AQFiT has introduced the W16 smartwatch in Nepal. It’s a budget wearable with basic health tracking features. So, let’s look at the specifications, features, availability, and expected price of the AQFiT W16 in Nepal.
AQFiT W16 Overview:
Design, Display
The W16 has a 1.69-inch 2.5D curved Full HD display with a resolution of 240 x 280 pixels. Users can personalize the smartwatch with over 100 different watch faces.
It’s ingress protection includes IP68 water resistance. So you won’t have to be concerned if you take it outside in the rain. The band is made of silicone and can be replaced.
The Real Tek RTL8762DK chipset powers the W16. It has dual sensors on the back for health tracking, which can monitor basic health metrics such as heart rate, SpO2, and sleep. Girls can also use it to track their menstrual cycle.
Furthermore, there’s also support for multi-sports mode, and the battery life is rated for up to 10 days. The wearable can also sync notifications from your smartphone. It must be paired with your phone via the AQFiT Pro app.
Poco launched the M5 yesterday in India, but the company also released Poco M5s for the global market. This is yet another mid-range smartphone powered by an Helio G95 processor. So, let’s take a look at the Poco M5s specs, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal.
Poco M5s Overview:
Design, Display
Unlike the M5, which has a leather-textured back, the Poco M5s has a plain back panel. Its camera module is also visually similar to the Redmi Note 10 series. It’s because it is a rebranded Redmi Note 10S. As a result, the feature set is quite similar here.
The display is a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 and has a peak brightness of 1100 nits. You also get Widevine L1 certification to watch Netflix content. Unfortunately, there is no higher refresh rate available here. Similarly, a fingerprint scanner for biometrics is located on the phone’s side.
Inside, it is powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 chip, which comes with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage. The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. On the software front, it runs the most recent Android 12-based MIUI 13.
Cameras
In terms of cameras, the 64MP primary sensor is paired with an 8MP ultrawide and a couple of 2MP macro and depth sensors. This setup can record at up to 4K@30fps resolution. Similarly, there is a 13MP selfie camera on the front.
Rest of the specs
Aside from that, the Poco M5s offer IP53 dust and water resistance rating. Similarly, stereo speakers handle audio, and there is also a 3.5mm headphone jack. WiFi 5 (802.11 ac), Bluetooth 5.0, and a Type-C port are available as connectivity options.
Poco M5s Specifications:
Body: 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm, 178.8 gm, IP53 dust/water resistant
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
Sensors: Ambient Light, Proximity, E-compass, Accelerometer, Gyro, IR Blaster
Battery: 5000mAh with 33W charging (33W charger inside the box)
Color Options: Onyx Gray, Pebble White, Ocean Blue
Poco M5s Price in Nepal and Availability
The M5s start at EUR 209 for the base 4/64GB model. The 4/128GB and 6/128GB models are priced at EUR 229 and EUR 249, respectively. If and when the Poco M5s will be released in Nepal, we expect the price to start at NPR 28,000.
Poco M5s
Price (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
4/64GB
EUR 209
NPR 28,000
4/128GB
EUR 229
NPR 30,000
6/128GB
EUR 249
NPR 32,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi K50i.
Ncell has finally started VoLTE service in Nepal, almost a year later the government-owned Nepal Telecom did the same. In this article, we will be discussing more about Ncell’s VoLTE operation, including what it is and how to activate it.
Ncell VoLTE Overview:
What is VoLTE?
VoLTE (or Voice over LTE) refers to the cellular calls made over the 4G LTE network. Since the 4G network is capable of transferring larger data, calls made via VoLTE is usually of higher quality than the traditional 2G and 3G network. The technology is not new and has been used around the globe for quite some time. However, it was only last year it was available to the Nepali user when Nepali Telecom introduced it on its network.
Supported Smartphones
After a series of beta testing, Ncell VoLTE is now available for all users over 900MHz and 1800MHz frequencies. These are the same bands over which the company operates its 4G service. For the initial launch, Ncell has launched its VoLTE service on a total of 7 smartphones from Samsung, Vivo, and Huawei.
How to activate VoLTE service on the Ncell network?
In order to use Ncell’s VoLTE service, you must have a compatible smartphone. You can check this by dialing *17201#. If your smartphone has support for VoLTE, you should then enable it from within the SIM card and Mobile Network setting.
After confirming, you can then proceed to activate VoLTE service by dialing *17201#. Upon activation, you will even receive 100 minutes of free talk time for making VoLTE calls within Ncell’s network.
