Page 364 – GadgetByte Nepal

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 2022 (Intel) Review: Best In Budget!

GadgetByte

-

November 27, 2022

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 2022 (Intel) Review: Best In Budget!

In this review, I’ll go over my experience with the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 2022 Intel edition. Lenovo’s IdeaPad series has consistently ranked high on our list of the best budget Ultrabooks. In fact, we liked last year’s Ideapad 3 so much that it was our top choice for the best budget laptop. Available in most markets around the world with both Intel and AMD options, this lineup has been a go-to option for many students or just about anyone looking for a reliable budget laptop. And when Lenovo refreshed it with Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs, it promptly grabbed our attention.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 2022 (Intel) Specifications:

Design & Build: All-plastic build, 359.2 x 236.5 x 19.9 mm, 1.63 kg
Display: 15.6-inch TN/IPS anti-glare panel, 45% NTSC, 250/300 nits
Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 16:9 aspect ratio
Keyboard: Chiclet-style backlit keyboard
Trackpad: Plastic multi-touch trackpad, Windows Precision drivers
Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U, 10C/12T, Up to 4.4GHz
RAM: 8GB DDR4-3200 RAM
Storage: 256GB SSD
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
Audio: 2x 1.5W speakers, Dolby Audio
Battery: 38Wh / 45Wh
Power Supply: 65W power adapter
Webcam: 720p HD camera, Privacy shutter
I/O: 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 1.4b, 1x Card reader, 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x Power connector
What’s inside the box: Laptop, power adapter, quick start guide
Price in Nepal: Rs. 87,000 (TN) | Rs. 93,000 (IPS)

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 2022 (Intel) Review:

So we ordered the IdeaPad 3 2022 a few weeks back, and since then I have been using it as my daily driver. Our unit is loaded with the Core i5-1235U CPU, 8GB RAM, and 512GB storage, and it costs Rs. 87,000 in Nepal, some Rs. 58,000 in India, and $530 in the US. But if this price is slightly higher than your budget, you can also go with the i3 variant with the same memory configuration for a couple of bucks less.

Besides this, Lenovo also sells the IdeaPad 3 with Ryzen 5000 CPUs under the 2022 lineup. However, Intel’s 12th gen processors are much better options considering all the performance upgrades they bring.

Performance

Intel Core i5-1235U CPU (Up to 4.4GHz)
8GB DDR4-3200 RAM, 256GB M.2 SSD

Anyway, Intel’s U-series processors are all about prioritizing energy efficiency over raw performance. And i5-1235U on this laptop is no exception. Based on the new hybrid architecture, this CPU has two performance cores and eight efficiency cores, while it comes with the Iris Xe integrated GPU to handle all the graphics-related tasks.

With this, the IdeaPad 3 can handle most of your non-demanding, everyday tasks with ease. I spend the majority of my day in the office working on scripts and articles, alongside light editing on Photoshop, while I have at least half-a-dozen tabs running in the browser and I’m yet to experience any stutters so far.

By the way, the laptop has a Lenovo Vantage app, which allows you to choose between three different performance modes. And I found that the “Intelligent Cooling” mode gives the best results under such casual usage with a good balance of performance and battery life. Alongside very quiet fan noise even when multitasking.

And while gaming, I set it to “Extreme” where its single fan can get loud under heavy workloads. But it does a good job of maintaining the thermals. However, since this is an ultrabook, you can’t expect much on the gaming front. Still, if you want to lighten up your mood, you can play games at low settings with a fair amount of stability.

As for the memory, the laptop comes with 8GB of soldered RAM and you get an additional SO-DIMM slot to get that performance benefit by adding extra RAM. Additionally, I found the read and write speed of its onboard 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD to be quite satisfactory. It’s user-replaceable, and you can even add an extra HDD or SSD on the vacant SATA interface.

Battery

45Wh, 65W power adapter

Moving on, since the Intel i5-1235U is stuffed with efficiency cores, I was able to get a good battery life out of the IdeaPad 3. On a full charge, its 45Wh cell lasted me like 5 to 6 hours. And charging this thing is quite convenient too since it supports Rapid Charging protocol, which can fuel the laptop from 0 to 80% in about an hour. This feature isn’t enabled by default but you can turn it on under the “Lenovo Vantage” app I talked about earlier.

Design

All-plastic body, Smooth finish on the lid
359.2 x 236.5 x 19.9 mm, 1.63 kg

Design-wise, the 2022 edition of this laptop looks the same as the IdeaPad 3 we reviewed last year with a brushed matte finish on the lid and the keyboard. I wouldn’t necessarily complain about this inheritance because first, it looks plenty premium, and second, it is well-built too. There is no concerning flex in the keyboard and the hinge is also quite sturdy. You can even lay the lid on a considerable amount if that’s important for you.

Design

1 of 3

Another thing that I really appreciate about this laptop is its “Flip-to-open” feature like you get on a MacBook. Although it’s a small add-on, it genuinely enhances the usability of the laptop. You can then sign in to your PC via the fingerprint sensor embedded into the power button. That’s quite convenient!

In terms of I/O, you’ll find one micro SD card slot and one Type-A port on the right. Similarly, Lenovo has installed one Type-A, HDMI, Type-C, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack each over on the left.

Furthermore, its keyboard has well-spaced-out keys with good travel distance. There’s also a dedicated Numpad section over on the right, which is slightly compact but gets the job done. But I’m quite surprised to see that this keyboard isn’t backlit for some reason. I guess this is region-specific, as the IdeaPad 3 in the United States and India do enjoy a backlit keyboard.

