Just like last year, VIVO is back with its annual Carnival. Likewise, the upcoming fest is VIVO’s sixth edition to date. The main highlight is a Dubai trip for a couple, Vivo Phones, earbuds, accessories, and more. In this article, let us dive into exploring what VIVO brings us to the table.
VIVO Sales Carnival: Overview
Vivo’s Sales Carnival kicked off yesterday and will last till the 5th of January (7th Dec- 5th Jan). In this annual sales carnival, VIVO has offered big bumpers on different categories for different customers. The Chinese company will not only give out big bumpers but will also provide exclusive discounts on many different accessories and products.
VIVO Carnival highlights
A Dubai trip for one couple
With every purchase of Y27s, a free earbud for the first 5000 customers.
Vivo V-series for 3 people
Vivo Y- Series for 12 People
Earbud up to 50 People
1-month Screen replacement for up to 300 people
A speaker for up to 1,000 people
A sidebag for up to 4000 people
A waterbag for up to 7000 people
How to participate?
You can participate in the VIVO carnival by simply joining with the QR code or with a link. And after verifying with the credentials including your IMEI number, if you are lucky enough you might win the spinning wheel.
You can keep up with the Vivo Sales Carnival through the company’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram) or Vivo-authorized retail stores across Nepal.
Meanwhile, you can watch our video on The Best True Wireless Earbuds of 2023!
The Vivobook series from Asus targets a wide range of audiences from college students to office folks and general users. As such, Nagmani International who is an authorized ASUS reseller has officially brought the Vivobook 15X OLED to Nepal. In this article, let’s take a look at the features, full specs, official price, and availability of the cheapest OLED laptop in Nepal.
Asus Vivobook 15X OLED (i3) Overview:
Design and Display
Although the Asus Vivobook 15X OLED (i3) is a 15-inch laptop, it features a comparatively lighter design, weighing around 1.70 kg. Further, the build also secures MIL-STD 810H military-grade standards. It does have a Transparent Silver color option in other regions, but you get the Quiet Blue sole shade option in Nepal.
The USP of the Vivobook 15X is the OLED display panel with a 60Hz refresh rate at this price point. Not only that, the display has 600 nits of HDR peak brightness, a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, certified Pantone validation, and HDR True Black 600 certification, which makes it a perfect companion for movies and light editing tasks alike!
Performance
Under the hood, the Asus Vivobook 15X OLED (X1503ZA) powers using an i3-1220P processor with a 10-core setup, 1.1 GHz base frequency, and a boost frequency of 4.4 GHz. This configuration contains an Intel UHD integrated graphics card. There is also an i5 12500H version of this exact laptop (Asus Vivobook 15X X1503ZA) with an Iris Xe GPU that is a bit on the pricier side.
In case you’re wondering how a Core i3-1220P holds up today, we ran the Cinebench R23 and compared it against the newer Core i5-1335U on the Acer Aspire 5 2023 (review), and it offers pretty comparable performance on the multi-core side but the i5 has higher Single Core score so it should be much snappier for things like web browsing, opening applications, and running single-threaded tasks. However, for multi-threaded tasks or heavy workloads, the performance difference may not be as noticeable.
On board, there is 8GB of DDR4 installed RAM and a 4GB spare DDR4 SO-DIMM slot. Additionally, the Vivobook 15X OLED ships with a 256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD.
There are no compromises on battery either. A 70Wh 3-cell Li-ion cell fuels the Asus Vivobook 15X OLED, with 65W charging support for this i3 variant. Moreover, the AC charger is included in the box.
In addition to all of that, the laptop has 3 Type-A ports (1x USB 2.0 and 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1), one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, and an HDMI slot. Moreover, you also get a 3.5mm aux-in jack for both the microphone and headphones. For wireless connections, you get WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
This Vivobook is for casual users and those who consume a lot of multimedia on a regular basis. As I mentioned earlier, it is quite comparable to a U series i5 processor so everyday use shouldn’t be a concern. The OLED display is a treat for watching movies, shows, and HDR content, and for the price, you are not going to get a similar multimedia experience anywhere else.
Asus Vivobook 15X OLED (i3) Price in Nepal
The Asus Vivobook 15X OLED with i3 chip price in Nepal is NPR 83,333. You can get this Vivobook via Nagmani International which includes freebies like a bag, and mouse, and a 2 year-warranty.
The Katana, as we know it, is an entry point to MSI’s diverse gaming laptop lineup. As with other lineups, MSI refreshes it yearly with the latest gaming hardware from Intel and NVIDIA— but since it’s affordable, it outsells many of its premium siblings, especially in markets like Nepal. MSI announced the 2023 iteration at the CES earlier, and it is already available for purchase in Nepal. So, let’s get into the specs, features, official price, and availability of MSI Katana B13 (2023) In Nepal.
MSI Katana B13 Overview:
Performance and Cooling
Let’s start with a subtle yet significant change— the Katana series finally gets the MUX Switch. It allows the user to connect the NVIDIA GPU directly to the display, bypassing the integrated graphics of the CPU. As a result, users can choose to work on hybrid mode for non-demanding tasks and switch to the Discrete Graphics mode whenever they need the extra fps during gameplay. This feature is accessible through the MSI Center.
Talking about graphics, you get to choose between the latest RTX 4050, RTX 4060, and RTX 4060—all capable of running at max 105W with NVIDIA’s Dynamic Boost. Interestingly, MSI also plans to sell the 17” Katana with older SKUs like RTX 3050 (B13UDXK) and RTX 2050 (B13UCXK).
