Page 331 – GadgetByte Nepal

Asus ROG Ally is a $599 answer to Valve’s Steam Deck

Nikhil Shrestha

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May 12, 2023

Asus ROG Ally is a $599 answer to Valve’s Steam Deck

The handheld gaming console market is populated by the likes of Valve (Steam Deck), AYANEO, GPD, and more. And Asus—a veteran in the gaming phone and gaming laptop/PC industry—has officially joined in on the fun with the “ROG Ally”. So let’s learn more about the Asus ROG Ally including its features, specs, availability, expected price in Nepal, and more.

Asus ROG Ally Overview:

By the way, the company first announced the ROG Ally on April 1, which most of us dismissed as a simple April Fools’ joke. But no, it’s an actual product that you’ll be able to purchase starting next month.

Design

Asus says it has designed ROG Ally with optimal comfort in mind. This consists of slanted chassis for easier grip, careful button placements, and a fairly thin and lightweight design. Compared to the Steam Deck which measures 45mm thick and weighs 669 grams, the Ally is just 32mm thick while weighing around 608 grams.

Asus ROG Ally - Design

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Available in a single white color option, this Windows handheld machine has all the control options you could ask for. Including ABXY, directional buttons (D-pad), left/right analog thumb sticks with customizable RGB, left/right bumpers, and left/right hall triggers. On top of this, the ROG Ally also has view and command center buttons on the left, a menu and Armoury Crate button on the right, and a couple of programmable macro keys at the back.

Interestingly, Asus has reserved all the I/O options at the top of the device. You can find one 3.5mm headphone jack, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port (with DisplayPort 1.4), one microSD card reader (UHS-II), and one ROG XG mobile interface. Then there’s a power button with Windows Hello-certified fingerprint reader embedded into it and the volume rockers too.

Display and Audio

Getting to the display, Asus ROG Ally has a glossy 7″ IPS LCD screen with an FHD resolution, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate. To compare, Steam Deck features a 7″ FHD IPS display too, but with a 60Hz refresh rate and a taller 16:10 aspect ratio. With a 7ms response time and AMD FreeSync Premium support, ROG Ally’s display is also a step above most other Windows handheld devices.

As for color accuracy, this touchscreen covers 100% sRGB and 75.35% AdobeRGB color gamut. To maintain better outdoor visibility, the ROG Ally gets as bright as 500 nits while there is Corning’s DXC coating to minimize screen reflections. Oh, and the display itself is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. In terms of audio, Asus has set up a couple of front-firing speakers that support Dolby Atmos.

Performance

Performance-wise, the Asus ROG Ally comes in two flavors of AMD chips; Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Both of these processors are pretty similar to AMD’s latest “Phoenix” Ryzen 7040 series of APUs but customized for handheld devices.

Here, Ryzen Z1 is 6 cores/12 threads CPU with 2.8 teraflops of performance, a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, and a 4-core Radeon 740M GPU. While the Z1 Extreme is the real deal with 8 cores/16 threads CPU and a whopping 8.6 teraflops of performance, 5.10 GHz of max turbo frequency, and a 12-core Radeon 780M GPU. Built on TSMC’s 4nm process, Zen 4 CPU architecture, and RDNA 3 GPU architecture, Asus is promising some serious performance from these APUs. Around 50 – 60 fps at 1080p in most modern AAA titles.

And if you’ve been keeping score, you’ll know that the Z1 Extreme is pretty similar to Ryzen 7 7840U. Anyway, can configure the Asus ROG Ally with three power profiles in total, ranging between 9 – 30W. Here, the “Silent” keeps the power consumption to a minimum at 9W, while the “Performance” and “Turbo” modes crank it up to 15W and 25W, respectively. And if you’re on AC power, this Windows handheld can even suck up to 30W of power.

More. power.

If that’s not enough GPU horsepower for you, then Asus even gives you the option to hook up an NVIDIA RTX 4090 or AMD RX 6850M XT external GPU via the aforementioned ROG XG Mobile Interface. Besides the extra bit of performance itself, Asus ROG XG Mobile docks also add a bunch of I/O options, including one HDMI 2.1, one ethernet (RJ45), one SD card reader, and one USB Type-A port. And in the case of ROG XG Mobile GC33 (the one with RTX 4090), an additional USB Type-C port too.

Memory options for the ROG Ally include 16GB LPDDR5 RAM in dual channel and 256GB SSD in the Ryzen Z1 or 512GB SSD in the Ryzen Z1 Extreme version. Both of them use an M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, by the way. To keep things nice and cool, Asus has used a dual-fan design with something called “anti-gravity” heat pipes that apparently provides better airflow when the device is upside down.

And of course, it runs on Windows 11 (Home). So, unlike the Steam Deck which can only play games from your Steam library, the ROG Ally essentially lets you enjoy all the PC games. Asus is even throwing away 3 months of free “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate” here. On a related note, the Asus-made “Armoury Crate SE” app is there to help you make all sorts of customizations like limiting FPS, key mapping, power presets, and more. Or it can just double as a hub for all your installed games as well.

