Page 186 – GadgetByte Nepal

Moto Edge 50 Fusion review: Elegant, but what else?

Pratima Adhikari

-

June 25, 2024

Moto Edge 50 Fusion review: Elegant, but what else?

So I have been using the Moto Edge 50 Fusion as my primary phone for about a month now. Literally, everyone on the internet is saying how good of a phone this is. And yes it is! But there are some things that I think most reviews missed out on, which I am going to share with you in my full 1-month experience with this article here. Let’s dive into the review of Moto Edge 50 Fusion!

Moto Edge 50 Fusion Specifications

Dimensions: 161.9 x 73.1 x 7.9 mm
Weight: 174.9 grams
Build: Glass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather), plastic frame
Display: 6.7” FHD+ OLED with 144Hz refresh rate
Chipset: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm)
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU: Adreno 710
OS: Android 14, Hello UI
Memory: 12GB LPDDR4X RAM, 256GB / 512GB (UFS 2.2) storage
Rear Camera:
- 50 MP ( Sony LYT-700C sensor with OIS) + 13 MP Ultra-wide lens
Front Camera: 32MP
Audio: Stereo speakers
Sensors: Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery and Charging: 5000 mAh with 68 Watt fast charging
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, 5G, Bluetooth v5.2
Color options: Forest Blue, Hot Pink, and Marshmallow Blue

Moto Edge 50 Fusion Review

Design

Dimensions: 161.9 x 73.1 x 7.9 mm
Weight: 174.9 grams
Build: Glass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather), plastic frame, IP68

Ok! First, let me start with the good things about this phone. And the first thing I like about all the Motorola phones is their designs. Moto has once again done a pretty awesome job of making this phone so lightweight without making it feel cheap. And honestly, once I switched to my main phone – the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it felt so heavy and instantly, I missed the comfortable ergonomics of the Edge 50 Fusion.

This is one comfortable phone to hold. I was able to use it with a single hand with ease, even for a longer period. The grip is solid here with subtle curves on both sides. And I like this leather-back design at the back too with no weird camera layout or bumps or anything as such. Plus, this is the cheapest phone right now with full IP68 ingress protection. Which means I don’t have to worry about the phone getting drenched in rain this monsoon season!

Another thing I also found out is this leather back is not of a cheap quality. Yes, it does catch dust and can get dirty over time, but a simple clean makes it feel new. My office colleague has been using last year’s Moto Edge 40 and it still looks new. What I am trying to say is, you don’t have to worry about wear and tear.

Display

Display: 6.7” FHD+ OLED with 144Hz refresh rate
Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Motorola is also offering a good quality AMOLED screen here. It refreshes at 144Hz and setting it to run at this speed from the settings, as you can see, in the UI and apps, everything runs at 144Hz.

Plus, Motorola has optimized the software very well with smooth animation all around. So, this phone feels quite fast while navigating through the UI, in the multitasking tray as well as while scrolling through apps.

And even the core quality of the display is nice. It can get bright enough and is perfectly visible outdoors, while the minimum brightness is also quite low. However, there is one con of this display which is, there is no HDR playback support in any OTT apps and even YouTube. Overally the colors are nice and accurate, and you can change between multiple profiles and adjust the color temperature from the settings to match your preference.

Audio and Haptics

BTW, I also like its speakers. It is decently loud and found to have a better frequency response in the treble reason too. So, actually a good speaker system here for casually listening to Spotify or watching content.

But I am a little disappointed with the haptics here. It’s slightly buzzy and doesn’t have that pleasing response which you get on phones like Nord CE4. Motorola got to improve in this aspect!

Performance

Chipset: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm)
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.40 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU: Adreno 710
OS: Android 14, Hello UI

The performance of the Moto Edge 40 Fusion is also just “okay” for the price. It features a Snapdragon 7s gen 2 chipset along with 8GB DDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, so yeah nothing extraordinary in terms of benchmarks and it falls behind the Nord CE4 or the Infinix GT20 Pro that sells for a similar price.

But Motorola has optimized the performance well here. As I said earlier, It feels fast, and the clean Moto UI enhances the experience, so overall good for day-to-day usage.

However, I did notice this phone overheating while playing demanding games like Genshin Impact. It reached 47 degrees at the back, which isn’t ideal. Likewise, even when I was recording videos or browsing the internet using mobile data outside in a sunny environment, the phone would get slightly warm, not overbearingly, but it would get warm.

I think the reason this is happening is because No. 1. it’s quite a slim phone and No.2 Motorola hasn’t included any kind of Vapor Chamber cooling solution here. So, if you play high-end games like Genshin Impact, in 60fps mode, the phone will quickly throttle and dial down the fps 40. However, games like PubG and COD have no problem running well with cooler temperatures and good stability.

Battery and Charging

Battery and Charging: 5000 mAh with 68 Watt fast charging

The battery Motorola has included is a regular 5000mAh cell, but since I have been using this phone at 144Hz mode and the phone has a tendency of heating up at times, I am not getting as good of a battery backup as the Nord CE4 which you know has a bigger 5500mah cell. So, in my typical usage, I was only getting a max of 6 hours of SOT. As a result, I’ve always had to rush to get it charged while I am back home at night.

Motorola does offer a 68W brick inside the box which is nice. And this fast charger can go from 0 to 60% in just 30 minutes, and 100% in 1 hour. BTW, you also get a nice back cover inside the box, but one of the things that Motorola doesn’t include is a pre-applied screen protector. Luckily, I haven’t gotten any big scratches here, so the Gorilla Glass 5 has stood up well.

