Life and tech in Singapore, from local launches and pricing to events and everyday finds.
The Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro go on sale in Singapore from 27th October 2018. The Mate 20 Pro retails for S$1,348 in Emerald Green, Twilight, and Black, with the standard Mate 20 cheaper.
After a four-year hiatus, VAIO returns to Singapore with its VAIO S Series laptops. In Asia the brand is licensed by Hong Kong's Nexstgo, which also owns AVITA. The range debuts at the VAIO shop in Bugis Junction.
The Microsoft Surface Go arrives in Singapore on 28th August 2018, with pre-orders the day before. The most portable and affordable Surface yet, it's sold via the Microsoft Online Store and retailers like Best Denki, Challenger, and Courts.
Don Quijote runs a global online store at mpglobal.donki.com that ships to Singapore via EMS, with prices cheaper than Don Don Donki here. Singapore falls in Region 2, where a 1kg EMS parcel costs around S$14.
A year and a half after opening its first Mi store in Singapore with ECS, Xiaomi is opening a second at Bedok Mall, this time partnering Era International, the Singapore subsidiary of Indonesia's largest telecoms retailer, Erajaya.
Google Home and Google Home Mini are now officially available in Singapore through a StarHub partnership, the same arrangement as Google Wifi. From 20th April 2018 you can buy them at StarHub, Courts, Challenger, or online.
Synology launched a Loyalty Rebate Program in Singapore, valid 7th to 18th March 2018. Owners of Synology 12-series NASes and older qualify for 15% off the new DS218+, DS718+, or DS918+. I reviewed the DS918+ recently.
Microsoft is opening South East Asia's first dedicated Surface Store in Singapore, at the Harvey Norman Millenia Walk Flagship Superstore, on 10th March 2018. The store at 9 Raffles Boulevard opens daily from 10.30am to 9.30pm.
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) launches in Singapore on 9th February 2018, with Singtel the only telco supporting its cellular function via NumberShare. The service costs S$6.90 a month on a 12-month contract.
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) arrives in Singapore on 9th February 2018, with pre-orders from 2nd February. Singtel is the first and only telco to support it, launching NumberShare so the Watch can share your phone number.
A day after ending free AmazonGlobal shipping, Amazon launched Amazon Prime in Singapore, as many suspected. It costs S$8.99 a month, or just S$2.99 as an introductory offer of unspecified duration, and comes with a 30-day free trial.
After four and a half years, Amazon appears to be ending its free AmazonGlobal Saver Shipping to Singapore. Items I bought during Black Friday 2017 that qualified no longer do, signalling the end of the popular program.
Zero Latency, a free-roam multiplayer virtual reality gaming experience, has landed in Singapore as its 14th branch worldwide, after cities in Japan, the US, Spain, and Australia. It's brought in by Tomorrow Entertainment, who also own Bounce Singapore.
For the first time, Singapore gets three Huawei Mate 10 models: the Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro, and Porsche Design Mate 10. Singapore is the first market for the Mate 10 Pro. The Mate 10 retails for S$888.
A reference list of every iPhone's launch price in Singapore, contract-free, from the iPhone 4 in 2010 onward. I've left out the iPhone 2G, never sold here, and the 3G and 3GS, which launched only with contracts.
Google Wifi is now officially available in Singapore through a StarHub partnership, the first Southeast Asian launch. From 31st August 2017, a three-pack bundle costs S$15 a month over 24 months on selected StarHub plans.
Amazon Prime Now has launched in Singapore, offering everyday household essentials and bestsellers. While it usually requires a membership, you can try it without one for a limited launch period, with free two-hour delivery on orders above S$40.
Singapore's first Apple Store, located along Orchard Road, opens on Saturday, 27th May 2017 at 10am. Found at 270 Orchard Road, it operates daily from 10am to 10pm, marking Apple's retail debut in the country.
Limpeh Says is Singapore's take on Cards Against Humanity, 'Limpeh' being Hokkien for 'your father'. It began as a Kickstarter raising S$121,370 from 2,164 backers. I pledged S$40 for one 550-card set, with 90 red and 460 white cards.
The Huawei Mate 9 goes on sale in Singapore from 19th November 2016 in a single 64GB capacity at S$898. While it comes in six colours globally, only Space Grey and Champagne Gold will be sold in Singapore.
The much-anticipated Moto Z, Moto Z Play, and Moto Mods reach Singapore from November 2016. The Moto Z, in Charcoal Ash or Washed Oak shells, retails for S$899, powered by a Snapdragon 820 with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.
Xiaomi opened its first physical Singapore store on 7th October 2016, in partnership with ECS. The Mi Home Store sits in Suntec City Mall and opens daily from 11am to 9pm, while Xiaomi's online store launched on Lazada.