MSI Katana is configurable with up to the new 10-core “Raptor Lake”Core i7-13620H with a Turbo Boost max frequency of 4.9 GHz. You might also find the laptop with last year’s select regions. To cool this gaming laptop, MSI has turned to the in-house Cooler Boost 5 tech with a dual fan and 6 heat pipes shared between the CPU and the GPU.
The 2023 MSI Katana B13 is available in 17” and 15” models. Before you start wondering, it is simply a matter of size and portability since there is no significant difference in display specs. With either, you get an FHD IPS screen with 144Hz refresh rate. The design has remained pretty much the same. MSI has added a few lines on the lid, and the keyboard now has 4-zone gaming backlight. Otherwise, the design has remained pretty much the same.
Battery and Connectivity
Fueling the MSI Katana B13 is a 3-cell 53.5 Whr Lii-Polymer battery, and it ships with 180W and 200W adapters depending on the GPU configuration. The laptop features four USB ports, an HDMI, and ethernet— in addition to the usual DC-in and combined audio jack. There is no fingerprint scanner, but you do get the firmware-based Trusted Platform Module for security.
MSI Modern Series (2023) Specifications
Design & Build:
Katana 15: 359 (W) x 259 (D) x 24.9 (H) mm, 2.25 kg
Katana 17: 398 (W) x 273 (D) x 25.2 (H) mm, 2.6 kg
MSI Katana B13 (2023) Price in Nepal and Availability
You can buy the MSI Katana (2023) through the official channel in Nepal already. You can choose between RTX 4050 and RTX 4070 variants—priced at Rs.194,000 and 209,000, respectively.
After several rounds of leaks and rumors, Realme’s flagship offering — the Realme GT 5 Pro has finally gone live. The Realme flagship arrives with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, 3VC, and many more interesting features. Here in this article, we will discuss the Realme GT 5 Pro including features, specs, expected price in Nepal, and more.
Realme GT 5 Pro Overview
Display and Design
The Realme GT 5 Pro flaunts a premium design with two different material choices. It comes in a leather and a glass finish on the back. Similarly, it comes in three different colour options: Red (leather), White (leather), and Black (glass). It features a large circular camera island enclosed by a metallic ring on the back. Additionally, Realme GT 5 Pro also boasts an IP64 dust and water resistance.
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Up on the front, the Realme GT 5 Pro features a 6.78-inch 1.5K curved AMOLED panel. This curved display is produced by BOE with ultra-narrow borders and thin bezels. Furthermore, it is capable of a whopping 4500 nits of peak brightness, 2160Hz PWM dimming, and 144Hz refresh rate.
Performance
Under the hood, the Realme GT 5 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This high-endQualcomm chip includes one prime Cortex-X4 CPU core at up to 3.3 GHz, paired with five performance and two efficiency cores. Furthermore, it is coupled with up to 16 GB LPDDR5x memory and 1TB UFS 4.0 storage.
It also houses a 12,000mm2 3VC iceberg cooling system for heat management. The Realme GT 5 Pro comes with Geek Performance Panel 2.0 allowing for CPU and GPU dual-scheduling for avid gamers. It is the first time this feature has appeared on a smartphone. In the meantime, it comes with Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14 on the software end. The company has promised up to three years of software updates.
The Realme GT 5 Pro features a three-camera setup on the back, out of which the primary camera is a 50MP Sony LYT-808. It is coupled with another 50MP 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX890 periscope lens. Additionally, it offers OIS and EIS with 3x optical zoom. Lastly, it will also house an 8MP IMX355 ultrawide camera and a 32MP front-facing camera.
Moving on, this smartphone is fuelled by a massive 5,400mAh battery. It supports 100W SUPERVOOC charging that can charge this phone to 50% in just 12 minutes. In the meantime, it also supports 50W wireless charging. Furthermore, it features an under-display fingerprint scanner, IR blaster, NFC support, and stereo speaker with Dolby Atmos support.
Realme GT 5 Pro Specifications
Design: Premium design with glass or leather finish on the back
Front Camera: 32MP Camera (Center-aligned hole-punch cutout)
Battery: 5400mAh cell with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging
Audio: Stereo speakers
Color Options: Red, White, Black
Realme GT 5 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability:
The Realme GT 5 Pro has gone live in China starting 7 December 2023 with a price tag of CNY 3,399 for the base (12/256 GB) variant. If and when it makes its way here, we expect the price of the Realme GT 5 Pro to start from NPR 76,499.
A few months ago, Dell launched the Inspiron 14 7420 (2-in-1) laptop in Nepal in a single Core i5 variant. Now the company has launched it with the Core i7 CPU as well. So, let’s take a look at the specs, features, latest price, and availability of the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 (2-in-1) convertible laptop in Nepal.
Dell Inspiron 14 7420 (2-in-1) Overview:
Design and Display
As revealed by the name, Dell Inspiron 14 7420 sports a 14-inch touch-enabled screen. The laptop supports stylus input such as the Dell Active Pen. However, it is not included in the box. Coming back to the screen, it has FHD resolution and refreshes at the standard 60Hz.
In order to achieve the taller 16:9 aspect ratio, Dell has made the bezels quite minimal. The top one even houses a 1080p webcam with a physical privacy shutter and a dual-array microphone.
On the outside, the main chassis of the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is made out of aluminium. The laptop measures 17.86mm at the height point and weighs around 1.66 kg.
