Along with its first 2-in-1 Windows tablet, Xiaomi recently unveiled its newest Xiaomi TV A2 smart television. It is currently available in Europe in three different screen sizes. So, let’s have a look at the Xiaomi TV A2’s specifications, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal.
Xiaomi TV A2 Overview:
Display
As aforementioned, Xiaomi TV A2 is available in three screen sizes, namely 43-inch, 50-inch and 55-inch. These are 4K TVs with a 60Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color depth, and 90% DCI-P3 color gamut.
You also get HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and a MEMC chip that artificially adds frames to make the content look smooth. The bezels are also fairly narrow all around, and the TV A2 comes with a metal frame. This is supported by a single strand, which is made of plastic.
It has two speakers with 12W output each and supports Dolby Audio and DTS-HD.
Moreover, the TV A2 is powered by a quad-core SoC featuring four ARM Cortex-A55 CPU cores and an ARM Mali G52 MP2 GPU. This is paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
On the software front, it comes pre-installed with Android TV 10. As a result, you get to enjoy features such as Chromecast, Google Voice Assistant, Play Store, and more.
Rest of the specs
The Xiaomi TV A2 has three HDMI 2.0, two USB 2.0 Type-A, one RJ-45 ethernet jack, an AV port, one optical Digital Audio Out, and a 3.5 mm audio jack for connectivity. It uses WiFi 5 (ac) and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless communication.
The TV A2 will go on sale on June 28th, with a starting price of EUR 449 for the 43″ model. Similarly, the 50″ and 55″ models are priced at EUR 499 and EUR 549, respectively. We expect its price to start at NPR 65,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.
Xiaomi TV A2
Price in Europe
Price in Nepal (Expected)
43”
EUR 449
NPR 65,000
50”
EUR 499
NPR 70,000
55”
EUR 549
NPR 75,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung AU8000 (75-inch) 4K TV.
You can find free WiFi in most public places these days. Cafés, restaurants, hospitals, and even public buses let you use WiFi. Although this service is awesome for the business and us (the customers), we want you to re-think before using public WiFis from now on. Why? Because it is not safe. How? Let us explain about the safety of free public WiFi.
Why is the safety of free public WiFi a concern?
First of all, like how you love free and open WiFi, hackers do too. Because it will be easier for them to connect to public WiFi since it’s available to everyone. When you are connected to the same WiFi as the hackers, they can use various tools to sniff your data (you don’t even need to be a pro to use some hacking tools these days).
So when a hacker is on the same network as yours, he will act as a middle-man. This means your data will go through the hacker before going to the website you are visiting. So, the middle-man can see everything you are doing on the Internet: your Google searches, your comments on posts, and even security credentials (passwords). We don’t need to tell you what they can do after getting that information.
Furthermore, the hacker can also re-create your favorite websites say, Facebook. So when you visit Facebook on public WiFi, the hacker will send you a fake Facebook login page instead (it will look exactly like Facebook). This way, the hacker can easily get your credentials without you having the slightest clue. Because in this process, the attacker will send you the original Facebook login page afterward, thus making it look like you entered a wrong password. This technique is called “phishing” and it can be very dangerous. So, never disclose your bank or any other financially-sensitive info on public WiFi.
In addition, there is yet another threat to using public WiFi: malware. If file-sharing is allowed across a network, the hacker can easily plant a software (virus) on your computer. Once the malware is on your computer or mobile, some pop-up window will appear offering an upgrade for popular software. Once you click it, the malware will be installed. It can then track everything you do on your device even after you disconnect from the WiFi. After that, you will not be safe even on your home network.
So what are the safety measures for public WiFi?
Okay, okay, calm down. This doesn’t mean you should never use public free WiFi despite all the safety concerns. After all, there is a solution to everything, right? Well, the solution is easy, you just need to take a few precautions.
1. Use a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) connection is a necessity to protect your privacy: from hackers or from your ISP. And using a reliable VPN even prevents you from WebRTC leaks. WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) lets browsers create P2P (peer-to-peer) connections with websites so that you can have audio and video communication from the webpage itself. This protocol is supported by all major web browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, and more.
While it sounds pretty cool, WebRTC can leak your real IP address without your knowledge. To see if your browser is doing so, you can perform a WebRTC leak test as well. Besides using a VPN, there are ways to disable WebRTC on an individual browser as well.
Likewise, if you use a VPN, your data will be strongly encrypted. Hence, the middle-man (hacker) will get nothing. Since most hackers look for an easy target, they’ll most likely move on to another prey if they find encrypted data; rather than wasting time decrypting your information. Plus, the good news is, nowadays, you can also get a free VPN service so you don’t need to worry if you can’t spend on a VPN.
2. Be aware
Look around for suspicious people before connecting to a public WiFi, whether it’s a café or a hospital. And, if you see open WiFi in other places, find out about the host first. Do you know them? Can they be trusted? And most of all, don’t do financial transactions using public WiFi.
And do not surf websites that require credentials to be inserted. For example, if you log into Facebook, hackers can intercept the credentials so that they can access your Facebook ID for information. And if you have been using the same password for different accounts, your multiple accounts will be at stake. So simply be aware!