Battery and others

ROG Ally gets its juice from a modest 40Wh battery. And according to Asus, you can expect up to 2 hours of screen time with heavy gaming under “Performance” mode. Or up to 6.8 hours of YouTube/Netflix playback under “Silent” mode. On the other hand, it has WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity.

Asus ROG Ally Specifications:

Body: 270.90 x 111 x 20.83 – 32.51 mm, 608 gm
Color options: White
Controller: Hall triggers (LT/RT), LB/LB, D-pad, ABXY button, 2x customizable hotkeys, Windows control buttons
Display: 7″ glossy IPS LCD touchscreen, 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus, 7ms response time
Resolution: FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 16:9 aspect ratio
Color gamut: 100% sRGB, 75.35% AdobeRGB
Audio: Front-firing speakers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio
Processor: 4nm, AMD Zen 4/RDNA 3 architecture, 9 – 30W TDP
– Ryzen Z1 (6C/12T, 4.90 GHz boost clock, Radeon 740M GPU)
– Ryzen Z1 Extreme (8C/16T, 5.10 GHz boost clock, Radeon 780M GPU)
Storage: M.2 (2230) PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
– Ryzen Z1: 256GB
– Ryzen Z1 Extreme: 512GB
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5 (dual-channel), 6400MT/s
I/O: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (with DisplayPort 1.4), 1x UHS-II microSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x ROG XG Mobile Interface
Sensor: 6-axis IMU (gyro), HD haptics
Security: Built-in fingerprint sensor, Microsoft Pluton security processor
Connectivity: WiFi 6E (triple band), Bluetooth 5.2
Software: Windows 11 Home, Armoury Crate SE pre-installed
Battery: 40Wh (4S1P) Li-Ion battery, 65W AC adapter (USB Type-C)

Asus ROG Ally Price in Nepal and Availability

According to Asus, the ROG Ally with AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip will be available from June 13 for USD 699. Whereas the USD 599 Ryzen Z1 variant is arriving sometime later in Q3 2023. We expect the Asus ROG Ally price in Nepal to start at NPR 98,999 if and when it launches here.

Asus ROG Ally	Price in the US	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Ryzen Z1	USD 599	NPR 98,999
Ryzen Z1 Extreme	USD 699	NPR 114,999

Meanwhile, check our AYANEO Air review

Ultima Watch Magic launched with BT calling, affordable price tag

Mintu

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May 12, 2023

1

Ultima Watch Magic launched with BT calling, affordable price tag

After garnering commendable attention around its audio products and budget wearables, Ultima has now launched “Watch Magic” in Nepal. This is the second smart wearable from the Nepalese OEM company. In this article, we’ll go through the specs, features, specs, and official price in Nepal of the Ultima Watch Magic.

Ultima Watch Magic Overview:

Design and Display

To begin with, the Ultima Watch Magic sports a squarish body. It has a typical pin/buckle silicone strap, while the watch itself is IP68 dust/water resistant. You get a circular button aligned middle of the right frame for navigation. And moving to the bottom, that’s where you’ll find a PPG sensor. Ultima ships this watch in two color options: Black and Copper.

As for the display, it is a 1.83-inch TFT LCD panel with 2.5D curved glass. This screen has a fairly sharp 240 x 284 resolution and 500 nits peak brightness as well. In terms of watch faces, you get to choose from 200+ options here.

Health and fitness tracking

Moving on, Ultima Watch Magic provides all the basic health tracking and fitness features such as heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, female health tracking, sleep, and street monitoring, etc. For sports enthusiasts, Ultima has provided 110+ sports modes on this smartwatch.

Smart features

One of the main USPs of the Watch Magic is its Bluetooth calling feature, thanks to the built-in microphone and speaker. You even get a dial pad on the watch itself to make phone calls on the go. Besides that, it can display regular notifications from your phone’s apps, set reminders, act as a camera shutter, control music playback, and such. It also supports Nepali language across the watch’s UI.

Battery and others

Moving on, Ultima has not disclosed the exact battery capacity on the Watch Magic but says it should last up to 7 days on a full charge. You can get an entire day’s worth of battery backup with just 10 minutes of charging as well. This smartwatch connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth 5.2. And all your health and fitness data can be viewed in the “Ultima Smart” app.

Ultima Watch Magic Specifications:

Body: Plastic, IP68 dust/water resistant
Display: 1.83″ TFT LCD, 240 x 284 pixels, 500 nits brightness
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
Battery: Up to 7 days (typical usage)
Sensors: PPG optical sensor
Health Tracking: 10+ (24/7 heart rate, SpO2, sleep, female health)
Sports Modes: 110 exercise modes
Full Specs of Ultima Watch Magic here

Ultima Watch Magic Price in Nepal and Availability

The official Ultima Watch Magic price in Nepal is NPR 3,999. However, if you buy it from authorized stores like Hukut, you can receive NPR 1,000 off and get the watch for just NPR 2,999.