Performance and Memory
Dell offers the Inspiron 14 in multiple CPU options ranging from 12th Gen Intel Core i3 to Core i7. For now, only the Intel Core i5-1235U variant is available in Nepal. It is a deca-core processor with two P-cores with Hyperthreading and 8 efficiency cores.
This particular variant of the Inspiron 14 7420 does not have discrete graphics, but Dell does offer one with NVIDIA GeForce MX550 which is yet to be available in Nepal.
As for memory, you get two SO-DIMM memory slots that can be configured with up to 32GB of DDR4 memory. Furthermore, you get one PCIe NMVe SSD that you can configure up to 1TB or 3TB depending upon the model.
On the right side of the laptop, you get a USB Type-A port along with an SD card reader and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Over on the opposite side, there are two USB Type-C ports with Power Delivery and Display Port and an HDMI port.
Dell Inspiron 14 7420 relies on a 4-cell 54WHr battery with a 65W USB-C charger include in the box. It even supports ExpressCharge for a quick re-fill. The laptop has a full-size backlit keyboard with a fingerprint scanner integrated onto the power button.
I/O Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort 1.4, PowerDelivery), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x SD card reader
Dell Inspiron 14 7420 (2-in-1) Price in Nepal and Availability
The price of Dell Inspiron 14 7420 (2-in-1) in Nepal starts at Rs. 115,000 for the Core i5 variant with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. You can also get the Core 7 variant that costs Rs. 120,000 for 16GB RAM. Dell Inspiron 7420 is available in Hukut and other computer stores in Nepal.
Xiaomi’s Redmi brand has made a strategic move by announcing its entry into the desktop audio accessory market with the launch of the Redmi Desktop Speaker. This new addition to Redmi’s product lineup is designed to offer an enhanced audio experience for desktop users, with advanced features at an affordable price point. In this article, let us dive into discussing the latest Redmi Desktop Speaker Price in Nepal, specs, features, and more.
Redmi Desktop Speaker: An overview
Design and Aesthetics
Visually appealing and designed to complement various desktop setups, the Redmi Desktop Speaker boasts a sleek cylindrical design. The matte grey finish adds a touch of elegance, making it a seamless addition to any workspace.
RGB Lighting for an enhanced experience
One standout feature of the Redmi Desktop Speaker is its integration of RGB ambient lighting. This isn’t just for aesthetics; the lighting syncs with the sound in real time, creating a dynamic and immersive color rhythm. Redmi aims to elevate the desktop environment by appealing to users who seek a visually engaging experience during their desktop activities.
Professional Audio Optimization with DSP Technology
To cater to different usage scenarios – be it music playback, intense gaming sessions, or a movie marathon – the Redmi Desktop Speaker incorporates professional Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology. This ensures that the audio output is finely tuned for optimal performance in every situation.
Redmi’s Previous Audio Launch
This isn’t Redmi’s first foray into the audio segment. The brand’s earlier release, the Redmi TV Soundbar priced at 199 yuan, received attention for its minimalist design and versatile connectivity options. Featuring two 30W speakers, a matte black finish, and connectivity options like S/PDIF, AUX, and Bluetooth 5.0, it set the stage for Redmi’s venture into audio accessories.
Despite its advanced features, the Redmi Speaker stays true to the brand’s commitment to affordability. Priced at a competitive 199 yuan ($27), Redmi is once again positioning itself as a provider of value-driven products. Stay tuned with us, as we will bring you all the news including Redmi desktop speaker price in Nepal and more.
With the recent paradigm shift, the future is certainly “electric”! More and more electric options for consumer goods are flooding the market, and are gaining popularity. One such consumer goods is — electric stoves! In this article, we will talk about electric stoves, discuss induction vs. infrared, their good, their bad, and ultimately — which one should you choose?
Induction vs. Infrared Overview
Introduction
Firstly, an electric stove is a kitchen appliance that uses electricity to generate heat and, well, cook food. On the other hand, traditional stoves rely on various fuel sources such as LPG, wood, coal, etc. Since electric stoves use electricity as the energy source, it is much more clean and environmentally friendly.
There are different types of electric stoves in the Nepali market, including the OG electric clay heater. I believe all of us remember those — and some lucky ones of us have even gotten an electric shock from it. Anyway, I will sadly have to omit this nostalgic heater from the conversation because of its dwindling presence in the market.
After this we have two heavy hitters left — the induction stove, and the infrared stove.
Infrared Stove
First, let’s get the infrared stove out of the way. Because they are basically a reskinned version of the OG heater I was talking about earlier. They have a coil underneath the ceramic or glass surface that produces infrared radiation when electricity passes through it.
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So, what is infrared? It’s basically, light that we cannot see. Even though infrared is invisible, it is not without heating properties. Thus, its utility for an electric stove, and cooking.
Under the hood, an infrared stove has a coil that heats up when electricity is passed through it. And the said heat is then transferred to the stove surface, then your cookware. After this, you cook your food in the heated cookware. As a result, an infrared stove has the following key properties:
Uses infrared (a form of light) for heating
Indirect heating (the stove surface heats up and transfers to cookware)
You can use any utensils on it
Produces residual heat (light as well)
Induction Stove
Now, an induction stove may look identical to an infrared stove, but its working mechanism is absolutely different! Where an infrared stove uses infrared radiation for heating, an induction stove uses magnetism or magnetic induction.
So, what’s going on is that an induction cooker also has a coil underneath its surface. But, when electricity is passed through it, the coil effectively turns into an electromagnet and produces a magnetic field instead of heat or infrared.
