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Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: Incremental upgrade

Nikhil Shrestha
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Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: Incremental upgrade

Okay! If you were to ask what my favorite Apple product of last year was, my answer would most definitely be the Apple Watch Ultra (review). Although Apple had been comfortably leading the smartwatch market year after year — quarter after quarter — the Watch Ultra was a much-needed change of pace I must say.

Not only did it introduce an entirely new Apple Watch experience, but it also stood as this really unique — one-of-a-kind smartwatch that doesn’t have any real competition when you think about it. On one hand, it had all the “smarts” you’d expect from a proper smartwatch, while the Watch Ultra also catered to outdoor adventure enthusiasts with its ridiculously durable build quality and everything else.

Of course, all this came at a pretty hefty price tag but if something that checked both the boxes is exactly what you were looking for, then Watch Ultra was pretty much it. Now, let’s find out how has Apple followed it up with the Watch Ultra 2 this year.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Specifications:

Apple Watch Watch Ultra 2
Case Material Titanium frame, sapphire crystal front,  Ceramic/sapphire crystal back
Band/Strap Style Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band
Color Options
  • Alpine Loop: Blue, Indigo, and Olive
  • Trail Loop: Orange/Beige, Green, Gray, Blue, Black
  • Ocean Band: Blue and Orange
Dimensions 49 x 44 x 14.4 mm
Weight 61.4 gm (with strap)
Display 1.92” / 49mm, (410 x 502 px), 338 PPI
Properties Retina LTPO OLED panel, Always on Display (AoD), Up to 3000 nits brightness
Processor Apple S9 SiP  with 64-bit dual-core), 4-core Apple Neural Engine
Memory 64GB internal storage
Battery 564mAh (Up to 36 hours*)
Charging USB-C Magnetic wireless charging
OS watchOS 10
Sensors Ambient light, Always-on altimeter, Compass, Blood oxygen (SpO2), Electrical heart sensor, Third-generation optical heart sensor, High-g accelerometer, High dynamic range gyroscope, Water temperature, Depth gauge
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 4 (802.11n), LTE, UMTS, Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, Apple Pay, GymKit
Control Customizable Action button, Digital Crown with haptic feedback, Side button, Double tap gesture, On-Device Siri
Navigation Dual-frequency GPS (L1 + L5), GNSS, Galileo, BeiDou
Bluetooth Calls Yes (Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation)
Durability IP6X dust resistant, MIL-STD-810H, WR100, EN 13319
Compatibility iOS 17 or later
Price in Nepal NPR 157,000 (USD 799 in the US, INR 89,900 in India)

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review:

So, what’s new?

If I were to list all that’s new this time, this review would end in a couple of paragraphs at best. A brighter display, a faster S9 chip, and a few other quality-of-life upgrades are more or less all there is to it.

At least it’s not pricier than the previous model but it’s pretty obvious that if you own the first-gen Watch Ultra, there’s simply no need to upgrade to this guy. Nope!

But what if you’re coming from a much older Apple Watch, or what if you’re in the market for your very first Apple Watch? Then which should you get? Should you consider the Watch Ultra 2 as a viable option despite its high price? To figure that out, I have been testing the Watch Ultra 2 (while also comparing it with a few other Apple Watches) for almost a month now.

New Chip, new features

This review is a little late but it had to be since one of the biggest highlights of Apple’s latest smartwatches — which is that “double-tap” gesture — wasn’t available until very recently.

After getting used to it for a while, I gotta say this is one of those “nice-to-have” features but not something I’d particularly drool over.

The idea behind this is to basically let you control a bunch of shortcuts with a simple double-tap gesture between your thumb and index finger. Without having to use both hands.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Gesture

And while there are moments when I’ve found this genuinely useful, I feel like it could’ve been a lot more intuitive. First off, how responsive it is directly depends on how aggressively you double-tap. On Watch Ultra 2, it doesn’t work with all apps either so more often than not, the watch would throw me an error when I wanted it to do something. In the workout menu, for example, I wish I could just double-tap to scroll through the workout screens to view different stats but instead, it does nothing.

So even if it has plenty of potential, Apple has a lot of work to do if it “really“ wants to sell this feature. Oh, and this double-tap gesture doesn’t work with previous models, by the way. Apple says it’s mostly made possible by the faster neural engine on the new S9 chip (among other things), although I can gesture my way through older Apple Watches in some capacity with “Assistive Touch”.

More Storage and Better Siri

This watch also comes with 64 gigs of internal storage now — exactly double versus its predecessor — which means more space for all your apps, music files, and stuff. And if you’re someone who loves chatting it up with Siri, then you’re gonna love what you can do on the Watch Ultra 2.

Because thanks to the S9 chip, the smartwatch can process Siri requests on-device itself. Yep. Of course, it doesn’t work when Siri has to pull some information off the internet but I no longer need to wait for an active WiFi or cellular connectivity when trying to send a message, start a workout, set a timer, etc. through Siri.

Improved Dictation and Precision Finding

Apple also says it has improved dictation by as much as 25% although that was pretty much a hit-or-miss in my experience. And with the updated second-gen ultra wideband chip onboard, you can now precisely locate your iPhone from the watch itself, kind of as if it had an AirTag inside. Unfortunately, it only works with the iPhone 15 series so that’s that.

Design and Build

As far as design and build quality are concerned, Apple hasn’t made any changes to the Watch Ultra 2 over last year’s models. That means the Ultra 2 kicks things up a notch (and then some) with its hefty, muscular design.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Design

I was honestly hoping Apple would bring a smaller Watch Ultra this time — or at the very least a different color option — but this guy is still available in a single 49mm case with a silver finish. I’ve kinda gotten used to this form factor after all this time but yeah… it’s going to look a bit cartoonish on your hand if you have tiny wrists.

But it’s not like the Watch Ultra 2’s bulky design doesn’t serve any purpose either.

Really? What’s the purpose?

