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Vivo V29 Review: A well-balanced premium midrange phone

Mintu
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1
Vivo V29 Review: A well-balanced premium midrange phone
The Vivo V29 is the latest premium mid-range phone from the company which is kinda similar to the Vivo V27 (review), which was launched just about 5 – 6 months ago. The price for the Vivo V29 starts at around NPR 60,000 for the 12/256GB variant here in Nepal, making it compete with phones like the Honor 90 (review), Samsung Galaxy A54 (review), and Nothing phone 1 (review). And in this Vivo V29 review, I’ll be exploring whether this phone is worth its price or not among other things.
But before we begin, let’s take a quick look at its specs.

Vivo V29 Review: Specifications

  • Body: 74.37 x 164.18 x 7.46mm, 186gm, Plastic frames, IP54 dust/splash resistant
  • Display: 6.78-inches AMOLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colors
  • Other Properties: 1,300 nits peak brightness (BOE Q9 luminescent material), HDR10+ certified, 2,160Hz PWM dimming
  • Resolution: 1.5K (2800 x 1260 pixels), 453 PPI, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm mobile platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core:
    – 1x Cortex-A78 (2.4 GHz)
    – 3x Cortex-A78 (2.20 GHz)
    – 4x Cortex-A55 (1.90 GHz)
  • GPU: Adreno 642L
  • Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
  • Software & UI: Android 13 with Vivo’s Funtouch SO 13 on top
  • Rear Camera: Triple (with “Aura Light” LED flash);
    – Wide: 50MP f/1.88 sensor, 1/1.57-inch, OIS
    – Ultrawide: 8MP f/2.2 sensor, 120° FoV
    – Depth: 2MP f/2.4 sensor
  • Front Camera: 50MP f/2.0 sensor, Eye Autofocus (Eye AF)
  • Audio: Mono speaker, Built-in microphones, No 3.5mm jack
  • Security: In-display fingerprint sensor (optical)
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light, E-compass, Gyroscope, Proximity
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / AGPS / Galileo / Glonass / QZSS / BeiDou / GNSS / NavIC, USB-C port, NFC, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
  • Battery: 4600mAh with 80W fast charging (80W power adapter provided)
  • Color Options: Noble Back, Peak Blue, Majestic Red
  • What’s Inside The Box: Vivo V29, USB-A to USB-C cable, 80W power adapter, Protective case, SIM ejector tool, User manual and other documents
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 59,999 (12/256GB)
  • Buy Vivo V29 here

Vivo V29 Review:

Design and Build

  • 74.37 x 164.18 x 7.46mm, 186 grams
  • Glass front/back, Plastic frames
  • IP54 dust and splash resistance
As usual, the biggest attraction of Vivo’s V series of smartphones is the design. And the Vivo V29 is no exception. It boasts a slim build quality with curved edges that provide an amazing hands-on feel. The rear camera module is eye-catching, and the “Majestic Red” finish adds a bold touch.
Interestingly, its back color changes from bronze to purple when exposed to direct sunlight. But sadly, this color variant is not available in Nepal. You’ll have to go with Peak Blue or Noble Black shades.
Vivo V29 Rear Design
However, it’s worth noting that the Vivo V29 only has IP54 dust and splash protection, while the global variant of the phone comes with an IP68 rating. It would have been better if its Nepali variant also had a proper IP68 rating.

Display

  • 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel
  • 120/240Hz refresh/touch sampling rate
  • No Gorilla Glass protection
Moving on to the display, there haven’t been significant compromises here. The Vivo V29 features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1.5K resolution, which is an upgrade from the Vivo V27 which had a 1080p display. The color reproduction and brightness levels of the display are impressive. However, I did notice a slight issue with the white balance, so I hope a software update can address this.
Vivo V29 Display
The auto refresh rate optimization is not particularly well-implemented in the Vivo V29 either. Under this, the display limits itself to 60Hz and 90Hz only. Whereas running the phone at a constant 120Hz mode all the time results in some battery drain.
As for content consumption, the Vivo V29 offers Widevine L1 and HDR10+ certification, but I don’t like how it only has a single down-firing speaker with mediocre audio quality.

Performance

  • Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G SoC (6nm)
  • 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
  • Android 13 with Vivo’s Funtouch OS 13 on top
  • 2 years of OS, 3 years of security updates
Now, let’s talk about performance. Interestingly, the Vivo V29 is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G processor, which is a slight downgrade compared to Vivo V27’s Dimensity 7200. Then again, the 778G is a competitive performer compared to phones like the Honor 90, Nothing Phone (1), and the Galaxy A54.
Given the price range, I feel like Vivo could have offered a more powerful chip, but the Snapdragon 778G is reliable and doesn’t suffer from significant performance issues. It outperforms the Galaxy A54 in terms of gaming, with higher frame rates and better temperature management. But if you’re primarily looking for a gaming phone, the Vivo V29 might not be the best choice.
In terms of software, the Vivo V29 runs Funtouch OS 13 based on Android 13. And Vivo promises two major OS upgrades and three years of software updates here. This is a good commitment from Vivo but still doesn’t hold a candle to what Samsung promises for the Galaxy A54. As for the software experience, Funtouch OS 13 is fairly reliable and pretty customizable too.

Cameras

  • Triple camera setup at the back
  • (50MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth)
  • 50MP selfie camera (hole-punch)
Vivo’s V series phones are known for their good cameras. And the Vivo V29 proudly continues this tradition.

Daytime Images

When compared to the Samsung Galaxy A54, the Vivo V29’s 50MP main camera captures images that are slightly more saturated and contrast-rich in daytime shots.

If you prefer vibrant and contrasty photos, you’ll appreciate this camera. Vivo also offers a “Natural Mode” option for those who prefer closer-to-natural colors.

Ultrawide Images

However, I noticed that V29’s images turn out oversharpened sometimes. Especially those taken with the ultrawide camera.

In this regard, the Galaxy A54’s ultrawide images appear slightly faded. Still, color tone is a matter of personal preference, and both phones produce good results.

Portrait Images

In portrait mode, the Vivo V29 continues on with its vibrant photos that have pretty good edge detection too. There’s some smoothening going on from both phones, but the Galaxy A54 sometimes struggles with exposure control.

How’s the “Aura Light”?

Vivo V29 features an updated “Aura Light,” which is a circular ring light next to a separate LED flash for low-light portrait shots. Vivo V27 had it too, but it wasn’t particularly useful. But since Vivo has provided options to adjust color temperature and brightness this time, it’s quite useful for capturing portraits with different moods.

Lowlight Images

In low-light conditions, the Vivo V29 manages pleasant-looking shots, with better noise processing compared to the Galaxy A54, resulting in better overall detail most of the time.

Selfie Images

Its 50MP selfie camera also captures high-quality selfies. The sharpness is on point but compared to the A54, the subject’s skin tone can look slightly pinkish.

Videography

But when it comes to videos, the Galaxy A54 gives better results at both 1080p and 4K resolutions. Vivo V29’s footage can appear relatively jittery, even with optical image stabilization (OIS). Additionally, the V29’s selfie videos have a wider field of view but the Galaxy A54 excels in skin tone, stabilization, and exposure control.
In summary, the Vivo V29 offers a decent camera experience, but there’s room for improvement, especially in video recording.

Battery

  •  4600mAh battery with 80W fast charging
Moving on, the Vivo V29 is equipped with a 4600mAh battery, which easily lasts a day with moderate usage.
Vivo V29 Charging
However, heavy gaming, photo/video capture, and data usage may require charging at some point. The included 80W charger can take the phone from 0% to 100% in less than an hour, so there’s no need to worry about battery life.