Smartwatch Model	Price in Nepal	Availability
Ultima Watch Magic	~~NPR 3,999~~ NPR 2,999	Hukut

Meanwhile, you can check out our Ultima Nova smartwatch review

Huawei Watch 4 Pro is here with LTPO AMOLED display, eSIM support

Aarohan Niraula

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May 12, 2023

0

Huawei Watch 4 Pro is here with LTPO AMOLED display, eSIM support

After quite a long wait, Huawei has finally upgraded its Watch 3 series of smartwatches. And the new Huawei Watch 4 Pro comes with even more premium build quality and a bunch of upgraded health and fitness tracking features. So in this article, we’ll be discussing more about the Huawei Watch 4 Pro, including its specifications, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal.

Huawei Watch 4 Pro Overview:

Design and Display

While the vanilla Huawei Watch 4 has a 46mm dial, the Pro model features a bigger 48mm case. It is also forged with more durable materials. According to Huawei, the Watch 4 Pro’s TC4 titanium alloy is three times stronger compared to regular titanium. This smartwatch is 5 ATM water resistant as well.

Thanks to its bigger case, this smartwatch also houses a bigger display. And its 1.5″ LTPO AMOLED screen gets sapphire glass protection too. There’s a rotating crown and a button on the right side for launching app shortcuts and navigation.

Meanwhile, check all the prices and specs of Huawei smartwatches

Features

Huawei Watch 4 Pro offers the same health and fitness tracking features as the regular Watch 4. It can track more than 100 sports modes, while there’s also an “AI running coach” to help you train better. Then there’s the “Fall Detection” feature which can alert your emergency contact with a single tap.

Similarly, Huawei Watch 4 Pro can read 7 health parameters like heart rate, SpO2, stress, ECG analysis, skin temperature measurement, arterial stiffness, and respiratory data with a single click. And all these readings are presented in a simple report inside the “Huawei Health” app.

Battery Life and Others

When it comes to battery, the Watch 4 Pro is rated to last up to 4.5 days under normal usage or up to 21 days under the power-saving mode. Unlike Huawei Watch 4, it also supports eSIM for LTE connectivity.

Huawei Watch 4 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

The price of the Huawei Watch 4 Pro starts at EUR 549 in Germany, which gets you the base version with a brown leather strap. Whereas the premium titanium strap variant costs EUR 150 more. We expect the Huawei Watch 4 Pro price in Nepal to start at NPR 73,999 when it launches here shortly.

Huawei Watch 4 Pro	Price in Europe	Price in Nepal (Expected)
48mm (Leather strap)	EUR 549	NPR 73,999
48mm (Titanium strap)	EUR 699	NPR 93,999

Meanwhile, check out our Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro review

Sony Xperia 1 V launched with a 52MP “EXMOR T” main sensor, 4K OLED display

Mintu

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May 11, 2023

2

Sony Xperia 1 V launched with a 52MP “EXMOR T” main sensor, 4K OLED display

After the multiple rumors sprouts, the Sony Xperia 1 V is finally here. This flagship phone bears some impressive specs, such as an EXMOR T sensor for mobile, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and more. Let’s get into the specs, features, and expected price of the Sony Xperia 1 V in Nepal.

Sony Xperia 1 V Overview:

As the name suggests, the Xperia 1 V is the successor to last year’s Xperia 1 IV, which came with a 4K display and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. Sony has only been launching one flagship phone per year—although the company did experiment with a “PRO” lineup as well in 2021.

EXMOR tech from the Alpha cameras

Sony is one of the pioneers when it comes to camera tech. What’s new here is that its 52MP 1/1.35″ primary camera uses an “EXMOR T sensor for mobile”, borrowed from Sony’s “Alpha” lineup of cameras for better pro-grade photographic capability. Here, instead of placing photodiodes and pixel transistors in the same substrate, the EXMOR T sensor’s “dual-layer” technology places them in different layers and then stacks them on top.

This optimization allows for a wider dynamic range with more details and higher contrast. And Sony claims 2x improvement in low light photography compared to its predecessor.

Likewise, there’s a 12MP ultrawide (16mm) and a 12MP telephoto camera (85 – 125mm) with OIS and f/2.3 – f/2.8 variable aperture. For selfies and video calls, a 12MP 24mm sensor is present upfront. Sony has also used its “EXMOR RS for mobile” tech on Xperia 1 V’s cameras. Furthermore, there is ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating on all lenses, whereas the ToF sensor says “hasta la vista” this time.

Design and Display

As a flagship phone, Sony has also emphasized on the build quality of this thing. Its rear side uses hardened glass in a frosted finish with tiny convex shapes for better resistance against fingerprint smudges and scratches. The phone is IP65 and IP68 dust/water resistant too. Not to forget, the Xperia 1 V has Gorilla Glass Victus protection at the back and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on the display. The phone is available in three color options: Black, Platinum Silver, and Khaki Green.