With a strong titanium case, sapphire crystal glass protecting the display, and all the ingress protection you could possibly find on a smartwatch, I absolutely love how carefree I can get with this thing. The bigger digital crown and the side button also feel more accessible, while this customizable “Action” button comes in handy now and then too. Apple has also made the most out of the Ultra 2’s bigger footprint by including a bigger vibration motor for tighter, more precise haptic feedback. Alongside dual speakers and a triple mic array for better phone calls.

Display

There’s really not much to complain about their display though. From color reproduction to touch responsiveness and pretty much everything you could imagine, the Apple Watch Ultra already had some of the best screens on any smartwatch. All Apple has done this time is bump the max brightness by exactly 1,000.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Display

So that means the Ultra 2 can get as bright as 3,000 nits. Now, is that an overkill you ask? Oh yes, most definitely. The weather’s been pretty awesome here in Kathmandu these past few weeks — and when I went on a hike on a sunny day — I had absolutely no trouble reading stuff on the watch Ultra 2.

Useful LED Flashlight 

Although I gotta admit that this brightness boost does have its benefits in a really dark environment, like when I’m out jogging at night or simply trying to locate something in my room during a power cut. I know an actual LED flashlight like you’d find on some Garmin smartwatches would’ve made more sense on Watch Ultra 2, but yeah, it does have its moments. That reminds me, apart from getting ridiculously bright, it can now get as dim as 1 nit for easier visibility during the night as well.

WatchOS 10 in the Watch Ultra 2

I also like how Apple has tried to make the most out of the edge-to-edge display here with watchOS 10. Practically every app takes up much of the screen real estate now and there’s just so much more information I can get at a glance. The stackable sets of widgets are also quite useful, whereas this new “Modular Ultra” watch face for the Ultra 2 looks really cool and gives me a ton of real-time information like elevation level and compass too.

Health and Fitness Tracking

The Watch Ultra 2 is no slouch regarding health tracking either. I actually wore it together with the Watch Series 9 and above all, the heart rate, ECG, and blood oxygen data I’ve been getting from them is pretty much the same. But for some reason, their sleep tracking is not as consistent as I’d like. It’s not that the readings are off every single time but on multiple occasions, I’ve noticed my Watch Ultra 2 over-recording my sleep cycle by quite some margin. Weird!!

Anyway, Apple watches are some of the best in terms of fitness tracking, and the Watch Ultra 2 is no exception. From tracking a bunch of workouts to customizing them according to your exercise goals and such, there’s a lot you can do here.

Compass waypoints and backtrack

The ability to add compass waypoints continues to be one of my favorite Apple Watch features.

Just think of it as a way of pinning important locations — like the starting point of a hike for example — and the watch can guide you back to this point in case you happen to forget the way. One neat little update with watchOS 10 is the “Elevation View” where I can use that double-tap gesture for a clearer, three-dimensional view of all my waypoints. “Backtrack” is another useful feature that’s similar to pinning waypoints but it records your steps so that you can trace it back to the origin point if you lose your way.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Compass Waypoints

Who’s the Watch Ultra for?

As I mentioned at the beginning, if you’re one of those outdoor sports enthusiasts, this big guy absolutely makes sense.

First things first, the Ultra 2’s dual-frequency GPS alone is a big deal for athletes.

Instead of just the usual L1 GPS signal, its support for the stronger L5 signal means it’s going to log your workout trail a lot more accurately. Especially where there are a lot of physical infrastructures around you like trees, bridges, and tall buildings – be it when I’m walking down the narrow streets of Kathmandu or through the dense forests of a hill, the Ultra 2’s GPS log does not have that much of an error.

In case of an emergency, its built-in siren that can get as loud as 86dB can also be potentially lifesaving by alerting others about your whereabouts. The Watch Ultra 2 is also better suited for mountaineers or scuba divers since it has all the necessary hardware and software expertise to get you through such extreme outdoor sports.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Siren

Battery Life

Besides more horsepower, Apple says the S9 chip is also more power-efficient which is why the company still quotes 36 hours for the Ultra 2.

And on days with not much GPS usage, I’ve been getting almost two days and a little over three days of backup. There’s even a “Low Power Mode” to save battery if you’re running low on juice but with the USB-C transition on the iPhone 15 series, I can now refuel my Apple Watch from my iPhone itself!

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Review: The Conclusion

The Watch Ultra 2 mostly makes sense for the pro endurance athletes who can get the best out of everything this thing has to offer. It’s an uncompromisingly bold smartwatch and one of the best examples I can think of where a product’s form has so cleverly followed its function. I can even recommend it to anyone with a deep enough pocket who’s bored with just how generic-looking Apple’s regular smartwatch has gotten lately.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

But let me reiterate that if you already have the first-gen Watch Ultra, then there’s really no reason to upgrade yet. This means if you’d rather save some money on the previous models, that makes perfect sense too.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Robust build quality
  • Excellent display
  • Improved dictation, on-device Siri
  • Reliable health, fitness tracking
  • Best-in-class call quality

Cons

  • Incredibly iterative upgrade
  • Expensive
  • A bit too bulky to wear for some folks
  • Could’ve used a smaller case option

Sony LYT-900 sensor: A gamechanger for smartphones?

Dip Khatiwada
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Sony LYT-900 sensor: A gamechanger for smartphones?

In a world dominated by smartphone photography, any stagnation in innovation is certainly rare. As such, Sony, potentially the world’s most renowned and largest manufacturer of CMOS sensors and other modules, has unveiled its latest innovation. The latest Sony LYT-900 sensor might prove to become a game-changer for upcoming phones. Let’s get to know about the latest Sony LYT-900, and how these sensors actually matter in this article.

Sony LYT-900: Overview

Configuration 

The LYT-900 Sensor stands as the top-of-the-line model in Sony’s LYT series camera sensors. It boasts a 50-megapixel one-inch sensor with individual pixels measuring 1.6μm. This translates to a sensor size of 16.384mm (diagonally).

Sony LYT-900

The LYT-900 sensor has introduced a new DCG (Dual Conversion Gain). DCG in camera sensors employs multiple gain stages, dynamic range expansion, and noise reduction mechanisms. In addition, these methods optimize the sensor’s performance in varying lighting conditions, resulting in improved image quality and greater flexibility for photographers and filmmakers.

