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Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Review: (Impressed Noises)

Pratima Adhikari
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Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Review: (Impressed Noises)

In this review, I’ll be discussing all about the new Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). So 2019’s AirPods Pro was a massive hit for Apple. Matter of fact, every AirPods Apple has ever launched has been a massive hit, with the company dominating a significant portion of the wireless earbuds market. And after three long years, Apple has finally launched the successor to the first-gen AirPods Pro, called the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation—or just AirPods Pro 2 in short.

Global TWS Market Share - Q2 2021 vs 2022
Global TWS market share (Image: Counterpoint Research)

But things are not as easy this time, and Apple has got quite some catching up to do because the wireless audio market has well surpassed the first-gen AirPods Pro both in terms of audio quality and active noise cancellation. I’ve been using these earbuds for over a week now and I definitely think Apple is back to its winning ways with the AirPods Pro 2. And hey, if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, there are even more reasons to love these guys.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Review: Specifications

  • Body:
    • Earbud: 30.9 x 24.0 x 21.8 mm, 5.3 grams (each)
    • Charging case: 60.6 x 45.2 x 21.7 mm, 50.8 grams
  • Water Resistance: IPX4 sweat and water-resistant (AirPods Pro and charging case)
  • Color Options: White
  • Sound Driver: Custom high dynamic range amplifier, 11mm custom high-excursion Apple driver (low-distortion)
  • Chip: Apple H2 headphone chip, Apple U1 chip in the charging case
  • Microphone: Dual beamforming mics, Inward-facing mic
  • Audio Codecs: AAC, SBC
  • Noise Cancellation: Yes (ANC with Adaptive Transparency)
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
  • Companion App: N/A
  • Control: Capacitive touch control on each earbud
  • Sensors: Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer, Skin-detect sensor
  • Battery: Exact battery size unspecified
    • Up to 6 hours of playback with ANC
    • Up to 5.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking
    • Up to 4.5 hours of talk time
  • Other Features: Adaptive EQ, Personalized Spatial Audio, Find My, Audio Sharing, Always-on “Hey Siri”, Automatic Switching
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 44,500

Buy Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) here

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Review:

Design & Comfort

  • 30.9 x 24.0 x 21.8 mm (earbuds)
  • 5.3 grams (each earbud)
  • IPX4 sweat and water-resistant
    • Both earbuds and charging case

I’ll get into the ecosystem talk in just a bit, but the one thing I can tell you right away is that there aren’t many changes in the design department since the second-gen AirPods Pro looks nearly identical to its predecessor.

Apple hasn’t tinkered with such an iconic and recognizable look of the original AirPods Pro all that much. And that’s understandable, I guess.

So the only way you could tell the two apart is that the AirPods Pro 2 has its noise-canceling microphones on top of the earbuds, while Apple bundled it with the skin detection sensor inside the buds. Other than this, it’s still only available in a single white color option with a glossy finish, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Certainly not mine because I think Apple should be doing better in terms of colorways at a time when other companies are offering some really beautiful-looking earbuds these days.

Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation - Design 1

Even Beats lets you pick between multiple color options for its earbuds. And in case you’re unaware, Apple owns Beats. Not just that, but over time, the AirPods Pro 2 is going to age poorly due to discoloration as well. That’s pretty unfortunate but you know what isn’t? Its fit and comfort.

Super duper comfy

Although I’ve never been one for the stem design of Apple’s AirPods that sticks out of your ears, I think I can give it a pass this time because of how comfortably it fits my ears. I don’t think I’ve had to readjust these earbuds even once after putting them on—it’s that good! Just make sure you try out different size ear tips because the default one may not be it. I found the small ones fit my ears the best but if you have particularly small ears, there’s also an extra small pair of ear tips included with the second-gen AirPods Pro.

This may not sound all that important but trust me, getting the right-sized ear tips is really important for the best audio and ANC experience.

The case, the (almost) incredible case

Now, I don’t usually talk much about the charging case in our wireless earbuds reviews since there’s so little to talk about them, but not this time. Believe it or not, this case is easily one of the most interesting upgrades on these AirPods. It still arrives in the same sleek form factor that we know and love, but Apple has supercharged it with the U1 ultra-wideband chip. That’s the same chip you’ll find in the AirTag object tracker, which means you’ll have much better luck finding this case if you happen to misplace or lose it.

As ultra-wideband support isn’t available here in Nepal, I can’t use Precision Finding just yet. So it’s down to the standard directions options in the Find My app. But at least I can now ring the case—besides the buds—since it has a built-in speaker too. That’s definitely something!

Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation - Lanyard

Apple has also found a way to make this case IPX4 sweat and water-resistant—just like the buds themselves. There’s even a lanyard loop on the side so that you can attach it to a backpack or an external lanyard. So yeah, on the behalf of all the clumsy people in the world (including myself), thank you Apple! As for charging, the company has officially phased out its usual wireless charging case as well. The second-gen AirPods Pro gets a MagSafe charging case by default, whereas it can also juice up via a Qi charger or even an Apple Watch charger!

It’s 2022, and we still have to complain about the Lightning connector.

But… that Lightning connector is still a sight for sore eyes. I’m not a fan of the Lightning port in the iPhones and I’m not a fan of it in the AirPods either. Hopefully, 2023 is when Apple finally goes all-in on USB-C.

Controls

  • Capacitive touch control on each earbud
  • Only press and hold action customizable

The second-gen AirPods Pro also gets a sweet volume control upgrade. The capacitive force touch sensor on its stem can switch between volume levels with a simple swipe up or down gesture. And I must say that it works wayyyyy better than I expected! I’ve used my fair share of such volume control gestures on other earbuds, so I was kinda keeping my expectations low.

But here, it works with the gentlest of swipes and the buds don’t readjust when using the gesture either. Awesome! There’s also nice audible feedback confirming your action, although I wish its intensity varied depending on the volume level itself. Maybe Apple will add it via a future update, we’ll see. On the other hand, its pinch control is still not my favorite way to get around a pair of earbuds, but hey, it’s quite immune to accidental touches—unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro—so I’ll take it. The upgraded skin-detect sensor is quick at pausing the playback when removing one of the earbuds too. Or resuming it when you put it back in.

Noise Cancellation

  • Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
    • With Adaptive Transparency Mode
  • Powered by Apple H2 chip

Okay, let’s now talk about the noise-canceling ability of this thing. Powered by the all-new H2 chip, Apple promises a remarkable 2x improvement in ANC performance on the second-gen AirPods Pro.

Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation - Fit

You would think that Apple is trying to set the bar too high but when giving it a second thought, that’s pretty much expected and required from the company. Remember that Apple took three years to come up with an upgrade to its first “Pro” AirPods. And as I mentioned in the very beginning, the competition has caught up and outclassed Apple’s legacy by leaps and bounds during this time. Anyway, I don’t know about 2x exactly, but these AirPods are indeed super effective at cutting out the outside noise.

Most of my test conditions have remained the same since the time I reviewed the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro not too long ago. I travel the same route from my home to the office and my office space is right next to a preschool, so shouting children, loud kids’ music, and vehicles driving by are just a few examples of noises I get to “enjoy” on a daily basis. I also share this air-conditioned space with a couple of my colleagues so the noise of people typing in on their mechanical keyboards and the HVAC noises are in the mix as well.

And yup, the second-gen AirPods Pro indeed manages to eliminate most of the consistent noises I would normally hear, much more effectively. Especially the low-frequency noises that are almost completely blocked.

Does it have the best-in-class ANC?

Seeing how everyone has been giving such high regard for its ANC, I was expecting to be blown away in terms of the mids and high frequencies as well but turns out I set myself up for a (mild) disappointment there. Don’t get me wrong, this is still incredible at dampening stuff like people chatting around you, a TV playing in the background, loud-pitched noises, or when you’re out in a busy café or a marketplace.