Vivo V29 Review: Conclusion

Overall, the Vivo V29 is a well-balanced premium midrange phone. It’s a reliable choice for those seeking an attractive design and good cameras. Plus it’s worth noting that Vivo hasn’t overpriced the V29 in Nepal, as its prices here are similar to those in India.
Vivo V29 Casual 1
However, if a clean user software experience is more important to you, then Samsung Galaxy A54, Nothing Phone (1), and Honor 90 might be better choices.
  • Watch our video review of Vivo V29 (Nepali)

Vivo V29 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Attractive design
  • Curved and punchy AMOLED panel
  • Decent cameras
  • 80W fast charging

Cons

  • Pinkish tone on the front camera
  • Single speaker
  • A more powerful chip could be used

Smartphone batteries could last a MONTH!

Raizel Tandukar
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Smartphone batteries could last a MONTH!

Once upon a time, Great Britain was the world’s superpower, physically controlling almost 25% of the globe. Though today’s situation is very different, they plan to somewhat regain their stronghold. Here, we will discuss how Great Britain is investing in its microchip industry, where it could develop a microchip that could make your smartphone battery last a month, while also briefly discussing the companies benefitting from the investment.

Great Britain investing in its Microchip Industry

Great Britain plans on investing a lucrative billion pounds into its microchip industry over the next 10 years. As of now, they have already announced a two-year programme named the “ChipStart UK.” This programme will delivered by SiliconCatalyst.UK, where a sum of GBP 1.3 million will be invested into a dozen microchip firms in Great Britain. The British Minister for Tech and Digital Economy, Paul Scully, says this will help the firms develop “the skills they need to revolutionise the lives of people not only in the UK but across the world.”

Benefitting from this investment are the likes of MintNeuro, Vaire Computing, Mignon, and more companies having origins from the UK’s top universities. MintNeuro is already working on a chip that can help patients suffering from diseases like Parkinson’s and epilepsy. This chip is hundreds of times smaller than the current leading technology. Furthermore, it can be installed in the brain with minimal surgery. MintNeuro’s chip is capable of communicating wirelessly while remaining safely in the brain for decades.

MintNeuro Microchip

Similarly, Vaire and Mignon both design hardware to run large-scale AI models. The chip powering this hardware is very efficient, thus allowing the AI models to use less power and computer resources. Furthermore, scientists at Cambridge University are working on a silicon chip processor that requires almost zero energy to run. If this research bears fruit, we could see smartphone’s battery life improving drastically. This improvement will let our phone retain its battery for a month before finally having to plug it in.

Conclusion

All in all, Great Britain aims to shape and mould these companies into the next generation of microchip leaders. In conclusion, we hope this programme, beneficiary firms, and their semiconductors will lead us to technological advancements that will bring about positive changes.

Did Huawei just fool the world? Kirin 9000S vs Kirin 9000. Same Chip?

Aarohan Niraula
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Did Huawei just fool the world? Kirin 9000S vs Kirin 9000. Same Chip?

So A recent tweet by a tipster RGcloudS raised an interesting dilemma about the Huawei US ban by questioning the existence of its latest Kirin 9000S chipset. According to him, the chip is just a rebranded Kirin 9000 from 2020 and Huawei (and China) couldn’t possibly make such a powerful chip without Western technologies.

Kirin 9000S vs Kirin 9000 Overview:

Kirin 9000S 

For starters, the Kirin 9000S is ‘believed’ to be Huawei’s in-house silicon built using SMIC’s 7 N+2 architecture in China. 

The aforementioned ban prevents foundries that use US technology to manufacture chips from shipping cutting-edge silicon to Huawei without a license. That’s why the previous Mate P60 devices didn’t support 5G and had to tweak the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 to be limited to 4G. But now, Huawei’s latest flagship Mate 60 Pro is capable of 5G thanks to the Kirin 9000S.

Kirin 9000S = Kirin 9000?

So is it Kirin 9000S vs Kirin 9000 or 9000S = 9000? Well, according to RGcloudS, the new ‘7nm’ Kirin 9000S is actually the 5nm Kirin 9000 made by TSMC in 2020. He talks about the first picture where Kirin 9000S is marked as a 5nm processor by a program. To further support his claim, the tipster also reveals a picture of Mate 60 chip that is marked with 2035. Now this may not seem special to an average Joe, but 2035 here is something called the ‘date code’ which is written following the ECIA guidelines. 

And those guidelines state the ‘date code’ to be a 4-digit number with the YYWW format. Hence, that would mean the chip was manufactured on the 35th week of 2020 which is just months earlier than the announcement of the Kirin 9000. 

The why?

So, why would Huawei use a 3-year-old chip in its smartphone? Well, RGcloud believes that SMIC (and Huawei) doesn’t have the required technology to really build an advanced chip like the Kirin 9000S in the first place. According to him, SMIC can’t manufacture 7nm on a large scale with a legacy DUV (Deep Ultra Violet) machine, and newer EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) machines aren’t available in China (due to restrictions). DUV and EUV are lithography technologies used in chip manufacturing to etch circuitry patterns onto silicon wafers, with EUV allowing for smaller, more precise patterns. This means more transistors and a more powerful processor which is why almost all <7nm processes use EUV machines.

The How

So, it’s understandable that Huawei ‘supposedly’ can’t produce such powerful new chips but how would they have access to a 3-year-old Kirin 9000 in the first place? Using some speculative math, the tipster assumes that Huawei stockpiled a whooping 142 MILLION chips before the ban.

His supporting arguments were that the US/China tensions were high, and Huawei started stockpiling in anticipation of the ban. He says that Huawei wouldn’t keep an ambitious sales goal of 40 million (for the Mate 60) if the CPU inside had a yield of just 20%. (SMIC yield for their 7 N+2 process was 20% at the time). 

Maybe not

Now, it’s fun to cook up conspiracies but there are several holes in this theory. First of all, the Kirin 9000S is physically bigger than the Kirin 9000 and supports hyperthreading which bumps its core count to 12. Moreover, a report from ‘TechInsights’ claims the chip to be based on a 7n process, and a more recent report from ‘Fomalhaut Techno Solutions’ shares the likelihood of the chip being manufactured using a 14nm process instead.

Moreover, the specs just don’t line up well.

Kirin 9000 Kirin 9000S
CPU
1x Cortex A77: 3.13 GHz  1x Custom Big Core: 2.62GHz
3x Cortex A77: 2.54 GHz 3x Custom Medium Cores: 2.15GHz. 
4x Cortex A55: 2.05 GHz 4x Custom Smaller Cores: 1.5GHz.
GPU
Mali-G78(24 Cores) Maleoon-910, 4 cores at 750MHz

Final Thoughts

It’s important to note that all this is the opinion of a single person and should be taken with a grain of salt. Furthermore, Huawei has not revealed the actual specifications of the chip. Regardless, the chip while impressive, is still 1-2 generations behind the current flagship Android chipsets like the Dimensity 9200+ and Qualcomm SD 8 Gen 2 with a speculated Antutu score of about 7,00,000.

What do you think? Did “Huawei & SMIC successfully prank the whole world?” or is this just another wild conspiracy?

iPhone 15 Review: Don’t Sleep On It

Pratima Adhikari
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1
iPhone 15 Review: Don’t Sleep On It

Hello fellows, this is my iPhone 15 review! This guy is the most affordable entry in Apple’s iPhone 15 series this year! Now, usually, if someone asks me which iPhone they should get, I always suggest the ‘Pro’ models, because they come with all the high-end tech and honestly, I kind of have always looked down upon the regular iPhone models as they don’t get to see much upgrades year after year.

But the iPhone 15 has changed my mind this time around. Not only does it get some of the “Pro” features this year, but I think Apple has really brought out a balanced flagship that is comparatively easier on your wallet! Let’s know more in my iPhone 15 review.