3. Use SSL connections on public WiFi
Even if you are using a VPN, it is always better to use an extra layer of encryption by using SSL connections. If you are not using a VPN, you must always use SSL connections. For this, enable the “Always Use HTTPS” option from your browser on websites that you visit frequently.
Or that requires you to enter some kind of credentials. Most websites that require an account like Facebook and e-Banking have the “HTTPS” options already enabled. But, never enter your login info if the website doesn’t have HTTPS (instead of HTTP) on its URL.
4. Set up Two Factor Authentication for every account if possible
If Two Factor Authentication (2FA) for any online account is available, you should be doing it right now. Setting up 2FA troubles the hackers because a new temporary code is sent to a designated number whenever a new login is made. Without inserting the sent code, the account cannot be accessed. So you will always be safe.
5. Restrict device transmissions for public WiFi safety
Before connecting to a network, one should always be alert to turn off the Network Discovery and File Sharing within the network.
• Steps for Windows PC
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change Advanced Sharing Center > Select Public Profile > Turn Off all (Network Discovery, File and Printer Sharing, and Public Folder Sharing)
6. Set up safety barriers
A well-configured firewall (personal or corporate) can filter transmissions to and from the network. So, by using up-to-date security software (anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware, anti-Keylogger, etc.) and with the firewall turned on, you can be safe in most cases.
Image: Spiceworks
7. Update and patch the latest updates and firmware
Developers are always keen on making a secure system and evading the vulnerabilities. So with an up-to-date OS and browsing software, you are less prone to attacks.
8. Use mobile data instead
This reason may not be the most pleasing, but it won’t be a wise choice to be on a hacker’s radar than spending a little money to be safe from them. And with the expanding faster 4G networks and different volumes of budget-friendly data packs available from NTC and Ncell, one should definitely be less inclined to the use of free public WiFi.
9. Keep your WiFi off when not in use
I know it’s a “waste of time” going to the settings and turning off the WiFi on your mobile or laptop when you are not using it. Also, it feels great when you are automatically connected to a network when you revisit some websites. But, is it a good practice? Not really.
Even when you are not actively connected to any WiFi, the WiFi adapter is still transmitting data if it finds any network within range. And, some hackers are so ingenious, that they could connect to your device using the signals your WiFi adapter is sending. So, be on the safe side and turn off WiFi when not in use! On the plus side, this will result in better battery life as well.
Finally, be cautious and take any other safety precautions necessary before using free public WiFi. Happy surfing!
Xiaomi recently unveiled a new Windows tablet, called the Xiaomi Book S 12.4” in a few European markets. It’s the company’s first Windows 2-in-1 convertible tablet. In this article, we will walk you through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Xiaomi Book S 12.4” in Nepal.
Xiaomi Book S 12.4” Overview:
Design, Display
Starting with the display, the name itself reveals that the Xiaomi Book S has a 12.4-inch screen. Content consumers will certainly like its 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio. This thing can also grow quite bright, with a peak brightness of 500 nits.
The display has Corning Gorilla 3 protection. This 2-in-1 tablet gets an aluminum-magnesium alloy build that measures 8.95mm thick and 720 grams in weight.
Accessories
You can turn the tablet into a little work machine with the keyboard cover Xiaomi offers for it. It’s a full-sized keyboard with a key travel distance of 1.3mm and a mini-touchpad. You also get a built-in kickstand to support the tablet. It attaches to the tablet via pogo pins and adds 317 grams of weight.
On top of this, it also supports stylus input which runs at a 240Hz touch sampling rate and has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
On the performance front, it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 chipset. This is a 7nm chipset with a TDP of 7W that Qualcomm claimed at the time of its debut is faster than a 15W Intel Core i5 10th generation processor.
Memory-wise, it is packed with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The RAM used is LPDDR4X, however, Xiaomi has not specified what sort of storage is being used. Anyways, the storage can be expanded up to 512GB with a microSD card.
Furthermore, the Xiaomi Book S 12.4″ runs the most recent version of Windows, that is Windows 11. Xiaomi says that the tablet can last for more than 13 hours on a single charge. Additionally, it allows 65W fast charging to juice up the battery.
Rest of the specs
Aside from that, the tablet hosts a single 13MP camera on the back and a 5MP camera on the front. Likewise, the I/O option includes a USB-C port (DisplayPort, Charging), a headphone jack, and a micro SD card slot. For wireless connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 5 (ac) and Bluetooth 5.1.
Xiaomi Book S 12.4” Specifications:
Build:Aluminum-magnesium alloy build
Dimensions: 294 x 197 x 8.95 mm, 720 grams
Display: 12.35-inch IPS, WQHD+ (2560×1600 pixels), 16:10 aspect ratio
Keyboard: Full-size keys
Trackpad: Multi-touch trackpad
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 256GB (expandable up to 512GB)
Battery: 38.08Wh (up to 13.4 hours), 65W fast charging
Xiaomi Book S 12.4” Price in Nepal and Availability
The Xiaomi Book S 12.4 costs EUR 699 in Europe, and EUR 799 if you include the keyboard cover. It will be available for purchase from June 21st. If and when it is released in Nepal, we expect its price to be NPR 100,000.