But what’s more disappointing is this trackpad. Yes, it has a smooth surface and is responsive when using multi-finger gestures but it’s too small and off-centered. So using it hasn’t been a pleasant experience at all. To be honest, I prefer using an external mouse with this laptop instead.

Display

15.6″ TN panel, Anti-glare
FHD resolution, 45% NTSC

Now on to the display, it has the same 15.6-inch TN panel as last year’s model. If you want something better, Lenovo also offers IdeaPad 3 with an IPS screen instead. Still, the TN panel on this year’s model is of noticeably better quality this time around. Most importantly, it does not suffer from the poor viewing angle issue we encountered with the IdeaPad 3 2021.

All that sounds great and all but this is still just an average screen to look at. Covering just 45% of the NTSC gamut, colors look a bit dull here; something that’s clearly noticeable in regular use or while watching YouTube videos and such. This isn’t something I would nitpick since mediocre displays is pretty common across budget laptops. And I find it to be good enough for my office work and such.

On the other hand, the IdeaPad 3 has 250 nits of brightness, so it’s only ideal for indoor use. I have also noticed mild backlight bleeding on the bottom of the screen. But it’s nothing to worry about since it is only visible when watching really dimly-lit content with the lights off.

Audio and Webcam

Dual 1.5W speakers
720p Webcam

Speaking of which, its stereo speakers sound quite clear actually. So I’m sure you will have a decent content consumption experience here.

Let’s now talk about its microphone and webcam quality. As with most Windows laptops, this thing ships with a 720p camera, which shoots soft and grainy videos. Thus, you may want to invest in a good external webcam if you need to attend business conferences and meetings more frequently. I find the audio pickup from the built-in microphones to be satisfactory, but its background noise cancellation works nowhere near as effectively as promised.

Conclusion

Wrapping it all up, I think the IdeaPad 3 2022 (Intel) checks most boxes for a good low-cost Ultrabook. It comes with a capable 12th Gen CPU, a modern design, a decent keyboard, and quite nice battery life with fast charging support. While I fully agree that Lenovo should’ve gone with an IPS panel this time, as I mentioned earlier, this display isn’t nearly as bad as last year. So yeah, it’s quite a well-rounded package.

Check out our review of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (2022).

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 2022 (Intel) Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Compact design
Reliable performance
Decent battery endurance
Lenovo Rapid charge
Flip-to-open works like magic
Well-spaced keyboard

Cons:

Small, off-centered trackpad
No backlit keyboard (region-specific)
Average webcam

Gigabyte launches AORUS 5 SE4 with Alder Lake-H processor, RTX 3070 in Nepal

Gigabyte

GadgetByte

-

November 27, 2022

0

Gigabyte launches AORUS 5 SE4 with Alder Lake-H processor, RTX 3070 in Nepal

Gigabyte has launched its 2022 edition of the AORUS 5 gaming laptop in Nepal. This one comes with the 12th Gen Intel H-series processor and RTX 3070 graphics. So let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and official price of the Gigabyte AORUS 5 SE 4 in Nepal.

Gigabyte AORUS 5 SE4 Overview:

Design, Display

The AORUS 5 is a mainstream gaming PC with a typical gamer black chassis that weighs 2.3kg. It comes with a 15.6-inch screen and a refresh rate of 144Hz, 240Hz, or 360Hz, all with a 1080p resolution. However, only the 360Hz model is currently available in Nepal.

Then there’s the full-size keyboard with three-zone RGB lighting. According to Gigabyte, the keys are Fully Anti-Ghosting N-Key Rollover with a keystroke lifespan of 10 million.

Also Read:

Performance

The laptop is powered by a 14-core Intel 12th Gen Core i7-12700H processor with a maximum clock speed of 4.7GHz. This is coupled with the Nvidia RTX 3070 Laptop GPU, which has a maximum graphics power of 130W and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. It has 16GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM and a 512GB SSD for storage. And since there are extra slots built into the motherboard, you can easily upgrade the RAM/ROM configuration.

Gigabyte has also equipped this gaming laptop with WINDFORCE Infinity all-copper cooling technology for efficient cooling. This setup includes two fans with 83 blades, five heat pipes, and multiple cooling fins to efficiently remove heat generated by the CPU and GPU.

Moreover, Gigabyte claims that the AORUS 5 uses “Microsoft Azure AI,” which detects the currently-running app and optimizes the hardware power/wattage settings for the CPU and graphics. It is said to be the world’s first laptop to use this technology.

Rest of the specs

Fueling this machine is a 99Wh cell that charges via a 230W power adapter. In terms of ports, there are two USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), one Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C), one UHS-II SD Card Reader, and a DC input on the right. Likewise, you get an HDMI 2.1, a mini DP 1.4, a USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), one audio jack (Head Phone out/MIC in), and an RJ45 LAN port on the left. Wireless connectivity option includes WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 media.

