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OnePlus Pad long-term review: Is this really an iPad killer?

Nikhil Shrestha

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June 28, 2023

OnePlus Pad long-term review: Is this really an iPad killer?

This is my long-term review of the OnePlus Pad after using it for over a month. So as we all know, OnePlus has been in the smartphone business for a long time now. Almost a full decade, in fact. The company opened its account with the OnePlus One, which was such a revolutionary product that it gave birth to a whole new category of phones called “flagship killers”. Fast forward to 2023, OnePlus has finally entered the tablet market with the aptly named “OnePlus Pad”.

With a pretty design, powerful specs, and a price tag that seems reasonable enough for everything it offers, the OnePlus Pad heads into the tablet industry in this… sort of renaissance phase where there’s once again some excitement for Android tablets. But of course, when a hip company like OnePlus enters this space, people are going to draw comparisons to Apple’s iPads as well. It’s only natural. So does the OnePlus Pad really has what it takes to be an “iPad killer”?

More importantly, does it even need to be an iPad killer?

OnePlus Pad Long-Term Review: Specifications

Body: 258 x 189.4 x 6.5mm, 552gm, Glass front, Metal back/frames, No IP rating
Display: 11.61-inches IPS LCD panel, 144Hz refresh rate, ΔE<2
Other Properties: 500 nits peak brightness (typical), 1400:1 contrast ratio
Resolution: (2800 x 2000 pixels), 296 PPI, 7:5 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G (4nm mobile platform)
CPU: Octa-core:
– 1x Cortex-X2 (3.05 GHz)

– 3x Cortex-A710 (2.85 GHz)
– 4x Cortex-A510 (1.80 GHz)
GPU: Arm Mali-G710 MC10
Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Software & UI: Android 13 with OnePlus’ OxygenOS 13 on top
Rear Camera: Single (13MP, f/2.2 sensor)
Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.3 sensor (horizontally aligned)
Audio: Quad speaker, No 3.5mm headphone jack, Dolby Atmos audio
Security: No biometric option
Sensors: Acceleration, Color temperature, Geomagnetic, Gravity, Gyro, Hall, Light
Connectivity: WiFi 6 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Galileo / Glonass / BDS, USB-C
Battery: 9510mAh with 67W fast charging (67W adapter provided)
Color Options: Halo Green
What’s Inside The Box: OnePlus Pad, USB-A to USB-C cable, 67W power adapter, User manual and other documents
Price in Nepal: NPR 66,500 (8/128GB)
Buy OnePlus Pad here

OnePlus Pad Long-Term Review:

Design and Build

258 x 189.4 x 6.5mm, 552 grams
Glass front, Metal back/frames
No IP rating

Okay, let’s start this OnePlus Pad long-term review with the design; which is one of the best things about this tablet. While the veterans of the tablet business like Apple and Samsung shifted to flat edges with their latest devices, I’m glad OnePlus decided against it. I mean — sure — a smooth surface looks cool on official renders and stuff but that comes at a direct expense of comfort. And trust me, you don’t want that on something you’d be carrying with your hands most of the time.

So I’m definitely thankful for these lovely curved edges on the OnePlus Pad. Mix that with its soft, chamfered edges and a thin design, this thing has one of the most comfortable grips I’ve ever seen on a tablet. And the aluminum unibody construction further drives the point home in terms of the stellar build quality of the OnePlus Pad.

Then again, all that premium build material (plus a big battery inside) ultimately adds to the weight of the device as it scales to well over 550 grams. Making it one of the heaviest 11″ tablets out there. And since I’m not using it with a folio case or anything, having to hold the tablet in one hand would quickly turn into an endurance exercise.

All. the. time.

And you know what? Maybe OnePlus could’ve added a few more color options too. Green’s not really my thing so I wish the OnePlus Pad was also available in some lighter finishes.

Display

11.61-inches IPS panel
2800 x 2000p resolution, 7:5 aspect ratio
Up to 144Hz refresh rate

Alright. Like how OnePlus has pretty much nailed the hardware and design side of things — for the most part — this display is also quite great. Right off the bat, you should know that you’re not looking at an OLED screen here, but don’t dismiss it just yet! This 11.6″ LCD panel is actually pretty fantastic. The contents look sharp, it gets plenty bright, has a decent viewing angle, and its 144Hz refresh rate means everything feels fairly smooth to get around as well (more on that in just a minute).

Meanwhile, check out all the prices and specs of tablets from OnePlus here!

And to make sure you don’t miss the rich colors of an OLED display, OnePlus also ships it with the “Vivid” picture mode by default which is a bit too punchy and saturated for my eyes, to be fair. The white balance also looks a little off on this profile, but thankfully I can turn it all around by switching to the “Pro” mode and dialing down the color temperature.

OnePlus Pad’s kinda unique 7:5 aspect ratio deserves some special attention too. OnePlus has specially designed this tablet with readers in mind, and yeah, this squarish design does make reading PDFs, ebooks, or the latest One Piece chapter feel more natural.

Like you’re actually reading a book or something.

Okay, although that 7:5 display is great for reading and browsing the web and such, it also means you’re gonna be blasted with black bars at the top and the bottom of the screen whenever streaming videos from anywhere. You can always crop in the video to fit the display better but that’s never an elegant solution.

Slow response time

This honestly didn’t bother me that much, but its slow response time certainly did. I also passed it along to a bunch of my colleagues and most of them noted that the “ghosting” effect when scrolling or something like that was definitely noticeable and somewhat irritating.

And the way OnePlus Pad handles its 144Hz refresh rate is also a little annoying. Out of all the apps I’ve tried, only Chrome and AnTuTu actually hit 144Hz — whereas the rest of them run at either 60 / 90 / or 120Hz.

And there’s no way to switch on 144Hz or even 120Hz at all times as well. OnePlus could technically enable the option to let users set custom refresh rates for different apps with a software update, but since even their phones can’t do that, I’m not too hopeful. What they can do is get HDR certification from Netflix because even though OnePlus Pad is Dolby Vision-ready and has Widevine L1 verified for hi-res playback, it can’t stream HDR videos on Netflix yet.

Audio

Quad speaker setup
Dolby Atmos audio, No headphone jack

That reminds me, the speakers on this thing are pretty great. Much better than most tablets I’ve used in recent times. You get four speakers in total — two on each side — and they get plenty loud while maintaining decent clarity even at max volume. As expected there’s not much to look forward to on the bass department and I wish it handled high notes with a bit more finesse too, but OnePlus Pad is great for listening to music or watching movies and shows.

OnePlus Pad – Speakers

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And besides its Dolby Atmos support, there’s also something called “Omnibreaing Sound Field” technology. What it does is basically adjust left and right audio channels based on how you’re holding the tablet for a more immersive audio experience. It certainly works as intended, but I don’t find the sound quality to be immersive when holding the tablet in portrait orientation. At all.

Performance

Octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G SoC (4nm)
8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Android 13 with OnePlus’ OxygenOS 13 on top
3 years of OS, 4 years of security updates

As for performance, OnePlus has gone with Dimensity 9000 for its first tablet, which is a year-old flagship MediaTek chip that trades blows with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. MediaTek’s premium chipsets have been absolutely knocking it out of the park in the past few years and the Dimensity 9000 is one fine example. Yeah, yeah, a newer and faster processor would’ve been even better but I actually don’t mind this.

OnePlus Pad – Benchmarks

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And as expected from a flagship processor, there’s essentially zero performance hiccup here. Apps load quickly, there’s no aggressive memory management in the background, and multitasking also feels quite fluid. There is some occasional stutter when loading the recent apps menu but other than that, it’s pretty smooth sailing… with a big asterisk at the end because like most other Android tablets, the OnePlus Pad is also a victim of the lack of app optimization.

The weirdest and the most frustrating example I’ve found has to do with the keyboard. It ships with Google’s “Gboard” by default — which doesn’t have the split keyboard for some reason — although this feature rolled out to tablets and foldables a while ago.

What’s even weirder is that the “thumb” mode on the Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard is also greyed out on the OnePlus Pad, while it works perfectly fine on my phone, my foldable phone, and my other tablet. So the typing experience on this OnePlus tablet has been truly bizarre — especially in landscape mode — where the keys are too far out.