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Then a cookware placed on top of it reacts to the magnetic field created by the coil and heats up. This is why an induction stove requires a utensil made of magnetic metal like iron or stainless steel. And yes! The heat is produced in the cookware itself on an induction stove rather than being transferred from an external source like the stove surface. Therefore, an induction stove has the following characteristics:
Uses magnetic field
You can only use utensils made out of magnetic metals
The utensil itself heats up instead of the stove surface
No residual heat or light is produced
Induction Stove vs. Infrared Stove
Now let’s get into the burning “heating” question! (Get it? Because there is no flame to burn. LOL!) Which one is better? Well, it depends on what matters the most to you. If I am to answer the question in one sentence — if you want versatility go for an infrared, and if you are looking for efficiency then induction is your guy.
Infrared Stove: Pros and Cons
As I have said earlier, an infrared stove accepts all sorts of cookware. So, you can easily replace your gas stove with it. No new utensils needed — no issue! Furthermore, it also works with no utensils on it so it also doubles down as a heater. Like I said, it’s versatile! But this is also its Achilles heel.
Since an infrared stove heats the stove surface, it produces residual heat and results in higher electricity consumption. So, while the infrared stove may be versatile, it isn’t as energy efficient as an induction stove. Additionally, the hot stove surface may lead to accidental burns, if you are not careful.
Induction Stove: Pros and Cons
On the other hand, an induction stove only works with certain utensils. This sounds like a bummer, but, also is a blessing in disguise! This is because when the cookware criteria are met — the induction stove directly heats your pots instead of something else in the middle. This results in minimal energy leakage. Furthermore, it doesn’t run unless you put a utensil on it, so an accidental burn from a hot stove surface — is nigh impossible!
Matter of fact, the warmth you feel on the stove surface is because the cookware heating the surface instead of the other way around. So if you have kids in your family, this could be quite beneficial for you. Meanwhile, if you are someone who has a pacemaker, then you may want to avoid an induction stove as much as you can. This is because the magnetic field it produces may interfere with your pacemaker — and no joke — endanger your life!
Personal Verdict
Now that we have discussed “induction vs. infrared” in much detail. I want to tell you what my personal preference is… Well! I am more of an induction guy! Initially, I rooted for the infrared stove, not gonna lie. However, I was later attracted to the magnetic option (pun intended).
This is because an induction stove is a lump-sum, but a long-term investment. Meaning, yes, you will have to buy the stove and a separate set of utensils at the beginning. But, you will eventually make up for it by consuming less electricity in the days, months, and years to come in which you will be using the induction stove.
Additionally, you may not even need to buy an entire set of utensils when you get an induction stove anyway! This is because “you need a right-sized, flat-base utensil to work with the induction” is actually a myth. Any cookware — as long as it is cast iron or stainless steel — will work just fine. It won’t be optimum — sure, but it will work nonetheless. So, look around your pantry for all the stainless steel and iron pots and pans you may have lying around. Those could really come in handy!
Still undecided on which one to choose — even after the whole “induction vs. infrared” spiel? Why not opt for…
The BEST of Both Worlds!
You also get an induction / infrared combo stove in the market these days. As the name suggests, this type of stove comes with an induction on one of the tops and an infrared on the other. This will give you a lot more utility. The BEST of both worlds, literally!
Induction vs. Infrared: Conclusion
In conclusion, induction and infrared are two different technologies with their unique advantages and drawbacks. At the end of the day, it’s not really induction vs. infrared that matters. It’s actually electric stoves vs. traditional stoves.
As such, no matter which electric option you choose — you will still be better off than using something like LPG! Especially in this economy, where the price of petroleum is all-time high and still on the rise. Thus, whatever your choice may be, going electric in your kitchen is still a better option. For the environment, for the national economy, and your pocket too. So, let’s go electric! CHEERS!
The IdeaPad Slim 3i is a laptop series that has truly resonated with students of Nepal because of affordable pricing and competitive specs. It is currently on its 8th generation and comes powered by the latest 13th Gen Intel “Raptor Lake” mobile processors. So, let’s get into the specs, features, latest price, and availability of Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) in Nepal.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) Overview:
Design and Display
The design of the latest IdeaPad Slim 3i is indistinguishable from its predecessor. Everything from the lid to the main chassis is made of plastic, and Lenovo offers it in three color options: Abyss Blue, Arctic Grey, and Frost Blue. The laptop measures around 18mm in thickness, while the weight depends upon the model. For instance, the 14-inch IdeaPad Slim 3i weighs about 1.3 kg, while its 15-inch sibling is a little heavier at 1.6 kilos.
Despite the different screen sizes, the display specs of the IdeaPad Slim 3i are pretty uniform. You can choose between the TN and IPS panels. The latter has better view angles and higher brightness levels; otherwise, both are anti-glare panels with 45% NTSC coverage and a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio. There is also a multi-touch option exclusive to the 15-inch model.
Performance and Memory
The 2023 IdeaPad Slim 3i models come equipped with 13th-generation Intel processors. The CPU options are also quite rich. You can configure the laptop with an entry-level U30 to up to Core i7-1355U processors. Whereas it’s even available with an “H” series CPU, which is what’s available in Nepal. More specifically, it’s been paired with a Core i5-13420H CPU, which is an 8 cores/12 threads processor with 45W of base power and up to 4.6 GHz of turbo frequency.
