Mobile Phones

Mobile Phones brand in Nepal

Mobile phones have become an essential part of our daily lives. In today's fast-paced world, it is hard to imagine a day without it. Whether it's for making calls, sending text messages, or using social media, smartphones have made our lives much easier and more convenient.

But with so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which phone to buy, especially when considering the budget. As a result, our mobile price list in Nepal provides an organized and updated list of all the devices available in the market, along with their prices, specifications, and features.

We have also categorized the mobiles based on price range, brand, and features in this list. Popular smartphone brands in Nepal include Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, and Nokia, among others. 

Smartphone brands in Nepal	Market Share
Xiaomi	26%
Samsung	22%
Realme	12%
Vivo	10%
Others	29%

  When you're thinking about getting a new mobile phone in Nepal, it's extremely necessary to consider a few key things to make sure you pick the right one for your needs. Here's a simple guide to help you through the process:

1. Types of Mobile Phones

• Smartphones: These are the most common phones today. They let you browse the internet, use apps, and do a lot more. They come in different brands and models, each with its own features.
• Feature Phones: These are simpler phones that mainly let you make calls and send texts. They don't have the advanced features of smartphones but are easy to use and last longer on a single charge.

2. Important Features to Think About

• Display: Look at the screen size and quality. A bigger screen is better for watching videos or playing games, but it might make the phone heavy. Furthermore, make sure to check the Display panel of your phone. Most budget phones these days come with IPS display with phones ranging above 22-23k that might featuring an AMOLED display. Check out on refresh rates, make sure your phone feature at least 90Hz or 120Hz.
• Camera: If you like taking photos, check the camera's quality. More megapixels usually mean better pictures, but other factors like lens quality / Sensor size / the kind of ISP matter too.
• Battery Life: Consider how long the battery lasts. A phone with a bigger battery can last longer, but it might be heavier. Battery life largely depends on how optimized the software and performance is.
• Performance: The phone's processor and memory affect how fast it runs. If you play games or use many apps at once, you'll need a phone with good performance. You can get amazing gaming phones at less than 50K-70K, while top-of-the-line usually goes above  Rs. 1 lakh. Budget/midrange phone often comprises one function for another.
• Operating System: Decide between iOS (Apple) and Android. iOS is known for being user-friendly, while Android offers more customization. Samsung, Nothing, Google are some of well regarded software in Andorid space.

3. Choosing the Right Phone for You

• Budget: Set a price range. There are good phones at different prices, so know how much you're willing to spend.
• Usage: Think about what you'll use the phone for. If you just need it for calls and texts, a basic phone might be enough. If you want to play games or use social media, a smartphone with good performance is better.
• Carrier Compatibility: Make sure the phone works with your mobile carrier. Some phones only work with certain carriers, so check before buying.

4. Popular Mobile Brands in Nepal

Here are some popular mobile brands available in Nepal:

Samsung

5. Buying Tips

• • • Read Reviews: Look at reviews from other users to see what they like and don't like about the phone.
    • Compare Prices: Check prices at different stores to find the best deal.
    • Check for Deals: Sometimes, carriers offer promotions or discounts, so keep an eye out for those.

Things to know before buying a smartphone

SoC/ Processor on smartphones

We already know that smartphones can be entry-level, midrange, premium midrange, and flagship. And the type of System on Chip is the key factor in segregating those rankings. As simple as that, entry-level phones carry an entry-level chip and it goes so on. In the Android world, we can witness three major chipsets– Snapdragon, Mediatek, and Exynos. The former two are the most popular ones and can be found across all major Android smartphone brands. Meanwhile, the Exynos chip is Samsung’s in-house product, so it is obviously found in Samsung phones. Just a few years ago, Snapdragon was the king in the midrange and flagship arena but the Taiwanese chip maker, Mediatek has become extremely popular, beating the American company, in the midrange segment. Also in the flagship section, Mediatek’s popularity is rising with the latest Mediatek Dimensity 9000 Series. And for the iPhones, it is the Apple A-Series Bionic chips. These chips are known to be more optimized and powerful than their Qualcomm and Mediatek counterparts. But both competitors are also now slowly catching up with the competition against Apple.

How to choose the right processor 

Lying at the core of a smartphone is a processor. It provides all the computing power and juice for your device. So, choosing the right chipset is also very important. If you are a techie like me, sorting the best among the bunch is never a hassle. But if you are a newbie or someone who’s unaware of smartphone chipsets, fear not, you can always take the help of Google.

• First up, check the processor of the phone you are buying.
• Then, you can check the Antutu and Geekbench benchmark scores of the chip on the web.
• The higher the CPU and GPU score, the better the processor is.
• On the same side, you can compare other chipsets in the range, in this way, you can know the best-performing chip for the price.

LCD or AMOLED panel?

Smartphones in general use two types of display: LCD and AMOLED. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is found usually in the budget range of devices and also in the midrange segment. On the other hand, Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) panels are found in the midrange, premium midrange, and flagship smartphones, due to their superior picture quality, contrast, and deeper blacks. So, if you are purchasing a smartphone, always look out for the AMOLED options for a much better display experience. If budget is your constraint, you can also opt for an LCD panel but make sure, it is an IPS LCD, which has better viewing angles than the subpar TFT LCD displays with rubbish viewing angles.

60Hz or 120Hz display?

