The OnePlus Ace 2 Pro finally goes official. This phone is a mild refresh of the OnePlus 11R and comes equipped with an identical 50MP triple camera setup with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for a performance boost. Without further ado, let’s get into the specs, features, and expected price of the OnePlus Ace 2 Pro in Nepal.
OnePlus Ace 2 Pro Overview
Display and Design
The Ace 2 Pro boasts a 6.74-inch 1.5K (2772×1240) flexible OLED screen. This 120Hz refresh rate screen supports 1.07 billion colors, has a pixel density of 450 ppi, and can reach a peak brightness of 1600 nits. One thing it improves over last year’s Ace Pro is the use of a better Q9+ screen. The BOE Q9+ panel improves color accuracy, uniformity of low gray scale brightness, and grayscale transition in dark conditions.
Additionally, the screen gets Asahi Dragontrail glass protection and is also TUV Rheinland certified for low levels of blue light.
Talking of the design side, the phone is very identical to the OnePlus 11 and 11R with the camera module fusing with the metallic frame. You also get the iconic alert slider on this guy as well.
Performance
As for the chipset, the Ace 2 Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It is an octa-core processor with a prime Cortex X3 Core clocked at 3.19 GHz, two Cortex A715 performance cores at 2.8GHz, two Cortex A710 cores at 2.8GHz, and 3 Cortex A510 efficiency cores at 2.0 GHz. To keep it cool, Ace 2 Pro will have industry-leading VC cooling with a total heat-dissipating area of over 9,000 sq.m.
In terms of memory, Ace 2 Pro offers up to a whopping 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM alongside (up to) 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage.
150W SUPERVOOC
In the tank, OnePlus Ace 2 Pro has a massive 5,000 mAh battery with support for up to 150W SUPERVOOC fast charging. OnePlus claims this can charge the device to 100% in just 17 minutes. There’s also a SUPERVOOC S power management chip that ensures the durability of the battery. As such, OnePlus advertises 4 years of battery life or 1600 charging cycles even with the insanely fast charging speed. Besides that, the phone does ship with a 150W GaN adapter (with 45W PD support) in the box.
Camera
OnePlus Ace 2 Pro will sport a triple camera setup on its back. It comes with a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor, complemented by an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro camera. On the front, the 16MP selfie camera is housed in the hole-punch.
Memory: Up to 24GB LPDDR5X RAM, Up to 1TB UFS 4.0 storage
Software& UI: Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.1 on top
Rear Camera: Triple (with LED flash);
– 50MP primary sensor
– 8MP ultra-wide camera
– 2MP macro lens
Front Camera: 16MP sensor (hole-punch cutout)
Audio: Stereo speaker setup
Battery: 5000mAh with 150W SUPERVOOC Charge
OnePlus Ace 2 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
In China, the OnePlus Ace 2 Pro price begins from CNY 2,999 with the 12/256GB variant. The device will probably launch as the OnePlus 12R for the global market. We can expect the OnePlus Ace 2 Pro price in Nepal to start from NPR 69,999 if and when it launches here.
The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd, secured a leading position in the global EV battery market for Q1 2023 with a 35% market share. Now, the company has introduced a new battery with supposedly impressive charging capabilities. As per the rumors, this battery can extend a vehicle’s range by up to 400km with just a 10-minute charge. The battery is referred to as Shenxing, implying a “God-like motion.”
“We hope through continuous efforts to improve technology and reduce costs, Shenxing will become a standard product available for every electric vehicle”
Shenxing Overview:
As a key supplier to Tesla, CATL is taking steps to address electric vehicle charging and range constraints through LFP battery. They’re planning to start making the world’s fastest-charging EV battery by the end of this year. Reportedly, this battery can work well in cold weather and can charge up to 80% in just 30 minutes, even when it’s as cold as minus 10 degrees Celsius.
LFP Batteries and the Future of EVs
The Shenxing battery is talked about as the first-ever 4C superfast charging Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery. Tesla widely used LFP technology in their shorter-range cars in 2021 due to its affordability and stable chemistry.
Although LFP batteries have less energy in a smaller space compared to other EV batteries, quick charging for LFP batteries can increase their range. The Shenxing battery is expected to bring a potential to boost range, which is said to be 400km of range in just 10 minutes. Hence, being such a giant, everyone hopes that the CATL brings to the table something impressive.
