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These are the BEST Gaming Headphones to buy in Nepal!

Raizel Tandukar
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These are the BEST Gaming Headphones to buy in Nepal!

Are you into gaming? Who am I kidding  — of course, you are! That’s why you’re here! You’re surely aware of how important sound is for an immersive gaming experience. As such, I don’t need to stress how headphones — gaming headphones, specifically affect your experience altogether! So, without further ado, let’s see what are the best gaming headphones that you can buy in Nepal!

BEST Gaming Headphones to Buy in Nepal

The market for gaming headphones is pretty vast and there are plenty of options for you to choose from. However, there is a BIG aspect you need to consider before getting these audio peripherals! That is — wired or wireless?

Saying which one is better is another debate of its own without a definitive answer. Both of them have perks and drawbacks of their own. It all boils down to your personal preference. So, I am not going to get into that. Instead, what I am going to do is — list out the best ones for both categories. After that, you can choose the one that suits your preference. Alright? Now, that’s out of the way. Let’s get it going with the wired ones first:

Best Wired Gaming Headphones in Nepal

1. EPOS H6Pro

We are starting our list strong, with the EPOS H6Pro. It is a closed acoustic gaming headphone with an over-ear design and compatibility with all major platforms like PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox series, Nintendo Switch, and so on. Talking of the brand itself, it is a part of Demant Group. This group is — I kid you not — an international hearing health care and technology company.

This sleek and lightweight headphone comes with a headband that you can adjust at various preset levels. It also comes with EPOS BrainAdapt Technology, which as per the company is designed to support the way the brain processes sound to reduce the cognitive load. This enables better communication, faster reaction time, and better in-game decision-making.

EPOS H60Pro

Meanwhile, it features a detachable mic on the left that you can lift to mute. Whereas on the right, we get a volume wheel, that you can make quick volume adjustments with. It is also adaptable to EPOS surround with dedicated sound cards. Why not learn more about these headphones during real-life usage from Tom’s Hardware’s review? And lastly, another thing I’d like to mention is that — the EPOS H6Pro headphones even won the iF Design Award 2022.

EPOS H6Pro Specifications

  • Drivers: 42mm Neodymium
  • Weight: 309 grams
  • Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Bidirectional, Detachable
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 10 – 10,000 Hz frequency response
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 53,499

2. Corsair HS80 RGB USB

The second on our list is the Corsair HS80 RGB USB! If you think that’s a mouthful then it’s because it also has a wireless variant, which is why we need to be specific with the naming. While we are discussing its name, we can see RGB on its name. So yeah, it’s a RGB headphone.

Corsair HS80 RGB USB

In terms of the driver, it features a similar 50mm neodymium one with 24-bit 96 kHz audio support. It also comes with Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound support alongside a non-detachable omnidirectional mic similar to the Corsair HS55 stereo. As per the company listing, it is compatible with PC and Mac only.

Corsair HS80 RGB USB Specifications

  • Drivers: 50mm Neodymium
  • Headphone sensitivity: 116dB (+/-3dB)
  • Frequency Response: 20 – 40,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Omnidirectional, Non-detachable
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz response
  • Microphone Sensitivity: -40dB (+/-3dB) sensitivity
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 20,999

3. Razer BlackShark V2

Another awesome pair of best gaming headphones in Nepal goes to the Razer BlackShark V2. The brand name itself should be self-explanatory. It features Razer’s trademark TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers that allow for individual replication of high, mid, as well as low audio frequencies. It also includes titanium-coated diaphragms for added clarity to the vocals you hear.

Razer BlackShark V2 (Best Wired Gaming Headphones in Nepal)

The Razer BlackShark V2 also comes with the Hyperclear Cardioid Mic with a USB sound card. It is a unidirectional, detachable mic that you can mute with a toggle on the earcup. Meanwhile, with the USB sound card, you can tweak and enhance your voice output with Razer Synapse. Furthermore, the Razer BlackShark V2 also features advanced passive noise cancellation with its closed earcups that fully cover the ears. Lastly, it has picked up a handful of certifications including PC Gamer Editor’s Pick and Discord certification.