In recent years, 120Hz fast-motion rate displays have become extremely common. It provides a superfluid scrolling experience than a 60Hz panel, but it consumes a bit more battery. But once you have used a 120Hz panel, there is no way going back to a 60Hz one, because, the fun and overall fluidity will never be the same on a static 60Hz panel. So, despite the 120Hz consumes more battery, always opt for a smartphone with a 120Hz or at least 90Hz display. You can always switch to the 60Hz motion rate on those smartphones, anyway.

How much RAM should you get?

Smartphones currently come with 4GB, 6GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 24GB RAM. Some might also come with 2GB or 3GB of RAM in the entry-level segment. And, choosing the appropriate amount of RAM comes to your usage habits and needs. If you are a basic user, who just uses the phone casually for social media, YouTube, and such, 4GB RAM should be enough for a very basic user. But if you do multitasking and some gaming as well, 6GB RAM is at least needed while 8GB becomes the norm for the midrange phones. Meanwhile, for flagship devices, 12/16GB RAM is recommended.

The virtual RAM gimmick...

The primary jargon in a local market for selling a smartphone is RAM. But phone companies are marketing their phones with 24GB* RAM, 16*GB RAM, and so on. But, you should always notice the asterisk symbol right there. It is not the actual RAM of the phone, but a combined one with virtual RAM included. For example, the phone has 8GB of physical RAM while the other 8GB is an extended RAM. Virtual RAM is not that useful, and I'd call it more of a gimmick.

Do not fall for MegaPixels trap

While buying a new mobile phone, a bigger megapixel camera might look enticing. But in the actual world, megapixels do not matter that much. A phone might have a 108MP camera but the usual shots are always taken in a pixel-binned 12MP format. You also get a dedicated 108MP or high-res mode, but the results are not drastically different. So, megapixels should not be a major factor here. So, instead of looking for higher megapixels, look for sensor, ISP, and phone's overall processing for photos. Sometimes despite having capable hardware, bad processing can ruin the fun. That's why a 12MP camera can get you better photos than a 108MP one if the software and hardware processing are done right.

OIS in cameras

Another factor you have to look for in a smartphone camera is Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). Phones having OIS can physically move the camera sensor to minimize shakes and jitters. As a result, you can get good stills. Meanwhile in the videos section, having OIS becomes a major perk, resulting in smooth and stable shots. But OIS should be enabled by smartphone manufacturers in this section. If the smartphone doesn't have OIS, at least, look for Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) which has nothing to do with photos, but it can provide a decent quality of stabilization for videos.

Top Smartphone brands in Nepal

The Nepalese smartphone market is dominated by three players— Xiaomi, Samsung, and Vivo. The top-dog Xiaomi is arguably the most popular in the market, thanks to its Redmi Note and Redmi Number Series phones. Offering a good overall valued spec at competitive pricing has been the significant reason for the popularity of Xiaomi/Redmi phones in Nepal. Likewise, Samsung is a veteran player in the smartphone world. Its brand name and trust carry quite a big value for its user base in Nepal. Especially, the midrange and flagship Galaxy lineup of phones are widely popular here. In the meantime, Vivo has also grown with its Y and V series of smartphones in recent days. Besides these brands, Oppo, OnePlus, Honor, Realme, and Tecno also have a good amount of presence and popularity in the market.

Why buy a new phone or a second-hand phone?

A new phone is for someone who's always looking for the latest new tech and stuff. New phones come equipped with the latest processors, software, camera, and design. Plus, the feeling of getting something new is always refreshing, isn't it? But, buying a second phone cannot be ruled out too. You can get flagship phones from the last generation at cheaper prices, which also makes a great deal. In fact, many people opt to buy second hand iPhone too. So basically, it all comes down to your choice and preferences.

Where to buy smartphones at the best price in Nepal?

As always, you should get a smartphone from authorized stores and genuine sellers like Hukut. It will reflect a lot on after-sales support and genuineness. However, you can also buy phones at a cheaper price rate through gray channels but do note, that there might be MDMS compatibility issues in the near future and you’ll miss out on after-sales support and warranty. Meanwhile, you can browse through a plethora of smartphones on Gadgetbyte with their buying links, to make it easy. Always make sure of the product and buying place, before making a purchase.

How much to spend on a smartphone in Nepal?

Well, the answer depends on your budget and needs. If you are a very basic user or want to buy a smartphone for your parents for the sake of a smartphone experience, you can opt for the budget segment. But if you are someone who wants a decent camera and usage experience, the midrange segment is where you should go. You can find dozens of options here. So, make sure to compare your choices and choose the best that suits your needs and budget. Or, you can stretch your budget for a premium midrange smartphone or even a flagship phone. It all comes down to your preference, choice, and budget.

FAQs

1. What are the best mobile brands available in Nepal? Popular brands include Samsung, Apple, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Realme. 2. What should I consider when buying a mobile phone? Consider your budget, operating system, camera quality, battery life, and brand. 3. Are phones expensive in Nepal? Phones in Nepal are more expensive due to import taxes and shipping costs. 4. How can I check if a mobile phone supports 4G in Nepal? Check if the phone supports the LTE bands used by Nepal Telecom and Ncell. 5. What is the warranty policy for phones in Nepal? Phones typically come with a one-year warranty covering manufacturing defects. 6. Where can I buy mobile phones in Nepal? Phones can be bought from authorized stores, online platforms like Daraz and Hukut.