Vivo today launched its latest V-series smartphone in India, the Vivo V25 Pro. It succeeds the previously released V23 Pro, and so inherits features like a color-changing back. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Vivo V25 Pro in Nepal.
Vivo V25 Pro Overview:
Design, Display
The main USP of the Vivo V25 Pro is its color-changing Fluorite AG Glass design. The feature is exclusive to the Sailing Blue colorway in which the back panel changes color from turquoise to blue when exposed to sunlight. Another Black color variant has a matte back.
Vivo is also keeping the curved screen real estate of its predecessor. Alongside, you get a one-piece slim frame that, according to the company, lets the phone “fit perfectly in hands.” The display measures 6.5-inch and it’s an AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
Vivo has also dropped the bathtub-like notch design of the V23 Pro in favor of a centrally-aligned punch-hole cutout. Furthermore, the screen has a fingerprint sensor for biometrics.
Performance on the Vivo V25 Pro is handled by the Dimensity 1300 SoC, which slightly improves over the V23 Pro’s Dimensity 1200. The phone will ship with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The phone also supports 8GB of extended RAM.
Cameras
The camera system on the V25 Pro is centered around a 64MP primary sensor. This is a decrease from its predecessor’s 108MP. But to compensate, the smartphone now offers both OIS and EIS stabilization for smoother video. You can also shoot night portraits and night-time OIS with the device.
Besides the main camera, the rear camera system comprises an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro lens. Similarly, because there is only a single punch-hole on the front, there is only a 32MP selfie snapper this time. To remember, the V23 Pro makes use of its large notch to house a 50MP main and an 8MP wide-angle selfie camera.
Rest of the specs
Moving on, the smartphone gets its power from a 4830mAh battery which supports 66W fast charging. Last but not the least, it boots on Android 12-based FunTouchOS out of the box.
Vivo V25 Pro Specifications:
Body: 158.9 × 73.52 × 8.62 mm, 190 grams, AG glass back
The V25 Pro is launched in India exclusively via Flipkart and will retail at INR 35,999 for the base 8/128GB variant. We expect the price of the Vivo V25 Pro to start at NPR 65,000 if and when it launches in Nepal.
Vivo V25 Pro
Price in India
Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB
INR 35,999
NPR 65,000
12/256GB
INR 39,999
NPR 70,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Vivo V23 Pro.
For the past 2 weeks or so, I have been using the Google Pixel 6a as my primary phone to prepare for this review. And I am really surprised by how good it is! Yes, I have seen some people writing it off because of the 60Hz display and all the bugs/security flaws onboard, but after 2 updates I have received so far, all of those problems have been fixed. And I am totally enjoying the experience on this device.
Of course, it’s not a perfect phone by any means, and there are a few shortcomings here. But the biggest hurdle for the Pixel 6a is definitely the price set by Google for the Indian market. If you look at this chart, it is more expensive in India than anywhere else in the world!
And with brands like iQOO, OnePlus, and even OPPO offering some great specs in this region, it’s obvious that Google is charging a premium price for this device. So, if you are thinking of buying the Pixel 6a, always look out for bank discounts or coupon codes. At the MSRP of INR 44,000, it’s a hard sell.
Google Pixel 6a Specifications:
Body: 71.8 x 152.2 x 8.9mm, 178gm, Gorilla Glass 3, IP67 dust/water resistant
Connectivity: Single-SIM (Nano/eSIM), WiFi 6E a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / AGPS / Galileo / Glonass / QZSS, USB Type-C, NFC, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
Battery: 4410mAh with 18W fast charging (no power adapter provided)
Color Options: Sage, Chalk, Charcoal
What’s Inside The Box: Pixel 6a, SIM ejector, USB-C to USB-C cable, Quick Switch adapter, User manual and other documents
Price in Nepal: N/A (INR 43,999)
Google Pixel 6a Review:
Design & Build
71.8 x 152.2 x 8.9mm, 178 grams
Glass front/back, Aluminum frames
IP67 dust/water resistant
Anyway, let me share my experience with it starting with the design. And after all my time with this phone, I must say that I have grown to like its form factor.
It’s one of those phones that’s not too small or too big. It just… fits in the hand.
I also didn’t miss the heft which may be because of how evenly the weight is distributed. I was even surprised to find out that the back is made up of plastic here! It does feel like glass a bit but since this is plastic, you will encounter scratches on the back eventually.
So, if you are one of those who is always looking for a lucrative after-sale value, you’ll have to install a skin or use a back cover on this phone. Plus, the back also catches a lot of fingerprints and smudges, so if you happen to be someone like Monica with OCD about cleanliness, you will end up cleaning the back of this phone quite often.
Other aspects of the design are quite good too.
The camera lens doesn’t protrude as much compared to the Pixel 6, so it stays pretty flat when keeping it on a flat surface. The buttons are tactile enough, it is IP67 dust-and-water resistant, and the frames are made up of aluminum which should offer some level of protection against drops.
So overall, although the Pixel 6a might not have a gorgeous-looking design like the OPPO Reno 8 Pro or a fancy one like the Nothing phone (1), it is practical, and I am 100% sure you will love its form factor.
Display
6.1-inches FHD+ OLED panel
60Hz refresh rate
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
Over on the front, there is this black bezel all over the corner which could not be aesthetically pleasing. But over time, it hasn’t been a problem for me. The actual quality of this 6.1-inch screen is very good.
I used it in the natural profile which exhibits true colors, but what’s important to know is that the core quality of this OLED screen is excellent.
The contrast is superb, there’s no weird color shift in different viewing angles, and HDR streaming works flawlessly on all platforms. Brightness levels are sufficient too, so no problem glancing at messages on a bright sunny day or scrolling through the news feed at minimum brightness while in bed at night.
What about the fingerprint reader?
The fingerprint sensor placement is also just where I want it to be. And thanks to the updates I mentioned earlier, it has gotten as fast as any optical sensor out there. There have been multiple reports of the Pixel 6a’s fingerprint sensor recognizing unregistered fingers, but that issue is non-existent on our unit from day one.
The typing experience is also superb, all thanks to proper touch calibration and quality vibration motors. That being said, this display refreshes at just 60Hz and that’s kind of suicidal you may assume. If any Chinese brands or even Samsung had done this, that would have been game over!
But since Google has optimized its UI incredibly well, I personally didn’t feel the 6a’s 60Hz screen to be choppy. Yes, 90Hz would have been nice, but I am honestly surprised to see this 60Hz not being a problem for me!
Battery
4410mAh battery with 18W fast charging
And because this is a 60Hz panel, I was able to get a good—if not great—battery life as well. Google claims this is a “one-day battery phone”, and I was able to get similar results on moderate usage! On days when I would game a lot and constantly use 4G mobile data, I had to charge the phone as soon as I reach home.
But I think they could have squeezed a bigger 5000mAh cell here, which would have improved the endurance even more. Similarly, the Pixel 6a supports just 18W PD charging and it takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes to get fully charged.
So, if you are someone who has used that 65W charger on your OnePlus and Realme devices, it will take quite some patience to shift to this! But if you are someone whose experience with fast charging is just Samsung’s 25W or iPhone’s 20W solution, shifting to the 18W charger shouldn’t be that much of a problem.
Performance
Octa-core Google Tensor 5G SoC (5nm)
6GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
Android 12 (upgradable)
3 generations OS, 5 years of security updates
Now, another thing that I am satisfied with here is the performance. The 6a uses the same Google Tensor chipset as the more expensive Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
But what’s crucial to understand is that this chipset is more than 6 months old now, and all the issues that we saw on the Pixel 6 series earlier, like unusual overheating, unoptimized fps in games, and the likes have all been fixed during this time. And thus, we get a much more reliable performance on the 6a.
The Tensor chip still gets slightly warm under normal usage, but it’s nothing to worry about. It’s just as fast as you would expect for a phone at this price segment. And despite having just 6GB of RAM, I found the memory management to be pretty good and it can handle anything you throw at it.
Not made for gamers though
But if you game a lot, you will be better off with phones like the iQOO 9 or the OnePlus 9RT which offer a better gameplay experience in practically every title. But if you are just a casual gamer like me, it’s no problem.
I particularly enjoyed 4 finger claw grip due to the smaller form factor.
However, the Pixel 6a does get quite hot on the back under heavy gaming sessions. And in games like Genshin Impact, which is both CPU and GPU taxing, the fps stability takes a hit with heavy fluctuation which means the gameplay isn’t all that enjoyable.
That being said, I just want to reiterate that the overall performance of this year’s Pixel 6a is commendable. It’s undoubtedly a big leap over what we got on the Pixel 5a or the Pixel 4a before that. And I also don’t think many potential buyers of this phone are going to complain about its mediocre gaming stability, because the main purpose of owning a Pixel phone is for the software ordeal.
And this phone has got everything from clean UI and bloatware-free experience to years of software updates. Thanks to the custom Tensor chip, you also get a lot of benefits here that a typical Android smartphone simply cannot offer.
From improved speed and accuracy while using Google Assistant to exclusive Pixel features such as Assistant Voice Typing, Live Caption for calls, and Live Translation, these are definitely some helpful value additions that you will admire and make use of eventually.
Cameras
Dual camera setup at the back
(12.2MP main, 12MP ultrawide)
8MP selfie camera (hole-punch)
Cameras
1 of 2
Back
Front
Finally, let’s talk about its cameras! And this is the reason why I really like this phone so much. I have been using the Pixel 6a alongside the OPPO Reno 8 Pro and just started testing the OnePlus 10T. And trust me, none of these devices can capture as good images as the Pixel 6a.
Normal Images
As you can see from the daytime samples, the photos have ample details, balanced exposure, and a noticeably contrast-heavy output, but in a good way.
Normal
1 of 12
The dynamic range is also a class above any midrange phones you will find in this price segment. Likewise, the closeup shots also provide good bokeh and you will instantly feel like you are using a flagship phone.
Ultrawide Images
Also, what usually happens with most premium midrange phones is that their secondary ultra-wide lens is pretty meh. There would be a lot of color shift between the wide and the ultra-wide shots, and the details and dynamic range would just be all over the place.
Ultrawide
1 of 8
Wide
Ultrawide
Wide
Ultrawide
Wide
Ultrawide
Wide
Ultrawide
But not on the Pixel 6a. As you can see, the main and ultra-wide images have consistent color rendition and contrast levels. Even the details are pretty decent from the ultra-wide camera here.
Videography
As for videos, you can record at up to 4K 60 fps from the primary and up to 4K 30 fps from the ultra-wide camera. The quality, of course, isn’t as good as the Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, but what I like about its footages is that they have the same contrasty color scheme as we saw in the photos.
Selfie Images
Selfie
1 of 5
Having said that, there are a few areas where I hoped the Pixel 6a’s cameras were better. And number 1: it’s the selfies. It’s alright for the price, but I think Google could have included a better sensor for nicer details and sharpness.
Lowlight Images
The second aspect is the nighttime images. Although it can capture good colors and contrast, I found the camera sensor struggling to preserve details during low light conditions.
Lowlight
1 of 10
This is probably because Pixel 6a uses a very old Sony IMX363 sensor, which is quite a small image sensor that can’t capture as much light. And it is also void of features like pixel binning and stuff.
Portrait Images
Portrait
1 of 8
Besides this, I think Google needs to roll out an update and fix the skin tone on the portrait shots. As you can check for yourself, it clearly messes up the subject’s skin tone. I noticed this in multiple portrait photos I took, although some of them turned out fine.
Audio
Dual stereo speakers, No headphone jack
Alright, I almost forgot to mention to you that the Pixel 6a accepts only one physical SIM and one eSIM. I have heard people complaining about the call quality and dropped calls, but on my usage, I haven’t faced such issues. And the audio quality from the earpiece is loud and clear.
By the way, this earpiece also works as a secondary speaker and there is also one downward-firing speaker for the stereo effect. The output is decently loud with not much distortion and a respectable dynamic range.
Google Pixel 6a Review: Conclusion
So, to conclude this review, I really really enjoyed my time with the Google Pixel 6a. I honestly didn’t expect it to be this good! Just before I started using this phone, I kept thinking that this review might turn out to be a rant of sorts, because, on paper, the Google Pixel 6a isn’t a good deal by any imagination. At least when you look at the specs.
It has a plastic body, a 60Hz screen, and sluggish charging for a whopping INR 44,000! But despite all this, I am genuinely impressed!
Of course, you can find phones like the OnePlus 9RT or the iQOO 9 with superior hardware specs, but I am 100% confident that none of them can match the experience and camera quality of the Pixel 6a. And one more thing. I hope to see Google address the exorbitant pricing issue in markets like India sooner than later.
One of the ways it can do this is by manufacturing Pixel phones in India itself, which should keep the price down by a significant amount. But whether Google wants to aggressively expand its smartphone business in this part of the world remains to be seen. But seeing how good the Pixel 6a is, I really want that to happen soon!
Samsung Odyssey family has been home to the company’s flagship gaming monitor. The Odyssey Ark joins the lineup as the world’s first 55-inch 4K curved gaming display with a 165Hz refresh rate. So, let’s go through the Samsung Odyssey Ark’s specifications, availability, and expected price in Nepal.
Samsung Odyssey Ark Overview:
Display
Samsung initially showed us this monitor at CES 2022, and it is now available for mass shipment. Going over its primary USP, the display, it’s a 55″ mini-LED powered panel with 1000R curvature and 4K resolution. You can also rotate it, which according to Samsung adds a new level of immersion.
Odyssey Ark Design
1 of 2
Landscape
Portrait
Best of all, it has a cockpit mode that allows users to flip the entire display vertically for multitasking and a completely different experience.
Likewise, the display has a 165Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and a built-in chipset to upscale video to 4K for the best gaming experience. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and has features such as a Game Bar for adjusting the display aspect ratio (16:9 / 21:9 / 32:9).
Another notable software feature is the Gaming Hub, which allows you to access popular PC and console games as well as leading streaming services all in one spot. A Multi View feature allows up to four apps to be split over the screen.
Furthermore, the Odyssey Ark has four corner speakers and two center woofers that can provide 60W of audio output. They are Dolby Atmos-tuned, and AI Sound Booster produces a three-dimensional sound field to immerse you in the game world.
Rest of the specs
There are no I/O ports integrated into the display for connectivity. Instead, like with its Frame TV, Samsung includes a separate one-connect box with all of the necessary interfaces, including four HDMI 2.1 connectors, two USB ports, one headphone jack, and an ethernet port. A 200 x 200 mm VESA mount may be used to wall mount the monitor.
Samsung Odyssey Ark Price in Nepal and Availability
The Odyssey Ark is now available for pre-order on the official website for USD 3500. Customers who pre-order can save $300. If the Samsung Odyssey Ark makes it to Nepal, we estimate it to cost NPR NPR 460,000.
Gaming Monitor
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Samsung Odyssey Ark
USD 3500
NPR 460,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 after 1 year.
A few months ago, Poco unveiled the company’s cheapest phone, M4 5G, in India. The phone has now made its global debut with few changes in the camera department. In this article, we will discuss the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Poco M4 5G in Nepal.
Poco M4 5G Overview:
Performance and Overview
Poco M4 5G is powered by Dimensity 700 chip which comes with a dedicated 5G modem. This is the biggest change coming from M3 to M4 5G. Poco M4 5G supports a total of 7 5G Bands in India, whereas there is a total of 12 5G bands on the global version.
Moving on, Poco M4 5G is available in two memory configurations. The base variant features 4GB of RAM paired with 64GB of internal storage. The higher-end variant comes with 6GB of RAM and double the storage.
Design and Display
Poco has even experimented with the design of the Poco M4 5G. The slate on which the cameras reside now expands across the width of the phone. You can also notice a textured-like finish on the rear panel. Poco also has a name for this new design—Hypnotic Swirl. Color options include Power Black, Cool Blue, and Yellow.
As for the in-hand feel, Poco M4 5G comes with flat frames with curved edges. It measures 8.9mm in thickness and weighs around 200 grams.
Over on the front, you get a 6.58-inch LCD screen with an FHD+ resolution. It sports a waterdrop-style notch which makes it look outdated compared to its predecessor which had a notch.
But if you can look past it, you are getting a 90Hz screen with a 240Hz touch sampling rate. In addition, it even has Gorilla Glass 3 protection and an official IP52 rating.
Last year’s Poco M3 had only three cameras as it ditched the ultrawide module entirely. Now, Poco has removed one more sensor, leaving just two on the M4 5G.
Poco M4’s camera specs will vary depending upon the region. The Indian variant features a 50MP primary camera, paired with a 2MP depth sensor, whereas the new global version replaces the former with a 13MP snapper.
Likewise, the global variant comes with a 5MP selfie camera. For comparison, the Indian version of the Poco M4 5G has an 8MP sensor.
Battery
Poco M4 5G gets its juice from a 5,000mAh battery. It’s smaller than the 6,000mAh cell on the M3 but comes with the same 18W fast charging tech. But Poco includes a 22.5W power brick in the box. Likewise, it even supports 5W reverse charging that you can use to charge your accessories.
The phone runs Android 12 out of the box with MIUI 13 on top. Other notable features of the M4 5G include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and Hi-res audio certification.
POCO M4 5G Specifications:
Body: 76.09 x 163.99 x 8.9mm, 195 gm, Polycarbonate build, IP52 rated
Display: 6.58-inches IPS LCD panel, 90Hz refresh rate, Up to 240Hz touch sampling rate, Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G (7nm Mobile Platform)
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging (22.5W adapter provided)
Color Options: Cool Blue, Power Black, POCO Yellow
Poco M4 5G Price in Nepal and Availability (Expected)
The price of Poco M4 5G in the global market starts at EUR 219. It is soon expected to launch in Nepal as well. As such, we expect the price of Poco M4 5G in Nepal to start at NPR 22,500.
Poco M4 5G
Price in Europe (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
4/64GB
EUR 219
NPR 22,500
6/128GB
EUR 249
NPR 26,500
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Poco M4 Pro 5G.
JBL Flip 6 is the newest addition to the Flip lineup, offering IP67 water resistance and more than 12 hours of battery life. The speaker is finally available for pre-order in Nepal. In this article, we will look at the specifications, features, availability, and price of the JBL Flip 6 in Nepal.
JBL Flip 6 Overview:
Design
Compared to its predecessor, the JBL Flip 6 has undergone a redesign. The speaker now has a bolder JBL logo and smoother edges. According to JBL, the bold design represents bold audio.
Because it is dust and waterproof, the speaker is suitable for any environment, including a pool or a skatepark. Furthermore, the available colors are grey, black, teal, blue, and red.
The audio setup of the JBL Flip 6 is comprised of two passive radiators for deep bass, a woofer, and a dedicated tweeter. It has a dynamic frequency response range of 63Hz to 20KHz and outputs 20W.
For connectivity, JBL has gone with Bluetooth 5.1 and the speaker supports PartyBoost as well. PartyBoost allows the user to connect two or more compatible speakers.
The user can also use the JBL Portable app to tweak the sound of the JBL Flip 6. Besides, the speaker can be connected to up to two devices simultaneously.
Fitted with a 17.28Wh battery, JBL claims music playtime of more than 12 hours. The battery charges fully in just about 2 and a half hours via USB Type-C.
The Type-C port offers protection against damage and notifies the user in case of contact with moisture.
JBL Flip 6 Specifications:
Body: 17.8 x 6.8 x 7.2cm, 550 gms
Output: 20W
Frequency Response: 63Hz – 20 kHz
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1
IP Rating: IP67 dust-and-waterproof
Battery: 17.28Wh Li-ion
Backup: Up to 12 hours
Charging: Type-C port (100% in 2.5 hours)
Color Options: Blue, Black, Grey, Teal, Red
JBL Flip 6 Price in Nepal and Availability
The JBL Flip 6 is currently available in Nepal for NPR 16,500. You can buy your Flip 6 from official dealers like Hukut Store.
Harman Kardon, a well-known maker of audio accessories, has released two speakers in Nepal. These are the Onyx Studio 7 and Citation 200, two premium speakers from the firm. So, let us have a look at the specifications, features, availability, and expected price of the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 and Citation 200 in Nepal.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 Overview:
Design
The main attraction of Onyx Studio 7 is its design. The speaker has a spherical body with a metal ring around it that gives it a space-like vibe, similar to Saturn’s rings.
The ring cleverly doubles as a handle for carrying. You may also use the handle as a stand to prop up the speaker on flat surfaces. As fascinating as it appears, this added appeal adds to the device’s weight since it weighs 3.295 kg.
Inside you get two 1-inch tweeters and a single 4.8-inch woofer that has a rated power output of 50W and a frequency range of 50Hz to 20kHz.
The Onyx Studio 7 is Bluetooth 4.2 compliant, but only supports the SBC audio codec. The speaker can wirelessly connect with another Onyx Studio 7 to form a pair. The company promises a battery life of up to 8 hours with an 11.70Wh battery.
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 Specifications:
Dimensions (W x H x D): 268.0 x 302.5 x 159.5 mm
Weight: 3.295 kg/ 7.26 lbs
Transducers: 1 x Woofer (120mm), 2 x Tweeter (25mm)
Rated Output Power: 50 W RMS
Frequency response: 50 Hz — 20 kHz (-6dB)
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 80 dB
Bluetooth version: 4.2
Battery: 11.70Wh (up to 8 hours)
Charging: 5 hours
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7 Price in Nepal, Availability
Similar to the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7, Citation 200 is sold by EvoStore in Nepal and costs Rs. 41,000.
Speaker
Price in Nepal
Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7
Rs. 41,000
Harman Kardon Citation 200 Overview:
Design
Next up, Citation 200 is another beefier speaker from Harman Kardon. The outer cover is made of fiber and weighs 2.85 kg. It, like Studio 7, features a carrying handle, but this time the leather covering is held in place by metallic buttons.
Since it has IPX4 water-resistance rating, the speaker can endure light rain. There are LEDs integrated into the front of the speaker that light up when you alter the volume or invoke Google Assistant.
The control panel is located on the top of the speaker and includes power on/off, Bluetooth pairing, and volume controls, as well as a button to play/pause music, stop timers and alarms, and trigger the voice assistant.
Audio
Citation 200 has a 25mm tweeter and a 120mm woofer for audio. They combine to deliver a 50W of output with a frequency range of 40Hz to 20kHz. You can even pair two of these to create stereo sound.
Furthermore, there are two microphones on the aforementioned control panel to allow you to communicate with your Google Assistant. Since the speaker supports WiFi 5, it can also be connected to the internet. You can link it over Bluetooth with your primary device.
Harman states that the speaker’s battery life is around 8 hours. Charging using a USB-C connector takes about 3 hours.
Harman Kardon Citation 200 Specifications:
Dimensions (W x H x D): 178 x 219 x 172mm
Weight: 2.85 kg
Transducers: 1 x Woofer (120mm), 1 x Tweeter (25mm)
Rated Output Power: 50W RMS
Frequency response: 40 Hz — 20 kHz (-6dB)
Signal-to-noise ratio: > 80 dB
Bluetooth version: 4.2
Battery: 4800mAh (up to 8 hours)
Charging: 3 hours
Harman Kardon Citation 200 Price in Nepal, Availability
Just like the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 7, the Citation 200 is available to purchase in Nepal from EvoStore and has a price tag of Rs. 61,000.
Welcome to the eleventh edition of our weekly tech quiz. Take our quiz to put your tech knowledge to the test (no cheating, obviously). There are 15 questions in total, so it shouldn’t take more than 3 minutes. And the questions could be from any field—smartphones, gaming, music, and more. Let’s go!
Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 is the latest addition to the brand’s popular Pad 5 lineup. In this article, we will take a look at the specifications, features, expected price, and availability of the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 in Nepal.
Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 Overview:
Design and Display
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 comes with quite a few design changes. The rear camera module has been redesigned to look a lot like the ones on Xioami 12 series phones. The company also provides new color options: Black, Silver, and Green.
Over on the front, the bezels are thinner and the display size is bumped to 12.4 inches. However, the display specs are fairly similar with a 120Hz refresh rate, 2.5K resolution, HDR 10 support, and Dolby Vision certification.
Performance and Memory
The performance on the new 12.4-inch Pad 5 Pro is handled by the Snapdragon 870. It is the same processor as the 11-inch Pad 5. Thus, we can expect similar performance from the tablet.
For this iteration, Xiaomi has paired the processor with up to 512GB of internal storage and up to 12GB of RAM. Furthermore, it runs MIUI Pad 13 based on Android 12 which offers additional functionality for better screen-state utilization and multitasking.
For optics, Xiaomi has fitted the slate with a 50MP primary shooter and a 2MP depth sensor. Over on the front, it packs a 20MP selfie camera.
Rest of the specs
The tablet has a 10,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging. According to the company, it can charge fully in under 68 minutes.
For an immersive audio experience, the Pad 5 Pro 12.4 flaunts a quad-speaker system and two microphones. It also supports Xiaomi’s stylus and keyboard attachment.
Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 is currently available only in China. The price for the base 8/128GB variant is set at CNY 2,799 and goes all the way up to CNY 3,999 for the CNY 3,999 variant. We expect the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4 to start at NPR 59,999 if it launches in Nepal.
Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro 12.4
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB
CNY 2,799
NPR 59,999
8/256GB
CNY 3,299
NPR 69,999
12/512GB
CNY 3,999
NPR 85,599
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Xiaomi Pad 5.
Yesterday, Xiaomi announced the newest member of its K-series, the Redmi K50 Ultra. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 inside makes it the most powerful phone in the series. So, let’s walk through the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Redmi K50 Ultra in Nepal.
Redmi K50 Ultra Overview:
Performance
The new K50 Ultra is the first, and so far, the only Redmi phone to be powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip. This makes it even more powerful than the K50 Gaming Edition with the standard Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
The new SoC is based on TSMC’s 4nm process node, resulting in a 30% increased power efficiency. In addition, the Plus variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 boasts 10% gains in CPU and GPU as well as a 20% improvement in AI capability.
Xiaomi has paired the chip with a vapor chamber covering an area of 3,723 sq mm. On the software side, Xiaomi’s FEAS 2.1 technology on the Redmi K50 Ultra promises stable fps during games, even promising 120fps on games like Honor of Kings.
Design and Display
Redmi K50 Ultra stands out among other K50 models because of the design. Xiaomi has based the phone’s design around the Xiaomi 12 and 12S. And it’s clear from the rectangular camera bump at the back. Xiaomi offers the phone in three color options: Black, Silver, and Black.
Furthermore, there is even a special “Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Summer Edition” limited to 20,000 units.
Over on the front, the Redmi K50 Ultra sports a 6.67-inches OLED screen with a resolution of 2712 x 1220 pixels. Xiaomi claims that the power consumption of this 1.5K screen is in close approximation to a normal FHD screen. Redmi K50 Ultra’s screen refreshes at 120Hz and boasts 480Hz touch sampling rate
It’s a 12-bit screen with DCI-P3 coverage and support of HDR (HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Adaptive HDR).
The center-aligned punch-hole of the Redmi K50 Ultra encloses the 20MP Sony IMX596 selfie camera. It can capture 1080p videos and has advanced features like screen fill light and voice control photo. Over on the back, we get a triple camera setup consisting of a 108MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro sensor.
The 108MP camera in question utilizes Samsung’s ISOCELL HM6 sensor. It even has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and can record 4K videos.
Rest of the Specs
Fueling this whole setup is a 5,000mAh lithium-ion battery. Using Xiaomi’s proprietary charging technology, the Redmi K50 Ultra can attain charging speeds of up to 120W. In addition, the phone is also compatible with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3+ and Power Delivery 3.0 chargers.
Redmi K50 Ultra has an in-display fingerprint scanner that can also record your heart rate. There is a stereo speaker but no headphone jack. As for wireless connectivity, the phone has dual-5G standby, Wi-Fi 6E, and NFC.
Xiaomi has scheduled the first sale of the Redmi K50 Ultra in China on August 16. Prices start at CNY 2,999 for the 8/128GB variant. We expect the price to start at NPR if Xiaomi launches the Redmi K50 Ultra in Nepal.
Redmi K50 Ultra
Price in China (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB
CNY 2,999
NPR 60,000
8/256GB
CNY 3,299
NPR 66,000
12/256GB
CNY 3,599
NPR 72,000
12/512GB
CNY 3,999
NPR 80,000
12/512GB (Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Edition)
CNY 4,199
NPR 85,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Poco F4 GT.
Kacific Satellites, in collaboration with Space Link and Everest Link, has officially inaugurated its Ka-band-based broadband satellite internet service in Nepal. At the launch event held yesterday in Kathmandu, the company officially kicked off its operation in Nepal.
What is satellite internet?
Unlike your typical fiber-based or wireless internet, satellite internet is a bit different. Simply put, its entire process starts with an ISP (Internet Service Provider) sending a geostationary satellite into space that orbits the Earth. The satellite is responsible for transmitting signals to and from the end-user and the “Earth Station”.
Here, the Earth station (or ground station, or gateway) is essentially what delivers internet radio signals to the satellite, which it then forwards to the local modem.
Image: Viasat
And to receive signals sent by satellite, a receiver dish or a VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) antenna is installed at a location with a clear view of the sky. That’s quite the oversimplification, but I hope you get the idea.
This is mostly ideal for rural or some geologically complex areas where fiber or dial-up internet is inaccessible. That unavailability may be due to the complicated logistics to expand fiber services, unfavorable economies of scale, or some other reasons entirely.
Political map of Nepal
Regardless, the arrival of satellite internet service in Nepal is quite a significant achievement. That’s because now, the digitally unserved or underserved communities of the country—especially the Himalayan region—will finally have access to the wonders of the internet.
What is Kacific Satellites?
Kacific Satellites is a global broadband satellite operator that currently serves a total of 25 countries in South East Asia and the Pacific territory through 56 satellite spot beams. It is also the largest Ka-band operator in the said region. The company launched its first Ka-band geostationary high throughput satellite (HTS) in December 2019, called “Kacific1”.
Ka-band (or KA band, or Kₐ band, or K-above) defines frequencies in the range of 26.5 – 40 GHz that are used for satellite communication. Here in Nepal, NTA (Nepal Telecommunications Authority) approved the use of the Ka-band spectrum (19.7 – 21.2 GHz downlink, 29.5 – 31 GHz uplink) for satellite internet in March 2021.
So with the foundation set, Kacific Satellites has been testing on setting up a Ka-band terminal in Nepal for quite some time now. But mind you that an international satellite internet provider can’t directly offer its services to the end-user. According to the existing Nepali regulation, it has to route through an NSP (Network Service Provider) and an ISP (Internet Service Provider).
The legal route
In this case, Space Link (NSP) acquired the license for the use of the Ka-band spectrum in March of last year. And to offer Kacific’s satellite internet services in Nepal, it has teamed up with Everest Link (ISP) since a licensed NSP isn’t allowed to provide internet services to the end customer either.
However, Kacific clarified that other ISP or NSPs could also collaborate with the company to extend its services in Nepal if required.
Kacific1 coverage area
And in December 2021, the company successfully tested a Ka-band terminal in Nepal where it achieved 80 Mbps download and 16 Mbps upload speed. The company has since completed the final stages of testing, and has thus commercially rolled out its services in Nepal. Kacific also conducted a live video feed demo and speed test demo of the Gigstarter 10 User plan during the event, with the following results:
Download: 59.79 Mbps
Upload: 9.28 Mbps
Ping: 659 ms
What’s it gonna cost?
Brace yourselves. While satellite internet’s accessibility is no match for fiber-based internet, that does come at a price. Quite literally. Space Link currently has the following seven subscription tiers for its satellite internet services in Nepal:
Download speed
Upload speed
Monthly cost
One-time terminal fee
Gigstarter
Simple
3 Mbps
3 Mbps
Rs. 17,610
Rs. 88,140
Everyday
15 Mbps
10 Mbps
Rs. 25,415
4 User
30 Mbps
10 Mbps
Rs. 31,950
7 User
50 Mbps
15 Mbps
Rs. 75,034
Rs. 159,100 Rs. 88,140
(offer price)
10 User
60 Mbps
20 Mbps
Rs. 108,921
25 User
70 Mbps
20 Mbps
Rs. 278,353
60 User
100 Mbps
20 Mbps
Rs. 550,655
Free
Note: The aforementioned prices are inclusive of VAT. FUP is applicable to all plans.
Apart from the monthly fee, its one-time installation cost is quite staggering too. The 1.2 meters satellite dish alone costs Rs. 88,140 for the Simple to 4 User plan. While the VSAT terminal is free of charge on the top-end Gigstarter 60 User package, it costs Rs. 159,100 for the remaining plans. But the company is currently offering it for Rs. 88,140.
According to Kacific, this discounted rate will be applicable to a handful of customers on a first-come-first-serve basis. Then there’s the charge for the MDM2010 satellite modem, whereas transportation and other tertiary costs are to be incurred by the end customer too.
Likewise, the satellite dish is also non-returnable. You do get a 1-year warranty but that’s it. That means, in case you’re unsatisfied with the service, you can’t return the dish and get a refund. Kacific did mention that a buyback program of sorts was being discussed internally, but we have no way to tell if and when that program will actually come into action as of now.
Kacific satellite internet in Nepal: Final words
So it’s pretty clear that satellite internet service from Kacific and Space Link is out of reach of many Nepali households. Instead, it’s mostly suited for government offices, hospitals, communities, corporations and business houses, and such. Then again, satellite internet (by its very nature) is expensive compared to fiber or dial-up internet. To minimize the cost burden to a certain degree, one can enroll in the Kacific Authorized Distributor (KAD) program.
This is basically a referral program where individuals or businesses can earn up to Rs. 45,000 by signing up a new customer. But their responsibility also includes installing network equipment to the customer’s location and making sure that the customer renews their subscription.
Despite all this, Kacific has finally enabled high-speed internet services to the remote, geographically challenged region of Nepal. According to NTA’s latest MIS report (April – May 2022), the internet penetration rate in Nepal is abysmally low at just 38%. Even though 93% of the population are covered by cellular network.
So satellite internet is a crucial infrastructure to introduce internet to remote areas of the country. Not just this, it can also play a critical role in terms of establishing communication during natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides, and floods. Kacific also offers enterprise backup solutions where financial institutions, hospitals, etc. can switch to satellite internet for immediate connection in case their existing fiber-based network fails.
Meanwhile, check out our picks for the best mid-range smartwatches