Tablet
Price in Europe
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Xiaomi Book S 12.4”
EUR 699
NPR 100,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Alldocube iWork 20 Pro.
Samsung Electronics recently announced the ViewFinity S8, a high-end monitor designed for creative professionals and alike. ViewFinity is the company’s new moniker for the high-resolution monitor series. This article will look at the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Samsung ViewFinity S8 in Nepal.
Samsung ViewFinity S8 Overview:
Display
The ViewFinity S8 is available with two screen sizes: 27″ and 32″. These are 4K resolution IPS LCD panels with factory calibration that assures up to one billion colors are projected on the screen—although the display itself does not have 10-bit color depth.
Likewise, the screen has 98% DCI-P3 coverage, is DisplayHDR certified (DisplayHDR 600 for the 32″& DisplayHDR 400 for the 27″ model), and has Pantone certification. However, the notable feature is that it is the world’s first UL verified Glare Free monitor with a matte finish, which lowers light reflection on the screen.
In terms of brightness, the 32″ model has a peak brightness of 600 nits, whilst the 27″ model is limited to 400 nits. Other display characteristics include a 5ms response time, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and intelligent eye care.
Moving on, the ViewFinity S8 includes a height-adjustable stand with tilt and swivel adjustments. It can even be wall-mounted using a 100 x 100 mm VESA mount.
As with most monitors nowadays, the S8 comes with a variety of I/O connections, including a USB-C (with 90W charging support), one Display Port, one HDMI, and three USB-A downstream ports. Additionally, there’s also a LAN port, so you can plug in a wired ethernet cable.
Samsung ViewFinity S8 Price in Nepal and Availability
The ViewFinity S8 models will be available globally by the end of June. As a result, Samsung has yet to announce its price in the US. But, the 32-inch model costs SKW 820,000 ($634) in South Korea, while the 27-inch variant retails at SKW 720,000 ($557).
Monitor
Price in Korea
Price in Nepal (Expected)
27-inch
SKW 720,000
NPR 80,000
32-inch
SKW 820,000
NPR 90,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung AU8000 (75-inch 4K TV.
Lithium-ion batteries have emerged as the industry standard for all electronic devices, including electric vehicles (EVs). They have been in dominance for a long time now, but have a few limitations like being degrading with time. Addressing this, a Chinese company announced sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries that are said to be more efficient than Li-ion batteries.
Na-ion Battery: What’s the upper hand?
The market trend suggests that the cost of a battery directly affects the price of a product. While Li-ion batteries are driving everything from low-cost smartphones to high-end Tesla cars, their long-term supply is a matter of concern owing to scarcity. As a result, scientists have been looking at alternatives for a long time now.
And, Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are considered among their better replacements. Sodium (Na) is thousands of times more abundant than lithium (Li), which indicates that its supply shouldn’t be an issue in long term. On top of this, its overall cost of extraction and purification is comparatively cheaper as well.
The challenges
But every opportunity comes with its own set of challenges. Here, sodium-ion and lithium-ion have a similar working principle, with ions moving between the cathode and anode. However, Na has a larger volume and more stringent criteria for structural stability and kinetic properties.
However, a new study from CATL reveals that with the refinements of the electrodes on both ends, Na-ion batteries can perform similarly—if not better—than Li-ion batteries.
Here, CATL employed a higher-capacity Prussian white material for the cathode; and has also redesigned the bulk structure of the material by rearranging the electrons. Similarly, for the anode, it has developed a hard carbon material with a unique porous structure that allows for ample storage and fast movement of sodium ions.
Based on the new electrode materials, CATL developed its first-gen Na-ion battery, and the performance gain achieved is quite significant. Per the statistics shared by the company, the Na-ion battery is able to reach a high energy density of around 160 Wh/kg.
If you’re not familiar with the term, energy density refers to how much energy a battery carries in relation to its weight. In comparison, the energy density of a Li-ion battery can range between 100 and 265 Wh/kg.
Moreover, the battery is able to charge up to 80% in just 15 minutes. Since EVs spend a significant amount of time recharging, this fast charging support could be a game changer. Na-ion batteries are also found to work admirably in low temperatures retaining 90% of the energy stored at a low temperature of -20°C.
As a result, CATL believes that these “first generation of sodium-ion batteries can be used in various transportation electrification scenarios, especially in regions with extremely low temperatures, where its outstanding advantages become obvious.”
Na-ions Battery: Availability
Furthermore, as far as the availability is concerned, Dr. Qisen Huang, deputy dean of the CATL Research Institute, said that “sodium-ion battery manufacturing is perfectly compatible with the lithium-ion battery production equipment and processes, and the production lines can be rapidly switched to achieve a high production capacity.” As of now, CATL has already started the industrial deployment of sodium-ion batteries and intends to build a basic industrial chain by 2023.
Meanwhile, check out our full review of the Realme 9 after 1 month of testing
Welcome to the fifth 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!