AppleAirPodsPro2nd Generation - Case

But I guess I was hoping for something stronger in this regard. I’d say the AirPods Pro 2 has marginally better noise cancellation than the Buds 2 Pro, mostly when it comes to shushing white noises—but otherwise, they’re quite similar. Besides the actual ANC strength itself, I’m also impressed with the sense of directionality that you notice on the incoming noises that manage to sneak in.

Still the king of Transparency Mode

Apple continues to knock it out of the park with the “Transparency Mode” too. The first-gen AirPods Pro was already my favorite pair of earbuds as far as effortlessly listening to the outside world is concerned. And with the new H2 chip, Apple has given me even more reasons to love its take on transparency mode!

Turning it on, it still feels as if you aren’t wearing the earbuds at all which is great when you need to have a quick chat with someone without having to take off the earbuds. Everything sounds as natural and unprocessed as you’d want. And the second-gen AirPods Pro takes things a step further by adding something called “Adaptive Transparency Mode”.

Think of it as regular Transparency Mode, but on steroids.

These earbuds can automatically drown out any unpredictable burst of loud noise—anything over 85 dB—so that you don’t get blasted with startling noise that could damage your ears. And it’s not like a “call-and-response” thing either. It’s not like there’s a sudden noise, the AirPods hear it, and only then the volume goes down. No. It happens instantaneously.

Say I’m walking down the street with my AirPods on with Transparency Mode and a loud bike passes me in a flash, or I’m in my office and a helicopter or an ambulance passes nearby. Instead of hearing such blaring noises at full force, these earbuds quiet them down to a more comfortable level.

It’s pretty cool—sure—but it’s not something I’d drool over though, to be honest. For me, this is a neat accessibility feature that’s better to have and not need than to need and not have. But I think this could be a game-changer for people with sensitive hearing. Or just someone who prefers putting on a pair of headphones when riding a bike.

Audio Quality

  • High dynamic range amplifier
  • 11mm high-excursion Apple driver (low-distortion)
  • Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity (AAC, SBC codec)

Getting to the audio quality itself, the second-gen AirPods Pro rocks an 11mm high-excursion driver. The same as the original AirPods Pro or the third-gen AirPods. Alongside a redesigned amplifier and a new low-distortion audio driver. Most of us were also expecting hi-res playback support this time, but Apple is still sticking with the default AAC and SBC codecs for now.

One for all, all for one

All this may not inspire a lot of confidence in its sound quality but the H2 chip is here to rest my doubts yet again. The best way I can put it is that these AirPods have a clean, consistent, and balanced sound profile that comes off as pleasant in most genres of music. It certainly sounds like Apple has gone for a “one for all” type of tuning that most listeners might not bother messing around with. Not that Apple lets you set a custom equalizer in the first place anyway.

AppleAirPodsPro2nd Generation - Connectivity

And I have enjoyed listening to most songs on my playlist here thanks to its full and rich audio, with especially impressive mid-frequencies. So whether it’s Bob Dylan’s acoustic folk “Mr. Tambourine Man” or something with a busy soundstage like “Kiss With A Fist” by Florence + the Machine, the distinct vocal range of both artists sound true-to-life and incredibly pleasing to listen to.

This is also great news for someone who streams a lot of spoken word content like podcasts, audiobooks, radio, and such. The clarity in the mid-bass and highs is yet another strong point of the AirPods Pro 2. In Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, these earbuds manage to preserve the smooth harmonics of the electric guitar and the bass hit perfectly. All without sounding muddy or sibilant.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows

Sounds great right? But that “one for all” EQ has a few drawbacks of its own too. You see, if you’re used to thumpy bass and definitive treble, the second-gen AirPods Pro could leave you wanting more. Something so vividly noticeable in The Killers’ electro-rock track “Flesh and Bone”.

Here, the song’s sharp opening notes come off monotonous instead of a gradual ascend of the high frequencies. Bassheads might not be content with Apple’s default tuning either. In multiple rap, hip-hop, and rock songs I frequent, these AirPods couldn’t deliver that level of energetic vibe that I’ve come to expect. In comparison, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro manages a much wider dynamic range with stronger bass and clearer highs for a more immersive listening experience.

Moving on, Apple is also pushing “Personalized Spatial Audio” with its latest set of wireless earbuds. This feature needs you to scan a picture of your ears to create a more precise surround sound experience. But I gotta be honest, I couldn’t notice any difference between regular and personalized spatial audio. And it doesn’t help that I’m not a big fan of such head-tracking audio tech as well. Especially for listening to music. Some tracks even sound worse with Spatial Audio, at both fixed or head-tracked mode.

Call Quality

  • Dual beamforming mics, Inward-facing mic

So what about the microphone quality then? AirPods have always had an upper hand when it comes to voice call performance because of their tall design that places the microphone relatively closer to your mouth. And the second-gen AirPods Pro is no exception.

It sounds great in an ideal condition like a fairly quiet room like the one I’m in right now, where you don’t have a lot of ambient noise around you. And even when you’re outdoors, they do a nice job at dropping the background noise to make sure your voice sounds nice and clear. I took multiple phone calls from these AirPods out on the streets, and people on the receiving end are yet to complain about the clarity of my voice.

Battery Life

  • Up to 6 hours of playback (with ANC)
  • MagSafe charging case, Qi wireless charging
  • Lightning connector

The new AirPods Pro also bumps the battery life from 4.5 hours to 6 hours with ANC enabled. Or about half an hour less with Spatial Audio turned on. And Apple promises five listening cycles with the charging case. I mostly keep noise-cancellation on when listening to music at around 80–90% volume, and under this, it kept going for five and a half hours before I needed to get reseat it in the case.

AppleAirPodsPro2nd Generation - MagSafe Charging

But thanks to Apple’s adaptive EQ that dynamically adjusts audio quality, I could stream my music even at low volume without sacrificing much in terms of sound fidelity. So, besides not having to pump loudness at all times, this helps deliver better battery endurance too. And with the quick charging feature, I can also get an hour of listening time with just 5 minutes of charge!

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Review: Conclusion

Okay, time to wrap up this review of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). It is—without any shred of doubt—Apple’s best-sounding pair of in-ear wireless earbuds by a long shot. It carries on the remarkable heritage of its predecessor by improving on multiple aspects including noise cancellation, audio quality, battery life, and more. So if you’ve been itching to ditch your first-gen AirPods Pro for a new one, this thing is absolutely worth it.

And if you’ve been holding on to the very first AirPods with that flimsy open-ear design, this is going to be a magical upgrade in every possible way. Add to that all the Apple-exclusive perks like Find My support, Spatial Audio, in-ear detection, automatic switching, and more, the second-gen AirPods Pro should be a no-brainer to most iPhone owners.

AppleAirPodsPro2nd Generation - Design 2

Should be, not is. That’s because if you truly care about the absolute best ANC or the best sound quality there is—and can forego the benefits of the Apple ecosystem—competition like Sony’s WF-1000XM4 or the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II should be on top of your shopping list instead. And of course, Android smartphone owners have plenty of incredible options to choose from instead of having to give in to Apple’s AirPods.

Songs referenced in the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) review:

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Excellent fit and comfort
  • Versatile charging case with U1 chip, speaker
  • Terrific active noise cancellation
  • Unbeatable Transparency Mode
  • Great sound quality
  • Decent microphones
  • Nice battery endurance

Cons:

  • Many Apple-exclusive features
  • Available in just one color option
  • Lightning port
  • The audio quality could’ve been slightly richer

Sony announces its first over-the-counter hearing aids

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Sony announces its first over-the-counter hearing aids

Sony Electronics and WS Audiology have collaborated to bring over-the-counter hearing aids to the US market. Hearing aids can now be purchased in the States without a prescription thanks to a new FDA regulation. Sony’s first two hearing aids will be the CRE-C10 and CRE-E10. Here, we will look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Sony hearing aids in Nepal.