Razer BlackShark V2 Specifications

  • Drivers: 50mm Razer TriForce Titanium
  • Weight: 262 grams
  • Headphone sensitivity: 110dB (1 kHz)
  • Frequency Response: 12 – 28,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Razer HyperClear Cardioid Mic, Unidirectional, Detachable
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz response
  • Microphone Sensitivity: -42dB V / Pa (1 kHz)
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 17,099

4. Corsair HS55 Stereo

If you are on a tight budget, the Corsair HS55 Stereo wired gaming headset is an excellent offering. Corsair is an American company that manufactures computer peripherals and hardware such as DRAM modules, USB flash drives, computer cases, and so on. Meanwhile, the Corsair HS55 Stereo is an over-ear headphone weighing in at a mere 273 grams. It features soft memory foam and leatherette earcups for comfortable wear.

Corsair HS55 Stereo

In the meantime, it features custom-tuned 50mm neodymium drivers for immersive audio. It is assisted by a Discord-certified non-detachable omnidirectional microphone that you can flip to mute. Furthermore, it also comes with an on-ear volume roller for intuitive control.

Corsair HS55 Stereo Specifications

  • Drivers: 50mm Neodymium
  • Weight: 273 grams
  • Headphone sensitivity: 114dB (+/-3dB)
  • Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Omnidirectional, Non-Detachable
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz response
  • Microphone Sensitivity: -41dB (+/-3dB) sensitivity
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 8,549

5. Fantech Sonata MH90

Next up, we have the Fantech Sonata MH90 as the best budget-friendly wired gaming headphones in Nepal. This Fantech headphone comes with 53mm drivers offering stereo sound. Additionally, it features a detachable and flexible microphone with omnidirectional pickup. It also comes with a Nylon braided cable with a remote control integrated into it. Lastly, it offers compatibility with PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices via a 3.5mm analogue jack.

Fantech Sonata MH90 (Best Budget Wired Gaming Headphone in Nepal)

Fantech Sonata MH90 Specifications

  • Drivers: 53mm
  • Weight: 266 grams (without cable)
  • Headphone sensitivity: 110dB
  • Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Flexible, Detachable, Omnidirectional
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz response
  • Microphone Sensitivity: -42dB
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 6,499

6. Razer Kraken X

Finally, we have the Razer Kraken X with custom-tuned 40mm drivers offering 7.1 surround sound. At just 250 grams, it is lightweight and as a result, is ideal for long gaming hours. It also features a mute button and volume slider button on the earcups for easier controls. Meanwhile, the Razer Kraken X has a bendable microphone with a unidirectional cardioid pickup pattern. Lastly, it offers compatibility across PC, Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, as well as mobile devices.

Razer Kraken X

Razer Kraken X Specifications

  • Drivers: 40mm Custom Tuned Drivers
  • Weight: 250 grams
  • Headphone sensitivity: 109dB (1 kHz)
  • Frequency Response: 12 – 28,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Bendable Cardioid Microphone, Unidirectional ECM boom
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz response
  • Microphone Sensitivity: -45dB ± 3 dB (1 kHz)
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 5,500

With these amazing headphones, our choices for wired gaming headphones come to a close. Let’s move on to the best wireless gaming headphones to buy in Nepal:

Best Wireless Gaming Headphones in Nepal

1. SteelSeries Arctics Nova Pro Wireless

First up is the Steelseries Arctics Nova Pro Wireless. This headphone offers 360° Spatial Audio as well as active noise cancellation among other things. Moreover, it comes with 40mm neodymium drivers with a frequency response of up to 22 KHz in wireless. It also features a 4-mic hybrid design for ANC while also offering Transparency Mode.

SteelSeries Arctics Nova Pro Wireless

In the meantime, it comes with ClearCast Gen 2 – a fully retractable boom microphone. It is a bidirectional noise-cancelling mic with a frequency response of up to 6,500 Hz. The SteelSeries Arctics Nova Pro ships with two batteries in the box so that you can swap between the batteries and continue your gaming session. Additionally, it gives you a maximum of 44 hours of playback time, while also giving you 3 hours of playtime with 15 minutes of charging. Lastly, it offers 12 metres of range via low latency 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth v5.0.