How important are these sensors?

Camera sensors are the brain of photography, influencing image quality, low-light performance, and advanced features. As a result, they are essential in synthesizing style with substance, changing the way we define ‘capturing moments’.

What kind of sensors are they?

Camera sensors in smartphones and digital cameras fall into two categories: CMOS and CCD sensors. CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensors are more common today due to their efficiency, while CCD (Charged-Coupled-Device) sensors were more popular in the past, known for their image quality but consuming more power. Besides, the choice of sensor depends on the device and its intended use.

What is a CMOS?

Sony Sensor config

A CMOS, like a Sony LYT-900 Sensor,  is an electronic chip that converts photons to electrons for digital processing. Likewise,  these are a type of image sensor commonly used in digital cameras, including those in smartphones. Moreover,  these sensors are crucial for capturing and converting light into digital images.

The Sony LYT-900 Sensor employs stacked CMOS technology, incorporating two distinct layers—one for the transistor and another for the photodiode. This design facilitates the use of larger photodiodes, enhancing light capture and resulting in outstanding image quality, especially in low-light situations.

Sony LYT-900 Sensor: Availability

Lastly, online sources report, the upcoming Oppo X7 will be the first smartphone to ship with the Sony LYT-900 sensor. Two others (Xiaomi 14Ultra, and Vivo X100 Pro+) are rumored to follow suit, but none of that will happen any sooner than 2024.

You might want to watch the review of Sony WF-1000XM5

Tecno Pova 5 review: Meets the hype?

Dip Khatiwada
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Tecno Pova 5 review: Meets the hype?

Budget gaming phones seem to be slowly becoming a thing. Tecno who is kind of a frontrunner in this space has already made its mark in Africa and is now eyeing other emerging markets. As such, the affordably priced Tecno Pova 5 gaming phone has made its way to Nepal. So, the question now is does it meet the hype?

Before I answer that in my full review of the Tecno Pova 5, here are its brief specifications.

Tecno Pova 5 Specifications:

  • Display: 6.78-inches FHD+ IPS LCD, 120Hz refresh rate
  • Resolution: FHD+ (1080 x 2460 pixels)
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99 (6nm mobile platform)
  • Memory: 8/128GB
  • Software & UI: HiOS on top of Android 13
  • Rear Camera: 50MP primary, AI camera
  • Front Camera: 8MP with dual-flash
  • Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
  • Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Battery: 6000mAh with 45W charging
  • WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
  • Positioning: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
  • NFC: Yes
  • Radio: FM radio
  • USB: USB Type-C 2.0
  • Price: NPR 20,990
Buy Tecno Pova 5 here

Tecno Pova 5 Review:

Design and Build 

  • Dimension: 168.6 mm*76.6mm*9mm
  • Weight: 219.4 g
  • Glass Front, Plastic Frame, Plastic Back

Regarding the design, I find it quite appealing. The tecno Pova 5 comes in a triangular-shaped box with a free-fire-themed design. The stylish design on the back reminiscence me of the Nothing phone, and its overall aesthetic evokes the kind of phone one might see in a Michael Mann film carried by a hitman. While design preferences can be subjective, I particularly appreciate the color choice.

The back panel and frame of the phone are constructed from sturdy hard plastic, imparting a sense of durability. Notably, the phone boasts a dual rear camera system and unexpectedly features DTS dual speakers, a pleasant surprise given its price range. despite the DTS dual speakers, it still struggles with music with bass. And by all means, the sound is not ‘perfect’ but still good to go

Additional features include a USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio jack, catering to various connectivity needs. However, it’s worth noting that the phone carries a weight of 219g, making it notably heavy during use. This weight could be attributed to the size of the device.

Display

  • Type: IPS LCD, 120Hz, 580 nits (typ)
  • Size: 6.78 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio)
  • Resolution: 1080 x 2460 pixels (~396 ppi density)

Tecno Pova 5 Review display

The most notable aspect of this smartphone is its 120Hz refresh rate, which is quite impressive considering its affordable price range. The phone features a 6.78-inch display with an impressive 84.5% screen-to-body ratio. The IPS LCD provides vibrant colors indoors, although the brightness appears to be low during gameplay and high-quality video playback. In addition, the phone struggles to display content in outdoor settings, especially in direct sunlight, making it difficult to use under such conditions.

Despite the absence of HDR, the device performs well in video playback, delivering authentic colors and providing a pretty good experience for movie-watching. Personally, I encountered minimal issues with the device—there were very few ads, and noticeable stutters were practically nonexistent.

Performance

  • OS Android 13, HIOS 13
  • Chipset Mediatek Helio G99 (6nm)
  • CPU Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • GPU Mali-G52 MC2

Tecno Pova 5 Review Gaming

Let’s now delve into the primary feature of the Tecno Pova 5: its designation as a ‘budget gaming smartphone.’ In my opinion, it effectively lives up to this tagline. Notably, the MediaTek Helio G99 (6nm), which is an excellent chip of its class, delivers outstanding gaming and multimedia performance. I tested the device with several demanding games that rely on a robust chipset and GPU, and it pretty much excelled at all of them except a few.

Games like Call of Duty run smoothly at 60 fps with slight fluctuations here and there on medium graphics settings, exhibiting no significant drops in frame rates, lags, or stuttering. Similarly, I also played the eFootball at the same 60 fps- Standard (medium) graphics, and the gaming experience went pretty smoothly as well. 

Meanwhile, games like PUBG did pretty well at 30 fps. While I also tried high-fps games and had to conclude, the phone wasn’t that solidly optimized for it. For instance, Alto’s Odyssey maxed out at 60fps, while Mech Arena had a short run at 70fps thereabouts.

However, it’s important to note that more graphics-intensive games such as Genshin Impact can only be played at the lowest graphics settings—anything beyond that seems to strain the phone’s capabilities. In addition, the Tecno Pova 5 also outscores the ‘budget king’ Redmi Note 12 4G, while the Tecno Pova 5 comes at a cheaper price.