In order to bolster its 4G coverage inside the country, Ncell started operation on the 900MHz band last year. As 900MHz is a low-frequency band, it has better penetration power. Thus, it is suited for cities where there are buildings and similar infrastructures everywhere.
Better coverage and penetration
In addition, with all other variables being equal, the lower frequency can cover more distance than higher frequencies. When compared to 1800MHz, 900MHz is known to have 30% to 40% better coverage. As a result, the latter needs fewer base stations than the former to cover the exact same region.
It also has less chance of interfering with higher frequencies of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices. On the other hand, the components used for 900MHz are expensive and thus are available mostly in higher-end devices.
900MHz is Tech Neutral
Tech Neutrality refers to the freedom given to organizations or individuals to choose the technology most appropriate for their needs. 900MHz is a tech-neutral band, which means Ncell can re-purpose it in the future. As a result, Ncell, which is currently operating 4G LTE on 900MHz, can later use it for 5G too.
Ncell’s plans for 4G LTE on 900MHz
As of now, Ncell has used 900MHz for 30% of its coverage site. It is looking to have a nationwide rollout within a year.
Carrier Aggregation (CA)
Once 900MHz has nationwide coverage, Ncell can enable Carrier Aggregation between it and 1800MHz. CA increases the data rate by combining multiple frequencies. Currently, Nepal Telecom is the only operator providing this service in the country.
Meanwhile, check out our hands-on review of the CG Net (Nepali).
After weeks of teasing, Realme has just launched its latest flagship smartwatch, the Watch 3 Pro.So, let’stake a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Realme Watch 3 Pro in Nepal.
Realme Watch 3 Pro Overview:
Design and Display
Realme Watch 3 Pro will bring some massive improvement to the display department. The Watch 3 Pro has a square dial like its predecessor, but this time it will be an AMOLED screen instead of an LCD. Likewise, the screen is slightly bigger with a diagonal length of 1.75-inch. It comes with a wide range of watch faces as well as an Always On Display feature. The screen refreshes at 60Hz and can get bright up to 500 nits.
As shown in the picture, Realme Watch 3 Pro sports curved edges, and flat frames. The bottom chin is a little heavier resulting in a 68.7% screen-to-body ratio.
The new Watch 3 Pro will inherit things like 24 x7 heart rate monitoring, SpO2 evaluation, and sleep tracking from its predecessor. There are a total of 110 workout modes built into the watch with automatic detection supported for 5 of them. You also get a built-in GPS to track your movement more accurately.
Being a Pro model, it even comes with a speaker and a microphone. As a result, you can make and take calls right from the watch. The watch even has AI-based noise reduction software for making voice sound clear.
Battery and Charging
Realme Watch 3 Pro packs a 345mAh battery that the company claims can last up to 10 days on normal usage. With GPS tracking on, the endurance drops down to 20 hours. The watch runs on Realme UI for watch and is compatible with both Android and iOS platforms. You can download the Realme Link app for both Android and iOS devices.
Realme Watch 3 Pro Specifications:
Body (H x W x L): 36.8 x 253.8 x 11.7 mm, 40.7 grams
Display: 1.78-inches AMOLED panel, 368 x 448 pixels, 500 nits
Design: Polycarbonate body, Silicon wrist band (22mm)
Realme Watch 3 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
The official price of Realme Watch 3 Pro in India is INR 4,999. It will go on sale on Flipkart from September with an early bird discount of INR 5,000. We expect the price of the Realme Watch 3 Pro in Nepal to be NPR 9,999 when it launches here.
After multiple teasers, Motorola has finally launched the Moto G31 in Nepal. In this article, we will be specifically talking about the Moto G31, including its specs, features, official price, and availability in Nepal.
Moto G31 Overview:
Design and Display
At its launch, Moto G31 will be the only OLED smartphone from the company in Nepal. The phone sports a 6.4-inch FHD+ “Max Vision” panel which refreshes at standard 60Hz. The screen has a center-aligned punch-hole cut-out for the front-facing camera.
As you would expect with a budget phone, the Moto G31 has an all-plastic design. It measures 8.55mm in thickness and weighs around 181 grams. It has a water-repellent body which is available in two colors: Baby Blue and Mineral Gray.
Performance and Memory
Running the show from underneath the Moto G31 is the Helio G85 chipset from MediaTek. It is a 12nm chipset featuring two Cortex-A75 cores (@2.0GHz) and six Cortex-A55 cores (@1.8GHz).
Furthermore, Helio G85 even supports MediaTek’s in-house HyperEngine technology for effective resource utilization during gameplays.
The phone comes in 4GB and 6GB RAM variants with 32GB and 128GB of internal storage, respectively. The storage can be expanded further by slotting in a MicroSD card slot in the hybrid sim slot.
