I have been waiting for Express Mode in Apple Wallet to come to Singapore ever since Apple Pay became available in Singapore in 2016.

I use Express Mode when I am traveling in Japan, where I can use the Suica card in my Apple Wallet. Similarly, in Hong Kong, you can use Express Mode on the Octopus Card for traveling.

What is Express Mode? Normally, when you want to use Apple Pay, you need to double-press the side button to trigger the Face ID for authentication before you can use the cards in your Apple Wallet.

Express Mode works by just tapping your iPhone against the reader. There is no need to wake, unlock, or authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID/passcode on your iPhone.

Since public transport in Singapore accepts cards, I normally double-press the side button, authenticate with Face ID, and then tap the iPhone on the faregate reader.

Now with Express Mode, I can just tap my iPhone on the faregate reader without waking my iPhone for authentication. I tested it, and it works at Cantonment MRT Station. I heard it might not work for buses yet.

To enable Express Mode, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Travel Cards.

Tap Express Travel Card, then choose the Payment Card you want to enable for Express Mode.

Globally, this mouse is called the G305 X Superlight. In Singapore, along with several other Asian markets like Hong Kong and Malaysia, Logitech sells the same mouse as the G304 X Superlight instead, keeping the “G304” name recognizable in the region since the original G304 has been around since 2018.

Logitech sent me the G304 X Superlight in white for review. It’s part of Logitech’s G3 Series, and launched in Singapore in June 2026 alongside the G316 X 98 wired gaming keyboard.

Unboxing
In the box: the mouse itself, the Lightspeed wireless dongle, a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable, and the usual warranty and regulatory leaflets.

Notably absent is the Pro Wireless Receiver, sold separately, needed to unlock the 8,000Hz polling rate. Given the price, it is not a surprise. This is similar to the Asus ROG Keris II Origin Gaming Mouse where the ROG Polling Rate Booster is also not included.

Design & Build
The G304 X Superlight keeps the classic egg-shaped, symmetrical G304 silhouette that Logitech has used since 2018 and is available in Black or White. Symmetrical shapes like this work reasonably well across grip styles and either hand, unlike the ergonomic, right-handed shapes common on pricier esports mice, which are molded to fill one hand’s palm specifically.

The Lightspeed wireless dongle is stored inside the bottom of the mouse.

At ~59g, a full 6g lighter than the Keris II Origin’s 65g, the weight difference is not that noticeable in the hand. Build quality feels plasticky, but that’s expected at this weight and price point.

The shell also sits noticeably flatter than the Asus Keris II Origin’s, so my palm ends up arching slightly above it rather than resting flat on the shell. That’s typical of lower-profile, symmetrical mice: they favor a claw or fingertip grip, where quicker, finger-driven micro-adjustments give a slight edge in control, at the cost of comfort over longer sessions since your palm never fully rests.

The Asus Keris II Origin’s taller hump lets my whole palm sit down on the shell instead, more comfortable, just less agile for fast flicks. As age is catching up, I would rather have my palm resting comfortably, even if it costs a bit of control.

As with most mice, the USB-C charging port is on the front.

Switches
The G304 X Superlight doesn’t offer hot-swappable switches, a feature that’s increasingly common on pricier mice in this category. For most buyers at this price point, that’s unlikely to matter much as hot-swap is more of an enthusiast feature aimed at people fine-tuning click feel or grinding through extreme click counts, not the entry-to-mid-tier buyer this mouse is built for.

Click feel is light: the buttons don’t need much pressure to register. In mouse terms, that’s low actuation force, how much pressure a switch needs before it registers a click. Lower actuation force means faster, easier clicking, which is useful if you’re firing off a lot of inputs. However, it can also mean more accidental clicks if your fingers tend to rest heavily on the buttons.

RGB Lightning
RGB is limited to a single zone just below the scroll wheel. It’s a modest touch rather than a showcase, more in line with what you’d expect at this price than a flex.

Polling Rate
Polling rate maxes out at 1,000Hz. Getting to the marketed 8,000Hz means buying Logitech’s Pro Wireless Receiver separately. For most people gaming at this level, 1,000Hz is already plenty. 8,000Hz mainly matters if you’re chasing every last millisecond in competitive shooters, which might not apply to the target audience of this mouse.

Software
Setup and customization runs through Logitech G Hub.

There are four self-explanatory screens: Sensitivity, Assignments, Lightsync, and Scroll Wheel.

This is the first time I am using the Logitech G Hub. The user interface feels modern and responsive. Definitely much better than Asus Armoury Crate in almost every aspect.

Conclusion
The G304 X Superlight doesn’t try to be flashy. No hot-swappable switches, no multi-zone RGB, no premium coating, just a lightweight, symmetrical shape, light clicks, and tri-mode connectivity, all for S$119. It’s a no-frills mouse, and for the price, that’s exactly the point.

This mouse is for people who just got into gaming and haven’t yet figured out what they want in a mouse. It’s also for parents who want to get their kids a proper gaming mouse from a reputable brand without spending a fortune.

Just a nitpick, Logitech quotes 8,000Hz polling as a headline feature, then doesn’t include the receiver you need for it in the box, which can be a little misleading.

Google sent me the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to review, 256GB in Olive. It retails from S$2,499 for 256GB (Obsidian goes up to S$2,999 for 1TB, Olive is Google Store exclusive and caps at 256GB), available from 20 August 2026 through the Google Store, Singtel, StarHub, Shopee, Lazada, Harvey Norman, Best Denki, Courts, and Metapod.

Who is it for? Someone who wants a tablet-sized screen for reading, multitasking, or the occasional video, without carrying an actual tablet around. If you buy phones primarily for the camera, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is the better phone, and cheaper.

tl;dr
Pros

• Unfolding for extra screen space when you need it, then folding back down to a normal phone, is useful day to day
• Actually lighter than my iPhone 17 Pro Max once both are in their cases
• Night photography pulls noticeably more detail out of near-black scenes, automatically, regardless of framing
• Split-screen multitasking is something I can see myself using often
• Made You Look is a clever, actually-useful trick for photographing kids
• Face unlock is fast
• Solid build: multi-alloy steel hinge, IP68 dust and water resistance

Cons

• Slippery without the case on, and you cannot open it one-handed
• The case makes fingerprint setup and recognition unreliable when phone is folded
• HiLight feels gimmicky right now, Favorite contacts only, just 5 colors
• Loses to the iPhone in most camera categories: Indoor, Zoom, Portrait, Ultra-wide, and Macro
• Battery capacity actually shrank from the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, 4,806mAh versus 5,015mAh
• Wobbles a little when laid flat on a table
• The hinge is a moving mechanical part in a way a normal phone is not, and I do not yet know what a drop does to it

What’s New
I have not used the Pixel 10 Pro Fold myself, so treat this as a summary of what Google says changed rather than a comparison I can vouch for. Most of it is refinement rather than reinvention.

Pixel 11 Pro Fold is about 19g lighter and 0.7mm thinner when folded, with the outer screen growing from 6.4″ to 6.5″. In practice, that means a more usable screen without unfolding, which matters more than it sounds because the outer screen is where you spend most of your day.

The Tensor G6 replaces the Tensor G5 and is paired with a Titan M3 security chip and 16GB of RAM. Google claims around 20% better power efficiency and 50% more compute from the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU, the part of the chip that handles AI tasks).

The main camera moves to a new 48-megapixel sensor that Google says pulls in 56% more light, and the 10.8-megapixel telephoto now stretches to 30x Super Zoom, up from 20x.

Battery capacity shrinks from a typical 5,015mAh down to 4,806mAh, about 4% smaller. Google still rates both at 24+ hours, betting the Tensor G6’s efficiency gains cover the gap. Wired charging is unchanged, but wireless jumps from 15W to 25W with Qi2.2 and magnetic Pixelsnap support, so it now sits on a magnetic stand properly instead of needing to be lined up by hand. There’s also a new Extreme Charging Mode that temporarily deprioritizes phone performance to charge faster.

While it’s charging, there’s now a dynamic screensaver option that cycles through a digital or analog clock, weather, a Google Photos album, and charging stats.

On the software side, Circle to Search is now built into the camera app rather than being a separate step. There’s also Camera Looks, custom film-style presets you can tweak or build from scratch, and a new Creator Suite for video: a teleprompter, a storyboard view for organizing clips, and social-media-friendly framing grids, all up to 4K60 on front and rear cameras.

One of the software highlights is Magic Capture, which simultaneously records video and captures photos.

Magic Capture is a new shooting mode you swipe into from the camera app that records a short video and pulls high-quality photos from it at the same time, so you’re not choosing between video and stills or timing your shutter tap.

Gemini gets Rambler for cleaning up voice dictation on the fly, sign-to-text in Live Transcribe and Gboard, floating app bubbles for multitasking on the inner screen (up to 5 at a time), and Live Translate for Media, which dubs videos and podcasts as you watch.

