Honor’s flagship phone, the Magic 5 Pro is now available with some great bundle offer. You can buy the Honor Magic 5 Pro exclusively from Hukut Store and get Huawei Watch GT3 worth Rs. 36,990 for free. So, let’s take a closer look at the Honor Magic 5 Pro along with its official price and availability in Nepal.
Honor Magic 5 Pro Overview:
The Honor Magic 5 Pro is the best Honor smartphone you can get in 2023, and the brand is bringing a lot to the table with it including a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and top class camera.
Camera
Let’s first address the elephant in the room—cameras. This layout of camera sensors (that forms a triangle) is actually inspired by the image of the black hole, and Honor calls it the “Eye of the Muse” setup.
Not only the design, but the Honor Magic 5 Pro also has an equally capable set of 50MP triple cameras, which has scored 152 points on DxOMark camera testing, behind only Oppo’s Find X6 Pro and Huawei P60 Pro. This beats the previous champion Huawei Mate 50 Pro’s score of 147.
Leading the show is a 50MP primary lens with an f/1.6 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS) support. This 50MP shooter is a 1/1.12-inch 8P lens allowing a 37% increase in image definition by capturing more light.
Likewise, there is a 50MP optically stabilized telephoto lens with 3.5X optical zoom. The digital Zoom game goes up to 100X here. Continuing the setup is a 50MP ultrawide unit with a 122° FOV, doubling as a 2.5cm macro camera.
To assist this setup, there is an 8×8 dTOF sensor for laser focusing that captures real-time depth information for swifter and more accurate focus. Even the dual LED flash gets a flicker and multi-spectrum color temperature sensor, aiding the color accuracy and less flickering in low-light situations.
Moving to the front, the pill-shaped cutout sports a dual setup with a 12MP camera, along with a 3D TOF sensor, acting as a 3D face scanner for biometrics and security. Thankfully, Both the front and back cameras are capable of capturing 4K videos.
Display and Design
The highest DXOMARK rating extends to the display, too, with a score of 151. The Honor Magic 5 Pro sports a 6.8-inch OLED panel with curves on four sides. The 120Hz display comes with LTPO technology, which means it can refresh from 1 – 120Hz based on the content.
The phone’s display is also the first one to secure the TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certification. It reduces eye training and adjusts the display color tones as per the melatonin secretion (the brain’s response to darkness) of the user for better sleep cycles. On top of that, there is a Dynamic Dimming feature that can simulate the brightness as per dynamic changing in lighting situations. This aids in the reduction of eye fatigue.
Furthermore, other specs of the screen include a 480Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+, 2160Hz PWM dimming, and up to 1800 nits of peak brightness. Design-wise, the Magic 5 Pro boasts a metal-glass combo chassis with an 8.8mm thickness and 219 grams weight. Bearing an IP68 dust/water resistance, the smartphone is available in two colors; Black and Meadow Green.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Moving on, the smartphone gets the horsepower from Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. This flagship processor includes one high-performance Cortex-X3 (@3.2 GHz), two mid-performance Cortex-A715 (@2.8 GHz), another two mid-performance Cortex-A710 (@2.8 GHz), and three efficiency-focused Cortex-A510 (@2.0 GHz) cores.
The phone boots on Honor’s MagicOS7.1 built on top of Android 13. As for the memory configurations, the Magic 5 Pro comes in a sole 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage combo.
Magic 5 Pro gets its juice from a 5100mAh battery with 66W fast charging support. It also supports 50W wireless charging. However, things are a bit different in China in this aspect. As per GSMArena, the Magic 5 Pro is getting a bigger 5450mAh carbon silicon battery in China.
Carbon silicon is a new battery tech that brings quite a few improvements over the usual Lithium-ion or Lithium Polymer cell. With this, Honor promises a 12.8% higher energy density in the battery. To put this in context, the Magic 5 Pro has a 5100mAh Li-ion battery, but a carbon-silicon battery could have a capacity of 5450mAh, likely in the same size.
Moreover, when a standard lithium cell’s voltage drops to 3.5 volts, there is not much power left in it. But the silicon carbon one has 240% more capacity left at 3.5V, which caters to the overall 12.8% improvement.
Other features of the smartphone include 5G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and USB 3.1 for connectivity. There is an X-axis linear motor for haptics, an under-display fingerprint reader for biometrics, and Dolby-powered dual speakers.
Telephoto: 50MP Periscope Lens, 3.2X Optical Zoom, 100X Digital Zoom
ToF Lens
Front Camera
12MP Camera, 3D ToF sensor
Memory Configuration
12/512GB, UFS 4.0
Battery
5100mAh, 66W Fast Charging
Connectivity
5G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
Security
Fingerprint, 3D face Scanning
OS
MagicOS 7.1 based on Android 13
Honor Magic 5 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
The Honor Magic 5 Pro price in Nepal is set at Rs. 164,990 for the sole 12/512GB memory configuration. As a part of Dashain campaign, Hukut Store is offering Huawei Watch GT3 worth Rs. 36,990 for free.
Acer Aspire 7 (2022) was launched in two CPU variants, Intel and AMD Ryzen. The Intel variant has been readily available in the Nepali market for some time now, and now the AMD variant is also here. Featuring the Ryzen 5500U CPU and the NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, the Aspire 7 is available at an attractive price tag. More about the specs, features, latest price, and availability of the Acer Aspire 7 (2022) AMD price in Nepal in this article.
Acer Aspire 7 AMD (2022) Overview:
Design and Display
The Acer Aspire 7 AMD (2022) boasts a sturdy build with an aluminum chassis with a Charcoal Black finish. Acer has also provided an ergonomic hinge for elevating the laptop for a better typing experience and airflow. Talking of its dimensions, it is 19.90mm thick and weighs 2.1 kg.