Before moving ahead, let’s go through the specs of the iPhone 15.

iPhone 15 Specifications:

  • Dimension: 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm, 171 grams
  • Display: 6.1‑inch OLED, Super Retina XDR, 60Hz refresh rate
  • Resolution: 2556 x 1179 pixels, 460PPI
  • Chipset: A16 Bionic (4nm) processor, 6 CPU cores + 5 GPU cores, 16-core Neural Engine
  • Storage: 128/256/512GB (non-upgradeable)
  • Operating System: iOS 17
  • SIM: Dual SIM (nano + eSIM), dual eSIM
  • Back Camera: Dual:
    – 48MP f/1.6 primary camera, 2x optical zoom, sensor-shift OIS
    – 12MP f/2.4 ultrawide camera, 120° field of view
  • Front Camera: 12MP front camera with f/1.9 aperture
  • Security: TrueDepth camera for FaceID facial recognition
  • Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS with Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou, NFC, UWB
  • Other features: Water and dust resistance (IP68), Stereo speakers
  • Battery: Up to 20 hours of video playback, 7.5W Qi Wireless Charging, 15W MagSafe Wireless Charger (No adapter included in the box)
Buy iPhone 15 here

iPhone 15 Review:

Finally, the USB-C is here!

Okay, first of all, one of the most notable changes in the entire iPhone 15 series has to be the inclusion of a USB C port.

iPhone 15 USB Type-C port

The reason I say this is not just because I feel too lazy to carry a lightning cable around, not at all. But there were just so many limitations of the lightning port. For instance, with the USB C port, I can now connect my iPhone to an external display with an HDMI to USB C connector. Or better yet, I can now copy files to my iPhone directly from an SSD with USB C, how convenient is that? There is just no need for external OTG connectors.

However, it’s a shame that the data transfer speed is not as fast as the “Pro” iPhones. The port on both the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is just USB 2.0, which means it’s slower than the iPhone 15 Pro series.

Loved the design

  • 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm, 171 grams
  • Ceramic Shield front, Glass back, Aluminum frames
  • IP68 dust/water resistant

Secondly, I love the design and build of the iPhone 15 this year. Now, don’t get me wrong, the iPhone 15 like the iPhone 14 or the iPhone 13 before that uses a Glass back with Aluminum frames, but this time we are getting a matte finish, which I totally dig. It has this soft satin finish that feels so smooth to the touch and it does not get fingerprints or smudges at all!

You can ask my video team how happy they are for not having to wipe off smudges every now and then while shooting compared to something like the newly launched Xiaomi 13T Pro, which is a pain in the neck.

Moving on, I am a small person with tiny hands and something like the iPhone 14 Pro Max or the 15 Pro Max has always been heavy and bulky for me. But, the compact size of the iPhone 15 is just so handy for me.

Compact Size

And trust me, this phone has the best weight distribution. It is also lightweight, all thanks to the aluminum frames, but at the same time, there is a good enough heft to it which makes it feel premium.

These subtle curved edges are also the icing on the cake, and the iPhone 15 is definitely one of the most comfortable phones I have held this year along with a few Motorola devices!

Color Options

I also love the choice of colors for the iPhone 15, Apple has some really cute color options for the iPhone 15. But at the same time, I think they look a bit washed out for my taste. Nonetheless, the Pink one I bought, I think, was the prettiest of the bunch.

Dynamic Island Display

  • 6.1-inches Super Retina XDR OLED display
  • Static 60Hz refresh rate
  • Ceramic Shield protection, Dynamic Island

The display is also something that has seen an upgrade this year. This is a much brighter screen than its predecessor with a peak brightness of 2000 nits. Hence, even on a bright sunny day, visibility on the iPhone 15 is not a problem at all. And of course, I can’t miss the dynamic Island up top, which until now was available only on the ‘Pro’ iPhones.

iPhone 15 UI iOS

I know some people think, dynamic island is a huge gimmick, but I find it interesting and useful. I feel like it is one of those quality-of-life features that makes your experiences better!

Still 60Hz…

But of course, the 60Hz screen on the iPhone 15 is the biggest letdown, at least for me. I am used to using 120Hz screens and switching to a 60 Hz screen on this phone felt a little slower for me. I have been comparing this phone side by side with the vanilla S23 and every time I switch to the iPhone 15, I get reminded of the slower refresh rate.

iPhone 15 multimedia

Now, if you are someone who is upgrading from an older iPhone 11 or the iPhone X, or any 60Hz display phone for that matter, you might not feel that way, but it’s definitely noticeable to me!

Okay, looking past the 60Hz refresh rate, I love how loud the stereo speakers on the iPhone 15 are. For context, pitting it side by side with the Galaxy S23, the iPhone 15’s speakers are louder and they sound richer as well. I did feel like the mid-tones sometimes overpowered the highs, but that was only while I was listening to a couple of pop songs. Other than that, the speakers here are great.

Haptics

And so are the haptics. I have never missed a call here whether I am riding with the phone in my pocket, or whether it’s in my backpack, never. The vibration is not as strong while typing and I much prefer the feedback on the S23, but that is something I can overlook, honestly!

Battery Life

Okay, now I know I went on about how the compact size of the iPhone 15 is so awesome, but it also comes with a few downsides of its own. First is the relatively okay battery life on this phone. Normally, with general kind of usage the phone would give me around 5.5 hours of SOT, which means, it would last about a full day while I was limiting myself to social media and general usage. Putting some gaming and shooting videos into the mix, I’ve mostly had to charge the phone at around 6 in the evening.

A bit on the warmer side

Second, the compact form factor means that there is less space for heat to dissipate, so if you are doing something heavy-duty task like shooting 4k videos for a longer time or airdropping about 200 photos and videos to your laptop, the phone does heat up a little. Not in an overbearing way, but it does experience a rise in temperatures.

But the good thing is that because of the aluminum frames, the phone cools down faster as well.

Gaming

  • Hexa-core Apple A16 SoC (4nm)
  • 6GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB to 1TB storage (fixed)
  • Apple iOS 17 (upgradeable)

Surprisingly, gaming on the iPhone 15 did not make it heat up as much. The iPhone 15 features the A16 Bionic chipset inherited from the iPhone 14 Pro series and, if not the latest and greatest, this chipset is still among the most powerful. With this, normal everyday tasks run like a breeze, I could have 20 apps open in the background and the phone would not even stutter a bit!

iPhone 15 Performance and Gaming

Likewise, gaming was a pleasant experience on this device. I played PUBG for around 45 minutes straight and the phone’s temperature was a comfortable 37 degrees. Switching over to Genshin Impact for another 45 minutes also did not make the phone struggle with the phone resting comfortably at around 39 degrees. I played all of these games at the highest settings and the gameplay was smooth all the time! In fact, it was better than the Galaxy S23!

Even so, playing games on a bigger screen is always a more enjoyable experience, so you can go with the iPhone 15 Plus instead if you play games more often.

But the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus do miss out on hardware-level Ray Tracing and all those AAA console-level games that you get on the Pro series next year, but there will be few games at launch, so you are not missing a whole lot yet!

Updates

Likewise, software updates and everything is never a problem with iPhones and even if you choose to use this phone for the next 5-6 years, it is going to receive timely updates and run just fine.

Cameras

  • Dual camera setup at the back
  • (48MP wide, 12MP ultrawide)
  • 12MP TrueDepth camera with Face ID

Lastly, let’s talk about cameras! Now, just like every year, you are not seeing the most upgrades here, but there are a few welcome changes that I absolutely adore on the iPhone 15 starting from the new 48MP sensor. Do note that this is not the same sensor that we find on the iPhone 15 Pros, but it is a capable one nonetheless.

iPhone 15 Dual Camera

Portraits

Because this is a higher res sensor Apple has been able to add a 2x lossless zoom option in it and you can get some nice details in 2x shots. I found this particularly useful while taking portraits. Before, the iPhone 14 was only limited to shooting 1x portraits and the subjects would look distorted. But now, you can shoot 2x portraits, without a loss in quality and better subject focus and depth in the background.

Daylight

Likewise, the normal shots from the iPhone 15 are nice and detailed too with very pleasing contrast levels. You get pixel-binned 24 MP images by default and the detail levels here are amazing. Then again, it sometimes makes the pictures unnecessarily warm, which does not look very good in some scenarios.

 

Nighttime

And this holds true for the nighttime images as well. The iPhone 15 manages to capture some great details and contrast in nighttime shots. It also manages glares a bit better than the S23.