Gigabyte AORUS 5 SE 4 Specifications:

Design & Build: 35.7(W) x 25.4(D) x 2.36 ~ 2.74(H), 2.3kg
Display: 15.6 Anti-glare IPS panel, 360Hz refresh rate
Resolution: FHD (1920×1080), 16:9 aspect ratio
Keyboard: RGB-backlit (three-zone)
Processor: Intel Core i7-12700H (14C/20T, 4.4GHz)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (130W)
RAM: 16GB DDR4, dual SO-DIMM slot (Max: 64GB)
Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD (Max: 1TB)
Audio: 2x 2W speaker with DTS:X Ultra
Battery: 99 Watt-hours Li-ion, 230W adapter
Connectivity: WiFi 6E 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2
I/O Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), 1x Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C), 1x UHS-II SD Card Reader, 1xDC input, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x mini DP 1.4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), 1x audio jack (Head Phone out/MIC in), 1x RJ45 LAN

Gigabyte AORUS 5 SE 4 Price in Nepal and Availability

In Nepal, the Gigabyte AORUS 5 SE 4 costs NPR 225,000. The laptop can be purchased at the official price from ITTI.

Gaming Laptop	Price in Nepal (Official)
Gigabyte AORUS 5 SE 4	NPR 225,000

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Asus VivoBook Pro 14 OLED.

Realme Narzo 50A Prime Price in Nepal [Updated]

Realme

GadgetByte

-

November 26, 2022

0

Realme Narzo 50A Prime Price in Nepal [Updated]

Realme has expanded its Narzo lineup in Nepal with the launch of Narzo 50A Prime. Initially, the smartphone does not include a charging adapter in the box. But the company has now released variants that include a charger right into the box of the box. In this article, we will discuss the key specs, features, official price, and availability of Realme Narzo 50A Prime in Nepal.

Realme Narzo 50A Prime Overview:

The moniker makes the Narzo 50A Prime sound like an upgraded version of the Narzo 50A already in Nepal. However, the phone actually builds on the Realme C35 with a new design and a chip underneath.

Design and Display

Realme Narzo 50A Prime features a 6.6-inch LCD screen with a waterdrop notch for a selfie camera. It’s an FHD+ panel with a peak brightness of up to 600 nits. The phone refreshes at the standard 60Hz but boasts a touch sampling rate of up to 600 nits.

Over on the back, Realme Narzo 50A Prime keeps the Kevlar-inspired textured design of the Narzo 50 and 50A, but with a redesigned camera bump. The phone measures 8.1mm in thickness and weighs around 192.5 grams. Realme offers the phone in two color options: Flash Black and Flash Blue.

Performance and Memory

Under the hood, Realme Narzo 50A Prime is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T612. The processor is built on a 12nm processor and features 2 Cortex-A75 and 6 Cortex-A55 cores; all clocked at 1.8GHz. Realme has paired the processor with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM. You can choose between 64GB and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. There is also an option to expand the memory using a MicroSD card slot.

Also Read:

Camera

Realme Narzo 50A Prime’s redesigned camera bump is home to a triple camera setup. The 50MP primary sensor is accompanied by a 2MP macro and a 2MP portrait lens. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated ultrawide module. On the front, you can find an 8MP selfie shooter.

You can shoot 1080p/30fps videos with the rear camera, whereas the selfie camera maxes out at 720p/30fps.

Rest of the Specs

Despite its thin profile, Realme Narzo 50A Prime packs a 5,000mAh battery inside, which the company claims can last up to 17.2 of online video playback on YouTube. Then we have support for 18W fast charging for a quick refill. There is a physical fingerprint scanner on the side for biometrics. The phone boots on Android 11-based Realme UI R Edition.

Realme Narzo 50A Prime Specifications:

Body: 75.6 x 164.4 x 8.1mm, 192.5gm
Display: 6.6-inch LCD, 180Hz touch sampling rate, 600 nits peak brightness
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Unisoc Tiger T612 (12nm Mobile Platform)
Memory: 4GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
Software & UI: Realme UI R Edition on top of Android 11
Rear Camera: Triple (50MP primary, 2MP macro, 2MP portrait)
Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0 (notch)
Audio: Single speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Battery: 5000mAh with 18W charging

Realme Narzo 50A Prime Price in Nepal and Availability

You can now buy Realme Narzo 50A Prime from Hukut and other authorized stores across Nepal. Realme Narzo 50A Prime costs Rs. 20,299 and Rs. 21,799 with no charger for the 4/64GB and 4/128GB variants, respectively. The model with the charger in the box costs NPR 20,999 for the 4/64GB and NPR 22,499 for the 4/128GB variant.

Realme Narzo 50A Prime	Price in Nepal	Availability
4/64GB	Rs. 20,299	Hukut
4/128GB	Rs. 21,799
4/64GB, with charger	Rs. 20,999
4/128GB, with charger	Rs. 22,499

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme GT Neo 3.

Skyworth SUE9500 4K UHD QLED TV now available in Nepal

GadgetByte

-

November 26, 2022

0

Skyworth SUE9500 4K UHD QLED TV now available in Nepal

Skyworth has just launched the SUE9500 4K UHD TV in Nepal via their official distributor Smart Appliances. It is by far the most advanced offering from the brand in Nepal and is available in three screen sizes. Moreover, you can get it for 33% less as part of the “Skyworth Bigger Screen, Bigger Dream” campaign for the ongoing FIFA World Cup (2022). So, let’s discuss the specs, features, official price, and availability of the Skyworth SUE9500 4K UHD QLED TV in Nepal.