Up front, the Xperia 1 V sports a flat 6.5″ OLED display with a wide 21:9 aspect ratio and no notch like its predecessor. And Sony continues to provide a 4K resolution alongside a 120Hz refresh rate on the Xperia 1 V as well. To top it all off, this screen also adapts the BRAVIA HDR remaster technology for high-quality visuals and colors.

Performance

Moving on, the Xperia 1 IV gets the horsepower of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip on the core. This 4nm processor houses a Kryo Prime core (3.2 GHz) based on Cortex-X3. It is backed by four performance cores (2.8 GHz) and three efficiency cores (2.0 GHz). The chip is paired with 12GB RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. On the software side, the phone boots on Android 13 out of the box.

More importantly, Sony says it has also improved the thermal solution here. The Xperia 1 V gets a 60% larger heat diffusion sheet, which should help with overheating concerns.

Battery and Others

Moving on, Xperia 1 V is fueled by a 5000mAh battery with 30W fast charging and Qi wireless charging support. The phone also retains a 3.5mm headphone jack and storage expansion of up to 1TB via a microSD card. To note, Sony is one of the very few smartphone makers to still offer both of these features on its flagship phones. Moving on, the connectivity options consist of WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C Gen 3.2, and NFC.

Sony Xperia 1 V Specifications:

Body: Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front), Gorilla Glass Victus (back)
Durability: IP65/IP68 dust and water resistant
Display: 6.5″ 4K OLED panel, 21:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, BRAVIA HDR remaster
Rear Cameras: ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating
– 52MP 1/1.35″ primary, EXMOR T for mobile, f/1.9, 24mm, OIS
– 12MP 1/3.5″ telephoto, f/2.3 – f/2.8, 85-125mm, OIS
– 12MP 1/2.5″ ultrawide, 16mm, 123° FoV
Video: Up to 4K HDR at 120fps (all three cameras)
Front Camera: 12MP 1/2.9″ sensor (top bezel)
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 5G (4nm)
Memory: 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB storage (expandable)
Battery: 5000mAh with 30W USB-PD fast charging, Qi wireless charging
Audio, Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC, eSIM
Ports: USB Gen 3.2 Type-C
Colors: Black, Platinum Silver, Khaki Green

Sony Xperia 1 V Price in Nepal and Availability

The official price of the Sony Xperia 1 V is set at USD 1,399 / EUR 1,399. It is already up for pre-order and will be available from June. Although it’s very unlikely that the phone will launch here, we can expect the Sony Xperia 1 V price in Nepal to begin from NPR 220,999 if and when it does.

Sony Xperia 1 V	Price in the US	Price in Nepal (Expected)
12/256GB	USD 1,399	NPR 220,999

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Xiaomi 13 Pro

Huawei Watch 4 announced with enhanced health tracking features

Aarohan Niraula

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May 11, 2023

2

Huawei Watch 4 announced with enhanced health tracking features

Huawei has unveiled its latest flagship smartwatches, the Watch 4 and Watch 4 Pro, They are successors to the Huawei Watch 3 series launched back in 2021. And these smartwatches promise upgraded functionality and a fashionable design on top of everything else. Let’s learn more about the Huawei Watch 4, including its specifications, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal.

Huawei Watch 4 Overview:

Design and Display

As expected, Huawei Watch 4 has a circular dial with premium build quality. Its 46mm stainless steel casing is home to a 1.43″ AMOLED screen, which supports new celestial watch faces.

From left to right: Watch 4 Pro (Leather, Titanium), Watch 4

There are also a couple of buttons on the side for quicker navigation. In terms of durability, the Watch 4 is 5ATM water resistant. This smartwatch is currently available with a single black fluoroelastomer strap, but we expect more options once it’s available in other markets like China.

Features

Huawei Watch 4 offers more than 100 sports modes along with a brand new AI running coach. Some of the sports modes include free diving, cycling, jogging, and more. There is also a “Fall Detection” feature that can alert your emergency contact with a single tap.

Other than this, Huawei Watch 4 has got you covered in the health tracking side of things as well. This includes heart rate, SpO2, stress, ECG analysis, skin temperature measurement, arterial stiffness, respiratory data, and more. There is also a new feature that measures all these 7 health parameters in a single go and compiles them in a single, easy-to-read report.

Battery life and others

According to Huawei, the Watch 4 can last up to 3 days under normal usage—or up to 14 days with power-saving mode turned on. And unlike its Pro sibling, it doesn’t have LTE connectivity via an eSIM.

Huawei Watch 4 Price in Nepal and Availability

In Germany, the price of the Huawei Watch 4 is EUR 449 and it will go on sale from June 8. We expect the Huawei Watch 4 Price in Nepal to be NPR 60,999 when it launches here shortly.

Huawei Watch 4	Price in Europe	Price in Nepal (Expected)
46mm	EUR 449	NPR 60,999

Meanwhile, check out our Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro review

Realme 11 announced with Dimensity 6020 5G, 90Hz sAMOLED display

Realme

GadgetByte

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May 11, 2023

1

Realme 11 announced with Dimensity 6020 5G, 90Hz sAMOLED display

In this article, we will be discussing the specifications, features, expected price, and availability of Realme 11 in Nepal. It is the cheapest entry in the newly announced Realme 11 series, which also consists of a Pro and a Pro Plus model.

Realme 11 Overview:

Design and Display

Like the other two phones in the series, Realme 11 also sports a large circular camera island at the back. The phone has flat sides with rounded corners. It is available in two color options: Summer Orange and Star Trail Black. The former has a vegan leather finish, whereas the other avoids it for a textured black finish.

The phone sports a 6.43-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel. It is a flat screen that refreshes at a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen boasts 180Hz touch sampling rate, which can boost to 1000Hz for brief periods in games. There is no HDR support though it can get up to 1,000 nits peak brightness.

Performance and Memory

Under the hood, Realme 11 packs the new Dimensity 6020. It is a 7nm chip that shares a lot of similarities with the Dimensity 810. It features two Cortex-A76 performance and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. Graphics is handled by Mali G57 CPU, As for memory, you get up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256Gb UFS 2.2 storage.

Camera

At the back, you get two cameras. The first is a 64MP Omnivision OV64B40 sensor with f/1.79 aperture and 25mm lens. It is paired with a 2MP depth-sensing camera. Over on the front, the left-aligned punch-hole cutout has an 8MP selfie camera. You can take 1080p 30fps videos with both front and rear cameras.

Rest of the Specs

Fueling the Realme 11 is a 5,000mAh battery and it supports 33W fast charging. It ships with Android 13-based Relme UI 4. You get an in-display optical fingerprint scanner with heart rate detection for biometrics. There are no stereo speakers, but it does retain the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Realme 11 Specifications:

Body: 72.9 x 159.8 x 7.93 – 7.98mm, 182-183gm
Display: 6.43-inch Super AMOLED, 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate, 1000 nits peak brightness
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Dimensity 6020 5G (7nm Mobile Platform)
Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR4X RAM
Storage: 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage
Software & UI: Realme UI 4.0 on top of Android 13
Rear Camera: Dual (64MP primary, 2MP depth)
Front Camera: 8MP (punch-hole)
Audio: Single speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
Battery: 5000mAh with 33W SuperVOOC charging

Realme 11 Price in Nepal and Availability (Expected)

The phone is currently up for pre-order in China, where it starts at CNY 1,599. As such, we expect the price of Realme 11 to start at NPR 34,999 when it launches here later.

Realme 11	Price in China (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/256GB	CNY 1,599	NPR 34,999
12/256GB	CNY 1,799	NPR 38,999

Google leaps into the foldable phone market with “Pixel Fold”

Nikhil Shrestha

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May 11, 2023

1

Google leaps into the foldable phone market with “Pixel Fold”

Alongside Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, and a bunch of software announcements, Google finally took the wraps off the “Pixel Fold” at I/O 2023. This is the company’s first foldable smartphone, and it looks to give Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold lineup a serious run for its money. Let’s learn more about the Google Pixel Fold, including its features, specs, expected price in Nepal, and more.

Google Pixel Fold Overview:

Display

Pixel Fold is a book-style foldable phone, much reminiscent of the OPPO Find N2 and Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2. That’s because instead of a tall display with a narrow aspect ratio like Samsung prefers in its foldables, Google has gone the opposite way with a short and wide display. You’re looking at a 5.8″ cover (external) screen with a broad 17.4:9 aspect ratio, which expands to a big 7.6″ 6:5 display.

Both of them are 120Hz OLED screens. But Pixel Fold’s external display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, whereas just like Galaxy Z Fold 4 or any other Samsung foldable, its main display has an Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) protective layer. Likewise, these two differ in terms of brightness levels too. With 1,200 nits (HDR) and 1,550 nits (peak) brightness on the cover display, compared to 1,000 nits and 1,450 nits on the main one.

Design and Build

Google is also pretty confident with the build quality of this thing. According to the company, Pixel Fold’s custom-made stainless steel hinge has “fluid friction across the full 180° range of motion to securely support different postures”. That means it can firmly stay upright at different angles, like a mini laptop. And Google has built-in something called “tabletop mode” too, which splits supported app’s content into two halves for better controls and user experience.

At 12.1mm, Pixel Fold is also some of the slimmest foldable phones out there. But it is a fair bit heavy, weighing 283 grams. More importantly though, this guy doesn’t leave a gap when folded—which makes Samsung the only big player in this segment with foldables that have a noticeable gap when shut.

Surprisingly enough, Google’s first foldable phone is also IPX8 water resistant. So far, only Samsung and Huawei have managed to make their book-style foldables watertight. Other than this, the Pixel Fold brings a familiar camera housing at the back, and the phone available in two color options: Porcelain and Obsidian.

Performance

As expected, Google Pixel Fold is powered by Tensor G2 chip. This has been paired with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and either 256 or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage, while it runs on Android 13 out-of-the-box. Besides the aforementioned tabletop mode, the company has also introduced a bunch of software features to make the most out of Pixel Fold’s large screen real estate.

Google Pixel Fold - Dual Screen mode — Dual Screen mode

Things like “drag and drop” and “split screen” are nothing extraordinary but “Dual Screen” is the one feature that really caught our eye. With this, you’ll be able to use both the external and the internal display at once. It also has a taskbar to quickly switch between apps or launch a new one. And the taskbar will automatically go away when you’re not using it.

Cameras

Pixel Fold’s camera setup is pretty interesting. At the back, you get a 48MP f/1.7 1/2″ main camera with OIS, alongside a 10.8MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 10.8MP f/3.05 telephoto sensor with an impressive 5x optical zoom. Or up to 20x digital zooms. For selfies, there’s the 9.5MP front camera on the cover screen or the 8MP inner camera.

But instead of using a hole-punch cutout or hiding it under the display, Pixel Fold gets thick bezels for this camera. We’re assuming Google went this route with concerns for accidental touches, but how this affects the user experience remains to be seen. Anyway, besides the dedicated front cameras, the phone also lets you take selfies from its much more capable rear camera setup. As for videos, you can shoot at up to 4K 60 fps from the main and the front camera, while the one on the internal display maxes out at 1080p 30 fps only.

Battery and Others

Google has used a modest 4821mAh battery on its first foldable phone, with support for 30W wired charging. And also Qi wireless charging. There’s a fingerprint sensor embedded into the power button for authentication. Its stereo speakers support “Spatial Audio” for a more immersive listening experience as well. In terms of wireless connectivity, there is WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC.

Google Pixel Fold Specifications:

Durability: IPX8 water resistant, Stainless steel frame
Dimensions:
- Folded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1mm
- Unfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8mm
Display:
- Cover: 5.8″ OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass Victus
- Main: 7.6″ OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, UTG
Resolution:
- Cover: FHD+ (2092 x 1080 pixels), 17.4:9 aspect ratio
- Main: QXGA+ (2208 x 1840 pixels), 6:5 aspect ratio
Chipset: Google Tensor G2 5G (5nm Mobile Platform)
Memory: 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256/512GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Software & UI: Android 13 (upgradeable)
Rear Camera: Triple (with LED flash);
– Primary: 48MP f/1.7 sensor, 1/2″, OIS
– Ultrawide: 10.8MP f/2.2 sensor, 1/3″, 121.2º FoV
– Telephoto: 10.8MP f/3.05 sensor, 1/3.1″, 5x optical zoom
Selfie Camera: 9.5MP f/2.2 (outer), 8MP f/2.0 (inner)
Audio: Stereo speaker with Spatial Audio, No headphone jack
Security: Side-mounted (capacitive), Face unlock
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano + eSIM), WiFi 6E (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / Galileo / Glonass / QZSS, NFC, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
Battery: 4821mAh with 30W wired charging, Qi wireless charging
Color Options: Porcelain, Obsidian

Google Pixel Fold Price in Nepal and Availability

According to Google, Pixel Fold will be available in the US, UK, Japan, and Germany. Its 256GB variant costs USD 1,799 and you can pre-order it right now. Although it’s highly unlikely that Google Pixel Fold officially arrives in Nepal, we expect its price to be around NPR 295,000 if it does.

Foldable	Price in the US	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Google Pixel Fold	USD 1,799	NPR 295,000

Meanwhile, check out our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 long-term review

Vivo Y78 is here with Dimensity 7020 and a 120Hz IPS display

Vivo

Mintu

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May 11, 2023

1

Vivo Y78 is here with Dimensity 7020 and a 120Hz IPS display

Just a few weeks ago, Vivo Y78+ with a curved AMOLED display hit the Chinese market. Now, Vivo has introduced the vanilla variant of the phone—Vivo Y78— a 120Hz LCD screen, Dimensity 7020, and more. Without further ado, let’s get into the specs, features, and expected price of the Vivo Y78 in Nepal.

Vivo Y78 Overview:

Dimensity 7020 5G

As aforementioned, Vivo Y78 packs a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chipset. This 5G-ready processor was unveiled in March 2023 and is fabbed under TSMC’s 6nm process node. It features two Cortex-A78 cores @2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores @2 GHz. And handling the graphics here is an IMG BXM-8-256 GPU.

The chip is mated with 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB of internal storage. As for the software, Vivo Y78 boots on Android 13-based OriginOS 3 out of the box.

Design and Display

Getting to the design, this phone boasts a flat frame and display, contrary to the curved ones on Vivo Y78+. These two phones do share an identical camera module at the back though. Yet, the regular Vivo Y78 has a plastic back and frames.

Up front, you are looking at a 6.64-inch IPS LCD screen with a Full HD+ resolution. Besides this, it supports a 120Hz refresh rate and has a 91.06% screen-to-body ratio.

Camera

Coming to the optics, Vivo Y78 accommodates a dual camera setup at the back. Including a 50MP primary and a 2MP sensor. But unlike the Y78+, its 50MP sensor is not contemplated by OIS here. On the front, you get an 8MP selfie camera for selfies and video calls.

Battery and Others

Vivo Y78 gets its juice from a 5000mAh battery which is accompanied by 44W fast charging. As for the connectivity options, you get WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Vivo Y78 Specifications:

Display: 6.64-inch IPS LCD, 120Hz refresh rate
Resolution: FHD+ (2388 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Dimesnity 7020 5G (6nm Mobile Platform)
Memory: 8/128GB RAM, 128/256GB storage (fixed)
Software & UI: OriginOS 13 based on Android 13
Rear Camera: Dual (50MP primary, 2MP depth)
Front Camera: 8MP (hole-punch cutout)
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Connectivity: 5G, Dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.3
Battery: 5000mAh with 44W fast charging

Vivo Y78 Price in Nepal and Availability

In China, the official price of the Vivo Y78 starts at CNY 1,399 for the base 8/128GB variant. We can expect the Vivo Y78 price in Nepal to begin from NPR 30,499 if and when it makes its way here.

Vivo Y78+	Price in China	Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB	CNY 1,399	NPR 30,999
8/256GB	CNY 1,699	NPR 36,999
12/256GB	CNY 1,999	NPR 43,499

Meanwhile, you can check our POCO F5 Review

Google Pixel 7a launched with Tensor G2, 90Hz display, and updated cameras

Nikhil Shrestha

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May 11, 2023

1

Google Pixel 7a launched with Tensor G2, 90Hz display, and updated cameras

At the I/O 2023 event held yesterday, Google unveiled a ton of AI-powered updates to its existing software services. Among all this, there were quite a few hardware announcements too. Including the much-awaited Pixel 7a, whose rumors have been circulating ever since the launch of the Pixel 7 series. And compared to last year’s Pixel 6a, it brings a lot of impressive upgrades. So let’s take a look at the new Google Pixel 7a, alongside its features, specs, expected price in Nepal, and more.

Google Pixel 7a Overview:

Design and Display

Pixel 7a features the same color-matching side frames and metallic camera design as the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. It is available in four color options: Sea, Charcoal, Snow, and Coral; the latter of which is exclusive to Google Store in a few markets like the US. Google also says it has used 100% recycled aluminum for the phone’s frames, while the Pixel 7a is IP67 dust and water-resistant too. But compared to its predecessor, this guy is notably heavier as it weighs 192 grams, against Pixel 6a’s 178 grams.

Coming to the front, Google has finally updated to a higher refresh rate in its “a” series of smartphones as the Pixel 7a refreshes at 90Hz. Just like the regular Pixel 7. Protected by Gorilla Glass 3, this 6.1″ FHD OLED display has HDR support as well. This screen also embeds an optical in-display fingerprint scanner for biometrics.

Cameras

Another considerable upgrade on this phone lies in the camera department. Here, Google has replaced the dual 12MP sensors of the Pixel 6a with a 64MP 1/1.73″ primary (with OIS) and a 13MP ultrawide sensor. The company says this 64MP camera has a 72% larger sensor size than the 12MP 1/2.55″ main shooter on the 6a. To put things into perspective, every other Pixel “a” series phone before this had a 12MP primary camera.

So this upgrade should have a substantially better camera performance—especially in low-light conditions. That 13MP ultrawide sensor is also to look out for. It brings a wider field of view (120° vs 114°), whereas it also supports autofocus now. The selfie camera has been upgraded from 8MP to 13MP with a wider FoV too. Besides the hardware itself, Pixel 7a’s camera setup even borrows all the software-based features of the regular Pixel 7 series, like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, and more. And it will be getting Google’s new AI-powered “Magic Editor” feature later this year as well.

Performance

In terms of performance, the Pixel 7a is now powered by the Tensor G2 chip and Titan M2 security coprocessor like other phones in this lineup. And apart from the chipset upgrade, Google has also bumped RAM capacity from 6GB to 8GB this time. This has been paired with 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, with no option to expand the storage with an external micro SD card. The phone boots on Android 13 by default, and it’s slated to receive 3 major OS upgrades and up to 5 years of security updates.

Battery and Others

Pixel 7a brings a slightly smaller 4385mAh battery that supports 18W wired charging. More importantly, Google is also introducing wireless charging for the first time on its “a” series of smartphones. But of course, you’re gonna have to buy both of them separately since Google doesn’t ship either one in the box itself. Other than this, Pixel 7a gets dual speakers for audio, whereas its wireless connectivity options include WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC.

Google Pixel 7a Specifications:

Body: 152.4 x 71.12 x 10.16mm, 192.77 gm, IP67 rated
Display: 6.1″ FHD+ OLED, 90Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass 3
Chipset: Google Tensor G2 5G (5nm)
Memory: 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Software: Android 13
Rear Camera: Dual (with LED flash)
– 64MP f/1.89 primary sensor, 1/1.73″, OIS

– 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide sensor, 120° FoV
Selfie Camera: 13MP f/2.2 sensor, 95° FoV
Battery: 4385mAh, with 18W wired and 18W wireless charging
Security: Fingerprint sensor (optical in-display)

Google Pixel 7a Price in Nepal and Availability

Pixel 7a costs USD 499 in the US and INR 43,999 in India. To compare, it’s priced exactly the same as Pixel 6a in the Indian market—while it is USD 50 more expensive in the US. There’s also INR 4,000 off if you have an HDFC Bank card. We expect the Google Pixel 7a price in Nepal to be NPR 80,000 if and when it launches here.

Pixel 7a	Price in India	Price in the US	Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB	INR 43,999	USD 499	NPR 80,000

Meanwhile, check out our Google Pixel 6a review

Google Pixel Tablet goes official with Tensor G2 and charging speaker dock

GadgetByte

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May 11, 2023

1

Google Pixel Tablet goes official with Tensor G2 and charging speaker dock

Google first teased the “Pixel Tablet” last year in the “Made by Google ’22” event. The company has now finally launched this tablet at I/O 2023 alongside Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold. So in this article, we will be discussing the specs, features, and expected price of the Google Pixel Tablet in Nepal.

Google Pixel Tablet Overview:

Charging speaker dock

As confirmed earlier, the Pixel Tablet is paired with a new charging speaker dock that offers additional features and accessibility. When not in use, you can dock the tablet which will turn it into a smart hub, while also feeding power to the device. You can use it to turn off lights, set thermostats, and control other smart home accessories.

Furthermore, you can also use the Pixel Tablet as a hands-free device or a photo frame in dock mode. The built-in speakers also improve the overall sound output of the tablet.

Performance: Tensor G2 chip

In terms of performance, this tablet is powered by an in-house Tensor G2 chip. By the way, this is the same processor that you can find on Google’s flagship phones: the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. And also the newly launched Pixel 7a.

As per the company, Tensor G2’s improved image processing and machine learning capabilities assists the tablet in video calling and photo editing, as well as in hands-free operation. This is complemented by the Titan M2 security coprocessor, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Likewise, the tablet boots on Android 13 out of the box with 5 years of “Pixel” updates, which points to 3 years of OS and 5 years of security updates.

Design and Display

Similarly, Pixel Tablet sports a 10.95-inch LCD screen with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, 276 PPI pixel density, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and 500 nits of maximum brightness. It is also USI 2.0 Pen compatible with stylus input. Furthermore, it incorporates Google’s Material You Design for a customized look-and-feel.

As for the design, Pixel Tablet shares a similar visual aesthetics to most other tablets. It has uniform bezels on all four sides, which are complemented by rounded edges and a horizontally aligned selfie camera. The tablet is available in Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose color options.

Battery and Charging

Pixel Tablet ships with a 27Wh internal battery that is rated to last up to 12 hours with video streaming. It charges via the speaker dock, which is bundled in the box or you can purchase a separate USB-C charger too.

Rest of the features

Google says the Pixel Tablet uses premium materials and a nano-ceramic finish at the back. The corners and smooth and round, and you get an 8MP camera at the back and another 8MP camera up front.

As for the audio setup, this tablet houses quad speakers and 3 microphones. It equips a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 port and a 4-pin accessory connector on the back. For wireless connectivity, it supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

Google Pixel Tablet Specifications:

Display: 10.95-inch IPS LCD panel, 500 nits brightness
Resolution: 2.5K (2560 x 1600 pixels), 16:10 aspect ratio
Chipset: Google Tensor G2 (5nm mobile platform)
Memory: 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 internal storage
Software & UI: Android 13 (with Material You)
Rear Camera: Single (8MP f/2.0 sensor)
Front Camera: Single (8MP f/2.0 sensor)
Audio: Quad-speaker setup, Triple Microphones
Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
Battery: 27Wh with fast charging
Accessories: Charging speaker dock

Google Pixel Tablet Price in Nepal and Availability

The official price for the Google Pixel Tablet is USD 499 for the base 8/128GB and USD 599 for the 8/256GB variant. We can expect the Google Pixel Tablet price in Nepal to start from NPR 80,000 if and when it launches here.

Google Pixel Tablet	Price in the US	Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB	USD 499	NPR 80,000
8/256GB	USD 599	NPR 95,000

Google Pixel Tablet Pro Rumors:

Besides, reliable tipster Kuba Wojciechowski also spotted a reference to the “Pixel Tablet Pro” a while ago in one of Google’s apps. The tablet has been referred to as “TangorPro” in the Google Camera Go app. For those unaware, “Tangor” is a codename for the vanilla Pixel Tablet.

For the moment, it is unclear how the “Pro” tablet will differ from the vanilla model. We can only speculate that it will ship with cellular connectivity, a higher refresh rate display, and some other features that the regular Pixel Tablet skips.

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Oppo Pad Air