Getting to the display, you are greeted with a 15.6-inch IPS panel. This FHD screen boasts a 16:9 aspect ratio and supports a 45% NTSC color gamut and a static 60Hz refresh rate.
Performance
Running the show on the core is an AMD Ryzen 5500U processor. This hexa-core CPU’s clock speed ranges from the base 2.1GHz to Turbo 4.0GHz frequency. Accompanying the silicon is NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1650 GPU which still rocks in 2023 for casual gaming and light graphics tasks with a 4GB GDDR6 VRAM.
As for memory and storage, the laptops ships with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD storage. You can also expand the memory to 32GB by using two SODIMM modules.
Ports and Connectivity
In terms of ports, the Aspire 7 AMD (2022) includes 3x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, 1x RJ-45, and a 3.5mm headphone jack with microphone support. Furthermore, the laptop supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity.
Powering on the laptop is a 48Wh Li-ion battery, rated for 5.5 hours of usage time. It can be charged by the 135W power adapter. Other features of the Aspire 7 consists of a backlit chicklet keyboard, and a 720p 30fps T-Type HD webcam.
Acer Aspire 7 (2022) AMD Specifications:
Design & Build: Aluminum chassis, 362.3W x 237.4D x 19.90-mm, 2.1 kg
Acer Aspire 7 AMD (2022) Price in Nepal and Availability
The Acer Aspire 7 AMD (2022) price in Nepal is NPR 100,000 for the 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD variant. However, you can get it for as low as Rs. 80,000 through Hukut Store for a limited time.
Samsung’s Tab S9 Series arrived on July 26. And the Fan Edition (FE) iterations are here as well. The Tab S9 FE and FE Plus bear toned-down specs from the flagship Tab S9 series. And amongst the two, the vanilla variant is now official in Nepal. In this article, we’ll talk about the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, its specs, availability, and expected price in Nepal.
Samsung Tab S9 FE Series Overview:
Design and Display
Starting off with the design, the Tab S9 FE Series shares the same visual aesthetics. Taking cues from the flagship Tab S9 siblings, Samsung has also provided an IP68 rating for both the Tab S9 FE and FE Plus. Both tabs are available in four color options: Gray, Mint, Silver, and Lavender. And interestingly, you get a S Pen stylus bundled in the box.
Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series
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S9 FE
S9 FE+
On the display side of things, the vanilla S9 FE boasts a 10.9-inch display with 2304 x 1440 pixels resolution. The Plus version goes for a bigger 12.4-inch panel at 2560 x 1600 resolution. Unlike the Tab S9 Series, you get LCD panels on both tablets with a 90Hz refresh rate. Likewise, there is a Vision Booster which enhances the outdoor visibility.
Under the hood, the Fan Edition S9 tabs house an in-house Exynos 1380 chipset. This 5nm fabbed SoC powers the recently released Samsung Galaxy F54. It features four Cortex A78 cores running at 2.4GHz and four Cortex A55 cores clocking at 2.0GHz. Handling the graphics is a Mali G68 MP5 GPU.
Meanwhile, there are two variants for both siblings. The vanilla S9 FE arrives with 6/128GB and 8/256GB options, while the Plus model is available with 8/128GB and 12/256GB trims. Nonetheless, you can expand the storage via a microSD card. On the software side, the tabs boot on OneUI 5.1, built on top of Android 13.
Meanwhile, check out all the prices and specs of Samsung tablets here
Camera
Getting to the optics, the Plus version sports a dual camera setup on the rear side— 8MP primary + 8MP ultrawide units. While the vanilla variant bears a single 8MP main camera. For selfies and video calls, both tabs rely on a 12MP ultrawide front-facing camera with a 120˚ field of view (FoV).
Battery and Others
Moving on, the Tab S9 FE and FE+ are powered by 8000mAh and 10090mAh batteries, respectively, with 45W fast charging support. Furthermore, the tablets feature a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a dual speaker setup. Connectivity options include 5G (Only on the cellular variant), WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and a USB Type-C port.
Tab S9 FE: FHD+ (2304 x 1440 pixels), 249 PPI pixel density
Tab S9 FE+: FHD+ (2560 x 1600 pixels), 243 PPI pixel density
Rear Cameras:
Tab S9 FE: Single (8MP primary)
Tab S9 FE+: Dual (8MP primary, 8MP ultrawide)
Front Cameras: Single (12MP ultrawide)
Processor: Exynos 1380 5G (5nm)
Memory:
6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB (expandable)
8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB (expandable)
Audio: AKG-tuned dual-speaker
OS: Android 13 with One UI 5.1 on top
Security: Fingerprint scanner (side-mounted)
Battery:
Tab S9 FE: 8,000mAh with 45W fast charging
Tab S9 FE+: 10090mAh with 45W fast charging
Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, LTE/5G (optional)
Samsung Tab S9 FE Price in Nepal and Availability
The official Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE price in Nepal is NPR 80,999 for the cellular version with 6/128GB configuration. You can purchase the tab via Samsung authorized stores and online platforms like Hukut. While the Plus version is unlikely to launch here.
Vivo, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has expanded its V series with the new V29 phone in Nepal. So without further ado, let’s get through all the specs, features, and expected price of the Vivo V29 5G in Nepal.
Vivo V29 5G Overview:
Design and Display
As a design-centric brand, the Vivo V29 gets a pretty nice treatment. You get a curved design here with a rectangular camera island at the back, housing a triple rear camera setup within two circular camera modules. What’s more evident is the Aura Light flashlight ring that is 15.6mm in diameter, alongside another LED flash on the top. This fancy ring light is all for the enhanced portrait shots with “a three-dimensional lighting effect” as per Vivo.