AnTuTu Benchmark Test
AnTuTu Benchmark Test

Now, turning to the issue of temperature, the device exhibits a relatively gradual heat buildup. Even during peak usage, the skin temperature peaked at 38.7°C while playing games like PUBG, efootball, and free fire, and the temperature was concentrated around the camera module where the battery is located. For the rest of the body, the temperature ranged between 32°C to 35°C. It typically takes a minute or two for the device to cool down to room temperature after intense usage. In addition, 

Tecno Pova 5 also offers Game Space, a dedicated space for game storage, easy access, and gameplay enhancements. With Gaming Mode, users can enjoy an optimal gaming environment, and Game Space fosters community engagement. Combined with the Helio G99 octa-core CPU, Tecno Pova 5 is an impressive gaming device for daily use. Features of Game Space may vary by phone model and region.

UI

Tecno Pova 5 UI

The HiOS 13 operating system is decent, however, it does not offer any extraordinary features to boast about. While there are minimal ads present on the phone, there is a lot of bloatware preoccupying storage. Although you can always uninstall 90 percent of them.  The operating system provides customization options which are not that unique on their own but considering the price range of the smartphone, it is definitely one of the best options available.

Battery and storage

The Tecno Pova 5 boasts a massive 6000mAh battery, which is an unparalleled spec for a phone in this range. With this battery, you won’t have to worry about charging the phone for at least a day of basic usage. The phone lasts for more than 14 hours of moderate continuous use. I remember charging the phone the other day and leaving it unused for a whole day. The phone had only dropped 2 percent in charge.

Tecno pova 5 review

In terms of charging, the phone comes with a 45W fast charger. Tecno claims that it can charge up to 50% within the first 21 minutes. However, during my testing, it took around 27 minutes, which is still quite impressive. The phone can fully charge within 1 hour, which is a great feature to have.

The Tecno Pova 5 comes in two variations with different internal storage capacities – 128GB and 256GB. It also has 8GB of RAM which is expandable up to 16GB. This is an excellent feature for a phone that is relatively inexpensive. The storage and RAM capacity makes this phone suitable for gaming and other high-performance applications as well. However, despite having 8 GB of RAM, I also faced reloading problems every time I had to reopen certain apps.

Camera 

Daylight

Although the phone has many great features, the camera is its only major downside.  That being said, it comes with a 50 MP primary camera does takes decent photos in daylight. While the colors may not be entirely accurate, the images still appear sharp and vibrant when taken under good lighting conditions.

Selfies

The phone’s front camera only has an 8 MP resolution, so it is not capable of taking great selfies. The colors are accurate, but the pictures appear smoothed out like how pictures appear in a beauty app. Moreover, under low light conditions, it is very difficult to capture any detail at all.

Lowlight

The Tecno Pova 5 struggles to capture clear and sharp images, especially in low-light conditions. The pictures appear distorted and the night mode doesn’t make much of a difference, as the images still look filtered. To capture a decent picture, you need to be completely still. However, considering that this is a ‘budget gaming’ phone, you have to compromise on certain features. If you are not very particular about the camera quality, then this phone is one of the best options available in this price range.

Videography 

Just like any other smartphone within this range, the Tecno Pova 5 also does a pretty average job recording moving images. Despite, having the ability to shoot up to 2K/30 fps, and being constrained with a stabilization mode, it can’t help improve either the quality or the shaky camera movements

Tecno Pova 5 Review: Conclusion 

The sub 25K segment in Nepal is really competitive with attractive options like the Infinix Note 30, Tecno Camon 20, Samsung Galaxy A24 4G, and the Redmi Note 12 4G.

Although the Pova 5 from Tecno lives up to the hype in terms of raw performance, other aspects including the screen, camera, weight, and software still have room for improvement.

As such, I would personally choose the Redmi Note 12 (4G) over this device even if it might cost a little extra. The Redmi Note 12 4G (review) comes with an incredible AMOLED screen, better cameras, and a better software experience. Although the Pova has an edge on battery life, memory, and raw power, the difference isn’t as noticeable as an OLED screen or better cameras.

Tecno Pova 5 Review : Pros and Cons

Pro:

  • Powerful chipset & ample memory
  • 120 Hz display
  • 6000 mAh Battery
  • Stereo Speakers

Cons:

  • Polarizing design and heft
  • IPS LCD with low brightness
  • Bloatware
  • Weak Cameras

AMD Unveils Ryzen 8040 Series: New Name, Old Chips

Dip Khatiwada
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AMD Unveils Ryzen 8040 Series: New Name, Old Chips

AMD recently announced its Ryzen 8040 series which will be the first mobile processors to feature a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) among other things. In this article, let’s talk about AMD’s latest CPUs, their architecture, core counts, clock speeds, and more.

AMD Ryzen 8040 Series: Overview

Vs Ryzen 7040 Series: What’s new? 

The keen-eyed of you might have noticed that there is no change in the core count, number of threads, boost clock speeds, or amount of cache when the new APUs are compared against their 7040 counterparts.

The crux of the matter is that these new chips don’t provide any improvements in the aforementioned specs. Rather, the new ‘Hawkpoint’ SKUs can be thought of as 7040 chips with an NPU. So, there probably won’t be very much of a performance boost (if any at all) for applications that don’t utilize a lot of AI.

Referring to the chart below, you can see that the first number only means the portfolio year and not much else. So, an 8840HS and a 7840HS are the same chip released in different years with the expectation of NPU.

Ryzen 8040 Naming Scheme

Zen 4 Architecture and Hawk Point Family

Ryzen 8040 series

As the name suggests, the entire 8040 series adopts AMD’s Zen 4 architecture. So, it isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, in fact, chips from the 7040 series don’t see much change at all—except the NPU which we’ll talk about later. They all feature RDNA 3-based Radeon graphics as iGPUs. The chips are manufactured on TSMC’s 4 nm process and form the ‘Hawk Point’ family.