New buyers get six months of Google AI Pro included, which rolls over to a paid subscription at S$28.99 per month if you do not cancel. The trial can be started any time before 31 October 2027, so there is no need to burn it on unboxing day.

There is also a built-in Google Virtual Private Network (VPN) at no extra cost, plus Scam Detection and Theft Protection, Car Crash Detection, and Crisis Alerts. Those are standard Pixel safety features rather than anything new this generation, but it’s worth knowing they are there.

Specifications

• Display (outer): 6.5″ Super Actua (1080 x 2342 / 399 PPI / up to 3,600 nits peak) OLED, 1-120Hz
• Display (inner): 8″ Super Actua Flex (2076 x 2152 / 372 PPI / up to 3,600 nits peak) OLED, 1-120Hz
• CPU: Google Tensor G6 with Titan M3 security coprocessor
• RAM: 16 GB
• Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB
• Dimensions (folded): 155.2 x 76.0 x 10.1 (mm)
• Dimensions (unfolded): 155.2 x 150.4 x 5.0 (mm)
• Weight: 239 g
• Battery: 4,806 mAh (typical), rated 24+ hours
• Charging: 30W wired fast charging (up to 50% in 30 minutes), Qi2.2-certified Pixelsnap wireless charging up to 25W
• Rear Camera
  • 48 MP wide camera: f/1.70 aperture, 85° field of view, 1/1.56″ image sensor size
  • 10.8 MP telephoto camera with optical image stabilization: f/3.1 aperture, 23° field of view, 5x optical zoom, 1/3.2″ image sensor size, Super Zoom up to 30x
  • 10.5 MP ultrawide camera with auto-focus: f/2.2 aperture, 127° field of view, 1/3.4″ image sensor size
  • Optical and electronic image stabilization on wide and telephoto cameras
  • Multi-zone Laser Detect Auto Focus (LDAF) sensor
• Front Camera
  • 10 MP: f/2.2 aperture, 87° field of view
• SIM: Dual SIM (Single Nano SIM and eSIM)
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2.4GHz + 5GHz + 6GHz, 2×2 MIMO
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 6 with antenna diversity for enhanced quality and connection
• Connectivity: Ultra-Wideband chip, NFC, Dual Band GNSS, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC, Thread networking technology
• Authentication: Fingerprint Unlock, Face Unlock, Pattern, PIN, and Password

Unboxing

• Pixel 11 Pro Fold
• 1m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0)
• Quick start guide
• SIM tool

No charger in the box, standard for Pixel phones since the Pixel 6 Pro. The Google 45W USB-C Power Charger that Google uses for its own charging tests is sold separately for S$44.99.

Design
Slippery was the first word that came to mind when I held the phone.

The grip area on both sides is a thin stainless steel band, and it feels precarious to hold until you put the official case on. The rubbery texture of the case actually gives you something to hold on to. It is difficult to open the phone with one hand.

The build itself is solid.

A composite matte back with a satin finish, a spacecraft-grade aluminum frame, and a hinge built from multi-alloy steel with an aerospace-grade high-strength aluminum alloy cover, all rated IP68 for dust and water resistance.

I expected the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to feel noticeably heavier than my iPhone 17 Pro Max. With cases on both, it actually comes out lighter, 278g versus 283g, about 5g less. You will not feel the difference, but I was surprised that the folding phone was not the heavier one.

When the screen is off, the crease in the middle kinda disappears. I realized that the crease is more visible to the eyes than in the photo below.

However, when the screen is on, the crease down the middle of the inner screen is clearly visible.

You might not notice it that much while watching a video, but your eyes still drift back to it after a while. Not a dealbreaker, but it is probably another two years or so before the technology makes it disappear entirely.

Unfolded, the SIM tray sits at the bottom of the left half, and the USB-C port is at the bottom of the right half.

All the buttons, power, and volume are on the right side of the right half. There are no buttons on the left half.

Up top, the left half houses one of the stereo speakers, and the right half has one of the three microphones.

Lay the phone flat on a table, and it wobbles a little, so if you were planning to type on it flat on a desk, that is worth knowing.

Setup
Pixel offers wireless transfer to move photos, passwords, eSIM, and messages from your old phone without a cable, plus an onboarding companion that walks you through checking your setup as you go. I set mine up from scratch rather than transferring from another phone, and did not run into any issues.

Fingerprint and Face Unlock
Pixel 11 Pro Fold supports both fingerprint and face unlock, in addition to the usual pattern, PIN, or password.

When folded, setting up the fingerprint sensor with the case on is difficult. Even after you get through setup, the case keeps getting in the way. It makes fingerprint unlock unreliable and cumbersome.

No issues using the fingerprint unlock when the phone is unfolded.

Face unlock, by contrast, is fast, exactly as fast as you would expect from a Pixel. Realistically, you will default to face unlock and treat fingerprint as a backup you rarely touch.

Pixel HiLight
HiLight is a ring of ambient LED lights around the camera bar, the same LEDs that fire as the flash. It is on the Pro Fold as well as the other Pro models.

When the phone is face down, it glows in different colors to tell you who is calling or when Gemini is listening, thinking, or responding, so you do not have to flip the phone over.

Right now, it feels gimmicky. You can only assign a HiLight color to contacts saved as Favorites, so unless most of your calls come from a small circle of people, you will mostly only see it light up for Gemini. The color choice is limited too, just 5 to pick from.

That said, this feels like a minimum viable product (MVP) feature rather than a finished one. Google has already said more capabilities are coming, message notifications from favorite contacts being one example, so I expect more colors and more triggers in a future update.

Fold-Exclusive Features
These features are not exclusive to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, as most of them have been available since the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Instant View lets you review your last few shots right next to the viewfinder when the phone is unfolded, so you do not have to switch to the gallery to check if you got the shot.

In practice, it feels gimmicky. Shooting with the phone unfolded is already cumbersome and bulky, so a feature that only helps in that specific position does not add much value for me.

Made You Look plays animations on the cover screen while you shoot with the phone unfolded, to actually get kids to look at the camera rather than wander off.

This one is genuinely clever, and I would guess it will end up being my only real reason to shoot unfolded. Kids have a short attention span, and something moving on the outer screen beats trying to get them to look at a lens they do not care about.

Split Screen lets you run two resizable apps side by side on the big inner display. This is the one I can see myself actually using.

Checking my calendar while booking tickets in Chrome is something I do often enough, and on a normal phone, that means constantly swiping back and forth. Having both open at once removes the back-and-forth entirely.

Drag And Drop pairs with Split Screen, letting you pull media, links, or text from one app straight into the other, a photo from Google Photos into a Messages chat, for instance.

Camera
I am using the iPhone 17 Pro Max as my primary phone, so I shot the same scenes on both, side by side. A few night shots around Orchard and at the newly opened Cantonment MRT station, plus indoor shots at Don Don Donki, Ikea, Sanpoutei Ramen, and NTUC.

Night. A dark building facade in near-total darkness is where the difference shows clearest. Pixel 11 Pro Fold captures far more detail, building, road, and trees all clearer, while the iPhone stays dark and moody across the frame. Both phones throw the same teal ghost artifact near a bright streetlight, so that is not a real difference between them, just what shooting toward a point light source does on either camera.

Indoor. Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s colors read a touch bolder and higher-contrast, but the gap is small enough that you need a close side-by-side to spot it at all. Text and fine detail stayed sharp and legible on both. The iPhone reads closer to what your eyes actually see standing there, which matters more to me than a flashier look.

Daylight. Stone facade tones, sky color, foliage, and shadow detail all came back close on both phones. The one consistent thread was color temperature. Pixel 11 Pro Fold leans cooler and more blue, iPhone 17 Pro Max reads slightly warmer and closer to natural.

Zoom. Pixel 11 Pro Fold telephoto tops out at 30x Super Zoom, since 120x Pro Zoom is exclusive to the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL. I shot with the iPhone 17 Pro Max at 40x. At 30x, Pixel 11 Pro Fold keeps “FIRE HOSE REEL” readable but turns the smaller instruction text below it to mush. At 40x, iPhone 17 Pro Max keeps every line of that same text legible with clean edges.

Portrait. iPhone 17 Pro Max’s portraits read closer to how the subject actually looked in person, skin tone staying natural and true to life. Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s version comes out a touch paler with a smoothed-over, touched-up look rather than natural skin texture.

Ultra-wide. Distortion control and color saturation are both close, and straight lines stay straight toward the frame edges on both. The real difference shows up with multiple light sources in one frame. Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s High Dynamic Range (HDR) processing creates several localized bright spots, ceiling LEDs, and small catchlights that pop out independently rather than blending into a single controlled exposure. iPhone 17 Pro Max’s highlights read more evenly.

Macro. iPhone 17 Pro Max resolves fine detail noticeably sharper. Cleaner letter edges on small print, a cleaner data matrix code, and a more defined fabric weave. Pixel 11 Pro Fold stays legible but is visibly softer. Color and exposure read close.