The age-old problem

Except for Google apps, a bunch of high-profile apps like Facebook and Instagram aren’t optimized for landscape mode either. OnePlus has built an option to force-enable fullscreen for such apps but it simply doesn’t work.

Likewise, this tablet version of OxygenOS 13 also needs a lot more tablet-focused polishing. The notification shade, for instance, would have been a lot easier to access if it wasn’t separated into a control center and notification panel. And I don’t understand why, but the system animation across the OnePlus Pad is also inconsistent and unoptimized.

At least the company does promise 3 years of OS and 4 years of security updates — and the upcoming Android 14 supposedly makes app scaling in portrait and landscape mode a lot simpler — so I’m really excited about that.

And of course, OnePlus has baked in a bunch of multitasking features so that you can make the most out of this large display. The split-screen option lets you run two apps side-by-side with a simple gesture or via the recents menu. I also like how I can save my app combos for quick launch, whereas this smart sidebar that holds a bunch of apps and a few shortcuts comes in quite handy. And besides split-screen, OnePlus Pad lets you open an additional app in a floating window as well.

How’s the stylus?

For the extra burst of productivity, OnePlus sells a stylus and a keyboard accessory for its tablet too. I couldn’t get my hands on the keyboard but this stylus called “OnePlus Stylo” is pretty great. And pretty similar to the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil with a flat edge on one side and shortcuts like double-tap to switch between the current tool and an eraser or previously used tool. Its touch input delay is still somewhat noticeable but it wasn’t a big deal for an amateur artist like me.

It has a comfortable grip, it is tilt and pressure-sensitive, and the palm rejection on this thing is also quite nice. So I had absolutely no problem taking notes or drawing something on OnePlus Pad’s laminated display. But unlike on iPad or Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs, it doesn’t let me write on a text input field and convert my handwriting to text. And I might be nitpicking here but I also would’ve liked to see a couple of buttons for quick extra shortcuts.

There are actually a few more features that I was eager to explore on the OnePlus Pad, but my OnePlus 11 (review) hasn’t received the OxygenOS 13.1 update to work with it yet. This includes cellular data sharing via a OnePlus phone, which is different and supposedly faster than a personal hotspot. Whereas multi-screen connect was the one I was really pumped to check out as it promises screen mirroring and content sync—just like “Handoff” on an iPad and other Apple devices.

Gaming experience

Anyway, OnePlus Pad is a great gaming machine too. And even after back-to-back gaming sessions, I never felt the area where my hands would naturally rest on the tablet get warm or anything. The Dimensity 9000 can’t deliver a steady 60 fps on demanding games like Genshin Impact at the highest settings — as expected — but it gets pretty close. And I’m pretty surprised to see that OnePlus has enabled 90 fps mode on PUBG Mobile here. Still, high-fps-ready titles like Injustice 2 and Mech Arena are locked at just 30 and 60 fps on the OnePlus Pad, so I’d like to get that fixed pretty soon.

Camera

13MP (f/2.2) sensor at the back
8MP (f/2.3) sensor at the front

Camera-wise, the OnePlus Pad brings a 13MP sensor at the back and a horizontally laid 8MP sensor up front. Nice! As you can imagine, their image quality is perfectly fine for quick snaps when you don’t have your phone with you. But don’t expect anything more.

Camera

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I do love its “Limelight” feature though, which follows you around to keep you in the center of the frame whenever you’re on video calls. Like “Center Stage” on iPads. It currently works on dedicated video conferencing apps like Zoom and Google Meet only, but maybe OnePlus could enable it on other apps like Messenger as well.

Oh, and one more thing. There’s no biometric security option on the OnePlus Pad although its front camera does support basic face recognition. But as we all know, it’s just not that secure so you’re gonna have to resort to good ol’ pin, pattern, or password verification methods.

Battery

9510mAh battery with 67W fast charging

Powered by a big 9,510mAh battery, this tablet’s battery backup is quite impressive. I was consistently getting 7 – 7.5 hours of screen time under a usage pattern consisting of a little bit of everything. Including playing games, streaming YouTube videos, browsing the web, listening to music, and occasional video calls. The overnight battery drain is also pretty minimal here, while the included 67W charger takes the OnePlus Pad from 0 to 100% in like an hour and 20 minutes.

OnePlus Pad Long-Term Review: Conclusion

So that was all for my long-term review of the OnePlus Pad. All things considered, it’s a great device with an excellent design, a good display, solid speakers, powerful performance, and terrific battery life. And OnePlus is off to a fantastic start in the tablet industry. So if you’re in the OnePlus ecosystem and all of what I just said checks off your list, then this could be definitely worth it to you.

Having said that, the OnePlus Pad is nowhere near to being an iPad killer. I don’t think any Android tablet could be an iPad killer at this point, to be honest.

Not just from a performance standpoint but all the “Apple” benefits you get from an iPad are simply unmatched. The sad fact is that it’s not just up to Google or tablet makers to fix this mess either. And developers have to come on board to optimize their apps for large-screen Android devices as well.

So until that happens, the OnePlus Pad remains a great tablet for media consumption, web browsing, and video calls and stuff. But not a productivity machine or a laptop replacement of any sort. And if you can compromise a bit on build quality, processing power, and a few other things, then the new Xiaomi Pad 6 could be a better value instead. It nails all the fundamentals like the OnePlus Pad, but Xiaomi’s aggressive pricing makes it a much more attractive deal.

Our video review of the OnePlus Pad is coming up pretty soon as well

OnePlus Pad Long-Term Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Sturdy, premium build quality
Nice 7:5 display
Powerful quad speakers
Reliable performance overall
Usable cameras
Decent battery endurance

Cons:

The age-old problem of app optimization
A bit heavy
Noticeably slow response time
No cellular option

YouTube will soon let creators dub videos to other languages using AI

Aarohan Niraula

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June 28, 2023

2

YouTube will soon let creators dub videos to other languages using AI

YouTube is testing a new feature called “Aloud” that will automatically dub your videos to other languages using AI to increase reach and overcome language barriers. Interesting right? Let’s learn more about YouTube’s “Aloud” feature in this article.

YouTube Aloud Overview:

Aloud is actually a product of Google’s in-house Area 120 incubator, and it will enable creators to “quickly and easily dub their videos into multiple languages”. This means that all of YouTube will be more accessible and creators will also experience a boost in foreign viewership. But how fast has it come? How does it work? And when can we expect this feature to be available publicly?

Let’s tackle the “how” first.

How does it work?

YouTube Aloud will first start by transcribing your video. After that, it will then send that transcription to the creator. Here, the creator can edit the script to add or remove elements alongside proofreading the draft. Once the creator gives the green light, Aloud will translate that transcription into other languages. Finally, it will use AI text-to-speech to create an audio track that can be added to the video.

YouTube has already begun experimenting “Aloud” with hundreds of creators around the world. The company’s VP of Creator Products, Amjad Hanif, told The Verge that Aloud only supports a few languages right now and more would be added in the future. On launch, it’ll support English, Spanish, and Portuguese languages with Hindi and Bahasa-Indonesia following suit.

But one of the major weaknesses of Aloud is that the dubbed audio will NOT be in sync with the video. This will have a major impact on the watching experience if the words don’t match actions on screen. But Mr. Hanif assures that they are working on something similar to lip-sync which will launch soon after.

Another big problem is the voice itself. As of today, the dubbed audio tracks have a monotonous voice and sound nothing like the creator. But YouTube says they are working on this too.

YouTube Aloud: Final Thoughts

Since YouTube launched its “Audio tracks” feature that lets creators add multiple audio dubs to their videos, creators like Mr. Beast have already begun dubbing their videos into different languages. And if you’ve ever switched to dub in a Mr. Beast video, you can tell that it’s highly produced and feels as entertaining as the English version itself. Now, YouTube’s “Aloud” will be nowhere near that good or that well-produced, but it’ll be a lot cheaper to pull off and will require a lot less effort too.