Skyworth SUE9500 4K UHD QLED TV Overview:

Display

You can get the Skyworth SUE9500 QLED TV in three different screen sizes: 55”, 65”, and 75”. The company also has a smaller 50” variant, but it is not available in the Nepali market yet. Irrespective of the screen size, SUE9500 uses a 10-bit QLED panel with its in-house picture quality enhancer. The Quantum Dot technology, together with Skyworth’s in-house picture quality enhancer, allows the SU9500 to cover 93% of the DCI-P3 gamut.

Skyworth SUE9500 supports a couple of HDR formats, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. There is even a Filmmaker Mode that disables all the additional processing, letting you enjoy your movie as intended by the filmmaker.

Skyworth Eye Care Technology

Another neat feature of the SUE9500 QLED TV is TUV Rheinland-certified Eye Care Flicker Free technology. It even includes additional features such as dedicated night mode, eye-protection mode, and auto volume control mode for a more comfortable TV experience.

For audio, you get two down-firing speakers of 10W output each. You also get Dolby Atmos support for more realistic stereo sound effects.

Also Read:

Performance and Software

Powering the TV is an unspecified quad-core CPU with four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.5GHz. You get 2GB of DDR RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The TV ships with Android 10 TV OS with Google TV on top. This makes the Skyworth SUE9500 4K UHD QLED TV compatible with over 8000+ Android apps and a wide range of IoT and smart home equipment.

You also get additional features such as a personalized content recommendation engine, Chromecast, and hands-free Google assistant.

Rest of the features

Moving on, Skyworth SUE9500 QLED TV looks modern with its minimalistic “Boundless” design that results in a 97% high screen-to-body ratio. It stands on a U-shaped metal base made with a special die-casting technique. Talking about ports, you get 2x USB, 3x HDMI, 1x LAN, and 1x Digital out, along with RF and AV In. There is even dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity.

Skyworth SUE9500 QLED TV Specifications:

Display: 55/65/75-inches QLED display, 93% DCI-P3
Resolution: 4K Ultra-HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
HDR: Yes, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Response Time: 8ms
Video Processor: Chameleon Extreme 2.0 Processor,
Sound: 2x 10W Speakers
Audio Decoder: Dolby Audio
Processor: Quadcore (4x 1.5GHz Cortex A53), Mali G52 MP2 GPU
Memory: 2GB DDR RAM, 16GB storage
OS: Android TV 10 OS with Google TV
Voice Assistants: Google Assistant (Hands-free)
Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi (dual-band), Bluetooth 4.2
I/O Ports: 3x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x Ethernet (LAN), 1x RF, 1x Digital Output 1x AV input

Skyworth SUE9500 4K UHD QLED TV Price in Nepal and Availability (Official)

The price of the Skyworth SUE9500 4K UHD QLED TV in Nepal starts at Rs. 169,900 for the 55” variant. Likewise, the 65” and 75” models for Rs. 225,000 and Rs. 325,000. However, you can get the SUE9500 TV at discounted rates until December 15 as part of Skyworth’s World Cup offer.

Skyworth SUE9500 4K UHD QLED TV	Price in Nepal (Official)	World Cup Offer (Valid till December 15)
55”	Rs. 169,900	Rs. 135,900
65”	Rs. 225,000	Rs. 178,900
75”	Rs. 325,000	Rs. 255,500

Meanwhile, check out the best TV deals for World Cup [Nepali]

Oppo Reno 9 Pro goes official with Dimensity 8100-Max, curved 120Hz AMOLED

OPPO
Reno

GadgetByte

-

November 25, 2022

0

Oppo Reno 9 Pro goes official with Dimensity 8100-Max, curved 120Hz AMOLED

Oppo has updated its premium mid-range lineup with the Reno 9 series. The lineup will include three phones: the Reno 9, the Reno 9 Pro, and the Reno 9 Pro+. In this article, we will look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Oppo Reno 9 and Reno 9 Pro in Nepal.

Oppo Reno 9, Reno 9 Pro Overview:

Design, Display

The regular Reno 9 and 9 Pro share a similar design language, especially on the front. They sport a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a center-aligned punch-hole camera cutout. The screen refreshes at 120Hz and boasts 2160Hz PWM dimming and 950 nits of peak brightness. The Reno 9 and 9 Pro are available in three colors: black, gold, and gradient gold.

1 of 2

Performance and Memory

The two models also differ from the inside. While the Reno 9 comes with the Snapdragon 778G, it is replaced by the MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max on the 9 Pro. Likewise, you get up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM on the Pro model while the vanilla Reno 9 maxes out at just 12GB. Both phones are available with up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

Fueling the two phones are 4,500mAh batteries and both have 67W fast charging with the charger included in the box.

Also Read:

Cameras

The vanilla Reno 9 flaunts a triple camera setup consisting of a 64MP primary and a 2MP monochrome portrait sensor. As for the 9 Pro, it houses a 50MP main camera and an 8MP ultrawide. Another difference between the Oppo Reno 9 and Reno 9 Pro is the availability of the in-house 6nm imaging NPU – MariSilicon X. Both phones have a 32MP front camera.