Scoring it category by category:

Across seven categories, iPhone 17 Pro Max wins five outright, Daylight is a genuine tie, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s one real win is Night, where it pulls noticeably more detail out of a dark scene automatically, no matter how you frame the shot.

Note that the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s telephoto and ultrawide sensors are meaningfully cut down from the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL, a 10.8MP telephoto capped at 30x zoom and a 10.5MP ultrawide here, versus a 48MP telephoto with 120x Pro Zoom and a 48MP ultrawide there, to fit the folding body. That’s probably why the iPhone 17 Pro Max pulled ahead in Zoom, Ultra-wide, and Macro: all three lean on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s smaller telephoto and ultrawide sensors, while Night, Indoor, and Daylight lean on the main wide 48MP camera, which stays close to flagship-tier.

Closer to natural isn’t automatically nicer to look at. iPhone 17 Pro Max’s flatter, more accurate color often needs a manual edit before it’s share-ready, while Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s punchier, more processed look is usually usable straight out of the camera. Which one actually wins for you depends on whether you’d rather edit less or edit accurately.

Conclusion
I can see myself using a foldable. The option to unfold it for extra screen space when I need it, then fold it back down and use it like a normal candy bar phone the rest of the time, is more useful day-to-day than expected. The crease is visible when using the phone, but it is tolerable rather than ruining the experience.

My biggest hesitation is the hinge. It is a moving mechanical part in a way that a normal phone is not, and I do not yet know what happens to it if I drop the phone. Google can talk about an aerospace-grade alloy all it wants, and the phone does feel solid, but I have dropped every phone I have ever owned, and I have never dropped one with a hinge in the middle. That is the trade-off you are accepting for the folding screen.

If you are already on a Pixel 10 Pro Fold, this is not a must-upgrade year. A lighter body, a slightly larger and brighter outer screen, and a faster chip are refinements, not reasons. Skip it and wait for the Pixel 12 Pro Fold.

As for me, I am not switching off the iPhone, but that has almost nothing to do with Pixel 11 Pro Fold and almost everything to do with me being deep into the Apple ecosystem alongside my family. If I were not that deep into one ecosystem, this would be the first Android phone in a long time that would have made me think twice. In the meantime, Pixel 11 Pro Fold will be my secondary phone.

Aqara announced this plug in July 2026, so it is very new. It is also the “UK” variant, which is the correct one for Singapore, since we use the same BS 1363 three-pin plug as the UK. There are technically non-RGB and RGB versions, but I can only see the RGB one being sold in the store.

Unboxing

Design
The Power Plug H2 UK (RGB) is a compact circular plug, about 56mm in diameter and 66mm tall, small enough not to block the socket next to it in a double-gang outlet

The physical button sits on the side, ringed by the RGB status LED, which you can configure to sync with the plug’s on/off state, run in reverse, or turn off entirely if you would rather not have a glowing light in the bedroom at night.

Setting It Up
This is where things got annoying.

Aqara’s instructions say to long-press the physical button for 5 seconds within 3 seconds of double-clicking it to enter pairing mode. I tried this at least 5 times, and it didn’t work. The instructions are way too complicated. Usually, for Aqara devices, just press and hold the button for 5 seconds.

In the end, I gave up and just scanned the Matter QR code printed on the plug itself from within the Aqara Home app. That worked immediately.

The Power Plug H2 UK supports both Zigbee and Matter over Thread, letting you choose which protocol to pair with. Since I already have an Aqara Hub, I chose Zigbee.

Zigbee Or Matter/Thread?
This is the first Aqara plug I have seen with both protocols built in, so I compared what you actually get with each.

Basically, Zigbee with an Aqara Hub gives you all the features the plug supports, and you can still bridge it to Apple Home, Google Home, or Alexa through the Hub’s built-in Matter support.

Matter over Thread skips the Aqara Hub entirely, which is great if you do not have one, but you lose the load limit, LED customization, and the removal/reset protection. Since I already have an Aqara Hub, Zigbee was the obvious choice.

Since the plug is always powered, it also works as a Zigbee repeater, extending my Zigbee mesh without me having to do anything.

My Thoughts
At an RRP of $69, it is still expensive for a smart plug. However, it is not the most expensive smart plug that I have. That category belongs to the Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Smart Switch 6, which I am still using with my Homey. Those Z-Wave switches cost significantly more back in the day, and Z-Wave accessories in general have not gotten any cheaper since then due to licensing fees.

Having said that, you will not go wrong with the Power Plug H2 UK if you are already in the Aqara ecosystem and have a Zigbee hub. It handles up to 3250W (13A), draws no more than 0.4W in idle mode, and has built-in overload and overheat protection. The slim, roughly 56mm-diameter body also does not block the socket beside it.

If you want a smart plug that works with Apple Home out of the box via Matter, there are cheaper alternatives like the Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini, which retails for about S$31. Or, if you want an even cheaper smart plug and you can run Homebridge to bridge it to your Apple Home, you can get the Moes Zigbee Tuya Power Plug for about S$19.

That changes yesterday, 12th July 2026, with the opening of Cantonment MRT station (CC31) on the Circle Line (CCL) as part of the Circle Line 6 (CCL6) extension.

Before the station officially opened, it was already making news. On 14th May 2026, LASALLE College of the Arts held its graduation fashion show, The LASALLE Show, themed DE:CENTERING, at Cantonment Station. Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow was the Guest of Honor, and he announced the 12th July 2026 opening date there.

CCL6 comprises three additional stations, Keppel Station (CC30), Cantonment Station (CC31), and Prince Edward Road Station (CC32). The Circle Line loop is now complete, connecting HarbourFront to Marina Bay and bringing the total to 33 stations across 39km.

CCL6 was first announced in October 2015. The construction contract was awarded to China State Construction Engineering Corporation in November 2017 for S$205 million. Tunneling started on 25th July 2019 and was completed on 12th January 2022.

The station was originally scheduled to open in 2025 but was delayed by a year due to COVID-19. It sits 28m underground, built beneath the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (TPRS), which is a gazetted national monument.

As part of URA Master Plan 2025: From Dreams to Rail-ity, the redevelopment of TPRS will take place after 2028.

There are two platforms in CC31, Platform A (Anti-Clockwise) is towards Marina Bay, while Platform B (Clockwise) is towards HarbourFront.

The station concourse features “A Journey Between” by sculptor Han Sai Por, a 75m stretch of flowing stainless steel sculptures in various colours.

The station itself is three stories deep: the upper concourse, the lower concourse, and the platform level.

The statement piece of CC31 is the large analog clock.

If you need the first and last train timings.

Looking forward to all the upcoming changes to Greater Southern Waterfront as well.

I have been blogging here since 2002, and for as long as I can remember, the site has had a sidebar. With version 6.0, it is finally gone. This is the biggest structural change to the site since version 5.0 in April 2020, replaced by a wider single-column layout with posts laid out in clean card grids instead of long lists. To be clear, this is not a re-skin. The color scheme and overall identity stay the same. What changed is the structure and the reading experience, along with a fair bit of work behind the scenes on speed, search, and code quality.

There are some AI telltale signs, like the solid bar above the breadcrumbs and beside the subtitle latest. Since it looks good enough for me with some of my personal customization, I am going to leave it as it is.

What You Will Notice

• Card-based layouts – post listings are now a clean card grid instead of long lists, led by the latest post.
• No more sidebar – a wider single-column layout that puts the focus on the content.
• WordPress comments – switched back to using the WordPress commenting system from Disqus.
• Redesigned landing & data pages – the About and Site pages, Portfolio, and the live React dashboards (Analytics, Users Online) all got a fresh, consistent look.
• Accessibility overhaul – meets WCAG AA contrast in light and dark mode, with a skip-to-content link, visible keyboard focus rings, screen-reader landmark labels, and reduced-motion support.
• Polished visuals – restyled tables in posts (striped rows, cleaner borders, dark-mode aware) and contrast-tuned colors across the site.
• Cleaner archives – dead links, broken HTML, and images across the entire post archive have been removed.
• Faster pages – optimized database queries, cached read-time estimates, and lighter image handling.
• Better search results – post summaries are now indexed, so search matches on excerpt text too.
• AI-generated post summaries – every post now has a concise summary, shown in full on cards, in search, and in feeds.
• Smarter related posts – ranked by shared terms rather than just matching categories.

Under The Hood

• Automated test suites – Playwright computed-style visual-regression and axe-core accessibility suites, plus expanded JS/PHP unit coverage.
• Codebase refactors – social syndication and SEO/meta-tag generation unified, theme CSS deduplicated into shared base classes, and Webpack asset handling modernized.
• MR stats – 177 commits, touching 358 files, +43,873 lines of new code (mainly test files and excludes switching back to WordPress comments) and -9,619 lines of code removed.

This blog is already 24 years old and has undergone 6 major design iterations, including this.

• lesterchan.net v5 (April 2020)
• lesterchan.net v4 (January 2013)
• lesterchan.net v3 (June 2008)
• lesterchan.net v2 (January 2004)
• lesterchan.net v1 (June 2002)

If you notice any bugs, please leave them in the comments on this post, as AI can make mistakes, and I might have missed them during my review.