In this review, I will be discussing my in-depth experience with the Realme GT 2 Pro. This is the company’s most premium phone to date, and it comes with a really impressive spec sheet for quite a reasonable price. And I’ve also been comparing this phone with the Xiaomi 12 Pro, which has more-or-less the same specs but for a slightly higher price.
Realme GT 2 Pro Specifications:
Body: 74.7 x 163.2 x 8.18mm, 189/199gm, Biopolymer material or Gorilla Glass Victus (only on Steel Black variant)
So let’s dive into the review with the things I have liked about the Realme GT 2 Pro. And the first thing that comes to my mind is certainly its unique design that I’m quite fond of! In this world of plastic and glass finish phones, Realme’s paper-like implementation looks and feels quite different.
Likewise, the company says they’ve used bio-based polymer here which leaves around 35% less carbon footprint, so that’s something I really appreciate being an eco-freak myself!
And not to forget, its paper-like back means you can write on it too, which is kinda interesting—but definitely not something you would do regularly. But you know what would have been even more interesting?
Image: Onleaks, 91Mobiles
If the GT 2 Pro came with the design as initial leaks suggested. I mean, that looks so damn cool, right?
A major design leap
Nevertheless, coming from the flashy racetrack design of the Realme GT, this one’s a huge improvement in my opinion.
Also, having used this phone for quite some time—that too without a cover—I am pleasantly surprised that this back hasn’t gotten dirty even on this light color textured finish. And it is one comfortable phone to use too, thanks to its lightweight build quality and flat frames.
But comparing the Xiaomi 12 Pro side by side, I feel like the GT 2 Pro kind of misses out on that premium heft. So if you are into hefty glass design phones, I think you might like what Xiaomi has to offer instead.
Something to ponder upon
Overall, I don’t have many complaints on the design front except that it’s missing an IP rating. Allow me to go a little off-topic here.
I don’t know if you have watched MKBHD’s interview with the then co-founder of OnePlus, Carl Pei, but in that interview, he says that the cost for including an official IP rating on the OnePlus Nord would’ve been around $15 had they decided to go that route.
So, I think it’s high time that brands like Realme and Xiaomi start offering such ingress protection at least on their most premium flagships because it seems like the cost of the phone wouldn’t go up by a huge margin anyway!
Display
6.7-inches QHD+ LTPO 2.0 AMOLED
120Hz refresh rate (1000Hz instant touch)
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection
Ok, in terms of display, you get everything you’d expect from a flagship phone here on the Realme GT 2 Pro. It has a 6.7-inch Samsung-made AMOLED panel with 2K resolution, 10-bit colors, 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, LTPO 2.0, and up to 1000Hz of instant touch sampling rate.
And it’s not just about the specs, this is indeed one hell of a good screen. I found it to be quite bright and vibrant, so watching videos or simply browsing the web has been an incredible experience here.
For durability, Realme has also included Gorilla Glass Victus protection on top. But as Zack from Jerry Rig Everything always says,
“Glass is glass. And glass breaks.”
So making sure your smartphone’s display remains intact is never a bad idea. Anyway, something icky about this display is that it doesn’t support HDR video playback on OTT platforms, although the display itself is HDR10+ certified.
Not much HDR content to go by
For me personally, this hasn’t made that big of a difference, because let’s face it, there aren’t a lot of Dolby Vision or HDR contents, to begin with.
So that means my content consumption experience hasn’t been affected that much here. But despite the multiple security updates the phone’s received so far, Realme is yet to solve this issue.
And I don’t know if it’s because of the latest update, what I’ve also noticed is that the contrast in normal SDR videos is slightly boosted here. So, I hope Realme looks into it and brings an update ASAP. Besides that, GT 2 Pro’s in-display fingerprint sensor works quite well.
Audio & Haptics
Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos
No 3.5mm headphone jack
And thanks to the excellent vibration motor, the typing experience on this phone is quite crisp and satisfactory as well. Its audio quality is pretty good too, although there is some noticeable distortion at the highest volume.
Actually, I was expecting the Xiaomi 12 Pro to do better in this aspect with its Harman Kardon tuned quad-speakers, but it turned out to be the opposite. I found the vocals and the overall audio to be crisper on the GT 2 Pro.
Battery
5000mAh battery with 65W fast charging
No wireless charging support
Ok, apart from the terrific design and display, another thing I’ve been incredibly satisfied with is its battery life too. Its 5000 mAh battery had no trouble lasting me an entire day under my typical usage pattern, which means lots of multimedia consumption, clicking photos and videos, and constantly on a phone call or WhatsApp.
So yeah, the battery life here is certainly better than the Xiaomi 12 Pro that wouldn’t even last me until bedtime. But Xiaomi does compensate with its 120W fast charging support that takes the phone from 0-100% in under 25 minutes while Realme’s 65W charger fills up the GT 2 Pro in 35 minutes give or take.
Then again, that 10-minute difference really doesn’t account for much for me. But if you are someone who is always on the run and charging speed matters to you a lot, Xiaomi does has a slight edge here.