Over on the back, the Moto G31 flaunts a triple camera setup. The main highlight here is the 50MP primary camera that supports Quad Pixel technology to churn out more details under low light. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide shooter that boasts a 118-degree Field of View. It even doubles as a depth sensor. Finally, we have a 2MP sensor for macro shots.
Over on the front, there is a 13MP selfie shooter encircled by the punch-hole. In terms of videos, all four cameras cap out at 1080p 30fps.
Rest of the specs
The 5,000mAh battery of the Moto G31 boasts an impressive battery life of up to 36 hours on mixed usage. Charging speed is a little underwhelming as the phone only supports 10W charging. Motorola does provide a compatible charger in the box.
Moto G31 boots on Android 11-based My UX. It has a single down-firing speaker with Dolby Atmos optimization. It has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for biometrics. The other neat feature of the phone is that it has NFC in addition to the usual Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth.
Motorola Moto G31 Specifications:
Body: 161.89 x 74.87 x 8.55 mm, 181 gm
Display: 6.4-inch OLED panel, 60Hz refresh rate
Resolution: FHD+ resolution (2400 x 1080), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm Mobile Platform)
Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable up to 1TB)
Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 ac), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
Color Options: Mineral Grey, Baby Blue
Moto G31 Price in Nepal and Availability
Motorola has finally launched the Moto G31 in Nepal with a price tag of Rs. 23,999 for the 4/128GB variant. It is currently available for pre-order in Daraz.
The Elite 5 is the latest addition to Jabra’s Elite series of TWS earbuds. The buds feature active noise cancellation and are powered by a Qualcomm SoC. So, let’s go over the Jabra Elite 5’s specifications, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal.
Jabra Elite 5 Overview:
Design
The Elite 5 has an oval-shaped case that snugly fits a pair of in-ear buds. The headsets are IP55 water and dust-resistant and come in Gold Beige and Titanium Black color options. Each earbud weighs 5 grams, and the total weight of the case is 45 grams.
Furthermore, there are three microphone setups inside each bud. This enables hybrid active noise cancellation, which, according to Jabra, is less sensitive to how the buds are positioned in your ears. That means improved noise cancellation on both calls and music. In addition, there is a HearThrough mode that allows for ambient noises.
The Elite 5 includes 6mm audio drivers that support SBC, AAC, and Qualcomm aptX codecs. All this is powered by Qualcomm QCC3050 Bluetooth SOC. There’s also support for Spotify Tap that effortlessly lets you listen to your favorite music with a single tap.
You can connect the earphone to your phone using the Jabra Sound+ app. Google Fast Pair and multipoint Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity are also supported. In addition, the Jabra Elite 5 supports voice commands with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Battery
The wireless earbuds have a battery life of 9 hours with ANC turned off. It is reduced to 7 hours when ANC is enabled.
In contrast, when combined with the case, the Elite 5 can provide up to 36 hours and up to 28 hours of playback, respectively. It takes about 180 minutes to charge the buds. Whereas Jabra claims that 10 minutes of charging time will provide one hour of music playback. It also supports wireless charging, by the way.
Jabra Elite 5 Specifications:
Design: In-ear buds
IP rating: Ye, IP55
Audio Driver: 6mm
Audio codecs: AAC, Qualcomm aptX, SBC
Mic: 6-mic
ANC: Yes, Hybrid ANC
Bluetooth version: BT 5.2
Charging time: Up to 180 minutes
App: Jabra Sound+
Voice assistant: Amazon Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant (Android only)
Other features: Spotify Tap, Google Fast Pair, MyControls
Battery:
ANC off (earbuds): Up to 9 hours;
ANC off (w/ charging case): Up to 36 hours;
ANC (earbuds): Up to 7 hours;
ANC (w/ charging case): Up to 28 hours
Colors:Gold Beige, Titanium Black
Jabra Elite 5 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Elite 5 costs $150 USD and is already available for purchase on Amazon.com. If it is released in Nepal, we anticipate that the Jabra Elite 5 will cost NPR 25,000.
Earbuds
Price in the US (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Jabra Elite 5
USD 150
NPR 25,000
Meanwhile, check our pick for the best budget wireless earbuds of 2022.
Fantech has launched two new gaming monitors in Nepal, expanding its gaming catalog. With its target audience in mind, the brand has released a 144Hz monitor as well as its less expensive 75Hz counterpart. Here, we will go through the specs, features, official price, and availability of Fantech gaming monitors in Nepal.