Sony Hearing Aids Overview:

The CRE-C10 and CRE-E10 hearing aids from Sony are designed to fit a variety of people based on their unique needs, situations, and lives. Via Sony‘s app, users can easily set up their hearing aids to adapt to their speech and surroundings. The Sony Hearing Control app also has a ‘self-fit’ feature via which the device self-adjusted to the most favorable pre-defined hearing profiles.

CREE10 Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aids

The Sony CRE-E10 is designed for everyday wear and looks more like earbuds than hearing aids. It is fitted with a rechargeable battery that offers up to 26 hours of usage. It supports wireless charging and has an IP68 rating.

 

The new hearing aids from Sony are also capable of streaming music but the feature is iOS-exclusive for now. Moreover, it has two mics on each earbud for effective sound amplification and cancellation.

CREC10 Self-Fitting OTC Hearing Aids

The Sony CRE-C10 hearing aid is touted as one of the smallest hearing aid on the market. With its sleek design, the device is barely visible when worn. Sony also promises “prescription-grade sound quality” with its CRE-C10 hearing aids. Unlike the E10, the C10 does not have any sort of IP rating.

It ships with four soft ear tips of different sizes for a comfortable fit. The hearing aids are capable of adjusting the sound based on the surroundings and offer effective noise cancellation. Rated for up to 70 hours of continuous usage, the Sony CRE-C10 is powered by replaceable Size 10 Air (RP536) batteries.

Sony Hearing Aids Price in Nepal and Availability

The Sony CRE-E10 and CRE-C10 will retail for USD 1300 and USD 1000 respectively. The C10 will go on sale starting this month, whereas the E10 will arrive this winter. We expect the two Sony hearing aids to retail for NPR 193,999 and NPR 148,999 respectively if they launch in Nepal.

Sony Hearing Aids Price in the US Price in Nepal (Expected)
CRE-E10 USD 1,300 NPR 193,999
CRE-C10 USD 1,000 NPR 148,999
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

Smartphone app may soon diagnose cancer by human voice

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Smartphone app may soon diagnose cancer by human voice

Scientists from twelve different research institutes are collaborating to develop an app that can detect chronic health conditions. The app will search for clues to the illness using the sound of the human voice and artificial intelligence. Continue reading to learn more about the cancer detection app.

Cancer Detection App:

A brief

Experts in the medical field are aware that conditions such as Parkinson’s and stroke affect speech, whereas lung disease affects breathing. In a similar way, a group of scientists from 12 different institutes hopes that by using a computer program and the sound of human voices, they will be able to diagnose a wide range of health conditions, including cancer and depression.

Audio recording in smartphone

 

The group of experts will work together to collect the voices of people suffering from various health conditions, focusing on five areas: neurological disorders, voice disorders, mood disorders, respiratory disorders, and pediatric disorders such as autism and speech delays.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) is funding the project with a whopping $130 million as part of its Bridge to Artificial Intelligence program, which aims to accelerate the widespread use of AI in the medical field.

The App

Dr. Yael Bensoussan leads a team of 12 researchers from various institutions. And she believes that the ‘voice has the potential to be a biomarker for several health conditions.’

Over the course of four years, these experts hope to collect 30,000 voice samples. Along with it, the team will collect other data, such as clinical and genetic information. The accuracy of the detection algorithm is expected to increase as the number of voice samples in the app grows.

Entering your voice into the system will be as simple as recording it with your smartphone’s microphone. After recording the audio, the app would compare it to its database to see if there were any health conditions.

“Creating an effective framework that incorporates huge data sets using the best of today’s technology in a collaborative manner will revolutionize the way that voice is used as a tool for helping clinicians diagnose diseases and disorders,” Dr. Bensoussan told USF Health.

If the app achieves its goal, it will revolutionize the entire healthcare industry. More importantly, the app can help residents in rural areas where the health care system is lacking.

Cancer Detection App: Final Words 

Nonetheless, this isn’t the first attempt at developing an app-based cancer detection system. Kijiji was developing an app that claimed the same thing, but it is no longer available. However, Dr. Bensoussan’s team has a significant advantage in that they rely on a large amount of data. Furthermore, the NIH is financially supporting the project, so resources should not be an issue in this case.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Motorola Moto G72 with Helio G99, 108MP camera launching soon in Nepal

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Motorola Moto G72 with Helio G99, 108MP camera launching soon in Nepal

After several teasers, Motorola has finally launched the G72, its latest budget offering, in India. The phone appears to be very appealing, with key features such as a high-res camera, 120Hz OLED screen, and a large battery. Here, we will go through the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Motorola Moto G72 in Nepal.

Motorola Moto G72 Overview:

Design, Display

Starting off with the looks, the Moto G72 shares a design language similar to that of the more premium Edge 30 lineup. Available in Meteorite Grey and Polar Blue color options, the handset is IP52-rated and weighs around 166 grams.

Motorola Moto G72 - Design, Display

The 10-bit pOLED display on the Motorola Moto G72 measures 6.55-inch diagonally, whilst offering FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. Furthermore, it has a 402PPI pixel density and at an aspect ratio of 20:9, covers 86.5% of the phone’s front.

Performance

Under the hood, the Moto G72 houses a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. The chipset has been paired with 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB storage. Moto G72 boots on Android 12-based My UX skin out of the box. Motorola promises three years of security updates and one Android update.

Camera

The Motorola Moto G72 has a triple-camera setup on its back. The main camera is a 108MP sensor whereas the other two are an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro shooter. Turning the phone around, you get a 16MP snapper for video calls and selfies.

Rest of the specs

Moving on, the phone houses a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast wired charging via USB Type-C. For audio, it has dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The phone has dual-SIM 4G, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, OTG, and NFC for connectivity. Likewise, security is handled by an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Motorola Moto G72 Specifications:

  • Display: 6.55″ FHD+ pOLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color depth
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99 (6nm)
  • Memory: 6GB LPDDR4X, 128GB storage
  • Software & UI: Android 12 with MY UX on top
  • Rear Camera: Triple
    – 108MP Primary
    – 8MP Ultrawide
    – 2MP Macro
  • Front Camera: 16MP sensor (punch-hole cutout)
  • Audio: Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos
  • Security: In-display fingerprint sensor, Face unlock, ThinkShield
  • Battery: 5000mAh, 33W wired charging

Motorola Moto G72 Price in Nepal and Availability

Moto G72 is available in India for INR 18,999 for the sole 6/128GB model. We expect the price of Motorola Moto G72 to be NPR 34,999 when it launches in Nepal.

Motorola Moto G72 Price in India Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB INR 18,999 NPR 34,999
  • Meanwhile, check out our list of best phones under USD 400.

Xiaomi launches self-cleaning Mijia smart drink maker with a 4L tank

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Xiaomi launches self-cleaning Mijia smart drink maker with a 4L tank

Xiaomi has launched a new self-cleaning Mijia Smart Drink Maker in China. It comes with a variety of blending and pulping options. Once the task is carried out, it sterilizes itself. Here, we will go over the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Xiaomi Mijia Smart Drink Maker in Nepal.

Xiaomi Mijia Smart Drink Maker Overview:

The highlight of the Xiaomi Mijia Smart Drink Maker is its self-cleaning ability. The appliance uses a triple clean technology that utilizes water with the blade stirring it at 75ºC as well as steam for sterilization.