Performance
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 5G SoC (4nm)
8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB storage (fixed)
Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0 on top
Let’s talk about the performance now. And just like the Xiaomi 12 Pro and other high-end Android devices, the GT 2 Pro is also fueled by Qualcomm’s second most powerful chipset of 2022, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
And we know that this is an excellent processor which can handle almost everything you throw at it. But we are well aware of its heating issues too. And yes, when you push the Realme GT 2 Pro hard enough, the phone does heat up.
Gaming experience
Here, playing graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact for about 25- 30 minutes in the highest possible settings, it almost reaches 45°C. And it’s not just about the heat because during the first 10 minutes when the phone stays relatively cool, I was getting around 48-50 fps which dropped to 38 fps after 20 minutes.
So, what Realme is doing here is throttling the performance for better stability and less heat dissipation. And hence, I was able to get stable 38 fps even beyond 30 minutes into the game. Apart from gaming, if you are recording 4K videos for a while, you will also notice the phone’s temperatures rising then.
However, games like PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile run very smoothly in their respective highest settings, achieving 40 and 60 fps throughout the gameplay, all the while maintaining below 42°C temperature, so that’s good.
Xiaomi 12 Pro’s results are more or less similar in the same setting, but I noticed that its back panel starts feeling warm rather quickly, and its sustained performance is slightly lower than Realme’s in real-life testing as well as CPU throttling tests.
So, I got to admire Realme for optimizing the GT 2 Pro’s performance and also using one of the largest vapor chamber cooling in the industry, which has contributed to such favorable sustained results.
How’s the software then?
Moving on, Realme’s software experience has also been getting better over the years which I’m quite happy about. The GT 2 Pro runs on Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0 on top and I appreciate how clean this UI is and how well Realme has optimized it!
I’m yet to face any micro stutters while navigating through the phone, and it’s also capable of switching between refresh rates quite spontaneously depending upon the content on screen. However, there are two things that I am not that happy about its software.
Number 1: The bloatware situation here is somewhat out of hand.
I mean, being the most premium phone in Realme’s portfolio, it still comes with more than 15 bloatware apps. Although most of them can be uninstalled, what’s annoying here is that these apps reappear after every update!
And number 2: I have also encountered a few ads here and there.
Like when using the default system apps like File Manager, which again, should not be the case with such a premium device.
Cameras
Triple camera setup at the back
(50MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 3MP micro)
32MP selfie camera (hole-punch cutout)
Cameras
1 of 2
Back
Front
But still, these are some things that you can live by—and not a deal-breaker in any way, which brings me to its cameras. And this is the one area where I found GT 2 Pro to be unable to provide a premium experience yet.
I am definitely not saying its cameras are bad or anything. Still, if you take Realme’s cheaper phones like the Realme 9 Pro+ for example, I think it offers one of the best cameras in the mid-range segment. But as the price of Realme phones rises, the overall camera performance does not increase linearly, as you would expect it to be.
And hence, the GT 2 Pro is not in the same league as similarly-priced phones from Samsung, Apple, and even Xiaomi for that matter.
Portrait Images
Here, just look at this portrait shot that I took with this phone. It has this extra vibrancy that leaves the subject with an unnaturally rich color tone.
Portrait
1 of 6
Realme GT 2 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Realme GT 2 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Realme GT 2 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
In this aspect, I think the Xiaomi 12 Pro has done a better optimization as it delivers better subject focus and skin tone.
Selfie Images
Selfie
1 of 4
Realme GT 2 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Realme GT 2 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
You will find similar properties in the selfies too.
Normal Images
Daytime
1 of 5
Ultrawide
In terms of the regular images from the main sensor, Realme’s standalone results have a good dynamic range and details, but they retain that extra lively colors as well, which can look a bit overboard sometimes.
vs Xiaomi 12 Pro
1 of 4
Realme GT 2 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Realme GT 2 Pro
Xiaomi 12 Pro
In comparison, the 12 Pro brings noticeably more subtle output which I prefer most of the time. During night time too, Xiaomi maintains better exposure and sharpness.
Realme GT 2 Pro Review: Conclusion
Okay, it is time to conclude this review of the Realme GT 2 Pro. So, what do I make of this flagship? Well, I think it’s a pretty good—if not a great—semi-flagship phone which certainly justifies the price. But moving forward, I really want Realme to bring more innovation to the camera department.
Maybe some kind of collaboration will help achieve that, like Xiaomi’s doing with Leica or OnePlus with Hasselblad.
Or maybe more R&D in terms of computational photography, I’m not sure. But as things stand, Apple, Samsung, and Google are comfortably sitting in the top 3 spots, while other brands are playing catchup.
So, I hope that instead of bringing out new flagship devices really fast like every 8 or 10 months or so, Realme would wait a bit more and improve in areas where it’s lacking—and does not make the same mistakes as other Chinese brands did in the last 5 years.
Tecno recently held a global launch event for the Camon 19 series of smartphones at the Rockefeller Centre in NYC. This article will go through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Tecno Camon 19 series in Nepal.