Fantech Gaming Monitors Overview:
CHIMERA GM241AC Gaming Monitor
The Fantech CHIMERA GM241AC is a 24-inch gaming monitor with a 144Hz high refresh rate and FHD resolution. The monitor has relatively thin bezels and red lighting for gamer aesthetics. The built-in foldable headphone stand is a unique feature of this monitor.
Aside from that, it has a VA panel with 1500R curvature, 1ms response time, and a contrast ratio of 3000:1. However, it only gets as bright as 250 nits, which should be sufficient for gaming. Here, Fantech provides adaptive sync, but the monitor lacks G-Sync or FreeSync certification.
I/O Ports: HDMI x2, Display port x1, 3.5mm audio jack x1
Price in Nepal: Rs. 32,000
CHIMERA GM242AC Gaming Monitor
Like its beefier sibling, the CHIMERA GM242AC gaming monitor comes with a curved VA panel too. The resolution is the same at FHD and so is the contrast ratio. However, you get a 75Hz refresh rate instead of the faster 144Hz. Also, the MPRT response time has been slashed to 5ms on this one.
The overall design language is the same with red led lights and the inclusion of a headphone stand. It lacks a display port and uses VGA and HDMI for connection. Unfortunately, Fantech has not revealed the color space these monitors cover on their official site.
Fantech Gaming Monitors Price in Nepal and Availability
The CHIMERA GM241AC is priced at Rs. 31,999 whereas the CHIMERA GM242AC costs Rs. 25,999. However, for a limited period of time, you can pick up the monitors for Rs. 29,999 and Rs. 24,999 respectively as a part of Fantech’s introductory offer. These gaming monitors can be purchased from Fantech Nepal’s official store.
Fantech Gaming Monitor
Price in Nepal
Introductory Price
CHIMERA GM241AC
Rs. 31,999
Rs. 29,999
CHIMERA GM242AC
Rs. 25,999
Rs. 24,999
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Legion 5 Pro (2022).
Samsung unveiled a bunch of new flagship products at the Galaxy Unpacked event about a month ago. We got to see a couple of new Samsung foldables, smartwatches, and also a $230 pair of wireless earbuds called the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which I’ll be going through at length in this full review. And while watching the livestream of all the new devices, the one thought that constantly hit my mind was “incremental upgrades”.
Now, some of you might already be turned off by iterative upgrades in the tech industry these days, but hear me out. In case of the Buds 2 Pro, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing because the Galaxy Buds 2 and the Buds Pro before it were already pretty impressive. Instead, I believe Samsung has tried to achieve two big things with the Buds 2 Pro:
number 1: offer its best pair of wireless earphones (of course)
and number 2: further lock you into the ecosystem by making a bunch of cool features available only on Samsung devices
That means if you connect these earbuds with a phone other than Samsung’s, you lose so many of what makes the Buds 2 Pro special in the first place. Great news for Samsung owners, but not so much for everyone else. And after testing these out on a bunch of smartphones and laptops from different companies, here’s my full review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Review: Specifications
Body:
Earbud: 21.6 x 19.9 x 18.7 mm, 5.5 grams (each)
Charging case: 50.2 x 50.1 x 27.7 mm, 43.4 grams
Water Resistance: IPX7 (Up to 1 meter for 30 minutes)
Color Options: Black, White, Bora Purple
Sound Driver: 2-way (10mm woofer, 5.3mm tweeter)
Microphone: 3 High-SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) mics on each earbud
Before talking about the earbuds themselves, I want to discuss its name for a bit. You might be wondering, “Hey, what’s in a name?” But trust me, there are a few things to unpack here. According to Samsung, the Buds 2 Pro is the successor to the now discontinued Galaxy Buds Pro.
If you look at their spec sheet though, the difference between these two isn’t that substantial. At least not to me. Only when comparing it to the regular, non-Pro Galaxy Buds 2, this guy really begins to shine. So yeah, I guess the Buds 2 Pro is the sequel to both of ‘em in a way.
Design & Comfort
21.6 x 19.9 x 18.7 mm
5.5 grams (each earbud)
IPX7 water-resistant
Okay, one of the biggest upgrades with these earbuds has to be the design and comfort department. If you ask me, these two are the most important factors on any audio product besides audio quality itself. And from the all-matte finish to the smaller size and more lightweight build quality, the Buds 2 Pro is a big win as far as fit and feel are concerned.
The Buds Pro wasn’t 100% comfortable in my ears, but I’m glad to say that the Buds 2 Pro feels fantastic to put on. If you want to talk numbers, it has a 15% smaller geometry while weighing about 15% less.
Thanks to that combo, I can almost wear it all day long. Almost.