Cameras

Rear Camera:
- 50 MP ( Sony LYT-700C sensor with OIS) + 13 MP Ultra-wide lens
Front Camera: 32MP

Ok, lastly let’s talk about the cameras. If you look at the history of most Motorola phones last year, the cameras have been their biggest Achilles heel. I remember how average last year’s Moto Edge 40 and 40 Neo’s cameras were, but this year, they have improved a lot in terms of optimisation, especially the portraits.

Portraits

1 of 8

As you can see, the Edge 50 Fusion clicks better portraits than the Nord CE4. It brightens up the skin tone to make them look pleasing and it has better edge detection too. This is true for most portraits I have clicked from this phone. Plus, Motorola also lets you shoot in 1.5X and 2X modes for better subject focus and background blur, which looks much much better than the regular 1X shots.

Daytime

This year, Motorola has used this new Sony LTY 700C sensor here and I found the normal daytime images to have decent details, and contrast is well managed, but in most photos, the color saturation is quite high, which might look good in some photos whereas in some photos like this, it does look too much processed.

Daytime

1 of 6

Most of the time, I found it not handling the reds and greens well. While, as you zoom into this stupa image, you can see how it oversharpens the photos and boosts the contrast, which doesn’t look natural.

Lowlight and ultra-wide

I however like the low-light shots as they look better in the eyes with nice details, despite being again a bit saturated and warm.

Nightime

1 of 5

Motorola is also offering a high-res 13MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus – something unheard of at this price. Sadly, Moto hasn’t optimized the ultra-wide cameras that well as I would have liked. I think it should be doing better.

Ultrawide

1 of 8

Macros and Selfies

Macro

1 of 6

With the autofocus though, you can take some good-looking macro shots. Even the selfies are just okay for the price. It’s a bit contrasty and darker than the Nord CE4.

Selfies

1 of 4

Videography

Videos, however, are good. You can record 4K videos from all the lenses and it’s good enough for sharing it with your friends with nice details and contrast. However, like photos, they come out a bit saturated. As expected, the ultra-wide videos are soft but it’s marginally better than the 1080P videos you get from similarly priced phones like the Nord CE4.

Moto Edge 50 Fusion Review: Pros and Cons

Pros of Moto Edge 50 Fusion:

Lightweight and premium design
IP68 rating
Vibrant OLED display with 144Hz refresh rate
Improved portrait mode and low-light camera performance

Cons of Moto Edge 50 Fusion:

Average performance
Overheating during intensive tasks
lacks HDR support in OTT apps
Subpar haptic feedback

Motorola Edge 50 Fusion Review Conclusion

Ok, so with everything I just talked about, this phone, the Moto Edge 50 Fusion for a starting price of 23,000, is definitely an excellent package with a gorgeous design, superb display, acceptable performance, battery life, and “not-so-optimized cameras” but still good enough for the price!

Few more words

But I think what most reviews have missed out on are 2 things about this phone.
No. 1 Motorola update policy! It’s just so far behind the competition. I have used this phone for over a month now and Motorola hasn’t pushed any update to either improve the cameras or offer the latest security patches. And at the same time, I have received 2 updates on the OnePlus Nord CE4. Plus, if you look at last year’s Moto Edge 40 series, they are one of the slowest phones to receive Android 14.

The no. 2 problem with Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is stock availability! The one I have with me is a review unit, and I was able to get it before the launch, but if you want to buy the Edge 50 Fusion right now, after more than 1 month of its launch, the stock is just not there. So, I think these are the things Moto has got to improve because I see real potential here!

In fact, Motorola has currently entered the Top 10 Android smartphone brands in India, with over 100% growth in 2023. They are the fastest-growing brand right now! So, this year too, with all the lineups, they are doing some excellent work with the pricing and specs. But to be the best, I really hope they improve the update record, stock availability, and more importantly, I hope they work on optimizing their cameras better!

Meanwhile, watch our review of Moto Edge 40

Xiaomi set to launch the Redmi Note 14 series in September

Dip Khatiwada

-

June 25, 2024

0

Xiaomi set to launch the Redmi Note 14 series in September

Xiaomi has announced that the Redmi Note 14 series will officially launch in September. This series is one of the most popular and sold smartphone lines worldwide. In this article, we will get into the specifics of the upcoming Redmi Note 14 series, including its rumors and launch date.

Redmi Note 14 Series Overview

Variants and Features

The Redmi Note 14 series will include the Redmi Note 14 5G, Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G, and Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G. The top-end model, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G, has the internal model number O16U and the codename “amethyst.” This follows Xiaomi’s tradition of naming the Redmi Note series after gemstones. Additionally, these devices will come with HyperOS 1.0 based on Android 14.

Anything New?

In the previous series, the Note 13 featured the Snapdragon 685 chipset, which was also used in the Note 12. Now looking up at the listing, it appears that there will be no more a 4G based Redmi Note 14. This entails, that the base version might start with a 5G SoC. Meanwhile, the more expensive Note 13 Pro+ came with the Dimensity 7200 chipset and earned recognition for its curved edge design and IP68 rating. While there is no news regarding the chipset powering the Pro Plus, Redmi might head towards a more powerful chipset like the Dimensity 8300.

Also, read

Redmi Note 14 Series Rumors: Availability

Following the launch of the Note 14 series, Xiaomi plans to introduce the Xiaomi 15 series in October. Initially, the series will launch in China and then become available in other markets globally. With the Note 14 series launch approaching, it will be interesting to see if Xiaomi provides a better chipset and other enhancements. Stay tuned for more updates as the launch date approaches.