Tecno Camon 19 Series Overview:
This lineup introduces four phones: the Camon 19 Pro 5G, 19 Pro, 19 Neo, and the standard Camon 19. As the name suggests, the Camon 19 Pro and Pro 5G are the relatively more expensive entries in this series compared to the Camon 19 and 19 Neo.
Camon 19 Pro, 19 Pro 5G:
Camera
Let’s start with the star of the show, the Tecno Camon 19 Pro 5G. It features Samsung’s 64MP ISOCELL GWB sensor, which the two companies worked on together. Its main highlight is the RGBW filter, which improves light sensitivity and low light performance.
According to Tecno, they have increased the light intake by over 208% by using the G + P technology that uses a crystal glass lens instead of a plastic one. This 64MP sensor is complemented with OIS as well.
While both phones share the same primary camera, the Camon 19 Pro has a 50MP portrait camera with 2x optical zoom and a 2MP bokeh camera. On the other hand, the 5G variant goes with a rather disappointing twin 2MP sensors: one for bokeh and one for macro shots. Likewise, the Camon 19 Pro 5G features a 16MP selfie camera compared to a 32MP shooter on its non-5G sibling.
Design, Display
The rear panel of the Camon 19 Pro duo has a glittery finish, and it is available in two colors: Sea Salt White and Eco Black. The flat frame has a power button and volume rockers on the right.
These two phones share the same 6.8-inch FHD display with 2460 x 1080 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, it is an LCD panel. But the highlight of this display is its thin 0.98 mm side bezels. Thus, Tecno claims these phones have the “industry’s slimmest bezel”.
Performance
Moving on to performance, the 5G variant is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset. Likewise, the 4G Camon 19 Pro packs the Helio G96 processor instead. Both of them can be configured with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.
Likewise, they’re fueled by a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging. On the software front, these Tecno phones run on XOS based on Android 12.
On the other hand, the Tecno Camon 19 and 19 Neo share quite a lot in common, including MediaTek’s Helio G85 processor. Similarly, they feature a 6.8-inch FHD+ LCD display with a regular 60Hz refresh rate. The battery capacity here is 5,000mAh, which supports 18W charging.
But they do differ in the camera department though. The Camon 19 has a triple camera array with a 64MP main RGBW sensor alongside two 2MP depth and AI sensors.
On the contrary, the 19 Neo goes with a 48MP primary shooter and a 2MP depth sensor. As for selfies, it has a 32MP front camera compared to a 16MP sensor on the Camon 19.
Tecno Camon 19 Series Price in Nepal and Availability
The 8/256GB variant of Camon 19 Pro and Pro 5G cost USD 280 and USD 320, respectively. The price of the Camon 19 is currently unknown, while the 19 Neo costs BDT 18,490 in Bangladesh. We expect Tecno Camon 19 Neo, 19 Pro, Pro 5G in Nepal to cost NPR 30,000, NPR 42,000, and NPR 48,000 if they launch here.
Tecno Camon 19 Series
Global Price
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Camon 19 Pro 5G
USD 320
NPR 48,000 (8/256GB)
Camon 19 Pro
USD 280
NPR 42,000 (8/256GB)
Camon 19
TBA
TBA
Camon 19 Neo
BDT 18,490
NPR 30,000 (6/128GB)
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Motorola Moto G52.
Before we get into our Motorola Moto G52 review, let’s quickly recap previous Moto phones, particularly the G-series. Launched in 2013, the very first Moto G smartphone almost single-handedly disrupted the industry by proving that a lot can be offered at just a fraction of the price of what the mainstream phones were going for at the time.
But as the number of devices in this lineup began to grow, and Motorola transitioned from a Google-owned company to Lenovo, the Moto G series became a generic mishmash of smartphones rather than the streamlined unit it was in the early days.
Plus, given how well Xiaomi, Realme, and other Chinese brands have been performing lately, that G series charm has kind of been… lost somewhere. But looking at all the launches in this lineup in 2022, I feel like Motorola has finally made a great comeback! And one of the best examples of this is the Moto G52, which I’ve been using for a little over two weeks now.
It retails at a starting price of INR 14,499 in India, which puts it in the same league as the quite-successful Redmi Note 11. Besides price, these phones bring a similar set of specs as well. So, is the Moto G52 worth considering over the Note 11 and other phones in this price range? Let’s find out in our review.
Motorola Moto G52 Specifications:
Body: 160.98 x 74.46 x 7.99 mm, 168 gm
Display: 6.6-inch AMOLED panel, 90Hz refresh rate
Resolution: FHD+ resolution (2400 x 1080), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm Mobile Platform)
Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 128GB storage (expandable up to 1TB)
Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 ac), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
Color Options: Charcoal Grey, Porcelain White
Price in Nepal: N/A (Starts at INR 14,499 in India)
Motorola Moto G52 Review:
Design
160.98 x 74.46 x 7.99 mm, 168 gm
Glass front, Plastic back, Plastic frames
Something that stands out right away about the Motorola G52 is its design. I know… I know it doesn’t look all that different from say, the Moto G31 or G71, but this Porcelain White variant that I have with me is what gives it a unique finish. Plus, with the metal-like polish on the camera module and frames, it looks nothing but stunning!
Design
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Back Design
Buttons
Now, don’t get confused, it’s still a plastic back. But Motorola has used what it calls a “PMMA Finish” to achieve this premium visual aesthetic. PMMA is a lighter, shatter-resistant alternative to glass and I can certainly see how it impacts the phone.
Here, the G52 is nearly 40 grams lighter than its predecessor. And the good thing is that it still packs a 5000mAh battery inside. And despite being a lightweight phone, it’s got the right amount of heft. Not to forget, the slightly curved panel at the back alongside the flat frames ensures a comfortable grip on the hands as well.
Display
6.6-inches FHD+ pOLED panel
90Hz refresh rate
On top of this, Motorola has also made sure that the front of the device looks equally premium. Unlike most smartphones in this price range, the Moto G52 has a very narrow chin which kinda mimics the uniform approach to bezels on high-end devices. So, this has left quite an impression on me from the very first day I started using the phone.
Moreover, this almost bezel-less design perfectly complements the OLED display of the device. But what’s interesting here is that Motorola has offered a pOLED panel on the G52, just like on the more expensive Moto Edge 30 Pro.
Now, in case you’re unaware, pOLED—or Plastic OLED—is a flexible, thinner, and more shockproof alternative to regular OLED panels. Besides everything else, it allows a device to retain a slimmer form factor—all the while retaining every perk of a typical AMOLED screen.
As a result, this display produces punchy colors with incredible contrast! So I’m sure you’ll enjoy watching movies and series on this screen. Speaking of which, the Moto G52 has also secured Widevine L1 certification and its brightness level is sufficient for both indoors and outdoors.
Audio
Stereo speakers
3.5mm headphone jack
What’s more? It also comes with a set of dual speakers that supports Dolby Atmos audio. I wouldn’t say its sound quality is something cut above, but the vocals sound pretty clear here and it has a decent bit of bass as well. With all this, the Moto G52 translates into a capable multimedia consumption device.
Ports
Likewise, I’ve faced no issues regarding call quality on this phone and its proximity sensor works fairly well too. But the one area where most manufacturers haven’t put much effort into these sub-20K smartphones is haptics, and the Moto G52 is no exception. Its vibration feedback feels very loose, because of which I even missed a couple of calls despite having the phone in my pockets. So, this is the aspect where Motorola could’ve certainly done a better job by offering a slightly better vibration motor.
Performance
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G SoC (6nm)
4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage
Android 11 with MyUX on top
Anyway, all of this is driven by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 chip. Built on a 6nm architecture, this processor earns praise in terms of energy efficiency and that’s evident on this phone too.
That means, the Moto G52 can easily deliver 8-9 hours of screen-on-time! And like the Moto G71 that I reviewed a while back, I’m really impressed with its standby time as well. Similarly, charging the phone from 0 to 100% takes about 1 hour with the included 33W charger.
Aside from being power efficient, the Snapdragon 680 fares well for your day-to-day tasks as well. It can easily handle your light multitasking needs, and scrolling through the interface feels fairly smooth too—thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate onboard.
Gaming
However, this is not that powerful of a chipset, especially in the gaming arena. For instance, PUBG Mobile caps out at just Balanced graphics and Medium frame rate here. And even in this setting, you will notice some micro stutters and frame drops every once in a while. So, for the best possible experience, I would recommend dialing it down to Smooth graphics and the High frame rate.
Diablo Immortal, which is a recent drop on the Google Play Store, yields fairly good results at Medium graphics, although the maximum you can go here is just 30fps. We also tried the new Apex Legends on this phone and it renders stable gameplay with Smooth graphics and Normal frame rate. But jumping to other higher settings results in noticeable lags and stutters.
So, if gaming is a top priority, you’d be better off by extending your budget a little for the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition instead, which offers an unrivaled gaming experience under the 20K price bracket.
Enjoy Stock UI
Regardless, the software is where Moto G52 scores a big win against its competition—especially against other Chinese OEMs. First off, it boots on the latest Android 12 with Motorola’s My UX on top, which is already something given how most brands are still shipping their budget and mid-range handsets with Android 11. Additionally, the company has also promised a year of software and 3 years of security patches for the G52.
Now, as you’d expect, this version of the My UX interface offers a Pixel phone-like experience. The default Android skin has gotten so refreshing and so feature-rich with Android 12, that its customization options are on par with—if not better—than most custom ROMs out there.
Aside from stock UI, Motorola phones are also known for their no-nonsense bloatware experience. While the G52 is a fairly clean phone, I’m surprised—and a bit disappointed—to find third-party apps like Josh and Dailyhunt pre-loaded on the device.
Yeah, they can be uninstalled with a few taps but this is the first time we’ve seen bloatware on a Motorola handset. And we hope this isn’t something the brand is planning to continue with its future releases since a clean user experience is something Motorola has always been associated with.
Cameras
Triple-camera setup at the back
(50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
13MP selfie camera
Cameras
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Back
Front
Let’s talk about the cameras now. Here, the Moto G52’s camera array is pretty much the same as you’d find on most budget phones right now.