Oppo Reno 9/ 9 Pro Specifications:

Display: 6.7-inches FHD+ AMOLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, 120/240Hz touch sampling rate, Up to 950 nits brightness
Chipset:
- Reno 9: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G (6nm mobile platform)
- Reno 9 Pro: MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max (6nm mobile platform)
Memory: up to 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 256/512GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Software & UI: Android 13 with OPPO’s ColorOS 13 on top
Rear Camera: Dual (with LED flash)
- Reno 9: 64MP primary + 2MP monochrome
- Reno 9 Pro: 50MP primary + 8MP ultrawide
Front Camera: 32MP Sony IMX709 f/2.4 sensor (hole-punch cutout)
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor (optical)
Battery: 4,500mAh with 67W wired SuperVOOC

Oppo Reno 9, Reno 9 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

The Reni 9 series is currently up for pre-order in China where the price starts at CNY 2,499 and CNY 3,499 for vanilla and the Pro models, respectively. We can expect the price of the Oppo Reno 9 and 9 Pro to be NPR 59,999 and NPR 79,999, respectively, if they launch in Nepal.

Oppo Reno 9 Series	Configurations	Price in China	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Reno 9	8/256GB	CNY 2,499	NPR 59,999
	12/256GB	CNY 2,699	NPR 64,999
	12/512GB	CNY 2,999	NPR 69,999
Reno 9 Pro	16/256GB	CNY 3,499	NPR 79,999
Reno 9 Pro	16/512GB	CNY 3,799	NPR 84,999

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro.

Honor 80 series goes official with up to 160MP camera, 66W charging

Honor

GadgetByte

-

November 24, 2022

1

Honor 80 series goes official with up to 160MP camera, 66W charging

Honor recently held a two-day event in China where the company announced new hardware and software products. Among the new hardware launched were three phones under the Honor 80 series. In this article, we will discuss the key specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Honor 80, 80 Pro, and 80 SE in Nepal.

Honor 80 Series Overview:

Honor 80 Pro:

The most advanced phone of the three is the Honor 80 Pro. It packs the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor based on TSMC’s 4nm process. However, for some reason, Honor is not utilizing the full potential of the chip as the Cortex-X2 “Prime” core is capped at 3.0GHz instead of the usual 3.2GHz. Likewise, Cortex-A710 “Gold” and Cortex-A510 “Silver” cores max out at 2.5GHz and 1.8GHz instead of 2.7GHz and 2.0GHz, respectively.

The camera module of the Honor 80 Pro looks unique and is home to a triple camera setup. Leading the line is a 160MP camera with a 1/1.56” sensor and an f/1.8 aperture. It is joined by a 50MP ultrawide sensor and a 2MP portrait sensor. Over on the front, you get a 50MP primary selfie camera and a 2MP depth sensor housed inside a pill-shaped punch-hole cutout.

Moving on, Honor 80 Pro sports a 6.78-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Fueling the phone is a 4,800mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging. It ships with MagicOS 7, based on Android 12.

Also Read:

Honor 80

A setup down from the Pro model is the vanilla Honor 80. This marks the debut of the Snapdragon 782G. It is the latest chip from Qualcomm, set to replace the popular Snapdragon 778+ in the midrange segment. Like its Pro sibling, the Honor 80 is available in 8GB and 12GB RAM variants with storage options ranging from 256GB and 512GB.

At the back, you get a different-looking camera bump composed of two overlapping circles. It also has a 160MP primary camera, but it is accompanied by 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro sensor. For selfies, you get a single 32MP selfie camera inside the center-aligned punch-hole.

The display is also a bit smaller at 6.67 inches, but it is still a curved AMOLED panel. It also retains the 120Hz refresh rate and 10-bit color depth. The battery is still 4,800mAh, and 66W fast charging also makes its way to Honor 80.

Honor 80 SE

Honor 80 SE brings the same display as the regular 80. Even the 32MP punch-hole selfie camera is the same. However, the packaging is different, evidenced by the prism design and rectangular camera bump. Honor has opted for a 64MP primary camera, joined by a 5MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro sensor.

Honor 80 SE is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 900 chip paired with 8/12GB RAM and 255GB storage. It packs a smaller 4,600mAh battery with 66W charging. Like the other two phones in the lineup, it ships with Android 12-based MagicOS 7.0.

Honor 80 Series Specifications:

	Honor 80 SE	Honor 80	Honor 80 Pro
Dimensions	161.3 x 73.4 x 7.7mm	161.6 x 73.9 x 7.7mm	163.3 x 74.9 x 7.8mm
Weight	175 grams	180 grams	188 grams
Display	6.67” curved OLED, 120Hz, 10-bit color	6.78” curved OLED, 120Hz, 10-bit color	6.78” curved OLED, 120Hz, 10-bit color
Resolution	FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels)	FHD+ (2700 x 1224 pixels)	2.5K (2700 x 1224 pixels)
Chipset	DImensity 900 (6nm)	Snapdragon 782G (6nm)	Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm)
Memory	8/12GB RAM 256GB storage	8/12GB RAM 256/512GB storage
OS	Android 12 with MagicOS 7.0
Rear Camera	64MP primary 5MP ultrawide 2MP macro	160MP primary 8MP ultrawide 2MP macro	160MP primary 50MP ultrawide 2MP depth
Selfie	32MP		50MP primary 2MP depth
Battery	4,600mAh Li-ion	4,800mAh Li-ion
Charging	66W fast charging

Honor 80 Series Price in Nepal and Availability (Expected)

Pre-orders for the Honor 80 series are up in China, with the first sale starting on December 9. The price starts at CNY 2,399, CNY 2,699, and CNY 3,499 for the Honor 80 SE, Honor 80, and Honor 80 Pro, respectively. We can expect the price of Honor 80, 80 Pro, and 80 SE to start at NPR 49,999, NPR 54,999, and NPR 69,999, respectively, if they launch in Nepal.

