The rumors were true—Sony is indeed working on a handheld PlayStation. Today, the company announced Project Q at the PlayStation Showcase amidst all the new trailer releases. So, let’s get into the specs, features, and everything we know about the Sony Project Q PlayStation handheld.
Before you start comparing Project Q with Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, it is a different concept altogether. Instead of being dedicated handheld hardware, Project Q is designed to go with PlayStation 5, like an accessory. It won’t play any games natively but will stream them over the Wi-Fi as long as the game is not based on VR and is installed on your PlayStation. Sony Project Q will rely on Sony’s proprietary Remote Play for the same.
Remote Play is currently available on all major platforms, including Android and iOS. It allows users to stream games from their PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on compatible devices over a Wi-Fi connection. It is most effective when streaming games from different rooms in the same house, so it’s interesting to see if this will also be a limitation on Project Q.
As the device is still pretty much in development, there was not much to discuss at the event. Still, Sony confirmed that the Project Q will feature an 8-inch LCD screen. The device will also have all the controls and haptics of the DualSense wireless controller. According to the press release, Project Q will be capable of running 1080P games at 60fps.
PlayStation Earbuds
Sony also announced that the company is launching the first PlayStation wireless earbuds. It will be compatible with PlayStation 5 and PC. At the heart of the earbuds will be a new lossless audio tech developed by Sony itself.
Sony Project Q and PlayStation Earbuds Lunch Date
The Project Q and PlayStation Eearbuds will have an official launch later this year. Sony has not given any specific date to look out for since the two PlayStation 5 accessories are still in development.
Just a few months after the global release of the iQOO Neo 7, its successors are already available for pre-order in China. iQOO Neo 8 and Neo 8 Pro feature flagship chips, impressive charging speeds, and AMOLED screens. Let’s talk in detail about the design, specifications, price in Nepal, and availability of the iQOO Neo 8 Pro in this article.
iQOO Neo 8 Pro: Overview
Design and Display
The iQOO Neo 8 Pro features a large 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED screen. The 1.5K (2800 x 1260) display has an aspect ratio of 20:9 alongside a touch sampling rate of 300 Hz. The phone is available in 3 color options that include Night Rock, Surf, and Match Point (Red). The first two have glass on the front and back with a plastic mid-frame, whereas the Match Point variant has a special textured leather back. The phone weighs under 200 grams regardless of which variant you choose.
Performance and Memory
The iQOO Neo 8 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset alongside Vivo’s proprietary V1+ processor. The Dimensity 9200+ is an Octa-Core processor fabbed under a 4nm process. The V1+ is there to help with photo processing and AI-related tasks. The phone features an Immortalis G715 GPU.
Complementing the processor, you get 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM alongside 256/512 GB of super-fast UFS 4 storage.
Battery and Connectivity
iQOO Neo 8 Pro has a massive 5000mAh battery to fuel its processor and display. It is a 2-cell setup with 2440mAh cells to allow faster refueling. It supports 120 W ultra-fast charging via USB-C, which can juice the phone from 0 to 50% in under 10 minutes.
The device has 5G support along with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6. There’s an in-display optical fingerprint sensor as well. iQOO Neo 8 Pro also has NFC and GPS with a bunch of other sensors. These include a gyroscope, proximity, light, gravity, infrared, digital compass, and more.