SteelSeries Arctics Nova Pro Wireless Specifications

  • Drivers: 40mm Neodymium Drivers
  • Weight: 336 grams
  • Headphone sensitivity: 93 dB SPL
  • Frequency Response: 10 – 22,000 Hz (wireless), 10 – 40,000 Hz (wired)
  • Microphone: ClearCast Gen 2 – Fully Retractable Boom, Bidirectional Noise-Cancelling
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 6,500 Hz response
  • Connection Type: Low Latency 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth v5.0
  • Battery Life: Up to 44 hours – 2.4GHz Quantum 2.0 Gaming Wireless
  • Wireless Range: 12 metres
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 60,099

2. Logitech G PRO X 2 Lightspeed

Likewise, we have the Pro X2 Lightspeed from the Swiss company — Logitech G, as the second entry for the best wireless gaming headphones. This headphone features a 50mm graphene driver coupled with a neodymium magnet. As per the company, this graphene driver helps deliver enhanced audio response, reduced distortion, and unrivalled sound.

Logitech G PRO X 2 Lightspeed

It also comes with an electret condenser microphone with a unidirectional pickup pattern in a cardioid shape. Furthermore, the headphone weighs just 345 grams and offers up to 50 hours of battery life. Meanwhile, it offers wireless connectivity via 2.4 GHz lightspeed and Bluetooth with a range of up to 30 metres.

Logitech G PRO X 2 Lightspeed Specifications

  • Drivers: 50mm Graphene Drivers with Neodymium magnet
  • Weight: 345 grams
  • Headphone sensitivity: 87.8 dB SPL @ 1 mW & 1 cm
  • Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Electret Condenser Mic, Cardioid Unidirectional
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz response
  • Connection Type: 2.4 GHz Lightspeed + Bluetooth
  • Battery Life: Up to 50 hours
  • Wireless Range: 30 metres
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 40,099

3. Audeze Maxwell

Another pair of best wireless gaming headphones to buy in Nepal is the Audeze Maxwell. This thing is equipped with massive 90mm planar drivers and Neodymium N50 magnets. Audeze Maxwell offers spatial audio support with Dolby Atmos as well as Tempest 3D. Additionally, this over-ear closed-back headphone weighs in at 490 grams and supports audio resolution of up to 24-bit/96kHz.

Audeze Maxwell (Best Wireless Gaming Headphones in Nepal)

In the meantime, the Audeze Maxwell comes with a detachable boom microphone that has a hyper-cardioid pickup pattern. It also offers physical and AI noise reduction. Moreover, it packs a 1,800 mAh lithium polymer battery that provides over 80 hours of wireless playback. In addition, it can be fully juiced up via a USB Type-C charger in just 2 hours. It relies on ultra-low latency wireless coupled with Bluetooth v5.3 for wireless connectivity. Lastly, the company claims this headphone to have three times the range of traditional 2.4 GHz.

Audeze Maxwell Specifications

  • Drivers: 90mm Neodymium N50 Drivers
  • Weight: 490 grams
  • Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.1% (@ 1 kHz, 1 mW)
  • Frequency Response: 10 – 50,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Boom Microphone, Detachable, Hyper-cardioid, Physical and AI noise reduction
  • Connection Type: Ultra-low Latency wireless + Bluetooth v5.3
  • Battery Life: Up to 80 hours of wireless playback @ 80dBA
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 47,999 (PlayStation Version), NPR 52,999 (Xbox Version)

4. Corsair HS80 Max

In the midrange place, we have the wireless offering from Corsair —  the HS80 Max! This headphone comes with 50mm high-density neodymium drivers. Moreover, it offers Dolby Atmos spatial audio compatibility with PC. It also comes with flip-to-mute with an omnidirectional microphone.