On top of that, I can run WireGuard VPN (Virtual Private Network) at the router level, tunneling everything back to my UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber) at home. In this way, my iPhone, laptop, iPad, and Li Xiang’s phone are all protected without having to manage a VPN on each device separately.

It was a coincidence that Asus reached out to me to review the Asus RT-BE58 Go Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router. Before they reached out, I didn’t even know Asus manufactures travel routers.

The Recommended Retail Price (RRP) for Asus RT-BE58 is $170. But you can get it for around S$145 on Shopee during the sales day.

Specifications

• Wi-Fi Standard: Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be)
• Wi-Fi Speed: 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz) + 2,882 Mbps (5 GHz) = BE3600
• CPU: 2.0 GHz Quad-Core
• RAM: 1 GB DDR4
• Flash: 256 MB
• Ports: 2.5G WAN, 1G LAN, USB-A Tethering, USB-C Power
• Power: 18W USB-C Power Delivery (12V/2A or 9V/2A)
• Operating Modes: Router, Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) aka Public Wi-Fi, Repeater, Access Point (AP), Range Extender, AiMesh Node
• VPN: WireGuard (Client/Server), OpenVPN (Client/Server), L2TP, PPTP, IPSec
• Dimensions: 99 x 111 x 36 mm
• Weight: 232 g

Unboxing

• Asus RT-BE58 Go
• 1m Flat Ethernet Cable
• 24W USB-C Power Adapter With Travel Plugs
• Warranty Card
• Quick Setup Guide

The power adapter included outputs at 24W.

Design
The RT-BE58 Go is compact. It should not come as a surprise that it feels plasticy and lightweight (232 g).

It has two foldable external antennas that fold flat for packing, and a physical slider on the body.

The slider’s functionality can be customized in the settings. By default, it does nothing.

There is only one LED indicator, located at the front.

At the back are the ports: 1G LAN, 2.5G WAN, reset button, USB-C port for power, and USB-A port for tethering.

Setup
I used the Asus Router iOS app to set up the router.

During setup, I encountered a slight complication: scanning the QR code at the bottom of the router doesn’t work.

I don’t know whether this is a used or brand-new review unit, but I notice the SSID broadcast differs from what is written in the quick setup guide. Mine was broadcast as ASUS_Guest1, while the documentation lists ASUS_78. So I ended up with the manual connection way, and it works.

In WISP mode, which you will use most when traveling, select the hotel’s Wi-Fi, enter the password, and the router creates a private network behind it.

WireGuard setup is under VPN -> VPN Fusion. You import a .conf file or paste/type your configuration directly. I always go with the .conf file approach as it is much easier. I have WireGuard configured to use my UCG-Fiber at home as the server.

As mentioned earlier, you can customize the slider’s functionality. Asus called it the multi-function button.

If the front LED is too bright and is affecting your sleep in the hotel, you can turn it off using the app.

Not everything is in the app. Some settings require you to log in to the router’s web interface in your browser, like changing the MAC address or your router IP address.

WireGuard VPN
The main reason I use a travel router over just running VPN on my devices individually is that one WireGuard connection at the router level, with everything behind it tunneled back home. No managing VPN on each device separately.

The RT-BE58 Go supports WireGuard as both client and server.

As a client, it connects to your WireGuard server at home. As a server, you can remotely connect to the router itself.

The headline caveat is WireGuard throughput. Asus does publish a figure of up to 300 Mbps via Ethernet in VPN client mode. But interestingly, they did not surface it as body text on the product page. It is embedded in the alt text of an image, and the image is only on the US product page. The Singapore page does not mention it. That is an odd choice for a spec that directly affects your VPN experience when traveling.

In my tests, I managed to get more than 300 Mbps.

The difference between WireGuard on and off is about 140 Mbps.

For context, on paper the GL.iNet Beryl 7 delivers 1,100 Mbps over WireGuard, nearly 4x that of Asus. However, in a hotel scenario where you are lucky to get 50 – 100 Mbps from Wi-Fi, 300 Mbps is more than sufficient.

WISP Mode and Captive Portals
WISP mode is the core feature for hotel use. The router connects to the hotel Wi-Fi as its upstream WAN, then broadcasts your own private network. Your devices connect to the RT-BE58 Go, not directly to the hotel network.

Captive portals are the login pages hotels use to authenticate you.

Since I am not traveling anytime soon and I have a deadline for this review, I tested this at a Starbucks. I can log in fine with my MacBook Pro on the captive portal.

However, when testing the RT-BE58, I was unable to get it to work.

Since this is my first time using a travel router, I expected the login page to appear after connecting it to the Wi-Fi network via the Asus Router app or the router admin webpage. But sadly, nothing happens.

It connects to the Wi-Fi network successfully, but I got stuck after that because authentication isn’t possible.

I tried cloning the MAC address on my MacBook Pro, but it still didn’t work.

Both GL.iNet and UTR (under FAQ) explicitly state that they support captive portal. But I can’t find anything on the Asus RT-BE58 page.

Random MAC Address
One feature that advanced users use is the ability to change the Media Access Control (MAC) address.

When you connect to a public hotspot, the hotspot operator can see your device’s MAC address, which is a unique hardware identifier. Some properties use it to track returning devices and limit your free access time. A random MAC address lets you connect as a fresh, anonymous device every time.

Most iPhones already have this feature by default when connecting to Wi-Fi.

The RT-BE58 Go does not support random MAC address generation. However, you still can manually change the MAC address in the settings, but you’ll need to dig into the router’s web interface and not use the app.

Conclusion
The RT-BE58 Go is a competent Wi-Fi 7 travel router that covers the core travel use case: connecting to hotel Wi-Fi and running WireGuard back home.

Asus is one of the most popular router brands in Singapore, and that familiarity counts for something. If you are already an Asus household, the RT-BE58 Go makes a lot of sense. You are already familiar with ASUSWRT; the app is the same one you use at home, and when you are not traveling, it can double up as an AiMesh node to extend your home network.

However, not being able to handle the captive portal is a deal-breaker for me because it is the most common way to log in to the hotel’s Wi-Fi network. Hence, I feel the GL.iNet Beryl 7 is a better buy.

The fundamental difference is philosophy. GL.iNet started out doing travel routers. Every feature decision is meant for traveling. ASUS built a competent home router and added a WISP mode. The RT-BE58 Go is not a bad travel router, but it is a home router that travels, not a travel router.

As for me, I am on UniFi and still waiting for the UniFi Travel Router (UTR) to come back in stock. It should be available in July 2026. When it does, the seamless Teleport VPN integration with my UCG-Fiber is hard to ignore, even with the Wi-Fi 5 hardware. That is a different trade-off I will cover when I get my hands on one, as I need to return this review unit.

The Morph 96 is essentially a cheaper, modding-focused alternative to the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless which I reviewed previously. Asus is targeting gamers and keyboard enthusiasts who want a proper gasket-mount board they can open up, swap switches, and tinker with without starting from a barebones kit.

Specifications

• Layout: 96% (Compact Full-size With Numpad)
• Switches: ROG NX Snow V2 (Linear) or ROG NX Storm V2 (Clicky), hot-swappable (3 and 5-pin compatible)
• Switch specs (NX Snow V2): 40 gf Initial Force, 53 gf Total Force, 1.8 mm Actuation Point, 4 mm Total Travel
• Keycaps: ABS Doubleshot (Cherry Profile)
• Connectivity:ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz RF, Bluetooth 5.1 (up to 3 devices), USB-C Wired
• Battery: 3,000 mAh
• Battery Life: 500+ hours (2.4 GHz RF, RGB Off) / 100+ hours (2.4 GHz RF, RGB On) / 750 hours (Bluetooth, RGB Off) / 110 hours (Bluetooth, RGB On)
• RGB: Per-key Aura Sync, Dual-side Light Bars, Translucent Polycarbonate (PC) Positioning Plate
• Mount: Silicone Gasket Mount With Dampening Foam (Swappable)
• PCB: South-facing (Swappable)
• Dimensions: 398 x 134 x 39 mm
• Weight: 1,125 g
• Software: Gear Link (Web-based)
• macOS support: Yes (Fn + Tab To Toggle)

Box Contents

• ROG Strix Morph 96 Wireless keyboard
• ROG SpeedNova USB-A 2.4 GHz Dongle
• USB Extender (Dongle Extender)
• 2m Non-braided USB-C to USB-A cable
• 2-in-1 Keycap And Switch Puller
• 3x translucent ROG accent keycaps (Esc, Enter, Numpad Enter)
• 1x Alternate Ctrl Keycap (Replaces Copilot key)
• Torx Wrench (For Opening The Top Case)
• ROG Sticker
• Quick Start Guide

You will not be able to see the dongle because, out of the box, it is stored behind the keyboard.