For effective blending, the blender includes a 6-leaf stainless steel knife and users can adjust the hardness or softness of the grinding with 9-speed controls. The Mijia Smart Drink Maker has a 4L water tank which is enough for two cycles of pulping and self-cleaning. Additionally, the tank can keep water hot for up to 4 hours.

Xiaomi Mija Smart Drink Maker - Design

Over 50 Recipes

Connecting the smart drink maker to the Mijia app (Android | iOS) lets you pick from over 50 cloud-based cooking recipes. It can make both hot and cold drinks, including soy milk soup, milkshakes, and tea.

The rated heating and stirring power are 1200W and 500W, respectively. Inside the box, you get a glass cup, a plastic cup, a brush, one measuring cup, and the blender itself.

Xiaomi Mijia Smart Drink Maker Price in Nepal and Availability (Expected)

The Xiaomi Mijia Smart Drink Maker is available in China for CNY 1,099, roughly USD 153. We expect it to retail in Nepal for around NPR 22,999 if it launches in Nepal.

Xiaomi Home Appliance Price in China (Oficial) Price in Nepal (Expected)
Mijia Smart Drink Maker CNY 1,099 NPR 22,999
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Xiaomi 12 Lite.

DJI OSMO Action 3 with 1/1.7″ CMOS sensor launched in Nepal

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DJI OSMO Action 3 with 1/1.7″ CMOS sensor launched in Nepal

DJI announced the third iteration of its Osmo series of action cameras last month, the Osmo Action 3. Touted as the most powerful DJI action camera, Action 3 has now launched in Nepal. So let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and official price of the DJI Osmo Action 3 in Nepal.

DJI Osmo Action 3 Overview:

Design

The Action 3 comes in a one-piece design similar to the first-gen Osmo Action. It is waterproof up to 16m without a case and DJI also offers a special case if you want to dig even deeper underwater.

DJI Osmo Action 3 Design

Likewise, the Osmo Action 3 is the first action camera to feature dual touch screens—one on the front and one on the back. This lets users access camera settings from any angle. The touchscreen is also Gorilla Glass protected and can withstand 1.5m drops (5ft). The screens also have a hydrophobic coating, allowing you to use them even with wet fingers.

Videography

The Osmo Action 3 has a 1/1.7-inch sensor, can shoot 4K videos at 60fps and 120fps, and has a 155° field of view (FoV). For a variety of dynamic shooting scenarios, the action cam also has three distinct image stabilization options.

The first is RockSteady 3.0, which provides a stable and immersive first-person perspective at up to 4K/120fps. There’s also a HorizonSteady mode, which eliminates camera shake from all angles and keeps the horizon level regardless of camera orientation. Finally, HorizonBalancing technology can correct horizon tilt in footage by up to 45 degrees.

It can also shoot vertical videos, for which the Action 3 includes a protective frame with two attachment points allowing you to quickly switch between horizontal and vertical video modes.

Rest of the specs

The action camera has a run time of 160 minutes at 1080p/30fps resolution and no EIS support. DJI has also improved the thermals on the Osmo Action 3, allowing for continuous 4K/60fps shooting until the battery runs out of power. It charges quickly as well, reaching 80% in 18 minutes. A full charger, however, takes about 40 minutes.

DJI Osmo Action 3 Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 70.5×44.2×32.8 mm, 145 grams
  • Water resistance: 16 meters (without case), 60 meters (with case)
  • Display:
    • Front: 1.4-inch, 326 PPI, 320×320
    • Rear: 2.25-inch, 326 PPI, 360×640
  • Camera: 1/1.7” CMOS, 155º FOV lens
  • Video: Up to 4K@120fps
  • Battery: 1770mAh
  • Run Time: 160 min (1080p/60fps, no EIS, screen off)

DJI Osmo Action 3 Price in Nepal and Availability

The price of the DJI Osmo Action 3 starts at Rs. 49,000 for the standard kit. There is also an Adventure bundle, which includes two extra batteries, a battery case, and a 1.5m extension rod, which costs Rs. 65,000.

DJI Osmo Action 3 Price in Nepal Availability
Standard Kit Rs. 49,000 Hukut
Adventure Kit Rs. 65,000 Hukut
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

4/64GB variant of the Oppo A16k gets a price cut in Nepal — again

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4/64GB variant of the Oppo A16k gets a price cut in Nepal — again

Oppo has once again slashed the price of the launched A16k. The phone was initially launched in Nepal back in April. In this article, we will be discussing the key specs, features, official price, and availability of the Oppo A16k in Nepal.

Oppo A16k Overview:

Oppo A16k also features the same 3D-curved body as the vanilla A16. That being said, it is both slimmer and lighter at 7.85mm and 175 grams, respectively. It is IPX4-rated against water splashes.

On the front, it sports the same 6.52-inch HD+ screen with a noticeable chin and waterdrop notch for the 5MP selfie camera.

It is an LCD screen with 71% NTSC coverage and up to 480 nits of typical brightness. In addition, the phone even has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

There is no change in the chipset as well. Oppo has used the Helio G35 chipset in the A16K, which is the same chip as in the A16. It is currently available in a single memory configuration of 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. You can expand the latter up to 1TB using an external MicroSD card.

Oppo A16K Color Options

At the back, you can notice the square-camera bump, which is nothing like what we get on the A16. Though the extra circular marking makes it look like a dual-camera setup, A16K only has a single camera setup. Here, you get a 13MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture and an 80-degree field of view (FoV).

Fueling the phone is a 4,230mAh battery, which only supports 10W charging. It runs on Android 11 with ColorOS 11.1 on top. Sadly, there is no fingerprint scanner for biometrics.

OPPO A16k Specifications:

  • Display: 6.52-inch LCD with HD+ resolution (720 x 1600 pixels)
  • Rear Camera: Single; 13MP primary
  • Front Camera: 5MP sensor
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G35 (12nm mobile platform)
  • GPU: PowerVR GE8320
  • Memory: 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB eMMC 5.1 storage (expandable)
  • Software: Android 11 with ColorOS 11.1 on top
  • Battery: 4,230mAh, 10W charging (micro USB port)
  • Security: Face Unlock

Oppo A16k Price and Availability (Official)

After the recent price drop, the new price of the Oppo A16k (4/64GB) in Nepal is Rs. 17,490. There is also a cheaper 3/32GB variant of A16k which comes with an Rs. 15,990 price tag in Nepal.

Oppo A16k Price in Nepal (Official) 
3/32GB Rs. 15,990
4/64GB Rs. 19,990 17,990 17,490
  • Meanwhile, check out our unboxing video of the Samsung Galaxy F23.

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 Review: For The Fitness Freaks

Nikhil Shrestha
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Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 Review: For The Fitness Freaks

This is our full review of the new Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4. So in case you haven’t noticed, it’s absolutely raining smartwatches these days! Samsung kicked things off with the Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro a few months ago, both of which introduce iterative upgrades over last year’s Galaxy Watch 4 series. Fitbit then announced a trio of premium smartwatches (Versa 4, Sense 2) and fitness trackers (Inspire 3) after two long years of hiatus, whereas Apple really wowed the wearable crowd with the USD 800 Apple Watch Ultra along with the second-gen Watch SE and the Watch Series 8.

And Google has finally unveiled the long-awaited Pixel Watch as well, combining the health and fitness tracking power of Fitbit and the updated Wear OS platform.

So if you’re in the market for a new smartwatch, there hasn’t been a better time than right now. In the middle of all this, Amazfit also launched the GTR 4 and GTS 4 smartwatches for USD 200, which bring some welcome upgrades over their predecessors. But unlike the rest of the competition, I haven’t seen many people talk about these new Amazfit watches as much—despite their impressive feature set. Especially in terms of their fitness-tracking abilities and battery life.