The thing is, ear shapes are unique to every person—like fingerprints. And I’m told my left ear has an especially weird contour. So while most people, including most of my colleagues, have found the Buds 2 Pro perfectly cozy, the standard Galaxy Buds 2 is still the most comfortable pair of Samsung earbuds for my ears.
Comfortable fit is the name of the game
You also get a couple of extra pairs of ear tips inside the box, and I found the large ones worked best for me. Both in terms of comfort and seal. Oh, and you can confirm if you’ve got a perfect seal by going through the “earbud fit test” feature inside the Galaxy Wearable app, by the way.
Galaxy Wearable
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Dashboard
Settings
And with the right fit, the Buds 2 Pro stay pretty firm inside the ears—although I’ve had to readjust them a couple of times when walking down the stairs or something. I was also hoping Samsung would go with foam ear tips this time, just like what Sony did with the WF-1000XM4. But since these silicone ear tips feel great, I’m not complaining.
As for durability, the Buds 2 Pro is IPX7 water-sealed, so you don’t have to worry about getting it wet in the rain in this monsoon season. Or damaging it from sweat during your gym workout routines. Still, I would’ve loved to see some form of dust protection on Samsung’s most expensive set of earbuds yet.
Not to mention, the charging case has no IP rating whatsoever—but that’s really not a big deal. Its sleek design and soft matte coating are all that matter to me!
There’s wireless charging support, and the magnets securing the earbuds inside the case are also quite strong. The color-matched case is a nice touch as well, and this Bora Purple variant that I have with me looks particularly beautiful! But hey, if you’d rather prefer a little more subtlety, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is available in Black and White colorways too.
Controls
A touch interface on each earbud
Customizable via the companion app
I also like how extensive the control options are here. From skipping tracks, answering calls, switching between noise cancellation modes, to even changing volume levels, you can do it all. And for the most part, they work perfectly fine. There’s audible feedback to let you know what gesture was registered, which seems like a small thing at first, but it ends up making a big difference in the user experience.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro - Control
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But I’m not a big fan of how sensitive its touch panel is. Seriously—sometimes even when I’m just adjusting my hair, the Buds 2 Pro suddenly decides to interrupt my music. Or when I’m lying down on one side of the bed and it accidentally shifts through the ANC modes.
This is something I’ve complained about in almost every pair of Samsung earbuds I’ve tested so far, and it’s sad to see that Samsung still hasn’t found a way to fix it.
Also, Samsung’s implementation of wear detection continues to amaze me with its stupidity. So… for my music to automatically pause, I gotta take not just one but both earbuds out? And I still gotta manually press play to resume playback after I put them back in? What?!
Anyway, one interesting thing I’ve found about its controls is just how well one of the experimental features works. Yeah, I’m talking about how Samsung lets you double-tap the edge of the earbuds to make volume adjustments.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro - Double Tap Earbud Edge
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It seems that you don’t actually need to awkwardly hit the edge of the earbud like Samsung shows in its illustrations. You can instead double tap anywhere near the outer ear and it just… works. Just below the ear canal was the sweet spot in my experience.
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3
Auto Switch between Samsung devices
SmartThings Find support
Connectivity-wise, the Buds 2 Pro supports the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard. So… steady connection, high data transfer rate, less interference, and all those stuff are baked right into these earbuds. And throughout my usage, I had zero connectivity troubles here—even when walking past some congested streets of Kathmandu.
As expected, pairing them with a Samsung phone is a lot easier than it is on a non-Samsung phone. And iPhone users are better off with the AirPods because the Buds 2 Pro isn’t exactly iOS-compatible. You can manually pair and stream music off of them just fine, sure. But the Galaxy Wearable app, which is where you customize, apply firmware updates to these earbuds, and such isn’t available on the App Store.
Easier to find
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is also part of Samsung’s “SmartThings Find” network now. That means you can now get an approximate location of your earbuds in case you misplace them—even without the case. It worked pretty well during my tests but it’s a bummer that this feature is exclusive to Samsung devices only.
Another Samsung-exclusive feature here is “Auto Switch”. It is similar to the “Multipoint connectivity” feature found on something like the new Pixel Buds Pro, where you can connect the earbuds on two devices at the same time. Once again, it worked fine between my Fold 3 and Watch 4 Classic, even though it’s simply no match against multipoint connection.
Noise Cancellation
Intelligent Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Ambient Sound Mode, Voice Detect
Moving on, Samsung says the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro boasts a whopping 40% better noise cancellation over the original Buds Pro. I have no way of actually verifying that number but yeah, its ANC is indeed quite outstanding.