Design
Coming from the Strix Scope II 96 and the Falchion Ace HFX, the first thing you will notice is the gasket mount design, followed by its weight. Morph 96 weighs 1,125 g, which is about 110g heavier than the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless at 1,012 g.

The top cover is CNC-machined aluminum, finished in matte gunmetal gray, while the bottom half is plastic. You still get a premium feel thanks to the overall aluminum build.

What immediately sets the Morph 96 apart visually is the RGB lighting setup.

There are light bars on both sides of the keyboard.

The translucent polycarbonate (PC) positioning plate sits beneath the switches, diffusing the RGB across the board rather than just up through the keycaps. The overall effect is more immersive than a standard per-key backlit keyboard.

In the box, you get three translucent ROG-themed keycaps for the Esc and both Enter keys, plus an alternate Ctrl to swap out the Copilot key.

Swapping them in noticeably boosts the RGB glow on those keys. I do not use Copilot, so that Ctrl swap, along with the translucent keycaps swap, was an immediate swap for me.

The left side of the keyboard has a rotary knob with a small button above it. The button cycles through four modes: volume, media, brightness, and a customizable fourth slot. Within each mode, you turn the knob to adjust and click it to trigger the primary action (mute, play/pause, toggle brightness, and so on).

The fourth slot defaults to scroll wheel behavior and can be remapped in Gear Link.

The first three presets, however, are fixed. You can disable them, but not reassign them to anything else. I prefer a physical knob to the Falchion Ace’s touch panel because rotating a wheel is easier than sliding across a touch panel. Also, having it on the left keeps it out of the way of your mouse hand if you are right-handed.

Like most Asus keyboards, there are two pairs of flip-out feet on the underside that will give three tilt angles.

The stock keycaps are ABS doubleshot, not PBT. Coming from the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless, which ships with PBT, this is a slight step down. Over time, ABS develops a greasy shine on the most-used keys. If you are buying the Morph 96 specifically to swap in a custom keycap set, it does not matter. But if you are keeping the stock caps long-term, expect them to look worn faster.

Modular Design
The main differentiator from the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless is the modular design. Undo five Torx screws (3 top, 2 bottom), and the whole keyboard opens up. That gives you access to the dampening foam layers, the positioning plate, the gasket, and the PCB.

The south-facing PCB is worth calling out for anyone who cares about keycap compatibility. North-facing LEDs can clip against certain keycap stems and cause uneven shine-through; south-facing LEDs avoid that, and your custom Cherry-profile keycaps sit flush without interference. If you plan to drop in a custom keycap set, you will appreciate this.

The dampening foam layers are swappable, too. Remove a layer for a firmer, crisper sound; add or swap for something softer. Most people, including me, will not bother. But it is there if you want to go down that rabbit hole.

Switches
My unit came with ROG NX Snow V2 linear switches. The V2 keeps the walled stem design from the original NX Snow, which has a wall around the stem that blocks dust from entering the housing and improves keystroke stability. V2 adds an LED lens for enhanced RGB illumination.

Everything is factory-lubed out of the box, so there is no scratchiness on first use. Actuation is at 1.8 mm with an initial force of 40 gf, which is on the lighter end. Good for fast gaming keypresses, and comfortable enough for long typing sessions.

The gasket mount contributes a slight flex under the fingers when typing, not bouncy, just softer than a rigid plate. You notice it most during long typing sessions. For gaming, it is not a factor either way.

Connectivity
The Morph 96 connects in three ways: ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz RF via the included USB-A dongle, Bluetooth 5.1, and wired USB-C. The dongle supports one keyboard and one mouse.

So if you have an existing ROG mouse, you can use it wirelessly with the same receiver and vice versa.

On battery, Asus rates it at 500+ hours on 2.4 GHz with RGB off, and 100+ hours with RGB on. Bluetooth squeezes out more at roughly 750 hours with RGB off and 110 hours with RGB on.

Gear Link
Like the Falchion Ace HFX ZywOo Edition, the Morph 96 uses Gear Link rather than Armory Crate. It is web-based. Open a browser, go to gearlink.asus.com, connect the keyboard, and configure it. No system tray process, no background updater running constantly. 4

Gear Link works over 2.4 GHz without a USB cable plugged in. Most web-based configuration apps require a wired keyboard for communication. Here, you can make changes wirelessly, a small but practical convenience.

You can change the lighting effect in Gear Link.

I chose rainbow, and this is what it looks like.

That said, Asus still cannot fully avoid not installing software into your computer for more advanced functions.

For advanced functions like macro recording, remapping the knob to launch an app or type a string of text, you need to install a small Gear Link Companion app. It is nowhere near as heavy as Armory Crate, but it is not entirely browser-only either.

Once installed, you can use the macros functionality.

Conclusion
The Asus ROG Strix Morph 96 Wireless fills a specific gap in the ROG keyboard lineup: a modular, gasket-mount 96% board for people who want to tinker, at a much lower price than the Azoth lineup. The dual side light bars are the best-looking RGB setup in the ROG keyboard range, and the physical left-side knob is a genuine improvement over touch panel controls.

That said, most people buying a gaming keyboard will not open it up to swap foam layers or install custom switches. For them, the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless remains a better choice, with PBT keycaps and a wrist rest. Since the keyboard was released a few years ago, you can get good discounts on it.

I have been using Claude Code at work for many months, and I only recently subscribed to Claude Pro for personal usage. Opting to go with the monthly plan at S$30 instead of the annual plan at S$300.

Like most users, I vibecoded an iOS app with no Swift knowledge, and the results surprised me. The app is a blog reader for lesterchan.net, with a search, bookmarks, and analytics.

It took me about 3 days, working within the Pro session limit, to get a functioning build good enough to consider releasing.

Of course, I don’t intend to release it just yet because I would have to pay Apple US$99 (S$127) a year to be on their Developer Program. Maybe I will in the future, but not now.

I also took this opportunity to clean up some of my tech debt in my private repositories, write tests for this site, and automate some build processes, all by just asking Claude to handle them.

All these for just S$30 a month. Jobs will get fewer, humans will get lazier, and agencies and freelancers that design websites, build apps, and do copywriting will all be sunset industries in a few years.

That said, as industries get displaced, new ones are formed. There is already a market for teaching people how to vibecode properly and for Vibecode cleaners (people who come in after the AI spits out a working but messy codebase and make it production-ready).

Until AI can take responsibility for its actions, humans will still need to be there to take the blame.

The Plaud Note Pro is Plaud’s flagship AI note-taker, the successor to the original Plaud Note. The recommended retail price (RRP) is S$259. You can get it from Plaud Official Store or from their official stores on Shopee or Lazada.

Two colors are available: Silver and Black. I have with me the Black.

Unboxing
Inside the box, you will find:

• Plaud Note Pro
• MagSafe Compatible Case
• Magnetic Ring
• Charging Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• Warranty Booklet

I am surprised to see there is a MagSafe-compatible case.

Even if you are on Android, Plaud included a magnetic ring you can use to stick to your Android phone case.

The MagSafe-compatible case is designed to hold the Plaud Note Pro like a card in a wallet.

It has cutouts for the microphones, charging connector, and speaker, so the device remains fully functional while inside it.

Design
The Plaud Note Pro is credit-card-sized and 3mm thick, weighing 30g. Only one button is on the device. Press and hold to start recording; press and hold again to stop. While recording, pressing the button triggers the highlight feature. Press to highlight lets you flag important moments during a recording in real time, so the AI summary focuses on what actually matters instead of burying it in a wall of text.

The thickness is roughly equivalent to three credit cards stacked together (yes, I tried it).

Inside the device is a 500 mAh battery that provides up to 30 hours of recording in Enhance Mode (5m pickup range) and 64GB of storage.

Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.4.

The build is aluminum and feels premium. The front face features a 0.95″ AMOLED display with 600 nits of brightness. It shows recording status, battery level, and transfer progress.

There are four Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microphones: two at the top (one on each side) and two at the bottom.

MEMS microphones work by etching a microscopic vibrating membrane onto a silicon chip using the same manufacturing process as computer processors, allowing them to be incredibly small while still accurately capturing sound.

The MEMS are quite impressive. They can pick up audio clearly from a distance, and the recordings come through clearly with no muffled or distorted audio. I tested about 2m away with a standing fan noise in the background.

At the back is the proprietary charging port.

I would have accepted a slightly thicker device for the universality of USB-C or Qi wireless charging. The reason is that if you lose or spoil your cable, you can’t just walk into the store and get another one, so you will have downtime.

Setup
Setup is done through the Plaud app on iOS or Android.

A firmware update is prompted immediately during the first pairing. After that, the device is ready to record.

App
The main screen is a list of all your recordings. Each file shows the recording date, duration, and the title if it has been transcribed. Tapping a file takes you to the transcript view, where you can read the full text and play back the audio.

Transcription does not happen automatically unless you configure it using AutoFlow. By default, you transfer the recording to the app and manually initiate transcription.

Only after transcribing will you see the highlights and summary screen, where the AI breaks down the recording into key moments and a structured summary.