On the front side, you are greeted by a curved 6.78-inch AMOLED screen. It boasts a 120 Hz refresh rate and a pixel density of 452 PPI. Additionally, the phone is IP68-certified against dust and water drips. Vivo ships this phone in Peak Blue and Noble Black color options.
Performance
Under the hood, the V29 is powered by the Snapdragon 778G. This two-year-old 5G chipset runs on one Cortex-A78 at 2.4GHz, three Cortex-A78 cores at 2.2 GHz Cortex-A78, and four Cortex-A55 at 1.9GHz frequency. Likewise, Vivo has paired the chip with 12GB DDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. On the software side, the phone boots on Funtouch OS 13, based on Android 13. Vivo has not commited to any future updates yet.
Moving on, the phone rocks a triple camera setup on the rear side. It is headlined by a 50MP main camera (OIS), an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP depth sensing unit. Over on the front, you get a 50MP HD front camera for selfies and video calls.
Rest of the Specs
The smartphone gets its juice from a 4600mAH cell with 80W fast charging support. Talking of the connectivity options, you get 5G, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. Furthermore, Vivo has provided an indisplay fingerprint reader for biometrics security.
The Vivo V29 Price in Nepal is Rs. 59,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. It is available for purchase from mobile retail stores all over Nepal starting from 5th of October.
Yet another Y-series Vivo smartphone, the Y36, gets a price cut in Nepal. Serving as the successor to the Y35 from the previous year, the Vivo Y36 has gathered ample attention and anticipation. In this article, we will provide you with specifications, features, and the latest price of the Vivo Y36 in Nepal.
Vivo Y36 Overview:
Performance
Vivo Y36 is available in 4G and 5G options depending on the region. The only difference between the 4G and 5G models is the chipset and the color options. The 4G model runs on a 6nm octa-core Snapdragon 680 SoC (6nm), the same as its predecessor. On the other hand, the 5G model consists of MediaTek Dimensity 6020 (7nm) as its SoC. The former comes with Adreno 610 GPU while the latter features Mali-657 MC2 GPU.
Both devices have 8GB RAM and support an additional 8GB of virtual RAM. They both have native 256GB storage that can be expanded to 1TB with microSD. Overall, the performance of the 5G model is better than the 4G.
Display and Design
Vivo Y36 has a 6.64-inch “Ultra O” LCD screen with a center-aligned punch hole cutout. This is a Full HD+ display supporting a 90Hz refresh rate and 650 nits peak brightness. The device has a dynamic glass design. You can find the fingerprint sensor on the side for easy unlocking, and the back of the device features a square-shaped camera module for a modern look. The phone is 202g in weight and measures 8mm in thickness.
Vivo offers the 4G variant in Aqua Glitter and Meteor Black, whereas the 5G model is available in Crystal Green and Mystic Black colors.
Vivo Y36 features two rear cameras at the back consisting of a 50MP primary and accompanying 2MP depth sensor. Over on the front, there is a 16MP selfie camera.
This smartphone packs a powerful 5000mAh battery that can be charged rapidly with 44W charging. It claims to charge the phone from 0 to 30% in just 15 minutes so that you can get a significant boost in battery life in a short amount of time.
When it comes to connectivity, both devices are compatible with Bluetooth v5.1, WiFi, and NFC and feature a USB-C port.
Vivo Y36 Specifications:
Dimensions: 164.06 x 76.17 x 8.07mm, 202 grams
IP rating: IP54 water and dust resistance
Display: 6.64-inch FHD LCD, 90Hz, 650 nits
Chipset:
4G: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm)
5G: MediaTek Dimensity 6020 (7nm)
Memory: 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage (expandable up to 1TB with microSD)
Software & UI: Android 13-based FunTouch OS 13
Rear Camera: Dual (50MP primary + 2MP depth lens)
Front Camera: 16MP (Hole-punch cutout)
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Battery: 5000mAh with 44W fast charging
Colors:
4G: Aqua Glitter and Meteor Black
5G: Crystal Green and Mystic Black
Vivo Y36 price in Nepal [Updated]
The new official price of Vivo Y36 (4G) in Nepal is Rs. 27,999 for the 8/128GB variant. Similarly, the 8/256GB variant costs Rs. 28,999.
Vivo Y36 4G
Price in Nepal
8/128GB
Rs. 28,999 26,999
8/256GB
Rs. 28,999
Meanwhile, you can check our video on Best Mid-Range Phones (Summer 2023).
Black Shark, a gamer-centric Xiaomi subsidiary, has just launched an unexpected product — a smartwatch! The new Black Shark product is named the S1 Smart Watch and it looks like a pretty standard smartwatch for the most part. Let’s discuss the Black Shark S1 smartwatch further in this article, including its expected price in Nepal, specifications, features and more!
Black Shark S1 Smartwatch Overview
Design and Display
The design of the Black Shark S1 smartwatch looks pretty standard with a circular dial that features an “exquisite metal bezel”. The case has a small opening on the left owing to the microphone. On the right, the watch features a crown and a button. It only comes in a black colour option and secures an IP68 dust and water rating.
Up on front, the Black Shark S1 flaunts a 1.43” AMOLED display coupled with slight curves at the edges. It boasts a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels, all while achieving a peak brightness of 600 nits and a refresh rate of 60 Hertz.
Features and Battery
This watch offers pretty standard smartwatch features like 100+ watch faces and built-in sports mode for you to enjoy and utilise. In terms of health features, it gives you with 24 hours heart rate and blood oxygen levels monitoring. It also has sleep-tracking features as well as menstrual cycle tracking, which is always a valuable addition.