Ultrawide

You get a 12MP ultra-wide lens too which obviously is not able to manage as many details as the primary camera, but I like how it manages similar color science to that of the primary images.

Selfies

Selfies, on the other hand, come out much more pleasing from the S23. I have said this a couple of times before too, but iPhones generally tend to make brown people look more “richer brown” than they normally are and I don’t like that. However, that’s not the case with my iPhone 15 Pro Max both in selfies and portrait shots, so maybe an update can fix this.

Videos

When it comes to videos, I have said this multiple times iPhones are the best in business and here too the iPhone 15 brings out some great stable videos even at 4k 60 fps. I like how Apple lets you switch between normal and ultra-wide and even 2x mode while shooting at 4k 60 fps as opposed to Samsung or last year’s iPhone 14 which limits that to just 4k 30 fps. But I do wish you could switch between the front and back cameras while shooting, that could come really handy while vlogging.

Likewise, you can shoot up to 4k 30 fps cinematic videos from the iPhone 15, and comparing it side by side with the Galaxy S23, you can see how the iPhone is able to separate the subject and the background better, and even the blur looks more natural here in comparison to the Galaxy S23.

I know the Galaxy S23 can even shoot 8k videos, which is a different kind of flex, but I think 8k videos are not very practical even at today’s date, so I would very much like to reserve it for the future!

And sadly you also don’t get features such as ProRes and Apple Raw here, but even though I have the iPhone 15 Pro Max as my daily driver, I never ever have used it, so I am fine with it.

iPhone 15 Review: Conclusion

Okay, so is the iPhone 15 worth it and is it the best compact phone in the market right now? My iPhone 15 review says ‘yes’. It is not as expensive as “Pro” iPhones but delivers a great experience. It has a brighter display than last year, a faster chipset, a new camera, and more importantly it comes with USB-C now, which as I mentioned before is extremely convenient to have.

iPhone 15

All in all, I think, if you are okay with not having the most cutting-edge tech from Apple and just want a great Apple experience on a relatively lighter budget, the iPhone 15 is a great option right now!

iPhone 15 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Great Display with Dynamic Island
  • 48MP main camera
  • Arrival of USB Type-C
  • Powerful performance

Cons

  • The refresh rate is still at 60Hz
  • No telephoto camera
  • Messing skin tones on selfies
  • Average battery life

iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Titanium, 5x Telephoto, USB-C, And What Else?

Pratima Adhikari
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iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Titanium, 5x Telephoto, USB-C, And What Else?

Hello everyone. So I am finally here, with my review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This guy gathered quite a lot of hype before the launch, and a lot of controversies afterwards. I have been using it for almost a month now and I recently updated it to the latest iOS 17.0.3 update as well which has fixed the overheating issue.

So, I think it’s the right time to talk about it!

First thing first, what I want to tell right away you is that if you already own last year’s iPhone 14 Pro Max (review) or even the older iPhone 13 Pro Max (review), the iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn’t make any sense upgrading! However, if you’re currently using Apple’s flagship phone that’s more than three years old, then this is a fantastic option to consider.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Specifications

  • Body: 76.7 x 159.9 x 8.25mm, 221gm, Titanium frames, IP68 dust/water resistant
  • Display: 6.7-inches Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, Ceramic Shield protection, Always-on Display (AoD)
  • Other Properties: Dynamic Island, 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor), HDR, True Tone, Wide Color (P3)
  • Resolution: (2796 x 1290 pixels), 460 PPI, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Apple A17 Pro (3nm mobile platform)
  • CPU: Hexa-core:
    – 2x high-performance cores @3.78 GHz
    – 4x efficiency cores @2.11 GHz
  • GPU: Apple 6-core GPU
  • Memory: 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256/512GB/1TB NVMe storage (fixed)
  • Software & UI: Apple iOS 17
  • Rear Camera: Triple (with Adaptive True Tone LED flash);
    – Wide: 48MP, f/1.78, Second-gen sensor-shift OIS, 24mm
    – Periscope Telephoto: 12MP, f/2.8, 120mm, OIS, 5x optical zoom, Tetraprism design
    – Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120° FoV
    – LiDAR Scanner (night mode portraits)
  • Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9 TrueDepth camera
  • Audio: Built-in stereo speakers, Built-in microphones, No 3.5mm jack
  • Security: TrueDepth camera for Face ID facial recognition
  • Sensors: High-g accelerometer, High dynamic range gyro, Barometer, Proximity, Dual ambient light
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano + eSIM) or Dual eSIM (US only), WiFi 6E (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Galileo / Glonass / QZSS / BeiDou / iBeacon, USB-C port, NFC, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
  • Battery: 4441mAh with up to 25W fast charging, 15W MagSafe / 7.5W Qi wireless charging (no power adapter provided)
  • Color Options: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium
  • What’s Inside The Box: iPhone 15 Pro Max, USB-C to USB-C cable, User manual and other documents
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 233,499 (256GB) | NPR 271,499 (512GB) | NPR 309,499 (1TB)
  • Pre-book iPhone 15 Pro Max here

iPhone 15 Pro Max Review:

Design and Build

  • 76.7 x 159.9 x 8.25mm, 221 grams
  • Ceramic Shield front, Glass back, Titanium frames
  • IP68 dust/water resistant

Ok so let me start with the things that I like the most about this guy! And I must say that I am enjoying the overall heft of this year’s 15 Pro Max! One of my few complaints with the 14 Pro Max was that it was a little too heavy. But thankfully, Apple has fixed that with this year’s “Pro” iPhones by switching from stainless steel to titanium frames!

Then again, I’m sure you’ve seen at least one of the dozen videos that show that this titanium back gives up pretty easily if you happen to drop it on a concrete surface from a certain height or try to bend it for some reason. Whereas the iPhone 14 Pro Max survives those tests quite easily.

So yeah, while these titanium frames have helped make the iPhone 15 Pro Max much lighter as well as harder, its greater degree of elasticity means the phone itself is more flexible. And the partial use of aluminum has made its drop protection significantly worse too.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Action Button

That’s because the back glass is in contact with the aluminum and the titanium is actually the outer half of the frame. So, it doesn’t absorb shock as efficiently as stainless steel on the 14 Pro Max. In any case, it’s extremely unlikely that your 15 Pro Max’s back panel will break under normal use, but I’ll recommend you case it up or take an Apple Care+ protection for better peace of mind.

Solid display

Anyway, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s display — on the other hand — doesn’t crack that easily! I have dropped my iPhone 14 Pro Max multiple times in my 1 year of usage and have it survived with flying colors every single time. And it’s also the same with the 15 Pro series! Plus, the glass back on the iPhone 15 Pro series also costs significantly less this time. Apple has redesigned the frames allowing for easier repairs.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Display Outdoors

The new Action Button

Besides all this, the 15 Pro Max enjoys a new “Action Button” too. But to be honest, I didn’t use it that often. Maybe if it was placed a little down below, it would’ve been useful when clicking photos and videos but there you go.

Now, as you can see, I have the phone in this blue color variant, which catches a lot of smudges and fingerprints on the frame.

But the natural titanium variant that my friend got, has this brushed look that hides the smudges much better. So if that’s something you’re worried about, I suggest you go with that one. However, I should warn you that — even now — the iPhone 15 Pro Max is not easy to get in the natural titanium finish. And its delivery date is set for mid-November in many regions.

Display

  • 6.7-inches Super Retina XDR OLED display
  • ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate
  • Ceramic Shield protection, Dynamic Island

Upfront, its display remains the same as the 14 Pro Max but I don’t mind it that much since this screen is still top-notch. It’s the brightest panel that I have used on a smartphone, the touch response here is great, and it has outstanding color calibration out of the box. Plus, when it comes to the iPhone Pro series, I absolutely love the precise and pleasant feedback of the vibration motor. So the typing experience is excellent this time as well.

Their similarity continues in the audio department too since the iPhone 15 Pro Max has the same speaker system as the 14 Pro Max. As a result, both of them sound pretty similar. With nice loudness and balanced bass, vocals, and treble.