Because of the relatively bulky design and a not-so-comfortable fit, my experience with ANC on the Buds Pro wasn’t that great. The improved fit and a new 3-mic system on the Buds 2 Pro, however, does an incredible job at blocking out outside noise. Like most ANC-capable earbuds out there, it is also most effective at dampening low frequencies.
Wearing it in my office room, the Buds 2 Pro could completely mute the HVAC noises coming from the AC and the fan noise from nearby desktops. But it clearly lets in sharp, high-frequency noises like my colleagues typing on their mechanical keyboard or horns from the vehicles passing by just outside. I got similar results when wearing it outdoors or during my commute to work as well.
What’s “intelligent” about its ANC?
And when mixing it up with some music playback at like 30-40% volume, the outside world would be fully inaudible to my ears. Samsung also labels the noise-canceling properties of the Buds 2 Pro as “Intelligent ANC”, although I honestly didn’t notice any difference in its effectiveness in a fairly quiet room or a rowdy marketplace.
At least the Buds Pro allowed you to manually switch between two different noise-canceling modes, which is missing here. But one thing I especially like about the ANC quality on these earbuds is just how clean everything sounds. And how effortless it feels.
This might not apply to everyone but I didn’t feel any sort of pressure build-up when using ANC for long hours on the Buds 2 Pro. There’s no white noise when turning on noise cancellation either, and all noise that ultimately manages to sneak in sounds natural too. And I’m also really impressed with just how better “Ambient Sound” is this time.
Ambient Sound mode is a great here
This feature basically lets you hear what’s happening around you without having to take the earbuds off. The only problem was that the previous generations of Galaxy Buds had an eerie—almost unsettlingly metallic—tone in human voices.
But I’m absolutely loving the near-natural ambient mode that Samsung has been able to pull off with the Buds 2 Pro. The AirPods Pro’s “Transparency Mode” is still the gold standard for me because my own voice still sounds somewhat synthesized here. That reminds me, the Buds 2 Pro also supports “Voice Detect”, which automatically triggers ambient mode when you start talking.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro - Voice Detect
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I must say it’s pretty effective—but also sometimes a bit too effective. It is smart enough to not go off when I’m yawning, mumbling, or speaking in hush tones, sure. But on multiple occasions—both indoors and outdoors—it activated on its own, seemingly based on other people talking around me.
So until Samsung fixes this, I’m keeping Voice Detect disabled on my Buds 2 Pro. And I must say that I am also a little surprised to see no ambient sound volume control on these earbuds, which is something I found truly useful on both Buds Pro and Buds 2.
Okay, let me now talk about the audio quality of this thing. As I mentioned in the very beginning, Samsung had already delivered a few great-sounding earbuds before this, so it didn’t really have to do much in the audio department with the Buds 2 Pro. Matter of fact, both the tweeter and woofer driver units are smaller here to make up for the compact design.
But let me be clear that driver size alone doesn’t make much of a difference in terms of perceived audio quality. And these earbuds sound incredible!
Its audio is full, warm, and with a soundstage wide enough for you to enjoy every beat and every note in the song. Something clearly demonstrated in “Be Sweet” by Japanese Breakfast with the clear separation between vocals and instruments. There’s also plenty in store for the bassheads as the Buds 2 Pro can produce a well-defined, tight bass. Including sub-bass with a few tweaks.
Galaxy Buds 2 Pro - Equalizer
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Normal
Dynamic
Under the default “Normal” equalizer, the Buds 2 Pro doesn’t produce that rumbly bass you might expect. There’s the “Bass Boost” profile for that, but it feels a bit overpowering for my ears. Turns out, the “Dynamic” preset has the right balance of lively audio and clean bass.
The Harman Curve
Its frequency response graph closely mimics the coveted “Harman Curve” sound signature as well—although I would’ve also liked to tinker with the EQ a little. As such, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to MF DOOM’s “Figaro” as these earbuds manage to retain that commanding demeanor in his voice alongside the warmth of the beat perfectly.
Now all that was when listening to the Buds 2 Pro with a Samsung phone—the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy A33—which supports the new Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC). But pairing it with a non-Samsung phone, it defaults to the lossy AAC codec. I don’t consider myself an audiophile in any way but it definitely sounds better on a Galaxy device.
Not by a whole lot but I could notice some subtle nuances of the pianos, strings, and harps in Florence + the Machine’s “King” clearer on the Fold 3, compared to the Nothing Phone (1), POCO X3, or the MacBook Air.