After transcription and summarisation, you can export the output in a variety of formats: plain text, Markdown, PDF, and Microsoft Word.

There are only two recording modes, Ambient and Call.

I do not use Call recording at all, as I rarely talk on the phone and prefer texting, so I use Ambient for everything.

There is also an Automatic Mode that can switch between the two based on context.

Cloud sync is optional. It acts as a backup, but you are not forced to use it. That said, all transcription happens through the cloud, so if you want the AI features, your audio does need to go up to Plaud’s servers at some point. They hold ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance. If your work involves conversations that cannot be routed to an external cloud, the Plaud Note Pro is not for you, regardless of its compliance certifications.

Templates are the backbone of the summary system. They are essentially pre-defined prompts that tell the AI how to structure its output: Meeting Minutes, Action Items, Key Insights, and so on.

You can choose from a marketplace of templates or create your own custom prompt entirely.

I created my own template tuned for gadget reviews, giving me a structure.

File transfer between the device and the phone works both ways. Bluetooth is the default and the simpler option. Alternatively, the device can create its own Wi-Fi hotspot, and your phone can connect directly to it for faster local transfers. This is useful if you have a long recording and want to skip the Bluetooth bottleneck.

AutoFlow works like a trigger-and-action system, similar to If First This Then That (IFTTT).

When it detects certain keywords in a transcript, such as “reviewing” or “review,” it runs a configured template to auto-transcribe and generate a specific summary type. It can push the output to a connected service. As of writing, only email is supported. Third-party integrations with AutoFlow are coming soon.

The integrations screen in the app lists platforms that Plaud supports: Notion, Slack, email, and a few others. It is just a marketing screen. There is no direct integration with any specific note-taking app, so the export process is manual: generate the summary in the Plaud app, export the file, and take it wherever you need it.

Apple Find My is supported, but since it lacks an Ultra-wideband (UWB) chip, precision finding is not available. There is a speaker at the back that emits a sound.

Subscription
You cannot escape subscription if you want to make full use of AI, since running models costs a lot of money.

The free Starter Plan gives you 300 transcription minutes per month: about 5 hours total, or roughly an hour per week. For a hobbyist trying it out, this is fine. For a busy office worker with back-to-back meetings, it might not be enough.

If you run out of transcription minutes, the device still works as a standalone voice recorder. The audio file still gets saved locally, and you can still transfer it to the Plaud app for playback. You only lose all the AI features until your minutes reset.

With the problem of subscription comes the problem of dependency. The transcription and summaries all require AI. Without it, it is just a voice recorder with an app.

The free plan’s 300 minutes is an arbitrary cap that Plaud could reduce at any time. There is no guarantee that the free tier will remain at this level.

For my use case of recording 1 or 2 review sessions per week, each lasting 30 to 45 minutes, the free 300 minutes per month are sufficient. But my use case is light.

If you are using it for work during daily meetings, you would need the Unlimited plan, bringing the total first-year cost to S$259 + $349.98 = S$608.98.

Conclusion
The Plaud Note Pro is a genuinely interesting device with solid hardware and impressive microphones that do what it claims, within the constraints of its subscription model. At S$259, it is a reasonable amount to spend to find out whether it fits your workflow.

It makes the most sense for a small company or team that does not already have AI meeting transcription through Zoom or Teams.

For my personal use case of recording gadget review observations and cleaning them up with Claude, it has potential. Speaking your observations while handling a product is faster than typing them, and having a rough transcript gives Claude something to work with. The raw output is not always clean, with filler words and some rambling, but editing a transcript is faster than writing from scratch.

If all your important conversations are already on Zoom or Teams with AI transcription built in, the use case is limited. The Claude Note Pro fills the face-to-face gap, but whether that alone justifies S$259 depends on how often those situations arise for you.

The single most important thing to understand before buying is the subscription dependency. The free 300 minutes are enough to evaluate the device seriously, and you retain basic voice recording functionality without a subscription. But the AI features that make this more than a glorified voice recorder require a paid plan for any serious use.

So, to me, the Plaud Note Pro is worth buying, since it still offers a free tier with 300 minutes per month, which is enough for hobby projects.

There are plenty of 3-in-1 wireless chargers on the market. But once you narrow it down to Qi2.2 with 25W fast charging and Apple Made for Watch (MFW) certification, your options become surprisingly limited.

In Singapore, at the time of writing, I could only find two options: the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock with Qi2 25W and the Ugreen MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Desktop Charger 25W.

Qi2 is widely available now, but most chargers are still capped at 15W. Moving up to Qi2.2 at 25W makes a difference, especially for quick top-ups during the day.

The bigger limitation is the Apple Watch. Many chargers use non-certified modules, which results in slower charging speeds when using an Apple Watch Ultra 2. Hence, Made For Watch (MFW) certification for chargers is important as you will get fast charging for compatible Apple Watches.

In Singapore, the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock retails for S$249 on Shopee, while the Ugreen MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Desktop Charger retails for S$179.90 on Shopee.

After the voucher deductions on sales day, the difference can range from S$40 to S$50. Cheapest I saw after vouchers is around S$170 for the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock.

Both chargers come with a 45W power adapter and USB-C cable, so that they will work out of the box.

A nice touch here is that your charger and cable match the color of your dock.

The Belkin cable arrived braided and is 1.5m long.

Design & Build
The Ugreen is designed to be compact and travel-ready, which explains why it weighs just 210g. The Apple Watch charging puck can be slid in and hidden, making it more portable and cleaner when not in use.

The Belkin, on the other hand, is more suited for a permanent desk setup. It weighs 550g, giving it a more solid, premium feel.

There are rubber feet at the base, so your charger stays in place.

Belkin is available in two colors (Black and Sand), while Ugreen is available in only one (Blue). The overall material and finish on the Belkin feel more premium. It uses a soft-touch matte plastic finish that feels smooth and slightly rubberized.

Like most newly launched Belkin products, this finish feels great in the hand. Based on the Belkin products I have used, the rubberized coating has held up well so far, with the oldest being more than 3 years old, so I am less concerned about long-term durability even in Singapore’s hot and humid climate.

Also, this is the home dock version. If you prefer something portable, Belkin offers the Belkin UltraCharge 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger, which features a similar rubberized finish but is designed to fold and travel.

Moving Parts
For Belkin, only the iPhone charging puck is adjustable (0° to 90°).

For Ugreen, both the iPhone and Apple Watch charging puck are adjustable. The iPhone charging puck can be adjusted up to 70°, while the Apple Watch charging puck can be slid in and hidden.

For a home dock, I prefer fewer moving parts. The structure generally feels more robust, and there is less unnecessary interaction day to day.

The flexibility of the Ugreen is useful if you intend to travel with it. But in a home setup, you typically leave everything in place. You are unlikely to keep sliding the Apple Watch puck in and out.

In that sense, the additional mechanism feels more like something you can use rather than something you will use. Belkin’s simpler design is easier to use every day.

Thermal Management
Belkin comes with ChillBoost, a built-in fan that helps manage heat when charging at 25W. The switch is on by default, which makes sense if you want to maximize charging performance right away. You can turn it off if you are charging older phones, don’t need maximum speed, and are only doing short charging sessions.

The fan was something I was initially concerned about, but in reality, it is a non-issue. It is extremely quiet. I had to put my ear right up against the back of the iPhone charging puck to confirm the fan was actually working.

So while it has active cooling, it doesn’t introduce any noticeable noise to your setup.

If the fan is off, Belkin behaves like other chargers, with thermal protection kicking in and reducing charging speed if needed.

Ugreen does not include a fan. If you use it most of the time in an air-conditioned room, it should perform well. However, in warmer conditions, thermal protection is likely to kick in earlier, reducing charging speed over time.

Conclusion
Since both products have the same technical charging specifications, iPhone charges at 25W, while both your Apple Watch and AirPods Pro will charge at 5W each, choosing between them ultimately comes down to your use case.

If you prefer a lighter, travel-friendly design with more flexibility, and mostly use it in an air-conditioned environment, the Ugreen MagFlow 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Desktop Charger offers better value.

If you want a more premium, solid desk setup with better thermal management and fewer moving parts, the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock is a great choice.

Belkin UltraCharge 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger is designed for users who want a compact solution to charge their iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously, which is great for travelling.

It retails for S$189. You can get it online from Shopee and Lazada or in-store from Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman.

Three colors are available: White, Blue, and Black.

Belkin includes a 45W USB-C power adapter in the box, along with a 1.5m USB-C to USB-C cable.

Design
At a glance, the UltraCharge feels like Belkin’s answer to the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station, which has a similar compact foldable design. It also sits alongside the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Travel Pad that I reviewed previously. However, the UltraCharge uses the newer Qi2.2 and a different folding mechanism.

Unlike the BoostCharge Pro Travel Pad, which folds flat like a mat, the UltraCharge folds into a compact block measuring 11 x 6 x 3 cm and weighs about 190g, making it as easy to carry in a bag or tech pouch.