Performance

  • Hexa-core Apple A17 Pro SoC (3nm)
  • 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB to 1TB storage (fixed)
  • Apple iOS 17 (upgradeable)

Let’s talk about the performance now. And I am happy to report to you that after the recent iOS 17.0.3 update, the overheating issue is completely gone. This is actually one of the reasons why I didn’t want to push my iPhone 15 Pro Max review much earlier because Apple didn’t quite hit the bullseye in terms of tuning the performance of the all-new A17 Pro chip on day one.

But after the update — as you can see from these graphs — the temperatures on my 15 Pro Max are significantly lower. Be it when running a stress test or recording high-res videos.

I haven’t faced any screen dimming issues even after an hour of continuous PUBG and Genshin Impact gameplay either. Everything just runs buttery smooth on the 15 Pro Max now. And needless to say, the A17 Pro should perform well for years to come as well.

There’s also a reason this chip is called “A17 Pro” and not A17 Bionic or something. Because according to Apple, it includes the “biggest redesign in the history of iPhone GPUs”. And there are some really cool features like hardware-based ray tracing and Apple’s version of DLSS called “MetalFX Upscaling” to justify its “Pro” tag.

All this is to say that the future of gaming on iPhones just got a whole lot better with the A17 Pro.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Performance

And I’m quite excited to play some of those AAA console titles that are launching later this year exclusively on the iPhone 15 Pro series! It’s also going to be quite interesting to see if it actually matches the performance and experience of a handheld console!

Battery

  • 4441mAh with up to 25W fast charging support
  • 15W MagSafe / 7.5W Qi wireless charging

Besides performance, I am also getting slightly better battery life here compared to the 14 Pro Max. Whereas this new USB-C port has been very useful to me since now I no longer have to carry my Lightning cable when I am traveling or going on a retreat with my Android buddies. I now can use their chargers to charge my iPhone too!

Although — as expected — it only works with QC or PD-certified chargers that you get from brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, Anker, Ugreen, etc. Whereas since the entire BBK group — which includes Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and Realme — uses a proprietary “VOOC” charging tech, so you can’t fast charge your latest iPhone with those chargers.

I gotta say though, with the upgrade to USB-C, I was also hoping Apple would upgrade to 30 or 45W charging. But the charging speed here is still quite slow as it takes around 1 hour and 50 minutes to fully charge this thing.

Besides charging, USB-C has made my life quite easy. I can now connect my iPhone to an external display through a USB-to-HDMI connector. I can now copy files to my iPhone directly from an SSD using a USB-C cable. How convenient is that?!

Cameras

  • Triple camera setup at the back
  • (48MP wide, 12MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide)
  • 12MP TrueDepth camera with Face ID

iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera

5x telephoto is a godsend

Ok, let me now talk about the one thing that I’ve been using the most on my iPhone 15 Pro Max ever since I got it. And yes, that’s the new 5x 120mm tetraprism periscope camera. This is a game changer, especially for aspiring photographers! Just look at these portraits that I shot on a photo walk.

Although I have to stay more than 1 meter away from the subject, its portraits are just next level as far as smartphone photography is concerned! It mimics the DSLR and mirrorless camera portraits with excellent background blur and everything. It’s just stunning!

Primary camera

Similarly, the primary 48MP camera has also been updated this time. It’s the same sensor as the one on the 14 Pro Max but it now clicks 24MP images by default. And I found it to preserve notably better details and sharpness. Likewise, the 15 Pro Max’s photos have better dynamic range and brighter colors. The white balance and color processing are inch-perfect too.

I also noticed that the skin tone from the 1x and 2x portraits is rendered better on the 15 Pro Max as compared to the dark — a little unpleasing — output from the 14 Pro Max. It now processes the shadows better and makes the skin tone more look natural and attractive.

During the launch event, Apple also mentioned that with the iPhone 15 Pro, “it’s like having seven pro lenses in your pocket” with additional 28mm (1.2x) and 35mm (1.5x) shooting modes that crops from the 24mm 48MP primary lens, but I didn’t find it to be that useful!

Instead, I was mostly taking 5x shots every time the opportunity struck. And its output is excellent with colors and dynamic range similar to the primary camera.

What about videos?

Another thing I’ve always admired about the iPhone cameras is their video capability, and it still remains my go-to camera phone for videos. So, whenever I have to take selfie videos for my Instagram stories, do a live session on Amazon, or go out for a vlog, I always carry an iPhone.

And this year’s iPhone is even better on that front. First, you get a new lens coating on the front as well as the back cameras which almost completely cuts off the glare while shooting in lowlight. Secondly, you can now switch between lenses at 4K 60 fps too. And since there is literally no color shift across all the lenses, I don’t have to do a lot of work in post-production either!

So overall, you are going to get a stunning camera experience from the iPhone 15 Pro Max — all thanks to its versatile camera setup that’s equally great for photos and videos. Yeah, I know it’s not that big of an upgrade from the 14 Pro Max. But that 5x lens for portraits and zoom shots is just an amazing tool to have. I am pretty sure a lot of Android phones will now be switching to similar 5x lenses as well.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Conclusion

Okay, so that was all for my full one-month review of the new iPhone 15 Pro Max! And what I can tell is this is obviously the best iPhone ever made and arguably the best smartphone on the market right now.

If you already own an iPhone 13 Pro Max or 14 Pro Max, I don’t think you’re gonna be wowed with everything it has to offer.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Usage

The 5x portrait camera, USB-C port, and console-level graphics are great to have, but they won’t offer you a whole new experience! So, you should wait for next year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max instead — or whatever it ends up being called — where Apple might bring a more robust, shatter-proof design, make full use of the hardware by striking a deal with other gaming studios to bring more AAA games. And maybe they will also bring an even better zoom camera that matches the S23 Ultra, who knows?

  • Check our video review of the iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • The 5x telephoto lens is incredible
  • USB-C, finally!
  • Unmatched performance
  • Stunning display
  • Excellent battery backup

Cons

  • Relatively fragile build
  • Still no faster charging speeds
  • Expensive outside of the US

Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under Rs. 10,000 in Nepal [Updated]

GadgetByte
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Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Under Rs. 10,000 in Nepal [Updated]

A portable Bluetooth speaker is a must for picnics, night-outs, and other similar events. However, one can feel lost in the market when shopping for the same. So, to help you with the buying decision, we have compiled this list of the best budget portable speakers under Rs 10,000 in Nepal.

Best Budget Portable Bluetooth Speakers in Nepal (Under Rs. 10,000)

Portable Bluetooth speakers are pretty versatile. You can use it in your home for casual listening or take it with you for outdoor activities. You might also acquire one for the love of the tech itself. But given the choices available in the market today, deciding on one can get very difficult.

To help you with it, we have curated a list of the best portable speakers under NPR 10000 in Nepal. This list of the best budget speakers in Nepal can be helpful if you are looking to get a new one for yourself or others.

Ultima Dynamite

The first entry in our list of the best speakers under NPR 10,000 in Nepal is the Ultima Dynamite. Retailing for some NPR 2,499, it is also the speaker in this list. If there is anything to know about Ultima, it’s that they make value-for-money accessories for the Nepali audience, and the Dynamite is no different.

It is a portable speaker with a 5W audio driver that covers audio frequencies ranging from 70Hz to 18kHz. The speaker gets pretty loud, making it a fit for family picnics and small outdoor gatherings. It has this boomy sound liked by the mass, but it sometimes outpowers other frequencies. 

Ultima Dynamite Design

On the outside, Dynamite lives up to its moniker with a rugged design. It comes with a lanyard to carry it around. You can use this speaker wirelessly through Bluetooth or wired through a headphone jack. Alternatively, you can also insert a MicroSD card if you have one.

