3 Lesser-Known Laptop Brands in Malaysia
Unlike smartphones in Malaysia, laptops seem to have fewer competing brands in Malaysia. While most are familiar with Acer, Asus, Lenovo, HP, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and Apple, few are aware that these 3 lesser-known laptop brands exist in Malaysia. In fact, one of this brand is a home-grown brand.
That being said, these 3 brands compete primarily in the low-range market with laptops priced between RM1,200 – RM3,000. Though mostly unnoticed in the market, these brands have recently surfaced due to higher demand for low-range laptops for students to attend online classes.
1. JOI
| Logo |  |
| Country of Origin | Malaysia |
| Website | https://www.joi.com.my/ |
| Local Support / Repair Centers | Yes, but limited |
| Social | @JOI.Malaysia |
JOI® is a collaboration between Intel, Microsoft and SNS Network to develop and produce IoT (Internet of Things) devices and solutions. JOI® started off with Android-based tablets back in 2013. Today, JOI® covers a much wider range of tech products which includes both desktop computers and laptops.
If you are exploring affordable laptops priced between RM1,500 – RM2,500, JOI®, you should definitely explore the JOI Book SK3000 (RM2,199) and JOI Book 155 Pro (RM1,699).
| JOI Book 155 Pro | JOI Book SK3000 | |
| Processor | Intel® Celeron® Processor N4120 (4M Cache, up to 2.60 GHz) | Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 850 octa-core processor |
| OS | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Pro |
| Display | 14” Full HD IPS display (1920 x 1080 Resolution) | 12.5” Full HD IPS Display |
| Graphics | Intel® UHD Graphics 600 | Integrated Qualcomm® A63 GPU |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| ROM | 64GB Built-in, with expandable SSD slot | 128GB with expandable micro SD slot |
| Price | RM1,599 | RM1,899 |
What we like about these JOI laptops is the built quality. With its ultra-thin, full aluminium body, the laptop feels durable and elegant. We also like its unique option to add a sim card which will allow users to stay connected even when out and about.
On the flip side, we do think the JOI laptops are lacking processing power and RAM memory. Nevertheless, they still make for a great option for students attending online classes, managing word documents and browsing the web.
2. AVITA
| Logo |  |
| Country of Origin | Hong Kong |
| Website | https://avita.global/my/ |
| Local Support / Repair Centers | Yes |
| Social | @AVITAMalaysia |
AVITA was founded in 2016 by the former Radio Corporation of America (RCA) product development and branding team in the United States. Today, AVITA is wholly owned and operated by Nexstgo Company Ltd.
AVITA primarily produces affordable but yet powerful laptops. While they do offer laptops in the RM1,500 range, the one that really caught our attention is the AVITA Pura 14″ Ryzen 5.
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home in S mode |
| CPU | AMD R5-3500U Processor |
| Display | 14″ FHD (1920×1080) IPS |
| Memory | 8GB Ram |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R5 / AMD Radeon™ Vega 8 Graphics |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB SSD |
| Ports | 1 x 3.5mm Headphone Jack, 1 x Full Size USB 2.0, 1 x Full Size USB 3.0, 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C, 1 x MicroSD card slot (Max support 256GB), Mini HDMI x 1 |
| Price | RM2,180 |
What we love about this laptop is the Ryzen 5 3500 U processor and 8GB RAM. This affordable laptop is packed with processing power and can very well compete with the popular Acer Nitro 5. In terms of multi-tasking and moderate gaming, you should face no issues of lag.
The only major downside to this laptop is its built quality, with the casing being primarily made out of plastic. As a result, the overall built does feel a little flimsy and does cause the screen to wobble a fair bit if not planted on a sturdy surface.
Overall, design and built is the least of your concern this laptop is amazing considering its low price point!
2. Teclast
| Logo |  |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Website | https://www.teclast.com/en/ |
| Local Support / Repair Centers | No |
| Social | @teclast1999 |
Teclast is wholly owned by Guangzhou Shangke Information Technology CO.,LTD and operates in Guang Zhou. Their key products include laptops, tablets, smartbands, USB flash and powerbanks.
Laptops sold by Teclast are priced between RM1,400 – RM2,200. The Teclast F7 Plus is one of the more recent and popular models.
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| CPU | Intel 8th Generation Gemini Lake CPU (Celron N4100) |
| Display | 14 inch Full HD IPS Display |
| Memory | 8GB Ram |
| Graphics | 9th Generation UHD Graphics |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Feature | Backlit Keyboard |
| Price | RM2,180 |
Similar to the JOI Book 155 Pro, the Teclast F7 Plus is powered by a similar quad-core processor. Though powered by a slightly poorer performing processor, the F7 Plus has a built-in 8GB Ram and 256GB SSD which makes up for the lacking in processing power.
The Teclast F7 Plus is also built with a metal body and takes on a sleek and stylish thin design. This definitely gives the F7 Plus a more premium feel when held in your hands.
What we really love about the F7 Plus is the added backlit keyboard. It is definitely a nice touch for a low-range laptop which caught us by surprise.
The biggest downside for Teclast is the lack of local support. Purchasing a Teclast laptop can only be done via Shopee/Lazada and is shipped directly from Mainland China. Should you face any issues with the laptop, you’ll have to make your own arrangements to have it sent back to China.
Final Thoughts
With the growing demand for low-range laptops to cater for students attending online classes, we believe these 3 lesser-known brands will continue to thrive.
We look forward to more variety and exciting offerings from these brands in the near future.