And perhaps the biggest talking point of the Buds 2 Pro is its ability to stream 24-bit/48kHz Hi-Fi audio (at up to 2,304 kbps bitrate) on Samsung phones running on One UI 4.0 or higher. Without going into too much detail, bit depth essentially determines how much and how well audio information is digitally stored. So yes—technically—24-bit has a wider dynamic range compared to 16-bit audio and it should sound better. Closer to how the track was recorded in the studio.
But as I’ve found, actually being able to stream 24-bit audio and tell the difference is not that easy. Samsung confidently promotes that Buds 2 Pro can stream 256 times more sound data than 16-bit—which is mathematically correct.
Is 24-bit streaming really that great?
And to test it out, I had to download a bunch of 24-bit files because I only have a Spotify Premium subscription and it famously lacks hi-res streaming. But there are other streaming services like Tidal, Amazon Music, and Apple Music for the true audiophiles who want nothing but the best audio fidelity. And also Qobuz, which is definitely something I knew of before getting into this review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
And after listening to everything from the pop melodies in ABBA’s “Voyage”, folk rock anthems in Bob Dylan’s “Blood On The Tracks”, to the hip-hop bangers in Eminem’s “Curtain Call”, I simply couldn’t tell the difference between 24 and 16-bit files like… 99% of the time. Not to mention, not all songs are available for hi-res streaming either.
The only difference I could tell is how certain 24-bit tracks have broader soundstage and a little more transparency in the high frequencies, but that’s about it. So yeah, Buds 2 Pro’s 24-bit streaming isn’t going to be a big deal to most people, but if you’re someone who can absolutely tell the difference, this alone could be the reason to get Samsung’s latest pair of wireless earbuds.
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360 Audio
Neck Stretch Reminder
360 Audio is yet another niche, Samsung-exclusive feature that’s worth discussing. I never found it any useful when listening to tunes, but this head-tracking surround-sound experience does make binging documentaries and movies more immersive. The Buds 2 Pro can also send you neck stretch reminders if you’ve been leaning your head down for too long. If you’re someone who can’t maintain a straight posture, you’ll definitely find this feature somewhat useful.
Its call quality is decent but not the best
Its microphones are pretty decent as well. And I never received any major complaints from callers, even when I was walking through some crowded streets. It does pick up ambient noise a bit more than I was expecting, but that’s fine.
You can also use these earbuds for gaming—as long you have a Samsung phone and turned on “Game Mode” inside the Galaxy Wearable app. Not much latency there. But on a non-Samsung phone, the in-game audio delay is still quite a lot.
Battery Life
61mAh (earbud), 515mAh (charging case)
Up to 5/8 hours of music playback (with/without ANC)
USB Type-C, Qi wireless charging
As for the battery life on the Buds 2 Pro, it’s just… so-so. Samsung says you can expect 5 hours of playback with ANC on, or 8 hours with ANC off—which is the exact same as what you got with the Buds Pro. And in my typical usage with noise-cancellation enabled at all times, the Buds 2 Pro lasted about four and a half hours on average. That’s an hour more than what I’d need to stream Adele’s all four studio albums.
Anyway, if you think about it, Samsung managing similar battery endurance while making the earbuds 15% smaller is actually kinda impressive! And if you run out of power, a quick 5-minute top-up gets you 1 hour of playback whereas the case adds up to 18 hours of battery life, so I can’t complain much.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Review: Conclusion
So that was the all-new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro—Samsung’s best and most expensive pair of wireless earbuds yet. It goes without saying that if you own a relatively new Galaxy phone, these are the earbuds you’d want. All the Samsung-exclusive features like 24-bit streaming, 360 Audio, and Auto Switch—complemented with excellent sound quality, ANC, and a comfortable fit makes it an easy recommendation for Samsung owners.
If you’ve already got the first-gen Galaxy Buds Pro though, I don’t think these are necessarily worth the upgrade. But hey, if you care about hi-res streaming and a more cozy fit, why not?!
On the other hand, even if your Android phone isn’t Samsung-made, these still sound pretty great. Definitely. But the premium wireless earbuds market consists of so many amazing alternatives right now that you might want to think twice before committing to the Buds 2 Pro. Like the Pixel Buds Pro, for example, which has great sound quality and ANC—on top of multipoint connection support.
Or Sony’s excellent WF-1000XM4 with industry-leading noise-cancellation and long-lasting battery life. And if you’re an iPhone user, then AirPods are probably the way to go—although you might want to wait a while because rumors suggest Apple could introduce lossless audio playback on its next-gen AirPods Pro.
Songs referenced in the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review:
Nokia is redefining sustainability for smartphone manufacturers in 2022. With the release of the Nokia G60 5G and X30 5G, Nokia is paving way for sustainability like never before. So, let’s look at Nokia G60 5G alongside its specs, features, expected price, and availability in Nepal.
Nokia G60 5G Overview:
Design & Display
Like the Nokia X30 5G, the G60 uses recycled materials for its body. 60% of the fame and 100% of the back are made of recycled plastic. The phone weighs 190 grams and is a proper monster at 8.61 mm. Well, there is some form of water and dust protection as the phone is IP52-rated.
Over on the front, Nokia has fitted a 6.58-inch FHD+ display. It has a high 120Hz refresh rate but utilizes LCD technology. Protecting the screen is Gorilla Glass 5. The front camera lies in a water drop notch instead of the modern hole-punch.
Performance
The Nokia G60 5G is powered by the oh-so-popular Snapdragon 695. It is an octa-core processor manufactured via a 6nm process and offers Cortex-A77 and Cortex-A55 cores at up to 2.2GHz clock speeds.
The memory options available are 4/64GB, 4/128GB, and 6/128GB. With Nokia’s new policies, the phone enjoys 3 years of OS and security updates, and 3 years of warranty.
The main camera on the Nokia G60 5G is a 50MP sensor with no OIS. It also has a 5MP ultrawide and a depth sensor on the back. The front camera has an 8MP resolution. The camera setup is a downgrade compared to the X30 that was released alongside it.
Rest of the features
Moving on, the Nokia G60 5G has a built-in 4,500mAh battery with 20W charging. The charger does not come in the box in some markets. For security, the Nokia G60 has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and face unlock. Unfortunately, it has a single speaker but maintains the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The CPU market is wild right now. Intel impressed us with its 12th Gen “Alder Lake” processors last year, and AMD is doing the same right now with the Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series “Raphael” CPUs. But as usual, Intel isn’t willing to give the spotlight to AMD entirely. And new rumors suggest that Team Blue could announce at least a few SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) of its 13th Gen “Raptor Lake” CPUs during its “Intel Innovation” event on September 27; which just so happens to be exactly when the Ryzen 7000 series will be available to the public.
Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs: Rumors
According to the Twitter user @wxnod who has leaked the GTM (Go To Market) roadmap for the Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs, the company will announce three SKUs of the 13th Gen CPUs on September 27. Or September 28 for Taiwan.
This includes the top-of-the-line Core i9-13900K, alongside Core i7-13700K and the Core i5-13600K. All “K” suffixed processors. Interestingly, Intel will also take pre-orders for the Core i9-13900K on the same day whereas the other two models will be up for pre-orders from October 13 only. On the other hand, all three of them will be available starting October 20.
And the latter part of the leaked slide apparently reveals that the non-K, mobile processors, and other 13th Gen products will be announced by CES 2023 as well. To note, next year’s CES will be held in Las Vegas, USA from January 5 – 8.
We also expect Intel to announce a couple of new motherboards to go with the new chips. Like the enthusiast-grade Z790, H770, and B760. Anyway, we already know Raptor Lake will use the same LGA 1700 socket as Alder Lake. That means you might not need to buy a new motherboard if you’re already rocking a 12th Gen setup. Now, even though this means the new Intel processors could support DDR4 memory, nothing’s sure just yet. Intel could follow in the footsteps of AMD and make DDR5 the only RAM option for Raptor Lake.
Intel 7 process
And it will also be compatible with the CPU coolers that work with Alder Lake PCs. Likewise, the 13th Gen processors are rumored to be manufactured under an enhanced Intel 7 (10nm SuperFin) process node.
Intel also says we can expect “up to double digit performance boost” in multi-threaded workloads with Raptor Lake, compared to Alder Lake. As with most product launches, there are already a ton of leaks surrounding the Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs. Besides all this, of course. The Core i9-13900K will reportedly feature 8 Performance (P) cores with hyper-threading and 16 Efficiency (E) cores, for a total of 32 threads.
Moreover, it will have a 3 GHz base and 5.5 GHz of all-core boost frequency. And with Intel’s Efficient Thermal Velocity Boost (ETVB) technology, it will also be able to hit 5.7 GHz of single-core boost frequency. Exactly matching the boost clock speed of AMD’s flagship Ryzen 9 7950X CPU. We’ve covered the leaks surrounding the Core i9-13900K, including some benchmark scores in more detail here.
Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs: Price
There’s no information on how much Intel’s new processors are going to cost for now. But considering how AMD impressively managed to lower the cost on a couple of its latest processors, we expect Intel to follow suit too. Or at the very least, avoid a price hike. As such, the aforementioned Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs might cost somewhere between USD 290 to USD 600.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Intel Core i7-12700K CPU