Camera
The iQOO Neo 8 Pro has 2 cameras on the back with an LED flash as well. The primary camera is a 50MP Sony IMX866V lens, whereas the other one is an 8MP ultrawide camera. The front punch hole features a 16 MP selfie camera.
iQOO Neo 8 Pro Specifications:
Display: 6.78-inches 144Hz AMOLED, 1.5K (2800 x 1260 pixels)
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ (4nm mobile platform)
Software &UI: OriginOS 3.0 UI on top of Android 13
RearCamera: Dual (50MP primary + 8MP ultrawide)
FrontCamera: 16MP (hole-punch cutout)
Security: On-Screen fingerprint sensor
Battery: 5000mAh with 120W wired charging
Wireless Charging: No
Color Options: Night Rock (Black), Surf (Blue), Match Point (Red)
iQOO Neo 8 Pro: Price in Nepal and Availability
The phone is available for pre-order in China with a starting price of CNY 3300 (~ USD 469) for the 16/256GB variant. The 16/512 GB configuration costs CNY 3100, which is roughly USD 510. We’re hoping for a global launch of the Neo 8 series soon. Following last year’s trajectory, we expect the phone to launch sometime in September.
China recently banned the sale of Micron Technology products, claiming major risks to cybersecurity and national security concerns. This action is considered a payback for the United States’ increased restrictions Chinese companies and products. This will have a major impact on Micron’s revenue, 11% of which came directly from China. The global technological landscape is seeing immense effects as conflicts between the two major economies rise.
Details of China’s Ban on Micron
China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) declared the ban after following a cybersecurity review. Moreover, the review found that Micron products pose “relatively serious cybersecurity risks”. These risks harm China’s important information infrastructure supply chain and national security. Chinese officials are yet to release the details about the inspection process but say the decision came after a 50-day investigation.
Impacted Sectors and Major Customers
Chinese market forbids the sales of Micron products, including DRAM, NAND flash memory, and solid-state drives in critical sectors. These sectors include communication, energy, transportation, water resources, and finance under the ban. Consequently, this move will have a direct impact on Micron’s major Chinese customers; Lenovo, Xiaomi, Inspur Electronics Information, ZTE, Coolpad, China Electronics Corp, and Oppo.
Micron, the world’s fourth-largest semiconductor company, is now reviewing its next steps and is expressing a wish to have discussions with Chinese officials. The restriction might cost Micron a “high single-digit” proportion of its yearly revenue, posing financial issues for the company. According to industry observers, this prohibition may assist other memory chip players. This includes South Korean heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, as well as Chinese supplier Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp.
The geopolitical conflicts shaped the global technological environment, with major democracies increasingly concerned about China’s actions. Besides, the US Department of Commerce slammed China’s decision, repeating its strong opposition to restrictions that lack a factual basis. To address the disruptions caused by China’s actions in the memory chip industry, the US government aims to engage with Chinese authorities and important allies.
Lastly, the ban of China on Micron products is a major step forward in the ongoing economic and technological conflict between the United States and China. The tightened restrictions and imposed bans from both governments disrupt the global IT supply chain. Micron, a well-known participant in the semiconductor sector, must negotiate these obstacles and weigh its alternatives for the future. This ban’s geopolitical effects highlight the complicated relationships between the world’s two largest economies and their impact on the global technology scene.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy A24.
Brands these days are unleashing their latest tablets into the competition. iQOO has also thrown the hat in the ring with its iQOO Pad tablet. Coming with a Dimensity 9000+ chipset, the tab bears similarities to the Vivo Pad 2. Without further ado, let’s get into the specs, features, and expected price of the iQOO Pad in Nepal.
iQOO Pad Overview:
Design and Display
The iQOO Pad takes a lot of cues from its Vivo Pad 2 sibling. The build here is thin at 6.59mm, yet sturdy, thanks to the almunium body. The rear side houses a circular camera module on the top. While you get the tab in only one color option: Stargray.
On the front side, you are greeted with a 12.1-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate. This IPS LCD screen has a 2.8K resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels. Besides that, it boasts 600nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut support, and HDR 10 certification.
But the main highlight of the screen is its 7:5 aspect ratio, which is identical to both Vivo Pad 2 and OnePlus Pad. As per Vivo, this aspect ratio provides a more natural experience when reading web pages and other content.