Honor 80 Series	Memory Variations	Price in China (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Honor 80 SE	8/256GB	CNY 2,399	NPR 49,999
Honor 80 SE	12/256GB	CNY 2,699	NPR 54,999
Honor 80	8/256GB	CNY 2,699	NPR 54,999
	12/256GB	CNY 2,999	NPR 59,999
	12/512GB	CNY 3,299	NPR 65,999
Honor 80 Pro	8/256GB	CNY 3,499	NPR 69,999
	12/256GB	CNY 3,799	NPR 74,999
	12/512GB	CNY 4,099	NPR 79,999

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Pixel 7.

Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ goes official with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 50MP OIS camera

OPPO
Reno

GadgetByte

-

November 24, 2022

1

Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ goes official with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 50MP OIS camera

Oppo has just updated its premium mid-range lineup with the new Reno 9 series. The series is home to three new smartphones, with the Reno 9 Pro Plus being the top-of-the-line model. In this article, we will discuss the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ in Nepal.

Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ Overview:

Design and Display

Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ is built around a 6.7-inch curved AMOLED panel with minimum bezels. The screen refreshes at 120Hz and has a touch sampling rate ranging from 120Hz to 240Hz. It is an FHD+ panel with 10-bit color depth and 100% DCI-P3 coverage. The screen has HDR10+ certification and boasts 2160Hz PWM Dimming for a comfortable viewing experience.

The screen is held together with the 3D-curved textured back with the aviation-grade aluminum frame, which extends to the camera bump. Reno 9 Pro+ measures 7.99mm in thickness and weighs around 192 grams. Oppo is offering the phone in three colorways: Bright Moon Black, Bihai Qing, and Tomorrow Gold.

Performance and Memory

Qualcomm and MediaTek have already lifted the curtains off the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Dimensity 9200, their latest flagship chips. However, it looks like Oppo is saving it for the Find X6 Pro. As a result, the new Reno 9 Pro+ gets the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 from last year.

The chip is based on an older 4nm process from TSMC and misses out on the new Cortex-X3 prime core and the new Adreno GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Interestingly, Oppo seems to have clocked down the chip to 2.995 GHz, down from the speed of UFS 3.1.

It is paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and users can choose between 256GB and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

Camera

Over on the back, Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ flaunts a triple camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP depth sensor. The main sensor comes from Sony, although Oppo has not mentioned which, and it is the only one with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The 8MP ultrawide sensor doubles as a 4cm macro camera.

Upfront, there is a 32MP autofocus-enabled selfie shooter. Oppo has also included its in-house MariSilicon X ISP for better portrait and low-light photography.

Rest of the specs

Fueling the phone is a 4,700mAh battery with 80W wired fast charging. You can even charge the Reno 9 Pro+ wirelessly at 50W. However, you will have to buy a wireless charger separately since it is not included in the box. The phone ships with the latest Android 13 with ColorOS 13 skin on top. Other notable features include stereo speakers, NFC, IR Blaster, and Wi-Fi 6.

Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ Specifications:

Body: 73.6 x 161.5 x 7.99mm, 192 gm, Glass back, Aluminum frame
Display: 6.7-inches AMOLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, 120/240Hz touch sampling rate, Up to 950 nits brightness
Resolution: FHD+ (2412 x 1080 pixels), 394 PPI, 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm mobile platform)
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256/512GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Software & UI: Android 13 with OPPO’s ColorOS 13 on top
Rear Camera: Triple (with LED flash);
– 50MP Sony IMX890 f/1.8, OIS
– 8MP, f/2.2 ultrawide lens, 120º FOV
– 2MP, f/2.4 macro lens
– MariSilicon X Imaging NPU
Front Camera: 32MP Sony IMX709 f/2.4 sensor (hole-punch cutout)
Audio: Dual stereo speaker, No 3.5mm headphone jack
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor (optical)
Sensors: Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Gravity, Gyroscope, Light, Optical, Pedometer, Proximity
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / QZSS / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
Battery: 4,700mAh with 80W wired SuperVOOC, 50W wireless

Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ Price in Nepal and Availability (Expected)

The price of the Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ is CNY 3,999 for the 256GB variant and CNY 4,399 for the 512GB model. Oppo has not launched a Reno smartphone in Nepal for 3 years. However, if the Oppo Reno 9 Pro+ launches in Nepal, we expect the price to start at NPR 82,499.

Oppo Reno 9 Pro+	Price in China (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
16GB+256GB	CNY 3,999	NPR 82,499
16GB+512GB	CNY 4,399	NPR 89,999

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro.

Honor reveals MagicOS 7.0 rollout timeline: Find out compatible smartphones here

Honor

GadgetByte

-

November 24, 2022

0

Honor reveals MagicOS 7.0 rollout timeline: Find out compatible smartphones here

Major Android smartphone makers have revealed their new UI based on Android 13 as well as the timeline for its release. Latest to join this league is Honor, as the company officially announced MagicOS 7.0 for its smartphones. And here we will go through the list of devices that are eligible for the Android-13-based MagicOS 7.0 update.

Honor MagicOS 7.0 Update Roadmap:

What’s new?

Interface

The new version of MagicOS brings a design overhaul to the interface. The UI now uses flat icons, fluid animations, and the new Honor Sans font throughout. The home screen has been redesigned to accommodate larger, easily accessible folders. There are also new widget options for a more personalized experience.