Ryzen 8040, NPU, and AI

A significant highlight across the entire Ryzen 8040 series is the integration of AMD’s XDNA-based Ryzen AI NPU. This AI-focused technology, leveraging Xilinx IP acquired by AMD, is incorporated into seven out of the nine announced SKUs. The move underscores AMD’s strategic push towards on-chip AI capabilities, a trend becoming increasingly pivotal in the tech industry.

Two Primary Product Types: HS and U Series

AMD’s Ryzen 8040 series is divided into two primary product types – the HS (High-Performance) series with TDPs ranging from 35-54W and the U (Ultra-Thin) series with a lower 15-30W TDP. The HS series targets mid-range performance across various workloads, while the U series is tailored for ultra-thin and power-efficient notebooks.

Ryzen 8040HS Series

The HS series introduces five “new” additions to AMD’s mobile product lineup. This includes high TDP (45W) models like the Ryzen 9 8945HS, Ryzen 7 8845HS, and Ryzen 5 8645HS, as well as low-powered (28W) Ryzen 7 8840HS, and Ryzen 5 8640HS.

Ryzen 8040U Series

Ryzen 8040 series
image: AnandTech

The U-series chips, designed with a lower TDP of 28W include Ryzen 7 8840U, Ryzen 5 8640U, Ryzen 5 8540U, and Ryzen 3 8440U catering to varying performance needs. Specifications, including core counts, base and turbo frequencies, GPU details, and the absence or inclusion of Ryzen AI, differentiate these U-series SKUs.

Exactly the Same

As I said earlier, the newer Ryzen CPUs have NPUs that differentiate them from their older counterparts…Well…not really.

Although the above holds true for the Ryzen 5 8640U, the Ryzen 8540U is EXACTLY the same as the Ryzen 7 7540U. The same is the deal with the Ryzen 3 8440U which exactly matches the Ryzen 3 7440U on paper.

AI Improvements and Performance Boosts

AMD RYZEN 8040 series

Beyond the architectural refresh, AMD emphasizes the enhanced AI capabilities of the Ryzen 8040 series. Promising up to 1.4x the performance in AI workloads compared to its predecessor, the Llama 2 and Vision models showcase the prowess of the XDNA-based Ryzen AI NPU. AMD’s strategic focus on AI aligns with industry trends, evident in partnerships with Adobe and features in Black Magic DaVinci Resolve.

Efficiency Considerations and Launch Information

While AMD remains tight-lipped on specific optimizations and bug fixes in the Zen 4 architecture, the focus on boosting the AI performance of the NPU is evident. Notably, AMD hasn’t disclosed potential efficiency challenges that may arise from increased NPU frequencies.

AMD has started shipping Ryzen 8040 series to OEMs but hasn’t announced a launch date yet. A broader announcement is expected during CES 2024 where more details may be unveiled.

AMD Ryzen 8040 Series: Conclusion

So, all in all, the new Ryzen 8040 APUs aren’t very new after all. They feature the same Zen 4 architecture as their predecessor but now have a dedicated NPU for AI tasks. Other than that, there’s nothing much to see here.

  • Meanwhile, also watch our PC build featuring the Ryzen 5900X and RTX 3090

Vivo launches a new member of its Y36 lineup with a flicker sensor!

Raizel Tandukar
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Vivo launches a new member of its Y36 lineup with a flicker sensor!

Vivo recently launched a new member of its Y36 lineup in its home country. The new phone is a watered-down version of the Vivo Y36, that we reviewed a while ago. In this article, we will discuss the Vivo Y36i, its specifications, expected price in Nepal, and so on.

Vivo Y36i Overview

Design and Display

The Vivo Y36i looks similar to the regular Vivo Y36 for the most part. It is slightly smaller in dimensions at 163.74 x 75.43 x 8.09 mm while sporting a waterdrop display on the front. On the back, it also has a camera island with dual-camera cutout and a flash aligned right under them. It is available in three colour options: Fantasy Purple, Galaxy Gold, and Deep Space Black.

Vivo Y36i Design

In terms of display, we are getting a 6.56-inch LCD panel with 720 x 1612 pixels resolution. Meanwhile, it boasts a refresh rate of 90Hz, peak brightness of 840 nits, and a touch sampling rate of 180Hz. It is also capable of 2 nits of minimum brightness as well as a contrast ratio of 1500:1.

Performance

Under the hood, we are getting the MediaTek Dimensity 6020, which is a 5G chip. It is a 7nm octa-core processor that can clock in at a maximum of 2,200 MHz. We are getting a Mali-G57 GPU alongside this SoC. Meanwhile, Vivo has provided  4 GB LPDDR4x RAM coupled with 128 GB UFS 2.2 storage.

MediaTek Dimensity 6020 5G SoC

It also offers a virtual RAM expansion of 4 GB while Vivo has remained silent on storage expansion capabilities. It ships with the Origin OS 3.0 based on Android 13 in China. However, it will ship with the FunTouch OS when it makes its way to the global market.

Camera and the rest

The Vivo Y36i ships with 13MP CMOS sensor as the primary camera together with a flicker sensor on the back. This sensor apparently helps in real-time and accurate detection of light source frequency such that it rejects interference when taking pictures of screen and water surfaces. In the meantime, we have a 5MP front shooter with f/1.8 maximum aperture.

Vivo Y36i Camera

Juicing up the Vivo Y36i is a standard 5,000 mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging. In terms of connectivity, it supports dual SIM, dual-mode 5G, dual-band WiFi, and Bluetooth v5.1 for wireless connectivity. Moreover, it has USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired connections.