What’s more, is that the Black Shark S1 comes with a Bluetooth calling feature that is assisted with an ENC algorithm and signal processing microphone. As a result, you get a “one-of-a-kind hands-free experience”. With the custom Shark Wear App, you can share your fitness reports or GPS coordinates. There are a handful of other features like camera control, stocks, message notifications, etc. that this watch offers you along with 10 days of battery life.
What’s there for Gamers?
Given it is a Black Shark offering, it only makes sense to have a dedicated gamers’ section! Firstly, it has a default Black Shark watch face with green and black accents giving it the gamer vibe. Other than that, it doesn’t have anything gamer-like going on design-wise, unlike its smartphone contemporaries.
Another “gamer” feature the company is pushing with this watch is that it monitors your heart rate during gaming sessions. With this, the company hopes that you find the perfect balance between playtime and downtime, and maintain a healthy sleeping habit.
Charging: 1.5 hours, magnetic charging (in the box)
Features: 100+ watch faces, 100+ built-in sports modes, Bluetooth phone call with ENC, App notifications, Health and Sleep monitoring, Camera control, Fitness reports with GPS coordinates
Black Shark S1 Smartwatch Price in Nepal and Availability
The new smartwatch from Black Shark is available for USD 49.90. If and when it makes its way here, we expect the Black Shark S1 Smartwatch price in Nepal to be around NPR 8,049.
Black Shark Product
Price in USA (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
S1 Smartwatch
USD 49.90
NPR 8,049.00
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Watch 3 Active
Dell has refreshed its popular XPS 13 Plus lineup with newer 13th Gen Intel processors in Nepal. Just like its predecessor, the newer XPS 13 Plus boasts a high-resolution OLED display with a slim design profile. In this article, let’s talk about the features, specifications, and price in Nepal of the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023).
Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) Overview
Design and Display
The XPS lineup is renowned for its ultracompact and modern profile and the new XPS 13 Plus is no exception. It features an all-aluminum premium-feeling build. Despite that, the ultrabook only weighs about 1.26 kg and measures 0.6” at its thinnest point. The newer XPS carries the design language from its predecessor with the ‘Zero-lattice’ keyboard and invisible trackpad. While that makes the device look minimal and futuristic, it may take some getting used to.
As for the display, Dell offers three different resolutions: FHD+, 3.5K, and UHD+. The base FHD+ (1920×1200) and UHD+ (3840×2400) panels are IPS displays while the 3.5k (3456×2160) that has made its way here is an OLED one. The 13.4” touchscreen refreshes at 60Hz and can hit up to 400 nits of brightness. It features minimal bezels with the 720p webcam (with Windows Hello) housed up top.
Performance and Memory
Under the hood, the new XPS 13 Plus (2023) is up to “2x more powerful” according to Dell. It features Intel’s 13th Gen Core i7-1360P processor. This 12-core (4P + 8E) 16-thread processor boasts base and boost frequencies of 3.70 GHz and 5.0 GHz respectively. The CPU is paired with Intel’s integrated Iris Xe graphics which has a slighter higher clock frequency than last year. (96EU @ 1.5 GHz vs 96EU @ 1.4GHz).
Moving on to the memory, Dell offers up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM at 6000 MT/s but only the 16GB variant is currently available in Nepal. Alongside, that you can choose for up to a 2TB M.2 SSD.
Others
In the tank, the XPS 13 Plus (2023) has the same 55Wh battery as its 2022 counterpart. So, naturally, just like its predecessor, the newer XPS 13 Plus can be charged to 80% in less than an hour with the provided 60W AC adapter. And the port selection is no different. You get the same Thunderbolt 4 port on either side.
Zeblaze made quite a name for themselves by launching the cheapest smartwatches with Bluetooth calling features. Now they have launched two new smartwatches in the Nepali market — BTALK 3 and GTR 3 Pro! Here in this article, we will be discussing the Zeblaze BTALK 3 in detail, its price in Nepal, specifications, and more!
Zeblaze BTALK 3 Overview
Design and Display
The Zeblaze BTALK 3 comes with a classic sleek design and features a high-strength metal unibody. The watch measures 44.50 x 44.50 x 12.30 mm in dimensions and weighs 56 grams with the strap. It goes with a fluoroelastomer (rubber) strap and comes in two colours: Starlight Silver, and Midnight Black.
In terms of display, the watch features an IPS colour display with a 1.39” diameter. It boasts a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. Furthermore, features a “Classic Navigation Crown” around the display and boasts an IP68 rating.
The ZeBlaze BTALK 3 offers you a plethora of choices. It has over 300 watch faces to choose from and fit your style. It also offers you the choice to upload images as watch faces as added customisation. On the health side of things, it offers you over 100 sports modes. At the same time, you also get various health and sleep-tracking features. Meanwhile, it also offers menstrual cycle tracking, which is a valuable addition for the ladies.
Interestingly, the ZeBlaze BTALK 3 offers you “The Ultimate Personal Assistant”. Here, you get a Bluetooth calling feature and offline voice assistant despite its affordable price point. In addition to these features, it also displays calls, text, Gmail, and app notifications. Lastly, it also allows you to play games like Young Bird, 2048, Thunder, and Hamster, if you ever find yourself in need of some entertainment.
In terms of battery, the Zeblaze BTALK 3 comes with a 230 mAh battery cell and can give you 14 days of typical usage. The number, however, drops to 7 days with heavy usage. And it further drops to just 325 minutes of usage with continuous voice calling. Finally, this watch is capable of giving you a maximum of 20 days of usage with “Battery Saver Mode” turned on.
