The iPhone 13 series made its way to Nepal a few years ago. And while the vanilla iPhone 13 is still available, the same can’t be said for the rest of the entries in this lineup. Including the iPhone 13 Pro. Still, let’s look at the specs, features, availability, and official price of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro in Nepal before it went out of stock.
iPhone 13 Pro Overview:
Design and Display
Starting with the display, the iPhone 13 Pro boasts a 6.1‑inch OLED panel with 2532 x 1170 pixel resolution and 460PPI pixel density. The highlight of this year’s Pro iPhones is the 120Hz ProMotion support. Under this, the 13 Pro implements an LTPO backplane that can dynamically switch the display’s refresh rate between 10 and 120Hz.
Additionally, this screen sports 1000 nits of max typical brightness while it can reach up to 1200 nits during HDR playback. It is covered with an oleophobic coating that wards off fingerprints and smudges as well. In addition, the phone is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance.
In terms of design, it’s practically the same as last year’s iPhone 12 Pro with its stainless steel case and matte glass back. However, the notch is 20% narrower this time around. Furthermore, it weighs 204 grams and is 7.65 thick. iPhone 13 Pro is available in four color options: Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue.
Performance
Getting to the performance, it packs the new A15 Bionic chipset. Manufactured under the 5nm process node, it features a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Here, Apple promises that the new GPU architecture delivers 50% better graphics performance than the competition. Memory-wise, it’s available with up to 1TB of internal storage.
As for the optics, all three rear cameras get 12MP sensors as last year on the iPhone 13 Pro. However, it has an f/2.8 telephoto, an f/1.5 wide, and an f/1.8 ultra-wide lens. The primary wide camera now lets in 2.2x more light than the iPhone 12 Pro and is the largest sensor in an iPhone yet.
On the other hand, this new ultra-wide lens lets in 92% more light for better low-light performance. The telephoto lens, on the other hand, features a 3x optical zoom now. Also, as there’s a LiDAR sensor for better portrait shots and AR workloads.
Aside from this, the Pro models this year get the new Cinematic Mode that seamlessly shifts focus from one subject to another, artfully blurring the background and creating cinema-quality depth effects. To note, this mode shoots in Dolby Vision HDR. In addition, you can now shoot macro shots via the ultra-wide lens.
Over on the front, there’s a 12MP TrueDepth camera that supports FaceID, Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, Night Mode, Cinematic Mode, Night Mode Selfies, and more on the iPhone 13 Pro.
Rest of the specs
The iPhone 13 Pro utilizes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity. In terms of battery, it features a 3,095mAh cell with 20W fast charging. It also supports 15W MagSafe wireless charging.
Front Camera: 12MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture
Security: TrueDepth camera for FaceID facial recognition
Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE, Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS with Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou
Other features: Water and dust resistance (IP68), Stereo speakers
Battery: 3095mAh, 20W fast charging, 7.5W Qi Wireless Charging, 15W MagSafe Wireless Charger (No adapter included in the box)
iPhone 13 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
The official iPhone 13 Pro price in Nepal started at NPR 174,990 for the 128GB variant and went up to NPR 260,990 for the 1TB model. But as mentioned before, the iPhone 13 Pro is no longer available in Nepal.
iPhone 13 mini arrived in Nepal in November of 2022. However, because of the low demand for compact phones, it was discontinued and is no longer available in Nepal. Anyway, let’s take a look at the specs, features, and official price of the Apple iPhone 13 mini in Nepal.
iPhone 13 mini Overview:
Design and Display
Compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 13 mini is both thicker and heavier — albeit only marginally. It comes with the same flat edge design with rounded corners, while Apple has used aluminum for the frame. The phone is IP68-certified against dust and water damage as well.
Moving on, you get the same 5.4-inch OLED screen with “Ceramic Shield” on top for protection. Here, Apple has increased the typical max brightness from 625 nits to 800 nits. That being said, the screen can get as bright as 1200 nits during HDR playback.
Apple says it has toned down the size of the notch on the front by 20% as well. Similarly, the dual-camera setup at the back is now arranged diagonally.
Performance and Memory
On the inside, the iPhone 13 mini is powered by the latest A15 Bionic chipset. Based on the same 5nm process node as its predecessor, it now packs 15 billion transistors. Apple didn’t reveal much about the performance of the new CPU and GPU, except that it delivers a 50% and 20% performance advantage over the “leading competition”, respectively.
That being said, the new 16-core neural engine can compute 15.8 trillion operations per second (TOPS), resulting in better machine learning performance compared to A14 Bionic’s 11 TOPS.
As mentioned earlier, the iPhone 13 mini flaunts a diagonal dual-camera setup at the back. It uses a bigger sensor with 1.7 μm pixels for the primary wide camera. This allows the camera to capture 47% more light, resulting in brighter and noise-free photos. Similarly, sensor-shift Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) that debuted with the iPhone 12 Pro Max is also available here. The ultra-wide camera has remained unchanged though.
Like last year, you can record Dolby Vision HDR videos at up to 4K/30fps. This time, Apple has introduced a new “Cinematic mode” that uses machine learning to automatically switch focus between foreground and background subjects. Users can even change focus after the recording using apps like Photos, iMovie.
Upfront, there is a 12MP TrueDepth camera with Cinematic mode, Smart HDR 4, and more.