Vivo Y36i Specifications

  • Design: Rounded rectangle with a flat design
  • Dimensions: 163.74 mm x 75.43 mm x 8.09 mm
  • Weight: 186 grams
  • Display: 6.56” LCD Panel, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 180Hz Touch Sampling Rate, 840 nits peak brightness, 2 nits minimum brightness, 1500:1 contrast ratio, 16.7 million colour depth
  • Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1,612)
  • Chipset: Octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 6020 (7nm)
  • GPU: Mali-G57
  • RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4x + 4 GB extendable
  • ROM: 128 GB UFS 2.2
  • OS & UI: Android 13 on top of Origin OS 3
  • Rear Camera: Dual Camera (50 MP Primary + Flicker sensor)
  • Front Camera: 5 MP Camera (Centre-aligned waterdrop cutout)
  • Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face wake
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Electronic Compass
  • Navigation: Yes (including AGPS)
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh cell with 15W charging
  • Connectivity: Dual SIM, Dual 5G, Dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth v5.1, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Colour Options: Fantasy Purple, Galaxy Gold, Deep Space Black

Vivo Y36i Price in Nepal and Availability

The Vivo Y36i has been announced for a price tag of CNY 1,199. It is a China-only release as of now. However, we can expect it to make way into global market in coming months. If and when it makes its way here, we expect the Vivo Y36i price in Nepal to be NPR 26,999.

Vivo Y36i Price in China (Official) Price in Nepal (Expected)
4 GB + 128 GB CNY 1,199 NPR 28,999
  • Meanwhile, check out our Redmi 13C 5G unboxing and review video

Apple Watch Series 9 review: Should you upgrade?

Nikhil Shrestha
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0
Apple Watch Series 9 review: Should you upgrade?

In the ever-evolving world of technology, the question isn’t just about what’s new, but also about whether the new is worth the upgrade. As such, if you own an older Series 7 or 8 Apple Watch, does the new S9 chip alongside other incremental upgrades warrant spending cash on the latest? I will try to answer just that in this review of the Apple Watch Series 9.

But before I begin, let’s take a look at its specifications in brief.

Apple Watch Series 9 Specifications:

Apple Watch Series 9
Case Material Ion-X glass (Aluminum) / Sapphire crystal (Stainless steel)
Strap Style Rubber, Textile, and Stainless Steel
Color Options Starlight, Midnight, Silver, (PRODUCT) RED, and a new Pink for the aluminum case
Dimensions
  • 41mm: 41 x 35 x 10.7mm
  • 45mm: 45 x 38 x 10.7mm
Weight
  • 41mm: 31.9~32.1 gm (Aluminum) | 42.3 gm (Stainless steel)
  • 45mm: 38.7~39.0 gm (Aluminum) | 51.5 gm (Stainless steel)
Display
  • 41mm: 1.69-inch
  • 45mm: 1.9-inch
Properties Retina LTPO OLED panel, Always on Display (AoD), Up to 2000 nits brightness
Processor Apple S9 SiP  with 64-bit dual-core), 4-core Apple Neural Engine
Memory 64GB internal storage
Battery 308mAh (Up to 18 hours*)
Charging USB-C Magnetic wireless charging
OS watchOS 10
Sensors Ambient light, Always-on altimeter, Compass, Blood oxygen (SpO2), Electrical heart sensor, Third-generation optical heart sensor, High-g accelerometer
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 4 (802.11n), LTE, UMTS, Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, Apple Pay, GymKit
Navigation L5, GNSS, Galileo, BeiDou
Bluetooth Calls Yes (built-in three-microphone array, dual speakers)
Durability IP6X dust resistant, WR50
Compatibility iOS 17 or later
Price in Nepal
  • 41mm: NPR 81,000 (USD 399 in the US,  INR 41,900
  • 45mm: NPR 87,000 (USD 429, in the US, INR 44900 in India)

Apple Watch Series 9 Review:

Just like the Watch Ultra 2, Apple didn’t feel the urge to make any big changes with the Series 9. We’ve got a brighter display, a faster S9 chip, and a few other small improvements for a better user experience, which perfectly fits the definition of an “incremental upgrade.”

These are basically what both the Watch Series 9 has to offer.

Faster S9 Chip

Something that is new in the Series 9 is the double-tap gesture that lets you control various shortcuts with a double-tap between your thumb and index finger, no need for both hands. It obviously has some usefulness, but the responsiveness depends on how vigorously you double-tap, and it doesn’t play nice with all apps.

Despite its potential, Apple needs to put in some work to make this feature a real hit. Oh, and a heads up – this double-tap magic doesn’t work on older models. Apple credits the faster neural engine on the new S9 chip for making it happen (among other things), though I can still manage some gestures on older Apple Watches using “Assistive Touch.”

Apple Watch Series 9 Gesture

To my surprise, this chipset upgrade turned out to be quite interesting. While things like getting by the UI or launching an app aren’t drastically faster here compared to Watch Series 8 and Series 7 with the S8 chip, I can definitely say that Apple’s latest smartwatch feels more responsive in general.

More Storage and Better Siri

Now, the new Apple Watch Series 9 packs a whopping 64 gigs of storage – that’s double what the old ones had. So, more room for all your apps, music, and whatnot. And if you’re a fan of chit-chatting with Siri, Watch Series 9 is your new bestie.

Thanks to the S9 chip, this smartwatch can handle Siri requests all by itself.  Internet-reliant requests are out of the question but now you don’t have to wait for Wi-Fi or cell signal when you want Siri to send a message, start a workout, or set a timer.

Improved Dictation

Apple also says it has improved dictation by as much as 25% although that was pretty much a hit-or-miss in my experience. I guess it depends on things like your accent and enunciation as well but Series 8 and Series 7 weren’t that far behind either when I tried dictating a tongue twister or sending a casual message to my sister.

Design and Build

In terms of design and build quality, Apple literally has not made any changes to the Series 9 over last year’s models. That means the Series 9 bears the same elegant, “classic” Apple Watch look.

Apple Watch Series 9 Design

Apple lets you pick between either 41 or 45mm case for the best fit and there’s even a new “pink” color option if you get it with an aluminum case.

But display protection is the same as always. I almost have this sense of anxiety with the Watch Series 9 that I’m going to bump into things and scratch it, or worse. And it doesn’t help that its display is also curved around the edges making it even more prone to accidental damage which is why I’ve had to be extra careful by applying a screen protector on my Series 9.