And like any experimental feature, it’s not perfect and will take time to get better. But from what we’ve heard, it sounds pretty good. Check the video above from “Amoeba Sisters” which has been dubbed into Spanish using YouTube Aloud. To change the audio, click on the gear icon, select audio track, and choose Spanish. What do you think? Do you think it’ll be good enough to watch an entire tutorial without feeling frustrated or confused?

Meanwhile, check our Huawei Band 8 review

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) Review: Premium 2-in-1 Experience

GadgetByte

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June 27, 2023

1

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) Review: Premium 2-in-1 Experience

So this is the new Lenovo Yoga 9i powered by the latest 13th Gen Intel processor. The Yoga 9 lineup has been among the most popular premium convertible laptops in recent years. However, I was not able to review them because of their restricted availability. So when I had finally available to review the new Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023), I could not help but say yes. I mean, look at what this has to offer.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) Review: Specifications

Design & Build: All-aluminum CNC-milled, 12.52 x 9.06 x 0.60-0.65-inches (W x D x H), 1.4 kg
Durability: MIL-STD 810H Certification
Color Options: Storm Grey, Oatmeal
Display: 14″ OLED 360° touchscreen, 90Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3, 400 nits brightness
Resolution: WQHD+ (2880 x 1880), 16:10 aspect ratio
Display Certifications: VESA Certified DisplayHDR True Black 500, Dolby Vision
Stylus: Lenovo Precision Pen 2
Keyboard: Full-size keyboard, Backlit
Trackpad: Microsoft Precision drivers
Security: Windows Hello-certified IR webcam, Fingerprint Reader
Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1360P (Raptor Lake), 4P+8E/16T, 5.0 GHz Max Turbo Frequency, 18MB Intel Smart Cache, 28W base power
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5-5200 RAM (non-upgradable)
Storage: 1TB SSD (PCIe 4.0)
Audio: 2x 2W Tweeter + 2x 3W Woofer, Bowers & Wilkins speakers, Dolby Atmos
Battery: 75 Watt-hours battery
Power Supply: 100W AC adapter (USB Type-C)
Webcam: 2MP FHD + IR Hybrid camera
Connectivity: WiFi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth 5.2
I/O Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C (DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x Audio combo jack
What’s Inside The Box: Sleeve, Precision Pen 2, USB-C Adapter (Optional)
Price in Nepal: Rs. 230,000

Lenovo Yoga 9i Review:

Design and Build

Starting with the design, this has to be the most beautiful laptop I have used in a while, by a margin. This whole thing is made up of a big chunk of aluminum, and it’s a robust one. Still, Lenovo has still managed to keep it a bit low profile, with the side being the flashy component here.

Unlike most mainstream laptops, the Lenovo Yoga 9i sports curved frames that, other than making it stand out, also make it more comfortable to hold. This also allows Lenovo to fit more ports than is usually possible in a wedge design. On the left, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a USB-A port. To the right, you can find the 3.5mm headphone jack, a standard Type-C port, and a power button.

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I have to be honest — the latter has not seen usage ever since the very first boot, as the flip-to-wake feature works flawlessly. Just open the lid, which you can do with just one hand, and you will be taken to the sign-in screen. Since this laptop has an IR sensor, the Windows Hello Facial Recognition has been my go-to sign-in method. But you can also go with Fingerprint recognition or even a standard PIN to get in.

Display

And this is where the laptop blows you away for the second time. It has this gorgeous OLED screen with all the bells and whistles you can expect on a laptop. I got the 2.8K version for myself, as it comes with a 90Hz refresh rate. However, there is also a sharper 4K option if you can do away with the smoother refresh rate. The colors are pretty accurate at 100% DCI-P3.

The brightness did come a bit short (395 nits) of the advertised 400 nits. Still, it’s more than enough to use in an indoor setting, even the well-lit one. It also has HDR in case you want that immersive viewing experience. But make sure you configure the HDR brightness accordingly, as the default setting can be a bit off.

Lenovo Yoga 9i Review - Display Properties

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Since it’s an OLED panel, you can dim the entire screen or certain parts of it. For instance, when you have multiple windows on, the laptop can automatically dim the inactive ones so you can fully focus on the one you are working on. Or you can dim the taskbar as you don’t require it all time, and it can even be distracting at times.

But if you are constantly scrolling through pages, it can create an unusual stream of pixels, so it’s better to have it turned off. Thankfully, there is an option to schedule it for the period of time when it’s actually useful. It’s a 14-inch screen but looks much bigger in real life with the 16:10 aspect ratio. This makes the laptop fit not just for multimedia but also for everyday tasks like word processing and simple web browsing.

Lenovo Precision Pen 2

You can even flip the laptop 180° and use it as a tablet. Lenovo Pen 2 also comes included in the box. It is modeled after a typical pencil, so the shape feels familiar. It has two buttons on the side that you can configure from the settings. The pen is great for taking quick notes and adding annotations. Palm rejection has also been great so far. But the latency is on the higher side to be considered for artists. The only major criticism that I have with the pen is that there is no way to store it within the laptop. An internal compartment with magnetic charging could have been great.

Audio

Moving on to the 360-degree hinge also has a second purpose. As you can see, it has two tweeters speakers built into it, which is something I have seen only Lenovo do. There are two more woofers, one on either side and together, they form a great pair. It sounds amazing whether you listen to alternative rock, EDM, or simply mainstream pop. The fullness and loudness of the audio even put my MacBook Air (M2) to shame. Also, it is loud enough to fill a moderate-sized room. There are different audio profiles for music, conference calls, games, and so on. You can switch between them right from the dedicated keyboard button.

Keyboard and TouchPad

Talking about the keyboard, the keys are big and well-spaced, and the key travel is just good enough for a good typing experience. There is even a white backlight that gets enabled automatically when you are in a dark environment. The touchpad is big as well as a good one. Although I did not have any issue with its responsiveness, I have to say that it still has some catching up to do when compared to MacBook. Apple’s touchpads are simply better in this regard. There are three more shortcut keys in the row. One is for performance modes then there is one to toggle between light and dark modes.

Webcam

If you are working from home and or take more video calls in general, if you love that, you can blur/deblur your background directly from the keyboard. You can find more customization features from the Lenovo Vantage. From there, you can enable the Center Stage-like Auto Frame feature as well as tweak brightness, exposure, and more of those settings. Interestingly, this feature is not yet available in the MacBook Air. That said, the camera output from the MacBook is actually better.

Performance

Moving on to the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) brings comes with the Intel Core i7-1360P. This mobile CPU has been in a number of ultrabooks and 2-in1 laptops this year. And rightfully so, since it allows for more power than traditional U-series processors without the battery drain of the H-series. It is powerful enough to fuel your basic productivity tasks.

Lenovo Yoga 9i Benchmark Results

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I used the laptop primarily for writing blog posts and scripts, and I used to have multiple instances of Chrome tabs open at a time. I also had Spotify playing in the background most of the time, with a few edits using Photoshops here and there. And the laptop held pretty well. The experience was pretty smooth, with no noticeable lag or intense fan noise.

I only heard the fans when I tried to push the machine with gaming, and even so, the sound was not noticeable in a standard office setting. I know the Yoga 9i is not really meant for gaming, but I can handle occasional sessions of games like CS: GO, Asphalt 9, and GTA V by adjusting the graphics settings.

Battery and Charging

The battery life is great too. I was able to get up to 4.5-6 hours of average usage on a single charge. Lenovo ships the Yoga 9i with a 75W AC adapter. While there is not much to complain about the charging speed, I do think Lenovo slim down the adapter. I mean, this chunky brick doesn’t really complement the portability of the laptop.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) Review: Conclusion

All in all, I had a great time reviewing the Lenovo Yoga 9i. It’s among the most sought-after premium convertible laptops out there, and rightfully so. The design and display of this laptop is second to none. Performance and battery life are also decent enough. Most importantly, Lenovo has packed this with innovative features to boost productivity. It’s priced at NPR 230,000 in Nepal, some INR 162,355 in India, and USD 1,499 elsewhere. While this is not an affordable price by any means, it’s hard to think of a better alternative at that price point, so there’s that.

So this was all about my review of the Lenovo Yoga 9i. We will be coming with more of this review in the future, so don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get updated.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Stunning Metal Chassis
Gorgeous OLED touchscreen
Audio sounds great
Comes with an active Pen and Carrying case

Cons:

No internal compartment for a pen
The webcam could have been better
Lenovo could have shipped a compact adapter

Vivo X90s goes official with Dimensity 9200+ chip and 50MP triple cameras

Vivo

Mintu

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June 27, 2023

2

Vivo X90s goes official with Dimensity 9200+ chip and 50MP triple cameras

Vivo X90 series went official in November last year, which includes phones like Vivo X90, Vivo X90 Pro, and Vivo X90 Pro+. Now, the company has Vivo X90s to this lineup which brings slight performance improvement over the vanilla X90. Without further ado, let’s get into the specs, features, and expected price of the Vivo X90s in Nepal.

Vivo X90s Overview:

Design and Display

Starting with the design, Vivo hasn’t changed much here. It looks identical to the Vivo X90 with an aluminum alloy frame, but you get one new color option here: green. And for protection against accidental drops and water splashes, it is IP64 rated too.

Besides that, the display is the same 6.78-inch curved panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate, and a 93.53% screen-to-body ratio. Likewise, it covers 105% NTSC color gamut and has up to 1300 nits of peak brightness.

Performance

Under the hood, the X90s gets a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset. Compared to the regular Dimensity 9200 on the Vivo X90, it has slightly overclocked Cortex-X3 (3.35 GHz > 3.05 GHz) and Cortex-A715 (3.0 GHz > 2.85 GHz) cores. Whereas its Immortalis-G715 GPU also brings 10% better performance. As for memory, Vivo X90s ships with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

Optics

Getting to the camera, Vivo X90s borrows the same setup as the X90 with Zeiss branding. The main camera is still the 50MP f/1.8 sensor with OIS, followed by a 12MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide unit. Whereas for selfies, there’s a 32MP f/2.5 camera up front. As Dimensity 9200 and 9200+ bear the same ISP, the camera performance should be more or less the same.

Rest of the specs

Vivo X90s gets its fuel from a 4,810mAh battery with 120W wired fast charging and reverse charging support. As for the connectivity options, there’s get 5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port. Furthermore, there is an optical in-display fingerprint scanner for biometrics.

Vivo X90s Specifications:

Display: 6.78-inch curved AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate, 1300 nits peak brightness, HDR10+
Resolution: 1260 x 2800 pixels, 453 PPI
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ 5G (4nm)
Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, Up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage
OS: OriginOS 3 (FunTouch OS) based on Android 13
RearCamera: Triple with LED flash
– 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor, OIS
– 12MP f/2.0 telephoto sensor, 2x optical zoom
– 12MP f/2.0 ultrawide sensor
Selfie Camera: 32MP f/2.5 (hole-punch cutout)
Battery: 4,810mAh, 120W fast charging
Connectivity: 5G, WiFi 6, NFC, GPS, USB Type-C port

Vivo X90s Price in Nepal and Availability

In China, the price of Vivo X90s starts at CNY 3,999 (around USD 555 or INR 45,445) for the base 8/256GB version. We expect the Vivo X90s price in Nepal to start from NPR 87,499 if and when it launches here.

Vivo X90s	Price in China (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/256GB	CNY 3,999	NPR 87,499
12/256GB	CNY 4,299	NPR 93,999
12/512GB	CNY 4,699	NPR 102,999

Meanwhile, you can check our Vivo X90 Pro review

Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 unveiled with 4nm node and X61 5G modem

Snapdragon

Mintu

-

June 27, 2023

2

Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 unveiled with 4nm node and X61 5G modem

Qualcomm, one of the world’s largest chipmakers, has unveiled the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip. Fabbed under a 4nm process (Samsung), this thing brings some notable upgrades over the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 that was announced last September. More about Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 in this article.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Overview:

4nm process and X61 5G modem

As aforementioned, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 is manufactured under Samsung’s 4nm node. And its octa-core CPU consists of two high-performance Cortex-A78 cores clocked at up to 2.2 GHz and six efficiency Cortex-A55 cores at up to 2GHz. Compared to its predecessor, that’s 200 MHz higher on both CPU cores. However, Qualcomm has kept the GPU info hidden as of now.

Besides that, this midrange chip is the first in the series to support the 3GPP Release 16 version of 5G via the X61 modem with 4×4 MIMO. This version expands the 5G NR frequency spectrum with bands starting from under 1 GHz and going up to 43 GHz. As a result, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 will offer you faster upload and download speeds at 900 Mbps and 2.5 Gbps, respectively.

Dual ISP

Well, the 4 Gen 2 brings a slight downgrade on the ISP section, toning down to dual ISP support from 4 Gen 1’s triple ISP. However, it retains the 108MP camera compatibility and adds “Zero Shutter Lag” support for up to 32MP or 16MP + 16MP dual cameras. And the video recording ability is still capped at 1080p 60 fps but with EIS support this time. Plus, you get Multi-Camera Temporal Filtering (MCTF) for reducing noise in videos.

Faster UFS 3.1 storage and LDDR5 RAM

What’s even more significant upgrade is the support for UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5 (3200 MHz) RAM on this new chip. For reference, Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 only supported LPDDR4x RAM at 2,133 MHz and UFS 2.2 storage. What’s not changed though is the USB 3.2 Gen 1, WiFi 5, and Bluetooth 5.1 support.

Others

Moving on, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 carries the Quick Charge 4+ support from its predecessor. It can fill up the battery from 0-15% in 15 minutes as per Qualcomm. Besides this, the SoC supports Full HD+ displays at 120Hz and 120 fps for supported games and AI-enhanced noise cancellation.

Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 vs 4 Gen 1 Key Specs:

	Snapdragon 4 Gen 2	Snapdragon 4 Gen 1
Architecture	4nm (Samsung)	6nm (TSMC)
Performance/ big cores	2x Cortex-A78 (@2.2 GHz)	2x Cortex-A78 (@2.0 GHz)
Efficiency/ little cores	6x Cortex-A55 (@2.0 GHz)	6x Cortex-A55 (@ 1.8GHz)
GPU	Adreno (Unspecified)	Adreno 619
Memory	LPDDR5	LPDDR4X
Image Signal Processing	(Dual, up to 108MP, Zero Shutter Lag on up to 32MP camera)	(Triple, up to 108MP)
Integrated Modem	Snapdragon X61 5G	Snapdragon X51 5G
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Subsystem	FastConnect 6100 (Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1)
Fast Charging	Quick Charge 4+

Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Availability

According to Qualcomm, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2-powered phones will be available by Q2 2023. With Redmi and Vivo being the first in line to taste this chip.

Meanwhile, check our top picks for best phones under $500

NFC is going to get a lot better. Here’s how

NFC

Aarohan Niraula

-

June 27, 2023

2

NFC is going to get a lot better. Here’s how

The NFC Forum, which is responsible for overlooking Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, has just released a roadmap for the future of NFC. So let’s get into it.

What is NFC?

NFC is a short-range wireless technology that enables communication between devices nearby. It works based on electromagnetic induction and RFID technology, by sending and receiving radio waves across a short range. And it allows for stuff like making mobile payments, pairing devices just by tapping, and more.

NFC Forum

Here, the NFC Forum is a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 for promoting and developing NFC technology. It started out with just a few companies including Sony, Nokia, and NXP Semiconductors. But it has grown to include 400 members including household names like Apple, Google, Samsung, Huawei, Visa, and more. Their main function is to establish standards, facilitate collaboration, and advocate for worldwide NFC adoption. And the NFC Forum has recently released a roadmap through 2028, highlighting the new developments in this field.

The NFC roadmap

There are 5 major points in the forum’s NFC roadmap, including increased power for wireless charging, increased range, and more.

1. Increased power wireless charging

Like how your phone can wirelessly charge your smartwatch or wireless earbuds? Soon enough, you might be able to use NFC for the same, at least to an extent. The NFC Forum mentioned their aim of increasing the wireless power capabilities of NFC from 1 to 3 watts.

This might not sound very impressive since most high-end phones these days already have 5 to 10W of reverse wireless charging. But the thing is, NFC technology can fit into much smaller and more compact devices like IoT devices, making this a potentially huge deal for the near future.

2. Increased range

One of the main limiting features of NFC connections is its short 5mm range. And the NFC Forum has mentioned its goal of increasing this range by four to six times. This upgrade would greatly improve its usability as you’d no longer have to align NFC devices precisely to establish connection.

3. Multi-purpose tap

As the name suggests, this feature will allow multiple actions to take place with just a single tap. It will greatly ease point-to-point receipt delivery, loyalty identification, and total journey ticketing.

4. Modernizing device-to-device communication

NFC-enabled smartphones and devices will have Point-of-Sale (POS) functionality making it easier for businesses and individuals to send and receive payments anywhere.

5. Expanding data-sharing capabilities for sustainability

Likewise, the NFC forum also aims to integrate NFC in ways to give information on product composition and recycling options. This will contribute to a healthier economy and support sustainability goals.

NFC Roadmap: Conclusion

The NFC Roadmap was developed in collaboration with the NFC Forum’s members, stakeholders, and liaison partners. By sharing the roadmap publicly, the institution aims to garner awareness and interest in NFC technology. Not all the features may come to fruition by 2028, so it is best to remain cautiously optimistic. And we can’t wait to see how NFC’s utility will actually pan out in the future.

Meanwhile, check out our Huawei Band 8 review

Budget-focused Infinix Smart 7 Plus with 6,000mAh battery official in Nepal

Infinix

Sonika Bhandari

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June 26, 2023

2

Budget-focused Infinix Smart 7 Plus with 6,000mAh battery official in Nepal

Infinix brand has already introduced quite a few smartphones in the Nepali market. They recently launched the Smart 7 HD, and now they just came up with the Smart 7 Plus. This article includes the specifications, features, and official price in Nepal of the Infinix Smart 7 Plus.

Infinix Smart 7 Plus Overview:

Design and Display

Infinix Smart 7 Plus is a little bulky as it measures 9.4mm in thickness and weighs around 207 grams. The phone has a glass front and a plastic frame and back. The phone features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking. Infinix has added ripple-like textures on the back and a silver ion spray that keeps away 14 kinds of bacteria.

The Infinix Smart 7 Plus boasts a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen with a 720 x 1612 pixels resolution. It has 4096 levels of automatic adjustment ranging from 1 nits to 500 nits. The display refreshes at 60Hz and offers a screen-to-body ratio of about 84%.

Performance and Storage

Under the hood, Infinix Smart 7 Plus is powered by an unspecified octa-core chipset with a clock speed of up to 1.6GHz. Given the specs, we suspect this to be the Unisoc SC9863A, a 28nm chipset with two clusters of Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.2GHz and 1.6GHz, respectively. The phone has 4GB of RAM with an additional 3GB RAM of virtual RAM. Likewise, the default storage is 64GB, but you can expand it via a microSD card slot. Infinix Smart 7 Plus runs on Android 12 with XOS skin on top.

Also Read:

Camera

In terms of the camera, the Infinix Smart 7 Plus features a dual-camera setup led by a 13MP main camera. The official site lists the second camera as an AI lens but fails to mention its resolution and purpose. The phone allows video recording at 1080p with the rear camera and 720p with the 5MP front camera, both equipped with LED flash.

Rest of the features

One of the standout features of the Infinix Smart 7 Plus is its high-capacity 6000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. With such a large battery and entry-level specs, you can expect extended usage times without frequent charging. The phone also supports 10W Type-C wired charging for quick charging.

In terms of connectivity, the Infinix Smart 7 Plus supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS. It offers reliable positioning and navigation capabilities. It supports dual nano-SIM slots for dual standby. Moreover, it retains the classic 3.5mm audio jack, allowing you to connect wired headphones without adapters.

Infinix Smart 7 Plus Specifications:

Display: 6.6-inches HD+ IPS LCD, 720 x 1612 pixels, 500 nits
Chipset: Unisoc SC9863A1 (28nm
CPU: 4x Cortex-A55 (@1.6 GHz) + 4x Cortex-A55 (@1.2 GHz)
GPU: Imagination PowerVR GE8322
Memory: 4GB RAM LPDDR4X, 64GB storage (expandable)
Rear Camera: Dual:
- 13 MP primary
- AI lens
- Dual-LED flash
Front Camera: 5MP, LED flash
Battery: 6000mAh Li-Po, 10W Type-C charging
Security: Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2
Color Options: Azure Blue, Emerald Green, Night Black

Infinix Smart 7 Plus Price in Nepal (Official)

The official price of the Infinix Smart 7 Plus in Nepal is Rs. 12,999 for the sole variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. You can purchase the phone from various retailers across the country.

Infinix Smart 7 Plus	Price in Nepal (Official)	Availability
4/64GB	NPR 12,999	Hukut Store

In summary, the Infinix Smart 7 Plus is a budget-friendly smartphone with a stylish design, a large battery, and decent performance. It offers a good display, capable cameras, and ample storage space, making it a good choice for users looking for an affordable smartphone with reliable features.

Meanwhile, check out our unboxing and review of Infininix Hot 10 Play:

Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Review: Light, But At What Cost?

Aarohan Niraula

-

June 26, 2023

2

Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Review: Light, But At What Cost?

Zenbooks have always been a popular choice for those seeking a thin and light everyday carry but this time Asus has gone above and beyond in its pursuit of sleekness. And it might not exactly be a “good” thing. You’ll understand what I mean soon enough. Before the review, here are the brief specifications of the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023).

Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Review: Specifications

Design & Build: Plasma Ceramic Aluminum lid, Recycled Aluminium chassis, 296.2 (W) x 216.3 (D) x 10.9 (H) mm, 1 kg
Display: 13.3-inch glossy Lumina OLED panel, 60Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 550 nits HDR peak brightness
Other Properties: VESA-certified Display HDR True Black 500, SGS Eye Care
Resolution: 2.8K (2880 × 1800 pixels), 16:10 aspect ratio
Keyboard: Chiclet keys, ErgoSense hinge
Trackpad: Glass trackpad
Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core Processors
- Intel Core i5-1335U: 10C/12T, 4.6 GHz max turbo frequency, 15W TDP
- Intel Core i7-1355U: 10C/12T, 5.0 GHz max turbo frequency, 15W TDP
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
- Intel Core i5-1335U: 80 EU at 1.25 GHz.
- Intel Core i7-1355U: 96 EU at 1.3 GHz.
RAM: 16/32GB LPDDR5 (Soldered)
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Audio: Side-firing stereo speaker system, Smart Amp, Dolby Atmos
Connectivity: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
I/O Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x combo audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1
Battery: 63Wh Li-Ion battery
Power Supply: 65W USB Type-C AC Adapter (20V, 3.25A)
What’s inside the box: Laptop, Sleeve, Power adapter, USB C to C cable, quick start guide, and other documents
Price in Nepal: NPR 204,444 (Intel i7-1355U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

My unit powered by the Intel Core i7-1355U alongside 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD retails for around USD 1,400 in the US, around INR 130,000, and NPR 204,000 here in Nepal. There’s also the i5 Variant which is a bit lighter on the pocket but unfortunately, it is currently unavailable in Nepal.

Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Review:

Design

296.2W x 216.3D x 10.9 mm, 1 kg
Plasma Ceramic Aluminum lid, Post-industrial Recycled Aluminum chassis

Firstly, let me talk about the build. The new Zenbook is now 25% slimmer than its predecessor which was already pretty thin. As Such, the new Zenbook S 13 2023 is remarkably compact weighing only 1 kilogram and measuring a mere 1 centimeter in thickness. Besides that, it’s built from recycled materials and halogen-free electronics. That gives it a pretty unique look as well.

Asus has used pure water to make its plasma ceramic aluminum lid that feels paperlike to the touch. They say this has increased wear resistance, bettered corrosion protection, and improved hardness. The chassis itself is made up of recycled aluminum. As such, the build quality is superb and leaves no room for complaints.

Keyboard and TrackPad

Backlit chiclet keyboard
Glass trackpad

Moving on, the keyboard deck is made up of aluminum-magnesium alloy and feels sturdy too. The keys themselves feel nice to type on and offer backlighting for working in dimly lit environments. The glass touchpad is top-notch as well. It is accurate, responsive, and works well with multi-finger gestures. Overall, there are no compromises when it comes to the keyboard and trackpad experience on the Zenbook S 13 OLED.

Display

13.3” 2.8K Lumina OLED panel
100% DCI-P3, 550 nits HDR peak brightness

The display is one of the best I’ve seen on an ultrabook. It’s a 13.3” 2.8K OLED panel with 100% DCI-P3 coverage. Asus has dubbed this screen “Lumina OLED” which is a new name for high-quality OLED displays with Pantone Validated color rendering, DisplayHDR True Black certification, and Delta E less than 1. As such, the colors look accurate and watching media is a blast.

Display Properties

1 of 3

Viewing angles are great and I had my colleagues complementing the richness of the display multiple times. Besides that, it emits 70% less harmful blue light for better eye care and sleep quality. Watching movies and animation is especially a treat thanks to its deep blacks and vivid colors. It also has the more favorable 16:10 aspect ratio which is always a good thing.

Speakers and Webcam

Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED Webcam Sample — Front WebCam Sample

On the topic of content consumption, let me move on to the speakers. And simply put they are decent but not great. They sound rich and balanced but don’t get necessarily loud. High Frequencies also don’t sound the very best. This is understandable given the size constraints so I would still give them a 3.5 out of 5 rating for laptop speakers. The FHD webcam on the Asus Zenbook S 13 is decent for video conferences and online meetings but it’s nothing to write home about. But it does have IR technology with Windows Hello so you can unlock your laptop just by looking at it.

Performance

Intel Core i7-1355U CPU (10C/12T, up to 5GHz)
Integrate Intel Xe graphics (96 EU)
16GB LPDDR5 RAM, 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD

Now, here’s the catch. Ultra portability comes at a cost and that is the most apparent in performance. The Zenbook S 13 OLED is powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 1355U processor which strikes a good balance between raw horsepower and minimal power consumption. Unfortunately, the chip doesn’t seem to be performing at its maximum capabilities. We ran Cinebench R23 multiple times and no matter how you look at it, the compact form factor has a negative toll on its performance.

We got an average of 1667 points for single core and 6620 for multicore. To put that into perspective, other laptops with the same chip have scores in the ballpark of 1750 to 1800 for Single Core and 8800+ for multicore performance. Even last year’s S 13 with the Ryzen 7 6800U had a better multicore performance.

Does that mean the Zenbook S 13 OLED is unusable? Of course not, you’ll breeze through light office work like answering emails, browsing media, editing documents, and such. You can even do a bit of Photoshop and coding. You might hardly notice the difference if you don’t intend to push it to its limits. But it is a thing to keep in the back of your mind.

I hardly noticed the fans kick in my day-to-day workflow so the system runs quite like a mouse when not under heavy load. If you want to run something more intensive I’d suggest switching the fan profile to performance mode (using Fn + F) for optimal airflow. There’s also the whisper mode if you want to be especially stealthy.

Gaming on an ultraportable?

Gaming is the furthest thing the Zenbook S 13 OLED is made for so it’s no surprise it doesn’t perform very well. But I was still slightly disappointed when my 1% low on CSGO(low settings) was 8fps. I would’ve preferred to end this segment by saying something like you can do some light gaming on this thing and it is perfectly playable but that’s not the case here. But hey, you can still run Asphalt 9 (on max settings) at a smooth 60 fps (46 fps 1% low) but anything more than that might be less than ideal.

Battery Life

4-cell 63Wh Li-ion
65W AC power adapter

For its size, the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED has decent battery life. It is powered by a 63 Wh Lithium Battery which is bigger than I expected for a laptop this compact. And the larger size does greatly benefit its battery life. I was getting anywhere from 4 and a half hours to over 5 hours of battery life on standard power settings at 80% brightness.

You can get a bit more if you opt for the power efficiency mode but not by a whole lot. Acer claims up to 14 hours of local video playback which would be the upper bound for battery life. The good thing is, it charges really fast reaching 0-70% in under 50 minutes. But like any thin and light laptop, it can get uncomfortably warm while charging.

Connectivity and I/O

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

For a 13-inch device, the port selection is quite generous as well. You get 2 USB Thunderbolt 4 ports and a Full Sized HDMI 2.1 on the left while the right side houses a USB A port and a headphone & microphone jack. For wireless connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

Ports

1 of 2

Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Review: Conclusion

In conclusion, the Asus Zenbook S 13 2023 Edition is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a unique ultraportable laptop for work or business. Its stunning display paired with its reliable battery life also makes it an ideal media machine. But it’s not for everyone and people looking for performance might not see the appeal at all.

Anyways, if you’re planning to get a lightweight system or a Windows alternative to the M2 Macbook Air, I can heartily recommend the Zenbook S 13. But only if you’re aware of the compromises you’ll be making and are okay with it.

Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Thin Lightweight Design
Stunning OLED Display
Good Port Selection
Decent Battery Life

Cons:

Mediocre Performance
Weak Speakers
Just a 60 Hz display

Amazfit Falcon with premium rugged design, 20ATM rating now in Nepal

Amazfit

GadgetByte

-

June 26, 2023

2

Amazfit Falcon with premium rugged design, 20ATM rating now in Nepal

Following multiple leaks, Amazfit officially launched its first-ever multi-sports GPS watch called the Falcon last year. It’s a premium-rugged smartwatch with a new AI-based training coach Zepp Coach. Let’s walk through the specs, features, availability, and official price of the Amazfit Falcon in Nepal.

Amazfit Falcon Overview:

Design, Display

As a rugged smartwatch, it’s obvious that Amazfit has placed a premium on durability. It has an aircraft-grade TC4 titanium unibody design that is corrosion-resistant and good enough to pass 15 military-grade tests to bag MIL-STD 810G certification.

Adding to the durability is a Sapphire Crystal Glass screen with a Mohs hardness rating of 9/10, which is just below the hardness of a diamond. The display is a 1.28-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 416 x 416 pixels. It also has an anti-fingerprint coating to keep fingerprints at bay.

Not to forget, this is Amazfit’s first smartwatch with a 20ATM water-resistance rating. This is more than the 10ATM rating on Apple Watch Ultra, the company’s most expensive watch to date. Moreover, the wearable weighs 64 grams, has four buttons (two on each side), and is only available in Supersonic Black color.

Professional fitness features

With Falcon, Amazfit introduced its new AI-powered Zepp Coach, which provides tailored guidance to the user based on his/her physical characteristics. Furthermore, it can detect if the user is overtrained and reduce the intensity of scheduled exercise accordingly – or even recommend rest.

The wearable has over 150 indoor and outdoor sports modes, with auto-detect for 8 of them. You can sync your fitness scores and details with third-party apps, such as Google Fit, Apple Health, Relive, Strava, and Adidas’ Running app.

In addition, Amazfit lets you connect the Falcon with professional workout devices like heart belts and cycling power meters via Bluetooth. You can even have the watch screen awake so you can easily check it out during workouts.

For those who work out in gyms, the watch can auto-recognize strength training exercises and keep track of reps, sets, and rest time. Similarly, runners can get professional lap data with the Track Run mode and review their track trajectory in the Zepp App. In addition, the watch has a six satellite position system and dual-band GPS (L1 + L5) for accurate route tracking even in densely populated areas.

Rest of the specs

Keeping everything running is a 500mAh battery inside. With this, the Falcon is said to provide up to two weeks of run time under normal conditions. It takes two hours to charge this thing using the included 5-pin connector.

Furthermore, connectivity options include WLAN 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.0 BLE connectivity. You can pair the smartwatch with devices running Android 7.0 and iOS 12.0 and above.

Amazfit Falcon Specifications:

Body: Titanium unibody design, MIL-STD 810G, 64 grams
Dimension: 49.45×47.2×12.95mm
Display: 1.28″ AMOLED, 416 x 416 pixels
Protection: GTR 4: Sapphire glass, anti-fingerprint coating
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 & BLE, 2.4GHz WiFi
Battery: 500mAh, up to 14 days (typical usage)
Companion App: Zepp App (Android | iOS)
Water Resistant: 20ATM (up to 200m)
Sensors: BioTracker 3.0 PPG optical sensor, Geomagnetic, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Barometric Altimeter, GPS (Dual-band & 6 satellite positioning systems)
Health Tracking: 24/7 hour heart rate monitoring, SpO2, Sleep tracking, Stress monitoring
Sports Modes: 159 (25 strength training & 8 sports movements smart recognition)
Color: Supersonic Black

Amazfit Falcon Price in Nepal and Availability

The Amazfit Falcon is now available in Nepal with an asking price of Rs. 84,999. You can buy the Falcon rugged smartwatch from Hukut and other authorized stores in Nepal.

Smartwatch	Price in Nepal (Official)	Availability
Amazfit Falcon	Rs. 84,999	Hukut

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Amazfit GTS 4 and GTR 4

Best Wireless Earbuds Under Rs. 10,000 in Nepal [Updated]

GadgetByte

-

June 26, 2023

1

Best Wireless Earbuds Under Rs. 10,000 in Nepal [Updated]

If you are looking to buy affordable yet reliable TWS earbuds, you have come to the right place. Here we have listed the best budget TWS earphones (earbuds) you can buy in Nepal for under NPR 10000.

Before we begin…

Over the past few years, truly wireless earbuds have gained momentum. The popularity of the TWS earphones can also be credited to the smartphone manufacturers ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack in their flagship smartphones. Or is it the other way around?

In recent years we have seen a lot of wireless earphones debut in Nepal, especially in the budget segment. It may confuse a lot of people about which one they should go for. Thus, we have curated the following list of the best budget TWS earphones (earbuds) in Nepal that one can buy under NPR 10000.

Oh, and I won’t be considering the fit and comfort of these earbuds in this ranking since those are super subjective things. Here, none of the earbuds on my list have an absolutely horrific fit or anything, but your mileage may vary.

Best TWS Earbuds in Nepal under NPR 10000 (Summary)

TWS Earphones	Price in Nepal
Redmi Buds 4	Rs. 6,999
OnePlus Nord Buds 2	Rs. 5,899
Redmi Buds 3 Lite	Rs. 3,399
OnePlus Buds Z2	Rs. 9,999
Sony WF-C500	Rs. 9,999
Realme Buds Air 3	Rs. 6,999
Jabra Elite 3	Rs. 8,949
Oppo Enco Air2 Pro	Rs. 6,899

Redmi Buds 4

Okay, so let’s kick things off this list of best TWS earbuds under NPR 10000 in Nepal with the Redmi Buds 4. Compared to last year’s Redmi Buds 3, Xiaomi has made quite a few changes this time.

Instead of a tall stem-like design, these earbuds now have a sleek oval-shaped speaker unit, which feels much more comfortable to put on. And it even has active noise cancellation now that works pretty well to cut out consistent low-frequency ambient noises.

I was also not expecting to see transparency mode with the option to amplify others’ voices on such budget wireless earbuds either.

But while I have big praises for Redmi Buds 4’s design and noise cancellation properties, its audio quality itself is nothing groundbreaking for the price. Xiaomi has mostly tried to tune it with a balanced EQ, but there’s a definite kick when it comes to bass and trebles.

I’ll admit that it doesn’t sound too sharp or something, but that muddy bass does tend to eat up details when listening to hip-hop, rock, and similar tracks. Plus, despite its app support, there’s no way to set a custom equalizer for these earbuds, which simply suck.

Redmi Buds 4 Specifications:

Driver: 10mm Dynamic driver
Connectivity: Wireless (Bluetooth v5.2), 10 meters range, USB Type-C
Music time: 30 hours (with charging case)
Control: Touch (customizable)
Game Latency: 59ms (Buds 4 Pro)
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes, 35dB
IP rating: Yes, IP54
Color: Light Blue, White
Price in Nepal: Rs. 6,999 (Buy Here)

OnePlus Nord Buds 2

So if you want more flexibility on how your earbuds sound, you should check out the new OnePlus Nord Buds 2. If you remember, the first-gen Nord Buds had this horrifying bass response, but with the second-gen Nord Buds, I’m definitely noticing some improvements in terms of tuning.

Likewise, I wouldn’t exactly call its default “Balanced” equalizer “balanced” in any way, but the Nord Buds 2 has a somewhat bright sound signature with boosted upper mids and high frequencies that sounds sooooo much better. There’s still some bass to enjoy, although it no longer comes off dark and bloaty to undermine the overall clarity of the music.

Surprisingly enough, OnePlus has also managed to include ANC on these earbuds. But don’t expect anything extraordinary in that regard.

Nevertheless, its microphone quality is pretty decent, with good background noise suppression, and its 12.4mm drivers are even more sensitive now. This means the Nord Buds 2 can get almost unbearably loud. Setting it at around 70% volume was more than enough for my ears, even when taking these things for a spin in busy Kathmandu streets.

OnePlus Nord Buds 2 Specifications:

Driver: 12mm dynamic driver
Frequency: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
Battery: 41mAh (each earbud), 480mAh (case)
Music Time: 7 hours (with ANC off), 36 hours (with charging case)
Charging: Wired (USB-C)
Controls: Touch
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes (up to 25dB)
IP Rating: Yes (IP55 dust and splash resistant, earbuds only)
Color: Thunder Grey and Lighting White
Companion App: HeyMelody (Android | iOS)
Price: Rs. 5,899 (Buy Here)

Redmi Buds 3 Lite

Next up is the Redmi Buds 3 Lite. At just Rs. 3,399, it is the most affordable entry on our list of best earbuds under NPR 10000 in Nepal. I know you’re probably wondering, “Why are you including such inexpensive earbuds when our budget is more than three times as much?” And I just have two words for you: audio quality.

Of course, many other brands are competing in this sub-5,000 bracket, too—but for audio quality alone, Redmi Buds 3 Lite is still one of the best options for its price.

To be fair, if you prefer thumpy bass or strong trebles, these earbuds shouldn’t be at the top of your list. Instead, Buds 3 Lite’s audio is almost the exact opposite, with a sort of laid-back tuning that sounds great in most kinds of songs without overdoing anything. But I do wish its soundstage could’ve been wider, though. And that it got a little louder as well.

Redmi Buds 3 Lite Specifications:

Dimension:
- Earbud: 24.5 x 16.7 x 24.6 mm, 4.2 grams each
- Charging Case: 60 x 46 x 23.7mm, 36 grams (with earbuds)
Color Options: Black
Sound Driver: 6mm dynamic driver
Noise Cancellation: Environment Noise Cancellation (for calls) only
Microphone: Yes,
Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.2 (10m wireless range)
IP Rating: Yes, IP54 (earbuds only)
Battery:
- Earbuds: 36mAh
- Case: 315mAh
Playback Time:
- Earbuds: 5 hours
- With case: 18 hours
Control: Touch-based control (Double Tap, Triple Tap, Long Press)
Charging: 5V wired charging
Companion App: No
Read our review of the Redmi Buds 3 Lite.
Watch our review of the Redmi Buds 3 Lite.
Price in Nepal: Rs. 3,399 (Buy Here)

OnePlus Buds Z2

So, if Redmi Buds 3 Lite’s shortcomings are a dealbreaker and you can afford to spend threefold the money, then the OnePlus Buds Z2 could be a good choice. From better call quality to active noise cancellation and app support, this thing is much more feature-rich than Xiaomi’s affordable offering.

And its “V-shaped” sound signature means these earbuds produce boomy bass and lifted trebles, while the midrange takes a backseat in terms of clarity and definition. However, I found out that, in classical, acoustic, or any other genre of songs with not much bass, its mids, and treble response can come off a little grainy. And even sibilant at high volume.

This was actually a big issue when Buds Z2 first launched since there was no way to change the EQ settings by default. But, OnePlus has already pushed an update enabling a 6-band equalizer.

Another late addition to these earbuds is the “Max Noise Cancellation” setting. But I gotta say it’s not that different from the regular noise cancellation option, which is already pretty good. However, before you go ahead and get these things, you should know that some of its features, like Dolby Atmos playback and low-latency mode, are only available on select OnePlus phones.

OnePlus Buds Z2 Specifications:

Body:
- Earbud: 33 x 22.4 x 21.8 mm, 4.6 grams (each)
- Charging case: 73.15 x 36.8 x 29.1 mm, 42 grams
Color options: Obsidian Black, Pearl White
Sound driver: 11mm Dynamic Driver
Driver sensitivity: 98dB ± 3dB @ 1kHz
Microphone: Triple mic on each earbud (with ENC for phone calls)
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
IP certification: IP55 (earbuds), IPX4 (charging case)
Audio codecs: AAC, SBC
Noise cancellation: Yes, ANC (Up to 40dB reduction)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, Google Fast Pair Service
Companion app: HeyMelody (Android | iOS)
Control: Touch-sensitive area in each earbud
Battery: 40mAh (per earbud), 520mAh (case)
Battery life: 5/7 hours continuous playback (ANC on/off)
Other features: 94ms latency, Transparency Mode, Dolby Atmos support
Read our review of the OnePlus Buds Z2
Price in Nepal: Rs. 9,999 (Buy Here)

Sony WF-C500

So if you are not a big fan of such a walled ecosystem thing, let me introduce you to Sony’s WF-C500, which doesn’t discriminate with features whether you have an Android phone or an iPhone.

Besides everything else, I’m especially impressed by how clean and faithful it sounds. The midrange and vocals preserve good timbre, while its treble reproduction is just as brilliant. I didn’t find its bass hit as impactful as I’d like in the default settings, but switching to the “Excited” EQ mostly did the trick.

These earbuds also have a spacious soundstage, and the instrument separation here is pretty amazing. But even though this is one of the best-sounding earbuds on our list—and one with the best battery backup, too—the WF-C500 has a few rudimentary compromises. Like a lack of ANC.

And in fairly noisy or windy conditions, its onboard microphones thoroughly struggle to pick up your voice in the middle of all the background noise.

Sony WF-C500 Specifications:

Dimension:
- Earbud: 5.4 grams each
- Charging Case: 80.0 x 34.9 x 30.9 mm, 35 grams
Color Options: Black
Sound Driver: 5.8mm Neodymium driver
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz (Music Mode)
Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.0 (10m wireless range)
IP Rating: Yes, IPX4 (earbuds only)
Playback Time:
- Earbuds: 5/7 hours (ANC on/off)
- With case: 20/28 hours (ANC on/off)
Control: Physical button (Singe Tap, Double Tap, Triple Tap, Long Press)
Charging:
- Earbuds: 2.5 hours
- Earbuds + Case: 3 hours
Companion App: Sony Headphones Connect (Android | iOS)
Other Features: 360 Reality Audio, PC Swift Pair
Price in Nepal: Rs. 8,999 (Buy Here)

Realme Buds Air 3

Moving on, Realme Buds Air 3 is yet another excellent pair of earbuds under 10,000 rupees in Nepal. And it sounds something like the OnePlus Buds Z2 but with a more balanced tonality without coming off as overpowering. Of course, Realme has still tuned these earbuds with a slightly punchier bass, but the Buds Air 3 sounds great across most musical genres.

But unlike the Sony WF-C500 and a couple of other upcoming earbuds on our list, I find its soundstage and definition in the treble region to be somewhat lacking. But when it comes to active noise cancellation, these earbuds are simply the best you can get in this price range. And it even competes with some of the more expensive ones—it’s just that good.

But I just wish I could say the same about its call quality. It’s good enough in quiet environments—but on a more challenging turf—the audio pickup here is just average.

And one thing that has bugged me about these earbuds is the touch control. You eventually get used to it, but I just wish there was some sort of physical marking to naturally guide where your fingers should be resting.

Realme Buds Air 3 Specifications:

Color options: Galaxy White, Starry Blue
Sound driver: 10mm LCP Dynamic Bass Boost driver
Audio codecs: AAC, SBC
Noise cancellation: Yes (ANC up to 42dB), Dual-mic
Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.2
Water resistance: Yes, IPX5 waterproof (earbuds only)
Battery life:
- Earbuds: Up to 5.5 hours (ANC on)
- With case: Up to 30 hours (ANC off)
Charging time: 1 hour (earbuds), 100 min (case)
Companion app: Realme Link (Android | iOS)
Price in Nepal: Rs. 6,999 (Buy Here)

Jabra Elite 3

Coming in at number two is the Jabra Elite 3. Just like the Sony WF-C500, these earbuds are also all about the basics. By keeping things simple and focusing mostly on the audio side of things, Jabra has managed to deliver one heck of a budget earbuds.

And it sounds balanced, detailed, and all the other adjectives I’d typically use with a great audio product. Its mid-tone texture isn’t as well-defined as on the Sony C500, but I’m overly nitpicking at this point.

Likewise, although the Elite 3 has a small 6mm driver, its bass reproduction is impactful and warm.

Another handy feature I love about these earbuds is that I can just double-click on the left earbud, and it automatically plays my Spotify playlists. Unfortunately, this feature is only available on Android devices.

Despite all this, the Elite 3’s microphone quality is nothing to write home about, and it doesn’t bring ANC either. But the one silver lining here is that these earbuds do have a noise-isolating design—which sounds almost as good as active noise cancellation itself.

Jabra Elite 3 Specifications:

Dimension:
- Earbud: 20.1mm x 27.2mm x 20.8mm, 4.6 grams each
- Charging Case: 64.15mm x 28.47mm x 34.6mm, 33.4 grams
Color Options: Black
Sound Driver: 6mm driver
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz (Music Mode) / 100Hz – 8kHz (Speak Mode)
Microphone: Yes, 4x MEMS (100Hz – 8kHz)
Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.2 (10m wireless range)
IP Rating: Yes, IP55 (earbuds only)
Battery: 43mAh (per earbud), 440mAh (case)
Playback Time: 7 hours (earbuds), 28 hours (with case)
Control: Touch-based control (Double Tap, Triple Tap, Long Press)
Charging: 3.5 hours (1 hour ~ 10 minutes)
Companion App: Jabra Sound+
Price in Nepal: Rs. 8,949 (Buy Here)

Oppo Enco Air2 Pro

Finally, my top pick for the best budget earbuds under NPR 10000 in Nepal is the OPPO Enco Air2 Pro. From a comfortable fit to great sound quality, ANC, and battery life, these earbuds impress in many ways.

And it has some of the cleanest bass response I’ve heard from a pair of budget wireless earbuds. The bass hit is tight, punchy, and it doesn’t sound overbearing or extend to higher frequencies.

Its wide soundstage, accurate stereo imaging, and treble definition are also impressive—which makes for an excellent listening experience in all types of songs, movies, and stuff. And one thing the Enco Air2 Pro does particularly better than the Jabra Elite 3 is that it gets quite loud too.

Its ANC is also quite effective, although not as good as the Realme Buds Air 3. The call quality here is just alright, and I’m not the biggest fan of such a tall design either, but the main disappointing thing about these earbuds is that you can’t set a custom EQ.

OPPO could eventually push an update for a custom equalizer, but until then, you’re stuck with the three default presets.

Oppo Enco Air2 Pro Specifications:

Dimension:
- Earbud: 4.3 grams each
- Charging Case: 66.84 x 51.45 x 25.04mm, 50.4 grams (with earbuds)
Color Options: White, Gray
Sound Driver: 12.4mm Titanized Diaphragm drivers
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz (Music Mode)
Microphone: 2x Mic (-38dBV/Pa)
Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.2 (10m wireless range)
IP Rating: Yes, IP54 (earbuds only)
Playback Time:
- Earbuds: 5/7 hours (ANC on/off)
- With case: 20/28 hours (ANC on/off)
Control: Touch-based control (Singe Tap, Double Tap, Triple Tap, Long Press)
Charging: 5W charging
- Earbuds: 90 minutes
- Earbuds + Case: 120 minutes
Companion App: HeyMelody (Android | iOS)
Other Features: 94ms Low-latency mode, Dual connection
Price in Nepal: Rs. 6,899 (Buy Here)

Best TWS Earbuds under NPR 10000 in Nepal: Conclusion

So there you have it, guys; that was all for my top picks for the best budget earbuds under NPR 10000 in Nepal in 2023. Did I miss any? Have you been using one of these? Share your experience in the comment section down below?