Performance
To keep some variations, the iQOO Pad gets the Dimensity 9000+ SoC under the hood as compared to the vanilla Dimensity 9000 on the Vivo Pad 2. This 5G silicon features a slightly overclocked Cortex-X2 prime core at 3.2GHz, offering a slight boost to the CPU performance. Handling the graphics is a Mali-G710 MC10 GPU.
For keeping the thermals in check, the iQOO Pad implements a 14442m2 double-layered graphite cooling solution. As for the memory options, the tablet is available in four configurations: 8/128GB, 8/256GB, 12/256GB, and 12/512GB. And booting the device is Vivo’s Origin OS 3 built on top of Android 13.
The tab is compatible with iQOO Touch Pad Smart Keyboard and iQOO Pencil which are sold seperately at CNY 599 and CNY 499 respectively.
Remaining Specs
Talking of the optics, the tab sports dual cameras on the back, including a 13MP primary camera and a 2MP macro unit. Upfront, you get an 8MP camera for selfies and video calls. The audio output is produced by four full-range speakers and two tweeters that produce up to 6W of sound output. And keeping the tablet’s power on is a 10,000mAh battery with 44W fast charging support.
Memory: Up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, Up to 512GB UFS 3.1 storage
Software & UI: OriginOS 3
Rear Camera: Dual (13MP primary, 2MP macro)
Front Camera: 8MP
Audio: Quad-stereo + two tweeter speakers (6W)
Battery: 10000mAh with 44W fast charge
Color Options: Starlight Grey
iQOO Pad Price in Nepal and Availability
The official price of the iQOO Pad begins at a starting price of CNY 2,599 for the baseline 8/128GB trim and goes up to CNY 3,499 for the 12/512GB model. We can expect the iQOO Pad price in Nepal to commence from NPR 55,999 if and when it launches here.
iQOO Pad
Price in China (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB
CNY 2,599
NPR 58,000
8/256GB
CNY 2,899
NPR 67,000
12/256GB
CNY 3,199
NPR 72,000
12/512GB
CNY 3,499
NPR 80,000
Meanwhile, you can check out our Samsung Galaxy A24 Review.
Just a few months after the global release of the iQOO Neo 7, Vivo unveiled its successor, the iQOO Neo 8, in China. Sporting a faster AMOLED display, powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and fueled by a massive 5000 mAh battery, iQOO Neo 8 is solid all around. Let’s talk about the design, specifications, price in Nepal, and availability of the iQOO Neo 8 in this article.
iQOO Neo 8: Overview
Design and Display
The iQOO Neo 8 features a large 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED screen. The 1.5K (2800 x 1260) display has an aspect ratio of 20:9, alongside a touch sampling rate of 300Hz. The phone is available in 3 color options that include Night Rock, Surf, and Match Point. The first two have glass on the front and back with a plastic mid-frame, whereas the Match Point variant has a special textured back. The phone weighs under 200 grams regardless of which variant you choose.
Performance and Memory
The iQOO Neo 8 brings the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset alongside Vivo’s proprietary V1+ processor. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is an octa-core processor fabbed under a 4nm process. The V1+ is there to help with photo processing and AI-related tasks. The phone features an Adreno 730 GPU for gaming.
Complementing the processor, you get 12GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM on the base models. There is also an option to configure it to 16GB on purchase. For long-term memory, you get 256/512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
iQOO Neo 8 has a massive 5000 mAh battery to fuel its processor and display. It is a 2-cell setup with 2440 mAh cells to allow faster refueling. It supports impressive 120W ultra-fast charging via USB-C.
The device has 5G support along with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6. iQOO Neo 8 also has NFC and GPS with a bunch of other sensors. These include a gyroscope, proximity, light, gravity, infrared, digital compass, and more.