Ultima Dynamite Speaker Specifications:

  • Dimension: 85 x 55 x 107mm
  • Weight: 250 grams
  • Audio Driver: 5W, 4 Ohm
  • Frequency Response: 70Hz – 18KHz
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 + EDR (up to 10m)
  • Controls: Power on, Volume up/down, Multi-function button
  • Battery backup: Up to 11 hours
  • Protection: IPX6 (Water Resistant)
  • I/O: Aux in Jack, MicroSD / TF Slot, Micro-USB (Charging)
  • Built-in microphone: Yes
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 3,499

Havit SK800BT

Next, we have the SK800BT from Havit. The main highlight here is the size — Havit SK800BT is the most compact speaker in this list. It is the kind of speaker you would have on your desk and bedside. Or you can move it around the home on your palm, facilitated by its shape. There is even a lanyard for taking it outdoors, but we doubt you will ever use it, given how pocketable this speaker is.

That said, the main selling point of the SK800BT is still the audio. It is a front-facing speaker that gets so loud it’s hard to believe it has a 4W driver. The sound is decent, too. There is no punchy bass, but excluding that, you will love the depth and instrument separation. 

HAVIT SK800BT

The only drawback of the Havit SK800BT’s compact size is its battery life. Optimistically, you can expect 6 hours of playback after a 4-hour charging speed.

Havit SK800BT Specifications:

  • Dimension: 96 x 68 x 64mm
  • Weight: 190 grams
  • Protection: IPX6 (Water Resistant)
  • Audio Driver: 4W,
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 (up to 10m)
  • Controls: Play/Pause, Volume up/down, Multi-function button
  • Battery: 3.7V / 900mAh
  • Battery backup: Up to 6 hours
  • I/O: Aux in Jack, MicroSD / TF Slot, FM, Micro-USB (Charging)
  • Built-in microphone: Yes
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 2,199

Asta Wolf Retro

The next speaker on this list is again from a Nepali OEM brand. This time, it is the Asta Wolf Retro. Asta Wolf has named this speaker aptly since it has a nostalgic wooden design. Unlike other speakers on this list, this is solely meant for indoor usage. So you are not getting a lanyard or a carabiner. Instead, there are four feet to place it firmly on a flat surface.

In addition, there is a built-in mobile stand on the top where you can put out your phone as it streams music to the speaker. All the buttons and ports are nearby. You can use this speaker through Bluetooth, a 3.5mm jack, a MicroSD card, and even USB. It can also double as an FM radio. 

Asta Wolf Retro Speaker - Design

Coming to the audio, it packs a 66mm audio driver with a 5W mono output. You can pair two Retro speakers for a stereo effect as well. The frequency response is from 60MHz to 18kHz. It packs a 1800mAh battery boasting 6 hours of playback time.

Retro Key Specifications:

  • Dimension: Unspecified
  • Weight: Unspecified
  • Audio Driver: 66mm
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Controls: Power on, Volume up/down, Modes, Pause/Play
  • Battery backup: Up to 6 hours
  • Protection: IPX4 (Water Resistant)
  • I/O: TF Card / USB-C / Aux / FM Radio
  • Built-in microphone: Yes
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 4,000 Rs. 2,576

JBL Go Essential

JBL is not new to making quality audio accessories. The brand makes some of the best speakers in the market today. But you also have to spend to get that quality. This is where the JBL Go Essential comes in. It is currently the cheapest JBL speaker available in Nepal. It brings the beloved JBL Pro Sound to a speaker that is both compact and affordable.

JBL Go Essential waterproof

JBL Go Essential Specifications:

  • Output Power: 3.1W
  • Music Playing time: 5hrs
  • Weight: 180 g
  • Dimensions: 86.0 x 71.2 x 31.6mm
  • Bluetooth: 4.2
  • Battery: Li-ion polymer 730mAh
  • Charging Time: 2.5hrs
  • Features: Waterproof, Bluetooth 4.2, Mono Channel
  • Color: Red, Black, and Blue
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 4,950

JBL Go 3

The Go 3 is the company’s most affordable portable speaker in Nepal. It has a rectangular shape with fabric covering the front and the back. The speaker is also dust and water-resistant (IP67). The Go 3 has a 1.5″ audio transducer, contributing to an RMS output of 4.2 Watts. The company has included a 2.7Whr Li-ion polymer battery here, which the company claims can give up to 5 hours of battery life.

JBL GO 2 vs GO 3
Left: JBL GO 2 | Right: JBL GO 3

JBL GO 3 Specifications:

  • Body: 3.4W x 2.7H x 1.6D-inches; 209 grams
  • Colors: Blue, Teal, Gray, Red, Black, Pink, Squad
  • Battery: Li-Ion Polymer 2.775Wh (750mAh)
  • Music Play Time: Up to 5 hours*
  • Charging: Around 2.5 hours; 5V/1A
  • IP Rating: IP67 dust/water resistant (Up to 3.3 feet for 30 minutes)
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1, USB Type-C
  • Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6
  • Bluetooth Transmitter Power: ≤ 8dBm (EIRP)
  • Transducer: 43 x 47mm/1.5-inches
  • Output Power: 4.2W (RMS)
  • Frequency Response: 110Hz – 20kHz
  • Signal-to-noise Ratio: > 85dB
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 6,200
  • Read our review of JBL GO 3.
  • Watch our review of JBL GO 3.

Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker (16W)

Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker has a rectangular body covered by fabric mesh. It weighs around 790 grams and comes with a strap for portability. Inside, it packs two speakers with a rated output power of 8W each. It can cover frequencies between 80Hz to 20kHz.

Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker 16W Design Best budget speakers in Nepal

There are two EQ Modes to choose from. Xiaomi claims up to 13 hours of battery life with the built-in 2600mAh cell. It comes with a Type-C charging cable. Mi Portable speaker also has an IPX7 rating and supports stereo pairing.

Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker (16W)

  • Body: 21.3 x 7.4 x 7.4cm; 790 grams
  • Battery: 2600 mAh (up to 13 hours @ 50% volume)
  • Charging: Around 4 hours; 5V/1A
  • IP Rating: IPX7
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Range: 20 m / 66 ft
  • Driver: Dual-driver with radiator
  • Output Power: 2x 8W (RMS)
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 6,599

Anker Soundcore Flare Mini

Anker Soundcore Flare Mini is a portable Bluetooth speaker you can take to outdoor parties and night-outs. It has a round LED base at the bottom to light up your parties. Here, it supports up to 5 lighting modes and 8 different colors. Soundcore Flare also comes with IPX7 water resistance.

Anker Soundcore Flare Mini Best budget speakers in Nepal

Inside, you get two neodymium drivers of 5W, each with dual-band Dynamic Range Compression and passive radiators. Likewise, it has Anker’s bass-heavy BassUP sound signature. You can also connect two Soundcore Flare Mini speakers for stereo effects.

Anker Soundcore Flare Mini Specifications:

  • Size: 14.1 x 86 x72mm
  • Weight: 480 grams
  • IP rating: IPX7
  • Audio Output: 5W x 2, Stereo Speakers, 360-degree sound
  • Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 4.2
  • Wireless Range: 20m (66 ft)
  • Power Input: 5V / 1A (micro-USB)
  • Charging time: 3 hours
  • Play Time: up to 12 hours
  • Water-resistant: Yes, IPX7 certified
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 6,999

JBL Clip 4

JBL Clip 4 is the successor to Clip 3, which was a regular fixture in this list in the past. Clip 4 ditches the circular design that the lineup has been known for for a more elliptical design. The carabiner is now built-in closer to the speaker. The speaker has IP67 water resistance against dust and water.

JBL Clip 4 Bluetooth Connection Best budget speakers in Nepal

Inside, Clip 4 packs a 40mm driver capable of 5W output. The frequency response is between 100Hz and 20kHz. There is no aux-in port this time around. As a result, the only way to pair it is via Bluetooth.

JBL claims the Clip 4 can last up to 10 hours of music playback. A Type-C charging cable is included in the box, and it takes 3 hours to charge the speaker altogether.

JBL Clip 4 Specifications:

  • Body: 86.30 x 134.50 x 46.0mm, 239 gms
  • Transducer: 40mm (1.5″)
  • Output: 5W RMS
  • Frequency Response: 100Hz – 20 kHz
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 (No aux input)
  • Signal-to-noise-ratio: 85dB
  • IP Rating: IP67 dust-and-water resistance
  • Battery: 3.885Wh Li-ion
  • Backup: Up to 10 hours
  • Charging: Type-C port (100% in 3 hours)
  • Price: Rs. 7,990

Best Budget Portable Speakers Under NPR 10000 in Nepal [Summary]

Portable Bluetooth Speakers  Price in Nepal 
Ultima Dynamite Rs. 3,499
Havit SK800BT Rs. 2,199
Asta Wolf Retro Rs. 2,576
JBL Go Essential Rs. 4,950
JBL Go 3 Rs. 6,200
Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker (16W) Rs. 6,599
Anker Soundcore Flare Mini Rs. 6,999
JBL Clip 4 Rs. 7,990
  • You might also be interested in:
Best Budget Speakers Under NPR 3,000 in Nepal [Updated]
Best Budget Earphones under NPR 2,500 in Nepal
Best Budget TWS Under Rs. 3,000 in Nepal
Best budget Bluetooth Neckband under NPR 5,000 in Nepal

Honor launches Watch 4 Pro with eSIM support

Raizel Tandukar
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Honor launches Watch 4 Pro with eSIM support

Not long after releasing two different phones, Honor has now added a new product to its catalogue. This time around the company has launched the “Pro” variant of the Honor Watch 4. Here, in this article, we will discuss the new Honor Watch 4 Pro, its price in Nepal, detailed specifications, and so on.

Honor Watch 4 Pro

Design and Display

The Honor Watch 4 Pro has a premium design and comes in three different colours: Dark Green, Brown, and Black. Meanwhile, all these variants come with a unique colour casing, those being Gold, Grey, and Black respectively. Additionally, the front shell of the case is 316L low-carbon stainless steel. Whereas the back shell is a polymer fibre composite material. It is also available in two strap options: Leather strap, and Viton (Fluoroelastomer).

Honor Watch 4 Pro Design

In terms of display, we are greeted with a 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with always-on-display feature. It boasts a resolution of 464 x 464 pixels as well as a pixel density of 310 PPI. Furthermore, the Honor Watch 4 Pro has 5 ATM water resistance while measuring 46.40 x 46.40 x 11.40 mm and weighing 50 grams without a strap.

Features and Rest

Honor briefly touches on the chipset powering the Watch 4 Pro. It has a three-core processor, wherein one is the main core, and the remaining are the association cores. The main highlight of this watch is obviously its eSIM support. Coupled with the in-built speaker, and microphone, you can independently make and take calls from your watch. Additionally, the watch also supports apps like WeChat while offering two-way search, NFC payment, and voice assistance.

Honor Watch 4 Pro Features

The Honor Watch 4 Pro with sensors such as an accelerometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, optical heart sensor, ambient light sensor, and air pressure sensor. All these sensors work in tandem in order to do all the health and sleep tracking. Furthermore, this watch also offers five-way navigation support, Bluetooth v5.2 connectivity, and wireless charging capability. It provides 10 days of usage on the eSIM typical mode while giving a full day of usage with 10 minutes of charging.

Honor Watch 4 Pro Specifications

  • Design: Premium design with round dial
  • Materials: 316L low carbon stainless steel (front shell), polymer fibre composite material (back shell), Leather or Viton straps
  • Dimensions: 46.40 mm x 46.40 mm x 11.40 mm
  • Weight: 50 grams (without straps)
  • Display: 1.50″ AMOLED Panel, LTPO, 310 PPI, AOD
  • Resoultion: 466 x 466 pixels
  • Chipset: three-core processor (1 primary + 2 association)
  • Durability: 5 ATM
  • Sensors: accelerometer, gyrosensor, geomagnetic sensor, optical heart sensor, ambient light sensor, air pressure sensor
  • Connectivity: eSIM, Bluetooth v5.2, NFC
  • Navigation: Five-way (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS)
  • Battery: Up to 10 days (eSIM Typical Mode), Up to 14 days (Ultra-long battery life mode)
  • Charging: 24 hours with 10 minutes of charge, magnetic charging (in the box), wireless + reverse charging support
  • Features: Independent calling, voice assistant, app support, health and sleep tracking, two-way search
  • Compatibility: Android 9.0+ / iOS 11.0+
  • Companion App: HONOR Health (Android | iOS)
  • Colour: Dark Green, Brown, and Black

Honor Watch 4 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

The new smartwatch from the Chinese company will open sales on 16 October in its home country. As this time, the company has not spoken of its international availability. However, it may indeed make its way to Nepal given that the vanilla version is available here. If and when it does arrive here, we expect Honor Watch 4 Pro price in Nepal to start from NPR 35,299.

Honor Watch 4 Pro

Price in China (Official)

Price in Nepal (Expected)

Viton strap

CNY 1,599

NPR 35,299

Leather strap

 CNY 1,799 NPR 39,699

Meanwhile, check out our Honor Watch 4 review.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 with 10mm driver, 9-hour battery launched in Nepal

GadgetByte
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Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 with 10mm driver, 9-hour battery launched in Nepal

Huawei’s all-new Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 has arrived in Nepal as one of the most affordable Huawei TWS options. It brings different changes in terms of design, audio performance, and battery life compared to last year’s FreeBuds SE. So, let’s explore the features, specifications, availability, and official price of the Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 in Nepal.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 Overview:

Design

Starting with the build, both the earbuds and the case feature a polycarbonate finish. The earbuds are of the half-in-ear type and do not include ear tips, unlike their predecessor, the FreeBuds SE. These earbuds are lightweight, weighing just 3.8 grams. Also, there is a four-color indicator in the charging case.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 design

Furthermore, the buds (not the charging case) have an IP54 rating, which means they are somewhat protected against both water and dust. This TWS is available in two color options: Isle Blue and Ceramic White.

Audio

The FreeBuds SE 2 uses 10-mm dynamic drivers for audio output. Huawei claims it has passed 26 strict reliability tests, hence providing stable audio performance. Additionally, it features call noise cancellation, which utilizes microphones and an AI noise reduction algorithm. These earbuds also support two audio codecs, SBC and AAC.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 connectivity

In the same way, the earbud stems have touch controls using a hall effect sensor and touch sensor. You can double-tap to play or pause your music, answer or end calls, and swipe to go to the next track. It also features Bluetooth 5.3, which provides a low-latency connection with smartphones.

Battery

Moving on to the battery, each earbud contains a 41 mAh cell, and there is a 510mAh charging case. This setup ensures a 9-hour backup with just the earbuds, which is an improvement over the previous model. If we consider the multiple charges from the charging case, it provides a total battery backup of 40 hours. Besides, 3 hours of playtime is offered in just 10 minutes of charging.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 Specifications:

  • Driver: 10.0 mm
  • Type: Half-in-ear
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
  • Codec: SBC and AAC
  • Battery capacity:
    • Earbuds: 41mAh
    • Case:  510mAh
  • Music time: 9.0 hours after a full charge/40 hours, including charging case
  • IP rating: IP54 (earbuds only)
  • Charging port: USB Type-C

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 Price in Nepal and Availability

The Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 has been launched in Nepal recently and is available at a price of NPR 5,490 from distributors and retailers, like Hukut.

Huawei TWS model Price in Nepal Availability
Freebuds SE 2 NPR 5,490 Hukut
  • Meanwhile, check out our video on the best TWS earbuds to buy in 2023.

Huawei Watch GT 4 with up to 14-days of battery now in Nepal

Sonika Bhandari
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Huawei Watch GT 4 with up to 14-days of battery now in Nepal

At Huawei’s event held on September 14 in Barcelona, they finally revealed the awaited Huawei Watch GT 4, following up on 2021’s Watch GT 3. This latest smartwatch is packed with upgrades, including improved performance, longer battery life, a better display, and more. In this article, let’s check the changes brought to the Huawei Watch GT 4 on the basis of its features, specifications, availability, and official price in Nepal.