Anyway, my team and I have been testing both of these smartwatches for over a week now. And in this review, I’ll be discussing all our experiences with the Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4, including what we like about them and what we don’t.

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 Review: Specifications

GTR 4 GTS 4
Case Material Aluminum alloy frame, polycarbonate bottom shell
Strap Style 22mm universal (fluoroelastomer, leather, nylon) 20mm universal (fluoroelastomer, nylon)
Color Options Superspeed Black, Vintage Brown, Racetrack Grey Infinite Black, Misty White, Autumn Brown, Rosebud Pink
Dimensions 46 x 46 x 10.6 mm 42.7 x 36.5 x 9.9 mm
Weight 34 gm (with strap) 27 gm (with strap)
Display 1.43” (466 x 466 px), 326 PPI 1.75″ (390 x 450 px), 341 PPI
Protection Tempered glass, Anti-fingerprint coating
Properties AMOLED panel, Always on Display (AoD)
Processor Unspecified
Memory Unspecified
Battery 475mAh (Up to 14 days*) 300mAh (Up to 8 days*)
Charging Magnetic charging
OS Zepp OS 2.0
Sensors BioTracker 4.0 PPG biometric (blood oxygen, 4PD + 2LED), Acceleration, Ambient light, Barometer, Geomagnetic, Gyroscope
Health Tracking 24/7 heart rate, stress, SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, PAI assessment, one-tap measurement, menstrual cycle tracking
Sports Modes 150+ exercise modes, 8 smart recognition (ExerSense)
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE), WiFi 2.4GHz
Navigation Dual-band circularly-polarized GPS antenna, 6 system positioning
Bluetooth Calls Yes (built-in microphone, speaker)
Durability 5 ATM water-resistant
Compatibility Android 7.0 and above, or iOS 12.0 and above
Companion App Zepp (Android | iOS)
Price in Nepal Rs. 31,000 (Buy here) Rs. 31,000 (Buy here)

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 Review:

Design and Build

  • Aluminum alloy frame, polycarbonate back
  • 20mm (GTS 4), 22mm (GTR 4) strap
  • 5 ATM water-resistant

As always, allow me to kick things off with the design side of things. One thing I’ve always admired about Amazfit’s premium smartwatch lineup is that you get to pick between a circle (GTR) or a squared-edge (GTS) look without sacrificing any critical feature between the two. Except for battery life maybe, but that’s purely a limitation of their physical attributes, so it’s all good.

On the contrary, an Apple Watch sticks you with a square design whether you like it or not, while Samsung’s Galaxy Watches are only available on a circular dial.

Another thing I like about their design is also how clean they look. So, I can wear it to formal events or informal gatherings without the watch drawing any sort of unwanted attention. I’ve got both of them with this really cool nylon strap, but you can also find them with regular silicone—or even a leather option for the GTR 4. And since Amazfit uses a universal strap approach on its wearables, you can swap it out with any of your existing or other third-party watch straps too.

20mm for the GTS 4 and 22mm for the GTR 4.

Okay, while these nylon straps are plenty lightweight and comfortable, they are relatively more water-absorbent compared to traditional rubber straps. So if you’re someone who swims every now and then or just sweats a lot during workouts, you might want to go with other strap options instead. Not that exposure to water or sweat is gonna damage the strap or anything, but it’s just that you’ll end up having to wash it way more often.

I think the Racetrack Grey GTR 4 looks ugly

And this grey-red color mix on the GTR 4’s strap isn’t doing it for me either. Although the golden-brown theme on the GTS 4 looks quite attractive—and frankly a bit luxurious as well—I think this sporty look of the Amazfit GTR 4 is a big swing and a miss. But hey, looks are subjective anyway so if you like it, that’s great!

For navigation, there’s a familiar rotating crown on the right frame whereas the GTR 4 has an additional button right below it that can be customized to open any app you’d like. It launches the workout app by default and I’ve kept it as is. If you recall, last year’s GTR 3 had a circular button on both ends but Amazfit has switched things up this time—for better or worse. I feel like it looks a bit asymmetrical, to be honest.

Display

  • GTR 4: 1.43″, GTS 4: 1.75″ AMOLED panel
  • Circular/Squarish dial, Always on Display
  • Tempered glass, anti-fingerprint coating

Okay, moving on to the display, the Amazfit GTS 4 stays true to its predecessor in every way possible. From the display size to resolution, pixel density, brightness level, and everything else. All this is to say that this AMOLED screen is undoubtedly a pleasure to look at.

You don’t need to worry about outdoor visibility on these smartwatches either because they can get bright enough to accommodate you through harsh sunny outdoors. Or dim enough to not pierce your eyes when it gets dark. I also like how its automatic brightness adjustment is quick enough to adjust to bright ambient conditions, even though it’s a bit slow the other way around.

But unlike the GTS 4, the GTR 4 introduces quite a few changes in the display department. Once again, for better or worse. While the GTR 3 had this seamless, sorta flowy display, Amazfit has doubled down on the adventurous, outdoorsy look here by raising the screen above the bezels. It does appear somewhat tougher—sure—but I think would’ve made more sense if it also had a Gorilla Glass or sapphire glass protection instead of simple tempered glass.

Personalizing the display

Besides the revamped physical layout, the GTR 4 enjoys a slightly larger screen real estate too. 1.43” versus 1.39” on its predecessor. And when it comes to customizing the display, these Amazfit smartwatches let you choose from multiple color profiles, icon packs, and watch faces.

There’s no way to install watch faces from Play Store here like on Wear OS-powered smartwatches, but I gotta say that Amazfit’s selection of watch faces is pretty neat in itself. Including some animated, some customizable, and even some interactive options—like this fishing one. It requires your constant attention (which gets old pretty fast), but if you’ve got some time to kill and have nothing else at your disposal except your watch, this can be a mini-game of sorts.

Software

  • Zepp OS 2.0 (from Amazfit)

Or better yet, you can actually install apps and games from Amazfit’s own App Store. Yep, the upgraded Zepp OS 2.0 platform on these smartwatches is loaded with a lot more mini-apps and games compared to the first iteration of Zepp OS on the GTR 3 and GTS 3. But I guess I was expecting this app ecosystem to grow a lot bigger in the span of this one year because the number of third-party apps here is still pretty limited.

I also recall seeing Spotify support on Zepp OS on an official Amazfit listing, but that’s nowhere to be seen. A quick Google search directs me to a Reddit thread, which reveals that Amazfit is apparently willing to bring the app onto its platform; but it’s actually Spotify that’s keeping it all from happening. So instead, I have to load mp3 files onto the watch like a caveman to be able to stream some music here. At least the “Notify for Maps” app is somewhat useful considering there’s no Google Maps for Amazfit watches.

Super-smooth performance

On the other hand, I’m really fond of how fluid its UI/UX is. From all the animations to touch responsiveness, everything feels snappy here. And getting around this UI is pretty simple as well. You can customize all the app tiles that appear on the sides, whereas the notifications and the control center are laid out at the bottom and top portions, respectively.

Talking about notifications, they’re not actionable like on Wear OS smartwatches, but Amazfit lets you send quick replies on a few apps like Messenger. And on multiple occasions, I’ve received app notifications way too late here.

I had the same issue with last year’s Amazfit watches too, so seeing the same flaws repeat yet again is rather frustrating. The inconsistency in font style and strength throughout the UI is also pretty dull. It’s seemingly different depending on what screen you’re on. This might easily be the nerdiest nitpick I’ve talked about so far but it’s something I wish Amazfit would work on.