Camera
The iQOO Neo 8 has 2 cameras on the back with an LED flash as well. The primary camera is a 50MP shooter, whereas the other one is a 2MP depth sensor. The front punch hole features a 16 MP selfie camera.
iQOO Neo 8 Specifications:
Display: 6.78-inches 144Hz AMOLED, 1.5K (2800 x 1260 pixels)
Chipset: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm mobile platform)
Software &UI: OriginOS 3.0 UI on top of Android 13
RearCamera: Dual (50MP primary + 2MP depth)
FrontCamera: 16MP (hole-punch cutout)
Security: On-Screen fingerprint sensor
Battery: 5000mAh with 120W wired charging
Color Options: Night Rock, Surf, Match Point
iQOO Neo 8 Price in Nepal and Availability
The phone is available for pre-order in China with a starting price of CNY 2499 (~ USD 350) for the 12/256GB variant. The 16/512GB configuration costs CNY 3100, which is roughly USD 440. We’re hoping for a global launch of the Neo 8 series soon. Following last year’s trajectory, we expect the phone to launch sometime in September.
Sony has unveiled the second iteration of its ZV-1 vlogging camera, the ZV-1 II. This new compact vlogging machine from the Japanese tech giant adapts a wider 18-50mm f1.8-4 lens compared to the 24-70mm f1.8-2.8 lens on the ZV-1. In this article, we’ll delve into the specs, features, and expected price of the Sony ZV-1 II in Nepal.
Sony ZV-1 II Overview:
Design
As a vlogging camera, the camera boasts a pretty lightweight body at just 266 grams. Adding the battery and SD card would total 292 grams which is still pretty handy for carrying it around. For controls, you get a 3-inch TFT vari-angle touchscreen and function buttons for those vlogging actions.
20.1 MP 1-inch Sensor
Let’s begin with the sensor first. Sony has used a 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor with 21MP resolution with electronic shutter. The newly developed ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens is an 18-50 mm shooter with an aperture of F1.8-4. This grants the ZV-1 II to capture wider scenes and more zoom field than its predecessor, the ZV-1, released back in 2020. On top of that, the variable f1.8 to f4 allows playing between richer bokeh shots or capturing more light in low-light conditions.
Stabilization, Hybrid AF
The camera can capture up to 4K videos at 30fps while the slow-mo video is capped at Full HD resolution with 120fps. There is no OIS here so it relies on EIS instead. All in all, it supports ‘Multiple Face Recognition’ to keep everyone in focus. And the ‘Cinematic Vlog Setting function’ allows the users to set a CinemaScope size (2.35:1) and a frame rate of 23.98 fps.
Moving on, the ZV-1 II has an ISO sensitivity spanning from 125 to 12800. It also includes fast hybrid AF which should offer similar performance as on the expensive Alpha lineup. Here, the AF Subject Shift Sensitivity controls whether the camera switches its focus from one subject to another while recording video.
And the AF Transition Speed controls the focusing speed. Likewise, the Real-time Eye AF can precisely maintain focus on people or animals in both photos and moving pictures. Besides that, you can capture stills in three formats: RAW, RAW+JPEG, and JPEG.
Remaining Specs
Furthermore, the ZV-1 II boasts a built-in three-capsule stereo mic and monaural speaker. There is a USB-C port with Hi-Speed USB 480 Mbps speed and USB 2.0 compatibility. Due to it, the camera can double as a webcam as well as a live streaming machine. And the wireless connectivity includes WiFi (2.4GHz) and Bluetooth 4.2. Furthermore, you get an HDMI Connector and multi-interface shoe as well.
Sony ZV-1 II Specifications:
Lens: 20.1MP EXMOR RS CMOS Sensor, 1-inch
Auto Focus: Hybrid AF, AF Subject Shift Sensitivity, AF Transition Speed
Stabilization: EIS
Video: Up to 4k 30fps
Microphone: 3 Microphones
Wireless Connectivity: WiFi (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.2 (2.4GHz)
Smartphone Companion App: Creator’s Studio
Sony ZV-1 II Price in Nepal and Availability
The official price of the Sony ZV-1 II is USD 899.99 with its availability starting from June 2023. We can expect the Sony ZV-1 II price in Nepal to be NPR 136,999 when it launches here.