Meanwhile, watch our review of the Redmi Note 13 Pro

Infinix GT 20 Pro review: The best gaming phone under NPR 50,000!

Pratima Adhikari

-

June 25, 2024

0

Infinix GT 20 Pro review: The best gaming phone under NPR 50,000!

Last year’s GT 10 Pro was a great midrange gaming phone. And in this review, I’ll be talking all about my experience with its successor, the Infinix GT 20 Pro. It brings a more powerful Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chip, along with a dedicated gaming display processor, a 144Hz AMOLED display, a 108MP camera with OIS, and a lot more for all the gamers out there!

But before heading to the Infinix GT 20 Pro review, let’s take a quick look at its specifications.

Infinix GT 20 Pro Review: Specifications

Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 8200 5G (4nm mobile platform)
Memory: 8/12GB RAM, 256GB storage (expandable)
Software & UI: XOS 14 based on Android 14
Rear Cameras: Triple (108MP primary, 2MP macro, 2MP depth)
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi 6, 5G, NFC, USB-C
Battery: 5000mAh with 45W fast charging
Color Options: Mecha Silver, Mecha Blue, Mecha Orange
Price in Nepal: NPR 47,999 (12/256GB)
Check the full specifications of Infinix GT 20 Pro here
Buy Infinix GT 20 Pro here

Infinix GT 20 Pro Review

“Mecha Design” for gamers

164.3 x 75.4 x 8.2 mm, 194 gm
Glass front, plastic back/frames
“Mecha Loop Lighting” with customizable LED lights

Infinix sent me this PR package with a lot of other cool stuff, like this attachable magnetic phone cooler, finger sleeves, this cool cover, etc, etc, but that’s beside the point. Let’s get straight to how this device held up in my 2-week usage!

PR Package

1 of 3

Alright, first of all, I cannot not acknowledge this design. This is one sharp-looking phone. Infinix calls it the “Mecha Loop” design and for me it is eye-catching, but I think gamers out there will surely relate to the gaming aesthetics of this phone.

LED lights

There are a couple of LED lights that glow during certain actions like when you get notifications, while playing music, charging, etc. and these lights are customizable too. So you can change the way they glow according to your liking. And looking at how popular such semi-transparent designs are, I am sure people will appreciate this one too!

Good weight distribution

But the best part is that this is one comfortable device to hold! It’s not heavy but at the same time, it’s got a good heft weight distribution. And since the GT 20 Pro has a flat design, it’s so much cozier while gaming.

This is not a glass design by the way, it’s plastic, but plastic does not shatter like glass so I am kind of okay with this. Plus, it has a good heft and is comfortable to hold, so no complaints from my side.

Even when you turn it over, Infinix has made sure to trim the bezels really thin, so I am happy about that.

The only thing I am a little sour about is that Infinix has not been very open about the display protection on this screen. Even by default, it does not come with a screen protector, but you do get one inside the box, so I would suggest you install that before using this device.

144Hz refresh rate

6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel
144Hz refresh rate
1,300 nits peak brightness

Anyway, interacting with the Infinix GT 20 Pro’s display is a great experience. It’s smooth and well-optimized and the touch here is really responsive. It’s a 144Hz screen with a 360Hz touch response rate, by the way, and not in a gimmicky way like with some brands. You can actually use certain parts of the UI at 144Hz.

However, I have to tell you, that when you start scrolling social media, the number will dip to 120Hz.

Also, something you have to know is that even though the screen on the GT 20 Pro refreshes at 144Hz, games don’t run at 144 fps exactly, the max fps you can reach is 120 fps in games like Mobile Legends, Mech Arena, and PUBG!

For the gaming enthusiasts out there, you also get something called an “Esports mode” when you swipe from the side during games. Here, you will see a bunch of options to block calls and notifications, optimize the CPU performance boost frame rate, etc!

Gaming performance

MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate (4nm)
12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
Pixelworks X5 Turbo gaming display chip

You can see my gaming test numbers on the screen and they are really good, not just the average fps, but the 99th percentile too. Mobile Legends runs incredibly smooth averaging at 118 fps, while playing Mech Arena at the highest graphics results in great stability as well. Even the temperature data is favorable in these games.

I can play PUBG at 120 fps on this thing!

Infinix has also rolled out April’s update enabling 120 fps mode in PUBG mobile. This is one of the first mid-range phones to receive this update and in fact, the Infinix GT 20 pro is the official Gaming Phone for PMSL, EMEA & CSA, which may be one of the reasons for the early update!

PUBG gameplay is smooth here averaging at 112 fps in the smooth+ 120 fps mode. Likewise, Genshin Impact runs at around 58 fps at high graphics and 60 fps settings. And as I said before, not just the average fps is impressive here, but the 99th percentile number is good too, which means the stability in games is superb.

Two cooling solutions

Infinix has also included 2 forms of cooling solutions here, the phone uses graphite sheets as well as vapor chamber cooling. While I tested the games, I found the cooling solution dissipating heat rather well here. The phone would get to almost 44°C in titles like Genshin Impact, but the performance and stability were unhindered, so I would say it did a pretty good job.

I also tried using the magnetic cooler that came in the PR package and was able to get even better temperature numbers. By the way, the cooler does not come included in the normal retail package, but users can choose to buy it separately in case they would like to have it.

Other gaming features

Besides, there are other gaming-specific features here, like “bypass charging” which does a good job of maintaining the thermals when you are playing games while plugged in.