Health, Fitness Tracking

  • 150+ workout modes
    • With automatic detection for 8 of them
  • 24/7 heart rate, stress, SpO2 monitoring
  • Sleep, menstrual cycle tracking, one-tap measurement
  • BioTracker 4.0 PPG biometric sensor

With that out of the way, let’s now get into the health and fitness tracking features of the GTR 4 and the GTS 4. I’ve already been a fan of Amazfit’s health monitoring abilities on its previous smartwatches and these guys take it a step further with the new suite of features and the new BioTracker 4.0 PPG sensor.

According to Amazfit, it takes 33% more data than the last-gen BioTracker sensor for more accurate heart rate, stress, and blood-oxygen readings. And yeah, I am indeed getting better SpO2 readings here compared to how the GTR 3 and GTS 3 scared me a couple of times with dangerously low blood oxygen measurements.

Other than this, these watches are pretty reliable at logging your steps and heart-rate levels too. Amazfit says it has also updated sleep tracking this time but based on my experience, they still fail to record my awake time every now and then.

Not that it’s a routine occurrence or anything but there have been a couple of instances where I abruptly got up in the middle of the night, and that record is missing completely. But when it comes to logging my time to bed and the time I get up, these watches have been spot on all the time. To help develop good sleeping habits, I can also create a sleep schedule now; with the watch helping me follow through via notifications, smart alarms, and other insights inside the app. That’s pretty neat!

Deeper insights into your sleep cycles

Furthermore, Amazfit’s sleep tracking now includes breathing rate as well—alongside light, deep, REM sleep stages, and sleep breathing quality.

While the latter is basically a measure of your SpO2 level throughout the night, sleep breathing or respiratory rate determines how many times you breathe per minute when you’re asleep. Its normal benchmark for adults is 12 – 16 breaths per minute and according to these watches, my average respiration rate is right in the middle. All this sounds pretty great but I would’ve still liked to see a skin temperature sensor here for even more nuanced sleep tracking.

Amazfit’s one-click monitoring is yet another feature that’s worth discussing.

Instead of having to individually measure different health metrics, it can take your heart rate, SpO2, stress, and breathing rate records with just one tap. I do wish the watch would log all this data somewhere because as things stand, there’s no way to view previous measurements for future reference.

So. many. fitness tracking options

Anyway, there’s a lot to love about the fitness tracking capacity of these GTR and GTS duo. You can track over 150 different sports modes, whereas the watch can detect 8 of them by itself. And if you’re someone who likes to tinker with precisely how long, how intense, or how relaxed a workout should be, I’m sure you’re gonna love all the options Amazfit has thrown in here.

I’m not a fitness freak by any means but its interval training feature might just persuade me to be one. With this, I can customize my running, cycling, and a couple of other workouts with warp-up and warm-down sessions—along with how long I’d like to train and how long I’d like to rest. I think this could be the perfect tool for someone looking to build an exercise regimen.

And Amazfit’s goal-based PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence) metric should also motivate you to exercise more. It essentially rewards you with daily points based on how active you were throughout the day. Kinda similar to Active Zone Minutes on Fitbit smartwatches. I would’ve also liked to compare its real-time navigation feature by importing route files against the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, but at the time of writing this review, Amazfit is yet to enable it via an OTA update on both GTR 4 and GTS 4. Same goes for “Fall Detection”.

GPS navigation is pretty great

I am pretty impressed with its GPS tracking though. It is still off by a certain margin even when setting the accuracy to the best level—which could be due to the congested streets of Kathmandu—but it can latch on to a GPS signal quite fast and the recorded workout trail is perfectly serviceable as well.

Likewise, your health stats sync with the Zepp app, which plays nice with both Android and iOS devices. And I also like how everything is well-organized and easy to read.

Battery

  • GTR 4: 475mAh, GTS 4: 300mAh
  • Magnetic wireless charging

Now, the battery life situation on the Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4 is pretty interesting. Both of them are fueled by notably larger batteries, but their claimed and actual endurance is actually lower than what their predecessor managed. This is likely because of the new BioTracker 4.0 sensor that takes your heart-rate readings much more frequently and all the other feature upgrades.

GTR 4 GTR 3 GTS 4 GTS 3
Battery 475mAh 450mAh 300mAh 250mAh
Typical usage (claimed) 14 days 21 days 8 days 12 days
Heavy usage (claimed) 7 days 10 days 4 days 6 days

Still, the Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4 lasted me for like 7 and 4 days on average under my relatively rigorous usage. That’s more than I can say for a Wear OS or an Apple Watch! My usage pattern typically includes turning on all continuous health monitoring options, using GPS for a couple of hours, and making a few calls every once in a while. Yes, you can make or accept Bluetooth phone calls directly via the watch this time. Something I sorely missed on the last-gen Amazfit watches.

Just average call quality

As for the call quality itself, it’s fine for casual phone calls. The audio coming out of the onboard speaker is a bit sharper than I’d like, but it’s no biggie. And when you need to charge them, the GTS 4 takes about an hour and 15 minutes to go from 1 to 100%; or roughly 2 hours for the GTR 4.

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 Review: Conclusion

So there you have it, our full review of the new Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4. As I’ve discussed all through this review, the GTR and GTS 4 offer a healthy blend of a classy design, a nice display, great battery life, and a bunch of health and fitness tracking features. All at a relatively affordable price compared to what other brands charge for their premium wearables.

So if all these stuff are something you prioritize when shopping for a new smartwatch, then I’m sure you’re gonna love either of them. But as I mentioned in the very beginning, the wearable market is flooded with incredibly impressive smartwatches right now. And the biggest competition to these Amazfit watches is definitely the new Fitbit Versa 4.

Price in Nepal Price in the US Price in India
Fitbit Versa 4 N/A USD 230 INR 20,499
Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 NPR 31,000 USD 200 INR 16,999

For just a couple of bucks more, it offers advanced health and fitness tracking features and equally formidable battery life. I don’t mean to downplay the ability of these Amazfit watches to track your everyday health and exercises or anything, but Fitbit is your best bet if you’re serious about activity tracking. On the other hand, if you want a more versatile, Wear OS-powered smartwatch that can install apps from the Play Store and such, then you can find last year’s Galaxy Watch 4 series at some amazing deals right now.

Amazfit GTR 4, GTS 4 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Comfortable, lightweight design
  • Great AMOLED display
  • Zepp OS 2.0 is a lot more powerful
  • Decent health, fitness monitoring features
  • Nice battery backup
  • Works with both Android and iOS devices

Cons:

  • Occasional notification sync-up issue
  • Sleep tracking needs some work
  • Zepp OS not as capable as Wear OS
  • Some features unavailable at launch

Netflix to roll out ad-supported subscription plan in November

GadgetByte
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Netflix to roll out ad-supported subscription plan in November

Earlier this year, the video-streaming giant, Netflix confirmed its partnership with Microsoft to provide consumers with an ad-supported subscription plan. The announcement came following the loss of 200,000 users in the first quarter of 2022. The service is rolling out initially in 12 countries starting in November. Read along to know more about the Netflix ad-supported subscription plan.

Netflix Ad-Supported Subscription Plan:

Netflix’s subscription base declined from 221.8 million to 221.6 million in the first quarter of 2022. The company has further forecasted a 2 million loss of global paid subscribers in the second quarter.

According to Netflix, the loss was mostly due to the suspension of its service in Russia after the country invaded Ukraine. It resulted in a loss of 700,000 customers. The attack might also have had a broader impact, as Netflix reported a slowdown in its operations in Central and Eastern Europe in March, which corresponded with the commencement of the conflict.

Password sharing of one account to many could be another reason for the loss of subscribers. To address that, the streaming platform recently began testing a feature that would require members to pay an additional fee if they share their account with anyone other than their own family. 

Netflix’s share price decreased more than 20% after the company announced that it actually lost ground in terms of subscribers. Responding to that Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings said that “I know it’s disappointing for investors”. 