As for memory, Lenovo ships the laptop in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Unfortunately, the memory is not upgradeable, and only the 16GB variant has dual-channel memory, so getting this right at the time of purchase is essential. Moving on, there is a single M.2 PCIe slot with support for up to 1TB SSD. This laptop also has an AMD version with Ryzen 7000 series CPUs but with last-gen DDR4 RAM.
All the IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) models have a 56.6Wh Li-Polymer battery supporting Lenovo’s proprietary Rapid Charge Boost technology. With this, you can get up to 2 hours of runtime with just 15-minute charging. The battery endurance differs from the model, with those with smaller screens doing better than their larger sibling.
Rest of the specs
The port selection on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) is also quite rich. There are three USB ports, with one being PowerDelivery-compatible Type-C. You also get an HDMI port, a headphone/microphone jack, and a built-in card reader. Wireless connectivity includes either WiFi 5 or WiFi 6 with Bluetooth 5.1. Other optional features include a fingerprint scanner and a backlight keyboard.
Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 16:9 aspect ratio
Keyboard: Chiclet-style backlit keyboard
Trackpad: Plastic multi-touch trackpad, Windows Precision drivers
Processor:
Intel: up to Intel Core i5-13420H (4P+4E / 12T, up to 4.6 GHz)
AMD: up to Ryzen 7 7730U (8C / 16T, up to 4.5GHz)
Graphics:
Intel: Intel UHD / Iris Xe (integrated)
AMD: Radeon Radeon (integrated)
RAM:
Intel: up to 16GB LPDDR5-4800
AMD: up to 16GB DDR4-3200
Storage: up to 1TB M.2 2242 SSD
Audio: 2x 1.5W speakers, Dolby Audio
Battery: 56.6Wh Li-Ion
Power Supply: 65W power adapter
Webcam: 720p HD camera, Privacy shutter
I/O: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.2), 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x Card reader, 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x Power connector
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) Price in Nepal and Availability
There is only a single variant of Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) available in Nepal with a 15.6-inch IPS display and Core i5-13420H CPU with a market price of NPR 69,000- 75,000.
Infinix, the Chinese OEM brand recently launched its Hot 40 series with three smartphones. Sitting right between the Infinix Hot 40 Pro and Infinix Hot 40i is the Infinix Hot 40. In this article, we will discuss the Infinix Hot 40 Pro, its specifications, expected price in Nepal, and so forth!
Infinix Hot 40 Overview
Design and Display
The Infinix Hot 40 series of smartphones all follow the same design blueprint. Given that — it is a rounded rectangle phone with a flat design and a squircle camera island with three camera bumps on the back. The thing measures 8.25 mm in thickness and weighs 196 grams. Meanwhile, it is available in four colour options, namely Horizon Gold, Starlit Black, Palm Blue, and Starfall Green.
In terms of display, we are getting a 6.78” IPS LTPS LCD panel with a centrally aligned hole-punch camera cutout. It is an FHD+ display with a 1,080 x 2,460 pixels resolution and is capable of a 90Hz refresh rate. Additionally, it also offers a touch sampling rate of up to 270Hz, peak brightness of 500 nits, and a typical colour gamut of 85% NTSC.
Performance
Moving on to performance, the Infinix Hot 40 ships with a MediaTek Helio G88 — which is a budget midrange chipset. It is an octa-core processor built on a 12nm fabrication process with a peak clock speed of up to 2,000 MHz.
Furthermore, it is coupled with 8 gigs of LPDDR4x RAM, that can be extended to 16 GB virtually. On the other hand, we are getting two storage options of 128 GB and 256 GB. We can also expand the storage up to 1 TB via a MicroSD card.
The Infinix Hot 40 comes with a three-camera setup on the back. This setup comprises of 50MP primary shooter together with a 2MP Macro lens, and an “AI Cam”. The AI Cam is most probably a depth sensor helping out with bokeh effects. Meanwhile, on the front, we have a 32MP camera with fixed focus.
Powering the entire unit is a 5,000 mAh battery cell that can be juiced up by a 33W charger. The Infinix Hot 40 supports dual SIM with 4G, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, as well as NFC for wireless connectivity. In the meantime, it also comes with a headphone jack, stereo dual speakers, and a Dynamic Island-like “Magic Ring” feature.
Infinix Hot 40 Specifications
Design: Rounded rectangle with a flat design
Dimensions: 168.61 mm x 76.61 mm x 8.25 mm
Weight: 196 grams
Display: 6.78” IPS LTPS LCD Panel, 90Hz Refresh Rate, Up to 270Hz Touch Sampling Rate, 500 nits peak brightness, the typical colour gamut of 85%, typical contrast ratio of 1,500
Resolution: FHD+ (1,080 x 2,460)
Chipset: Octa-core MediaTek Helio G88 (12nm)
GPU: ARM Mali-G52 MC2
RAM: 8 GB + 8 GB extendable
ROM: 128 GB or 256 GB + 1 TB expandable with MicroSD card
OS & UI: XOS 13.5
Rear Camera: Triple Camera (50 MP Primary + 2MP Macro + Unspecified AI Cam)
Front Camera: 32 MP Camera (Centre-aligned hole-punch cutout)
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face Recognition
Connectivity: Dual SIM, 4G, Dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Colour Options: Horizon Gold, Starlit Black, Palm Blue, Starfall Green
Infinix Hot 40 Price in Nepal and Availability
Even though Infinix has listed the Hot 40 series on their website, they have not put a price tag on it. Therefore, we do not know the specific price at which the phone will retail. However, sources are expecting to be priced under USD 200. As such, if and when it makes its way to Nepal, we expect the Infinix Hot 40 price in Nepal to be under NPR 35,000. Lastly, we will update this article once the exact price of the product surfaces.