When unfolded, the magnetic iPhone charging pad stands, keeping your phone upright while charging. This is useful if you want to use StandBy mode on supported iPhones.

The AirPods charging pad sits on the base, while the Apple Watch charging puck folds out from the back when needed.

Something you can’t see in the charger is Belkin’s ChillBoost. It is a passive cooling technology that helps reduce heat during fast charging.

Charging
Qi2.2 wireless charging is one of UltraCharge’s key highlights, supporting wireless charging of up to 25W. Qi2 wireless chargers, on the other hand, support up to 15W.

The charger is Made For Watch (MFW) certified, which means it can fast-charge your Apple Watch if your Apple Watch supports it (Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra, and later).

Conclusion
The Belkin UltraCharge 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Charger is a compact and practical charging solution for Apple users who want to charge multiple devices without carrying multiple cables. Its foldable stand-style design makes it easy to pack for travel while remaining useful on a desk or a bedside table.

The addition of Qi2.2 wireless charging up to 25W gives it an edge over many existing wireless chargers, and the MFW certification ensures that compatible Apple Watch models can fast-charge.

Belkin also includes a 45W USB-C power adapter and a 1.5m USB-C cable, so everything you need is in the box.

Overall, it is a solid option if you are looking for a portable 3-in-1 charger that is certified for your Apple devices.

Week #1
On the first week of March (Saturday, 6th March 2026), the first steakhouse we visited is The Feather Blade. I ordered the Feather Blade Steak (S$25) while Li Xiang ordered the Portobello Burger (S$22). For Sides, we ordered the Mac & Cheese (S$14).

The steak is perfectly cooked and very good value for money. Li Xiang loves the Portobello Burger, too.

Week #2
On the second week (Friday, 13th March 2026), we visited SteakGrill Steakhouse Chef’s Table. I ordered the Dry Aged Australian Angus Prime MB4 (S$88) while Li Xiang ordered the Grilled Aged Duck Breast (S$36)

Similarly, the steak is perfectly cooked, medium-rare to medium. And the portion is big. My guess is about 300g.

The Grilled Aged Duck Breast is slightly above average. There’s room for improvement: more sauce and seasoning to mask the gaminess further.

Week #3
Visited Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu (Raffles City) during a weekday (Monday, 16th March 2026) for dinner. I ordered their A5 Miyazaki Sirloin Gyukatsu Zen for S$55. I can’t really taste the wagyu as the katsu overpowers it; it is a waste of money.

I did order a la carte Tenderloin Katsu (S$15), and it tasted better than the wagyu as I could taste the meat. I would recommend ordering the Tenderloin Gyukatsu Zen for S$32 instead.

Since Li Xiang doesn’t eat beef, she ordered the Seafood Katsu Zen (S$32). She finds it just average, nothing special to shout about.

On Friday, 20th March 2026, we visited Ma Maison (Ngee Ann City), where I had the Jumbo Hamburger Steak 300g (S$27.80) and Li Xiang had the Grilled Seabass in XO Sauce (S$20.80).

Food is good and value for money. Iced water and wet tissues are free, which is rare these days.

Birthday Dim Sum
This year’s birthday celebration for my brother and me is at Ya Ge (Orchid Hotel) on Saturday, 22nd March 2026, where we had the DimSum.

We have been to Ya Ge a few times, but this is the first time we are there for Dim Sum. Both food and service are excellent. The restaurant is also not so crowded, which makes dining enjoyable. I feel Ya Ge is an underrated restaurant, or a “hidden gem.”

Some Dim Sum dishes we really like are the Crispy Vermicelli Wrapped Scallop (S$13/3 pieces), Crispy Webbed Shrimp Rice Roll (S$12), and Baked Kurobuta Pork Char Siew Puff with Pineapple (S$12/3 pieces).

For a la carte, we like the Dry-Aged Roasted Peking Duck (S$138) and Carrot Cake with Dried Shrimp Paste (S$17).

Birthday cake is Strawberry Shortcake (S$87) from Nesuto. Li Xiang bought it for us.

Birthday Dinner
On 23rd March 2026, I had my birthday dinner with Li Xiang at Steakville. Steakville is not new to me; I went there quite often when I was with Tech in Asia, and we became friends with the boss and chef, Shaun.

For a casual steakhouse in Singapore, Steakville offers excellent value given the quality. Steakville is located in Sunshine Plaza, where I assumed rent is cheaper, so they can pass the savings back to diners.

I ordered 300g of Hanger Steak (S$42) while Li Xiang had the Buttered Brown Chicken (S$19). We also ordered two sides, Crispy Broccoli (S$12) and Buttered Asparagus (S$14).

Li Xiang bought me a slice of Auntie Peng Banana Pie as my birthday cake from Yuan (18 Cross).

Birthday Presents
Thanks to my brother, sister-in-law, and Ava for the Alo Conquer Reform Crewneck Short Sleeve and Alo 7″ Conquer React Performance Short in Bone (Cream) and Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Reed Diffuser.

I didn’t notice there was an engraving on my Jo Malone Diffuser until I inserted the reed sticks.

Thank You
Thanks for all the lovely birthday greetings on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Slack, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Facebook Messenger.

Looking Back

• 40th to 49th Birthday
  • 41st Birthday
  • 40th Birthday
• 30th to 39th Birthday
  • 39th Birthday
  • 38th Birthday
  • 37th Birthday
  • 36th Birthday
  • 35th Birthday
  • 34th Birthday
  • 33rd Birthday
  • 32nd Birthday
  • 31st Birthday
  • 30th Birthday
• 20th to 29th Birthday
  • 29th Birthday
  • 28th Birthday
  • 27th Birthday
  • 26th Birthday
  • 25th Birthday
  • 24th Birthday
  • 23rd Birthday
  • 22nd Birthday
  • 21st Birthday
  • 20th Birthday
• 18th to 19th Birthday
  • 19th Birthday
  • 18th Birthday

You can buy it online from Shopee or Lazada, or in-store at Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, or Harvey Norman stores.

This model is effectively the successor to the Belkin BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K that I blogged about in August 2023. That product was recalled in November 2024, and this new version appears to be Belkin’s redesigned replacement.

Design
The new power bank is smaller and lighter, weighing 263g while still maintaining a 10,000mAh battery capacity. Two colors are available: Sand and Black.

The overall design retains Belkin’s rounded form factor, making it comfortable to hold and easy to carry. The rubbery texture remains the same as the previous generation, which helps with grip.

A new addition is the digital display, which shows the real-time charging status and battery level, making it easier to check how much battery is remaining quickly.

That said, I still have some concerns about how the rubber coating will hold up over time, especially in Singapore’s hot and humid climate, where rubberized finishes sometimes degrade or become sticky after prolonged use. The good news is that, based on the previous generation, it held out well for more than a year.

It retains the integrated Apple Watch charging puck, but now it can flip up so you can charge the watch in Nightstand mode, which is convenient when travelling.

There is also a built-in loop that lets you attach the power bank to your bag.

Like the Belkin BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank 5K, this power bank also has the China Compulsory Certificate (CCC) logo, so you can bring it onboard flights within China.

Integrated USB-C Cable
These days, I like devices that come with an integrated USB-C cable, as I have one less cable to carry and can eliminate the risk of forgetting a cable.

The previous model required you to bring your own cable to charge other devices. With this version, the cable is built into the power bank, so you have one less cable to carry.

In addition to the integrated cable, the power bank still includes a USB-C port, allowing you to charge two wired devices simultaneously.

You can use either the integrated cable or an external USB-C cable to charge the power bank.

Charging
The power bank supports a maximum charging output of 45W.

When charging a single-wired device, you can get the full 45W output, which is enough for fast charging smartphones, tablets, and even some lightweight laptops.

If you charge one or two wired devices together with an Apple Watch, each wired device supports up to 20W.

The built-in Apple Watch charger is Made for Watch (MFW) certified, which means it supports fast charging for compatible Apple Watch models.

Passthrough charging is supported. However, when using passthrough, the maximum output is limited to 10W for the wired device, so charging speeds will be slower.

Conclusion
The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Apple Watch Charger improves on the previous generation with a smaller design, lighter weight, higher charging output, an integrated USB-C cable, and a digital display.

At S$179, it is not cheap for a 10,000mAh power bank. However, if you regularly travel with both an iPhone and Apple Watch, the convenience of having a power bank, Apple Watch fast charger, and USB-C cable in a single device makes it a practical all-in-one portable charging solution.

Though three colors are listed on the website, only Sand and Black are currently available in Singapore.

You can buy it online from Shopee or Lazada or physically from Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman stores.

I love it when Belkin throws in USB-C to USB-C cables with their powerbank. The length measures 60cm.

As the name suggests, this is a slim 5,000 mAh power bank focused on portability. It measures 10.6 mm in thickness and weighs 124 g, making it reasonably slim and lightweight for everyday carry.