Corsair HS80 Max

The Corsair HS80 Max provides you with 130 hours of playtime over Bluetooth. On the other hand, its battery life drops down to 65 hours with the 2.4 GHz wireless connection. It also features RGB lighting on it, which limits this headphone’s usage to only 24 hours. Additionally, it has a range of a little over 15 metres.

Corsair HS80 Max Specifications

  • Drivers: 50mm Neodymium Drivers
  • Headphone sensitivity: 119 dB (+/-3 dB)
  • Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Flip-to-mute, Omni-directional
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz response
  • Connection Type: 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth
  • Battery Life: Up to 130 hours (Bluetooth)
  • Wireless Range: 15.24 metres
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 34,549

5. Fantech Tamago WHG01

For the best budget-friendly wireless gaming headphones, we have opted for the one and only Fantech Tamago WHG01! It comes with 40mm drivers while weighing just 172 grams with microphones attached to it. It offers Strikespeed Wireless as well as Bluetooth v5.2 for wireless connectivity. Meanwhile, it also doubles down with a Nylon braided USB Type-C cable for a wired connection. The Fantech Tamago WHG01 comes with a detachable omnidirectional microphone as well. Lastly, it offers 18 hours of playback with a charging time of only 2 hours.

Fantech Tamago WHG01 (Best Budget Wireless Gaming Headphone in Nepal)

Fantech Tamago WHG01 Specifications

  • Drivers: 40mm Drivers
  • Weight: 168 grams, 172 (with microphone)
  • Headphone sensitivity: 106dB ± 3dB
  • Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
  • Microphone: Flexible, Detachable, Omnidirectional
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 100 – 10,000 Hz response
  • Microphone Sensitivity: -45dB ± 3 dB (1 kHz)
  • Connection Type: Strikespeed wireless + Bluetooth v5.2 + Wired USB Type-C
  • Battery Life: Up to 18 hours of wireless playback
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 6,999

Best Gaming Headphones in Nepal [Summary]

S.N. Best Gaming Headphones in Nepal (Wired Headphones) Price
1 EPOS H6Pro NPR 53,499
2 Corsair HS80 RGB USB NPR 20,999
3 Razer BlackShark V2 NPR 17,099
4 Corsair HS55 Stereo NPR 8,549
5 Fantech Sonata MH90 NPR 6,499
6 Razer Kraken X NPR 5,500
S.N. Best Gaming Headphones in Nepal (Wireless Headphones) Price
1 SteelSeries Arctics Nova Pro Wireless NPR 60,099
2 Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed NPR 40,099
3 Audeze Maxwell NPR 47,999
4 Corsair HS80 Max NPR 34,549
5 Fantech Tamago WHG01 NPR 6,999

Realme Buds T100 TWS goes official in Nepal with 10mm drivers

Mintu
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Realme Buds T100 TWS goes official in Nepal with 10mm drivers

Realme has launched two TWS in Nepal: T300 and T100. The latter one is a cheaper alternative with toned-down specs. Without further ado, let’s get into the specs, features, and official price of the Realme Buds T100 in Nepal.

Realme Buds T100 Overview:

Design and Build

As for the build, the Realme Buds T100 sports a plastic body with a dual-tone design for the charging case. This flat stem TWS weighs 4 grams for each bud and boasts a VDI spark finish and A2 polishing. For protection against sweat and water splashes, you get an IPX5 rating here. Realme ships this guy in one color option— Black.

Realme T100 Design and Build

Audio

Blasting the audio here are 10mm drivers with a PEEK + TPU titanium-plated composite diaphragm. Realme claims a balanced audio experience with rich and powerful bass, complemented by clear middle and high frequencies. To cancel background noise, you do get AI ENC support here while its T300 sibling gets ANC. While its low latency mode can cut the audio delay by up to 88ms.

Realme T100 10mm Drivers

Battery and Others

The Realme Buds T100 is backed by a 40mAh battery in each bud while the case gets a 400mAh cell. You can get up to 6 hours of music playback with the TWS and up to 28 hours with the charging case. In terms of connectivity, the Buds support Bluetooth 5.3 and Google Fast Pair.