What it does is, it allows the device to drive power directly from the charger, bypassing the battery, which reduces the load on the battery resulting in less heat build-up.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of 30 minutes of PUBG gameplay without plugging in the charger vs plugging in and enabling bypass charging and evidently the phone can maintain the thermals very well.

Good haptics and speakers

X-axis vibration motor
Stereo speakers tuned by JBL

In any case, there is no denying that the Infinix GT 20 Pro is a good gaming phone in its price range.

It’s also got good haptics, thanks to the X-axis vibration motor that you get here, and the JBL-tuned stereo speakers sound loud too. They are not the most balanced, but they sound good. I especially love how the highs sound really crisp here.

A good quality AMOLED screen

That complemented by a nice quality AMOLED screen means that not only while gaming, but the GT 20 Pro provides a nice experience while watching content and everything too.

It features a 10-bit display with nice vibrant color reproduction, 1300 nits of peak brightness, 2,304 Hz PWM dimming as well as 100% DCI P3 color coverage and TUV Rheinland Eye Comfort certification.

The only thing that’s missing in this display is HDR video playback on Netflix, otherwise, this screen has 99% of the things needed to make a good display. There’s also an optical in-display fingerprint sensor here that is fast and works very accurately.

Software experience

XOS 14 on top of Android 14
2 years of OS, 3 years of guaranteed security updates

And I am also surprised by the software experience on this thing too. It comes with Android 14 out of the box with Infinix’s XOS 14. I mean, the UI here is clean and it does not come with many bloatware apps either. There are a few pre-installed system apps, but Infinix gives you the choice of uninstalling 90% of them which isn’t much trouble if you ask me. Infinix has promised 2 years of OS and 3 years of security updates here, so that’s nice too!

Battery life

5000 mAh with 45W fast charging

Likewise, the battery life of the GT 20 Pro is not bad either. It has a 5000 mAh battery with which I was averaging around 6.5 hours of screen-on-time on this phone in a day with a lot of social media usage and some gaming which is not bad for a performance-centric phone!

It has 45W fast charging support that takes this phone from 0-100% in exactly 1 hour and 3 minutes!

Are the cameras good?

Triple camera setup at the back
(108MP main, 2MP macro, 2MP depth)
32MP selfie camera (hole-punch)

Lastly, let’s talk about the cameras now and I have to say, I was not expecting a lot in this department. Especially because this is one aspect where gaming phones usually suck at.

But the cameras here are good. It does not have an ultra-wide sensor, but its primary camera exceeded my expectations. The other two 2-2 MP sensors are nothing extra to talk about though!

Daylight images

You can see from these samples how the 108MP camera here is able to manage great details and sharpness thanks to the onboard OIS. The color science is slightly on the punchier side, but not in an overwhelming way, so I’m actually okay with that.

Daylight

1 of 7

You will notice a bit of extra contrast every now and then but in general, the photos look nice with good highlight management and dynamic range.

Portraits

The portraits are nice too. I like the field of view and subject focus in the 2x portraits taken from this phone. The skin tone is a little processed and there is an extra hint of contrast, but these photos are good enough to make it to a few social media posts, no doubt!

Portraits

1 of 8

Nighttime images

Nighttime photos from this phone are great too, with such fine details and good color reproduction along with good sharpness. I actually didn’t feel the need to turn on night mode most of the time since the native normal mode photos were good enough.

Lowlight

1 of 6

Selfies

The selfies are acceptable too. There is a lot of smoothening going on even in the natural mode, but, hey, if that is what you prefer, you might even like what you get here.

Selfies

1 of 4

Videos

In terms of videos, you can go up to 4K 60 fps here, but you will notice a bit of shakiness in this resolution. However, turning to the 4K 30 fps or 1080p option will give you much better stabilization.

Even from the front, you get an option to shoot at 2K 30 fps, and the output is a little shaky, but not bad quality-wise! I wouldn’t call this phone great for videography, but for normal, casual recordings, the footage is nice enough!

Infinix GT 20 Pro Review: Conclusion

Alright everyone, time for the moment of truth and I would like to answer 2 questions here, is the Infinix GT 20 Pro a good phone for the price, and should you buy it?

Well, the answer is yes, it brings a lot of competitive specs under NPR 50,000 and not in a gimmicky way either. Its performance is good, it has a unique design, good display, surprisingly nice cameras, and most of all, Infinix has really worked on the software side.

So, if you are looking for a gaming phone that can also do a bit of everything else, the Infinix GT 20 Pro is a good buy in my opinion.

Infinix GT 20 Pro Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

Superb gaming under NPR 50,000
Gaming vibe design and 144Hz display
Dedicated display processor
Decent cameras

Cons

No ultrawide camera
Average stabilization for videos

You can also check our Infinix GT 20 Pro review video.

Honor Play 60 silently launched in China with a 5G SoC

Honor

Dip Khatiwada

-

June 25, 2024

0

Honor Play 60 silently launched in China with a 5G SoC

Honor has officially released the Honor Play 60 Plus, a new midrange smartphone in China. It comes with a 5G chip but on the downside also features a LCD screen. Without further ado, let’s get into the specifics of the latest Honor Play 60 Plus, including its expected price in Nepal.

Honor Play 60 Plus Overview

Performance and Battery

The Honor Play 60 features a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset and runs on MagicOS 8.0, which is based on Android 14. Moreover, it is accompanied by a 12GB RAM and storage option up to 512GB. A major highlight is its 6,000 mAh battery. The phone supports 35W charging.