Apple Watch Series 9 Design-2

Wait, I’m not done yet! You can, however, upgrade the Series 9 with a stronger stainless steel case which has a sapphire crystal glass as well but guess what? That upgrade alone is almost 70% more expensive. Some of my colleagues are also fond of putting on a case on their smartwatch but that’s never really been my thing.

Display and Software

The display side things need no complaint at all. The Series 8  already had some of the best screens on any smartwatch but Apple has done this time is bump the max brightness by exactly 1,000 nits on this model. So that means the Series 9 can now hit 2,000 nits at best which is awesome for sunny days. Apart from getting ridiculously bright, it can now get as dim as 1 nit for easier visibility during the night as well.

Apple Watch Series 9 Display

I really like how Apple maximized the edge-to-edge display in watchOS 10. Now, almost every app fills up the screen, giving me loads of info at a quick glance. It’s like getting more bang for your buck in terms of screen space.

Health and Fitness Tracking

The Series 9 is great at keeping an eye on your health. I tried it alongside the Watch Ultra 2 (review), and they’re pretty similar with heart rate, ECG, and blood oxygen stuff. But the Ultra 2 sometimes thinks I’m sleeping more than I really am.

But when it comes to workouts, these Apple watches are awesome. Both of them have loads of options, and you can tweak them to fit your fitness goals. Perfect for all you fitness freaks!

Apple Watch Series 9 Workout Mode

Compass waypoints and backtrack

I really love the Apple Watch feature that lets me add compass waypoints. It’s like sticking a virtual pin on important spots, say, where I start a hike. The watch then guides me back there if I get a bit lost. Another cool thing in watchOS 10 is the “Elevation View” – a fancy way to see a 3D view of all those waypoints with a double tap.

There’s also this handy “Backtrack” feature, kind of like pinning waypoints but cooler. It keeps track of your steps so you can follow them back to where you started if you wander off. Super useful, especially for someone like me who tends to take wrong turns!

Battery Life

The battery life depends on how you use the watch and your settings, but according to Apple’s official claims, the Series 9 lasts 18 hours on a single charge. In real-world use, the Series 9 typically ends a day with about 50% battery after normal use and a 30-minute workout with GPS.

If you wear it overnight, it drops by 15-20%, often requiring a recharge before the next day ends or first thing in the morning. Apple mentions that the Series 9 can last up to 36 hours in Low Power Mode.

Apple Watch Series 9 Review: The Conclusion

Okay, let me wrap things up now. And I’m pretty sure you’ve guessed what I am going to say here. If you already have the Series 6, 7, or 8, then there’s really no reason to upgrade yet. Besides the new chip, and some quality-of-life features, there aren’t many compelling features to suggest otherwise.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to buy your very first Apple Watch or own a much older model (Series 5 or before), the Series 9 is much of a treat.

Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Smooth performance
  • The display gets really bright
  • Improved dictation, on-device Siri
  • Reliable health tracking
  • Comfortable to wear

Cons

  • Very iterative upgrade
  • No L5 GPS
  • Costs extra for better display protection
  • Battery life could’ve been better

Vivo Y27s is official in Nepal with Snapdragon 680 and 50MP camera.

Dip Khatiwada
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0
Vivo Y27s is official in Nepal with Snapdragon 680 and 50MP camera.

Vivo has launched the Vivo Y27s in Nepal. The newest input in the Vivo’s Y-Series is the counterpart to its predecessors, Y27 and Y27 5G. In addition, this latest smartphone comes with multiple differences and repetitions. In this article, we will discuss more about the features, specs, and official price of the Vivo Y27s.

Vivo Y27s Overview

Design and Display

Vivo Y27s is your typical boxy phone with a slight touch of gentle corners.  This latest addition comes in Burgundy Black and Garden Green colors, each giving a bleak-noir-ish feel to it. You get a punch-hole cutout similar to the Y27 5G.

Vivo Y27s

In addition, it features a 6.64-inch IPS LCD with Full HD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 650nits brightness. To add to that it has also received an IP54 rating. 

Processor and Performance

The Octa-core Snapdragon 680 SoC powers the Y27s with an Adreno 610 GPU. In addition, the CPU features a 2.4 GHz Octa Core Processor, consisting of 4×2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold cores and 4×1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver cores.

Snapdragon 680 Soc

Similarly, the Vivo Y27s is offered with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage, with the option to expand storage using a microSD card slot.

Camera

Meanwhile, the rear-facing camera setup includes a 50MP primary camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and an LED flash. On top of that, there’s an 8MP camera on the front.

Vivo Y27s Camera

Similarly, for video recording, the device supports 1080p and 720p resolutions. Furthermore, it offers various features including Portrait, Photo, Video, 50MP, Pano, Documents, Slo-mo, Time-Lapse, Pro, Double Exposure, and Live Photo.

Battery and Extras

Moving on, the device features a 5000mAh Li-Po (lithium-polymer) battery and supports fast charging with a 44W charger. What that means is that the phone is good to go for a day of regular surfing over the internet. Similarly, Y27s runs on Android 13 with Funtouch OS 13 on top.

Vivo Y27s Specifications:

  • Dimensions And Weight: 164.06mm x 76.17mm x 8.17mm; 192 grams
  • Display: 6.64-inch IPS LCD, Full HD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, Punch-hole cutout, 650 nits brightness
  • Processor: Octa-core Snapdragon 680 SoC with Adreno 610 GPU
  • RAM And Storage: 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB/256GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage, microSD card slot
  • Software: Android 13 with Funtouch OS 13
  • Rear-facing camera: 50MP primary camera, 2MP depth sensor, LED flash
  • Front-facing camera: 8MP
  • Connectivity: dual-SIM card slot, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, OTG support, USB Type-C port
  • Battery: 5,000mAh, 44W fast charging
  • Read our review of the Vivo Y27s here.

Vivo Y27s Price in Nepal and Availability:

The official Vivo Y27s price in Nepal is set at NPR 24,999 for the sole 8/256GB trim. You can purchase this smartphone from Hukut and other authorized stores in Nepal.

