Tecno Spark 10 Pro is now official, which is the successor to last year’s Spark 9 Pro. And it brings a few upgrades, like a smoother display. Let’s learn more about Tecno Spark 10 Pro including its features, specs, expected price in Nepal, and availability.
Tecno Spark 10 Pro Overview:
Design and Display
Tecno Spark 10 Pro is quite a thick phone at 8.46mm. The company has used glass back for the first time in the Spark series and calls it “Starry Glass”. The phone is available in Starry Black and Pearl White color options.
Furthermore, the Spark 10 Pro has a larger 6.8″ IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, which is an upgrade over the 6.6″ 60Hz screen on the Spark 9 Pro. However, the resolution and aspect ratio remains unchanged from previous models, at FHD and 20.5:9, respectively.
Performance
Under the hood, this phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 chip. It is basically the same as Helio G85 that you’d find on Spark 9 Pro, but with a slightly overclocked Mali-G52 GPU. From 950 MHz to 1 GHz. Whereas its octa-core CPU consists of two Cortex-A75 (@2.0 GHz) and six Cortex-A55 (@1.8 GHz) cores.
This phone is available with 8GB of RAM paired with 256GB of internal storage. You also get a dedicated SD card slot for expanding the storage. Whereas Tecno also lets you enjoy an additional 8GB of virtual RAM on Spark 10 Pro. In terms of software, the phone comes pre-installed with Android 13-based HiOS 12.6 on top.
As for cameras, Tecno Spark 10 Pro has a 50MP dual rear camera setup, with a camera housing similar to the latest iPhones. Other than the primary camera, Tecno has not revealed any information about the secondary unit, but it may be a 2MP depth sensor. Under the hole-punch cutout up front is a 32MP selfie camera with dual flash.
Others
Tecno Spark 10 Pro is fueled by a 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. Similarly, the phone has Tecno’s “IDA Engine 3.0” support, which reportedly increases download speed via data connection by 45%, WiFi by 300%, and camp network by 90%. It also has the company’s own virtual assistant called “Ella”, which can speak English, French, and Nigerian Hausa. There’s a side-mounted fingerprint reader for biometrics.
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)
Apple’s M2 chip made its debut in June 2022 with the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air and 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro. And now, rumors about its successor—the M3 chip—have surfaced online. As per Mark Gurman, a well-known Apple analyst and tipster, Apple will launch Macbook Air 13 and a 15-inch version with the new M3 chip.
Apple M3 Chip Rumors:
MacBook Air 13 and 15-inch with M3
“Apple is moving from 5-nanometer chip process technology to a 3-nanometer design in the Mac,” according to Mark Gurman. There are no other details about this processor so far, except that the Apple M3 chip will be manufactured under a 3nm fabrication process.
To compare, the last-gen M2 was based on a 5nm architecture. There is also speculation that M3 will spin off into two more versions: M3 Pro and M3 Max.
As per Gurman, the new chip will power the upcoming Macbook Air’s 13-inch and 15-inch models. This will also be the first time Apple is preparing a 15-inch Macbook Air, by the way. Another reliable source for Apple news, 9to5mac has also pointed out that a 13-inch MacBook Pro codenamed J504, is also in the cards with the M3 SoC.
New iMac with M3
Moving on, it looks like Apple is ready to update iMac with the next-gen chip as well. Alongside the new chip, the M3 iMac is also hinted to have new internal designs and components.
M1 iMac (2021)
In other Apple news, the Mac Pro is likely to feature the M2 Ultra chip instead, with 24 CPU cores, 76 GPU cores, and up to 192GB RAM. Gurman has also predicted an upcoming iPad Pro with an Apple M3 chip and OLED display, which should launch in the first half of 2024 as per his reports.
Apple is reportedly unveiling the power of the M3 chip at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. We’ll continue updating this article with more info when they become available.
Meanwhile, watch our review of the M2 MacBook Air (2022)
Huawei Nova 10 Youth Edition is now official. Currently, this is the cheapest phone in the lineup and is currently exclusive to the Chinese market. Let’s have a closer look at its full specs, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal of Huawei Nova 10 Youth Edition.
Huawei Nova 10 Youth Edition Overview:
Design and Display
The Nova 10 Youth Edition has an identical design to its siblings. Its back panel shimmers with a gradient effect, while the dual camera ring highlights here are similar to the Nova 10 Pro. The phone comes in two colors: Crystal Blue and Midnight Black.
Huawei Nova 10 Youth Edition – Color options
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Crystal Blue
Midnight Black
But Huawei has downgraded its display from OLED to an IPS panel here. You’re looking at a 6.78-inch FHD screen, with a 90Hz refresh rate versus 120Hz on the regular Huawei Nova 10.
Performance
Under the hood, this phone is powered by Snapdragon 680 chipset which is a 6nm-based mobile processor from Qualcomm. This has been paired with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of onboard storage. Huawei Nova 10 Youth Edition runs on the company’s own HarmonyOS 2.0 out of the box.
Getting to cameras, the phone is headlined by a 108MP main sensor, which is complemented by an 8MP ultrawide and a couple of 2MP sensors for depth and macro shots. There’s a 16MP selfie shooter inside a hole-punch cutout in the display. The rear camera supports different shooting modes like time-lapse photography, panorama, dual view-double recording, smile capture, and so on.
Rest of the specs
Huawei Nova 10 Youth Edition is fueled by a modest 4,000 mAh battery which supports 66W fast wired charging. There’s a side-mounted fingerprint reader for biometrics.
Huawei Nova 10 Youth Edition Price in Nepal and Availability
In China, the phone costs CNY 1,699 for the 8/128GB and CNY 1,899 for the 8/256GB variant. We expect the price of Huawei Nova 10 Youth Edition in Nepal to start at NPR 38,499 if and when it launches here.
Xiaomi is on the verge of unleashing a potentially groundbreaking battery tech. Its subbrand Redmi just made the headlines by testing a 300W fast charging solution for smartphones. Xiaomi took it to the Chinese microblogging site “Weibo“, to announce that it has made a breakthrough with solid-state batteries, which offer higher energy density, much more enhanced safety, and so much more over traditional batteries.
Xiaomi Solid State Battery Overview:
What are traditional and solid-state batteries?
To those unaware, conventional batteries are lead-acid flooded batteries with liquid electrolytes. The cathode and anode sections of such batteries have liquid electrolytes in them. But there is a divider in between to prevent the electrolytes from getting mixed up.
Image: Murata
On the other hand, solid-state batteries—as the name implies—have solid electrolytes between the cathode and the anode. There is no need for a divider as the entire material is solid instead of liquid. And these batteries also use solid electrodes, while the ions moving through the electrolyte between the cathode and the anode generates the electrical flow.
Higher energy density and durability
Solid-state batteries also have a higher energy density due to their greater storage capacity. To put things into perspective, it has two to three times higher energy storage capacity than silicon oxide materials used in traditional batteries.
Getting back to Xiaomi, the company says it has achieved a breakthrough in terms of energy density, with 1000Wh/l (watt-hour per liter) for its solid-state batteries. In comparison, that’s more than twice what modern-day EV batteries offer (450 Wh/l).
The shape and size of such solid-state batteries will also be considerably thinner, opening a way for reducing a phone’s thickness. Whereas the absence of liquid electrolytes ensures higher safety by reducing the risk of short circuits in the battery.
Image: Xiaomiui.net
The company also conducted needle tests on its solid-state batteries. To prepare for this, Xiaomi has coated the battery’s positive electrode with solid electrolyte ceramics to improve the resistance to acupuncture.
One of the common problems with conventional batteries is their low endurance in cold weather, since the liquid electrolyte gets thicker at low temperatures, balking the transport of ions and discharging the battery quickly.
But Xiaomi says it has achieved 20% improved efficiency temperatures as low as -20ºC. The new tech will lower the discharging rate in such scenarios with sufficient lithium conductivity.
Xiaomi Solid-State Battery Launch and Availability
Full-fledged production and availability of Xiaomi’s solid-state batteries are likely to take some years. But the company did manage to test it on a prototype Xiaomi 13 smartphone with a big 6000mAh battery. However, the final version of the phone has a smaller 4500mAh lithium polymer battery. Still, we may see several Xiaomi smartphones with the new solid-state battery technology in the upcoming years.
After announcing the Nothing Phone (2) at MWC 2023, the company has begun teasing its next product. Which will most likely be a speaker as per the leaks. Let’s learn more about the upcoming Nothing speaker, including its features, release date, and such.
Nothing Speaker Rumors Roundup:
On March 1, Nothing tweeted (attached below) a 16-seconds video teasing its next product. And a new leaked image, courtesy of 91Mobiles and tipster Kuba Wojciechowski, shows the possible design of the speaker. However, some leaks indicate that it may be called Nothing Bass (1) instead.
As expected, this speaker might have Nothing’s signature transparent look—along with a color scheme of white, black, grey, and red. And it could also have a boxy design with a couple of switches on either side.
Image: 91mobiles
As seen from the leaked image, this speaker might feature three tweeters (for high frequencies) and two sub-woofers (for low frequencies). But as with all leaks, take all these tidbits with a grain of salt.
Likewise, a small display above the speaker could show its mode. Such as Bluetooth, FM, or Aux, as well as the Nothing Logo. It will be interesting to see if the company releases a standard Bluetooth speaker or something more advanced. Like a smart speaker similar to Apple’s HomePod or Amazon Echo Studio.
Nothing Speaker Pricing and Availability:
We currently know nothing (ba-dum-tss) about the price and availability of this product. But based on popular rumors, Nothing will most likely launch it next month.
Alienware, a subsidiary of Dell, has launched a ridonkulous 500Hz gaming monitor. The new Alienware AW2524H is a 24.5-inch Full HD gaming monitor with a 500Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-SYNC support, and so much more. So let’s discuss more on the features, specs, expected price in Nepal, and availability of Alienware AW2524H 500Hz IPS gaming monitor.
Alienware AW2524H 500Hz Gaming Monitor Overview:
Display
The main highlight of this monitor is obviously its 500Hz refresh rate. To be clear, its native refresh rate is 480Hz but you can overclock it to 500Hz for an even smoother experience. Provided that the difference is noticeable in the first place. Likewise, this 24.5-inch display is capped at Full HD (1080p) resolution due to the bandwidth limitations of such a high refresh rate.
And complementing the 500Hz refresh rate is a speedy 0.5ms GtG (minimum) response time. This monitor is also NVIDIA G-SYNC certified to make sure you don’t come across ghosting, screen tearing, stuttering, or other similar kinds of issues. And of course, it also has an anti-glare coating.
Moreover, the Alienware AW2524H uses an IPS (In-plane switching) panel with VESA DisplayHDR 400 for better viewing angles and brighter colors as compared to traditional TN panels. Alienware says this gaming monitor has 178° vertical and 178° horizontal viewing angles, while it covers 99% sRGB gamut, has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and 400 nits of brightness. It also has a TÜV-certified hardware solution for blue light reduction.
Ports and Connectivity
Moving on, the Alienware 500Hz gaming monitor has a decent port selection too. There are two standard 3.5mm audio jacks (audio-in & audio-out) and four USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) USB-A ports. Then there’s a DisplayPort 1.4 connector and two HDMI 2.1 ports. To note, the HDMI connection is limited to 240Hz only.
On the other hand, this monitor also supports NVIDIA’s “Reflex Analyzer” technology. And to make the most out of it, you’ll need to plug in a compatible mouse into the monitor’s latency port. It will then measure the end-to-end system latency and optimize response time accordingly for the best experience.
In terms of design, this Alienware monitor has fairly thin bezels on all sides—except for the chin. It supports height (110mm), pivot, rotation (40°), and tilt adjustment. You can also wall mount it using a VESA mount adapter. The back of the monitor has customizable RGB lighting, while it has a retractable headset hanger built-in as well.
Alienware AW2524H 500Hz Gaming Monitor Price in Nepal & Availability
Alienware’s 500Hz gaming monitor will be available from March 21 in North America for USD 829.99. We can expect the Alienware AW2524H 500Hz gaming monitor price in Nepal to be NPR 130,000 if and when it launches here.
Dell has upgraded its flagship Ultrabooks, the XPS 15 and 17, with the latest 13th-gen Intel CPUs and NVIDIA’s RTX 40 series GPUs. Let’s take a look at the full specifications, expected price in Nepal and availability of Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 2023.
Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 (2023) Overview:
Design and Display
Seeing these are Dell’s flagship Ultrabooks, the 2023 lineup of XPS laptops brings a premium build quality. This includes CNC-machined aluminum chassis alongside an aerospace-inspired carbon fiber palm rest.
As for the display, the XPS 15 features a 15.6″ 16:10 screen in either FHD or 3.5K resolution, while there is an OLED option too. Dell says this display boasts an impressive 92.9% screen-to-body ratio thanks to the minimal bezels on all four sides.
Display
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XPS 15 (2023)
XPS 17 (2023)
Moving on, Dell XPS 17 gets a bigger 17″ display—but with all the bells and whistles of the XPS 15. Including a tall 16:10 aspect ratio, FHD/4K resolution, Gorilla Glass 6 protection, and an OLED touchscreen option. The XPS 17 also has an impressive 100% AdobeRGB color gamut and a 93.7% screen-to-body ratio.
As aforementioned, the new XPS 15 and XPS 17 are powered by Intel’s new 13th-generation “Raptor Lake” processors. Its base variant comes with a Core i5-13500H (12 cores / 16 threads), whereas you can even get it with a Core i9-13900H (14 cores / 20 threads) CPU. For those interested in other Dell laptop options available in Nepal, be sure to check out our Dell Laptops Price In Nepal 2023 page.
Similarly, graphics options for the XPS 15 include Intel’s Arc A370M or up to NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 GPU. The XPS 17 skips Intel graphics entirely and maxes out to an RTX 4080 instead. And cooling it all is a dual fan system, whereas you can customize these laptops’ performance via the “Dell Performance” app.
In terms of memory, you can choose between 8GB to 64GB DDR5 RAM (4800 MHz) and 512GB to 8TB NVMe SSD storage. The new XPS 15 and XPS 17 support Windows Hello login via fingerprint or facial recognition. You’ll find a regular 720p HD camera and dual-array microphones on these Ultrabooks.
Other specs
Dell XPS 15 is fueled by an 86Wh battery while the bigger XPS 17 gets a bigger 97Wh battery instead. For charging, they both ship with a 130W USB-C power adapter. Both these Dell laptops have a large glass touchpad and a regular edge-to-edge chiclet backlit keyboard. Audio-wise, you get a quad-speaker setup with Waves NX 3D audio support.
Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 (2023) Specifications:
XPS 15
XPS 17
Dimensions
13.57 x 9.06 x 0.71″
14.74 x 9.76 x 0.77″
Weight
1.86 kg (FHD+)
1.92 kg (OLED)
2.31 kg (FHD+)
2.44 kg (OLED)
Display
15.6″ (touchscreen optional)
17″ (touchscreen optional)
Resolution
1920 x 1200 (FHD+)
3456 x 2160 (3.5K)
1920 x 1200 (FHD+)
3840 x 2400 (4K)
Keyboard
Backlit chiclet
CPU
13th Gen Intel Core i5-13500H / i7-13700H / i9-13900H
GPU
Intel Arc A370M 4GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 12GB GDDR6
RAM
Up to 64GB DDR5-4800
SSD
Up to 8TB PCIe SSD
OS
Windows 11 Home / Windows 11 Pro
Audio
2x 2.5W woofers, 2x 1.5W tweeters (Waves NX 3D Audio)
Security
Windows Hello-compliant fingerprint reader
Windows Hello camera
Windows Hello-compliant fingerprint reader
Windows Hello camera
Battery
86 Wh (130W USB-C adapter)
97 Wh (130W USB-C adapter)
Connectivity
Intel Killer WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Ports
2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C)
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
1x SD card slot
1x 3.5mm Headphone jack
4x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C)
1x SD card slot
1x 3.5mm Headphone jack
Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 (2023) Price in Nepal and Availability
As for price, Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 (2023) cost USD 2,399 and USD 2,999, respectively for the Core i9 variants with RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. We expect the price of Dell XPS 15 and XPS 17 (2023) in Nepal to start at NPR 379,999 and NPR 470,999 when they launch here shortly.
Sony is a well-renowned brand in the TV industry. While the company didn’t announce any new TVs at CES 2023, it has now. There are four new Sony Bravia XR TVs to look forward to this year: X95L Mini LED, A95L QD-OLED, A80L OLED, and X90L full array LED TV. Let’s know more about them along with their price and availability.
Sony Bravia XR TV 2023 Overview:
You can get Sony’s new TVs in different sizes, ranging from 55 to 98 inches, where all of them are capable of 4K gaming at 120Hz. Sony says it has reduced the use of plastic by 60% and switched to an aluminum finish in all of this year’s models. These TVs run on Google TV OS. Sony still gives two HDMI 2.1 and two HDMI 2.0 ports on these TVs.
Bravia XR X95L Mini LED TV
Let’s start with Bravia XR X95L Mini LED. This TV consists of thousands of Mini LEDs which are controlled by the XR Backlight Master Drive and XR Triluminos Pro technologies for accurate colors and an immersive viewing experience.
Sony Bravia XR X95L Mini LED TV
This 2023 model also comes with up to 60% more local dimming zones and 30% higher peak brightness compared to its predecessor. As for audio, there are Acoustic Multi-Audio, Dolby Atmos support, and frame tweeters with traditional TV speakers. It is available in three sizes: 65, 75, and 85 inches.
Bravia XR X90L LED TV
Moving on, the Bravia XR X90L is a 4K HDR full array LED TV with up to 130% more brightness compared to the previous model, X90K. Sony’s XR Contrast Booster and XR Triluminos Pro technologies further enhance your viewing experience by controlling contrast and color reproduction. You can find this TV in five sizes—55, 65, 75, 85, and 98 inches—and it has the same audio setup as the X95L.
Sony Bravia XR X90L Full Array LED TV
Bravia XR A95L QD-OLED TV
Here, the Bravia XR A95L is a QD-OLED TV, now backed by Sony’s XR Triluminos Max technology. It comes in either 55, 65, or 77-inch options and the company says the A95L can deliver 200% brighter color performance than last year’s A95K. It has Acoustic Surface Audio+, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X support for immersive audio with actuators that vibrate to produce sound from the entire screen.
Bravia XR A80L OLED TV
Finally, the Bravia XR A80L OLED TV is 10% brighter compared to its predecessor (A80K). This TV boasts XR OLED Contrast Pro and XR Triluminos Pro for enhanced colors, deeper blacks, and such. It has a similar sound setup as the A95L QD-OLED TV. In terms of sizes, the Sony A80L will be available in 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches.
Sony Bravia XR TV 2023 New Features:
Cognitive Processor XR
All the TVs in this lineup come with Cognitive Processor XR with XR Clear Image which reduces noise and motion blur for a better video experience. Furthermore, it enables better backlight control for increased local dimming zones, brightness, and decreased blooming.
Immersive theater-like sound experience
Then there’s Acoustic Center Sync which synchronizes the TV’s audio system with the center channel of a compatible Sony soundbar. For a more immersive experience, you can use Sony soundbars with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.
Gamers can now take their gaming experience to next level with Sony’s Bravia XR 2023 lineup. They all feature Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode, for optimized picture quality while gaming and streaming. And like always, you can also access the easy-to-use “Game Menu” to tailor different settings to your preferences. Such as turning VRR or Motion Blur Reduction on or off.
Sony Bravia XR A95L QD-OLED
Bravia XR 2023 TVs also give users the ability to customize the size of the screen according to their preference with the “Screen Size” feature. The A95L even features something called “Multi-View”, where users can enjoy gaming side-by-side while watching their favorite show.
Bravia XR Eco Dashboard
Sony has furthered its commitment to environmental protection with its latest TVs. All of the new TVs feature an eco-dashboard that allows users to easily customize energy-saving settings.
Sony Bravia XR A80L OLED TV
Bravia Core
Bravia Core is a new pre-installed movie app where you can watch the latest releases and popular classics. It calibrates movies automatically to the optimal picture settings including IMAX Enhanced mode for a cinematic experience at home. This is a paid app, but you do get up to 24 months of unlimited streaming and up to 15 movie credits with the new Bravia XR TVs for free.
Crunchyroll remote button and Bravia CAM
The new Sony Bravia XR TVs also get an updated remote, which now consists of a dedicated button for Crunchyroll. In case you’re unaware, Crunchyroll is primarily an OTT platform for anime, which Sony acquired back in 2021.
Moving on, these new TVs also work with Bravia CAM. It’s an add-on accessory with a camera and microphones, which adjusts the TV’s picture and sound settings based on where you’re sitting in a room. You can also make video calls with this thing.
Sony Bravia XR TV 2023 Price and Availability:
According to Sony, retail availability and pricing info of the new Bravia XR TVs will be announced later in 2023.
In this review, I’ll be talking about my experience with the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. So it’s been about a month since I started using both the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the smaller and more affordable S23 Plus. I will have my S23 Plus review up very soon, but let’s talk about the S23 Ultra today.
If you remember, I was a big fan of last year’s S22 Ultra. I think it was the best Android phone out there. But if I’m being honest, it still didn’t compare to my daily driver, the iPhone 14 Pro. There were a lot of areas where the iPhone just… outperformed the S22 Ultra. And it seems like I wasn’t the only one who felt that way because the S22 series didn’t sell as well as Samsung had hoped.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Specifications:
Body: 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm, 233 grams, IP68 rated, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Aluminum frame, S-pen support
Samsung missed its sales goal of 30 million units, which is pretty significant. In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro series hit that same goal just three months after its launch. But this year, with the S23 Ultra, I like what Samsung has done! They have kept the design almost identical to last year’s S22 Ultra, which in my opinion gives Samsung its own unique identity.
Left: S23 Ultra | Right: S22 Ultra
In the past, they used to switch up the design every other year, but this new approach allows them to concentrate on what really matters – which is improving the hardware and providing an even better software experience. And you know what? They absolutely nailed it with the S23 Ultra.
Battery
5000mAh battery
45W wired, 15W wireless charging
The first thing I have found they improved greatly here is the battery life. When it comes to flagships, iPhones always have the best backup. But with the S23 Ultra, I am getting even better results.
On heavy usage with mobile data turned on all the time, I am constantly getting 7 to 8 hours of screen time, which reflects to like a full day of use with around 10-15% charge left before I go to sleep. The overnight or idle battery drain is also very minimal here, so that’s fantastic.
Plus, a 45W charger can fill up the S23 Ultra faster than the iPhone or Pixel, reaching 70% in just 30 minutes and a full charge in an hour. So, I’m really satisfied with the battery life I’m getting from this phone, and there are likely several reasons for that.
Yes, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and better software optimization certainly help. But the main reason is that Samsung is using a more energy-efficient display panel this time around, which consumes less power at higher brightness levels.
Display
6.8-inches WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
120Hz refresh rate LTPO 2.0, HDR 10+
1750nits brightness, Vision Booster
Likewise, the core quality of the display is another aspect I always love about Samsung’s flagships and the S23 Ultra continues to impress me. If you go by specs, it’s similar to what the S22 Ultra had – it still is an 8-bit panel with 1750 nits of peak brightness and a 240Hz touch sampling rate, which doesn’t sound very impressive considering what Chinese brands are offering these days.
But let me assure you, this is the best display you can find on a smartphone right now, even better than the iPhone 14 Pro. Maybe the iPhone 14 Pro gets slightly brighter when using the phone in direct sunlight, but when it comes to watching videos on Netflix or vertical videos on TikTok, I find the experience on the S23 Ultra to be better.
Similarly, I have been using it in the default “Vivid” picture mode, which is not the most color accurate but it does provide a lively and engaging visual experience, which you will surely fall in love with.
No Dolby Vision!
Talking about that, Samsung phones sadly continue to miss out on Dolby Vision playback in favor of the open-source HDR10+ standard. So, whenever I am watching Dolby vision videos on OTT platforms, I find that level of highlights and contrast levels missing here over phones that support Dolby vision.
Audio and Haptics
Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos
No 3.5mm headphone jack
However, you do get Dolby Atmos audio support on the S23 Ultra. And the way Samsung has tuned its audio here is quite different from what you get on the iPhone. For example, the S23 Ultra has a spacious sound output and noticeably richer bass. Whereas the iPhone 14 Pro lets you enjoy the mids and high frequencies much better.
Another thing I got to mention is, I am having a very good time interacting with the phone – all thanks to its great haptics, fantastic touch responsiveness, and curves that almost look like they’re flat.
But I think Samsung could’ve done a better job with these buttons. They don’t feel that premium and the feedback is not the most satisfying either. Other than that, its build quality is rock solid with the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the back and the front of the phone, alongside the armored aluminum frames.
Design
163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm, 233 grams
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front/back, Aluminum frames
IP68 dust and water resistance
And although this is a pretty huge phone, the weight distribution here is right on point. This might seem like nothing but with smartphone makers opting for bigger and bigger camera sensors, it’s quite difficult to achieve this level of ergonomics.
I just started testing the Xiaomi 13 Pro, which has a big 1-inch camera sensor, and because of that, the weight is not distributed properly here. It just feels a little too heavy and unergonomic! Same thing with the OnePlus 11, which is a bit bottom-heavy.
Snapdragon for Galaxy
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (4nm)
Let’s now get to the performance, which has traditionally been an area where iPhones dominantly excel over Android phones. On top of that, Samsung’s flagships have always faced criticism due to the use of different processors in different regions. And on last year’s S22 series, both the Exynos 2200 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 were big disappointments.
But things finally look promising for Samsung this year. That’s because the company has teamed up with Qualcomm to launch a slightly higher-binned version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is exclusive to the S23 lineup.
Gaming
If you are not aware, the new 8 Gen 2 is made by TSMC, the same semiconductor manufacturing company that makes Apple’s chipset. So, the “Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy” as Samsung likes to call it, goes toe-to-toe with Apple’s A16 Bionic and even outperforms it in the graphics department.
Needless to say, I am very satisfied with the performance of the S23 Ultra overall. On top of that, you also get a large vapor cooling system this time, which offers much better thermals. Last year’s S22 Ultra had heating issues when charging the phone or when playing games for around 30 minutes or something. But that’s no longer a problem with the S23 Ultra.
Here, you get a slightly cooler temperature on the S23 Ultra compared to other Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones. The surface temperature never reaches beyond 40 degrees, even while playing fairly unoptimized and heavy games like Genshin Impact.
Samsung has also brought an interesting feature called “Bypass charging”, which gamers will definitely like. When enabled, it lets the phone power up directly from the charger without charging the battery. Doing this generates less heat, thereby leading to improved thermals, better-sustained performance, and eventually better battery health as well.
What about the cameras? Here too, Samsung has done its homework and made improvements over the already-excellent S22 Ultra.
S22 Ultra vs S23 Ultra
I compared the S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra’s images and found that both of them bring similar color science and dynamic range.
Normal | Night
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S23 Ultra | Normal
S22 Ultra | Normal
S23 Ultra | Normal
S22 Ultra | Normal
S23 Ultra | Normal
S22 Ultra | Normal
S23 Ultra | Normal
S22 Ultra | Normal
S23 Ultra | Normal
S22 Ultra | Normal
S23 Ultra | Normal
S22 Ultra | Normal
S23 Ultra | Night
S22 Ultra | Night
S23 Ultra | Night
S22 Ultra | Night
S23 Ultra | Night
S22 Ultra | Night
But with that higher-res 200MP sensor, the S23 Ultra manages slightly better details, lesser noise, and better sharpness – both during daytime as well as in low light conditions. The S23 Ultra also maintains better highlights in images with lots of whites, like in the flower image.
It also does slightly better with selfies, ultra-wide, 3X, and 10X shots. But don’t get me wrong, last year’s S22 Ultra is still a pretty capable camera phone in its own right and you won’t notice that many differences unless you’re nitpicking.
Selfies | Telephoto
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S23 Ultra | 10x Zoom
S22 Ultra | 10x Zoom
S23 Ultra | Selfie
S22 Ultra | Selfie
S23 Ultra | Selfie
S22 Ultra | Selfie
S23 Ultra | Selfie
S22 Ultra | Selfie
S23 Ultra | 3x Zoom
S22 Ultra | 3x Zoom
S23 Ultra | 3x Zoom
S22 Ultra | 3x Zoom
Portraits
In fact, in most portraits I clicked, I actually like the way S22 Ultra maintains the subject’s skin tone. But I’m pretty sure that’s something Samsung will improve with future updates on the S23 Ultra.
Portraits
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S23 Ultra
S22 Ultra
S23 Ultra
S22 Ultra
S23 Ultra
S22 Ultra
S23 Ultra
S22 Ultra
S23 Ultra | Low Light
S22 Ultra | Low Light
S23 Ultra | Low Light
S22 Ultra | Low Light
The reason why I am confident about Samsung improving its cameras is that if you remember, the S22 Ultra went through the same phase, and after 4-5 updates, its cameras drastically improved—especially in terms of portraits. So far, I have only received one update on the S23 Ultra, and that has already improved the low-light portrait shots.
iPhone vs Samsung
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Now, you might also be wondering how the S23 Ultra stacks up with the iPhone 14 Pro, right? And I am happy to report to you that this time, Samsung is neck-and-neck in most scenarios.
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Samsung | Normal
iPhone | Normal
Samsung | Normal
iPhone | Normal
Samsung | Normal
iPhone | Normal
Samsung | Normal
iPhone | Normal
It’s like 50% of the time you might like iPhone’s images because of punchier contrast and that classic warm temperature, but the rest of the time you will like the overall pleasant and brighter shots from the S23 Ultra.
Lowlight
The S23 Ultra also seems more competent in low-light and indoor portraits. Just look at the images, Samsung is clearly doing a better job here. The photo of a stupa also looks much better from the S23 Ultra.
iPhone vs Samsung
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Samsung | Portrait
iPhone | Portrait
Samsung | Nighttime
iPhone | Nighttime
Samsung | Nightmode
iPhone | Nightmode
Samsung | Nightmode
iPhone | Nightmode
Samsung | Nightmode
iPhone | Nightmode
However, sometimes—especially with night mode on—Samsung has too much over-processing going on, which I hope gets fixed pretty soon.
Telephoto
Overall, the S23 Ultra’s cameras are just outstanding. Let’s not forget that 10X periscope lens which allows you to do up to 100X zoom, take a photo of the moon, and whatnot, which is simply not possible on an iPhone or any other Android phone right now.
iPhone vs Samsung
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Samsung | 10x Zoom
iPhone | 10x Zoom
Samsung | 10x Zoom
iPhone | 10x Zoom
Videos
However, the videography aspect is still one thing where Samsung is marginally behind the iPhone 14 Pro. Samsung says it has doubled the OIS offset area on the S23 Ultra, but for me, the iPhone still does stabilization, noise reduction, and exposure management better than Samsung. Plus, the S23 Ultra’s selfie video is a bit narrow and I always have to stretch a bit to get a good FOV while shooting a video.
So, video is one area I really hope Samsung engineers figure out a way to be more competitive and more reliable next year. Oh, and one more thing which is still not on iPhone’s level is the shutter lag. Samsung’s “Camera Assistant” app definitely improves things by quite a bit but I’d say there’s still room for improvement.
That being said, I have to applaud Samsung for bringing a true 8K 30 fps recording this time. Both the field of view and stabilization is much better here compared to the S22 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review: Conclusion
I guess it’s time to conclude this review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. As an iPhone user for the past 2-3 years, there are basically 4 reasons why my primary phone has always been an iPhone:
Excellent battery life
Great cameras – both for photos and videos
Reliable experience
Years of updates
But if you look at this phone, the S23 Ultra, it matches the iPhone 14 Pro Max in every aspect. Maybe not in terms of videos, but it outperforms in other things like photos, and zoom shots, and on top of all this, you also get some extras like this S-pen. And damn… it works really well!
Plus, Samsung’s One UI is also something that has grown over the years to become the best Android skin out there. Samsung has even set a standard with 4 years of OS and 5 years of security updates on its flagships and aims to bring software updates even faster in the future too.
So this time, I genuinely feel that the S23 Ultra is a great alternative to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. And I am really happy to see these two heavyweights competing again! In the past couple of years, iPhones have almost been close to a monopoly and that’s never good for the consumer. However, with the S23 Ultra, Samsung has made an excellent comeback!
Check out our video review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
Unmatched camera experience
Uncompromised performance
First-class display
Premium build quality
Excellent battery life
Cons:
Videography is still not on par with iPhone 14 Pro Max
BoAt has launched a new smartphone in Nepal, the Wave Lite. It is a budget-centric smartwatch with features such as heart-rate monitoring and sports mode. So, without further ado, let’s get into the specs, features, and boAt Wave Lite price in Nepal.
BoAt Wave Lite Overview:
Design and Display
Kicking off with the design, the Wave Lite comes in a square-shaped dial and has a lightweight design measuring 44 grams. On the left side, there is a rotating crown that you can use to navigate through the UI. Likewise, the bottom side houses sensors to keep track of health metrics.
The smartwatch also bags an IP68 rating for those sweaty workout sessions, and even swimming for instance.
On the front, the Wave Lite sports a 1.69-inch HD display. This flat screen offers a 160-degree angle of view and a 70 percent RGB color gamut for better colors. There’s also 550 nits of peak brightness, so outdoor viewing shouldn’t be an issue here.
Features
Like every other smartwatch, the Wave Lite consists of a bunch of health tracking features such as 24/7 heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), and sleep monitoring. There are 10 distinctive sports modes like Running, Walking, Cycling, and Football, to name a few.
Moving on, the watch can also display notifications from social media, calls, texts, and sedimentary reminders as well. It can also be integrated with Google Fit and Apple Health apps. Likewise, Wave Lite also has music playback and camera remote functions.
The wearable relies on Bluetooth 5.0 technology and connects through the boAt Wearable app. As for the customizations, boAt has provided 100 watch faces on the smartwatch. The 240mAh battery is said to offer a 7 days battery backup and it takes 2.5 hours for a full charge. And the brand is also providing one year warranty on the product.
Needless to say, I am very satisfied with the performance of the S23 Ultra overall. On top of that, you also get a large vapor cooling system this time, which offers much better thermals. Last year’s S22 Ultra had heating issues when charging the phone or when playing games for around 30 minutes or something. But that’s no longer a problem with the S23 Ultra.
