super Actua displays on the

Redmi Note 17 Series Price: RM849–RM2,299

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 17 Series in Malaysia, made up of four models: Redmi Note 17, Redmi Note 17 5G, Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G and Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G. The range starts with the online-exclusive Redmi Note 17 at RM849 for 4GB RAM and 128GB storage, while the highest model, Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G, goes up to RM2,299 for 8GB RAM and 512GB storage. The Pro Max model features a 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, 100W hypercharge, 27W reverse charging, Snapdragon 6 Gen

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Amusing or addictive? Understanding algorithms powering social feeds SOCIAL media algorithms are a powerful feature of online life, serving up content to users based on their browsing habits or personal data. social media can drive us into “rabbit holes” that are difficult to escape. The recommendations “are

Are they addictive? It is a familiar pattern for many – open your phone on a break and before you know it, an hour has passed and you are still scrolling. That is by design, researchers and activists say. “These platforms have engineered addictive features that keep children and adults online longer than they intend, often at the expense of sleep, well-being and real-world connection,” Macquarie University cognitive neuroscience honorary professor Mark Williams said. In a landmark trial in Los Angeles this year, tech giants were accused of creating “addiction machines”. Experts point to strategies companies use to encourage scrolling, such as never-ending feeds, intermittent rewards and time sensitive notifications. “This unpredictability triggers the dopamine system, creating a compulsive cycle of seeking and anticipation,” Leicester University lecturer Quynh Hoang wrote. This can create dependence similar to substance addiction, research published in online medical journal

designed to hold our attention, and too often that means privileging provocative and extreme content because outrage drives engagement and engagement drives profit”, Steven Roberts at Monash University said. Algorithms have been accused of pushing teenage boys towards the “manosphere” – communities and influencers that promote misogyny and violence against women. Research from Melbourne-based men’s health charity Movember found that social media guided young men to that content whether they wanted it or not, a path leading from innocuous posts about working out and sports to violent, extreme content. “We can already see the consequences in Australian schools, (where) misogyny is rife. Our national survey of more than 2,600 teachers found that... 70% had frequently or occasionally seen the impact of manosphere social media influencers present on student attitudes and behaviour,” Roberts said. What is Australia proposing? Under Australia’s new rules, social media giants must allow users to “opt out” of the algorithm.

Australia could soon give citizens the choice to opt out of them under new legislation that also threatens big tech companies with fines if they fail to protect young users from harmful content. Here are what algorithms do and the arguments around their effects. What is an algorithm? Open TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or other platforms and you will see a scrolling feed or recommendations bar showing content targeted to your interests. These posts are selected for users based on programming rules called algorithms that predict what you will engage with – whether it is something you like or that riles you. Broadly speaking, the recommendations are based on what the machine knows about you: What you have interacted with or posted about online, or information such as your age, job, location and marital status. Social media giants usually keep the coding behind these algorithms – the so-called “secret sauce” that drives traffic to their platforms – closely guarded.

Australia could soon give citizens the choice to opt out of social media algorithms. – AFPPIC

flips, it is another matter,” Flinders University communication and media lecturer Lisa Harrison said. In a 2025 survey of over 6,000 people in six countries, only one in five said they would switch off personalised recommendations if they could, she noted. “The algorithm is good at its job, and the minority who do opt out will find a feed of friends and creators feels quieter than the one they left.” – AFP

It also holds the firms responsible for protecting under-18s from pornography, online bullying and content that glorifies crime or encourages eating disorders. The “my feed, my way” initiative aims to bring social media back to basics – a feed focused on updates from friends, family and pages you follow. “The government has handed Australians a switch. Whether anyone

Cureus last year found. What are the dangers?

By pushing people to content they respond to emotionally, many say