Meanwhile, check out our Infinix Zero 30 review video
Here’s my full review of the OnePlus Open after using the phone for almost a month. But first, some insight into the state of foldables itself. So foldable phones have been a thing for a while now, right? At a time when the smartphone industry has been on a continuous decline, the foldable segment is growing at a surprisingly impressive pace. But for one reason or the other, not everyone’s convinced that foldable is the future.
Even a bunch of my colleagues say they’d rather buy a normal, slab-style flagship phone instead of one that folds. And I guess I can understand where they’re coming from. After all, the luxury of being able to fit a tablet-sized device into your pocket comes at a price. Both literally and figuratively. Plus, it doesn’t help that Samsung is pretty much the only brand selling foldables at a truly global scale either.
But that could all be changing pretty soon. Or at the very least, I think Samsung has had a really rude awakening with the OnePlus Open. It’s the very first foldable from OnePlus — although it’s technically a third-gen OPPO phone — which has been making waves around the internet ever since it was first announced.
And after using it as my primary phone for a couple of weeks now, the one thing I can tell you right away is that this is easily the most well-made book-style foldable you can find in the global market. I even believe the OnePlus Open has the potential to finally convince people to get in on the foldable fun.
Battery: 4,805mAh battery with 67W wired charging, No wireless charging
Color Options: Voyager Black, Emerald Dusk
What’s In The Box: OnePlus Open, 80W power adapter, USB-A to USB-C cable, Protective case, SIM ejector, User manual and other documents
Price In Nepal: N/A
USD 1,699 in the US | INR 139,999 in India
OnePlus Open Review:
Okay. The most significant way the OnePlus Open goes about convincing folks to get a foldable is with its design and build quality. This is easily the most “normal-feeling” foldable I’ve used yet, beating Samsung’s Galaxy Folds by a mile.
Design and Build
Folded: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7 – 11.9 mm
Unfolded: 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8 – 5.9 mm
Ceramic Guard (cover display), Glass/leather back, Metal frames
IPX4 splash resistant
Of course, it’s still a bit bulkier than normal smartphones but I think this is something you can get used to effortlessly. Emphasis on “effortlessly”. I also like how OnePlus has managed to shave off quite a bit of weight to make this guy feel as comfortable as possible.
There are all sorts of things at play here like using lighter build material to reducing the number of components on the hinge, but the bottom line is that the OnePlus Open really doesn’t feel out of the ordinary in the hand. Or in the pocket. And OnePlus assures that all of this doesn’t come at a sacrifice of the phone’s durability as well.
One million folds.
I don’t know how OnePlus did it but it says this thing can survive a million folds. That’s five times more compared to what Samsung promises for its foldables, which is just ridiculous. In fact, the OnePlus Open is also the first of its kind to be certified by TÜV Rheinland in a folding test. I barely average 50 folds a day — because I can get most of my work done on this lovely cover display itself — so I’m not worried about its hinge dying on me anytime soon.
On that note, its “Flexion Hinge” — as OnePlus calls it — is also pretty interesting. It’s got a gapless design as you’d expect, but the one thing that threw me off at first is just how… gentle it is. I’ve used every Samsung foldable from the three-year-old Galaxy Z Fold 2 (review) to the latest Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the one thing that stands out to me about Samsung’s hinges is how firm they are.
To the point where my brain has subconsciously attributed it as a sign of superior durability.
But things couldn’t be more different on the OnePlus Open as this guy pops open without much effort. It still feels a little weird to me after all this time but I gotta say I like it this way as it makes opening the phone much, much more effortless. Although this relatively loose hinge means it can’t stand on its own at whatever angle you want. Unlike the Fold 5.
IPX4 rating to relieve your rainy woes
The OnePlus Open doesn’t skip an official IP rating either. Yes, its IPX4 splash resistance isn’t as tough as Fold 5’s IPX8 rating — and a far cry from the IP68 dust and water resistance you’d find on normal flagship smartphones — but it should keep the phone safe from minor water splashes just fine.
So yeah, as far as design, durability, and comfort go, the OnePlus Open is as close as it gets to a normal smartphone. Yes, a little bit of care goes a long way as well, but if those concerns were holding you back from getting a foldable, that’s no longer a headache with the Open. There are still a few things I wish OnePlus had done differently, like the button placement or this awkwardly massive camera hump but I can live with it.
Displays
Cover: 6.31-inch 120Hz AMOLED (2K), 20:9 aspect ratio
Main: 7.82-inch 120Hz AMOLED (2K), 1.07:1 aspect ratio
Other than this, the biggest reason you’d want a foldable phone is the display — no — the displays themself. And all the possibilities they unlock.
Let’s start with the cover screen in this review because as I said before, the OnePlus Open is pretty special in this case because the best compliment I can think for it is that it’s… very normal. Yep. You’re looking at a 6.3-inch OLED panel with a regular 20:9 aspect ratio, so getting around it feels as typical as can be. And all the complaints I have with the narrow cover display on Samsung’s foldables are next to non-existent on the Open.
OnePlus has blessed it with all the colors, brightness, sharpness, and smoothness in the world too, while it’s also covered with a proprietary “Ceramic Guard” layer that’s supposedly 20% tougher than Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus. And a…ll of this extends to this gorgeous main display as well. Except that it’s protected by ultra thin glass (UTG) instead of Ceramic Guard.