Belkin uses a soft-touch matte plastic finish, which feels smooth and slightly rubberised. The rubberized part is on the magnetic portion, which helps to prevent scratches to your iPhone. However, I don’t know whether the rubber coating will disintegrate over the years in Singapore’s humidity.

The power bank has the China Compulsory Certificate (CCC) logo, so you can bring it onboard flights within China.

For wireless charging, since it is Qi-only, it can only charge up to 7.5W instead of 15W with Qi2 or 25W with Qi2.2. It would be perfect if it were Qi2.2.

Wired charging can only output up to 15W, which is slightly on the lower end. When both wireless and wired charging are used, the charging speed maxes out at 5W and 7.5W, respectively.

Attaching the power bank to your iPhone doesn’t automatically initiate the charge; you have to press the button on the right. When your iPhone is charging, the LED indicator beside the button will be lit.

Pressing the button again, or pressing it without attaching it to your phone, will display the remaining battery capacity.

Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 is a close competitor to the Belkin BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank 5K that retails for S$69.90 on Shopee. The Xiaomi model is thinner (6mm) and lighter (98g), and it also supports faster wired charging at 22.5W. It uses an aluminium alloy body, which helps achieve its ultra-thin design.

To conclude, the Belkin BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank 5K is a well-designed and portable magnetic battery pack suitable for everyday use.

While it is not the thinnest option available, it offers good build quality from a brand you can trust. It comes with a 2-year warranty and US$2,500 Connected Equipment Warranty. The included USB-C cable is also a nice bonus.

If you want the thinnest and lightest magnetic power bank, the Xiaomi UltraThin model may be more appealing. But if you prefer Belkin’s design and slightly lower price, the BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank 5K is still a solid option.

Price remains the same. 1-pack retails for S$45, while 4-pack retails for S$149 (works out to be S$37.25 per AirTag).

If you are on the Apple Corporate Employee Purchase Program (EPP), the 1-pack costs S$40.33 and the 4-pack costs S$134.07 (S$33.51 per AirTag).

The packaging has a makeover. For the 4-pack, the box is now elongated and shows four AirTags on the front.

Most of the changes are on the inside, like the new second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, an upgraded Bluetooth Chip, and louder speakers.

The only visible cosmetic difference is the text behind the AirTag, which is now in caps. Other than that, it remains the same.

Weight-wise, it’s 0.8g heavier, which I doubt anybody can feel.

The second-generation AirTag is largely an incremental upgrade rather than a full redesign. For existing AirTag users, the upgrade is not essential unless the improved tracking range or louder speaker matters to you. But if you’re buying AirTags for the first time, the 2nd-generation model is the better option unless you can get the original AirTag at a 20% discount.

What caught my attention was that this is the only orange wireless charging stand that I have seen. And it matches my iPhone 17 Pro Max in Cosmic Orange. Orange is my favourite color.

I don’t intend to get it, since I already have a lot of chargers.

However, luckily for me, when my cousin came to my house to tour the smart home features of my house, she gave it to me as a housewarming gift.

She told me she is the only one in Singapore selling Kuxiu products on her Shopee Store, Black Tech SG. The Kuxiu X40 Turbo Wireless Charging Station retails for S$105 on her Shopee Store.

Nitpick: the box could have accurately reflected the charger’s color.

Inside the packaging is a 45W charger, a 1m braided USB-C to USB-C cable, and a carrying case.

The Kuxiu X40 Turbo Wireless Charging Station is Qi2.2 certified, making it MagSafe compatible and capable of delivering up to 25W of wireless power to your iPhone.

Because it is a 3-in-1 charger, you can charge your Apple Watch, AirPods, and iPhone simultaneously. For Apple Watch and AirPods charging, the maximum output is 5W each.

Since this charger doesn’t have the Made for Watch (MFW) certification, it doesn’t support fast charging for your Apple Watch. This is the only con of the charger.

Being foldable means it has a small footprint, making it perfect for travel or on-the-go use.

When folded, it measures 64 x 64 x 18 (mm). Weight-wise, it is about 150g.

The USB-C port is located at the back; you need one cable to charge 3 devices.

If you are looking for a compact travel charger that lets you charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once with just one USB-C cable, the Kuxiu X40 Turbo Wireless Charging Station is for you. Because it is Qi2.2 certified, you will get the full 25W wireless charging speed for your iPhone. The only downside is that your Apple Watch will not get fast charging because the charger is not MFW-certified.

ArmorPro, ArmorAir, and ArmorTint are part of their “Cases Built With Kevlar” series and are slightly more premium and expensive.

Benks offers an Essential series, where cases are more affordable (50% cheaper) since they are made of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU).

Benks Mist Cases is part of the Essential series.

Three colors are available: Orange, Blue, and Black.

I’m not sure if you know, but Orange is my favourite colour, so I have the Benks Mist Case in Orange for my iPhone 17 Pro Max. The case perfectly matches my iPhone 17 Pro Max in Cosmic Orange.

The metal frame protecting the plateau is 0.3mm in height, so it will prevent your phone’s lens from touching the surface when it is placed back facing down.

The MagSafe area is translucent, providing a lighter contrast to the overall Orange.

All the buttons are covered with metal buttons on the case. There are even holes for your lanyard’s string to pass through.

The camera control button is also covered.

Unlike all cases in the ArmorPro series, the speaker grills are not individually cut out.

Weight-wise, it weighs 41g, which makes it 4g heavier than the Benks ArmorPro Prestige Case and 1g heavier than the Benks ArmorGrid ArmorPro Case.

Benks Mist Case retails for S$25 on Shopee and S$23 on Lazada.

If you are an international user outside of Singapore, you can also get it directly from Benks. You can use my discount coupon code, lesterchan15, for a storewide 15% discount.

The Benks Mist Case is now my default case for my iPhone 17 Pro Max, replacing the Benks ArmorGrid ArmorPro, as it is very orange.

Like all cases in the ArmorPro series, it is also compatible with MagSafe.

The main area of the case is woven with Kevlar Fiber in “jiaoluo” patterns. Jiaoluo in English means edge. I wish the color were more orangey, as it feels more red and brown.

This case is suitable for the year-end holiday vibes, but sadly, I received it after Christmas

The frame is made with Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU).

All the buttons are covered, including the camera control button.

Similar to all cases in the ArmorPro series, the speaker grills are individually cut out.

Weight-wise, it weighs 40g, which makes it 3g heavier than the Benks ArmorPro Prestige Case, which I was using.

Benks ArmorGrid ArmorPro Case retails for S$64.45 on Shopee and S$58 on Lazada.

If you are an international user outside of Singapore, you can also get it directly from Benks. You can use my discount coupon code, lesterchan15, for a storewide 15% discount.

You can also get the matching ArmorPop Phone Grip & Stand in Terra Orange to match the case.

ArmorPop Phone Grip & Stand retails for S$32 on Shopee and S$30 Lazada.

This case is perfect for the year-end holiday vibes, but sadly, I received it after the New Year. If not, I would have swapped it out for the Benks ArmorPro Prestige Case in November 2025.

Some examples:

• Anker Prime USB-C to USB-C Cable (Shopee | Lazada)
• Anker Zolo USB-C to USB-C Cable (Shopee | Lazada)
• Anker USB-C to USB-C Cable (Shopee | Lazada)
• Anker 322 PowerLine USB-C to USB-C Cable (Shopee | Lazada)
• Anker 544 USB-C to USB-C Cable (Shopee | Lazada)
• Anker PowerLine III USB-C to USB-C Cable (Shopee | Lazada)
• Anker 643 PowerLine III Flow USB-C to USB-C Cable (Shopee | Lazada)
• Anker PowerLine Select+ USB-C to USB-C Cable (Shopee | Lazada)

There are only three series that support 240W: Anker Prime, Anker Zolo, and Anker itself. Based on pricing, Anker Prime is the highest tier, followed by Anker and then Anker Zolo.

The Anker Prime USB-C to USB-C Cable is available in only one color, whereas the Anker Zolo and Anker come in four and three colors, respectively.

So I wanted a 1m white USB-C to USB-C cable to match my Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max. I am deciding between the Anker Zolo and the Anker.

I ended up with an Anker USB-C to USB-C Cable because it has strain relief at the ends.

I was in Bangkok, Thailand, on holiday, and I was surprised to find that the Anker USB-C to USB-C Cable is cheaper in physical stores there than on Shopee or Lazada in Singapore.

On Shopee or Lazada, you can purchase it for approximately S$14 during a flash sale. Meanwhile, in the Anker Store at Central World in Bangkok, it is selling for TH฿299, which is approximately S$12.30.

Despite being braided, the Anker USB-C to USB-C Cable is softer and less rigid compared to my Ugreen Braided USB-C to USB-C Cable (100W) or Belkin BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C Cable 240W.

The color is more towards cream than actual white.

At its S$12, a braided USB-C to USB-C cable with strain relief and 240W charging support from a well-known brand like Anker is reasonably priced and good value overall.