Additionally, this watch comes with Bluetooth v5.2 for wireless connectivity with the phone. Specifically, it comes with the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology. It is compatible with devices running on Android 4.4 or iOS 8.0 and above.
Zeblaze BTALK 3 Specifications
Design: Circular
Materials: High-strength metal unibody, Fluoroelastomer (rubber) straps
Battery: 230 mAh Lithium Polymer, Up to 20 days (Battery Saver Mode)
Charging: 1.5 hours, charging cable in the box
Features: 300+ watch faces, 100+ sports modes, Bluetooth phone call, offline voice assistant, smart notifications, health tracking, menstrual cycle tracking
Compatibility: Android 4.4+ or iOS 8.0+
Colour: Starlight Silver, and Midnight Black
Zeblaze BTALK 3 Price in Nepal and Availability
You can purchase this smartwatch right now from our affiliate partner — Hukut Store! The Zeblaze BTALK 3 price in Nepal is set at NPR 4,500, however, you can get it at a launch price of just NPR 3,990. Furthermore, the first 50 customers can get the watch at an additional discounted price of NPR 3,490!
The Lenovo Ideapad series is a staple offering from the company, constantly proving itself to be one of the best choices at its price point. Is the case the same with this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i? How does it feel, what are the things to like about it, and what aren’t? And ultimately, is it a good buy? Let’s find out in this review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023).
My unit is an Intel Core i5 variant with a 15.6” screen. It has 8 GB of RAM alongside a 512 GB SSD. The laptop retailed for around NPR 80-85,000 just a few months ago but is now available for just NPR 71,000 which is what prompted this review.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) Review:
Design and Build
Dimensions: 359.30 x 235.00 x 17.90 mm
Weight: 1.62 Kg
Material: All plastic build
The design of Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is pretty similar to other IdeaPads. The entire chassis is made out of plastic, while the company logo is featured on a metal-like material. The IdeaPad Slim 3i is pretty neat and minimal, making it optimum for office work and students. It sees quite some amount of flexing, but nothing to worry about particularly.
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The laptop has a matte finish which prevents smudges. But, if you have sweaty palms like I do, sweat stains can be a bother. It isn’t the most comfortable when carrying around, but it’s a caveat that comes with the size. At 1.62 kg, the IdeaPad Slim 3i is a relatively light notebook with decent build quality for the price.
Keyboard and Trackpad
Keyboard: Full-size keyboard with dedicated Numpad
Trackpad: Precision trackpad made of plastic, dedicated left and right keys
We are getting a full-sized keyboard with a dedicated numpad with the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i. The keyboard here is good enough for me to not have any major complaints. The keys feel soft and I find the typing experience pretty pleasant. With the dedicated numpad, we get full access to the Alt keys, making the typing experience more convenient. Furthermore, I really love and appreciate the dedicated screenshot, and calculator shortcuts in the keyboard.
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Full Keyboard
Dedicated Numpad
The trackpad we have here is aligned a little towards the left, which isn’t the end of the world, but it is prone to some accidental touches. It is smooth and easy to use, even when using multiple fingers. However, I’d still prefer to use an actual mouse over it because dragging and dropping isn’t the easiest feat to perform over here. But for a general use, it’s good to go.
In terms of display, you can also get a multi-touch IPS panel with a 45% NTSC colour gamut, 300 nits brightness, and 800:1 contrast ratio with this device. However, my unit had a 15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080) TN panel which Lenovo claims has a colour gamut of NTSC 45%, 250 nits of brightness, and a contrast ratio of 400:1. I ran a few tests to test out the claims and the results do align with those numbers, which you can see in the screenshots I have included in the following gallery. These numbers are below average, but, a standard at this price point.
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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Display
Colour Gamut
Display Gamma
Brightness and Contrast
Talking of the experience, I did not face any eye discomfort when working on it for an extended period. However, I must say the display isn’t the shining quality of this laptop at all. The screen looks a little washed out, which isn’t a problem if you use the laptop only for general work. But, it becomes much more apparent when you’re consuming media. Dare I say, I’d rather watch videos on my phone instead of this laptop.
Speaker, Mics, and Webcam
Speakers: User-facing stereo speakers, 1.5W x2, optimised with Dolby Audio
Microphone: Dual-microphone array with noise-cancelling
Webcam: HD 720p, with privacy shutter, fixed focus
Continuing on the topic of media consumption, I did not particularly like the speakers either. They are optimised with Dolby Audio but that isn’t very apparent and they are okay-ish at best. The Ideapad Slim 3i doesn’t get very loud either which is much more apparent when making calls in a surrounding with ambient noise. I couldn’t make out what the other person was saying due to the low volume.
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Webcam
Webcam Sample
Furthermore, the microphone seems to be good for the most part, but I couldn’t notice any noise cancellation taking place. I was heard clearly at the other end, along with everything happening in the background. Even though the speaker and mics were average at best, the camera, however, was pretty good for a laptop. It gave good image quality during video calls and performed decently on a bright background. You can even fiddle around with the brightness, contrast, sharpness, and saturation of the camera as per your liking.
Hence, I’d say the Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3i is good for making calls and video meetings in a quiet environment. However, in a setting with a high amount of background noise, I’d opt to take the call with earphones on.
Performance
CPU and GPU: Intel Core i5-13420H, Intel UHD graphics
Memory and Storage: 8GB LPDDR5-4800 RAM, 512GB One M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot SSD
In terms of power, the Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3i comes with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H processor coupled with Intel UHD Graphics. Furthermore, it has 8 GB soldered LPDDR5 RAM and 512 GB SSD. With this combination, you can breeze through your regular tasks. I am not a power user by any means but I didn’t have issues editing photos on Canva while juggling between 10 other Opera tabs at the same time. It performed pretty well on synthetic benchmarks as well. On CineBench R23, it pulled an impressive 1,504 single-core score and 4,890 multi-core score.