Vivo Y27s Price in Nepal (Official)
8/256GB NPR 24,999

  • Meanwhile, you can watch our video on DJI Actions 4 vs GoPro Hero 12. 

Nothing Ear (2) gets a sweet sweet price drop in Nepal

GadgetByte
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1
Nothing Ear (2) gets a sweet sweet price drop in Nepal

Nothing Ear (2) went official back in March 2023, and it brought a bunch of upgrades over its predecessor, the Nothing Ear (1). And while it was launched only a few months prior, it has already dropped in price in Nepal. Let’s learn more about Nothing Ear (2) along with its features, specifications, official price in Nepal, availability, and more.

Nothing Ear (2) Price in Nepal and Availability

The official Nothing Ear (2) price in Nepal is now NPR 21,999 NPR 16,000. You can get it from authorized stores like Hukut.

Nothing Ear (2) Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
White NPR 21,999 NPR 16,000 Hukut Store

Nothing Ear (2) Overview:

Design

Ear (2) looks pretty identical to Ear (1) but with some minor physical changes like the relocation of the noise-canceling microphone. Each earbud weighs 4.5 gm, while the case weighs 51.8 gm. By the way, Nothing says it has remade the charging case with a “stronger, pressure-resistant material” too.

Nothing Ear (2) Design

Other than this, Ear (2) also brings IP54 dust/splash resistance for the earbuds—while the case boasts an IP55 rating as well. Nothing has also switched from touch control to press control here to minimize accidental touches.

Audio and ANC

Just like the design, Nothing Ear (2) also features the same 11.6mm driver as its predecessor—but with improved graphene and polyurethane materials. It also brings LHDC 5.0 support for 24-bit Hi-Res audio, while you can create personalized sound profiles too. By finishing the hearing test from the “Nothing X” app, the earbuds will automatically adjust EQ (equalizer) in real time for the best sound quality.

Nothing Ear (2) ANC

Like Ear (1), Nothing Ear (2) is rated to cancel out up to 40dB of outside noise support as well. But the company has upgraded to adaptive ANC this time, which automatically switches between three ANC profiles depending on the surrounding noise and the shape of your ears. Then there’s the “Transparency Mode” to let in ambient sound.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, Ear (2) pairs via Bluetooth 5.3. It can even connect with two devices at the same time, thanks to the “Dual Connectivity” feature. And you can seamlessly switch between the two as you need. For faster pairing, it also supports Google Fast Pair (for Android) and Microsoft Swift Pair (for Windows) devices. You can also enjoy “Low Lag Mode” when pairing it with the Nothing Phone (1). Other features of the Ear (2) include in-ear detection, “Find My Earbuds”, etc.

Battery Life

Moving on, Nothing Ear (2) is fueled by a 33mAh battery, while the case has a larger 485mAh battery. It is rated to last up to 6.3 hours on a full charge—or up to 36 hours with the case (ANC off). But with ANC on, its playback time is just 4 hours with the earbuds only. It charges via a USB Type-C Port, while there is 2.5W Qi wireless charging support as well.

Nothing Ear (2) Specifications:

  • Driver: 11.6mm, graphene + polyurethane (PU) diaphragm
  • Audio codecs: AAC, SBC, LHDC
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
  • Controls: Press contact
  • Music time: 
    • ANC off: 6.3 hours, 36 hours (with case)
    • ANC on: 4 hours, 22.5 hours (with case)
  • Charging time: 1.25 hours (USB-C)
  • IP rating: Yes, IP54 for buds and IP55 for case
  • Noise-canceling: Up to 40dB (personalized, adaptive ANC)
  • Companion app: Nothing X (Android | iOS)
  • Check out the full specifications of the Nothing Ear 2 here. 

Check our Nothing Ear (2) review

VIVO has launched its 6th ‘Annual Sales Carnival’ with exciting things to offer

Dip Khatiwada
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0
VIVO has launched its 6th ‘Annual Sales Carnival’ with exciting things to offer

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

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!

ASUS Vivobook 15X (2022) launched as the cheapest OLED laptop in Nepal

GadgetByte
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0
ASUS Vivobook 15X (2022) launched as the cheapest OLED laptop in Nepal

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 X1503ZA 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 X1503ZA Overview:

Design and Display

Although the Asus Vivobook 15X OLED X1503ZA 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.

Asus Vivobook 15X OLED 2022 i3 Top

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.

Core i3 1220p vs Core i5 1335U Cinebench R23

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.

Battery and Connectivity

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.

Asus Vivobook 15X OLED 2022 i3 Ports

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.

Asus Vivobook 15X OLED X1503ZA Specifications:

  • Display: 15.6″ FHD OLED, 60Hz, 600nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validation, HDR True Black 600
  • Weight: 1.7 kg
  • Processor: Intel i3 1220P or i5-12500H
  • GPU: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
  • Memory: 8GB on board, 4GB SO-DIMM DDR4
  • SSD: 256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe
  • Ports: 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1x HDMI 1.4
  • Connectivity: WiFi 6 (802.11 ax), Bluetooth 5.0
  • Security: Fingerprint scanner, TPM 2.0
  • Webcam: 720p HD camera with privacy shutter
  • Speaker: Stereo
  • Battery: 3-cell 70Wh Li-ion, 65W AC Adapter
  • Check out all the available Vivobook laptops with their full specifications and price here.

Who should buy the Asus Vivobook 15X OLED (i3)? 

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 (2022) Price in Nepal

The Asus Vivobook 15X OLED with i3 chip price in Nepal is NPR 78,000, and Rs. 108,000 for the i5 chip. You can get this Vivobook via Hukut Store which includes freebies like a bag, and mouse, and a 2 year-warranty.

Asus Vivobook 15X OLED 2022 (X1503ZA) Price in Nepal
Intel Core i3-1220P, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD NPR 78,000
Intel Core i5-12500H, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6″ FHD NPR 108,000

  • Meanwhile, check out our Vivobook 15 OLED video review.
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