Display

The Honor Play 60 comes with a 6.77-inch LCD screen that offers HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display can reach a peak brightness of 850 nits and can dim to 2 nits for eye protection. in low light. It has an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. Additionally, it features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for security. Moreover, Honor 60 Plus comes in Phantom Black, Wonderland Green, and Moonlight White colors.

Also, read

Camera Setup

The Honor Play 60 Plus has a 50MP main camera with an F/1.8 aperture, accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 5MP camera housed in a punch-hole cutout.

Honor Play 60 Specifications

Display: 6.77-inch LCD, HD+, 120Hz refresh rate
Chipset: Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
Memory/Storage: 12GB RAM, 256GB/512GB storage
OS/UI: MagicOS 8.0 based on Android 14
Rear Camera: 50MP main (F/1.8), 2MP depth sensor
Front Camera: 5MP (punch-hole cutout)
Battery and Charging: 6,000 mAh, 35W charging
Colors: Phantom Black, Wonderland Green, Moonlight White

Honor Play 60 Price in Nepal and Specifications

The 12/256GB model is priced at CNY 1,499 while the 12/512GB model costs CNY 1,699. If it ever makes it here, we expect the Honor Play 60 Plus to start at no less than NPR 31,000.

Honor Play 60 Plus	Price in China (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
12/256 GB	CNY 1,499	NPR 31,000
12/512 GB	CNY 1,699	NPR 34,000

Meanwhile, watch our review of Honor X9B

Blackview Hero 10 launched as the “cheapest foldable phone in the world”

Blackview

Dip Khatiwada

-

June 25, 2024

0

Blackview Hero 10 launched as the “cheapest foldable phone in the world”

A new player in the foldable market has emerged with an aggressive pricing strategy. Blackview just launched the Hero 10, a foldable device that claims the title of the world’s most affordable folding phone. To find our more about the Blackview Hero 10, including its expected price in Nepal, specifications, and more, let’s dive in!

Blackview Hero 10 Overview

Performance

While the Nubia flip comes with a more powerful Snapdragon 7 gen 1 processor, the Blackview Hero 10 features a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, meaning this latest foldable lacks 5G connectivity. Moreover, it runs on Android 13 outside the box with DokeOS 4.0 skin on top. The company has promised software up to Android 16.

Design and Display

Like the Nubia Flip 5G, the Blackview Hero 10 features a 1.19-inch circular external OLED display when folded. When unfolded, the main display expands to a 6.9-inch screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, a compromise Blackview made to achieve a lower price point compared to the 120Hz panel. Similarly, the Hero 10 measures 8.8mm thick when unfolded, and weighs 198 grams. Regarding the design, the Blackview Hero 10 comes with a brushed aluminium frame with a leather-like surface on the back. In addition , the company has claimed that this phone is good to go for up to 250,000 folds.

Camera

The camera setup on the Blackview Hero 10 includes a 108-megapixel primary sensor and an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens. This latest foldable also features a 32 MP front camera for selfies and videos.

Also, read

Battery and Rest

Blackview has equipped the Hero 10 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which should provide sufficient space for multitasking and data storage. The device also supports 45W fast charging, and houses a 4000 mAh battery.

Blackview Hero 10 Specifications

Display: 6.9 inch , 60Hz main screen
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99 processor
Weight: 198g
Camera: 108MP primary camera, 8MP ultrawide
RAM / Storage: 12GB RAM, 256GB storage
Battery and Charging: 4000 mAh battery with 45W fast charging

Blackview Hero 10 Price in Nepal and Launch Date

Available in Eclipse Black and Sakura Purple colors, the Blackview Hero 10 is currently priced at Euro 429. If it ever makes it here, we expect the latest Blackview Hero 10 price in Nepal to be NPR 65,000 .

Smartphone	Price in Europe (Offical)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Blackview Hero 10	Euro 429	NPR 65,000

Meanwhile, watch our review of Galaxy Z Flip 3

Nothing Phone 2a review: Worth it under NPR 50,000?

Mintu

-

June 21, 2024

0

Nothing Phone 2a review: Worth it under NPR 50,000?

In this review, I’ll be sharing my full experiences with the Nothing Phone 2a. This thing has just landed in Nepal and if you look at all the smartphones under the midrange segment you get quite a few nice options here. Such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (review) which comes with a big 200MP camera and a premium design, there’s the Galaxy A35 (review) with the best camera in the segment, and Vivo V29e (review) which is a balanced midrange offering. So, yeah quite a lot of competition, right?

But I think Nothing Phone 2a is quite different from all these phones! Hold on..t’s DIFFERENT, but Not the BEST!

Before going to the Nothing Phone 2a review, let’s have a quick look at the specs.

Nothing Phone 2a Specifications:

Display: 6.7-inch OLED screen, FHD+, 120Hz refresh rate
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro 5G (4nm mobile platform)
Memory: 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage (fixed)
Software & UI: Nothing OS 2.5 based on Android 14 (upgradeable to Android 17)
Rear Camera: Dual (50MP main, 50MP ultrawide)
Front Camera: 32MP sensor (hole-punch)
Security: Fingerprint sensor (optical in-display)
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 6 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / BDS / QZSS, USB-C, 5G
Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient light, E-compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Sensor core
Battery: 5000mAh with 45W wired charging (power adapter not provided)
Price in Nepal: NPR 48,999 (8/256GB, Black/White), NPR 49,499 (8/256GB, Blue)
Check the full specifications of Nothing Phone 2a here

Nothing Phone 2a Review:

Iconic design

76.3 x 161.7 x 8.6mm, 190 grams
Glass front/Platic back, Plastic frames
IP54 dust/splash resistant

The first differentiating factor of the Nothing Phone 2a is the design itself. That iconic Nothing see-through look with LED lights is always unique and refreshing to have, but what I like here is it has a solid grip to it and feels good in the hands.