Rest of the specs
Apple has also managed to include a bigger 2,406mAh battery, that it claims can last 2 hours more on offline video playback compared to the iPhone 12 mini. It charges over Apple’s proprietary Lightning port. You will have to buy the charger separately as Apple doesn’t include one on the box.
Front Camera: 12MP TrueDepth camera with f/2.2 aperture
Security: TrueDepth camera for FaceID facial recognition
Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA, 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 with 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS with Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou
Other features: Water and dust resistance (IP68), Stereo speakers
Battery: 2406mAh, 20W fast charging, 7.5W Qi Wireless Charging, 15W MagSafe Wireless Charger (No adapter included in the box)
iPhone 13 mini Price in Nepal and Availability
The official iPhone 13 mini price in Nepal started at NPR 122,990 for the base 128GB variant. Whereas the 256GB memory configuration went for NPR 139,990. But as mentioned before, the iPhone 13 mini is no longer available in Nepal.
Apple launched the iPhone 14 series back in September of 2022. An exciting shift in this lineup was the introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus which came with a bigger display and a cheaper price tag than the “Pro Max” variant. And the iPhone 14 Plus has finally seen a price drop in Nepal. So, let’s go through the specs, features, availability, and the latest official price of the iPhone 14 Plus in Nepal.
iPhone 14 Plus Overview:
Same old design
Apple released four smartphones in the iPhone 14 lineup: the 14 Pro Max, 14 Pro, 14 Plus, and vanilla 14. However, the iPhone 14 Plus is the only new size in the lineup, sporting a 6.7-inch screen for the first time in a non-pro model.
This is a Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2778 x 1284 pixels. It has a P3 color gamut and True Tone support and can reach 1200 nits of brightness. While we’ve heard rumors of a 90Hz smoothness, it’s clear now that Apple is sticking with its good ol’ 60Hz refresh rate. Anyways, you do get a flagship-grade Ceramic Shield protection on the front complemented with an oleophobic coating for fingerprint resistance.
The iPhone 14 Plus retains the bathtub-style notch of the iPhone 13. The chassis is made of aerospace-grade aluminum and comes in five different colors: Midnight, Purple, Starlight, (PRODUCT) RED, and Blue.
While the display gets a minor upgrade, the iPhone 14 Plus gets important internal upgrades. To begin with, it is powered by the A15 Bionic chip. But it’s worth noting that this is the version with a 5-core GPU present in the 13 Pro duo. Contrary to this, a 4-core GPU is available in vanilla and mini phones. Thus, Apple claims that it will provide an 18% performance boost over last year’s non-pro models.
In terms of raw performance, the A15 Bionic remains ahead of the current best chip from MediaTek and Qualcomm. So we are sure that you will not be disappointed with the performance. Similarly, the 14 Plus is available in three storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
The A15 Bionic also supports 5G connectivity. And Apple dropped some major announcements regarding this. Beginning with the iPhone 14 Series, the US model will only support eSIM. And there will also be support for satellite connectivity.
According to Apple, satellite connectivity required the development of entirely new hardware and software to enable message transmission without the use of bulky antennas. This is, of course, an emergency feature that should not be used on a regular basis.
Before you can communicate, you must first locate the satellite single. The iPhone 14 Plus will direct you in the right direction until the satellite connection is established. However, Apple notes that this feature is only available outside with a “clear view of the sky.”
Even if there is no cellular connectivity, once the iPhone is connected to a satellite signal, you will be able to send a message or call an emergency service. You can also use FindMy to share your location with friends and family. This service is currently free for two years for iPhone 14 buyers and will be available in November for users in the United States and Canada.
Cameras
As for the cameras, the iPhone 14 Plus still has a 12MP dual camera setup on the back. However, the main camera now uses a larger sensor with larger pixels (1.9µm, up from 1.7µm) and a brighter f/1.5 aperture. All this translates in a 49% increment in light capture compared to the iPhone 13.
There are also some new software features. The new iPhones bring deep integration of hardware and software with a feature called Photonic Engine, which improves photo performance in low-light conditions across all camera sensors. That is a 2x increase in the ultra-wide camera, a 2x increase in the front TrueDepth camera, and a 2.5X increase in the primary sensor.
In addition, for more stable videos, there is a new Action mode that eliminates the need for gimbals and supports capturing videos in Dolby Vision HDR. The maximum video recording resolution is 4K@60fps.
Moreover, the selfie camera also sees some upgrades with a new TrueDepth camera and, for the first time, an autofocus feature. The hardware improvements result in 38% more light capture and improved low-light performance.
Battery
Finally, the iPhone 14 Plus battery is rated to deliver up to 26 hours of video playback, which Apple claims is the best battery on an iPhone ever. However, there is no upgrade to the charging department. That means you’ll still have to choose between 20W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 7.5W Qi wireless charging.
The latest official iPhone 14 Plus price in Nepal is NPR 157,990 for the 128GB variant and NPR 176,990 for the 256GB variant. The 512GB variant of the iPhone 14 Plus is currently out of stock. You can buy iPhone 14 Plus in Nepal from authorized retailers like Hukut Store.
iPhone 14 Plus
Price in Nepal (Official)
128GB
NPR 173,990 157,990
256GB
NPR 192,990 176,990
512GB
NPR 229,990 (out of stock)
Meanwhile, check out our review of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Alongside the rest of the iPhone 12 series, the flagship iPhone 12 Pro Max made its debut in Nepal back in 2020. And while you can still find the vanilla iPhone 12 in stock in Nepal at a discounted price, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is no longer available. Still let’s take a look at the iPhone 12 Pro Max and its features, specs, price, and more before it went out of stock.
iPhone 12 Pro Max Overview:
Design & Build
Contrary to the cheaper iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12’s aluminum build, both Pro models come with a premium “surgical-grade” stainless steel frame instead. Additionally, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is available in four color options altogether: Silver, Graphite, Gold, and Pacific Blue.
More importantly, all new iPhones this year follow the design principle of the decade-old iPhone 4; with a flat edge on the side. Still, the display has a rounded corner and curved edges like previous iPhones.
Yet, the rumors regarding a smaller notch didn’t turn out to be true. The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s “bathtub” notch is similar in size to the iPhone 11 series. Moreover, it is also IP68 rated against splash, water, and dust. According to Apple, it can survive submersion up to 6 meters of water for a maximum of 30 minutes.
Display
In terms of display, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is for those who want a large screen. Its 6.7-inch OLED panel is the biggest screen in the entire history of iPhones. Compared to 12 Pro’s 6.1-inch panel, the Pro Max’s screen has a higher 2778 x 1284 pixel count with a 458 PPI. Besides the size & pixel density, both screens have the same display properties.
Moreover, it is also Dolby Vision, HDR, and Wide Color (P3) compliant, making the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s display one of the most visually stunning ones in the market – at least on paper.
Interestingly, Apple has worked with Corning to come up with “Ceramic Shield” for tougher protection against drops. By introducing nano-ceramic crystals in the glass matrix which form interlocked structures, Apple is claiming up to 4x better drop performance.
Sadly, Apple customers are gonna have to wait a little longer to find a high refresh rate display. The iPhone 12 series is still stuck on 60Hz.
Performance
“Our fastest iPhone yet” has been a consistent talking point on every iPhone launch event ever. But this time around, that claim is taken a step further with the support for the latest 5G connectivity.
Using custom-made 5G antennas and radio equipment, Apple says the iPhone 12 series supports the widest range of 5G bands among any other smartphone in the market. As we know, there are two spectrums of 5G: sub-6GHz and mmWave. For now, the faster mmWave 5G is only available in the US.
In fact, 5G was one of the most talked-about features during the entire product showcase event. With mmWave 5G, the iPhone 12 Pro Max can reach peak upload and download speeds of up to 200 Mbps and 4Gbps in ideal conditions, respectively.
But considering the use case, its “Smart Data Mode” will automatically scale down to 4G LTE connection when 5G isn’t needed – and immediately switches back to 5G, once you need a faster network. This battery-saving feature analyzes network requirements in real-time.
Besides 5G, the new A14 Bionic silicon based on the 5nm process node is ridiculously fast as well. This is also the first commercially available mobile SoC based on the efficient 5nm process. We saw this SoC make its debut on the iPad Air 2020 which was unveiled around a month ago. It packs in 11.8 billion transistors, which is about 40% more than its predecessor.
Apple’s silicons have always been the industry leaders and if the company’s claims about the A14 Bionic are to be believed, the next-gen flagship SoCs powering Android phones have a big competition ahead.
To put it in perspective, Apple is claiming a 50% faster CPU & GPU performance compared to any other smartphone chip. It has a hexa-core CPU setup with 2 high-performance and 4 high-efficiency cores and a quad-core GPU with improved memory compression.
Moreover, the 16-core Neural Engine provides up to 80% faster operations. The dedicated ML (Machine Learning) accelerators on the A14 Bionic with its 2nd-gen architecture is now 70% faster.
Likewise, its new ISP (Image Signal Processor) allows for Dolby Vision recording, but more on that later on. Amidst the Apple-Epic debacle, Riot Game’s “League of Legends: Wild Rift” will also be coming to the iPhone 12 series.
But, the company hasn’t disclosed the exact date for now. Excitingly enough, Apple has bumped the base storage variant to 128GB from 64GB. You can also choose between 256GB and 512GB memory options.
Cameras
Getting to the cameras, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, as expected features the best sensors ever put on an iPhone. It has a trio of 12MP lenses at the back; alongside a LiDAR sensor. It has a 7-element 12MP primary wide camera with f/1.6 aperture, 26mm focal length. While the 12 Pro features a 12MP primary wide camera as well, the one on the Pro Max has a 47% bigger 1.7μm sensor.
What this means is that this lens is much more capable of letting-in light (87% more as per Apple’s claims), for superior low-light photography. Also, it uses a DSLR-like “Sensor-shift” OIS technology for image stabilization.
Then there’s the 5-element 12MP f/2.4 aperture ultra-wide camera with 13mm focal length and 120-degree field of view—the same as in 12 Pro. The final 6-element 12MP lens is a telephoto camera that is slightly superior to the one on 12 Pro.
It has an f/2.2 aperture, 65mm focal length, and is capable of 2.5x optical zoom in and 2x optical zoom out (total 5x optical zoom range). Here, both the primary wide and telephoto lens support (OIS) Optical Image Stabilization.
LiDAR Scanner
Similarly, the iPhone 12 Pro Max also comes with the LiDAR scanner, which is absent on the regular iPhone 12 & 12 Mini. It eases your AR workload while also improving low-light photography and videography.
Paired with the A14 Bionic’s Neural Engine, Apple claims that the iPhone 12 Pro Max can deliver the best night mode portrait images. The iPhone 12 series is also the first and only smartphone in the market that can record 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR videos at 4K/60fps.
Users can also edit the HDR recordings from the “Photos” app itself – another first for a smartphone.
Dolby Vision recording is also possible on the 12MP f/2.2 front-facing TrueDepth camera, but only up to 4K/30fps. Other camera features on the iPhone 12 Pro Max include an 87% improvement in low-light photos (compared to the iPhone 11 Pro Max) and computational photography niceties like Smart HDR 3, Deep Fusion, etc.
Also exclusive to the 12 Pro series is “Apple ProRAW” from all four lenses. This feature is especially alluring to professionals who seek more creative control in their shots. Apple says this feature will be available on iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max starting later this year.
Rest of the specs
The entire iPhone 12 lineup ships with the latest iOS 14 out-of-the-box. In terms of battery, as usual, Apple hasn’t disclosed the actual capacity of the Li-Ion cell on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Rather, it says the phone should last up to 20 hours of continuous video playback. But, a TENAA listing has confirmed that the 12 Pro Max comes with a 3687mAh battery.
It also features a “MagSafe” wireless charger and a whole lot of magnetically attaching accessories including a wallet. It supports 15W MagSafe and 7.5W Qi wireless charging. Unfortunately, Apple is still sticking with the Lightning connector for this generation of iPhones. Using a 20W charger, it can juice up 50% battery in just 30 minutes.
In a bid to bring the manufacturing cost down to keep the prices consistent (and to reduce carbon emission), Apple won’t be shipping the iPhone 12 series with an earphone, and a charging adapter inside the box.
Still, you will be getting a USB Type-C to the Lightning cable inside the box. Even though the price of the iPhone 12 Pro Max in the US is admirable, buyers in Nepal are still gonna face a heavy price tag.
Back Camera: Triple: • Ultra-wide: 12MP f/2.4, 120° FOV, 5-elements lens, 13mm focal length • Wide: 12MP f/1.6, 7-elements lens, 26mm focal length, Sensor-shift OIS • Telephoto: 12MP 6-elements lens, OIS, f/2.2, 65mm focal length • LiDAR scanner for AR workloads, night portraits, etc.
Front Camera: 12MP TrueDepth camera with f/2.2 aperture
Security: TrueDepth camera for FaceID facial recognition
Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS with Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou, Ultra-Wideband chip
Other features: Water and dust-resistant (IP68), Stereo speakers
Color options: Graphite, Silver, Gold, Pacific Blue
Battery: 3687mAh; 20W fast charging, 7.5W Qi Wireless Charging; 15W MagSafe Wireless Charger (No charger included in the box)
iPhone 12 Pro Max Price in Nepal and Availability
Before it went out of stock, the official iPhone 12 Pro Max price in Nepal started at NPR 171,000 for the 128GB model. While the 256GB and 512GB variants went for NPR 187,600 and NPR 235,990, respectively.
The iPhone 12 mini is the most compact phone in its lineup. It launched alongside the iPhone 12 series here in Nepal as well but is no longer available. Still, let’s take a look at the iPhone 12 mini, including its features, specs, and price in Nepal before it went out of stock.
iPhone 12 mini Overview
Design and Display
iPhone 12 mini is Apple’s take on a tiny 5G smartphone. Dimension-wise, it measures 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm and weighs around 135 grams. It sports a 5.4-inch display, which like the rest of the lineup, uses Apple’s Super Retina XDR technology. The edge-to-edge panel has curved corners.
This OLED panel packs a total of 2340 x 1080 pixels which amounts to a pixel density of 476ppi. Like the vanilla iPhone 12, the panel on the mini supports HDR content and has a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. Apple has also included the new Ceramic Shield cover for durability.
The frame of the device is made using aerospace-grade aluminum and the rear panel features glass. The body is IP68-rated and can survive water up to 6 meters for a period of up to 30 minutes.
Performance
All the iPhones under the new lineup come with the latest A14 Bionic chipset. The hexacore processor (2+4) is the world’s smartphone chipset to be based on the 5nm process node. By reducing the size of the transistors, Apple has managed to include 11.8 billion of them in the chipset.
With the added power, Apple claims the A14 chipset is 50% faster than any other smartphone chipset available in the market today. Apple is making a similar claim with the quad-core GPU.
Compared to the previous generation, the new Neural Engine, which now has 16 cores, can perform 80% faster. Similarly, Apple has also sped up the ML accelerators by up to 70%.
5G Connectivity
This year’s iPhones are all about 5G. Apple claims that with all the antennas on the frame and the design changes that they have adopted the new iPhones can reach a peak download speed of up to 4Gbps in ideal condition.
However, in a typical condition, the number lowers down to 3Gbps. Similarly, Apple has also made changes to the software side of things. The company has introduced Smart Data Mode that automatically switches between 4G and 5G connection according to the need of the current process.
Similarly, Apple has also optimized the iOS 14 for 5G connectivity. All the in-built apps of the new iPhones are designed to make the most out of the 5G connection.
The camera setup on the iPhone 12 mini is the same that we find in the vanilla iPhone 12. The wide -camera adopts a 7-elements lens with a focal length of 26mm. The camera comes with Optical Image Stabilization and 100% Focus Pixels.
The main talking point here is the f/1.6 which is faster and allows 27% more light to pass through, compared to the iPhone 11. Thus, it is expected to outdo last year’s iPhone 11 in low-light photography. The 12MP ultra-wide camera offers a wider FOV of 120°. On the front, there is another 12MP sensor for the TrueDepth camera.
Courtesy of the A14 Bionic chipset, Apple has also improved Night mode and Deep Fusion photos. Both features are available on all three cameras. However, the main talking point of the camera is the inclusion of features to record HDR videos.
Yes, you heard it right. With the new iPhone 12 mini, users can record 10-bit 4K/60fps Dolby Vision videos. The TrueDepth camera can record 4k/30fps Dolby Vision videos. On top of that, users can also edit such videos using the native Photos app.
Rest of the specs
Although Apple has not commented on the size of the battery used in the two devices, it is evident that the one used on the mini is smaller than that used on the vanilla iPhone 12.
There is no other explanation for the mini’s inferior battery endurance when the only difference between the two is the screen size. According to the company, the iPhone 12 mini can last up to 15 hours of video playback, or 10 hours of streaming, or 50 hours of music playback.
While Apple won’t be including any charger adaptor (only a USB Type-C to Lightning cable will be included), users can buy a 20W fast charger separately. It can fill the device up to 50% in 30 minutes. Similarly, the iPhone 12 mini supports 7.5W wireless charging. It also supports 15W MagSafe Wireless charging like the standard iPhone 12.
iPhone 12 mini specifications:
Dimension: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm, 164 grams
Display: 5.4-inch (2340×1080 pixels) OLED, 476ppi, Super Retina XDR display
Apple has a long-standing reputation for research and staying ahead of its competitors. Currently, Apple Inc. is exploring the use of 3D printers in the production of steel chassis for their upcoming smartwatches, possibly the Apple Watch 9 series. So, in this article, we will see how the company chooses to approach new 3D printing methods, market situations, pricing, and other many factors associated with it.
Apple’s test of 3D Printed Apple Watch Overview:
Vice President Rob York is overseeing the testing of 3D printing technology at Apple, and this activity is under the preview of Sabih Khan, who leads Apple’s operations.
Traditional Apple’s approach to making Apple Watches
Apple uses regular forging methods for manufacturing its stainless-steel watches, wherein a brick of materials is cut down into a smaller metal block closely matching the device’s size. This is followed by precise cutting using a CNC (computer numerical control) machine to create the device’s specific design and buttonholes.
These smartwatches represent 10% of Apple’s product line units, and improving production methods for these will significantly lower manufacturing expenses for Apple.
How is 3D printing of Smartwatches done?
The new technique uses binder jetting to create an actual size of the watch, (in manufacturing terms; the near net shape”. The print for it is made by a powered substance, which then goes through heat and pressure to squeeze into what is the traditional steels (the method is sintering).
Reportedly, Apple and its partners have secretly been working on 3D printing technology for about three years. It appears they are currently testing it for the upcoming release of the Apple Watch Series 9, scheduled for September 12.
Why change when things are going well for Apple with their current methods?
This technique can reduce the requirement for cutting blocks of metal sheets into required shapes, potentially reducing the production time for devices. Moreover, this approach has environmental advantages since it utilizes only the required amount of metal to craft the device’s outer casings.
Stock Reactions to Apple’s 3D Printing Announcement
The announcement of Apple making use of 3D printing made the stock prices of companies like 3D Systems Corp. go up by 10% and Stratasys Ltd. by 6.9%. Concurrently, Apple’s stock showed a rise of 1.8%.
Consumer-focused production of 3D printed Apple Watch
There’s no guarantee the upcoming Apple watches will use this method, but Apple seems quite serious about it based on their testing and announcements. Even so, if these new-method watches do come to the market, they might not produce many of them at first. They also plan to use a similar approach with titanium for the Ultra watch series.
Reportedly, the cost of the new casing made through 3D printing is similar to the one produced using the previous method. Even though Apple’s switch to 3D printing might be costly at first, it should make manufacturing devices easier and maybe cheaper in the future.
So, this phone had been generating a lot of hype even before its launch. Led by its Nothing-inspired design, leaks and rumors had suggested one hell of a device. And to put it simply I wasn’t disappointed. The Infinix GT 10 Pro is an incredible value for money if you’re looking for a gaming phone on a budget. It may not take the best photos or have the best OS, but boy does it outperform everyone in raw numbers. This is my full review of the Infinix GT 10 Pro. But before we begin, here are the brief specifications of the phone.
So let me start with the head-turning design of this thing. After Nothing’s success with a transparent design, this is the first time we have seen such a similar design from a different brand! And I think it’s quite refreshing, a little inspired, yes, but I don’t have a problem with it. It’s actually nice to see a phone with such character in a sea of mostly bland designs.
That being said, the design is very polarizing. I asked my friends and colleagues if they liked how the GT 10 Pro looked. And the ones who liked it absolutely loved it while the others weren’t a fan at all. There wasn’t much in between!
The back, as well as the frames, is made of plastic, but it does not feel that cheap and feels comfortable to hold. Infinix has been generous enough to include an IP53 rating too. My unit was the ‘Cyber Black’ variant but you can also get the ‘Mirage Silver’ color option, both of which are inspired by the cyberpunk sci-fi aesthetics.
To add a bit of extra flair, Infinix has also added LED lights on the back which glow during charging and notifications. Or, you can sync the lights to your music, and have your own little music visualizer. Honestly speaking, it didn’t add much to the phone in my day-to-day use and unlike the permanent glow on the Nothing Phone (2), the notification LEDs are easy to miss.
Display
6.67-inch OLED
120Hz, 360Hz Touch Sampling
Over to the front, the 6.67-inch OLED screen is quite nice with good contrast and viewing angles. I didn’t find the color reproduction to be the most accurate though. You do get the option to change the color temperature and such from the settings but even after adjusting, I didn’t find the tuning to be very impressive.
In comparison, the Poco X5 Pro(review) which also has a 10-bit display as the GT 10 Pro, produces better-looking colors. But then again, this is not a bad screen to look at, at least for general usage, gaming, and even some content consumption.
You also get Widevine L1 certification here, so you can watch content in FullHD resolution on streaming platforms like Netflix or Prime Video. However, there is no HDR support yet.
In terms of brightness, this is not the brightest of screens as I could only get around 700 nits at peak with the auto brightness mode turned on. This means during sunny outdoor situations, you might face some difficulty in visibility.
The good thing is that Infinix has included 1920Hz PWM Dimming in the GT 10 Pro, so there’s less probability of headaches and such while using the phone in low brightness mode. You also get an in-display fingerprint scanner which works reliably, however, I would have preferred if it was placed a little higher.
Performance
Mediatek Dimensity 8050
8GB + 8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage
Talking about the performance, I am happy to tell you, it doesn’t disappoint. The Dimensity 8050 chipset in here is one of the best performers you can get at this price range. It is better than something like the Snapdragon 778G and even beats more expensive phones like the Realme 11 Pro or the Lava Agni 2 in raw numbers.
Infinix GT 10 Pro Performance
1 of 2
Comparison
Benchmark Scores
And that benchmark score translates nicely to real-world usage as well.
Hence, throughout my testing period, I didn’t notice any lag or stutter on casual use. The UI feels snappy and fluid and Infinix has optimized 120Hz refresh rate well too.
Software
I also appreciate how Infinix has provided an almost Bloatware-free experience here. I mean, apart from a couple of XOS family apps, you won’t find much 3rd party bloatware here at all. But if you find the “ Clean Stock Android” experience a little boring, you always have the option to install icon packs and make it look however you want.
The only thing that has bugged me regarding its software is the promised number of updates. Infinix GT 10 Pro boots on Android 13 and the maximum OS update the brand has promised is till Android 14 and an extra year of security updates and nothing more!
Gaming Performance
Anyway, gaming on the Infinix GT 10 Pro is a great experience. I found the phone cruising through games like PUBG and Asphalt 9 with no trouble at all.
For starters, PUBG runs decently at around 85 fps with just a few stutters here and there. Capping the frame rate at 60fps however, gave me silky-smooth gameplay without any kind of thermal throttling.
COD is still not optimized to run at 90 fps but it gave me 100% stability at Very High Graphics and Max fps settings. And not just COD, I tried playing other higher fps-ready titles like Mech Arena, but sadly, they were stuck at 60 fps too.
Now, I did test Genshin’s impact too, which started out just fine, but became choppier over time. At medium Graphic settings (and 60 fps limit), Infinix GT 10 Pro could push about 40-44 fps. But if you’re more of a fan of stability, I’d suggest capping the frame rate at 30, this way you can enjoy the game with far less stuttering.
You might also be wondering if the phone gets hot while gaming, but surprisingly, PUBG, COD, and Asphalt 9 didn’t make the device heat up so much. It was only when playing Genshin Impact that the phone showed a little sign of distress reaching about 42 degrees after half an hour into the game.
Gaming features
Infinix also provides a few other ‘gaming perks’ here, like you can remap the volume buttons as in-game triggers, you can switch performance modes, limit power for better cooling and block notifications, and such. But let’s talk a bit about their ‘Bypass Charging’ which is the most intriguing one of the bunch.
Smartphones generate a lot of heat while they are charging which could be uncomfortable especially when you want to play games while charging. But Bypass Charging on the Infinix GT 10 Pro allows you to directly power your motherboard, bypassing the battery, so your phone doesn’t heat up!
It means you can game for hours without worrying about the battery heating or running out of charge. It also has the added benefit of reducing wear and tear on the lithium cells which is good for your battery health in the long run.
I did test the feature a couple of times while playing PUBG and yes, the phone doesn’t overheat while playing games while charging the phone! The temperature only rises by a degree or two!
Battery and Charging
5,000mAh battery
45W fast charging
Now, while we are on the topic of battery and charging, the Infinix GT 10 Pro comes with a 5000 mAh battery. With typical moderate use, I could get through the day with around 20-25 % juice remaining before I went to bed but on heavy usage with some gaming into the mix, the phone would last about 5-6 hours, which is not bad at all!
And it charges right back up too. The included 45 W adapter takes the phone from 0-70% in 30 just 30 minutes and takes about an hour to completely fill the device.
Cameras
108MP Primary Camera
2MP Macro
2MP Depth
Okay, lastly, let me talk about its cameras. Infinix GT 10 Pro has a 108MP camera along with 2MP macro and depth sensors. Now, when it comes to gaming devices, cameras are generally the weakest link and I had expected the same from this phone too.
Daylight Photos
But after testing its cameras, I will say that I am quite pleased with the results. I mean, I wasn’t expecting the cameras to do well, but that wasn’t the case at all. 80% of the time I got acceptable results. The pictures are not the most sharp and the dynamic range can be off sometimes, but other than that, the colors are good under good lighting conditions.
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Portraits
Portraits also come out nice enough, although there is still some room for improvement while maintaining dynamic range. Also, the skin tone is a little reddish and there is a little bit of smoothening, but, they are not bad at all.
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Night time
You will see it struggle to maintain exposure and sharpness during nighttime. The camera has a night mode option, but it does not help much.
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No Night Mode
Night Mode
No Night Mode
No Night Mode
Selfies
The front 32 MP camera takes decent-looking selfies with good skin tone but you might find some to be too soft or lacking in detail.
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Videos
For videos, you have a 4k 30 fps option from the rear camera while from the front you can shoot up to 2k 30 fps videos. But at these resolutions, the stabilization is not very proper and there’s this red tint in the videos too, so not the best option when it comes to videos. However, you do get EIS with 1080p 30 fps videos, and the output at that resolution is less shaky and usable.
Infinix GT 10 Pro Review: Conclusion
So, my verdict is quite simple. If you’re looking for a performance-centric device and don’t really care a lot about the cameras, or long-term software updates, the Infinix GT 10 Pro is definitely an ideal choice for you. I found its gaming performance to be excellent, the clean stock Android experience to be welcoming, the battery backup to be reliable, and the overall experience to be recommendation-worthy! But at the same time, I do think Infinix needs a little bit of refinement in the cameras and software updates to remain competitive in this price segment.
Check out our video review of the Infinix GT 10 Pro
Recently, Huawei, Alibaba, and other Chinese tech giants requested permission from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), to develop deepfake materials. The CAC has reportedly received around 110 applications for such products. So, here, we will closely examine why companies are seeking approvals, CAC’s regulations, and the opportunities in the development of deepfake technology in China.
Chinese Tech Giants and Deepfake
What actually is Deepfake?
The deepfake is a simulated media created using artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning techniques. It involves generating highly realistic fake content, such as videos, audio recordings, or images, where the likeness or voice of one person is convincingly replaced with that of another. Deepfake technology has advanced to a point where it can make it appear as though someone is saying or doing something they never did.
Algorithms like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Autoencoders, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), and Transformer Models are used to create deepfakes. Autoencoders, in particular, hold an essential role in this context. They enable feature learning, data representation, and preprocessing across a wide range of tasks and applications. It has two components involved; an encoder and a decoder. The encoder compresses the input data, capturing its important features in a compact form. Likewise, the decoder takes the compact representation from the encoder and attempts to recreate the original data from it.
So using 2 autoencoders, one trained on the reference image, and the other on the target image, you can generate a deepfake. The encoded representation of the target is fed into the decoder of the reference, resulting in an output with the target’s likeness but with the characteristics of the target image.
In December 2022, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) established regulations regarding the use of deepfake technology. Along with Huawei and Alibaba, many other Chinese tech giants like Tencent, Baidu, and ByteDance, have also submitted applications to the CAC to develop deep fake technology, for various purposes.
The rules say that companies using deep fake technology must label their content as “deep fake.””If they fail to do so or create deep fake content without permission from CAC, authorities may investigate them, potentially resulting in fines, hefty penalties, or even a ban.”. So, to avoid such problems, these companies are asking for permission beforehand.
Chinese Tech Giants and Deepfake: The Future
These Chinese tech giants will have the chance to continue advancing and working on their deepfake-related innovations. Once they have the necessary approvals in place, they can use deep fake technology for various purposes, including but not limited to research and development, art, advertising, education, and entertainment.
While the Galaxy S23 series featured the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, the handsets in the previous S22 series utilized an Exynos chip co-created by AMD and Samsung. Samsung’s partnership with AMD, announced two years ago, aims to develop in-house GPUs for Exynos processors. Recent reports indicate that Samsung is planning to introduce AMD GPUs in its mid-range Exynos 1430 and Exynos 1480 processors by 2024.
Exynos 1430 & Exynos 1480 chips Overview:
According to X’s post from @Tech_Reve, Samsung is planning to integrate AMD mRDNA-based GPUs into upcoming chips. However, reportedly, the performance levels of these chipsets may not entirely meet everyone’s expectations for gaming.
Performance
The Exynos 2200 was the first to feature an AMD-based RDNA 2 GPU, generating high expectations. However, the GPU’s real-world performance fell short in most areas, giving features only in ray tracing.
The latest coming (before Exynos 1430 and Exynos 1480 hit the market) Exynos 2400 gives lower single-core CPU performance than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, with multi-core performance being somewhat similar. Reports also suggest that its GPU performance may not match that of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Exynos 2400 could consume slightly more power for similar tasks.
In light of this, it’s likely that the upcoming mid-range Exynos 1430 and Exynos 1480 chips will feature less powerful GPUs compared to the Exynos 2200 or the forthcoming Exynos 2400. It’s also possible that features like ray tracing may be disabled in these moderate GPUs.
It’s been reported that the primary emphasis for these processors, the Exynos 1430 and Exynos 1480, will be on enhancing image capture capabilities and machine learning rather than gaming performance. As a result, it’s expected that these chips may not meet the expectations of gamers.
Samsung plans to apply mRDNA to the mid-range Exynos processors (Exynos 1480, 1430) set to be released next year. However, this is more focused on ISP rather than gaming. Please don’t have overly high expectations for gaming performance.
Historically, Samsung’s mid-tier Exynos chips have utilized Arm’s Mali GPUs, giving a decent performance. However, the shift to AMD GPUs could potentially bring alterations in performance, driver support, and other features. It’s a matter of waiting and observing what these new chipsets with AMD-based GPUs will bring to the table.
Market Availability of Exynos 1430 and Exynos 1480 chipsets
Samsung plans to officially announce the Exynos 1430 and Exynos 1480 chipsets in early 2024, and these chips may come in the Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A55 smartphones, respectively.
When it comes to TVs, OLED is often the first thought in our minds. In the past, OLED ruled the TV market with stunning picture quality and unique pixel lighting. Now, as technology advances, new choices like QD-OLED are emerging for TV enthusiasts. So, here we are to discuss the OLED and QD-OLED displays for TVs along with the different features they offer to distinguish themselves.
OLED versus QD-OLED Overview:
Several manufacturers (mainly LG, others are Sony, Panasonic, and more), produce OLED TVs, particularly using W-OLED (White OLED) technology, while Samsung is the only notable player investing in QD-OLED technology.
OLED display manufacturing
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays are manufactured through a process that involves depositing organic materials onto a substrate to create the individual pixels that emit light. The devices with OLED ensure high-quality displays with vibrant colors, high contrast ratios, and low power consumption. Still, OLED devices have a hard time getting really bright, which can cause reflections and glare in rooms with a lot of light.
QD-OLED display manufacturing
QD-OLED, or Quantum Dot Organic Light-Emitting Diode, is a display technology that combines the strengths of two technologies: OLED and Quantum Dots.
In the manufacturing process, organic materials are deposited onto a substrate, just like in OLEDs, forming pixels that emit light. Yet, what sets QD-OLED apart is the addition of a layer containing quantum dots after the initial OLED layers are in place. What’s more to it is, that QD-OLED tackles OLED’s brightness challenge by involving quantum dots. Quantum dots are tiny semiconductor nanocrystals that absorb blue light and then emit red and green light, resulting in a wider range of colors and enhanced color precision on the display.
Reasons behind Samsung’s avoidance of OLED technology?
As for Samsung, they have avoided using OLED technology in their TVs, probably, due to OLED’s limited lifespan and scalability challenges, especially for larger screens. In a conventional OLED display, a white light source is used, and this light is subsequently filtered through color filters, which means, most of the light cannot reach your eyes. OLEDs have great viewing angles but may lose quality at extreme angles.
Samsung initially focused on developing its own display technology called QLED (Quantum Dot LED) which is positioned as a competitor to OLED. In addition to this, Samsung has also explored QD-OLED, which is a blend of OLED and quantum dots. Their decision to avoid OLED TVs is likely part of their strategy to differentiate themselves in the market and prioritize their proprietary display technologies.
However, QD-OLED burnout remains a concern due to higher brightness offerings along with gradual pixel degradation and the potential image retention over time. As a result, there is a competitive dynamic between QD-OLED and traditional OLED technologies.
Are QLED and MiniLED the substitutes for OLED?
OLED displays have a peak brightness limitation when compared with certain other display technologies such as QLED and Mini LED.
MiniLED technology, employing numerous tiny LEDs as self-emissive backlighting, offers brightness control and localized dimming, surpassing OLED. It reduces burn-in risks and lifespan concerns associated with OLED. Although not as thin as OLED, MiniLED displays provide high luminance and improved contrast.
QLED (based on traditional LCD panels enhanced with quantum dots) displays have advantages over OLEDs, including higher peak brightness, better performance in well-lit environments, and reduced risk of burn-in. QLEDs use quantum dots to enhance color accuracy and brightness in traditional LCD panels, however, it does nothing for contrast and black levels. That’s how the need for QD-OLED is introduced.
QLED display
These factors have attracted Samsung’s attention, impacting their display choices.
While MiniLED and QLED technologies offer advantages such as high brightness and reduced burn-in risks, they are not direct substitutes for OLED. Each technology has its own strengths and limitations, and the choice depends on specific preferences and requirements. OLED has the power to achieve perfect blacks, infinite contrast ratios, and faster response times, resulting in image quality.
Sony made the first OLED TV ever, the XEL-1. People really liked regular OLED (W-OLED) TVs from LG, Sony, Panasonic, and Philips before QD-OLED came along. These brands were the popular choices, and OLED was the favorite.
In 2022, Samsung changed things with the S95B TV. This was their first TV using QD-OLED tech. It fixed OLED’s problem with brightness, measuring a peak of 1,060 nits. While other display technologies exist, the features provided by QD-OLED cannot be matched: reduced burn-in risks, higher brightness levels, enhanced color accuracy, and more.
Pricing
QD-OLED technology is still very new, so there aren’t many TVs or monitors with it yet. Samsung and Sony have a few models, and Dell and other PC companies have QD-OLED gaming monitors.
For a long time, LG was the main company making big OLED displays. Even if you bought an OLED TV from other brands like Sony or Vizio, LG probably made the screen.
QD-OLED TVs are more expensive than regular OLED TVs, which are easy to find and not as pricey. Having said it, Samsung is improving in QD-OLED mass production offering reduced prices in comparison to the initial launch of TVs in early 2022.
Conclusion on OLED versus QD-OLED
While W-OLED TVs still have a presence, QD-OLED technology is preferred nowadays. In my opinion, QD-OLED is the winner. It offers better picture quality than regular OLEDs could only hope for. So, I believe QD-OLED is the future while saying goodbye to traditional OLED.