The OnePlus Open’s 7.8-inch main display, with its almost squarish aspect ratio (that’s slightly taller than it is wide), is easily the most fun I’ve had out of any phone I’ve tested yet. And that’s saying something. I’ll get into all its multitasking prospects in just a minute but everything from streaming videos to playing games and just… going about your everyday chores is an absolute delight here.
The multimedia experience stands out in particular with Dolby Vision playback support, which makes full use of that 2,800 nits of peak brightness. Things only get better with the room-filling sound from its triple speakers that are plenty rich in terms of everything from bass, mids, and highs.
Where’s the crease?
Getting back to the display portion of the review, I also like how the OnePlus Open has an anti-glare layer to keep light reflections to a minimum. And it’s got the best crease out of any foldable I’ve tried. Hands-down. You can see it from certain angles with the screen off but it’s actually kinda hard to feel even when I’m deliberately running my finger through the display. While I’ve always found the deeper crease on Samsung’s Folds to be a mild nuisance and nothing more, I definitely appreciate the top-notch engineering on this thing.
And it’s just another example of how Samsung has been outdone by the competition in the foldable space. You know what? The OnePlus Open supports stylus input too even though OnePlus doesn’t mention anything of it anywhere. I guess I can see why because it doesn’t work with OnePlus’ own stylus and you’re gonna have to buy an OPPO Pen instead — that’s designed for OPPO foldables.
Now, the only thing that’s been kinda bugging me is that the dynamic refresh rate option on my OnePlus Open doesn’t seem to work at all. OnePlus says both these screens use LTPO 3.0 tech to bring the refresh rate down to as low as 10Hz on the cover display and just 1Hz on the main one — but for some reason — it only ever switches between 60 and 120Hz depending on what app you’re using.
Performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (4nm)
16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 512GB UFS 4.0 storage (fixed)
Android 13 with OnePlus’ OxygenOS 13.2 on top
4 years of OS, 5 years of security updates guaranteed
Let’s talk about performance now. Even before I set it up for review, I knew performance was never going to be a concern with the OnePlus Open. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a tried-and-tested performer, which has been paired with a colossal 16 gigs of RAM and 512 gigs of storage to make sure there’s plenty of room for all your apps and files.
While I understand that OnePlus couldn’t have shipped the Open with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, this is a pretty common compromise I’ve seen with foldables; they almost always launch with the last-gen processor. And I discovered something unexpected with its gaming capabilities too. I’ve tested a lo…t of phones with the 8 Gen 2 chip so far and this is somehow near the bottom of the list as far as fps stability and all that goes.
OnePlus Open – Genshin Impact
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Highest graphics, 60 fps
Okay, as you can see from this graph, the OnePlus Open clearly struggles to play Genshin Impact at the highest graphics settings. There’s a noticeable frame dip after just three minutes into the game whereas I was only getting like 48 fps on average after the 10-minute mark.
It’s not that the phone got unbearably hot either, so I think this is more like OnePlus defensively throttling performance to make up for the phone’s poor cooling solution. Even a couple of high-fps optimized titles — that play fine on 8 Gen 2-powered OnePlus 11 (review) — are locked to just 60 fps here.
Multitasking madness
All of this is just your usual smartphone stuff but multitasking on the main display is where this foldable truly shines the brightest. Talking about the usual stuff like split screen and floating windows sounds almost boring at this point but thankfully, OnePlus has found a whole new way of making the most out of all this screen space.
It’s called “Open Canvas” and I must say that’s a really fitting name for this feature. And one I hope makes its way to OnePlus tablets and smartphones as well.
Basically, I can now resize multiple apps on my screen as I see fit and even drop one on the bottom for a much more efficient multitasking experience. Instead of having all the apps sitting in a congested little space, the OnePlus Open just lets me swipe through them, which is a very elegant — almost laptop-like — solution if you ask me.
OnePlus Open – Open Canvas
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I can have up to four apps open here (including one on a floating window). When trying to achieve something similar on Samsung’s Fold 5, it looks so much cleaner on OnePlus.
OnePlus Open - Open Canvas
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If there’s one suggestion I could make, it’s that I wish Open Canvas would somehow utilize the entire screen when I want to view the content of all three apps at once. Right now, all it does is minimize them into this squeezed layout, making things harder to see.
Anyway, I’m also really happy to see how OxygenOS itself is super snappy and responsive to match the OnePlus Open’s character. I have encountered a few bugs here like that dynamic refresh rate thing I mentioned before and how saving my app combo doesn’t show up on the homescreen for the longest time, but I’m pretty confident OnePlus can fix it all with future updates. It has to.
Alright. With foldables, one of the biggest trade-offs that buyers often have to face is the camera quality. Smartphone makers (outside of China at least) have been portraying this “can’t have it all” story with flagship cameras on a foldable so far, and I 100% disagree with this. Because if you’re paying top dollars for a phone, it simply doesn’t make sense to settle with anything but a flagship camera system in today’s day and age.
But the OnePlus Open promises something different entirely. It’s got a proper flagship-grade imaging system, including a new 48MP Sony LYTIA-T808 sensor with “pixel stacked” technology that’s supposedly on par with the 1-inch type IMX989 sensor that you find on something like the Xiaomi 13 Pro (review). Then there’s a 48MP ultrawide camera next to a 64MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical and 6x lossless in-sensor zoom.
All of this has some Hasselblad help too — and as a standalone device — I gotta say this is easily the best OnePlus camera phone yet.