Cheaper plan

So, to make up for the loss, Netflix is announcing a lower-priced plan with ads. Hastings said, “I am a bigger fan of consumer choice. And allowing consumers who would like to have a lower price, and are advertising-tolerant, get what they want, makes a lot of sense”.

This cheaper plan will first be available in 12 countries and will show ads of about 4 to 5 minutes per hour (although that may vary). The resolution is also limited to 720p/HD, and users will be able to stream content to only one device at a time.

Netflix with Ads plan priceMoreover, Netflix says the ads will run for 15 or 30 seconds and will appear before and during content. Users are even not allowed to download their favorite movies and TV shows in this plan.

The streaming giant is also taking steps to provide advertisers with broad targeting capabilities by country and genre (e.g. action, drama, romance, sci-fi). Advertisers will also be able to avoid having their ads appear on content that is inconsistent with their brand (e.g. sex, nudity, or graphic violence).

Netflix Ad-Supported Subscription Plan: Price and Launch

The ad-supported Netflix plan will be available in the United States from November 3 for $6.99 per month. Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom will also have access to it. Netflix has also confirmed that it will roll out the plan in other countries over time.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the iPhone 14 Pro.

iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: A Masterclass In Big Flagships

Yural Maskey
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iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: A Masterclass In Big Flagships

Before jumping into this iPhone 14 Pro Max review, let me give you a quick backstory. So it’s been like 2 weeks now that I have been using the most hyped phone of 2022—the iPhone 14 Pro Max. If you don’t know about me, it’s been 2 years since I switched to the Apple ecosystem.

My daily driver before using this phone has been the iPhone 13 Pro Max and I use a MacBook as my daily driver as well! And after seeing all the cool and exciting stuff during this year’s Apple event like this new notch, the new camera hardware, and an even faster A16 Bionic chipset, I pre-ordered it right away. However, it is still being delayed. So I had to go to scalpers and pay NPR 2 lakh 65 thousand to get this thing, which roughly converts to USD 2,000!

And scalping is a common practice in most markets like Dubai, Qatar, Hong Kong, and India as well. If you’re planning on importing it from the US though, make sure your current network carrier supports eSIM because the US variants of the iPhone 14 series exclusively support eSIM and not the traditional nano-SIM. Anyway, since I am a reviewer, I have to get them as quickly as possible, although I’d suggest you wait a while when the prices get back to normal and stocks are easily available.

iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: Specifications

  • Body: 77.6 x 160.7 x 7.85mm, 240gm, Stainless steel frames, Corning Gorilla Glass back, IP68 dust/water resistant
  • Display: 6.7-inches Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, Ceramic Shield protection, Always-on Display (AoD)
  • Other Properties: Dynamic Island, 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor), HDR, True Tone, Wide Color (P3)
  • Resolution: (2796 x 1290 pixels), 460 PPI, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Apple A16 Bionic 5G (4nm mobile platform)
  • CPU: Hexa-core:
    – 2x “Everest” (3.46 GHz)
    – 4x “Sawtooth” (2.02 GHz)
  • GPU: Apple 5-core GPU
  • Memory: 6GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256/512GB/1TB NVMe storage (fixed)
  • Software & UI: Apple iOS 16
  • Rear Camera: Triple (with Adaptive True Tone LED flash);
    – Wide: 48MP, f/1.78, Second-gen sensor-shift OIS, 7-element lens
    – Telephoto: 12MP, f/2.8, 77mm, OIS, 3x optical zoom, 6-element lens
    – Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120° FoV, 6-element lens
    – LiDAR Scanner (night mode portraits)
  • Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9 TrueDepth camera, 6-element lens
  • Audio: Built-in stereo speakers, Built-in microphones, No 3.5mm jack
  • Security: TrueDepth camera for Face ID facial recognition
  • Sensors: High-g accelerometer, High dynamic range gyro, Barometer, Proximity, Dual ambient light
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano + eSIM) or Dual eSIM (US only), WiFi 6 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Galileo / Glonass / QZSS / BeiDou / iBeacon, Lightning port, NFC, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
  • Battery: 4323mAh with up to 27W fast charging, 15W MagSafe / 7.5W Qi wireless charging (no power adapter provided)
  • Color Options: Space Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
  • What’s Inside The Box: iPhone 14 Pro Max, USB-C to Lightning cable, User manual and other documents
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 207,990 (128GB) | Rs. 226,990 (256GB) | Rs. 256,990 (512GB) | Rs. 304,990 (1TB)
Buy iPhone 14 Pro Max here

iPhone 14 Pro Max Review:

Regardless, I am really enjoying my time with my 14 Pro Max! The iPhone 13 Pro Max was almost a perfect phone; in fact, it’s still better than most Android flagships of 2022. And with the 14 Pro Max, I think the gap is only getting bigger and bigger! So I am really hoping the upcoming Galaxy S23 Ultra and other Android flagships will bring some major upgrades! Otherwise, I think a lot of Android users will be tempted to switch to an iPhone more than ever.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max - Design 2

It’s not just because of how good the new iPhones are, but in this part of the world, iPhones are also considered a status symbol, a bragging tool. And I realized it last week because since the launch of the iPhone 14 series, at Gadgetbyte, we have received a ton of calls & messages from iPhone 13 Pro Max users asking about the availability of the 14 Pro Max.

Design & Build

  • 77.6 x 160.7 x 7.85mm, 240 grams
  • Ceramic Shield front, Glass back, Stainless steel frames
  • IP68 dust/water resistant

But let me just tell you that you won’t find that many differences or huge improvements between these two phones for you to upgrade! Your iPhone 13 Pro Max is just fine! And even if you are an iPhone 12 Pro user, I think you should wait for next year’s iPhone 15 series instead.

However, if you’ve been rocking the iPhone X, the iPhone 11—or an ancient one with a touch ID—this is going to be a heck of an upgrade! I was also expecting some big design changes this time around. But it looks and feels pretty much the same as last year, except for a slightly bigger camera lens and the location of the power button.

In terms of color options, there’s this new deep purple variant, which I think a lot of people are going to end up getting because that is what visually separates the 13 Pro Max and the 14 Pro Max from the back. The gold and silver color remains the same, but the black option is now much darker and is called “Space Black” instead of graphite.

I would have liked it if Apple had also continued the “Sierra Blue” variant from the iPhone 13 Pro Max though!

Anyway, I have never been a big fan of how heavy the Pro Max series of iPhones is! I understand Apple is using premium, dense materials like stainless steel and glass back which contributes to the overall weight here, but the 14 Pro Max feels a bit too bulky and heavy for someone with small hands like me. You will get used to it eventually though, but I hope Apple engineers will find a way to make future iPhones a little more lightweight!

Display

  • 6.7-inches Super Retina XDR OLED display
  • ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate
  • Ceramic Shield protection, Dynamic Island

Over on the front, I am loving this new notch—which Apple calls “Dynamic Island”. It’s not a game changer by any means, but this little animation here when interacting with the phone is pretty dope. I know there are a lot of people complaining that it’s just a gimmick and a marketing stunt, but after using it for a while, I think it’s a really interesting quality-of-life improvement that needs to be appreciated.

I like how it shows up charging or low battery message, or the fact that it has made interacting with Spotify and Apple Music a lot easier as well.

But what’s interesting to understand is that Dynamic Island will only get more fun and more productive once Apple opens up the door for third-party developers to make the most out of it. For instance, I use the Livescore app a lot to stay updated with Premier League games, and they could add a feature into Dynamic Island to notify you as soon as a team scores a goal! That would be pretty cool!