CATL’s e-car division introduced the new LFP battery on August 16, 2023. They plan to start the mass production of these batteries later this year. The first vehicles equipped with these batteries are expected to be released in early 2024. We don’t know how much the Shenxing battery will cost yet.
Lenovo, a well-known name in the tech world, is making headlines once again. The company recently moved out of the gaming smartphone market but is not doing so from mobile gaming. A recent report from Windows Report has leaked a new Lenovo Legion Go gaming handheld. Let’s delve into the rumors of the upcoming Legion Go handheld by Lenovo.
Lenovo Legion Go Gaming Handheld Expected Overview:
Unique Design: Inspired by Nintendo Switch
It looks like Lenovo got inspired by Nintendo Switch‘s design. The Legion Go handheld will introduce detachable controllers on both sides, similar to the Switch’s popular “joy-cons.” But Lenovo does more by adding RGB lighting around the dual joysticks. Furthermore, the right controller boasts a trackpad featuring navigation for the Windows 11 interface.
1 of 2
Power and Performance
The Legion Go will come with an AMD Ryzen 7040 “Phoenix” series chipset. There is also a rumor that the device will feature an 8-inch touchscreen display framed by slim bezels. However, the exact details are not official yet.
Connectivity
For connectivity, the Legion Go will come with a microSD card, power, and volume buttons, and we will probably get to see two USB-C ports. Furthermore, the back of the device will feature a built-in kickstand for easy gameplay.
The handheld will offer a number of buttons, both standard and innovative. M1 and M2 shoulder buttons, along with additional M3 and M4 buttons. The right controller will have a scroll wheel too. There is a leak, and the device will have a large cooling vent. The left controller will boast Y1 and Y2 buttons on the back for customizable offering options for gamers.
LenovoLegion Go Price and Availability
As we eagerly await more information and the device’s official launch, both gamers and tech enthusiasts are holding their breath to see how the Legion Go could potentially shake up the gaming landscape. There are not any leaks about the price and availability of the Legion Go. We will update this article once everything goes official with the price and availability in Nepal as well. Till then, TOODLES!
Music serves as an accompaniment to our daily lives, bringing rhythm to everything from active morning rituals to relaxing after a long day. Our favorite songs provide comfort, but it’s the undiscovered melodies that genuinely energize us. The vast amount of music availability might make it difficult to find the proper match. Many platforms have adopted TikTok’s scrolling vertical video style in recent years, and YouTube Music seems to be the next to follow the case with the debut of “Samples,” a new app option that enables discovering new music easier.
It’s a simple way to discover new music, but it’s not the end of the journey — it’s just the start of finding a new artist or song.
YouTube’s Samples Feature Overview:
What’s new?
YouTube Music’s product manager, Gregor Dodson, discussed how the Samples feed algorithm varies from the existing Discover and Supermix features of YouTube. It emphasizes artists you might recognize while introducing clips you haven’t viewed before.
Seemingly, the Samples’ feed is customized. Upon opening, the app provides a wide range of music that matches the user’s preferences. If the user discovers something they like, tapping on options enables playing the song, watching the full video, adding it to a playlist, or even creating a short video with it as background music on the main YouTube app.
How does YouTube’s Samples Feature work?
“Samples” is located in a new tab at the bottom of the app, alongside the home feed, library, and explore section. Tapping opens a brief vertical video clip of a song recommended by YouTube Music based on the user’s preferences. It highlights artists users like and introduces related ones they might not have discovered before.
The clips in Samples last for 30 seconds, akin to TikTok’s format. Clicking the Samples icon automatically triggers a short vertical video clip of a song recommended by YouTube Music. From any Sample, tapping the thumbs-up saves the song to the “liked songs” playlist. Users can also save it to any playlist they’ve created.
While TikTok is launching its dedicated music app, TikTok Music, to include the complete listening journey, YouTube is pursuing a similar goal from a different angle (it already has the “Shorts” tab as well). Samples, on the other hand, takes a less hectic approach as it is integrated as a simple app tab.
YouTube has announced that the global rollout of the Samples feature commences on the 15th of August, accessible to both Android and iOS users. Given that it’s common with new features, it could take a while before it appears on your app. So, having a bit of patience might be necessary.
“Barbenheimer” has been an international sensation and has been trending over the internet for the past few weeks, even earning over a Billion USD worldwide. We often hear phrases like “IMAX,” “shot with 15/70 mm IMAX cameras”, and “the first film to be shot in IMAX black and white” attached to Barbenheimer’s darker half — Oppenheimer. We see a common word here — IMAX. But what does it all mean? Why so much hype? And most importantly, is there IMAX in Nepal?
IMAX: An Introduction
For starters, IMAX is a system developed between the late 1960s and early 1970s. It comprises multiple aspects such as cameras, film formats, projectors, sound systems, and even theatres. Given that IMAX is an entire system and means a lot of different things, it gets very complicated very fast. For example: Filmed for IMAX and Shot with IMAX film cameras may sound similar, but they mean very different things. Confusing? We know! That is exactly why we are here. In this article, we will attempt to explain various nuances of IMAX to you.
IMAX Film Format
Whenever anyone mentions IMAX, our brains automatically think of a high-quality video and very large screens. And rightfully so. This high-quality video is all thanks to the IMAX film format. In order to understand the true scale of the IMAX film format, we need to understand what a normal film format is. Even before getting into that, here, a film refers to a thin, flexible strip of plastic or other material coated with light-sensitive material stored inside a reel used to capture images. Yes, the old–school stuff.
So there are various film formats available in the market, among which the 35mm film with 4 perforations is the standard. This film format is also referred to as the Academy Format. Now, there is another format which is a 70mm film with 5 perforations. This format is significantly wider and stores much more details than the standard 35 mm film frame. And now, if we stack 3 of these 70mm films side by side, we get 1 IMAX film with 15 perforations. The area of an IMAX film is about 830% larger than the standard film format. As a result of the massive size of the film, we get about 50% more images in every frame and a video quality that would be equivalent to…. drumroll please… a staggering 18K resolution!
IMAX Cameras
Now that we have explained to you the massive size of an IMAX film. You can guess what an IMAX camera must be like. The camera is massive, super loud, and very hard to work with. The camera weighs a minimum of 20 kilos by itself. It can go over 100 kilos, depending on the add–on and varying technology of the camera. An IMAX Film Camera is said to be insured for $5,00,000 each.
Given such a hefty amount of insurance, we can imagine how much the company values its camera such that you cannot actually buy the camera. You can only rent it, that too for upward of $16,000 per week. After spending the big bucks for the big equipment, you produce an 18K resolution movie with a 1.43:1 aspect ratio. Along with that, you get to market your movie as “Shot with IMAX Film Cameras.”
Digital Cameras
The number of movies shot with IMAX film cameras is very low as are only 12 of them in the entire world. Even when movies are shot with them, it’s mostly limited to select sequences. Even then, it is one of the major highlights of the movie. Given the limited number of IMAX film cameras, IMAX Corporation expanded its wings into digital cameras as well in 2020. Here, IMAX Corporation certified certain high–end digital cameras that could shoot in resolutions of up to 8K and a 1.90:1 aspect ratio.
As you can see, the resolution and aspect ratio are not on par with the OG IMAX film cameras. Due to this, movies shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras market themselves as “Filmed for IMAX.”
Even when a movie has used IMAX film cameras and film format, it doesn’t mean you’re getting the full IMAX experience. That’s because you’ll still need an IMAX theatre with IMAX projectors and a sound system to be able to get the full experience. Let’s start with IMAX Projectors.
Projectors
There are three different types of IMAX projectors: IMAX 15/70 mm film projector, IMAX with Laser, and IMAX Xenon. IMAX 15/70 mm film projector is the real deal here. This is the old school projector where the film is running through a light source in order to project it onto the screen. IMAX 15/70 mm film projector runs the film at a speed of over 1.5 metres per second through a light source. The said light source is a Short Arc Lamp with 15,000 Watts of power. This projector allows you to project movies with 18K resolution onto massive screens that can be up to 38 X 22m in size.
IMAX Digital Projector on the left and IMAX Film Projector on the right
IMAX With Laser
The second-best thing is the IMAX with Laser projectors that can project onto massive IMAX screens, albeit not on 18K. IMAX with Laser uses dual 4K projectors, where both the projectors project images superimposed on one another. The images from these projectors only have a half-pixel offset. IMAX with Laser can project movies in a 1.43:1 ratio using this clever technology.
IMAX Digital
Finally, IMAX Xenon is the weakest projector among the bunch. Also known as IMAX Digital, it uses a dual projector system similar to IMAX with Laser. But the projectors used are only of 2K resolution, which offers the same quality as a normal theatre. This projector can only achieve an aspect ratio of 1.90:1, which again isn’t drastically different from the normal aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Only offering 1/8th the resolution and not offering the real IMAX aspect ratio at all, critics refer to IMAX Xenon as “LieMAX.”
Moving onto theatres, there are two types of IMAX theatres. First of which is a purpose-built theatre with signature IMAX seating. The seating of these theatres can be rather steep and curved around the screen. These types of theatres are gigantic, with multiple–storied screens. Some of them even have curved screens. These theatres may have both IMAX Film Projectors and IMAX with Laser. There are only 55 theatres worldwide that have IMAX 15/70 Film Projectors. The other ones are much smaller retrofitted auditoriums. These auditoriums are more likely to feature IMAX Xenon. Some of them may have IMAX with Laser at best.
Sound System
In terms of sound system, IMAX uses DTS:X audio technology with 12 channels of surround sound. We may say it is the second-best thing after something like Dolby Atmos with 64 channels of surround sound. Even though it may not be as good as Dolby Atmos, the IMAX sound system can still pack a punch. These speakers are capable of pushing out so much air that they can blow out candles.
What’s a Real IMAX?
To summarise, Real IMAX is basically any movie that checks all these boxes :
Shot using an IMAX Camera that can be rented for $16,000 per week
Uses IMAX (15/70 mm) film that is 83 times larger than standard film
Played using IMAX Film Projector that uses 15,000 Watt Short Arc lamps as a light source
Projected in a purpose-built theatre that can have a screen stretching multi-stories
Projected in a 1.43:1 aspect ratio with a quality of up to 18K.
Checking all these boxes is extremely rare and difficult. Whenever all these boxes are checked, viewers get a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With off-the-charts picture quality and a screen that occupies the entire field of vision, viewers can feel as if they are inside the movie.
What about IMAX in Nepal?
Sadly, there are no IMAX theatres in Nepal. So, enjoying the epitome of a movie-going experience is not possible in Nepal. The best we have is a handful of theatres using a single 4K projector in one of their Audi. If you wish to watch a 15/70 IMAX movie, the nearest location to do so would be a 5-hour flight to Guangdong, China. Whereas, if you are going to settle for the second–best thing, i.e., IMAX with Laser, you could travel to New Delhi, India. The ticket will cost you upward of Rs. 500 (converted).
Possibility of IMAX in Nepal
Even though there are no IMAX theatres in Nepal at present, could we have one in the future? After all, we are pretty quick in introducing new technology in the country. Realistically speaking, the chances of an IMAX theatre being built in Nepal are next to none.
A quick search suggests that a single IMAX projector costs a minimum of 1,00,000 USD. Since we need a pair of those projectors to complete a setup, that’s 2,00,000 USD for projectors alone! An entire theatre can cost up to 10,00,000 USD or more. Assuming an exchange rate of 130, that would be 13 Crore Rupees or more! This hefty investment means that the tickets for IMAX shows will cost a minimum of Rs. 800 per person. Despite the growing movie culture in Nepal, we don’t think enough moviegoers are willing to pay the price for a single viewing.
On top of that, the only movies that would be available in IMAX format would be Hollywood movies, which isn’t the primary form of media consumed here in Nepal. Considering this, IMAX may not be a very profitable business, which in turn makes investment from a private corporation anytime soon rather unlikely.
Our only hope in introducing the coveted format to Nepal anytime soon would be from a public sector like a Museum. After all, IMAX was primarily used to shoot documentaries that cover larger-than-life spectacles, such as space exploration and summiting Everest. But we all know that such an investment from the public sector is rather unlikely too.
Conclusion
In conclusion, IMAX is the highest form of cinema in the World, and getting to witness it here at home anytime soon is rather unlikely. But, hey, we did not think we would see a day without load shedding in Nepal either. So, you never know!
The Bose QuietComfort was the latest pair of headphones to be leaked from the company that is best known for its top-tier noise-canceling. Even so, the leaked official-looking video goes over it by saying “legendary noise canceling” along with showing other features and designs. So, let’s go over what the Bose QuietComfort might feature as the release gets closer.
Bose QuietComfort Rumors:
Alike design
The video renders a similar design to most of the recent Bose headphones (i.e., QuietComfort 45 and SE). By recent, I mean the headphones are a year or two years old now. These wireless headphones even match, to some extent, the freshly leaked QuietComfort Ultra headphones.
In addition to that, the Bose QuietComfort is said to release in three different colors: Black, Cloud White, and Cypress Green.
The footage shows how you can use the audio jack on the left earcup in the QuietComfort wireless headphones for a wired approach to listening to music. The USB-C port is on the other earcup for charging purposes. The leak also reveals a customizable equalizer within the Bose Music App.
Rest of the specs
Nonetheless, the video is only 29 seconds long and goes over just a few functionalities in brief. The most notable one is the noise-canceling, which I mentioned above. Additionally, the rumored video makes mention of an all-day battery, which likely means the headphones might last more than a day.
Bose QuietComfort Price (Expected):
The recent leaks suggest the Bose QuietComfort headphones could launch at around EUR 399.95 next month. This converts to around NPR 58,225 in Nepalese Rupee.
Earlier in this year’s new launches, the Y78+ came out first, and now Vivo has introduced the Y78+ (T1) Edition, which looks a lot like the regular model. This new version keeps the familiar 6.78-inch OLED display and uses the same chipset. In the following discussion, we’ll explore the details of the Vivo Y78+ (T1) Edition, including its features, technical specifications, availability, and expected price in Nepal.
Vivo Y78+ (T1) Edition Overview:
Design and Display
The Vivo Y78+ (T1) maintains the same design as the Vivo Y78+. The phone utilizes the “porcelain texture technology” for that. The available color options for the phone include Warm Sun Gold, Sky Blue, and Moon Shadow Black. It features a 6.78-inch curved OLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
The screen’s refresh rate is set at 120Hz, and it’s capable of displaying colors accurately with both a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and a 105% NTSC color gamut. The front of the phone has a small hole in the center for the selfie camera.
Performance and Memory
Vivo has equipped the phone with a Snapdragon 695 chip. This chip highlights two powerful Cortex-A78 performance cores running at 2.2GHz, supported by six Cortex-A55 efficiency performance cores clocked at 1.7GHz. To handle graphics, there’s an Adreno 619 GPU.
This processing power is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM. Users can opt for either 128 GB or 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The phone operates on the latest Android 13 operating system, following Vivo’s custom OriginOS 3 interface.
Camera
When it comes to taking pictures, the Vivo Y78+ (T1) has two cameras on the back. There’s a 50MP main camera equipped with OIS. Complementing this, there’s a 2MP camera and LED flash to help with lighting. On the front, there’s an 8MP camera for selfies and video calls.
The Y78+ (T1) is equipped with a bigger 5000mAh battery, which is capable of fast charging at 44W, just like the Y78+ base version. It also includes standard features like dual SIM support, 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
This smartphone is purchasable from Vivo’s China website, with no information yet about its availability in other markets. The 8GB RAM model with 128GB internal storage of Vivo Y78+ (T1) Edition is listed for CNY 1,599, which could translate to a price of Rs. 35,000 if it becomes available in Nepal. On the other hand, the 256GB variant is priced at CNY 1,799, which could potentially be around Rs. 38,000 in Nepal.
Vivo Y78+ (T1) Edition
Price in China (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB
CNY 1,599
Rs. 35,000
8/256GB
CNY 1,799
Rs. 38,000
Meanwhile, check out our full review of Vivo iQOO Neo 7.
HMD Global, renowned for its Nokia smartphones, has just taken the wraps off two new budget-friendly devices targeting the US market – the Nokia G310 5G and C210. Now, let’s dive into the features, specs, and prices of the upcoming Nokia smartphones and their price in Nepal.
Nokia G310 5G Overview:
The Nokia G310 5G stands out as a considerable option for users to experience the power of 5G connectivity without breaking the bank. The device is fitted with a Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G. Its Nordic design incorporates a combination of a polycarbonate body and aluminum chassis.
Display and Camera
It has a 6.56-inch HD LCD screen with 90Hz refresh rate. It features display protection of Gorilla Glass 3.
In terms of camera, the upcoming device houses an 8MP selfie camera in a waterdrop notch. The rear camera setup boasts a 50MP main camera along with 2MP depth and 2MP macro sensors. Moreover, their cameras are accompanied by AI filters and an LED Flash.
Battery and Connectivity
For battery, Nokia G310 boasts a 5,000 mAh non-removable cell. Moreover, 20W fast charging equips the device. For connectivity, it supports the usual USB Type-C cable and Bluetooth 5.1. It also includes a 3.5 mm audio jack and a micro-SD slot.
Rest of the Features
The G310 runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ 5G chipset packed by Android 13 for OS. The storage and memory go up to 4/128GB. The device supports IP52 for dust and splash resistance. The device is available only in blue color.
HMD Global has partnered with iFixit to create a device that can be easily self-repaired using provided guides and genuine spare parts, thanks to the innovative QuickFix design.
Nokia C210 boasts a Snapdragon 662 mobile platform for performance. Its sturdy metal chassis supports its durability.
Display and Camera
It comes with a large 6.3-inch HD+ display for visual experiences. For the camera, it has a dual-camera setup with a 13MP main camera supported by a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it comes with a 5MP camera.
Battery and Connectivity
For battery, Nokia C210 boasts a 3,000 mAh non-removable cell. For connectivity, it supports the usual USB Type-C cable and Bluetooth 5.0. It also includes a 3.5 mm audio jack and a micro-SD slot.
Rest of the Features
The G310 runs on Snapdragon 662 mobile platform packed by Android 13 for OS. The storage and memory go up to 3/32GB. The device supports IP52 for dust and splash resistance. The device is available only in grey color.
Nokia G310 5G, Nokia C210 Specifications:
Nokia G310 5G
Nokia C210
Dimension
6.5 x 2.98 x 0.34 inches
6.28 x 2.91 x 0.34 inches
Weight
0.43 lb
0.37 lb
Display
6.56-inch HD+, 90Hz
6.3-inch HD+, LCD, V-Notch
Resolution
720 x 1612, 20:9
720×1560, 20:9
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ 5G
Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
RAM
4GB
3GB
Storage
128GB
32GB
OS
Android 13
Android 13
Rear Camera
50MP primary + 2MP + 2MP
13MP primary + 2MP
Selfie
8MP
5MP
Battery
5000mAh
3000mAh
Security
Side Power key, Face Unlock
Face Unlock
Other
USB-Type C, 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth 5.1, IP52 dust and water resistance.
USB-Type C, 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth 5.0, IP52 dust and water resistance.
Nokia G310 5G and Nokia C210: Price and Availability in Nepal
The Nokia G310 5G is set to launch on August 24 for an affordable price of just $186. This particular phone is designed for individuals seeking an economical smartphone option. It will be available at T-mobile and Metro by T-Mobile outlets and online in the US.
Furthermore, the price for the new Nokia C210 is USD 109. Starting from September 14, customers can find it at Metro by T-Mobile outlets and online in the US. We will let you know once the devices get launched in Nepal.
Check out the table to find out the expected price of the Nokia G310 5G and the Nokia C210 in Nepal.
Nokia Phones
Price in the US (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Nokia G310 5G
USD 186
NPR 24,899
Nokia C210
USD 109
NPR 14,599
Meanwhile, check out the unboxing and review video of the Nokia G20 [Nepali].
Hey Guys! I’m back again with yet another gaming laptop review — this time, it’s the 2023 edition of Victus 15 from HP. The Victus series, as you know, is a more affordable gaming lineup. HP has not made any substantial change to Victus 15, having debuted the very first model just last year. The biggest change, however, is the addition of new CPU and GPU options. This new breed of Victus 15 laptops now rock the latest 13th Gen Intel “Raptor Lake” CPUs. On the GPU front, HP has gotten rid of the GTX GPUs, with even the base models now boasting Ray Tracing capabilities.
Processor: Intel Core i5-13420H CPU, Up to Core i7-13700H
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 “Refresh,” Up to RTX 4050
RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200
Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
Audio: Bang & Olufsen tuned dual speakers
Battery: 3-cell 70 Wh Li-ion polymer
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.2
I/O Ports: 1x USB Type-A (HP Sleep and Charge), 1x USB Type-A, 1x RJ45, 1x combo audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB Type-C (DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge)
In India, the price starts at Rs. 105,000 for Core i5-13500H and RTX 4050 configuration, which I feel is kinda steep. So I suggest waiting for the base variant, which brings Core i5-13420H and the refreshed RTX 3050 graphics. This new RTX 3050 boasts 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM compared to just the original one and a maximum configurable TGP of 75W, which is what you find here with up to 75W TGP, which is what you find here.
This exact model costs Rs. 120,000 in Nepal and some 800 dollars in the US for 16GB RAM and 512GB storage option. I know this is not exactly a gaming powerhouse but a modest setup for beginners, which is what Victus is all about.
HP Victus 15 (2023) Review:
Performance
Intel Core i5-13420H CPU
NVIDIA GTX 3050 “Refresh” (discrete GPU)
16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
For students watching this, it can handle all of your academic projects along with intermediate C programs if you are getting into programming. You won’t feel missed out if you are a regular office-goer like me. This handled my workload pretty well, which mostly involves brainstorming new content ideas, researching key points, and finally, jotting down the scripts.
For this, I have tons of Chrome tabs all the time, along with LibreOffice. My work duty also requires adjusting photos and visuals for our website and social media handles which this laptop was able to handle without breaking a sweat.
Gaming Tests
I know you guys are not really here for this office titbit, so let me quickly move on to gaming. And the Victus didn’t disappoint in this regard either. With a CPU-intensive game like CS: GO, I was getting around 215 fps on average. The 1% and 0.1% low are high as well, resulting in a mostly stutter and lag-free experience.
Comparatively heavier games like GTA V, the laptop scored a decent 95 fps on medium settings with 1% and 0.1% fps at 56.6 and 48.7, respectively.
To push the RTX 3050 GPU a bit more, I took on a high-speed journey through the breathtaking landscapes of the Forza Horizon 5. Here too, the Victus 15 impressed me with 92.6 average fps on high graphics preset. With a respectable average 65 fps, the game was playable even at ultra settings.
1 of 4
I was able to play Borderlands 3 at both Medium and high settings with average fps lingering at 66.3 and 94.3, respectively.
And since this laptop has dedicated RT cores, I had to test some Ray Tracing-compatible games. Control was the first game that came into my mind, so I fired up the game on Medium settings. And while the visuals were stunning, it came at the expense of stability, with a 0.1% low dropping by almost half. The gameplay was still salvageable as turning on DLSS brought the scores to normal.
This way, you can even play Cyberpunk 2077 at Medium graphics and Ray Tracing which would not be possible otherwise.
1 of 4
Control (RT Medium)
Control (RT Off)
Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Medium)
Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Off)
Thermals
And all the time I played these games, the laptop remained relatively cool. The maximum surface temperature that I recorded of this thing was 42 degrees near the number pad, and it, too, was not that frequent. For most of the time, the temperature remained below 40, and the WASD and surrounding regions were even cooler at around 38 degrees.
So the thermals of the new Victus 15 keep up even with extended gaming sessions. One thing that’s a little annoying is the fan noise. The dual cooling fans remain silent during day-to-day tasks but get into action real quick as you start to game and they are a bit too audible when they do. So I recommend getting good wired headphones for a more immersive experience
The 3.5mm headphone jack is on the right, together with a USB port. All other ports are on the left side. This includes another USB-A, a USB-C, an ethernet, and a display output.
I found the ports to be too rigid than usual, making plugging peripherals in and out a bit of exercise. Every time I did it, I had this feeling that I would break something.
Ports
The reason I’m complaining about this seemingly minor issue is that the touchpad on this laptop is just trash. So you will have to resort to using an external mouse not just for gaming but also for normal tasks. So, unless you just leave your laptop at the desk all the time, you will have to bear with rigid ports.
Port Selection
1 of 2
The touchpad is actually spacious, and the off-center placement does reduce accidental touches, but that’s about it. The tracking is too sloppy, and clicks are too unpredictable for me to like it.
Keyboard
Full-size Keyboard with number pad
White Backlight
Fortunately, the keyboard is just the opposite of this. It’s a full-size keyboard with decent key travel that makes for a pleasurable typing experience. Even gaming is not a problem. Plus, the inclusion of dedicated function keys and number pad makes it ideal for office productivity. These things are not as rare, but since some gaming laptops do skip them, I felt like mentioning it.
You don’t get fancy RGB backlighting here, but the white backlight does get the job done. Plus, there are additional indicators for things like Caps lock, mute, and trackpad status. It could be just me but I also find the overall effect the white backlight creates with the blue backdrop quite cool.
Design
I really dig this premium blue shade of my review unit, which blends in well with almost any setting. It won’t raise many eyebrows, even if you take it to the office or college. It is also good at hiding smudges and marks, so it is more practical as well.
The build quality, I would say, is just decent. At this price point, you obviously can’t expect a metal chassis. This keyboard deck flexes when you really exert pressure on it, but it is not something you would notice in normal usage. You might think the area of the keyboard is for the speakers, but it’s actually not. They are placed on either side at the bottom. The audio quality is also not something to write home about. It feels flat and has noise at higher volume.
Display
15.6″ anti-glare non-touch FHD IPS panel
144Hz refresh rate
Now let’s talk about the display. HP Victus 15 sports a 15.6-inch display with options for 60Hz and 144Hz panels. Given the overall specs of this machine, it is only logical to go with the latter. With just 48% of NTSC coverage, the laptop is not good for serious content creation, and 290 nits of brightness is also just above average.
1 of 2
Color Coverage
Brightness
Battery
3-cell 70 Wh Li-ion battery
200W AC power adapter
Finally, let’s talk about the battery. HP Victus 15 packs a 70Whr battery that lasted me around 4 to 5 hours on a full charge. It is not anything groundbreaking, but still decent for a gaming laptop nonetheless. You get a 200W adapter in the box that can fully charge the laptop in about 2 hours.
HP Victus 15 (2023) Review: Conclusion
To sum it all up, HP Victus 15 is still a good gaming laptop if you are on a budget, the base variant, that is. The latest iteration gets rid of the aging GTX graphics, replacing GTX 1650 with RTX 3050 while embracing the power of the latest-gen Intel CPU, and it’s priced competitively. And at USD 800, there are not a lot of competitors in the market offering the same bit of all-round features, and you can get it for even cheaper during sales (USD 600). Availability can be an issue as the 13th gen models are not widely available yet in which case I recommend getting the last year’s models.
When it comes to durability of a foldable, we have to rely on informal assurances from manufacturers and third-party fold tests. For example, a recent test showed that the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, despite being rated for 400,000 cycles, only survived 126,266 folds. Thus, Google is reportedly considering introducing new quality standards for foldable smartphones to address concerns about their longevity and durability to replace false assurance.
Google’s approach to addressing informal guarantees
Longevity of Foldables
According to information shared by Mishaal Rahman on his Patreon account (available through payment), Google is considering a plan to ensure that upcoming foldable devices have a long lifespan. The idea is that these devices should be able to handle at least 200,000 folds and unfolds. This would translate to roughly five years of use if someone opens their phone 100 times a day. For those who are more careful and only open it 50 times a day, the device might last up to ten years.
Hinge Durability
Furthermore, Google might require devices with a “torque hinge” to keep at least 80% of their initial strength after 200,000 uses. This move comes in response to issues highlighted in recent tests, such as the Galaxy Z Flip 5 losing its ability to hold half-closed angles after 223,000 folds. In simpler terms, Google wants free-stop hinges to stay strong and not become loose over time.
Google’s Software Support Standards for Foldable
Google might also mandate that original equipment manufacturers provide a minimum of two major OS updates and three years of security patches for foldable devices, aligning with the current industry trend of extended software support. This matches what other companies like Google, Samsung, and Oppo already do, where they provide updates for up to five years.
Given the high cost of these phones, experiencing a device breakdown or being left without support from the manufacturer would be undesirable. While Google hasn’t confirmed these changes yet, they are a step towards enhancing the reliability and performance of foldable smartphones. So, even though these guidelines aren’t very surprising, it’s still nice that Google is making sure of them.
Meanwhile, check out our review on Galaxy Z Fold 3.
Moving onto theatres, there are two types of IMAX theatres. First of which is a purpose-built theatre with signature IMAX seating. The seating of these theatres can be rather steep and curved around the screen. These types of theatres are gigantic, with multiple–storied screens. Some of them even have curved screens. These theatres may have both IMAX Film Projectors and IMAX with Laser. There are only 55 theatres worldwide that have IMAX 15/70 Film Projectors. The other ones are much smaller retrofitted auditoriums. These auditoriums are more likely to feature IMAX Xenon. Some of them may have IMAX with Laser at best.