Though it lacks a dedicated GPU and is NOT meant for gaming, I wanted to try my luck out anyway. Since it has an H-series processor, I was hopeful it’d be able to handle some light titles. I did have my concerns about the Intel UHD graphics though. As expected, the laptop can load up games, but playing them isn’t a pleasant experience. Low-demanding games like Valorant can be played well enough but you may see some screen tearing and frame drops here and there. In terms of newer games like CS:2, it is nowhere near smooth ruining the entire experience altogether. Additionally, this device heats quite a bit when playing games. Therefore, I would not recommend gaming on the Ideapad Slim 3i.
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Valorant
Counter-Strike 2
.
Battery
Battery: 56.60 Wh Li-Ion Battery, 65W power adapter
Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.2), 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x Card reader, 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x Power connector
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As for the endurance, IdeaPad Slim 3i is powered by a 56.60 Wh Li-Ion battery, which in my experience gives me about 4.5 hours of general usage before the “Battery Saver” mode is triggered. In terms of charging, the 65W charger juiced it up from 5% to 100% in around 1.5 hours while I worked on it on the side. Overall, this is decent battery life for a budget notebook and not too far off from laptops with weaker ‘U’ series processors.
On the side(s), the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i has a pretty decent port selection. Since I am not a heavy user by any means, I only made use of the charging port but there are two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, an HDMI port, a card reader, and a headphone jack which might come in handy for certain use cases.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) Review: Conclusion
All in all, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is a pretty powerful device but fails to make a definite mark. It has a powerful chipset that can handle heavy loads but is held back by its UHD graphics. On the other hand, that same powerful chipset limits its battery life which is a very important resource for a general user. Therefore, this product is in this weird limbo state where it is neither powerful enough for heavy users nor efficient enough for ultrabook enthusiasts.
That being said, the powerful processor is a good bet for future-proofing your machine. So, if you want a long-lasting laptop that won’t slow down any time soon, this might be a good choice.
In conclusion, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i ticks a lot of the boxes for a value-for-money budget notebook. With a powerful processor and a decent build quality, it is a recommendation for those seeking for a long-term companion. But if you value screen quality, and battery life a lot, there are better options for not that much more. And if you are someone who likes to do some casual gaming on the side, something like the Acer Aspire 7 (2022) [review] for around NPR 79,000 is much more suitable.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (2023) Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
Powerful CPU
Neat and professional design
Dedicated Numpad
Cons:
Subpar display and speakers
Lackluster Graphics
[Update: The specs read that this unit had an IPS Panel with 300 nits of peak brightness. But, it turns out it has a TN panel, which is why it has pretty poor vibrancy and viewing angle.]
Here’s my review of the Sony WF-1000XM5 after using it next to the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) for a couple of weeks. So it’s pretty much common knowledge at this point that Apple’s unparalleled command over its ecosystem is one of the main reasons how the company got to where it is today.
You buy an iPhone and — more likely than not — you’re gonna go with the iPad, the Apple Watch, and the AirPods instead of even considering choices from other brands. So for the competition to win over such an… accustomed set of consumers, they have to be among the very best in whatever they do.
Anything lesser than that simply won’t do.
Enter, Sony
And in the world of audio, only a handful of names are as beloved and esteemed as Sony. Which is why when the company announced its latest pair of premium wireless earbuds with a name that sounds more like a nuclear launch code, I was quite eager to get my hands on it.
More importantly, I wanted to know if it could replace my go-to second-gen AirPods Pro for the spot in my ears. But while it has excellent audio quality, noise cancellation, and everything, Sony’s got an uphill battle with the pricing itself. The thing is — although the Sony WF-1000XM5 costs similar to the AirPods Pro 2 in markets like India — it’s slightly more expensive in the West.
Price in the US
Price in India
Sony WF-1000XM5
USD 300
INR 24,990
AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
USD 249
INR 24,900
So… does Sony have what it takes to convince the AirPods purists to switch to its newest pair of earbuds despite the price difference?
Other Features: DSEE Extreme, 360 Reality Audio, Multipoint Connection, Fast Pair, Swift Pair, Adaptive Sound Control, Speak-to-Chat
Price in Nepal: NPR 47,000
Sony WF-1000XM5 Review:
Design and Comfort
5.9 grams (each earbud)
IPX4 splash resistance
Okay, starting with the design, I can’t say Sony has established a definitive look for its more expensive earbuds quite yet — like Apple has — since this lineup has seen a few visual overhauls over the years.
But the XM5s definitely feel like Sony’s most ear-friendly pair of premium wireless earbuds yet.
Because even though last year’s WF-1000XM4 was significantly more compact versus the monstrous WF-1000XM3 from 2020, it was still a bit bulky compared to what most of its competitors managed. This time, however, Sony has somehow figured out a way to shrink down the footprint of these earbuds by an incredible 25% while also making them 20% lighter.
And when you think about it, the fact that Sony has managed to address comfort complaints year after year (while also improving upon other aspects) is mighty impressive.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 still isn’t the most cozy pair of earbuds I’ve used or anything, but it’s right up there. Just a couple of steps below the AirPods Pro. There was this one time when I put these on for more than 5 hours at a time and I didn’t feel the need to take ‘em off at any point.
Foam ear tips supremacy
It had been a while (actually) since I last used some earbuds with foam ear tips like this and now, I don’t wanna go back to the regular silicone ones. Seriously. Even though I know how difficult these are to clean and that they are usually less durable than silicone tips.
And when walking down the streets of Kathmandu on particularly sunny days, I would get a little worried if its IPX4 rating was gonna hold up since I sweat a lot but — as it turns out — I had nothing to worry about.