Few big companies are banning the use ChatGPT and other AI tools like Bard and Bing. Is this a good decision, or are they missing out on the opportunity brought by these smart tools? Besides, are there really bad consequences for using ChatGPT at work? Before a month or two, not everybody knew about AI tools, but since the arrival of ChatGPT, the field has now taken off.
If you are still not familiar with it, ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI. It generates writing that matches human-generated content. Its powers include query answering, language translation, narrative and poem generation, summarization, coding assistance, and various other uses.
The reasons behind the ban on ChatGPT
The reasons why big companies banned their employees from using ChatGPT all revolve around misleading or incorrect information, data leakage & confidentiality, and the fear of human labor replacement. Employees accidentally uploading some sensitive code and information on the platform could lead to data breaches and data sharing with external users.
Potential Risks
Since ChatGPT is trained on a large amount of data, the quality and accuracy of the data influence its responses. If the training data contains mistakes or missing information, the model’s output may reflect such constraints. ChatGPT does not have the ability to independently validate the accuracy of the information contained in its training data, which can result in the development of wrong or misleading responses. Therefore, companies that rely on ChatGPT to generate new content or code face a higher risk of coming across errors or inaccuracies. When using artificial intelligence platforms like Google Bard and Bing, a few big companies have raised concerns over data stored on external servers.
As ChatGPT learns from the input it receives, it may mistakenly disclose sensitive information. This could include trade secrets, confidential data, or any other sensitive information. Another risk of using ChatGPT in the workplace is the replacement of human labor. It is especially at the job related to tech and other administrative work. It is said so because the tool can create code and can perform related data entry and content creation.
As stated by Samsung, this storage system offers issues in terms of data retrieval, deletion, and potential disclosure to unintended recipients. Samsung has urged its employees who use ChatGPT and similar programs on personal devices to avoid sharing any company-related or personal data that may expose its intellectual property. According to the company, failure to comply with these new standards may result in firing.
Apple
Apple also has introduced this step to reduce the accidental release of confidential data as part of its efforts to safeguard sensitive information. This attempt adds to Apple’s concurrent goal of building in-house technology with similar capabilities. This means that we are gonna have too many AI tools in the future.
Company
Reason to Ban AI Tools
Apple
Confidential data leaks.
Samsung
Accidental leaks of secret information, including internal code and meeting recordings.
Calix
Risk of exposure of sensitive information like confidential internal memos or customer contracts under NDA to outsiders.
Citigroup
Due to restrictions that are imposed around third-party software.
Deutsche Bank
To protect the bank from data leakage.
Goldman Sachs
Due to restrictions that are imposed around third-party software.
JPMorgan Chase
To avoid potential regulatory pitfalls over sharing sensitive financial information with a third-party platform.
Verizon
Concern about privacy and security with ChatGPT.
While using AI tools, some companies only limit employees from providing essential company information and not exactly ban the tools.
Does ChatGPT think the workplace should ban it?
We asked ChatGPT about the exact issues — “Is it necessary for a company to ban ChatGPT at the workplace to prevent data leakage and confidentiality?” The following response is from the AI tool itself.
On the other hand, according to AI consultants like Rocío Bachmaier, banning AI tools in the workplace will end up hurting the company itself.
Successfully implementing ChatGPT can significantly impact your organization’s productivity, growth and innovation.
From this, we can conclude that, without serious assessment, banning ChatGPT is a rushed move motivated by fear rather than thoughtful reasoning. When evaluating the value of proven new technology, it is critical to face risks head-on and limits any potential negative results rather than ignoring the potential advantages.
In order to help employees navigate AI, companies can educate them, establish clear norms and policies, promote a culture of accountability, and prioritize ethical considerations. It is essential to exercise precaution not only while using ChatGPT but also while using every other technology that deals with sensitive data. Managing security risks becomes essential, and one option is to create policies to help employees handle these risks.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy A24.
Scientists have tried to replicate the natural processes found in plants, and a team at Cambridge University achieved one notable success. They have created an “Artificial leaf” that utilizes carbon dioxide and water vapor from the air to produce fuels that can potentially power vehicles in the future.
Artificial Leaf Technology Overview
While electric vehicles are the future of zero-emission transportation, artificial leaf technology has the potential to be the ultimate eco-friendly solution. As of now, the technology is limited at the laboratory scale. However, once mass production starts, vehicles equipped with this technology will have the capability to generate fuel (ethanol and n-propanol) while in move using carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight.
Moreover, ethanol and n-propanol are both eco-friendly fuels and have a high energy density. They are also easy to transport and store. So, the artificial leaf is considered to be a highly efficient technology with minimal or no adverse impact on nature.
Evolution of Artificial Leaf over time
In a world where fossil fuels are the primary energy source for machinery, artificial leaf technology can play a crucial role in shifting the dependency towards a more environment-friendly approach.
Back in 2009, scientists were able to produce fuel a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. But at present, the technology has progressed in such a way that the fuels can be produced directly, skipping the intermediary step of syngas production.
Working Mechanism of Artificial Leaf
Similar to the process in plants where sunlight and carbon dioxide are converted into glucose with the release of oxygen, the artificial leaf technology mimics this by converting carbon dioxide and water vapor in the air into multicarbon alcohols, specifically ethanol and n-propanol, in the presence of sunlight.
The Artificial leaf consists of numerous layers of copper, glass, silver, and graphite. The technology contains light absorbers similar to what the real leaf has in order to capture the sunlight. It works alongside catalysts (in plants, chlorophyll) i.e., copper and palladium to facilitate chemical reactions.
So, in the presence of sunlight, the catalyst converts CO2 to ethanol and n-propanol while also producing oxygen from water as a byproduct.
The widespread adoption of artificial leaf technology has the potential to bring about significant changes in a world heavily reliant on fossil fuels. It can help in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by giving an alternative method for producing fuels. Artificial leaf technology can contribute to greater energy independence by utilizing abundant resources like sunlight and carbon dioxide.
Importance of Ethanol in present days
Ethanol plays a significant role as a fuel in various everyday machinery. It is a biomass-produced clean fuel in most vehicles nowadays as an alternative to fossil fuels. In fact, petrol and diesel (E10) also contain 10% ethanol as their component. Though ethanol reduces the demand for fossil fuels, it certainly diverts the purpose of harvesting sugarcane and corn from food to fuel production. As the demand for this eco-friendly fuel grows, it requires the usage of more agricultural land.
The artificial leaf offers a different approach to ethanol production, eliminating the need for agricultural space and relying solely on sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
Challenges in Scaling Up
Currently, researchers are working on improving the light absorbers to improve their absorption of sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water from the air. This development is crucial as vehicles require ample fuel to start driving. With the technology still in its nascent stage, it is impossible to determine the overall cost in advance for mass production.
While the concept holds promise, the practical implementation of large-scale artificial systems is still challenging.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy A24.
After launching the Infinix Note 30i just a few days ago, the company has added three new phones to this lineup. This includes Infinix Note 30, Note 30 5G, and Note 30 Pro. All these phones bring big batteries, fast charging, and large displays. And in this article, we’ll be going through the official specs, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal of Infinix Note 30 Pro.
Infinix Note 30 Pro Overview:
Design and Display
Starting with the design, Infinix Note 30 Pro features a flat back panel with curved edges for a modern look. But both its frames and the back panel are plastic-made. It has a 6.78-inch FHD AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch sampling rate. The phone weighs around 205 grams and it is IP53 rated too. As for the color options, you can either purchase the “Magic Black” or the “Variable Gold” variant that changes color depending on your viewing angle.
Battery and Charging
Moving on, Infinix Note 30 Pro is powered by a huge 5000mAh Li-Po battery that supports 68W fast charging that can take the phone from 0 to 80% in just 30 minutes. It also has support for wireless (15W) and reverse wireless charging.
Cameras and Performance
Infinix is offering a triple camera setup on the Note 30 Pro. The primary unit is a 108MP sensor, followed by a 2MP depth and an “AI lens”. Lastly, it has a 32MP selfie camera with a flash alongside it.
The Note 30 Pro is powered by a midrange MediaTek Helio G99 chip that doesn’t have 5G capabilities. Helio G99 is fabbed under a 6nm process and has an octa-core CPU with two Cortex-A76 (2.2 GHz) and six Cortex-A55 (2.0 GHz) cores. Storage-wise, you get 8GB RAM and 128/256GB UFS memory. On top, Infinix Note 30 Pro comes with a vapor chamber liquid cooling system too.
Others
The rest of the selling points on this midrange phone include JBL-tuned stereo speakers, micro SD expansion, and NFC. Besides, it also has a headphone jack and ships with Android 13-based XOS 13.
Infinix Note 30 Pro Specifications:
Display: 6.78-inches 120Hz AMOLED, Full HD (1920 x 1800 pixels)
Infinix Note 30 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
Although Infinix has confirmed that Note 30 Pro will sell for under USD 300, the exact pricing and availability details aren’t available right now. As such, we expect the Infinix Note 30 Pro price in Nepal to start at NPR 39,999 if and when it launches here.
Tecno is a dominating brand in the African region. While its presence in the Indian and Nepali markets has also become quite noticeable in the budget segment with the Spark series. And the Tecno Spark 10 Pro is one of the latest addition to the lineup with an iPhone-styled camera module and Helio G88 SoC.
To note, the device is yet to launch in Nepal while its Indian pricing starts from INR 12,499. Today, I’ll be sharing my experience regarding the design, display, performance, camera, and battery in this Tecno Spark 10 Pro review article. Before that, let’s get into its specs.
Tecno Spark 10 Pro Specifications:
Dimensions: 168.41 x 76.21 x 8.46mm
Display: 6.8″ IPS LCD, 90Hz, FHD+ resolution
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G88 4G (12nm)
Memory: 8GB RAM, 256GB storage (expandable)
OS: Android 13 with HiOS 12.6 on top
Rear Cameras: Dual (with LED flash)
– 50MP, f/1.6 primary
– Unspecified secondary sensor
– Up to 1080p 30 fps videos
Front Camera: 32MP, dual LED flash (Up to 1080p 30 fps videos)
Starting off with the design, the Spark 10 Pro comes with a flat frame design with a boxy form factor. Tecno has also used a glass panel for the first time in the Spark series. Hence, the in-hand feel of this Starry Black color variant is good, it doesn’t feel cheap to be precise. Looking at the back though, you get this iPhone-inspired camera module which I personally do not like. But, imitating the design of flagship phones is pretty common and looks are subjective, so others might like it.
Design
Other than that, the phone houses a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a single firing speaker. Talking of the bottom placements, the volume rockers and power keys are located on the typical right side. And you get a side-mounted fingerprint sensor here which is pretty fast and accurate.
Display
6.8-inches IPS LCD
90Hz refresh rate
On the front side, you are greeted with a 6.8-inch IPS LCD panel with a hole punch cutout. It is not AMOLED here sadly, but the phone does support a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen does feel smooth and snappy but you might encounter slight hiccups here and there which is apparent for a phone of this caliber.
Display
Speaking of the screen quality, I found it to be on the saturated side. You do get three screen tones options but the default one is on the punch side already. If you are someone who likes vibrant colors, the display will appease you, despite being an IPS panel. Content watching feels decent but the sunlight readability and the single-firing speaker are a bit on the underwhelming side.
Performance
Octa-core Mediatek Helio G88 4G SoC (6nm)
8GB AM, 256GB internal storage
Android 13 with HiOS 12.6 on top
Now, let’s get into the performance side of things. The phone packs a Mediatek Helio G88 SoC under the hood which is based on a 12nm fabrication process. This 4G octa-core processor can handle your day-to-day tasks like checking social media, switching through apps, and texting, pretty decently.
When it comes to gaming, you get 40 fps and 30 fps on popular titles like PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile respectively. The gameplay was just average as frame drops and lags were noticeable time and again. So, I would recommend you to stick on light games like Subway Surfers, Stumble Guys, Temple Run, and such for a smooth experience.
A not-so-appealing UI
Like every other Tecno device, the Spark 10 Pro boots on HiOS skin built on top of Android 13 but with free bloatware. Yes, you heard it right, the device packs a bunch of preinstalled apps that are just there to send you annoying recommendations. You cannot even uninstall most of them which ruins the UI experience big time. If that was not enough, I also found ads here and there. Tecno seriously needs to address these issues.
Camera
Dual camera setup
50MP Main, 0.08MP AI camera
32MP front camera
Moving on, you get a dual camera setup on the rear side. Well, to be clear, it’s a single 50MP camera as the 0.08 auxiliary sensor is there for nothing, practically useless in other terms. While the selfies are handled by a 32MP snapper upfront.
Daylight Photos
I didn’t expect much from its camera but the outputs were eye-pleasing most of the time. The colors are on the saturated sides mostly while turning on the HDR. And the dynamic range is also decent for capturing landscapes and stills.
Daylight
1 of 7
Portraits
Well, talking of portraits, the Tecno Spark 10 Pro struggles to maintain the dynamic range. You’ll find the background colors blown out. While the edge detection is okay for a midrange phone, can’t expect much here.
Normal vs Portrait
1 of 8
Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
Front Camera
The 32MP selfie snapper captures good-looking images with nice skin tones and details. Also, the dynamic range is better on portraits than on the main camera.
Selfie
1 of 6
Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
Night
The night-time images are average. Turning on the ‘Super Night’ mode does contribute to creating better-looking images though.
Night
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Night Mode Off
Night Mode On
Night Mode Off
Night Mode On
NIght Mode Off
Night Mode On
Videos
The phone features an unusual 2K at 30 fps resolution options for both main and selfie cameras. The footages are decent in daylighting conditions, especially the front cam videos. But you miss out on stabilization as there is no EIS.
Battery
5000mAh Battery
18W Fast charging
Moving on, the battery life endurance of the smartphone is quite impressive. The phone gets going for a day with around 6+ hours of screen-on-time on average. Filling the juice of the cell is an 18W charger which roughly takes around 2 hours for a full charge. A 33W charger would have been much appreciable here.
Tecno Spark 10 Pro Review: Conclusion
Okay, so the Tecno Spark 10 Pro tries its best to be a capable choice in the midrange category. But its UI and camera don’t say so. The HiOS needs to cut down on the bloatware and ads which are creating such a bad experience. Also, the camera needs refinement for portrait imageries. And the single-firing speaker is also not very appealing. Besides that, the Helio G88 is a capable performer in its caliber and the glass back panel is commendable, except for the camera module (You know what I mean).
Tecno Spark 10 Pro Review: Pros and Cons
Pros
Glass back design
Good performance
Android 13 out of the box
Good battery life
Cons
Bloatware and Ads on HiOS
Single speaker
Average back camera
Meanwhile, you can check our Samsung Galaxy A24 Review.
For keeping the thermals in check, the iQOO Pad implements a 14442m2 double-layered graphite cooling solution. As for the memory options, the tablet is available in four configurations: 8/128GB, 8/256GB, 12/256GB, and 12/512GB. And booting the device is Vivo’s Origin OS 3 built on top of Android 13.