Huawei Watch GT 4 Roundup:

Design and Display

First of all, there are two options available for the Huawei Watch GT4 : the 41mm Pendant design and the 46mm Octagonal design. The 46mm model features a 1.43″ AMOLED color screen with 466 x 466 pixels and a PPI of 326. It weighs approximately 48g without the strap. On the other hand, the 41mm variant offers a slightly smaller 1.32″ AMOLED color screen with the same 466×466 pixel resolution but a higher PPI of 352. This model weighs approximately 37g.

Huawei Watch GT 4 Design and Display

Both models come with an improved Always-On Display mode, which can now display up to 20% more visible elements than before. Moreover, they come with 5ATM meaning that they are designed to withstand water pressure when submerged up to 50 meters (164 feet) deep.

Battery

The choice between the 41mm and 46mm models primarily depends on your preferences for battery life. Speaking of battery life, the larger 46mm model boasts a runtime of up to 14 days, even with maximum usage. In contrast, the smaller 41mm variant offers a still respectable 7-day battery life under similar usage conditions. It’s worth noting that both models provide a 20% improvement in battery life compared to their respective GT3 predecessors.

For everyday use, the 46mm model can keep going for a solid 8 days on a single charge, while the 41mm variant offers a slightly shorter 4-day battery life.

Health Features

The Huawei Watch GT4 introduces TruSeen 5.5+ technology, featuring a new collection of sensors and algorithms for more precise health tracking.

Within TruSeen 5.5+, there’s the new TruSleep 3.0 technology. This includes sleep monitoring and sleep breathing awareness, which continuously monitors heart rate and SpO2 levels while sleeping.

Huawei Watch GT 4 Health feature

Another addition is Menstrual Cycle Management 3.0. Huawei claims that this feature is 15% more accurate in predicting the first day of your period compared to flagship smartwatches. It supposedly goes far; the device tracks heart rate during sleep, sleep temperature, and other physiological factors, to predict menstrual cycles and record symptoms in real-time.

Fitness Features

When it comes to outdoor workouts, the watch’s dual-band 5-system GNSS provides 30% more accurate positioning, even when surrounded by skyscrapers. Additionally, it can track a wide variety of sports (100+), including activities like Padel and even e-sports.

The Stay Fit feature helps track caloric intake with real-time health data, and Activity Rings gives you a quick view of calories burned, exercise duration, and standing time throughout the day.

Compatibility

The Huawei Watch GT4 is compatible with both Android (8.0 or later) and iOS (13.0 or later) smartphones. Additionally, these watches support Bluetooth calling, utilizing Bluetooth 5.2.

Huawei Watch GT 4 Notifications

The watch can integrate with apps like Strava, Komoot, Runtastic, and Huawei’s Petal Maps. Also, it can display messages from SMS, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Signal, Telegram, and Viber, and allows for quick replies from the watch itself.

Huawei Watch GT 4 Specification 

  • Dimensions:
    • 46mm variant: 46 mm × 46 mm × 10.9 mm,  48 g (strap excluded)
    • 41mm variant: 41.3 mm × 41.3 mm × 9.8 mm,  37 g  (strap excluded)
  • Case Material: Stainless steel
  • Strap:
    • 46mm model: Black Fluoroelastomer, Grey Stainless Steel, Green Composite, Brown Leather
    • 41mm model: Black Fluoroelastomer, Light Gold Milanese, Silver Stainless Steel, White Leather
  • Display:
    • 46mm variant: 1.43 inches AMOLED color screen, 466 × 466 pixels, PPI 326
    • 41mm variant: 1.32 inches AMOLED color screen, 466 × 466 pixels, PPI 352
  • Water Resistance Level: 5ATM
  • Battery:
    • 46mm model: 14 days on maximum usage
    • 41mm model: 7 days on maximum usage
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Optical heart rate, Barometer, Temperature
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
  • OS: HarmonyOS
  • Health Tracking: Sleep monitoring, Menstrual cycle prediction, Heart rate calculation during sleep, Temperature, Calories burned, Exercise duration, and Standing time
  • Sports mode: 100+
  • Compatible with: Android 8.0, iOS 13.0 or later

Huawei Watch GT 4 Price in Nepal and Availability

The price of the Huawei Watch GT 4 in Nepal starts at NPR 31,990 for the Black Rubber Strap version. Then there is the White Leather Strap model that costs NPR 34,990. Finally, the Steel strap version costs NPR 47,990. It is available through authorized stores.

Huawei Watch GT4 Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
Black Rubber Strap 41mm NPR 31,990 Huawei
46mm NPR 31,990
Leather Strap 41mm NPR 34,990
46mm NPR 34,990
Steel Strap 46mm NPR 47,990

Huawei’s premium TWS with waterdrop shaped design is now available in Nepal

Mintu
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Huawei’s premium TWS with waterdrop shaped design is now available in Nepal

Huawei launched a host of new products this Dashain, including its latest premium TWS, the FreeBuds 5. Successor to the FreeBuds 4, the hearable comes with a one-of-a-kind design for earbuds. So, let’s get into the specifics of Huawei FreeBuds 5, along with its official price in Nepal.

Huawei FreeBuds 5 Overview:

Design

The first thing that sets FreeBuds 5 apart from its predecessor or any other TWS in the market is its design. While it retains a semi-in-ear fit, the TWS now has an unusual curve, which Huawei says is an inspiration taken from “Rupert’s Tears.”

Huawei FreeBuds 5 Design -1

The stem is now fatter, while the earpiece side adapts a water droplet shape. Hauwei has still managed to keep the weight at 5.4 grams, though. The curved design is said to provide an ergonomic fit as per the ear canals of the user. Likewise, the earbuds also bag an IP54 rating against dust and water drips. However, there’s no IP rating for the charging case. It is available in three color options: Ceramic White, Coral Orange, and Frost Silver.

Audio

The wireless earbuds house an 11mm driver under the hood. It is accompanied by the dual magnetic circuit architecture that has a 30% increased low-frequency sensitivity up to 16Hz as compared to its predecessor. On top of that, the Sound Pressure Turbo Technology allows more airflow for bass enhancement, as per the company.

Moreover, the earbuds feature Audio Vivid, three spatial audio modes, and dual HD audio certification. You also get support for High-Definition L2HC and LDAC codecs, while Huawei has included a hybrid active noise cancellation to cancel out background noises on the earbuds for clear calls.

Connectivity and Controls

The TWS pairs with the Huawei Smart Life app via Bluetooth 5.2. It also extends the support for multi-device connection, audio sharing, and low latency mode. Talking of the touch controls, users can control the music playback via touch gestures. Similarly, sliding or double-clicking on the stem allows you to adjust the volume or answer a call on the FreeBuds 5.

Huawei FreeBuds 5 TWS

Rest of the Specs

Continuing on to the battery, the earbuds are backed by a 42mAh cell on each bud. And the charging case comes with a 505mAh battery that can fast charge the buds within 20 minutes. The company claims a battery backup of 3.5 hours with noise cancellation and 5 hours without.

Huawei FreeBuds 5 Specifications:

  • Weight: 5.4 gm (each bud), 43 gm (charging case)
  • Drivers: 11 mm
  • IP rating: Yes, IP54 (Earbuds only)
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (multi-device connection)
  • Audio: Triple-microphone, hybrid active noise cancellation
  • Control: Touch gestures (double tap/long press/swipe)
  • Charging Interface: USB Type-C
  • Battery & Charging: Single charge – up to 3.5 hours (with ANC), up to 5 hours (without), with case – up to 30 hours
  • Color Options: Ceramic White, Frost Silver, Coral Orange

Huawei FreeBuds 5 Price in Nepal and Availability

The FreeBuds 5 retails for NPR 24,990, and you can get it from Huawei-authorized stores such as Hukut in Nepal.

TWS Earbuds Price in Nepal (Official)  Availability
Huawei FreeBuds 5 NPR 24,990  Hukut

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