Just a couple of weeks ago, I found myself endlessly scrolling through my Google Photos for a solid hour. The reason? Well… I was searching for that one particular photo whose details had slipped under my mind. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t find it, but for that brief period, it felt like a crucial quest. However, it seems I won’t always have to rely solely on my memory. Google has just announced “Ask Photo”, a new feature embedded within Google Photos itself, allowing users to interact with their photos in conversation-like exchanges. In this article, we will dive further into the latest Ask Photos by google, unveiled at the recent Google I/O event.
Ask Photos Overview
The Ask Photos is basically a unique feature that will help you recall all the memories without scrolling endlessly. So if you were thinking, ‘How do I even get what I want?”… Well its fairly simple, just ask the Ask Photos what you are looking for, and taa-daa there you have it, your favorite picture from 2018, on top of your screen, without ever having to waste any time.
How does it even work?
Well, this is no new AI engine at all, but rather Google has just embedded the good old’ Gemini, that can extract pieces of information out of images and show up on your screen. This feature can be attributed solely to Gemini’s multimodal capabilities, through which we can understand both text and images at the same time. Plus a quick tip to add, the more context you feed, the better results you will get.
As showcased by Google, through Ask Photos you can also uncover information like when was the last time you made a doctor’s visit or when you had your last bike servicing. Not only that, it can also generate captions for social media.
What if your photos could answer your questions? 🤔 At #GoogleIO today, we announced Ask Photos, a new Google Photos feature that does just that. Ask Photos is the new way to search your photos with the help of Gemini. #AskPhotoshttps://t.co/KhPeCauFAfpic.twitter.com/3MZg55SgdD
Moreover, the company has also said it will not monitor your conversations or access your personal data “except in rare cases to address abuse or harm”.
Ask Photos can become an incredible asset for someone like me, who spends much of his time scrolling past memories. Although there is no information regarding its public availability, stay tuned as we will unravel the future developments regarding all of the Google’s products in the upcoming weeks.
At Google’s I/O 2024, Demis Hassabis, CEO of deepmind gave his first ever appearances on stage about Google’s “Universal AI agent for everyday life” or in short ‘Project Astra’. Project Astra would be loaded with features like object recognition made up of AI agents as they call it. And, in this article, we will discuss further about Google’s Project Astra in more detail.
Google’s Project Astra Overview
Google’s new AI progress, particularly with Gemini models, is a big deal in tech. Gemini 1.5 Flash, which you can try out now, makes those large language models faster and cheaper. Plus, with improvements to Gemini 1.5 Pro, like a bigger context window and better responses, tasks such as translation and coding become even smoother.
What can it do?
The Project Astra can describe things, give you information, and help you in everyday life as well. Through the Project Astra, you can simply show what’s in front of you, and it will answer pretty accurately. It can also help you with your assignments or even with your coding.
Project Astra is a prototype from @GoogleDeepMind exploring how a universal AI agent can be truly helpful in everyday life. Watch our prototype in action in two parts, each captured in a single take, in real time ↓ #GoogleIOpic.twitter.com/uMEjIJpsjO
Gemini Nano’s evolution to incorporate image understanding brings multimodal capabilities to smartphone applications, underscoring Google’s commitment to versatility and accessibility. Additionally, the introduction of Gemma 2 and PaliGemma models, optimized for TPUs and GPUs respectively, showcases Google’s dedication to optimizing AI performance across various hardware platforms.
Google Search Gets Smarter
Google’s Gemini Nano now understands images, making smartphone apps even smarter. This shows Google’s focus on making AI useful for everyone. Also, the new Gemma 2 and PaliGemma models, optimized for TPUs and GPUs (computer chips), show how Google is making AI work better on all sorts of devices.
Veo, Imagen 3 and SynthID
Google unveils Veo, a groundbreaking model that turns text into high-quality 1080p videos. Veo can understand both regular language and cinematic terms, letting users create videos that match their style and vision. Though it’s only available to a select few for now, Veo plans to open up to more creators with a waitlist.
Google’s latest innovation, Imagen 3, takes text and turns it into images with better natural language skills, promising top-notch image quality. The new SynthID tech now also protects text and video content, ensuring it’s authentic and safe, especially in videos made by Veo.
Google Photos introduces Ask Photos, enabling conversational image search and automatic generation of image highlights. Meanwhile, Gemini’s integration into Android phones as the default AI assistant brings multimodal support and enhanced accessibility features to users’ fingertips.
Google’s Project Astra: What’s next?
Google has big plans for Gemini, aiming to make it even better with features like Gemini Live for live voice chats and Gems for personalized AI help. Plus, integrating Gemini into Google Workspace means smarter help with all kinds of work tasks, showing Google’s dedication to making AI boost productivity for everyone.
SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) has made significant achievement in the semiconductor industry by developing a 5nm node using Deep ultraviolet (DUV) technology. This achievement comes despite US sanctions preventing access to the more advanced Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) technology. In this article, we will discuss further more about the SMIC’s latest 5nm Node in more detail.
SMIC 5nm Node Overview
Overcoming Challenges
SMIC’s 5nm development follows its success with the 7nm node, which produced Huawei’s Kirin 9000s and Kirin 9010 chips. The 5nm process is impressive given the restrictions on acquiring the latest equipment. However, initial yields are expected to be lower because DUV technology requires multiple passes of the laser, increasing the chances of manufacturing defects.
Huawei’s Role and Future Plans
Huawei plans to use SMIC’s new 5nm node in its upcoming products, including a new Kirin SoC for the Mate 70 series and a laptop chip expected to compete with Apple’s M2. Both products are set to launch later this year.
In the first quarter of this year, SMIC became the third-largest foundry globally, following TSMC and Samsung Electronics. This milestone marks the first time a Chinese foundry has reached the top three. SMIC’s first-quarter sales were $1.75 billion, surpassing Taiwan’s UMC.
Success Midst of Sanctions
The company’s progress is driven by demand from Chinese electronics firms like Huawei. US sanctions aimed at curbing China’s semiconductor capabilities have inadvertently pushed SMIC to innovate and achieve technological independence. The Chinese government has also provided significant support to SMIC’s efforts.
Shhh… It’s a ‘secret’
Despite these achievements, SMIC is cautious about publicizing its progress. Announcing new technological milestones could attract more attention and lead to further sanctions. By keeping a low profile, SMIC aims to continue developing its technology without additional external pressures.
SMIC 5nm Node: Implications for Global Competitors?
SMIC’s advancements pose a challenge to other semiconductor companies. Korean firms like Samsung Electronics, DB HiTek, and SK Hynix System IC may face increased pressure to lower prices as SMIC’s competitive capabilities grow. The trend of patriotic consumption in China could also shift a significant number of Chinese customers towards SMIC-produced chips.
I have been reviewing the new Acer Swift Go laptops side by side and in the last piece I concluded that you’d be making the wrong choice going with the regular Swift Go 14 (SFG 14-72T Review) which didn’t provide as much value. Here let me go in-depth into the review of the Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) which brings a couple of upgrades over its non-OLED counterpart for not much extra.
Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) Review: Specifications
Dimensions, Weight: 12.30 x 8.6 x 0.59-inches (W x D x H), 1.3 kg
Before we begin, let’s understand Acer’s confusing naming scheme. Firstly there are two different models under the Swift Go 14 tag. One carries the “SFG14-72” model number while the other has a “SFG14-73” tag. Both ship with OLED and non-OLED configurations under “SFG14-72T” and “SFG14-73T” respectively and don’t have a lot of differences between them. They are still visually discernable though, thanks to the notch and glowing trackpad on the 73 series.
For simplicity’s sake, I’ll be referring to the “SFG14-73” as the ‘OLED’ variant and the “SFG14-72T” as the normal one throughout this review. My review unit ships with an OLED screen, Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of memory for NPR 155,000 – NPR 165,000 at the time of this review.
Design
12.30 x 8.67 x 0.59-inches (W x D x H)
1.3 kg, Aluminum build material
The Swift Go 14 OLED looks very similar to its vanilla counterpart. The dimensions are almost the same and it feels just as compact. Visually, the notch above the webcam is useful to distinguish the two and adds a bit more character to the otherwise plain look.
There’s no extra addition to the weight or anything though so it is still very portable and feels just as premium with its all-metal body.
Keyboard and Touchpad
White backlit chiclet keyboard (1.4mm travel)
Plastic trackpad with digital media controls (with OceanGlass coating)
Despite looking similar, the keyboard on the OLED model feels a bit more high-end and satisfying to type on. The texture on the keycaps is a bit smoother but the travel and layout are pretty much the same.
On the other hand, the trackpad brings a new trick up its sleeve. It features a glowing SWIFT text on the bottom paired with digital media playback buttons that light up when streaming music or video. Other than that, it’s the same ‘diving-board’ trackpad as the regular model with a large area, decent tracking, and clicky presses.
Display
14″ glossy WQXGA+ (2880×1800) OLED display
90Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB, 99% DCI-P3
380 nits brightness, ~ Gamma 2.1
A big distinction is in the display department where you get to see a much better OLED screen with higher refresh rate, higher resolution, and better overall specs. The 2.8K screen is a 16:10 panel just like the vanilla WUXGA model but brings better sharpness and clarity. Color coverage is also better with almost full DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB colors on top of the standard RGB gamut. Somehow, the brightness isn’t as impressive as last year’s OLED model but nearly 400 nits should be enough for most use cases.
Colors and Brightness
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2023 IPS model
2023 OLED model
2024 OLED model
In everyday use, you’ll notice the poppy colors, those deep blacks, and that fluid 90Hz refresh rate. It’s solid all around and I don’t think you can ask for much more at this price point. The reflective glossy coating might be offputting for some people but it’s really not very big of a deal.
Performance
Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU (28W TDP)
Intel Arc graphics (Integrated)
16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
Since the Swift is now an “AI PC”, it features a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with a few features sprinkled here and there. That is now responsible for most of the effects like background blur, noise reduction, and auto framing during video calls. It wasn’t something that you couldn’t do before but the NPU is far more efficient at it than the CPU or GPU.
Powering the Swift Go is a Meteor Lake Core Ultra 7 processor. It’s based on the newer Intel 4 process and features gains in efficiency and graphics.
CPU does get a decent boost in multicore but the single-core score is pretty much the same as a last-gen ‘H’ series chip. That being said, you are unlikely to notice any bottlenecks or disparities while going on about your day with Word documents, browsing the web, and opening apps.
CPU benchmarks
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Intel Arc graphics
That being said, the new integrated Arc graphics is a total game changer.
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It is almost twice as powerful as the Iris Xe in older models and you really see that difference. Even gaming is totally possible on the integrated graphics, and I was able to get playable frame rates (30fps+) on a game as demanding as Cyberpunk 2077.
So, it’s no surprise that titles like Counter-Strike and Valorant ran very well too. I was able to play at over 70 fps on the CS2 and over 140 fps (at 1080p) on Valorant with very respectable 1% lows of 35fps and 79fps respectively.
NPU, AI, and the Webcam
As I said before, there’s also a dedicated NPU in the new processor for AI-related things. Besides the video effects mentioned earlier, you can also generate AI images using Stable Diffusion in GIMP, make AI music using Audacity, and use AI effects in Filmora. But chances are the normal target consumer won’t ever touch those softwares or push their NPU to the max.
The 1440p was one of the other headlining features but I’m sad to say that its actual quality isn’t very impressive. Even when you’re in a fairly well-lit room, the videos look weirdly dark for some reason with especially poor exposure and contrast levels! So much for Quad HD resolution and AI prowess!
Audio and I/O
The speakers are really not very exciting either. They sound tiny with not a lot of bass and impact so I’d recommend using speakers or headphones while watching movies for a more immersive experience.
For that, you can plug your headphones into the 3.5mm jack on the right side of the laptop which also features a Type-A port, a micro SD reader, an LED, and a K lock. On the left, you have your Thunderbolt 4 ports, alongside an HDMI, and another USB A port. I would have preferred to have a USB-C port on either side, but it’s really more of a convenience thing and not a dealbreaker.
In terms of wireless connectivity, you get WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1, so as expected the Swift is pretty fast and browses the web effortlessly.
Battery Life
65W battery, supports 100W charging via USB-C PD
65W Type-C adapter in the box
Battery life is another strong suit of the Swift Go 14 OLED with Meteor Lake silicon. Not only does the chip have new ‘Low Power Efficiency’ cores, but the overall TDP and power consumption are less than the last generation. So expect better efficiency for the same battery size, which is exactly what we see in benchmarks and real-life usage.
I was getting a full day’s work (7-8 hours) done on a single charge which is very impressive for such a thin machine with only a 65Wh cell inside. The non-OLED variant I reviewed previously lasted a little more than 6 hours most days despite having the same chipset and power profiles so the OLED is making some meaningful difference when it comes to energy savings.
Swift Go 2023 SFG14-71 (left), Swift Go 2024 OLED SFG14-73 (middle), Swift Go 2024 SFG14-72T (right)
I also ran a separate battery life test for video playback, where the Swift Go 14 OLED managed to last over 10 hours straight — versus how the other models died in like 6 to 7.5 hours already — even though they have the same 65Wh battery.
Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) Review: Conclusion
To wrap things up, the 2024 edition of the Acer Swift Go 14 is a superb ultrabook that comes with a fast processor, a gorgeous display, and a long-lasting battery life. Despite all this, I feel like there’s a better choice out there.
Let’s be honest, most people looking for a thin and light everyday laptop like students, administrative workers, or office professionals aren’t really pushing their laptops to the max. Neither do they even care about things like an AI processor or a faster GPU.
This is why I think you should be going with last year’s model for better value instead since that’s available for just under 1 lakh rupees in Nepal right now.
After all, it’s got a similar design, an identical OLED display, comparable CPU performance, and good enough battery life. Yes, you will be missing out on that powerful Arc graphics and all the AI stuff, but its sheer value for money is absolutely unbeatable for most folks.
Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) Review: Pros and Cons
The renders of Pixel 9 and 9 Pro emerged online a little while back while talks of a larger phone were also going around. With the latest development, we are not limited to renders anymore! We have live images! In this article, we will dive into all the rumours of the entire Google Pixel 9 series in more detail.
Google Pixel 9 Series Rumours Round-up
Members and Naming
The Google Pixel phones settled into a standard since the sixth series with its design and the member phones. We started getting the iconic camera island from this very series. Meanwhile, Google also started launching Pixel and Pixel Pro models in the same year as well.
It appears the company is now ready to shake things up. The rumour is that there will be three phones in the Pixel 9 series. A “Pro XL” model which will be the largest among the bunch is said to join the ranks. In the meantime, all three phones have been given a codename after a reptile. Those being, “Tokay” for the base variant, “Caiman” for the Pro model, and “Komodo” for the new member of the series.
Design
The renders of the Google Pixel 9 show the phone in well… flat frames. It’s been a few years since iPhones reverted to flat frames, and the entire smartphone industry is now following suit — including Google. The recently leaked live images of the phone confirm that these phones will indeed be flat.
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Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9, Pixel 9, Pixel 7
Pixel 9 Pro XL vs iPhone 15 Pro Max
Also, Apple went with Titanium as the material of choice for the iPhone 15 Pro Max! Then Samsung did the same with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. So, it’s only a matter of time before Pixel phones start to feature Titanium as well. Maybe this one will be the one to do so?
Display
For a little while, a few numbers of the supposed screen size were being thrown around. But, now we have a nail in the coffin leak regarding the screen size. This leak is the courtesy of Rozetked who shows some key details about the display on all three phones.
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Pixel 9
Pixel 9 Pro
Pixel 9 Pro XL
The Base Google Pixel 9 will be the most compact phone of the series with a 6.24-inch screen. Similarly, the Pro and Pro XL models will have a display that stretches 6.34, and 6.73 inches respectively. Moreover, the leaked images show the tiniest guy with the thickest bezel. Other than that, these phones come with a 120Hz refresh rate while boasting a pixel density of 425, 493, and 487 PPI respectively.
Until and unless Google decides to gobsmack us, the Pixel 9 series should come with the Tensor G4 chipset handling the processing. Additionally, the processor is already under works with the codename “Redondo”, so there will likely not be any out-of-the-blue moves from the company.
While there is barely any information on the silicon of the phone, we do have some leads on the memory and storage combo. This is again thanks to Rozetked. As per the source, the Google Pixel 9 will ship with 12GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. On the other hand, both the Pro models will sport 16GB memory while the ROM capacity remains the same as the base variant.
Camera
It appears that Google is updating the design of the Pixel phones in more than one way. They had that iconic camera island on the back that kind of resembled the eyewear of Marvel Comics’ Cyclops. Well, we will be bidding goodbye to that Pixel camera island and welcoming a pill-shaped camera island.
Previously, the word was that the Pixel 9 would finally feature three cameras. However, more recent rumours and live images completely blow that possibility from the water. Given that, the vanilla model will come with a primary shooter coupled with an ultrawide lens. Furthermore, a triple camera setup remains exclusive to the Pro models. Here, you get a main optic, an ultrawide camera, and a 5x periscope lens. Lastly, all the cameras on all three models are 50MP in resolution.
Google Pixel 9 Series Launch and Availability
As it stands, we have a very limited tea on the Google Pixel 9 series. But, we don’t need to rush as there will be more leaks and rumours coming in until these phones launch around October 2024. We will make sure to keep you updated on whatever information surfaces regarding these phones. Till then, adios amigos!
Meanwhile, check out our Google Pixel 8 review video:
Meta, the company behind Facebook, is diving into the world of AI-driven earphones, aiming to bring groundbreaking technology to everyday devices. We are talking about earbuds with *checks note* ‘cameras’. Yeah, you read it write. Now, let’s dive into this article discussing the upcoming Meta Camerabuds in more detail.
Meta Camerabuds Overview
Known as “Camerabuds” internally, Meta’s latest project involves embedding AI capabilities into earphones equipped with cameras. These earphones are designed to identify objects and translate languages in real time, a significant leap forward in wearable gadgets.
Whats is Meta even cooking?
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, is personally invested in the development of “Camerabuds.” He’s been involved in reviewing different designs, considering options from small earbuds to larger headphones. Furthermore, Meta is teaming up with Ear Micro, an electronics company based in Kansas, to bring their vision to life.
Challenges and Considerations
However, there are hurdles to overcome. Technical issues like hair obstructing the camera and overheating problems need solutions. Privacy concerns, especially around camera use, must also be addressed. If implemented, they could perhaps offer real-time translation and information about surroundings, empowering disabled individuals to navigate the world more independently. In addition, Meta will also have to take its rivals in to consideration, as tech companies, be they giants or small startups, all have made some kind of foray into almost every segment of tech.
While the future of Meta’s “Camerabuds” remains uncertain, their development showcases the tech industry’s ongoing efforts to integrate AI into daily life. But the idea of Camerabuds remains pretty unique in itself, and the upcoming technological changes is something we’ll have to prepare for.
In a blog post on their site yesterday, OpenAI announced a new version of GPT 4 with faster computation and better efficiency labeled ‘GPT-4o’. In this piece, let’s take a quick peek at the new GPT 4o and what it entails for you and me.
GPT-4o Overview:
Performance Improvements
GPT-4o is OpenAI’s latest ‘flagship model’ which means that it beats the popular GPT 4 and the faster GPT 4 Turbo in terms of performance. Benchmarks-wise, it outperforms competition from Anthropic and Google beating Claude Opus and Gemini Ultra in most cases. Safe to say that it’s the king of LLMs right now.
Let’s start simple with what’s improved. The ‘o’ in the name stands for ‘Omni’ which can be interpreted as good at everything. According to the company, the new model is ‘much faster’ and improves on its abilities around the clock be it text, speech, or vision. With best-in-class image understanding, GPT-4o will be able to do things like look and explain hotel menus, do translations, and offer recommendations based on images.
Future Promises
Future prospects also look bright as OpenAI aims for real-time voice and video conversations with ChatGPT in the future. One particular example they gave is the ability to explain the rules of an ongoing game. There’ll be a dedicated ‘Voice Mode’ housing all these new features with early access to Plus users.
Free to use but…
One of the most exciting things about this upcoming GPT is the access ladder. Unlike GPT-4 which was pay-walled behind a 20-dollar ‘Plus’ subscription, GPT-4o will be free to use for all users. Given that free users will have usage limits and they will be downgraded to GPT 3.5 when that limit is triggered, it’s still more inclusive than what we have right now with GPT 4. ChatGPT Plus users get five times greater limits while Enterprise and Team have even higher ceilings.
So what can you do with the new GPT-4o that you cannot right now with your free version of Chat GPT?
First and most apparent is the ability to pull answers from the internet. Next, you are likely to notice the speed of generated output is super fast. You’ll also be able to voice chat with the bot and upload files to ask queries that way. Of course, the quality of the output is bound to improve and you’ll also have access to GPTs and the GPT store. Last but not least, you can use memory so that ChatGPT remembers details about you and your conversations.
Meanwhile, check out the best AI tools to boost your productivity:
Google has been working to enable some capabilities of its Chromium OS platform on Android devices through virtualization. At a recent event, the company demonstrated running a special “ferrochrome” build of Chromium OS on a Pixel 8 phone using the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF). In this article, we will discuss furthermore about the latest news regarding Chromium OS on Android devices in more detail.
Chromium OS on Android Devices Overview
Enabling Chrome OS Capabilities
While Chromium OS didn’t display on the Pixel 8’s screen directly, it was projected onto an external display, highlighting the phone’s desktop mode capabilities. This indicates Google’s interest in bringing a more full-fledged desktop experience to Android devices.
Separate But Complementary Platforms
Android started on smartphones but grew to tablets, wearables, TVs, and cars. Google made Chrome OS for PCs instead of expanding Android. While Chrome OS can run Android apps, Android can’t run Chrome OS fully. Google thought about combining Android and Chrome OS into “Andromeda” but decided against it because both platforms were doing well on their own.
Benefits of Separate Platforms
Rather than merging Android and Chrome OS, Google aims to continue enhancing the two operating systems complementarily. Features like seamless OS updates were borrowed from Chrome OS into Android. Meanwhile, Chrome OS gained the ability to run Android apps.
Desktop Expansion
The AVF technology demonstrated can securely run a virtualized copy of Chrome OS in parallel with Android on the same hardware. A developer even showcased running a virtualized instance of Windows 11 on an Android phone using AVF. While retaining Android and Chrome OS as separate platforms optimized for their primary use cases, such virtualization could enable Android device owners to take advantage of desktop OS capabilities when needed.
While users express preferences for Chrome OS on Android for desktop mode, Google has yet to confirm plans for shipping. Nonetheless, the integration of Chrome OS with Android smartphones holds promise for seamless computing experiences in the future.
boAt launched the Airdopes Supreme a few months back, offering a spatial audio feature. Now the Indian company is adding another member to its Airdopes series, this time with Dolby Audio. In this article, we will discuss the boAt Airdopes 800 in further detail including its price in Nepal.
boAt Airdopes 800 Overview
Design and Audio
These new earbuds come in an in-ear fit with silicone tips and feature flat-edged stems. Furthermore, the grooves on the stem are also quite edgy. Meanwhile, the charging case of the boAt Airdopes 800 is boxy and resembles a suitcase. These earbuds are available in four shades: Black, Blue, Green, and White. The company has hooked the word “Interstellar” at the front of all these colour options.
The main highlighting feature of the boAt Airdopes 800 is surely its audio. These earbuds can offer Surround Sound powered by Dolby Audio which allows for an immersive experience when watching a movie or a series. Additionally, the brand says these earbuds are the “first-in-segment” to offer Dolby Audio and rely on high-fidelity 10mm titanium drivers. Other than that, you get a quad-mic setup in here offering AI ENC during calls that cut down sounds below 85dB in loudness.
The boAt Airdopes 800 is equipped with Bluetooth for wireless connectivity with your devices, however, the company does not mention the version of it. Regardless of that, these earbuds are capable of Multi-point connectivity wherein they can be connected to two devices at once. Moreover, a smart algorithm facilitates effortless toggling between the connected devices. In the meantime, they also come with a 50ms low-latency mode for gaming and offer audio customisation through Adaptive EQ with the boAt Hearable app.
Moving on to the battery on the Airdopes 800, boAt does not state the cell capacity either. Nevertheless, they do claim that their latest earbuds can offer you 40 hours of combined playtime. Lastly, these earbuds also support fast charging where plugging them in for just five minutes can give you 100 minutes of playback in return.
boAt Airdopes 800
Design: In-ear with stem
Sound Driver: 10mm titanium drivers
Noise Cancellation: AI ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) with 4 mics
Playback (With Case): Up to 40 hours
Charging: Via USB Type-C, 100 minutes with 5 minutes charge
Features: Multipoint connection, BEAST Mode with up to 50ms latency, Surround Sound with Dolby Audio
Colour Options: Interstellar Black, Interstellar Blue, Interstellar Green, Interstellar White
boAt Airdopes 800 Price in Nepal and Availability
These earbuds have been announced, but they are yet to be launched. They will be available to purchase starting on 17 May 2024 while the pricing has been listed at INR 6,490 on Flipkart. Furthermore, they might eventually make their way here. When they do, we expect the boAt Airdopes 800 price in Nepal to be NPR 10,499.
Vivo just loves to confuse us with the naming of its devices. Its affordable entries and their names are quite convoluted, and the flagship section is following suit with the X100 series. Too many entries! Anyway, Vivo just launched the X100s and let’s discuss everything about it including its expected price in Nepal.
Vivo X100s Overview
Design and Display
The Vivo X100s has the same design blueprint as the rest of its siblings. That being said, it comes with a curved back while the frames and the screen are flat. The phone’s chassis is made of aluminium while the back is made of glass. Additionally, the Vivo X100s is available in four colour options: three in a monotone grey, white, and black finish and the last one in a blue shade with wavy patterns.
Display and Design
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On the front, this latest phone unsurprisingly features an AMOLED panel that stretches 6.78 inches. The resolution and refresh rate on this thing is 2,800 x 1,260 pixels and 120Hz respectively. As I mentioned earlier, the screen on the Vivo X100s is flat which is distinctly unique to it as other members of its series sport a curved screen.
Performance
This Vivo X100s packs the recently launched MediaTek flagship processor i.e. Dimensity 9300+. This chipset is all about performance as there are no efficiency cores in this processor. It comes with four ARM Cortex-X4, and A720 cores each, clocks in at a peak frequency of 3.4GHz, and follows third-generation TSMC 4nm fabrication.
In addition to that, the Vivo X100s features an LPDDR5x memory and UFS 4.0 storage. The storage and RAM come in four combos. Those being, 12GB + 256GB, 16GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB, and 16GB + 1TB.
The cameras on this Vivo X100s continue to be in a partnership with Zeiss as it features T* coating from the German company. This is an anti-reflective coating that allows for maximum light transmission while reducing lens glares. Meanwhile, the sensors themselves are 50MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, and 64MP 3x periscope respectively while the selfie camera on here is a 32MP unit. Furthermore, the main and portrait shooters are OIS-ready too.
The Vivo X100s draws its power from a 5,100 mAh battery with 100W wired charging capability. This phone — unlike its other compatriots — does not accept wireless charging. Other than that, it features an optical fingerprint sensor underneath the screen for biometric security.
Vivo X100s Specifications
Design: Flat screen, flat aluminium edges, and curved glass back
Front Camera: 32MP Camera (Centre-aligned hole-punch cutout)
Security: In-display optical fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
Battery: 5,100 mAh cell with 100W super fast charging
Colour Options: Qingyun (Blue), Titanium, White Moonlight, Black
Vivo X100s Price in Nepal and Availability
The Vivo X100s launched alongside the Vivo X100 Ultra and Vivo X100s Pro on 13 May 2024 in China. The pricing starts at CNY 3,999 and goes all the way to CNY 5,199. There is no news regarding its availability outside of China at this time. If it ever arrives here by any means, we expect the Vivo X100s to start at no less than NPR 84,000.
Vivo X100s
Price in China (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
12GB+256GB
CNY 3,999
NPR 85,000
16GB+256GB
CNY 4,399
NPR 93,000
16GB+512GB
CNY 4,699
NPR 102,000
16GB+1TB
CNY 5,199
NPR 110,000
Meanwhile, check out our Vivo X100 Pro review video:
