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Infinix Hot 20 4G with Helio G85, 90Hz display goes official in Nepal

Mintu
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2
Infinix Hot 20 4G with Helio G85, 90Hz display goes official in Nepal

Infinix has launched two new budget smartphones in Nepal, the Hot 20 and the Hot 20i. And the key selling points of the Infinix Hot 20 4G are its Helio G85 chip and a 90Hz screen. In this article, we will go through the specifications, features, availability, and official price of the Infinix Hot 20 4G in Nepal.

Infinix Hot 20 4G Overview:

Design, Display

Okay the Infinix Hot 20 4G has a pretty run-of-the-mill design. It’s available in four color options: Sonic Black, Legend White, Tempo Blue, and Fantasy Purple. And as expected from a budget phone, it goes for a plastic body and a plastic frame. While the rear panel houses a rectangular dual camera array with flash. Over on the front, the device sports a large 6.82-inch IPS LCD panel with an HD (720p) resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate.

Infinix Hot 20 4G Design and Display

Performance

The performance on the Hot 20 4G is handled by the MediaTek Helio G85 chip. It is an octa-core processor fabbed on a 12nm process. Infinix has paired this with 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card.

Mediatek Helio G85

While marketed as having up to 7GB of RAM, the remaining 3GB of extended RAM is just a page file. The phone boots on Android 12-based XOS 10.6 out of the box.

Cameras

The dual rear camera system on the Infinix Hot 20 4G is led by a 50MP primary sensor and complimented by a depth sensor. The front selfie camera is nothing fancy with its 8MP sensor.

Rest of the specs

This smartphone gets its juice from a big 5000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging via a USB Type-C port. In addition, it also supports 5W reverse charging. Whereas you get a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for security here. Besides that, the phone supports standard connectivity features like 5G, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.

Infinix Hot 20 4G Specifications:

  • Display: 6.82″ HD+ IPS LCD, 90Hz
  • Processor: Mediatek Helio G85 (12nm)
  • Rear Cameras: 50MP primary + depth sensor
  • Selfie Camera: 8MP (hole-punch cutout)
  • Memory: 6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB storage (expandable)
  • Battery: 5000mAh, 18W charging
  • OS: XOS 10.6 based on Android 12
  • Biometrics: Side-mounted fingerprint
  • Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack

Infinix Hot 20 4G Price in Nepal and Availability

The official Infinix Hot 20 4G price in Nepal is NPR 16,999 for the sole 6/128GB variant. You can buy Infinix Hot 20 4G in Nepal from authorized sites like Hukut.

Infinix Hot 20 4G Price in Nepal (Official)
6/128GB NPR 16,999

Benco S1 Pro Review: A Good Deal Under NPR 20,000?

Sonika Bhandari
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1
Benco S1 Pro Review: A Good Deal Under NPR 20,000?

In this article, I’m reviewing the highly anticipated Benco S1 Pro, which has created quite a buzz in the Nepali smartphone market. This phone is priced at around NPR 20,000 for the variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The S1 Pro is part of Benco’s new S series and follows the successful launch of the Benco S1, which had a starting price of NPR. 15,000. In the price range of NPR 10,000 to 15,000, Benco usually launches phones in the “V” and “Y” series. However, with the S1 Pro, Benco has aimed to penetrate the competitive 20,000 Nepali Rupees range.

I have been using the Benco S1 Pro for about a month now, alongside Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 4G for comparison. It is because both smartphones fall under similar price categories with which you can make a better buying decision. So, let’s delve into the detailed review of the Benco S1 Pro with its specs, features, and usage while comparing it with Redmi Note 12 4G.

Benco S1 Pro Specifications:

  • Body: 166.91 x 74.91 x 8.47 mm, 203.4gm, Glass front/back, Plastic frames
  • Display: 6.8” FHD+ LCD, 60Hz refresh rate
  • Resolution: 2460 x 1080 pixels, 395 PPI, 20:5:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Unisoc T616 (12nm mobile platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • GPU: Mali-G57 MP1
  • Memory: 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: Android 13
  • Rear Camera: 64 MP, f/1.89 (wide)
    – 2MP (macro)
    – Unspecified camera (depth)
    – Video: 1080p@30fps
  • Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.0 (hole-punch cutout)
  • Audio: single speaker
  • Security: Side-mounter fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, proximity
  • Connectivity: 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port
  • Battery: 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging
  • Color Options: Pearl White, Iceberg Blue, Gemstone Black
  • What’s Inside The Box: Benco S1 Pro, USB-A to USB-C cable, 33W power adapter, SIM ejector tool, Screen protector, Transparent case, Earphones, User manual, and other documents
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 19,999 (8/128GB)

Benco S1 Pro Review:

Attractive design and build

  • 166.91 x 74.91 x 8.47 mm
  • Glass Back, Plastic frames

I must say that it has left a positive first impression. One surprising aspect of the S1 Pro is its glass back, which is quite impressive for a phone at NPR 20,000 price range. The frosted finish on the back gives it a cool and premium look. This design choice also eliminates fingerprint smudges, which is a great convenience.

Additionally, despite using it for a month, I haven’t noticed any scratches on the back. For users who prefer added protection, Benco includes a screen protector and a transparent case in the box, which is a thoughtful inclusion.

The Benco S1 Pro has a slim and attractive profile. It feels premium in hand and gives a similar feel to high-end phones. Although the frame is made of plastic, it blends well with the overall design. For fingerprint unlocking, the S1 Pro features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It is neatly placed and proves to be reliable. Unlocking the phone is quick, and there is no noticeable delay. Therefore, in terms of design, the Benco S1 Pro does not disappoint.

Average IPS display

  • 6.8” FHD+ LCD
  • 60Hz refresh rate

In terms of display, Benco has made a few compromises. To begin with, the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, which means you won’t experience that ultra-smooth feel while using the phone. Additionally, Benco has not opted for an AMOLED panel, which I have some concerns about. Because in this price range, we normally get a 90Hz IPS display or a 60Hz AMOLED display in the market.

Indeed, Benco has placed more emphasis on the display size of the S1 Pro. You can enjoy a large 6.8-inch screen, which provides a spacious viewing experience. The display offers good color and decent viewing angles, considering the price range. Although it may not have the vibrant visuals typically seen on AMOLED panels, the display quality is still satisfactory for its price.

Benco S1 Pro Display-2

When it comes to watching YouTube videos, the experience wasn’t that bad. But, because of its large screen size, despite having 1080p resolution, I noticed a slight lack of sharpness.

I noticed that the brightness of the Benco S1 Pro is sufficient when used in bright outdoor conditions. In this aspect, the Redmi Note 12 has an advantage over the S1 Pro. However, when it comes to watching movies indoors, any significant issues were not noticed. For this, the S1 Pro also features a down-firing speaker, which provides average sound output. For a more immersive experience, I would suggest using earphones or headphones. It’s worth noting that Benco includes a wired earphone in the box, which is a rare inclusion these days and can be convenient for users.

Performance and Gaming

  • Unisoc T616 (12nm mobile platform)
  • Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • Mali-G57 MP1 GPU

The Benco S1 Pro is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T616 chipset, which is considered an entry-level processor. While Unisoc processors may not be as popular as MediaTek or Snapdragon processors, they are commonly used in budget-friendly smartphones. In terms of raw performance, I conducted a Geekbench 6 test. Compared to the Snapdragon 685 found in the Redmi Note 12, the Benco S1 Pro shows slightly better performance in multi-core tasks but falls behind in single-core performance. The Benco S1 Pro also exhibits relatively better GPU performance.

Benco S1 Pro Gaming

The Benco S1 Pro is not highly optimized for gaming. When I played PUBG on this phone, I noticed some lag and stuttering, even when using the Smooth Graphics and Ultra frame rate settings. It provided gameplay at around 25 frames per second, which is not ideal for a smooth gaming experience. In terms of heat, I also noticed heating issues during my testing. Also, the Benco S1 Pro does not have a gyro sensor either.

On the other hand, when I played Call of Duty, I noticed a slightly better performance with around 40 frames per second. Although PUBG is not well-optimized on the Benco S1 Pro, it can still handle less demanding games relatively well.

If gaming is not a priority, the Benco S1 Pro serves you well. During normal usage, the phone’s performance is generally satisfactory, and I didn’t notice any significant bugs or issues. It’s worth mentioning that budget phones often come with numerous ads and bloatware, but I did not observe such excessive ads or unwanted pre-installed apps on the Benco S1 Pro.

Latest software and clean UI

  • Android 13
  • INONE UI

In terms of software, the Benco S1 Pro runs on the latest Android 13 which is kinda impressive. It offers a user-friendly interface with a clean UI design. However, when it comes to RAM management, the phone may not excel. Despite having 8GB of RAM, the RAM management on the Benco S1 Pro may not be as efficient as desired.

Camera

  • Triple (64MP + 2MP + AI Lens)
  • 16MP selfie

The Benco S1 Pro features a triple camera setup with a 64 MP primary camera and two useless 2 MP macro lenses, and an AI camera. The primary camera of the Benco S1 Pro performs well in terms of image quality, but it does not deliver consistent results. In the photos of the Boudha stupa provided below, you can observe that the exposure is not well maintained in the left photo, despite being taken with the same normal camera.

64 MP Camera

I also captured a photo of a stupa using the 64 MP camera, and as you can see, there is an increase in saturation in the image that makes the picture look wonderful.

Normal Camera

Now, if we compare the main camera of the Benco S1 Pro with the Redmi Note 12 4G, based on the provided sample photos, the Redmi Note 12 seems to perform slightly better. The Redmi Note 12 exhibits a warm tone, but the contrast appears to be better compared to the Benco S1 Pro. On the other hand, the photos taken with the Benco S1 Pro appear slightly more muted, and it lacks sharpness.

Again, from the pictures taken below, we can observe that Benco performs slightly better, which proves my above point of it producing inconsistent picture quality. The Benco S1 Pro produces images with vibrant colors and a pop of color, while the images from the Redmi Note 12 appear relatively plain in comparison.

I took the picture of Grande Hospital’s building and as you can see, there is no noticeable difference between the pictures. Both devices exhibit similar qualities.

See the pictures of these flowers taken from both smartphones, and it can be observed that the Benco provides a slightly better saturation. Redmi’s picture looks a bit washed up.

Portrait Camera

When looking at portrait photos, it’s evident that the Redmi Note 12 4G offers slightly higher contrast compared to the Benco S1 Pro, as you can see.

Night Camera

Similarly, even in low-light conditions, the Redmi Note 12 performs better. To see this, refer to the photo taken at the temple, where the Redmi Note 12 has managed to maintain exposure more effectively compared to the Benco S1 Pro.

Now, I’m comparing the same night mode picture of the Benco S1 Pro with its picture taken in Normal mode in low light. We can observe that the normal mode gives better results than the night mode. The night mode picture is a bit noisy.

Now, let’s take a look at the night mode photos captured by both phones. In my experience, I took photos from the same location in my house, and in this case, the Benco S1 Pro performed better. The Redmi Note 12 seems to forcefully increase the brightness in its night mode, resulting in more noticeable noise in the images. On the other hand, the Benco S1 Pro maintained better exposure in its night mode photos.

Front Camera

I took selfies with both phones, and I noticed that neither of them produced a particularly natural-looking result. The Benco S1 Pro did capture a slightly pinkish tone, which still looked good. On the other hand, the selfies taken with the Redmi Note 12 appeared slightly pale. If you’re a selfie lover, the Benco S1 Pro does not disappoint, as its 16 MP front camera captures vibrant pictures.

Video

In 1080p and 30fps with the normal camera, I observed that videos captured with the Benco S1 Pro are comparatively shaky, while the Redmi Note 12 offers more stability. However, it appears that Redmi utilizes Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) to stabilize the footage, which can result in some noticeable cut-offs in the recorded video. Overall, I must say what Benco is offering in terms of video recording capabilities is quite disappointing.

Impressive battery with fast charging

  • Non-removable Li-Po 5000mAh battery
  • Fast charging 33W

Benco S1 Pro Fast Charging

In terms of battery and connectivity, the Benco S1 Pro is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery that can last for approximately 6 hours under normal usage. The Redmi Note 12 also features a 5000 mAh battery, but the Benco S1 Pro seems to offer slightly better battery life. It’s probably because the Redmi Note 12 4G offers a higher refresh rate of 120Hz impacting its battery performance.

Additionally, the Benco S1 Pro supports 33W fast charging, allowing it to charge from 0 to 50% in around 25 minutes and reach a full charge in about 60 minutes. So comparatively, the battery performance is quite similar between the two.

Benco S1 Pro Review: Conclusion

And now, the moment of truth! As I’ve discussed throughout this review, it’s clear that the Benco S1 Pro is truly impressive with its stunning design and excellent battery life. However, its camera and display performance are just average.

If budget allows, an alternative option could be the Redmi Note 12 4G, which offers a better display, camera, and overall optimization. That being said, if the budget is tight, the Benco S1 Pro is still a decent choice.

Benco S1 Pro Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Slim and attractive design
  • Good battery life
  • Latest Android 13

Cons

  • Not the greatest Performance
  • LCD screen with 60 Hz
  • No stereo speakers
  • Cameras could have been better

Infinix Hot 20i launched in Nepal with Helio G25 SoC, 5000mAh battery

Mintu
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2
Infinix Hot 20i launched in Nepal with Helio G25 SoC, 5000mAh battery

Infinix has launched the Hot 20i smartphone in Nepal. The Chinese smartphone maker is known for its budget-centric devices, and the Hot 20i joins the lineup with entry-level specs as well. Like Helio G25 chip, HD+ screen, and more. In this article, we’ll walk through the specs, features, and official price of the Infinix Hot 20i in Nepal.

Infinix Hot 20i Overview:

Design and Display

Let’s commence with the design first. The Hot 20i bears an all-plastic frame and back with a glass front. The phone weighs 195 grams and has a thickness of 8.8mm. As for the display, you’re looking at a 6.6-inch TFT LCD panel with an HD+ resolution (1612 x 720 pixels). The screen boasts a 500 nits peak brightness, 267 PPI pixel density, and a standard 60Hz refresh rate. Infinix flaunts this device in four color options: Wilderness Black, Luna Blue, Energy Green, and Sunset Gold.

Infinix Hot 20i Design and Display

Performance

Under the hood, the Hot 20i houses a MediaTek Helio G25 SoC. This 12nm-fabbed entry-level chip features four Cortex-A53 cores at 2.0GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.5GHz. Handling the graphics for light games is a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. In terms of memory and storage, you get two variants: 4/64GB, and 4/128GB. While the phone boots on Infinix’s XOS 12.6 built on top of Android 12.

Camera

Getting to the optics, the Hot 20i technically sports a triple camera setup. It is headlined by a 13MP f/1.8 sensor, followed by two QVGA sensors which are practically useless by the way. On the front, you get an 8MP selfie camera. Infinix Hot 20i is locked in at 1080p 30 fps video recording from both the front and back cameras.

Rest of the specs

Fueling the smartphone is a 5000mAh battery with 10W wired charging. Interestingly, it also supports 5W reversed wired charging. As for connectivity options, Infinix Hot 20i includes WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a micro USB 2.0 port. Furthermore, you get a rear-mounted physical fingerprint scanner for biometrics.

Infinix Hot 20i Specifications:

  • Display: 6.6-inch TFT LCD, HD+
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G25 4G (12nm mobile platform)
  • Memory: 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: XOS 12.6 on top of Android 12
  • Rear Camera: Triple (13MP main, two QVGA AI lenses)
  • Front Camera: 8MP sensor (teardrop notch)
  • Security: Fingerprint sensor (rear panel)
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 10W charging, 5W reverse wired charging

Infinix Hot 20i Price in Nepal and Availability

The official Infinix Hot 20i price in Nepal begins at NPR 14,499 for the base 4/64GB trim, while the 4/128GB model goes for NPR 15,999. You can buy Infinix Hot 20i in Nepal from authorized stores like Hukut.

Infinix Hot 20i Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
4/64GB NPR 14,499 Hukut
4/128GB NPR 15,999

Honor unveils MagicPad 13 with Snapdragon 888, IMAX Enhanced screen

Sonika Bhandari
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2
Honor unveils MagicPad 13 with Snapdragon 888, IMAX Enhanced screen

Honor held an event in China recently, showcasing its latest innovations. The lineup included the Magic V2,  Watch 4, and MagicPad 13. The MagicPad 13 represents Honor’s newest tablet offering, powered by the innovative MagicOS 7.2. So, let’s get into the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Honor MagicPad 13 in Nepal.

Honor MagicPad 13 Overview:

Display and Design

The MagicPad 13 tablet features a 13-inch IMAX Enhanced IPS LCD display for an immersive visual experience. It also comes with a variable refresh rate of up to 144Hz and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, delivering smooth interactions.

Honor MagicPad 13

The tablet is lightweight and portable with its slim body and a profile measuring just 6.49mm. It offers a brilliant visual display with HDR10 support and the DCI-P3 color gamut. These features ensure vibrant and accurate colors. You can use this tablet as a secondary screen for a laptop. It even outputs 4K content to an external monitor. Moreover, the tablet is compatible with the Magic Pencil 3, a stylus with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and a 2ms latency.

Audio

The tablet includes 8 speakers and 4 microphones for enhanced sound quality. The MagicPad 13 also boasts an industry-first 3D spatial audio setup, providing an immersive audio experience without needing headphones.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the MagicPad 13 is powered by Snapdragon 888 chip with options for 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB RAM. On the software side, it runs on MagicOS 7.2, based on Android 13.

Additional Features

The tablet is equipped with a large 10,050mAh battery that supports 66W fast charging. Additionally, the MagicPad 13 features a 13MP rear camera and a 9MP front camera for high-quality photos and videos. The MagicPad 13 comes in Sky Blue, Star Gray, and Moonlight color options.

Honor MagicPad 13 Specifications:

  • Dimension: 
    • Metal: 291.71 x 191.12 x 6.49mm, 660g
    • PU: 291.71 x 191.12 x 6.84mm, 673g
  • Display: 13-inch IPS LCD (2880 x 1840) screen, 144Hz refresh rate, 700 nits, HDR10
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC (5nm)
  • Memory: 4GB/6GB/8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB storage (expanded up to 512GB)
  • OS: MagicOS 721 (Based on Android 13）
  • Cameras: 13MP rear and 9MP front camera
  • Battery: 1050mAh supporting 66W charging
  • Audio: 8 Speakers, Hi-Res audio
  • Color options: Star Grey, Sky Blue, and Moonlight.
  • Connectivity: Dual Band Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C

Honor MagicPad 13 Price in Nepal and Availability

The MagicPad 13 is currently available in China, where its price starts at CNY 2,999 and goes all the way up to CNY 3,699. If the Honor’s MagicPad 13 tablet gets launched in Nepal, we can expect the price to start at NPR 60,500.

Honor MagicPad 13 Price in China (Official) Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/256GB CNY 2,999 NPR 60,500
12/256GB CNY 3,299 NPR 66,000
16/512GB CNY 3,699 NPR 68,500

Meanwhile, check out our review of Honor Magicbook X14.

Huawei manufacturing its own 5G chipsets this year partnering with SMIC

GadgetByte
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2
Huawei manufacturing its own 5G chipsets this year partnering with SMIC

For over four years, Huawei has been on a US entity list, which has stopped American companies from selling them hardware and software. As a result, Huawei’s access to 5G chipsets was also cut off. A few reports recently suggest that Huawei might regain the marketplace of 5G smartphones by jointly developing 5G chipsets with Chinese chip manufacturer; Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC).

Background of the restriction imposed on Huawei

After being placed on the Entity List by the U.S., Huawei, which was on the verge of becoming the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, experienced a significant decline in its consumer revenue. It forced the company to rely on Snapdragon chipsets modified for 4G networks instead of offering 5G connectivity.

In 2020, the company’s revenue amounted to around $67 billion, but it dropped by half to approximately $33.5 billion in 2021.

5G Chipset Development

According to reporters in the Chinese smartphone market, Huawei and SMIC are working together to develop the 5G chipsets using Huawei’s software tools and SMIC’s manufacturing process. The 5G chips will rely on the ARM architecture, utilized by Qualcomm and other chipmakers as well. This means that various devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets, can incorporate Huawei’s chips.

Huawei-own-chipset

SMIC’s manufacturing process is similar in terms of power and stability to the 7nm process used by other competitors, despite not being officially 7nm. It is worth it for Huawei to use its own 7nm chipset that supports 5G than relying on 4nm Snapdragon chipsets that cannot work with 5G signals.

Challenges on Huawei’s Path

While this chipset appears promising, Huawei will have to face challenges to make a place in the market standing with its latest chipset. Semiconductors manufactured using Huawei’s EDA tools and SMIC production may have a relatively low yield rate of 50%. This means that out of every 100 chipsets produced, less than 50 will meet the quality standards.

Huawei’s 5G Chipset Availability

Huawei’s 5G chips are still in development, but the company might probably start shipping them in the second half of 2023. The forecasts suggest that initially, there might be around 2 to 4 million units of these 5G chipsets available, with a possibility of reaching 10 million units in the future. The first Huawei phone featuring this newly developed 5G chipset might come to market later this year.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Huawei Band 8.

AYANEO Air 1S is here with Ryzen 7 7840U APU and an OLED display

Aarohan Niraula
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2
AYANEO Air 1S is here with Ryzen 7 7840U APU and an OLED display

AYANEO has finally revealed the full specs and pricing of the new Air 1S Windows handheld gaming console. And there’s also a lighter “Air 1S Ultra Thin & Light Edition”. So let’s get right into the design, specifications, availability, and expected price in Nepal of the AYANEO Air 1S.

AYANEO AIR 1S Overview:

Display and Build

This handheld sports a 5.5″ AMOLED display with an FHD (1920 x 1080  pixels) resolution. It has a pixel density of 404 ppi and can hit 350 nits of max brightness. Other than that, this AMOLED panel covers 99% of the DCI-P3 and 100% of the sRGB color gamut.

Coming to the design, the AYANEO Air 1S features a hall-sensing joystick and hall trigger on either side. There’s a D-Pad on the left while your “ABXY” buttons are on the right side. Additionally, there are 4 other buttons spread out evenly on both sides for different shortcuts. Other than this, the AYANEO AIR 1S has an x-axis linear vibration motor and dual six-axis gyroscope for an immersive gaming experience.

AYANEO AIR 1S Design

This handheld comes in three colors: Aurora White, Polar Black, and a special “Retro Power” edition. And since it falls under the company’s “Air” lineup, it is also pretty lightweight at just 450 grams. To compare, the new Asus ROG Ally weighs 608 grams, while Valve’s Steam Deck is even heavier at 669 grams. There’s even an “AYANEO AIR 1S Ultra Thin & Light Limited Edition” which weighs just 405 grams. As for the dimensions, the AYANEO AIR 1S measures 224mm long, 89.5mm wide, and 21.6 mm thick. And that limited edition model trims off some of the bulk achieving 18mm of thickness.

Performance 

In terms of performance, the AYANEO AIR 1S is powered by the popular AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU. It is very similar to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme in the ROG Ally, by the way. Both are 8-cores / 16-threads chips with a base clock speed of 3.3 GHz that can be boosted to a maximum of 5.1 GHz. The 7840U also features an AI engine, which is absent on the Z1 Extreme. Other than this, both of them deliver nearly identical performance.

AYANEO AIR 1S Performance

Similarly, the AYANEO AIR 1S can be configured to have up to 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 4TB of M.2 (2280) SSD. And in the base variant, you get 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. To quickly access all your games and different system settings like TDP and fan speed, this handheld ships with the updated “AYASpace 2” utility tool as well.

Extras 

AYANEO AIR 1S has a 38Wh (10,050mAh) battery. Since this can run at as low as 5W of power, it should provide decent battery life while playing basic games. Whereas when connected to power, it can run at up to 25W for better performance on more demanding titles. On the contrary, its “Light” Edition has a slightly smaller 28Wh (7,350mAh) battery. And it can run at a maximum of 18W when plugged in.

Moving on, port options on the AYANEO Air 1S include two USB4 (Type-C), one 3.5mm headphone jack, and one TF card slot. Its power button also doubles as a fingerprint reader. The handheld comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 and runs on Windows 11 out of the box. 

AYANEO AIR 1S Price in Nepal and Availability

As an early bird price, the base 16/512GB variant of the AYANEO Air 1S is available for USD 799, while its retail price is USD 100 more. Similarly, AYANEO AIR 1S Ultra Thin and Light Edition currently sells for USD 999 but will have a retail price of USD 1,129. Though unlikely, if this handheld makes it here, we expect the AYANEO AIR 1S price in Nepal to start at around NPR 140,000.

AYANEO AIR 1S Early Bird Price  Official Retail Price Price in Nepal (Expected)
16/512 GB USD 799 USD 899 NPR 140,000
32GB/1TB (Ultra Thin Edition) USD 999 USD 1,129 NPR 177,000

OnePlus Nord 3 Review: A well-balanced midranger, Finally!

Pratima Adhikari
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0
OnePlus Nord 3 Review: A well-balanced midranger, Finally!

Hello everyone, Pratima here! So the OnePlus Nord 3 is finally here! I’ve been using it for just over a week now! And I believe this is one of the most well-balanced mid-range phones you can get at the moment!

In India, the price starts at INR 33,999 or some 450 euros for the base 8/128GB variant. While the pricing in the Nepalese market starts at NPR 69,999 price tag which is more than double the Indian pricing. And although this price segment is full of some good phones like the Galaxy A54, Poco F5, and the Moto Edge 40, all of them compromise in one way or the other.

But with the Nord 3, OnePlus has nailed it at almost everything! There are some aspects of the camera that OnePlus needs to fix with an update or two, but other than that, it’s a stellar package overall! Before heading to the review, let’s have a quick look at the specifications first.

OnePlus Nord 3 Specifications:

  • Display: 6.74-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 450 ppi, Gorilla Glass 5
  • Resolution: 1.5K (2772 x 1240 pixels)
  • Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G (4nm)
  • Memory: 8/16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (non-expandable)
  • OS: OxygenOS 13.1 based on Android 13
  • Rear Cameras: Triple (with LED flash)
    • 50MP f/1.8 Sony IMX890 primary sensor, OIS
    • 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 112° FoV
    • 2MP f/2.4 macro (4cm focus)
  • Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.4 sensor (hole-punch)
  • Battery: 5000mAh, 80W charging
  • Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
  • Connectivity: WiFi 6, 5G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Dual SIM
  • Buy Nord 3 here (Rs. 2500 OFF)

Design

Okay, the first thing that I really like about this phone is how simple its design is! I have it in this matte black color option and it looks plain yet elegant. You can also go with the Misty Green variant — which has a glossy back — but is equally good-looking too! Here, you get a Gorilla Glass 5 protection at the back while its display gets a Dragontrail glass.

OnePlus has also included an official IP54 dust and splash resistance for the first time in the Nord lineup. The IP54 rating basically means it can protect the phone from water splashes from any direction for around 5-10 minutes, and this has definitely come in handy for me during this monsoon season!

Likewise, I like these flat frames with subtle curves on the back which offer a nice grip. But more importantly, I like the overall heft of this phone! In fact, it has a much better hands-on feel than the more expensive OnePlus 11R.

The weight here is also evenly distributed, so I had no problems using it with one hand for long minutes. The power button is also easily reachable with the thumb, although I would have liked it more if this alert slider was located a bit lower.

OnePlus Nord 3 IR Blaster

I am also surprised to see an IR blaster on a OnePlus phone, which means you can use the Nord 3 as a remote controller too! Upfront, the bezels — as you can see — are quite minimal and uniform. In fact, they are on par with something like the S23 Ultra!

Display

Plus, you also don’t get a curved display like we saw on the OnePlus 11R, which you know I am not a big fan of. This one here is a flat panel, so I didn’t have any accidental touches when typing and playing games.

Talking about the core quality of the display, it’s quite good! Not “flagship-level” good, but this AMOLED screen has everything from a 120Hz refresh rate to a higher pixel density, 10-bit colors, and a fast touch sampling rate!

OnePlus Nord 3 Multimedia

I am using the phone in the default “Vivid” mode which produces a slightly punchy color output, but yeah you can also go with other modes and even change the color temperature with a slider! And this is also an HDR-certified display, and on my test, I had no problems watching HDR content on OTT platforms like Netflix and Prime Video.

What about the Refresh Rate and Brightness?

Likewise, interacting with this screen has been an absolute treat! The touch is quite responsive, the vibration feedback is probably the best in this segment, and there are no weird stutters in the UI too.

But I would suggest you use the phone in “High refresh rate” mode as that one’s more optimized. The UI and most of the apps always blast at 120Hz here, Chrome runs at 90Hz, and videos at 60Hz. Although it never hit the advertised 40Hz refresh rate in any of my tests.

OnePlus Nord 3 Usage

I also found the brightness of this display to be plenty reliable. OnePlus says it can reach up to 1,450 nits at max, but that’s only while watching HDR videos. Whereas in SDR content — with auto-brightness mode on — it can still reach an impressive 1,100 nits and I found it to be bright enough to look at the screen in direct sunlight.

On the opposite end, the OnePlus Nord 3’s minimum brightness is also quite low while its auto-brightness sensor works perfectly fine. The in-display fingerprint sensor here is pretty fast as well. So overall, you will love the display experience on this phone.

Awesome Dual Speakers

The stereo speakers on the OnePlus Nord 3 are also excellent for the price! It has Dolby Atmos support and the audio here can get really loud with good treble. The vocals sound clear and there is some hint of the bass as well!

Performance

But the biggest improvement the OnePlus Nord 3 has got is in the performance aspect! Here You get a much more powerful Dimensity 9000 chipset this time, along with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. This means — compared to last-gen Nord 2 and 2T — the performance jump here is quite huge. Both in terms of CPU and GPU.

As a result, everything here feels fast and smooth, multitasking is excellent, and it almost feels like you are using a flagship phone!

OnePlus Nord 3 UI

That being said, you can get faster phones like the iQOO Neo 7 Pro with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip at a similar price bracket. But what OnePlus offers is a much cleaner and easy-to-use UI experience with no bloatware apps, and you will just love using this phone.

OnePlus is also promising 3 generations of OS and 4 years of security patches on this thing, so that’s quite good as well.

Gaming

Now, coming back to the performance, the dimensity 9000 chipset here can get slightly hotter, but it doesn’t throttle the performance nor it has any kind of overheating issue! But yes, if you are using mobile data and doing some high-CPU usage tasks, it does get a bit warmer than other phones like say the Galaxy A54!

Anyway, talking about gaming, you do have an option of 90fps in PUBG mobile and the gameplay is quite enjoyable. It doesn’t reach 90fps but hovers at around 82fps, and I found this issue with almost every game I tested!

OnePlus Nord 3 Gaming

For instance, Genshin Impact at 30 fps mode only reaches 27 fps on average, while COD and Asphalt 9 are capped at 55 fps! But this should get optimised with an update so I’m not worried all that much.

Likewise, high refresh rate games like Injustice 2 and Mech Arena cannot be played at a smooth 120 fps and runs at 30 and 60 fps respectively. That being said, all of these games have no lags and achieve almost 100% fps stability!

Camera

Ok, let’s get into the camera! And this is one area I feel like Oneplus still has a lot of work to do to improve the Nord 3’s overall camera prowess! It features the same Sony IMX890 sensor as the more expensive OnePlus 11R and OnePlus 11, but I found it to be lacking in terms of overall consistency.

Daylight

Most of the photos I clicked from the Nord 3 are a bit more vibrant, which kinda works in OnePlus’ favor sometimes, but when I am clicking photos of greenery — for example — it looks quite unnatural.

 

Portrait

Portraits are also hit-or-miss. Sometimes it produces good-looking shots with nice background separation and focus, but sometimes it makes the skin a bit dark and contrasty!

Lowlight 

The lowlight images, on the other hand, are quite nice. Although it’s a bit less sharp and noisier than the 11R, most of the time, I am getting pleasing output. Especially while turning on the Night Mode.

Ultrawide

However, I am extremely disappointed to see a very average ultra-wide camera here! Just look at this ultra-wide nighttime shot I took, it’s just so bad in so many ways! And even under good lighting conditions, the results I am getting are quite average!

Selfies

Selfies come out nice most of the time, but it does tend to turn the subject’s skin soft and pinkish in some situation. So yeah — again — I think some form of consistency is definitely lacking here.

Videography

OnePlus is also not offering anything extraordinary in terms of videography. Yeah, it can record up to 4K 60 fps from the primary camera, but Oneplus is only offering stabilization in 1080P 30 and 60fps videos but not in 4K for some reason! And not just that, the overall quality is subpar too! It’s a bit darker and there’s some oversharping going on here!

The Ultra-wide videos are also substandard as it has very less details, no autofocus, and are capped at 1080P 30fps. Plus, Oneplus also doesn’t let you switch between the lenses while recording the video!

Battery

Lastly, the battery life I am getting on the OnePlus Nord 3 is decent! It’s nothing extra-ordinary like the S23 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but it should last you for an entire day if you are not a heavy user! And even if you are, you can quickly charge the phone with its 80W adapter in about 35 minutes.

OnePlus Nord 3 Review: Conclusion 

Ok, let’s conclude this video! Like I said at the beginning, I think the OnePlus Nord 3 has positioned itself quite well by offering balanced specs.

OnePlus Nord 3

The only aspect I find this phone could do better is of course the cameras! But I expect the company to roll out a few updates to optimize it in the coming days. Just like they did with the 11R. But the Nepalese pricing is at a blatantly higher side. After all, the phone costs INR 33,999 in India and it is priced more than doubled here in Nepal at NPR 69,999 for the 8/128GB trim.

But other than that, it manages to impress me with everything else. I really like its design, the multimedia experience is superb, and you get a flagship-like user experience with fast performance, nice haptics, and up to Android 16 OS update! So overall, OnePlus Nord 3 is somewhere at the top of my ranking in the best midrange phones for 2023!

OnePlus Nord 3 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Superb Performance from Dimensity 9000
  • Decent AMOLED panel and Main Camera
  • Fantastic Dual Stereo Speakers
  • 80W Charger in the Box

Cons

  • Average Ultrawide Camera
  • No Stabilization in 4K videos
  • Overpriced in Nepal

MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ announced with support for 10 bit 120Hz displays and ‘5G’

Aarohan Niraula
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2
MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ announced with support for 10 bit 120Hz displays and ‘5G’

MediaTek just announced its ‘new’ Dimensity 6100+ processor with support for 120Hz displays, AI cameras, and 5G. Let’s take a quick glance at MediaTek’s latest midrange processor and what it has to offer.

MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ Overview:

The Dimenisty 6100+ is a 6nm octa-core processor with 2 Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.2GHz and 6 Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.0GHz. From the looks of it, the Dimensity 6100+ is basically the Dimensity 810 SoC with improved 5G and 108MP camera support.

In their press release, MediaTek mentioned Dimensity 6100+ SoC to deliver ‘premium’ features at an accessible price point. These features include “exceptional power efficiency, vivid displays, high frame rates, AI-powered camera technologies, leading low power consumption, and reliable Sub-6 5G connectivity.”

MediaTek talked about the chip’s support for 10-bit 90Hz or 120 Hz displays, up to 108MP ‘AI-powered cameras’ with 2K 30fps video, and “AI bokeh”. Furthermore, Dimensity 6100+ integrates an enhanced 5G modem which ‘significantly’ reduces power consumption thanks to UltraSave 3.0+ technology.

One thing to note is that though the chip supports ‘5G’, it doesn’t support mm wave so what you’re getting is support for Sub-6 5G. That means faster speeds than 4G LTE networks but not as fast as mmWave 5G. Even so, MediaTek claims 10-30 % greater power efficiency in Sub 6 5G  compared to “competitors”.

“As developing markets continue rolling out 5G networks at a rapid pace and operators in developed markets work to finish transitioning consumers from 4G LTE to 5G, there has never been a more vital need for chipsets that cater to the growing number of mainstream mobile devices that feature next-generation connectivity,” -CH Chen (MediaTek)

MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ Specifications:

  • Process: TSMC 6nm (N6)
  • CPU: Octa-core
    – 2x Cortex-A76 (@2.2 GHz)
    – 6x Cortex-A55 (@2.0 GHz)
  • GPU: Mali-G57 MC2
  • Display: Supports up to 120Hz 10-bit display
  • Storage: Supports LPDDR4X RAM, UFS 2.2 storage
  • Connectivity: WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.2
  • Camera: Up to 108MP Non-ZSL camera , Up to 2K 30fps video

When is it coming?

We can expect phones to start shipping with the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset by Q3 of 2023. These will mostly be budget-midrange Sub 6GHz 5G capable devices that offer decent performance at an affordable price.

  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison between flagship chipsets for 2023.

Meta Avatars to replace you from Messenger and Instagram Video Calls

Sonika Bhandari
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2
Meta Avatars to replace you from Messenger and Instagram Video Calls

Meta just recently announced a range of exciting updates to its Meta Avatars. These updates aim to elevate the digital experience for its users. One notable feature is real-time calling with Meta Avatars, allowing users to engage in video calls using their avatars instead of showing their faces. This feature provides a creative and expressive alternative for those who may not be camera-ready or prefer a more immersive communication experience.

Meta Avatars Update Features:

Real-Time Calling with Avatars

One remarkable feature of the Meta Avatars update is the introduction of real-time calling. Users of Messenger and Instagram can now engage in video calls with their avatars, offering a creative alternative to traditional camera-on or camera-off options. This feature allows users to hide their physical appearance for various reasons, such as a bad hair day or simply seeking a more expressive communication experience.

Animated Stickers for Expressive Interactions

To further enhance virtual interactions, Meta has introduced animated stickers for Meta Avatars across Instagram and Facebook platforms. Gone are the days of static images. With these dynamic avatar stickers, users can add more personality, emotion, and creativity to their conversations. These animated stickers enable users to express themselves in a fun and engaging manner.

Meta Avatar Social Stickers

Social Activity with Avatar Stickers

Meta recognizes that self-expression is often best enjoyed with friends. To promote social interactions, users can now include their friends in Facebook Stories through @Tagging. This allows avatars to hang out together in the metaverse, creating shared moments, inside jokes, and a sense of togetherness. Additionally, users can share social stickers featuring themselves and a single friend in private message threads, further strengthening connections and adding a touch of personalization to their conversations.

Streamlined Avatar Creation Process

In an effort to make avatar creation easier and faster, Meta is streamlining the process. Users on Facebook and WhatsApp can utilize a live selfie, which generates suggested avatar options closely resembling their real-life appearance. These suggestions can then be personalized to accurately represent themselves, allowing users to showcase their unique identities effortlessly.

Standardized Appearance of Avatars

To ensure a consistent and visually appealing experience, Meta has standardized the appearance of avatars across all platforms. Whether users are in virtual reality or on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or WhatsApp, avatars will offer a more realistic representation. This update allows users to confidently showcase their style choices without their avatars’ oversized heads becoming a distraction.

Conclusion

With these exciting updates, Meta is committing to creating a dynamic and engaging metaverse for its users. It is transforming the way people interact digitally by providing real-time calling, animated stickers, social activity features, a streamlined avatar creation process, and standardized appearances. These enhancements allow for more immersive, expressive, and personalized digital experiences, setting the stage for a more vibrant future within the metaverse.

Meanwhile, check out our full review of Poco X5.

Huawei’s latest move could put China at the forefront of the AI race

Mintu
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3
Huawei’s latest move could put China at the forefront of the AI race

At the annual Huawei Developer Conference (HDC.Cloud) held last week, the company unveiled its latest development of AI products. Including the Pangu Model 3.0 and Ascend AI cloud services. And with the company’s latest advancements, China could finally catch up to US in the AI race. So let’s learn more about the Huawei Pangu Model 3.0 AI and more.

Huawei Pangu Model 3.0 AI Overview:

Here, the Pangu Model 3.0 is a family of multiple pre-trained AI models. Huawei first introduced it back in 2021 after the US put the company on the “Entity List“.

This AI model is completely based on the company’s hardware and platform due to US restrictions. The ban restricts Huawei from using American chips and high-power GPUs, unlike the other AI companies. For reference, OpenAI‘s ChatGPT is backed by NVIDIA‘s powerful GPUs.

Zhang Ping’an, Huawei’s executive director and CEO of Huawei Cloud Computing Technologies, said “Our AI platform … can offer solid infrastructure … as its computing power can reach 1.1 times that of mainstream GPUs.”  “If you can’t buy the mainstream GPUs, you can now use Huawei’s Ascend-powered AI cloud services, which will free you from the suffering of high-priced GPUs”, he added.

What can it do?

Huawei Pangu Model 3.0 can leverage large-scale data sets and machine learning algorithms. It allows the AI model to be used in multiple areas such as weather forecasts, finding faults in machinery and vehicles, and even in the mining industry.

Huawei Pangu AI Model Launch
Image: Huawei

Popular science journal “Nature” recently praised Huawei’s Pangu Weather AI Model team for developing a precise and accurate AI weather forecasting system. Hauwei used 43 years of deep learning data for this model.

Who exactly is the Pangu Model 3.0 for?

Huawei says the Pangu Model is mainly focused on enterprise clients, rather than individual clients. So, it might not be a major threat for ChatGPT which primarily relies on individual users. More information about this is expected to arrive in the coming days.

China in the AI Race

Amidst the US restrictions, Chinese tech companies are accelerating to roll out their own AI tech. Top companies like Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu alongside more than 30 Chinese firms are joining the AI race.

Since the inception of the Pangu Model in 2021, Huawei Cloud has been active in more than a thousand AI-related projects, covering railways, minings, drug development to meteorology. It witnessed a 19% growth in 2022 while Alibaba Cloud still retains the top spot. And overall, it looks like China could finally have a shot at gaining an upper hand against the US in the AI race.

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