These earbuds also have a lot more visual flair than the AirPods Pro I must say. Apple’s iconic stem design has never really been my thing — although I can live with it just fine — and I much prefer something that doesn’t protrude out of my ears quite as much. Sony also offers a couple of choices in terms of color options and this charging case is perfectly pocketable too.
What’s the case with the case?
But the AirPods Pro’s case simply offers a better peace of mind. I mean… it’s not even a competition. And for most people, that’s what matters more than color options and whatnot. From its IP54 dust and splash resistance (like the buds) to the lanyard loop, the U1 chip, and the built-in speaker for better findability, this guy is the more versatile of the two by a long shot.
Different design means these earbuds have a different control mechanism as well. The Sony WF-1000XM5 brings touch sensors on both sides while Apple makes full use of the stems on the AirPods Pro 2 for a comprehensive set of pinch and swipe gestures.
Controls
A touch interface on each earbud
Limited customization options available
Either of these is fine for me, to be honest, but the AirPods’ controls certainly feel a little more intuitive overall.
Mostly because Apple lets me control playback, noise cancellation, and everything from either earbuds, while I sometimes feel like I’m doing a contemporary dance move when trying to adjust different settings on the Sony WF-1000XM5. And it also doesn’t help that Sony doesn’t let me customize controls as freely as I’d like.
I can assign both the left and right buds for media control to make things a bit easier but then there’d be no way to toggle ANC and transparency mode without the app. The XM5’s four-tap gesture for controlling volume isn’t my favorite thing in the world, whereas I’ve also noticed accidental touches on a couple of occasions here.
To be fair, it’s not as frequent (or annoying) as something like on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro but there you go.
Then again, you know what?
Multipoint Connection supremacy
The XM5 has one super useful feature that’s not available on the AirPods Pro. And it never might be. Yeah, I’m talking about true multipoint connectivity. Although you can switch between different Apple devices without repeating the whole unpairing-pairing process every single time, it just cannot beat the simplicity of multipoint connection.
So it doesn’t matter if I’m on an iPhone, an Android phone, a Macbook, or a Windows laptop, the Sony WF-1000XM5 can simultaneously stay connected to any two of them. And make a switch when needed.
Sound
8.4mm Dynamic Driver X (closed)
AAC, SBC, LC3, LDAC codecs
DSEE Extreme support
That reminds me. One of the key upgrades to the XM5 that kinda flew under the radar — or one that Sony isn’t marketing very well — is the fact that these earbuds finally let you enjoy LDAC playback even when you’re connected to two devices at a time. This is a pretty big deal actually.
Because with the XM4s, they would default to low bitrate codecs like AAC or SBC as soon as you use multipoint connection. That’s no fun on such a premium pair of earbuds. But here on the Mark 5s, I can finally enjoy hi-res LDAC playback on either device, provided that both of them support LDAC.
Which is not an exciting news for iPhone users anyway since Apple doesn’t like LDAC. Or any of the hi-res audio codecs for that matter.
So even though these earbuds can transmit up to 24-bit / 96kHz audio over Bluetooth at a max bitrate of 990 kbps, that’s pretty much a moot point when talking about iPhones. But that doesn’t mean the XM5s sound mediocre on an Apple device or anything.
No, no. no.
With the all-new 8.4mm dynamic driver that Sony says has been especially tuned for improved low frequencies, clearer vocals, and lower distortion, the XM5s produce some of the cleanest, well-resolved audio I’ve heard from a pair of wireless earbuds. The soundstage feels wide and it manages to reproduce that perception of the physical location of instruments on a track really well.
Terrific audio all around
In other words, it has excellent imaging. Easily among the best out of all wireless earbuds I’ve tried so far. And besides the new driver unit, the upgraded V2 chip and Sony’s DSEE Extreme technology (that upscales compressed, low-quality audio files) are also pulling a lot of the heavy-duty for delivering this level of detail, clarity, and instrument separation.
When listening to The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil”, Mick Jagger’s progressively grittier vocals during the fourth verse of the song is incredibly well-resolved on the XM5s next to all the instruments playing around him.
Whereas the Apple AirPods Pro isn’t quite as open and detailed — mostly in terms of the brilliance — from the percussive instruments like shakers and congas. I’m not 100% sure if this is a result of the bigger driver (or just how Sony wanted the XM5s to sound) but these are also much richer bass-wise than I was expecting.
Slaps the bass (maybe a bit too hard)
I knew it would sound a bit more energetic than the second-gen AirPods Pro… but not by this much. So while the AirPods Pro has this… relatively relaxed kind of tuning with a slight bump in the midrange section, the XM5s are going to sound more pleasing to most folks.
Bu…t in certain types of songs, I did notice that the bass can get a little loud here, clouding the finer trebles in the process. For example, in the non-chorus section of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, the Sony WF-1000XM5 (almost completely) dissolves the subtle beat of hi-hats. This kind of tuning also affects the vocal timbre in songs with not much fast transient response. So… acoustic tracks mostly.
Which is something the AirPods Pro 2 absolutely shines at.
Like in Bob Dylan’s 1974 outtake of “Idiot Wind”, that extended bass response means Dylan’s voice sounds somewhat hollow. On the contrary, the AirPods Pro nails the tonal balance of the song. I know I sound like I’m overly nitpicking at this point but considering their price… I have to.
Can set a custom equalizer
Thankfully — unlike Apple — Sony lets you select from a bunch of different equalizers or create your own one. There’s even a “Find Your Equalizer” feature that personalizes the EQ for your ears based on the song you listen to. Pretty cool stuff. And as you can see, my music taste definitely favors a little more brilliance than what the XM5 sounds by default.