Likewise, the Realme Link app support is provided on both iOS and Android platforms. You can choose your preferred audio profiles and also use the Volume Enhancer function for some extra loudness.

Realme Buds T100 Specifications:

  • Weight: 4 grams (each earbud)
  • Color options: Black
  • Sound driver: 10mm Titanium-plated drivers
  • Audio codecs: AAC, SBC
  • Noise cancellation: Yes, AI ENC
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.3, 10mm effective range
  • Water resistance: Yes, IPX5 water resistance (earbuds only)
  • Battery life:
    • Earbuds: Up to 6 hours
    • With case: Up to 28 hours
  • Companion app: Realme Link (Android | iOS)

Realme Buds T100 Price in Nepal and Availability

The Realme Buds T100 price in Nepal is NPR 3,999. However, the early bird offer on Daraz’s 12/12 sale is making it available at NPR 3,699.

TWS Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
Realme Buds T100 NPR 3,999 3,699 Hukut
  • Meanwhile, you can check our Best Wireless Earbuds of 2023 video.

Realme Buds T300 with ANC and spatial audio launched in Nepal

Mintu
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Realme Buds T300 with ANC and spatial audio launched in Nepal

Realme announced the Buds T300 alongside the Realme Narzo 60x 5G in India a few months ago. The former, featuring 12.4mm dynamic bass drivers and 360° spatial audio, has finally made its way to Nepal alongside the Realme Buds T100 In this article, let’s talk about the design, features, specs, and price in Nepal of the Realme Buds T300.

Realme Buds T300 Overview:

Design and Build

To begin with, the Realme Buds T300 follows an in-ear design with a thicker stem. The TWS is still on the lighter side, with a 4.1-gram weight for each bud. You get a touch control on the upper side for music playback. Likewise, the wireless buds also secure an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. Realme ships this guy in two color options: Youth White and Stylish Black shades.

Realme Buds T300 Design

Audio

Firing the audio is a combo of titanized 12.4mm dynamic bass drivers, an HTW wire coil, and an N52 magnet. The company promises bold, crystal-clear sound, greater sound quality, and improved sensitivity. Moreover, the individual rear cavity is designed to produce a deep and powerful bass. One of the key USPs here is the 360-degree Spatial Audio effect for an immersive music experience, based on the HRTF head model. As for the codecs, it supports both AAC and SBC.

Realme Buds T300 Drivers

ANC

For keeping that background noise at bay, Realme Buds T300 comes equipped with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). It can cancel such noise by up to 30 decibels (dB). Contemplating it is a 4-Mic combo for enhanced call quality.

Battery and Others

Moving on, the TWS is backed by a 43mAh cell while its charging case gets a 460 mAh battery. It is rated for up to 8 hours of audio playback without ANC and an overall 40 hours with the charging case. With ANC turned on, it can last up to 6 hours, as per Realme. Furthermore, the Buds T300 connects via the Realme Link app, using Bluetooth 5.3, and features a 50ms low latency mode.

Realme Buds T300 TWS

Realme Buds T300 Specifications:

  • Weight: 4.1 grams (each earbud)
  • Color options: Youth White, Stylish White
  • Sound driver: 12.4mm Titanized Dynamic Drivers
  • Audio codecs: AAC, SBC
  • Noise cancellation: Yes (ANC up to 30dB), Dual-mic ENC
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.3, 10mm effective range
  • Water resistance: Yes, IP55 dust and water resistance (earbuds only)
  • Battery life:
    • Earbuds: Up to 8 hours (50% volume, ANC Off)
    • With case: Up to 40 hours (50% volume, ANC Off)
  • Companion app: Realme Link (Android | iOS)

Realme Buds T300 Price in Nepal and Availability

The Realme Buds T300’s official price in Nepal is NPR 5,499. However, as a part of the launch event and the 12/12 sale, the buds are priced at NPR 5,299 and is available in Hukut store.

TWS Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
Realme Buds T300 NPR 5,499 5,299 Hukut
  • Meanwhile, you can check our Best Wireless Earbuds under 3000 rupees in Nepal video.

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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0
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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0
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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2
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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0
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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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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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. 

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