Daytime Images
OnePlus Open – Wide, Ultrawide
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Ultrawide
Wide
Ultrawide
Wide
Ultrawide
Wide
Ultrawide
Wide
Ultrawide
Wide
During the day, photos from its main and ultrawide sensors retain plenty of details and dynamic range. It doesn’t boost the saturation level to make everything pop and look unnatural either. While the zoom shots from its periscope camera are great too. Once again a lot of details and good color science to enjoy.
OnePlus Open – 3x Telephoto
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But in challenging conditions, it struggles with things like managing the highlights and contrast levels despite the terrific camera hardware.
OnePlus Open – Wide, Ultrawide
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Ultrawide
Wide
Ultrawide
Wide
And this is one area where I’ve found the iPhone 15 Pro Max (review) — which is currently my favorite camera phone — to deliver more consistent results.
OnePlus Open vs iPhone 15 Pro Max
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OnePlus Open – Ultrawide
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Ultrawide
OnePlus Open – Wide
OnePlus Open – Telephoto (3x)
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Telephoto (5x)
OnePlus Open – Ultrawide
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Ultrawide
OnePlus Open – Wide
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Wide
OnePlus Open – Telephoto (3x)
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Telephoto (5x)
OnePlus Open – Ultrawide
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Ultrawide
OnePlus Open – Wide
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Wide
OnePlus Open – Telephoto (3x)
iPhone 15 Pro Max – Telephoto (5x)
OnePlus Open’s photos can occasionally turn out rather hazy and it picks up lens flare quite easily too. Whereas the biggest area of improvement this thing needs right now is better consistency in image quality from all three cameras.
Then again, I think this is something OnePlus can get right with a couple of software updates since it has only received one camera-focused update so far.
Portrait Images
OnePlus Open – Portraits
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1x
2x
3x
1x
2x
3x
1x
2x
3x
1x
2x
3x
It can also shoot pretty nice-looking portraits. There are three focal lengths to choose from and the ones from the 3x 70mm lens look pretty nice when there’s enough light.
Selfie Images
OnePlus Open – Selfies
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Cover (32MP)
Main (20MP)
Rear (48MP)
Cover (32MP)
Main (20MP)
Rear (48MP)
Cover (32MP)
Main (20MP)
Rear (48MP)
For selfies, there’s a 32MP sensor on the cover display and a 20MP on the main one. And like all foldables out there, you can also take selfies from its main cameras. Although that 20MP sensor on the main display isn’t half bad either.
Nighttime Images
But when it gets dark, that pixel-stacked Sony sensor seriously starts flexing its muscles. By arranging photodiodes and pixel transistors vertically — on top of each other — instead of laying them side by side, this sensor can take in much more light.
OnePlus Open – Lowlight
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Wide
Telephoto (3x)
Wide
Telephoto (3x)
Wide
Telephoto (3x)
Wide
Telephoto (3x)
Wide
Telephoto (3x)
And the lowlight shots from the OnePlus Open come off really balanced. With not much noise, on-point contrast, good highlights, and everything else. The best thing about it is that you don’t even need to switch to the dedicated “Night Mode” for all this.
Videography
For the most part, I’m pretty impressed with its videography side of things as well. Even at 4K 60 fps, it shoots fairly steady videos. Exposure lock needs some work in particular but you can expect great videos from all three cameras on the OnePlus Open.
So overall, I’m quite fond of the point-and-shoot experience with this guy. And calling it the best camera on a foldable won’t be much of an exaggeration.
OnePlus Open vs Galaxy Z Fold 5
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OnePlus Open
Galaxy Z Fold 5
OnePlus Open
Galaxy Z Fold 5
OnePlus Open
Galaxy Z Fold 5
OnePlus Open
Galaxy Z Fold 5
OnePlus Open
Galaxy Z Fold 5
OnePlus Open
Galaxy Z Fold 5
Compared to the Z Fold 5, I found the OnePlus Open to be competing pretty well on most fronts. I do like the way Samsung handles contrast a bit better on most occasions. But let me once again remind you that the Open really hasn’t tasted that many updates to refine its cameras.
Battery
4,805mAh battery (67W wired charging)
No wireless charging support
Finally, I’m a little surprised to see that the battery life on the OnePlus Open is actually not that bad. An average of 6 hours of screen time on relatively heavy usage on both cover and main display? I really can’t complain about that.
And it fills up quite fast too. With the 80W brick you get inside the box (although it only supports 67W charging, by the way), OnePlus Open takes just around 45 minutes for a complete refill. But if wireless charging is something you care about, OnePlus is ready to break your heart once again since that’s missing here.
OnePlus Open Review: Conclusion
Alright, let’s wrap up this OnePlus Open review. And it pretty much goes without saying that the OnePlus Open is one heck of a smartphone. Easily the best foldable out there the biggest threat to Samsung’s “Galaxy Z Fold” empire. But more importantly, I think it actually has what it takes to get people excited about foldable phones as well.
With its “normal” design that transforms from a regular smartphone to a mini tablet in seconds, a couple of top-notch displays, an excellent software system, alongside decent cameras and battery backup, the OnePlus Open really is this no-compromise foldable that you should look into if you’ve been itching to get in on the foldable fun.
Of course, this thing doesn’t come cheap. Although OnePlus has undercut its Samsung alternative by a pretty significant margin. And by all means, I’m not saying this is perfect or anything either. But if the OnePlus Open isn’t enough to convince you to switch to a foldable phone, I don’t see what will. At least for now.
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