Design

1 of 2

The back and the frames are made of plastic, but it doesn’t look and feel that cheap. The gentle curves on the back offer a good resting position and it’s not a very heavy phone as well.

Glyph’s not dead!

Unlike the more expensive Nothing Phone (2) that has over a dozen LED strips, it only has 3, but I don’t mind a lot. These 3 LED strips serve the purpose for me!

The two LED features that I use regularly are No.1 ringtones. It just looks amazing when I get a call. And second, is for a timer that uses the lights as a countdown indicator.

Phone 2a (Left), Phone 2 (Right)

But I still think Nothing still has a lot to do here! They need to collaborate more! For instance, the Glyph progress that is supposed to track the progress of third-party apps is just limited to 2 apps: Uber and Zomato!

Likewise, there are just 2 presets for ringtones in the Nothing library and I don’t see a lot of ringtones in the Nothing community as well! I would have loved it if it had, say the IPL ringtone or the Champions League anthem. That would have been super cool!

Display

6.55-inches FHD+ OLED panel, HDR10+
120Hz refresh rate
Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection

Now as for the display, it’s a solid A panel! You get a slightly thicker bezel here, but the core quality of this display is commendable! It’s fairly bright too so outdoor visibility has not been an issue for me.

The touch is also superb, its X-axis vibration feedback is nice – all the apps run at 120Hz hence interacting, and scrolling with this phone feels fast and responsive. I have set the colors to “Alive” mode and I found the display doesn’t go overboard in terms of saturation and has the right amount of vibrancy and white balance.

Speakers

The speakers are also pretty decent. I found the thumpy bass to be missing, but for the price, I don’t want to complain that much. So, overall, you will get a very good experience for multimedia consumption… like watching movies, TV shows, Instagram reels, etc.

UI and Performance

Octa-core Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro 5G SoC (4nm)
8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Android 14 with Nothing OS 2.5 on top
3 generations OS, 4 years of security updates

The fingerprint sensor also works pretty well. It’s fast and accurate. But I would have liked it if it was slightly above. But once you unlock the phone, the software experience here is top-top notch and that’s probably one of the reasons why you should consider this phone over the likes of Realme, Redmi, and Poco! Nothing is also promising 3 years of major Android updates and 4 years of security updates. So, that’s sorted too!

But Initially, I found the Nothing Phone 2a to be quite slow. Be it while opening an app, navigating through the UI, or just opening the camera app, it just wasn’t performing fast! But, like I said earlier, nothing has pushed 2 updates, that have improved the performance to some extent.

Performance

Still, I think the Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset that this phone is equipped with, must be able to perform slightly better! Maybe it’s because of how heavy the UI is, I don’t know. This is just not the best-performing phone at this price! That’s for sure!

In terms of gaming, before the update, 99% in games like PUBG and Genshin was not very good, but right now it’s much better stability-wise. Still, if you game a lot, this isn’t the best choice for you! For that, you might want to consider the Infinix GT 20 Pro, which will let you push more fps and graphics.

A decent battery life

5000mAh battery with 45W fast charging

Battery, on the other hand, is exceptional. I am easily getting like 6 to 7 hours of screen time on my heavy usage pattern, which is better than any other phones in this price bracket.

For charging, Nothing still doesn’t ship with a charger inside the box, and its 45W charger is also quite pricy in my opinion. So, I used my 65W Gan charger from Ugreen which gets the phone from 0 to 100% in about an hour.

I do think, Nothing should drop the price of its official charger or should have just included one inside the box.

Cameras

Dual camera setup at the back
(50MP main, 50MP ultrawide)
32MP selfie camera (hole-punch)

OK, lastly cameras! And despite the updates, the camera performance of the Nothing Phone 2a is not quite as reliable as I expected it to be! It uses the 50MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor for both primary and ultra-wide lenses, and in this aspect, I think maybe Nothing could have gone with the Sony sensor here to get the best optimizations.

Daylight

As you can see from these samples, the photos don’t have true color processing. It is slightly overprocessed and doesn’t look natural. Don’t get me wrong, it can pull off some good photos with plenty of details and pleasing colors sometimes, but the primary camera was a little inconsistent!

Daylight

1 of 6

Ultrawide

Likewise, I also had high expectations from its high-res 50MP ultra-wide camera, but its performance is quite ordinary. First of all, you will notice that it to be more darker than the main camera, and the dynamic range/ details are also compromised! This ultra-wide angle lens also lacks autofocus so I missed clicking close-up macro shots here. Using the primary camera, I notice some focusing issues too. The background blur is also not done perfectly, at times.

Ultrawide

1 of 7

Portraits

I like the portraits though and Nothing also provides a 2X option with which I was able to get some good results. The blur is fairly decent and the skin tone isn’t that bad.

Portraits

1 of 8

Selfies

Likewise, I like the selfies too. It uses a Sony sensor unlike the back cameras, and the processing is done nicely with good skin tone and adequate dynamic range. However, the selfie camera can only record videos in Full HD, there’s no 4K recording option and I found the quality to be just okay.

Selfies

1 of 5

Videos

From the back cameras, you can click up to 4K 30fps from both the primary and ultra-wide lens and you can get usable footage for sharing it with friends on social media.

But one frustrating thing about the camera app on the Nothing Phone 2a is it takes 3 to 4 seconds to process the photos. It could get frustrating at times!

Nothing Phone 2a Review: Conclusion

So, overall, although the Nothing Phone 2a may not have the best display in its class, or may not be the best-performing phone, or the fact that its cameras are just ordinary, it is still the phone I can easily recommend under NPR 50,000 in Nepal. Especially for the Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha out there, who want something unique to show off!

For me, the Nothing Phone 2a does a lot of things right and provides a balanced blend between hardware and software. Everything here is like B+, and there are no glaring issues as it’s usually associated with a lot of other phones at this price segment.

But, like I said in the beginning, this phone has got a lot of competition! The biggest hurdle for the Nothing Phone 2a is that you can get the Samsung Galaxy A35 for better cameras and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ for overall value.

Nothing Phone 2a Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

Iconic design with Glyph Interface
Clean software experience
Decent battery life
Good portraits

Cons

Not the best performance
Average main camera
No charger in the box

Vivo Y58 5G launched in India with 6000 mAh battery

Vivo

Dip Khatiwada

-

June 21, 2024

0

Vivo Y58 5G launched in India with 6000 mAh battery

Taking a short break from the rampant release of the V series, vivo unveils its latest Y-series model, the Y58 5G. In this article, we discuss the latest Vivo Y58 5G, including its expected price in Nepal, specifications, and availability

Vivo Y58 5G Overview

Display and Durability

The vivo Y58 5G is rated IP64 for dust and water resistance and boasts a 6.72-inch LCD display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Its display features a punch-hole cutout housing a front camera

Camera

To continue with the cameras, the Vivo Y58 5G features an 8MP front-facing camera. On the rear, the smartphone is equipped with a 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor.

Performance

Under the hood, the Y58 5G runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor paired with 8GB of RAM. It offers storage with 128GB internal memory, expandable via a microSD card slot. The device operates on Funtouch OS 14, based on Android 14.

Also, read

Battery Life with Charging

The standout feature of the vivo Y58 5G is its massive 6,000 mAh battery, supported by 44W wired fast charging. According to Vivo, the device can last up to two days on a single charge.

Vivo Y58 5G Specifications

Display: 6.72-inch LCD
Resolution: FHD+
IP Rating: IP64 (dust and water resistance)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
Memory/ Storage: 8GB RAM, 128GB storage (expandable via microSD)
Rear Camera: 50MP main camera, f/1.8 aperture + 2MP depth sensor
Front Camera: 8MP
Battery and Charging: 6,000 mAh battery, 44W wired fast charging
OS/UI: Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14
Colors: Himalayan Blue, Sundarbans Green

Vivo Y58 5G Price in Nepal and Availability

The vivo Y58 5G is available in two color options: Himalayan Blue and Sundarbans Green. Pricing starts at INR 19,499 for the variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. When it makes it here, expect the Vivo Y58 5G to start at no less than NPR 34,000.

Smartphone	Price in India (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Vivo Y58 5G	INR 19,999	NPR 33,999

Meanwhile, watch our review of JBL G0 4

Anker Soundcore H30i Headphones Officially Launched in Nepal

Dip Khatiwada

-

June 21, 2024

0

Anker Soundcore H30i Headphones Officially Launched in Nepal

Anker Soundcore H30i headphones are now officially available for purchase in Nepal. Featuring a sleek design in three colorways, these headphones promise massive playtime on a full charge. In this article, we will discuss the latest Anker Soundcore H30i, including its price in Nepal, specifications, and availability.

Anker Soundcore H30i Overview.

Audio and Design

They feature 40mm dynamic speakers with PET diaphragms. With a maximum volume of 93dB, these headphones deliver a balanced audio experience suitable for various music genres. Their lightweight design, weighing approximately 183 grams is designed with durability in mind, featuring solid plastic and aluminum extenders along with soft foam padding for comfort.

Meanwhile, check out all the prices and specs of Anker speakers and accessories

Connectivity and Controls

The Anker Soundcore H30i headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 technology, supporting SBC and AAC codecs. These headphones support dual connections, allowing simultaneous pairing between two devices. Compact buttons on the earcups provide easy access to power, volume controls, and playback functions. The Soundcore app complements these features with custom EQ settings, music presets, and firmware updates.

Also, read

Battery and Charging

Powered by an 800mAh battery, the Anker Soundcore H30i headphones offer quick charging capability. A 5-minute charge provides up to 4 hours of playback time. The headphones also include a USB charging port conveniently located on the right earcup.

Anker Soundcore H30i Specifications

Weight: Approximately 183 grams
Battery Life: Up to 70 hours of playtime on a full charge
Bluetooth: Version 5.3 with support for SBC and AAC codecs
Drivers: 40mm Dynamic Speaker with PET diaphragms
Controls: Compact buttons for power, volume, and playback functions
Sound Features: Bass-forward sound profile, customizable BassUp mode via Soundcore app
Charging: USB charging port on the right earcup, quick charging (5 minutes for 4 hours of playback)
Colors: Available in black, red, and white

Anker Soundcore H30i Price in Nepal and Availability

The Anker Soundcore H30i headphone is priced at NPR 4,999. It is available for purchase through various retail stores such as Hukut.

Headphones	Price in Nepal	Availability
Anker Soundcore H30i	NPR 4,999	Hukut

Buy Soundcore H30i here

Meanwhile, watch our review of JBL Go 4

UMIDIGI G2 Tab now available in Nepal — too similar to the G1 Tab

Raizel Tandukar

-

June 21, 2024

0

UMIDIGI G2 Tab now available in Nepal — too similar to the G1 Tab

UMIDIGI launched the G1 Tab in Nepal in September last year. Now the company is gearing up to introduce another similar tablet — the UMIDIGI G2 Tab. The naming of this thing might lead you to believe that it is the successor to the first one, but, it is merely a refresh. Here, we will discuss the UMIDIGI G2 Tab in further detail including its expected price in Nepal.

UMIDIGI G2 Tab Overview

Design and Display

Design-wise, the UMIDIGI G2 Tab is almost the same as its previous variant. The dimensions remain unchanged, and so does the weight of the tablet. One — and the only — difference between this tablet and the last one is the back panel material. This time around the company has layered its back with artificial leather, giving it a somewhat premium feel. Additionally, the colour option has also been updated to Midnight Blue.

Other than that, everything is the same. The display on the UMIDIGI G2 Tab is the same 10.1-inch HD+ unit. The company still refuses to mention the type of panel on this tablet. This coupled with the fact that it is a budget offering, leads us to believe that must be a lower-end LCD. A TFT LCD perhaps?

Performance

For performance, the UMIDIGI G2 Tab relies on the RK3562 processor. If you are thinking, “What the hell is this processor?”, then I don’t blame you, really. This is quite an obscure chip from Rockchip — a fabless semiconductor company based in China. In fact, the RK3562 appears to have been introduced on select devices including the G1 Tab, hence, its rarity.

Anyway, it is a quad-core processor that clocks in at a maximum of 2.0GHz. All the cores in here are the Cortex-A53 cores, which is one of Arm’s older mid-tier offerings. In addition to the chipset, the UMIDIGI G2 Tab comes with 4GB RAM with an option to double it virtually. Meanwhile, the storage on this thing is 64 gigs by default and can be further expanded by a TB via MicroSD/TF card.

You may also like:

Camera and the rest

In terms of cameras, you are getting an eight-megapixel unit on the front as well as on the back. Both these shooters are capped out at HD (720p) video recording, which is barely acceptable by today’s standards. But once again, it is an entry-level tablet. Moreover, the rear camera setup has another cutout, but it is just LED flash. So, yeah.

In the tank, it packs a 6,000 mAh battery that supports 10W of wired charging, both of which are pretty low. For wireless connectivity, it comes with relatively new WiFi 6 support and pretty old Bluetooth v5.0 in contrast. There are no cellular or navigation options on the UMIDIGI G2 Tab. You get a stereo speaker setup though.

UMIDIGI G2 Tab Specifications

Design: Monotone design with artificial leather back
Dimensions: 244.80 mm x 162.20 mm x 9.30 mm
Weight: 576 grams
Display: 10.1-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio, TFT LCD Panel*, 60Hz refresh rate, 149.45 PPI pixel density
Resolution: HD+ (800 x 1,200)
Chipset: Quad-core Rockchip RK3562
RAM: 4GB LPDDR3 + 4GB extendable
ROM: 64GB + 1TB expandable with MicroSD card
OS: Android 13
Rear Camera: Single 8MP Camera
Front Camera: 8MP Camera (Centre-aligned cutout on longer bezel)
Sensors: Ambient Light, Gravity
Navigation: No
Battery: 6,000 mAh cell with 10W USB Type-C charging
Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth v5.0, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Colour Options: Midnight Blue

Buy UMIDIGI G2 Tab Here!

UMIDIGI G2 Tab Price in Nepal and Availability

The Nepali wing of UMIDIGI only dropped the device’s teasers on its social media but did not reveal the pricing. However, it is already available for purchase at various online and physical stores. That being said, the price of UMIDIGI G2 Tab in Nepal is around NPR 13,499.

UMIDIGI Tablet	Price in Nepal (Official)
4GB + 64GB	NPR 13,499

Ronaldo-backed United Football League (UFL) video game is coming soon

Games

Dip Khatiwada

-

June 20, 2024

0

Ronaldo-backed United Football League (UFL) video game is coming soon

Cristiano Ronaldo-backed video game and developed by Strikerz Inc is coming soon to Playstations and Xbox. Initially set to release in 2023, the game is now slated for a 2024 launch. This article discusses everything we know about the upcoming United Football League (UFL) video game

United Football League (UFL) Video Game Overview

Game Details

UFL is a free-to-play football game that aims to offer a “fair-to-play” and “skill-first” experience. Strikerz Inc. emphasizes that players’ success will not depend on in-game purchases or donations. The game has been in development since 2016 and uses Unreal Engine 5 for its graphics and gameplay.

Key Events

The developers first showcased UFL with a teaser trailer at Gamescom 2021. In December 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo invested $40 million into the game, showing his commitment to its success. Following this, UFL held an open beta from June 7-9, 2024, available on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The UFL beta attracted 1.3 million players, who played over 5.5 million matches and scored 9.9 million goals.

Global Reach

The beta test revealed that UFL found its largest audiences in the UK, Brazil, Germany, France, and the United States. This diverse player base indicates a strong global interest in the game.

Also, read

Competition with EA FC

UFL aims to challenge EA FC, formerly FIFA, in the football video game market. Players have reported that UFL feels more accessible and polished compared to EA FC. FIFA has also expressed interest in creating its own video game, adding more competition to the market.

United Football League (UFL) Future Prospects

With Cristiano Ronaldo’s backing and positive early feedback, UFL has the potential to become a popular choice for football game enthusiasts. Let’s see what the upcoming UFL video game holds in the future.

Meanwhile, watch our review of JBL GO 4