Sony WF-1000XM5 - Custom EQ
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So yeah, while the AirPods Pro sounds fantastic and all for most kinds of songs, I’d still go with Sony because of its superior audio quality overall.
And if you care about stuff like spatial audio and head tracking, the XM5s can do that as well — although it doesn’t work with popular music and video streaming apps like Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, YouTube, and such. And it’s only available to those with a subscription to Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, nugs.net, and a few other platforms.
Call Quality
3 microphones on each earbud
Bone conduction sensor
Just like audio, Sony has really upped its microphone game too. The XM5 now has three mics in each earbud, while Sony is using some AI magic along with a bone conduction sensor to pick up your voice from the ambient noise better too. The company also says this outward-facing mesh wrap on the XM5s is supposed to deliver clear phone calls even when you’re in windy conditions.
And… it pretty much works as intended. I mean, the Sony WF-1000XM5 effectively nails the whole “cutting out the ambient noise” part of the equation for phone calls.
So whether you’re in a fairly quiet room, in a busy and noisy outdoor condition, or in a particularly windy situation, these earbuds will pick up your voice just fine. I still think clarity could be improved with future updates as it sounds a little echo-y — but compared to the AirPods Pro — the XM5s tune out the ambient noise more effectively in every. single. instance.
Noise Cancellation
Intelligent Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Transparency Mode, Speak-to-Chat
Okay, let’s now talk about noise cancellation. Besides audio, Sony is also known for making some of the best ANC earbuds money can buy — and of course — the company is once again claiming that its latest flagship is the best in the business. Thanks to those upgraded microphones, more flexible foam ear tips, and the new QN2e noise-canceling processor.
And when pitting it against Apple’s best, yes, the Sony WF-1000XM5 do shush things more effectively in practically every way that matters. For sure. Especially in terms of the lows and lower midrange frequency noises under the 500 Hz territory, which includes things like a dog barking in the distance, airplane cabin noise, or people chattering around you.
Even when it comes to loud, sharp noises like car horns, whistles, a crying baby, etc. I found that Sony manages to pull ahead slightly better as the noise that eventually manages to sneak in feels somewhat exhausted versus how they sound a bit harsh on the AirPods.
A close call?
It’s not that the second-gen AirPods Pro completely falls behind or such but I can see why the Sony WF-1000XM5 ranks so highly.
However, getting the very best noise cancellation out of these will require some tinkering on the user’s part as you’ll need to get the right set of ear tips and also make sure you’ve got the perfect ear seal every time.
Surprisingly enough, the large ones fit my ear the best, while I also found that pinching these foam tips before putting them on resulted in notably better ANC performance. The only way the AirPods Pro’s noise-canceling experience stands out is that it has this… sense of airiness when using ANC, while with the Sony WF-1000XM5, it can feel as if you’re in a vacuum sometimes.
And this plays into the quality of the transparency mode on these earbuds as well. Because although both of them sound natural and everything, the AirPods Pro does a lot better job of convincing you that you aren’t even wearing the earbuds in the first place.
A couple of new features on the AirPods Pro
With the new iOS 17 update, the AirPods Pro has gained a couple of interesting new features too. Like “Adaptive Noise Control”. This is similar to “Adaptive Sound Control” on the XM5, through which these earbuds can intelligently switch between noise cancellation and transparency mode based on where you are and what you’re doing.
Whereas Apple has finally copied Sony’s “Speak-to-Chat” feature too.
It’s called “Conversation Awareness” and it lets you join in on the conversation without having to take off the earbuds by automatically pausing or lowering the volume of the media playback and switching on transparency mode as soon as you start talking. And — unlike the Sony WF-1000XM5 — I’m actually impressed with how the AirPods Pro doesn’t cause any false triggers when you’re coughing or just clearing your throat.
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I also think the companion app for the XM5s looks and feels like it’s something straight out of 2015. A little too clunky. To compare, getting around with the AirPods’ settings is a lot, lot easier on the iPhone.
Battery Life
Up to 8 / 12 hours of music playback (with / without ANC)
USB Type-C, Qi wireless charging
Getting to the battery portion of the review, the Sony WF-1000XM5 is a clear winner. Sony claims 8 hours of playback with the earbuds alone when you have ANC on (or up to 24 hours with the case) compared to the AirPods Pro’s 6 / 30 hours of listening time. And I’m not sure if Sony is deliberately underpromising the battery life or something but it’s lasting me roughly 9 hours on average.
That’s definitely quite spectacular, although how well it will hold up over time is something of a concern. I say this because last year’s XM4s had a well-documented case of battery drain issues. Sony says it has “optimized the charging algorithm” to prevent such a thing on the XM5 but it’s simply way too early to tell if that claim holds true.
Sony WF-1000XM5 Review: Conclusions
So there you have it, my full review of the Sony WF-1000XM5. As expected, these earbuds impress — and excel — in essentially all the aspects you’d want. And if you want a pair of flagship earbuds with some of the best audio, ANC, and microphone quality, the XM5 is (without a doubt) an excellent choice. No matter what smartphone ecosystem you’re in.
But things get a little tricky when recommending it to iPhone users. Mainly since Apple’s own second-gen AirPods Pro is such a robust product that keeps most people from considering anything else to start with. Yes, it doesn’t stand toe-to-toe with the XM5 on a lot of grounds but the AirPods Pro are very capable earbuds in their own right.
Not to forget, Apple’s ecosystem benefits are simply not something you can get with any other pair of earbuds no matter how much they cost. Then again, if you only want the very best and that price gap or the ecosystem benefits are not a concern, the Sony Wf-1000XM5 is a worthy companion for your iPhone as well.