Not much of an upgrade in the display itself

Now, about the core quality of the display itself, I gotta be honest… I didn’t notice that much of an improvement coming from the 13 Pro Max. It can get quite bright outdoors, so you will be able to properly use it on a bright sunny day, which was a slight struggle on last year’s model. But under indoor conditions, there’s not much of a difference, to be honest.

Still, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has one of the best displays you can find on a smartphone. Even according to DXOMark and Displaymate’s lab test, this is the best display on a smartphone! It has great color uniformity, it processes HDR videos really well, and I haven’t noticed even so much as a hint of stutter here. Plus, this is also the second-gen iPhone to feature a 120Hz refresh rate. So, all the issues we had with some apps running on 60Hz on the 13 Pro Max have been resolved. And almost all the apps now run at a smooth 120Hz refresh rate!

What about the always-on display?

However, I can’t say I like Apple’s Always On display implementation. And for me, Android phones still do it better! It’s unique—that’s for sure. But right now, it just dims the brightness of the lock screen and that’s it. Many people have also been complaining about its brightness being a little too high as well, so maybe Apple could add a custom slider to toggle the brightness of the always-on display.

Plus, the widgets I can add to the always-on screen are pretty limited as well. I would have also liked it more if I could add widgets for Gmail, WhatsApp, and other useful apps here. And because its brightness is so high, I am also losing like 1% battery per hour. So, I am disabling it for now. I think it’s been so long since Apple last introduced such an unpolished feature to the public.

Battery

  • 4323mAh with up to 27W fast charging support
  • 15W MagSafe / 7.5W Qi wireless charging

Now about the actual battery life, with always on display turned off, it’s as good as the iPhone 13 Pro Max. I was, however, expecting it to be slightly better because this display can now dip as low as 1Hz vs 10Hz on the 13 Pro Max. But I am absolutely not complaining. You see, most Android flagships can hardly make it through a day under my heavy usage, but the 14 Pro Max always has like 30-35% charge left before I go to sleep.

So, this is the only high-end phone that lasts me for 1.5 days or even 2 days if I don’t use mobile data! Charging speed, on the other hand, remains the same. I’m using a 20W wired Apple charger that can take the phone from 0 to 80% in an hour, and then it starts fueling up really slowly to ensure strong battery health. As a result, it takes an hour more to reach 100%.

Apple should switch to faster charging speeds

If you ask me, I think Apple is playing it too safe. It’s not just the charging speed that affects the overall battery health, but factors like gaming and taking 4K videos for hours, and how you charge your phone also makes a difference. So I would love to see Apple upgrade to 30W or even 65W fast charging next time.

And don’t even get me started with the lightning port!

I was honestly expecting Apple to bring a Type-C port with this year’s iPhones, but we are still stuck with a super-slow USB 2.0 Lightning connection. So, say you are a videography enthusiast looking to copy a 50GB ProRes video that you just shot, it’s going to take a lot of time to send it to your desktop. However, what’s improved here are the stereo speakers. It sounds crisper and fuller with a wider soundstage.

Performance

  • Hexa-core Apple A16 Bionic 5G SoC (4nm)
  • 6GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB to 1TB storage (fixed)
  • Apple iOS 16 (upgradeable)

When it comes to performance, iPhones have been dominating the smartphone industry for over a decade now. The A15 Bionic from last year is already faster than current Android flagship chips. And with the new A16 Bionic on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, that difference is getting even bigger.

Apart from the numbers, Apple has also massively improved the display dimming issue we previously encountered with the last year’s models. So, the display on the 14 Pro Max doesn’t dim itself even after 30 minutes of Genshin Impact gameplay or 4K recording. I reckon Apple has improved the thermal cooling design on the 14 Pro Max too. With this and the power of the A16 Bionic, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is easily the best gaming phone right now as it can deliver the highest fps and stable sustained performance, even in the most demanding games.

And the A16 Bionic is not just about pure performance either. It also has the Snapdragon X65 5G modem, which is both faster and produces less heat while you are on 5G data! It even has “band n53” support which allows the new Emergency SOS feature via satellite to work. At launch, this feature is only available in a handful of regions like the US and Canada though. I’m also pretty surprised to see no WiFi 6E support here as the iPhone 14 series is still limited to WiFi 6.

Cameras

  • Triple camera setup at the back
  • (48MP wide, 12MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide)
  • 12MP TrueDepth camera with Face ID

Alright, let’s talk cameras! This time, Apple has significantly upgraded the camera hardware since we finally get a 48MP primary lens on an iPhone, which is not just big in terms of megapixel count, but it’s a 65% bigger sensor than the 13 Pro Max’s main camera as well. We also get a new 12MP ultrawide lens, although the 3x telephoto zoom lens remains the same. Over on the front, Apple has finally introduced OIS and autofocus in its selfie camera too.

Normal Images

So, these are actually great upgrades. And pair that with the new ISP (Image Signal Processor) and DSP (Digital Signal Processor), I am also getting better results from the 14 Pro Max compared to its predecessor.

It’s not that drastic, but you will find the 14 Pro Max’s images to have better dynamic range, less contrast, and an overall pleasing look! This is not noticeable in all instances, but most of the time, photos from the 14 Pro Max look better!

Portrait Images

Similarly, I found the portraits to have even better bokeh and skin tone on this guy as well. Once again, it’s not a huge difference, but you will definitely like the photos coming from the iPhone 14 Pro Max more.

The 48MP main camera also allows for 2x lossless zoom and they are much better than the previous gen. The same goes for selfies, ultra-wide, macro, and even the 3x zoom shots.

Traditionally, iPhone’s photos used to be slightly contrasty with a warm hue, but this time around, I feel like they have taken some inspiration from Pixel and Galaxy devices, and tuned it to be more likable.

Lowlight Images

Apple also promises 2x improvement in low-light conditions, but I didn’t find it to be that significant of an upgrade. Yeah, the 14 Pro Max does take better shots at night—sure—but it isn’t twice as better as Apple would have you believe!

And I still think that when it comes to extremely low light conditions, Vivo and Samsung are doing a much better job with night mode!

Videography

I am also a little sad to see there’s no 8K recording yet, although this 48MP camera is technically capable of shooting 8K videos. That being said, iPhones still remain the king in terms of videography! And I found the stabilization to be even better here thanks to the second-gen sensor-shift OIS technology.

But more importantly, Apple has finally introduced a super steady mode called the “Action Mode”, which is something we have seen on a lot of Android phones! It basically crops the video and delivers super smooth and incredibly steady videos, even if you are running! I’m sure moto vloggers will find this feature really useful!

iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: Conclusion

So, there you have it guys, that was my review of the new Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max after using it for two weeks! With every generation, I am seeing Apple making its iPhones better and better! Of course, it’s still not perfect by any means, but it’s almost there! And like always, that’s kinda bad news for Android!

Because I feel like the gap between Android flagships and this year’s iPhone 14 Pro models is bigger than ever! If you look at this graph, every year, the sales of the iPhones are on the rise, whereas the sales of flagship devices from Samsung and OnePlus are declining year by year!

And the reason why I think that’s happening is because brands like Samsung are more focused on foldables these days, which is not a bad thing because I love foldables! I think that’s where the smartphone industry is eventually headed, but it will take some time before we get there.

In the meanwhile, Apple is absolutely nailing the smartphone industry by perfecting their iPhones every year! Thus, if you are looking for a banger of a phone and have got the money to spend, you should probably go and get this guy!

  • Watch our video review of the iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPhone 14 Pro Max Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Top-notch display
  • Dynamic Island is fun and useful
  • Excellent battery life
  • Reliable performance
  • Decent camera upgrades

Cons:

  • Might be a bit too bulky for some
  • Poor Always-on Display
  • Slow charging speed
  • Lightning connection
  • Some features are region-locked
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