MagicRing – Ring of Trust

MagicRing is a new feature that allows system-wide service sharing between MagicOS devices and other Honor laptops and tablets. It can perform seamless file transfers, smart clipboards, call and notification management, and more. You will also be able to connect multiple devices at once.

Magic Live Smart Engine

Furthermore, the new Android skin will provide smart recommendations across various activities to help you complete daily chores more efficiently.

Similarly, a feature called Magic Text recognizes text on a picture and converts it to a file, boosting productivity. With this, users will be able to easily scan text from a photo and save it as a PDF file.

System management

For a fluid user experience, Honor TurboX promises faster app launches and optimized system-level power consumption. MagicGuard, on the other hand, will handle system privacy, and malware protections.

Following that, let’s go over the list of Honor smartphones that will receive the MagicOS 7.0 update.

Honor MagicOS 7.0 Eligible Devices, Rollout Schedule:

December 2022: Honor Magic V, Honor Magic3 Ultimate Edition, Honor Magic3 Pro, Honor Magic3, Honor V40
January 2023: Honor Magic4 Supreme Edition, Honor Magic4 Pro, Honor Magic4
February 2023: Honor 70 Pro+, Honor 70 Pro, Honor 70
March 2023: Honor 60 Pro, Honor 60, Honor 50 Pro, Honor 50
April 2023: Honor X40 GT
May 2023: Honor V40 Light Luxury Edition, Honor X40, Honor X30

Keep in mind that this rollout timeline is only for China. The global rollout schedule and list will be released in due course.

Meanwhile, check out the Android 13-based UI rollout timeline for other smartphone brands.

Samsung OneUI 5.0 Update Roadmap	Xiaomi MIUI 14 Update Roadmap	OnePlus OxgenOS 13 Update Roadmap
Vivo FunTouch OS 13 Update Roadmap	Realme UI 4 Update Roadmap	Motorola Android 13 Update Roadmap

Qualcomm aims to take on Apple, AMD, and Intel with its “Oryon” CPU

Nikhil Shrestha

-

November 24, 2022

1

Qualcomm aims to take on Apple, AMD, and Intel with its “Oryon” CPU

Apple’s incredible success with its custom Arm-based “M” series of processors cannot be understated. And at last week’s Snapdragon Summit where Qualcomm unveiled its flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile processor, the company also announced the “Oryon” CPU. Qualcomm says this fully in-house Arm-based CPU will be powering all sorts of devices in Snapdragon platforms, starting with PCs.

What is Qualcomm Oryon CPU?

While Qualcomm is mostly known for its Snapdragon-branded mobile processors, the company has also been exclusively shipping Windows on Arm chipsets under the Snapdragon 7c, 8c, and 8cx lineups since 2017. And these are more or less just rehashed mobile Snapdragon processors, by the way.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13s - Design — Lenovo ThinkPad X13s with Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chip

Promising longer battery life, integrated 4G/5G connectivity, chip-level security, and more, these processors have been met with little success, unfortunately. And the traditional x86 architecture from Intel and AMD has continued to outperform their Arm counterparts in every generation. Be it app compatibility, driver support, lack of proper gaming chops, or just general sluggishness, Windows on Arm is something the mainstream PC-buying audience wouldn’t (or better yet, shouldn’t) touch with a ten-foot pole.

That’s exactly what Qualcomm plans to change with the new Oryon CPU.

Instead of simply using Arm’s Cortex CPU designs (under its own “Kryo” branding with a few tweaks), Qualcomm wants to build its own Arm-based CPU cores “to unleash a new level of performance.” So basically, Qualcomm is licensing Arm’s architecture instruction sets, while designing CPU cores all by itself.

Laying the foundation

And it all started with Qualcomm acquiring US-based semiconductor startup “Nuvia” back in March 2021 for $1.4 billion. Founded by former Google and Apple engineers, the company has some big talents in the low-power high-performance CPU design arena. Arm is currently in a legal battle against Qualcomm claiming that it had breached Arm’s license agreements. But it seems that the lawsuit hasn’t impacted Qualcomm’s custom CPU design plans in any big way.

Since Qualcomm already makes other processing components like 5G modems, machine learning chips, image signal processors (ISP), and RF (Radio Frequency) modules on its own, a custom CPU core makes great sense in the company’s grand scheme of things. And the Oryon CPU is the final piece of the puzzle for its cohesive system. So Qualcomm should theoretically be able to deliver dramatically more capable Windows on Arm processors with this. But Microsoft has its fair share of work cut out as well if Windows on Arm could ever be as capable as x86-based systems. While still encompassing the benefits of Arm.

Why Apple was so successful with Arm

Part of the reason why Apple was so successful in abandoning Intel has to do with its unique position. With Arm, it now controlled both the hardware and software side of the equation; which is a luxury neither Windows, Qualcomm, or any other PC maker can taste. But there’s no reason to look down on Oryon just yet. Apart from the name, Qualcomm hasn’t shared any specifications or performance results of the Oryon CPU for now.

You might also be interested in:

Even so, it’s incredibly likely Qualcomm’s first-gen Oryon CPU won’t be matching Apple’s M2 (or any of its successor) chip when it launches in a few years’ time. An upcoming Qualcomm processor (codenamed “Hamoa”) did surface online a while ago with 12 cores (8 performance and 4 efficiency cores), which is believed to be based on Nuvia’s “Phoenix” core design. And it is rumored that this could be Oryon CPU after all. The leak claims that this chip will also have discrete GPU support. And a similar memory and cache configuration as Apple’s M1 processor.

