What The Click Episode 54 Recap: Best Smartphones Under RM2,000, Redmi Headphones Neo, Nothing Voice, and Kuija Ghost Charger

Welcome back to the recap of What The Click Podcast! In Episode 54, Adam and Vernon discuss extensively about the best smartphones available in Malaysia for under RM2,000. The competition is certainly tight and although there’s a clear cut winner, each device on the list could be a winner for someone. Next, they cover Redmi’s first ever over-ear headphones–the trendily named Headphones Neo. They also talk at length about Nothing’s useful new AI-powered cleanup feature, Essential Voice. Last but not least, in true WAFT fashion, they dive into the divisive Kuwaija Ghost Charger.

If you missed the session, here is the “Real Talk” breakdown of everything discussed.

Main story: Best Smartphones Available in Malaysia for under RM2,000

In this episode, Adam and Vernon break down the best smartphones available in Malaysia for under RM2,000, basing their recommendations on extensive hands-on experience. Here are their top picks depending on what you value most in a device:

• Poco X8 Pro Max (RM1,999): Exactly hitting the budget ceiling, this phone brings flagship-tier performance with its 3nm Dimensity 9500S chipset. Its biggest standout feature is a massive 8,500 mAh silicon carbon battery that easily lasts more than two days and can be topped up via a 100W hypercharge. It also features a QHD+ display and an IP68/IP69 rating, though the battery size makes it heavy and its dual cameras aren’t as powerful as the Poco F series.
• Nothing Phone 4A (RM1,199): The most affordable on the list, the Phone 4A stands out for its unique design featuring a glyph bar and an incredibly clean Nothing OS (Android 16) experience. It boasts a 1.5K flexible AMOLED display with a blinding 4,500 nits of peak brightness, powered by a Snapdragon 7S Gen 4 processor.
• Samsung Galaxy A37 5G (RM1,899 retail): The clear winner for longevity and software reliability, offering up to 6 years of OS and security updates (supported until 2032). It inherits great camera processing and Nightography from Samsung’s flagship S series, along with built-in Galaxy AI features and respectable 45W charging speeds.
• Vivo V70 FE (RM1,599): Crowned the best value device for camera lovers, the V70 FE features an impressive 200MP main camera that captures incredible detail. Alongside the stellar camera performance, it boasts a massive 7,000 mAh battery with 90W charging and a durable IP69 rating.

Tech News #1: Redmi Headphones Neo

Redmi has launched its first-ever over-ear headphones, debuting in the Philippines for an incredibly affordable converted price of around RM129. While the hosts joked that the brand is just riding the “Neo” naming hype train, the specs are highly competitive for the price. Sporting a design reminiscent of Sony’s premium XM series, the Redmi Headphones Neo feature 40mm titanium-coated drivers, 42 dB of active noise cancellation (ANC) across three levels, and an insane 72-hour battery life. They also include modern features like Bluetooth 5.4, Google Fast Pair, and dual-device connection.

Tech News #2: Nothing Essential Voice

Nothing is integrating a powerful native AI tool called “Essential Voice” into their devices, starting with the Nothing Phone 3 and Phone 4 Pro. Powered by Perplexity, this tool acts as an AI cleanup service for your dictated voice notes, seamlessly removing “ums” and “ahs” to translate fragmented speech into clean, professional text without needing third-party apps. It also supports on-the-fly translation for over 100 languages with auto-detection. A major highlight is its “personal mappings” feature, which allows users to hardcode voice shortcuts to instantly trigger complex actions, like bringing up a meeting notes template. Note that processing this advanced AI requires an active internet connection.

Who Asked For This (WAFT): Kuwajia “Ghost” Charger

This week’s WAFT segment features an invention from a Chinese company named Kuwajia: a “ghost charger” that mechanically pops itself out of your device’s USB-C port once the battery hits 100%. Unlike software-based battery protection, this charger uses a built-in sensor, a miniature electromagnet, and a compressed spring to physically eject the cable to prevent overcharging. While many viewers pointed out that modern smartphones already stop pulling power when full, Adam notes this invention is actually incredibly useful for charging non-smartphone devices—like a Whoop fitness tracker—that lack intelligent, built-in battery controllers.

Watch What The Click: Episode 54 here:

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About What The Click

Welcome to What The Click Podcast, where we react, break things down, and sometimes just ask… what were they thinking? Formerly known as the What The Tech Podcast from Malaysia (continuing from Episode 50), this is the next evolution. Same people, better conversations, more unfiltered. Hosted by Adam Lobo (Adam Lobo TV) and Vernon Chan, we cover everything happening in tech. From new launches and breaking news, to leaks, rumours, and what actually matters in real life. But not everything deserves to be taken seriously. That’s where segments like “Who Asked For This?” (WAFT) come in, where we call out the most questionable tech decisions, alongside honest reactions, real-world opinions, and conversations that feel like something you’d have with your friends. From smartphones and gadgets to AI and industry trends, we’re here t