Normal Images
And after shooting lots of photos from this guy, we found that its normal images are slightly on the cooler side. And unlike how Xiaomi and Realme phones tend to favor oversaturated photos, the colors look fairly natural here.
Normal Images
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But it prefers slightly contrast-heavy processing, which means the images can’t retain much shadow details.
Ultrawide Images
Ultrawide
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This is also true for the ultrawide shots, however, the overall detail from the 8MP sensor is expectedly little this time around.
Portraits Images
Moving on, although the portrait images don’t really retain a natural skin tone, I’d say it has a balanced color science overall.
Portraits
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But as you can see, it tends to blow the background when shooting outdoors or against the light. So, HDR processing could’ve certainly been a lot better here.
Selfie Images
Selfies
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Yet, selfies come out with decent background exposure. It’s just that the skin tone isn’t that consistent all of the time.
Nighttime Images
During low light, the Night Mode shots do a good job of controlling the exposure and retaining details, especially in a rather dark environment.
Nighttime
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In a somewhat well-lit area though, there isn’t much of a difference between the regular nighttime and Night Mode photos.
Videos
Overall, the Moto G52 can capture decent photos for the price, although there’s still a lot of room for improvement, and that’s especially true in the videos as it can only record up to 1080p 30fps resolution from both the front and back camera. And, yes the stabilization isn’t that great here and the videos come off a bit contrasty too. Turning on stabilization does deliver fairly steadier results, but there is still some jerkiness every now and again.
Motorola Moto G52 Review: Conclusion
Wrapping up this review, the Moto G52 is an excellent phone for the price—no doubt. It ticks almost all the boxes for a great all-around smartphone experience, be it in terms of design, display, software, or battery.
Granted that the cameras could’ve been a bit better here, but most phones in this price range have a strictly average camera, so maybe we should also limit our camera expectations from a budget phone, to begin with. Take its prime rival, the Redmi Note 11, for example. So, looking past this, the Moto G52 is an easy recommendation if you want an all-rounder phone for under 15,000 Indian rupees.
Realme GT 2 Pro was unveiled as the first proper flagship in the company’s short history in January. The phone has now been unveiled in Nepal as well. So, let’s take a look at the specs, features, official price, availability of the Realme GT 2 Pro in Nepal.
Realme GT 2 Pro Overview:
Design and Display
Over on the front, Realme GT 2 Pro sports a 2K Samsung E4 AMOLED panel with a diagonal length of 6.7-inch. It’s a flat panel with support for an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Realme has used Gorilla Glass Victus on the front for added durability.
Moreover, the company has once again collaborated with designer Naoto Fukasawa for the Master Paper Design on the GT 2 series, which uses bio-based material for the rear panel. This makes Realme GT 2 Pro the world’s first phone with a bio-based design.
Realme GT 2 Pro is also the company’s first proper flagship. So it’s not surprising that it packs Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip inside. To keep the phone’s core temperature in check, Realme has used a 4129 mm2 VC (Vapor Chamber) cooling surface and a 36,761 mm2 heat dissipation layer.
The phone is configurable with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
Camera
The raised camera bump at the back houses a triple camera setup. It consists of two 50MP cameras, including the world’s first ultrawide camera with a 150° Field of View (FoV). Realme has used Sony’s IMX766 sensor for the primary camera, and it has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) as well. Completing the setup is a 2MP microscope lens.
Over on the front, there is a 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor housed inside the punch-hole cutout.
Fueling this smartphone is a 5,000mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging. The GT 2 Pro supports up to 48 global 5G bands, and it features a total of 12 antennas. It ships with Realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12 out of the box. Realme has also confirmed 3 years of OS and 4 years of security updates for the GT 2 series. Other features include stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and 360º NFC.
Realme GT 2 Pro Specifications:
Body: 163 x 74 x 8.2mm, 189 gm
Display: 6.78″ E4 AMOLED panel, 10-bit colors, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to 1000Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+
Resolution: QHD+ (3216 x 1440 pixels)
Display Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm Mobile Platform)
Front Camera: 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor (punch-hole cutout)
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
Battery: 5000mAh, 65W fast charging (0 to 100% in 33 minutes)
Realme GT 2 Overview:
Likewise, Realme GT 2 is the modest offering of the two—although it’s not available in the Indian market as of yet. It features a 6.62″ E4 AMOLED panel with FHD resolution. And although it supports a 120Hz refresh rate, it is not adaptive as the Pro variant.
Realme GT 2 is powered by last year’s Snapdragon 888 chipset. This has been paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. As for optics, it has the same 50MP primary camera as the Pro model. However, it is paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro lens.
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
Battery: 5000mAh, 65W fast charging
Realme GT 2 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
The official price of Realme GT 2 Pro is Rs. 109,999 for the sole 12/256GB variant. It is currently available from retail shops and online stores like Daraz and Hukut.com.
Realme GT 2 Pro
Price in Nepal
12/256GB
NPR 109,999
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme GT 2 Pro.