Qualcomm Oryon CPU: Devices, Availability

Besides PCs and laptops, Qualcomm says Oryon CPU will also find its way to different Snapdragon platform devices. Including smartphones, digital cockpits, extended reality headsets, AI-enabled driving systems, and more. As for availability, Qualcomm initially promised Oryon-powered devices in the second half of 2023. But now, the company says it will only be detailing Oryon’s developments throughout next year. While Windows on Arm PCs with Oryon CPU could arrive by 2024 only.

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Intel Core i7-12700K CPU

Vivo TWS 3 Series official with aptX Lossless, 360° spatial audio and more

Vivo

GadgetByte

-

November 23, 2022

1

Vivo TWS 3 Series official with aptX Lossless, 360° spatial audio and more

Vivo unveiled a bunch of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones at an event yesterday. Along with this, the company introduced the Vivo TWS 3 and TWS 3 Pro earbuds in China. It is the successor to the Vivo TWS 2 that was announced in 2021. So, without further ado, here are the specifications, features, availability, and expected price of the Vivo TWS 3, TWS 3 Pro in Nepal.

Vivo TWS 3, TWS 3 Pro Overview:

Design

Both the earbuds in the TWS 3 series have a traditional in-ear design on an angled earbud with a small stem. The latter is a touch-sensitive area on which users can tap to can control various functions.

Each bud on the TWS 3 Series buds weighs around 5 grams and supports a smart wear-detection feature. Similarly, the IP54 rating ensures that the buds are water and dust-resistant. Both the TWS 3 and 3 Pro are available in white and their own shade of blue.

Improved ANC

Vivo has made significant improvements to the TWS 3 and TWS 3 Pro over its predecessor. This year, active noise cancellation has been improved to reduce noise by up to 49 dB. It also works in a wider frequency range, reaching up to 4000Hz, making it better at filtering human voices as well as medium-frequency sounds.

Meanwhile, when you want to listen to the outside world, adjust the level of ANC to match your surroundings. When it recognizes that someone is talking to you, it automatically activates the passthrough mode and enhances human voice.

Vivo even catered to vloggers, as there is something called the high-quality binaural audio recording, which makes use of the three-mic setup on the buds for high-definition recording. You can also use this feature to cancel out background noise during phone calls.

Also Read:

Audio

Furthermore, the earbuds support the aptX Lossless codec, allowing them to stream CD-quality audio without any loss of detail (hence “Lossless”). Because this type of audio transmission requires either 1.1Mbps or 1.2Mbps bitrate, Vivo makes use of 1.2Mbps bitrates on both the TWS 3 and 3 Pro.

The duo also features Vivo’s self-developed ultra-wideband unit that can reproduce sounds from 5Hz to 40kHz. The audio drive size measures 12.2mm and has 3-layer nano-composite diaphragm. And the brand is also offering a 360° spatial audio feature here.

Pro-exclusive

Besides these shared sets of specifications, the TWS 3 Pro has some exclusivity of its own. It is the world’s first Hi-Fi earphone with its own audio chip. It is designed to produce sound with minimal distortion, delivering results that are similar to the original audio source.

Backing it up is the tuning of earphones for extremely low distortion, with a Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise, or THD+N of 0.002% or less. More about THD+N here.

Likewise, there’s an auxiliary listening mode that is said to assist hearing-impaired people. It can also detect users’ body temperatures.

Rest of the specs

The TWS 3 series enjoys Bluetooth 5.3 and LE Audio support which lowers the latency to 55ms.

In terms of battery life, the vanilla Vivo TWS 3 has a standalone runtime of 10 hours that can be increased to 40 hours with the case. The TWS 3 Pro has less listening time, clocking in at 6.8 hours on its own and up to 30 hours with the case. These figures are for both models with ANC turned off.

Each bud has a 53mA battery, while the charging case on the Pro has a 510mAh cell versus 430mAh on the non-Pro.

Vivo TWS 3, TWS 3 Pro Specifications:

Dimension: 60 x 23.7 x 45.46mm (case)
Weight: 45.5g (case), 5.2g (bud)
Driver: 12.2mm dynamic drivers
Chip: Qualcomm S5
Frequency: 5Hz to 40000Hz
Audio Codec: aptX Lossless, aptX adaptive, AAC, SBC, LC3 codec
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
Extras: 360-degree spatial audio, 55ms low latency
- TWS 3 Pro: Independent DAC with a signal-to-noise ratio of 110dB, THD+N of -95dB
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes, up to 49dB
Battery: 53mAh (earbuds), 430mAh (case)
Runtime:
- TWS 3: 10 hours(ANC off), up to 40 hours with charging case
- TWS 3 Pro: 6.8 hours (ANC off), up to 30 hours with charging case
Colors: White, Blue

Vivo TWS 3, TWS 3 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

The Vivo TWS 3 is priced at CNY 499, while the Pro variant retails at CNY 999 in China. The vanilla model will be available to purchase from November 20, but for the Pro model, you will have to wait until December 6. Anyways, we expect the price of the Vivo TWS 3 and TWS 3 Pro earbuds to be NPR 15,000 and NPR 25,000, respectively, in Nepal.

Earbuds	Price in China	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Vivo TWS 3	CNY 499	NPR 15,000
Vivo TWS 3 Pro	CNY 999	NPR 25,000

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen).