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Sony Xperia 10 IV launched with Snapdragon 695, 60Hz OLED display

Sony Xperia

GadgetByte

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May 12, 2022

Sony Xperia 10 IV launched with Snapdragon 695, 60Hz OLED display

Sony recently unveiled the Xperia 10 IV, a mid-range smartphone, alongside the premium Xperia 1 IV. It is a cost-effective option for Sony fans who want the sleek Xperia design without spending thousands of dollars. In this article, we will go through the specifications, features, expected price, and availability of the Sony Xperia 10 IV in Nepal.

Sony Xperia 10 IV Overview:

Design and Display

The Sony Xperia 10 IV has kept the design language of its predecessor. However, with its 161 grams weight, it is one of the lightest 5G smartphones in the world. The handset is available in four different colors, Lavender, White, Mint, and Black.

Moving on, the Xperia 10 IV features a 6-inch Triluminous OLED panel with FHD+ resolution. It retains Sony’s iconic 21:9 aspect ratio with the display now being 50% brighter. The Xperia 10 IV has Gorilla Glass Victus protection like its premium counterpart.

Performance and Memory

The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 695 processor which is fabricated under a 6nm process. Sony has paired the processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There is a hybrid SIM card slot for expanding storage.

Also Read:

Camera

The Xperia 10 IV has a triple camera array on the back. A 12MP sensor leads the camera array, followed by an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and an 8MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom. For selfies and video calls, there is an 8MP selfie camera on the front.

Rest of the specs

What’s more, Sony has fitted a 5,000mAh battery inside the phone. While it supports 30W fast charging, no charger is included. 5G support, Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm headphone jack, 360 Reality Audio, and NFC are among the other features.

Sony Xperia 10 IV Specifications:

Body: 153 x 67 x 8.3mm, 161 gm
Display: 6.0-inches OLED panel, 60Hz refresh rate, HDR, Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution: FHD+ (2520 x 1080 pixels), 21:9 aspect ratio, 457 PPI
Chipset: Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
Memory: 6GB RAM, 128GB storage
Software & UI: Android 12
Rear Camera: Triple;
– 12MP, f/1.8 primary sensor, OIS
– 8MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, 120º FOV
– 8MP, f/2.2 telephoto camera, 2x optical zoom
Front Camera: 8MP f/2.0 sensor (punch-hole cutout)
Audio: Stereo speaker setup
Security: Sude-mounted fingerprint sensor
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) with 2.4/5/6GHz, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, GPS / GLONASS / Galileo / QZSS, USB Type-C, 4G LTE, 5G
Battery: 5000mAh with 30W fast charging

Sony Xperia 10 IV Price in Nepal and Availability

The Sony Xperia 10 IV can be pre-ordered from Sony Japan’s website. The phone costs 64,152 (Yen) in Japan, or EUR 499 (Europe) / GBP 429 (UK) for the sole 6/128GB variant. It is scheduled to be released after early June 2022. Finally, we anticipate that the Sony Xperia 10 IV will be priced around NPR 70,000 when it is released in Nepal.

Sony Xperia 10 IV	Price in Europe (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB	EUR 499	NPR 70,000

Meanwhile, check out our review of the OnePlus 10 Pro.

Apple AirTag helps recover $7,000 worth of stolen camera gears

Apple

GadgetByte

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May 12, 2022

0

Apple AirTag helps recover $7,000 worth of stolen camera gears

Apple launched AirTag to track and find the owner’s valuable items. And it has just helped one Australian photographer locate down $7,000 worth of stolen camera gear. This is the account of how Apple AirTag assisted to find stolen camera gears.

AirTags finds stolen gears:

Graham Tait, a photographer from Sydney, Australia, was traveling when his car in the parking lot of his hotel was broken into and over $7,000 in gear was stolen.

When asked about the incident, he told 9News, “my car was broken into whilst we were traveling in the Flinders Ranges last night and they took a laptop bag and camera – both of which had AirTags fitted.” A Sony camera, a laptop, a wallet, and a GoPro are among the stolen items.

Tait was able to monitor the items using the Find My app since they were equipped with airbags. He had rented a hotel room in Sydney for living and interestingly things were discovered in another hotel room. Knowing the specific location, Tait immediately phoned the police and helped them in arresting the thief. And he assumed control of all his items on the spot.

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Not always helpful though

While this tale in Australia ended quite well, there were other instances where AirTags received unfavorable feedback. Criminals, for example, are utilizing this tracking gadget to stalk someone.

Apple has made significant attempts to protect the privacy of AirTags owners. For instance, it notifies users if an AirTag that is not registered with them begins to move with them. This feature works flawlessly in the iOS environment. But Android users will not receive notifications or anything of the sort if they have AirTag installed on them.

As a result, the brand should consider implementing a kind of standard-based unified warning, or at the very least develop an Android app that rivals the Apple environment.

Google showcases AR Smart Glasses prototype with real-time language translation

GadgetByte

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May 12, 2022

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Google showcases AR Smart Glasses prototype with real-time language translation

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, teased the company’s next-generation AR Smart Glasses at this year’s Google I/O event. The video shown at the developer summit featured smart AR glasses that could show the wearer translated speech in real-time. However, these glasses are currently only early prototypes.

Google AR Smart Glasses Overview:

Because the demo video shown at the summit stated that it was a “simulated point of view,” we can expect the final product and interface to be quite different. Nonetheless, the concept is intriguing.

Google demonstrated how their augmented reality smart glasses can translate Mandarin and Spanish to English and vice versa. Furthermore, they dived into how transcribed text can assist deaf or partially deaf people in communicating more easily.

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Google introduced its first smart glasses almost a decade ago. However, these glasses failed to take off due to their alien design and privacy concerns. Also, the high price did not help too. This time around, it seems like Google has learned as their new AR glasses look just like a normal pair.

Search made more efficient

Google also discussed the expansion of their new multi-search feature, which now includes “Multisearch Near Me,” at the event. The feature is expected to be available later this year and will allow users to search images with the text “near me” to see if the items in the image are available nearby. Google also intends to incorporate this feature into AR glasses, as it will be able to search across objects in a scene based on what the wearer is currently looking at.

Google AR Smart Glasses Availability

Because the smart AR glasses displayed at the event were prototypes, it is unknown when or if these Google smart AR glasses will be available for purchase. However, we expect to see this tech soon and make language no longer a barrier to communication.

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Google Pixel 6.

Google I/O 2022: Pixel Buds Pro launched as the first set of Google earbuds with ANC

GadgetByte

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May 12, 2022

0

Google I/O 2022: Pixel Buds Pro launched as the first set of Google earbuds with ANC

On the first day of Google I/O 2022, the tech titan unveiled a bunch of new products, including a new set of TWS earbuds—the Pixel Buds Pro. The most notable feature is that it is the first pair of Google earphones that supports Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). In this article, we will be going through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Google Pixel Buds Pro in Nepal.

Google Pixel Buds Pro Overview:

Design and Fit

Pixel Buds Pro resembles the Pixel Buds, which launched in 2020. It has an in-ear design with silicone tips and comes with an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance. However, the charging case has an IPX2 rating.

Google has incorporated a new sensor to measure the pressure in your ear canal to improve fit and comfort. Yet, the Buds Pro is somewhat heavier at 6.2 grams, compared to 5.02 grams for the Pixel Buds A-series. They are considerably bigger as well, measuring 22.33 x 22.03 x 23.72mm. It’ll be available in Charcoal, Fog, Lemongrass, and Coral color options.

Also Read:

Audio

As aforementioned, the main highlight of Buds Pro is its ANC feature. This is enabled through the use of a new six-core audio processor that is powered by Google-developed algorithms and optimized by Google’s internal audio team. In addition to ANC, “Silent Seal” technology compensates for audio leakage and optimizes noise cancellation.

The Pixel Buds Pro also has a transparency option, which allows users to hear outside noise. By the way, the audio is handled by 11mm drivers.

Moreover, per Google, the earbuds will enable spatial audio head tracking through an update later this year. It should function similarly to Apple Airpods’ Spatial Audio, which makes music listening more immersive.

Connectivity and Battery

The Pixel Buds Pro connects to your phone via Bluetooth and, more importantly, allows the multipoint connection. That is, it can automatically switch between the last two devices connected, even iOS-powered iPhones.

While this isn’t a new function, since there are plenty of audio devices that have it, it’s worth noting that the Pixel Buds Pro is the only one in Google’s audio lineup that has it. Likewise, it’s also normal to anticipate Google’s Fast Pair functionality on the Buds Pro.

The TWS earbuds have a battery life of up to 7 hours with ANC mode on. Turning it off boosts the battery life to 11 hours, and with case power included, you can enjoy up to 31 hours of music listening time. It also supports quick charging and can provide an hour’s worth of power in only 5 minutes.

Google Pixel Buds Pro Specifications:

Dimensions: 22.33 x 22.03 x 23.72 mm (earbuds) | 25 x 50 x 63.2 mm (case)
Weight: 6.2g (earbuds) | 62.4g (case, with earbuds)
Audio driver: 11mm with active pressure relief
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 with Multipoint support
Chip: Custom six-core audio processor
Battery life: 7 hours (w/ANC), 11 hours (w/o ANC), 31 hours (w/ case)
Spatial Audio: Coming with an update
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes
Water resistance: IPX4 earbuds, IPX2 case
Charging: Qi or USB-C
Colors: Charcoal, Fog, Lemongrass, Coral

Google Pixel Buds Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

Pixel Buds Pro will retail at USD 199 and will be available for pre-order in the US on July 21 and in stores from July 28. We expect the price of Google Pixel Buds Pro to costs NPR 30,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.

TWS earbuds	Price in the US	Price in Nepal
Google Pixel Buds Pro	USD 199	NPR 30,000

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Google Pixel 6.

OnePlus 10 Pro Review: Missing The Flagship Beat

Yural Maskey

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May 11, 2022

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OnePlus 10 Pro Review: Missing The Flagship Beat

In this review, I am going to talk about the new OnePlus 10 Pro, which I have been testing for a few weeks so far. This time around, I will NOT be comparing it against the best phones available in the market right now, like Samsung’s S22 Ultra or the iPhone 13 Pro Max. That’s because this phone—unfortunately—is nowhere near the competition.

OnePlus 10 Pro Specifications:

Dimensions: 163 x 73.9 x 8.55mm, 200.5 grams
Display: 6.7-inch LTPO 2.0 AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, LTPO 2.0, 1300 nits (peak) brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution: QHD+ (3216 x 1440 pixels), 525 PPI, 20.1:9 aspect ratio
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 5G (4nm)
CPU: Octa-core:
– 1x Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz)
– 3x Cortex-A710 (2.50 GHz)
– 4x Cortex-A510 (1.80 GHz)
GPU: Adreno 730
Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM
Storage: 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
Software: Android 12-based OxygenOS 12
Front Camera: 32MP Sony IMX615 f/2.4
Rear Camera: Triple (with LED flash), Second-gen Hasselblad Camera for Mobile
- 48MP Sony IMX789 primary (OIS)
- 50MP ultrawide, 150° FOV
- 8MP telephoto (3.3x optical), OIS
Battery: 5000mAh with 80W SuperVOOC charging (wired)
Wireless Charging: Yes (50W AirVOOC), Reverse wireless charging support
Price in Nepal: NPR 135,000 (12/256GB)

Buy OnePlus 10 Pro here

OnePlus 10 Pro Review:

For me, the OnePlus 10 Pro, the Xiaomi 12 Pro, or Vivo’s X80-series are like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Spurs who are fighting for that No. 3 or No. 4 spot while the S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max are like Liverpool and Man City. And the “gap” between them is just getting bigger and bigger each year!

I believe that gap was not huge—like say 2 or 3 years ago. For instance, the OnePlus 8 Pro was very close to what Samsung and Apple flagships offered. But after that, I think OnePlus has gone downhill real fast. The $300 million Hasselblad partnership didn’t work out quite as well as hoped, their co-founder Carl Pie left the company, and the whole OnePlus-Oppo OS merger has garnered a lot of hatred among fans as well!

So yeah, there’s Nothing special about the OnePlus 10 Pro! And I think OnePlus knew this and therefore launched the phone at $150 cheaper in the Western market compared to last year’s OnePlus 9 Pro.

Anyways, I think I have been a little too negative about the phone so far, so let’s look at it from a different perspective. Yes, the Oneplus 10 Pro is not as good as the S22 Ultra or the latest iPhones but is it “good enough” for the price is what I think matters for the most people. And the answer is a surprising “yes”, and I’ve had a pretty decent experience with it.

Design

163 x 73.9 x 8.55mm, 200.5 grams
Gorilla Glass Victus front, Gorilla Glass 5 back
Aluminium frames, No IP rating

First off, I’m a big fan of its form factor. It doesn’t feel too big in the hands like my primary phone, the S22 Ultra. It’s got a perfect weight and the OnePlus 10 Pro is incredibly slim too.

Yeah, it did fail JerryRig’s bend test, but you shouldn’t be worried too much about it. The only thing I was worried about throughout my usage was the lack of IP68 rating here. It’s summer right now—and it’s been raining for a few days in Kathmandu. So whenever I’m headed outside, I’ve always had to be extra careful which I shouldn’t have to if I am spending on a flagship right? So I think it’s a terrible decision from OnePlus to exclude the IP68 rating this time.

There’s also a divided opinion of how this phone looks from the back. But honestly, I don’t care that much because as I mentioned earlier, the hands-on feel of this phone is top class.

Display

6.7-inches QHD+ AMOLED
120Hz refresh rate
10-bit colors, 800 nits (Typ.) brightness

Its display is also superb and I’m sure you will absolutely love it. Although it is basically the same panel they used for the 9 Pro, I noticed it to be slightly better calibrated. This one looks marginally better than the Xiaomi 12 Pro’s screen as well, which retails at a similar price.

The location of the fingerprint sensor is also at the right location, but what has really improved here is the haptics. I think it’s one of the best haptics you get on a smartphone. Period!

I love how OnePlus has tuned it by paying small attention to detail. For instance, when you slide through the multitasking tiles, there’s this subtle vibration that provides a somewhat different experience.

The audio quality here is also more balanced than last year and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching movies and series on this phone. Then again, I think there is still some room for improvement in the audio department—especially in terms of bass and treble. But if you are not an audiophile like me, you will probably not complain much about its speakers.

Performance

Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 5G SoC (4nm)
8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
Android 12 with OxygenOS 12 on top

Moving on, the day-to-day interaction on the OnePlus 10 Pro is also remarkable. Everything feels fluid, which is complemented by a precise typing experience. Yes, the curved display might be prone to some accidental touches, but I didn’t face that much of an issue.

But what might be an issue—especially if you are living in a very hot region where the temperature goes above 40° Celsius during summer—is that this phone could get warm very quickly, even if you are just doing regular everyday tasks.

I’m from Kathmandu Valley, which enjoys fairly cooler temperatures, so the phone doesn’t get warm that frequently here. But I recently travelled to Lumbini where the temperature was above 40°C, and while I was using the phone in a rickshaw at full brightness, it got unbearably hot.

Gaming

And the same thing happens if you play heavy GPU-hungry games like Genshin Impact. For instance, after 20 minutes of gameplay, the phone gets quite hot and the average fps would dip from 45 to around 35 fps only.

That being said, popular titles like COD and PUBG run smoothly at 60 fps where the temperature doesn’t get that high either. Of course, it does get warm near the camera module a bit, but the fps throughput is more than stable enough—meaning there’s no throttling of any sort. Sadly, OnePlus hasn’t brought 120 fps gaming yet in any of the 120 fps games I tried like Mech Arena, Grim Valor, and Oddmar.

Another thing I found out is that, by default, its display is set to QHD resolution which you know takes a big toll on the battery life as well as the thermals since the chipset is under high stress to push that many pixels at all times. I wasn’t aware of it at first which is why I was getting just only around 5 hours of screen-on time out of it. But that number improved to 6.5 hours after I toned it down to FHD resolution. Still, the battery life on the 10 Pro isn’t exceptional and certainly not in the same league as the S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Cameras

Triple camera setup at the back
(48MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 8MP telephoto)
32MP selfie camera (hole-punch cutout)

Cameras

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Let’s talk about the cameras now. And this is the one area where I have a big problem with OnePlus because they haven’t improved a lot since the OnePlus 8 Pro days. Instead, the company has been taking baby steps if I am being honest, whereas Samsung and Apple have made big leaps in those 2 years—especially in terms of computational photography.

OnePlus 10 Pro

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I compared the 10 Pro’s camera with the Galaxy S22+ where almost all the time Samsung’s images came out more pleasing and consistent with better dynamic range and highlight management.

OP 10 Pro vs Galaxy S22+

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It’s the same with the portraits or the selfies, where OnePlus doesn’t necessarily deliver bad images per se, but it’s nowhere near Samsung’s level. What’s even worse is that in those 2-3 years, brands like Xiaomi and the whole BBK umbrella are doing really well with camera optimization, and even offering better camera tech than OnePlus!

Videos

So, what I can tell is that OnePlus definitely needs to do a lot more work alongside better partnership and acquisition if it wants to stay camera-competitive. And I’m not just talking about the photography aspect but the videography side of things too. Here, you can’t click 4K selfie videos, which is a bare minimum on a flagship phone. The ultra-wide videos aren’t that great either and there’s no 4K 60 fps option onboard, which is again a very strange thing for a premium device.

OnePlus 10 Pro Review: Conclusion

So, with everything I have discussed in this video, it’s easy to conclude that the OnePlus 10 Pro surely doesn’t feel as special as previous OnePlus phones used to.

I could say that this is a good phone if you are living in India where the price is really aggressive, and you should also probably get it over the Xiaomi 12 Pro or the iQOO 9 Pro for a better software experience. But to be very honest with you guys, I would still recommend you go with the slightly more expensive Galaxy S22+ which is my current favorite flagship phone right now. And yes, it has much better thermals than the 10 Pro, a superior set of cameras, an IP68 rating, and 5 years of software promises.

OnePlus 10 Pro Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Sturdy design
Good AMOLED screen
80W fast charging
Well-optimized OxygenOS 12

Cons:

No IP rating
Not so good thermals
Average battery life

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Long Term Review: Hits The High Note

Pratima Adhikari

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May 11, 2022

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Long Term Review: Hits The High Note

In this Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Review, I will be talking about all my experiences with this top-of-the-line flagship phone. Here, I have been using it from the very first day of its launch. Technically, I had been reviewing other phones in between too. But this has been my primary phone all the way. As a result, basically, my personal accounts including WhatsApp, and messenger are all here. And after using the S22 Ultra for a good number of days, I am finally ready to give my final, long-term verdict about it.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Specifications:

Body: 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm, 229 grams, IP68 rated, Gorilla Glass Victus+, Aluminum frame, S-pen support
Display: 6.8-inches Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O, Gorilla Glass Victus+, Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, 1750nits, Vision Booster
Resolution: WQHD+ (3200 x 1440 pixels)
Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1x Cortex-X2 + 3x Cortex-A710 + 4x Cortex-A510)
GPU: Adreno 730
RAM: 8/12GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128/256/512GB, up to 1TB UFS 3.1 internal storage
Software & UI: One UI 4 on top of Android 12
Rear Camera: Quad (with LED flash)
– 108MP f/1.8 primary lens, OIS, PDAF
– 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens, 120º FOV
– 10MP f/2.4 telephoto lens, 3x optical zoom
– 10MP f/4.9 telephoto lens, 10x optical zoom
Front Camera: 40MP, f/2.2 lens (punch-hole)
Security: Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
Battery: 5000mAh with 45W fast charging, 15W wireless charging
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, Ultra Wide Band
Color Options in Nepal: Phantom Black, Green, Burgundy
Price in Nepal: Rs. 159,999 (12/256GB) | Rs. 169,999 (12/512GB)
Check out the latest price of Galaxy S22 Ultra here.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Review:

Display

6.8-inches WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
120Hz refresh rate LTPO 2.0, HDR 10+
1750nits brightness, Vision Booster

First things first, I have to appreciate how amazing the S22 Ultra’s display is. From its incredibly slim bezels to flaunting one of the brightest screens on any smartphone right now, this is probably the best display I’ve interacted with so far. Even better than my previous daily driver, the iPhone 13 Pro Max. So yeah, this display is just gorgeous—just look at the colors and contrast levels on it! Thanks to all these, this is literally my favorite mobile screen to watch content on.

Plus, it has so many add-on features, like the extra brightness mode a.k.a Vision Booster that enhances the screen’s brightness, colors, and contrast levels under direct sunlight for clearer visibility. Then there’s the Extra Dim mode which helps reduce eye strain, especially for people like me who are guilty of using their phone under the blanket late at night.

Even interacting with this screen has been amazing, thanks to the excellent touch response and haptic feedback. As a result, actions like typing and unlocking the phone greets you with really refined vibration feedback, which has made my experience using this phone so much better. Talking of unlocking, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor here is really fast, accurate, and reliable.

Great audio quality

Here this awesome screen is also paired with an incredible set of stereo speakers. They’re loud, crisp, clear, and balanced. And like I said before, I’ve had a great time watching content on Netflix and especially listening to songs on Spotify on the S22 Ultra.

Design

163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm, 229 grams
Gorilla Glass Victus+ front/back, Aluminum frames
IP68 dust and water resistance

This phone is a stunner by its looks as well. And I gotta appreciate that even though this is a huge device, it doesn’t feel that uneasy to hold. But what I will say from experience is that this is definitely a two-handed device for people like me with tiny hands. And for all our female audience out there, the S22 Ultra probably won’t fit in a pant pocket either.

Just 2 months back, we made an entire travel video from this phone and throughout that trip, I had to carry my bag with me just to carry this phone. So yeah, if you are not into large phones, you should probably look into the S22+ instead, which arrives in a relatively compact form factor and is more or less a similar experience.

Enduring build

Moving on, in all these months that I used this phone without any cover or a screen protector, it’s impressive how the back of this phone doesn’t even have a single scuff. It’s as good as new! The front of it, however, has suffered a lot of tiny scratches, but nothing major.

Still, I will definitely advise you to slap on a good case and screen protector here. That way, you can get a good after-sale value in case you decide to sell your phone later. Anyway, the one complaint that I’ve had with the S22 Ultra’s design is how easily dust gets accumulated on the camera array. And cleaning it—especially on the edges—is quite difficult. Another thing, while trying to achieve a boxy form factor, I feel like Samsung has made the edges a bit too sharp which could be somewhat uncomfortable at times.

Other than that, it’s quite appreciable how the company has focussed on the little things like the volume rockers and the power button has this really nice, tactile feedback. And I also like how the frames melt so seamlessly with the back and front of the phone.

Gliding S-Pen

Overall, this is a very well-built and well-designed phone to which I’m definitely giving a thumbs up. And, since Samsung has decided to merge its Note and S lineups, you get S-Pen compatibility on the S22 Ultra as well.

And let me be honest with you—I am not someone who uses the S-Pen a lot. But if you are an artist or an art enthusiast, you are certainly going to appreciate its extremely low input latency and precise tracking ability.

However, I found out that with other third-party apps like Evernote and Sketchbook, the tracking isn’t as good as on Samsung’s default note-taking app, which I think could be improved with future updates. But still, the S-Pen on the S22 Ultra is super responsive and comfortable to use.

Now, this is a thing that’s a little out of topic but sometimes when I am really stressed out, I would take the stylus out and start coloring using the Penup app, which is something that has been a great stress buster for me!

Performance

Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 5G SoC (4nm)
8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256/512GB/1TB UFS 3.1 storage
Android 12 with OneUI 4.1 on top

Alright, let’s talk about its performance now. And here too, I’ve had very little to complain about this phone. The S22 Ultra works flawlessly when doing regular everyday tasks and gaming on it has been a good experience too.

I think Samsung has implemented the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 quite well here. I have used many phones with this chipset so far. And yes, they all heat up if you stress the CPU and GPU, but the S22 Ultra tries to remain cooler and more importantly, it cools down a lot faster as well.

Gaming

S22 Ultra Gaming

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As you can see from these charts, the gaming results on the S22 Ultra are quite impressive. You can play the most demanding games like Genshin Impact in their respective highest settings with minimum stutters, although you will notice some heating after about 20 minutes into the game. Other less demanding games like PUBG and Call of Duty play really well without lags and the temperatures remain in check as well.

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Software

On to the software side of things, I only have good things to say about it. If you have been following my channel long enough, you know that One UI is one of my favorite Android skins, maybe even the best after the recent OnePlus-Oppo merger.

I love how simple to use and navigate it is; I love how Samsung has optimized the 120Hz refresh rate here so well, and how fluid and responsive the whole UI is.

‘A’ class software updates

And with Samsung’s 4 years of promised software and an additional year of security updates, it’s also almost on par with iPhone as far as software commitments go. So this is a pretty big deal for someone who owns this Android flagship!

And while I am talking about software updates, the latest March update has also enabled the option to turn off the highly controversial Game Optimizing Service, aka GOS.

If you’re not aware, Samsung was accused of activating GOS to downgrade the performance of the S22 series while gaming to help the battery last longer and prevent overheating issues without the user’s permission. On the other hand, GOS would not be activated when running certain benchmarking apps. So, it was quite unethical to come from a brand like Samsung.

Camera

Quad camera setup at the back
(108MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto: 3x, 10x)
40MP selfie camera inside the Infinity-O cutout

Cameras

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So among other things, I’ve been more than satisfied with its camera performance too. As I mentioned earlier, we shot an entire vlog with the S22 Ultra and found its photography as well as videography aspects to be quite impressive.

Daytime

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As you might know, Samsung’s default color optimization is not the most natural, but it brings out quite pleasing colors with almost no further edits required before uploading to social media.

But still, there are some things that I wished were better about its cameras. Such as, while taking portrait shots, I found the shutter speed on the S22 Ultra to be a bit slower, especially in comparison to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. So if you are taking a picture of a moving subject, chances are it might come out blurry.

Portraits

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Also, the phone uses its 3x telephoto lens for taking portraits by default, for which you have to move really far away from the subject, which has been a little inconvenient for me. I think I have started nitpicking at this point.

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Battery

5000mAh battery with 45W fast charging
15W Qi Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare, 5W fast charging

Finally, the battery life on the S22 Ultra has been a solid B+ considering all the heavy lifting that its 5000 mAh battery has to do like powering such a huge and high-res screen. I’m guessing that the fact that it employs the second-gen LTPO screen which can go as low as 1Hz has definitely helped with better endurance though.

While it still doesn’t match the incredible battery life of the iPhone 13 Pro Max, on my typical usage, I would consistently get around 7 hours of screen-on time here. And in my usage, that converts to a full day of usage with around 10 to 15% charge left before I go to sleep.

Something that Samsung has also improved upon on this year’s flagships is the standby time. I recorded a maximum of just 1 to 2% battery drain overnight here, which is a huge improvement over the S21 Ultra which would lose 7 to 8% battery throughout the night.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Review: Conclusion

Overall, these three months of using the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for this review have been a great experience for me. Yes, it does have a BIG, boxy design that might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you can disregard that, and you’re looking to get the best Android smartphone money can buy, this one’s certainly the best choice and I will totally recommend it.

Yes, there are some things that I nitpicked about it in this review, but those are just a bunch of negligible aspects that I think you are probably going to overlook anyway.

Also, it’s no secret that Samsung’s S-Pen has a fanbase of its own. So if you want to buy a flagship phone that has a compatible stylus too, then this one’s the only reliable option out there. From providing the best display experience to maintaining a good balance of performance and cameras, the S22 Ultra is a phone that is very well put together, unless you want a smaller phone. In that case, the Galaxy S22+ is a solid offering too.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Stunning AMOLED screen
Ergonomic build, Premium design
A-grade cameras
IP68 rating
Best-in class software support
Built-in S-pen

Cons:

No SD card support
Big form factor
No charger in the box

Sony just launched Xperia 1 IV with true optical telephoto zoom lens

Sony Xperia

GadgetByte

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May 11, 2022

1

Sony just launched Xperia 1 IV with true optical telephoto zoom lens

Sony has just unveiled the Xperia 1 IV — it’s most recent flagship offering. The company has made significant improvements in the camera and audio departments to cater to a niche audience. In this article, we’ll look at the specifications, features, availability, and expected price of Sony Xperia 1 IV in Nepal.

Sony Xperia 1 IV Overview:

Camera

Cameras are the main focus of the Sony Xperia 1 IV. While other brands compete to see who can fit the most pixels in, Sony has chosen to stick with three 12MP sensors.

You get a 12MP primary camera with a 1/1.7″ sensor and Optical Image Stabilization support. It is followed by an ultrawide camera with 1/2.5″ sensor. Still, the main highlight here is the 12MP telephoto lens.

This year, Xperia 1 IV’s telephoto sensor can shoot at any focal length between 85mm and 125mm, making it stand out from the crowd. In contrast, telephoto lenses on other flagships are fixed and can not replicate Xperia 1 IV’s variable focal length.

Furthermore, all three lenses can record 4K videos at 120 fps. Among the notable features are Real-Time Eye AF, and Videography Pro mode. Sony has also increased the resolution of the front-facing camera to 12MP. It even support 4K HDR recording, although its maxes out at 30 fps.

Performance

Moving on, Sony Xperia 1 IV is powered by the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. The chipset has been paired with 12GB of RAM and 256/512GB of storage. Talking about software, the Xperia 1 IV runs an almost stock version of Android 12.

Audio

There is a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for security. Sony has kept the 3.5mm headphone jack all while maintaining IP68 water and dust protection. The phone also has stereo speakers 10% increased brightness compared to last year. They also boasts 20-25% bass than last year.

For those with wireless headphone, Sony Xperia 1 IV supports Bluetooth LC Audio and LDAC. Furthermore, Sony has expanded the support for 360 Reality Audio a lot for apps now.

Streaming

Streamers cab live stream content using the Xperia 1 IV camera. Alternately, they can also live stream using a Sony Alpha camera via the 5G network.

Sony has gone to extra length to sign a deal with YouTube that allows Xperia 1 IV’s users to start a new channel and start streaming right away. Usually this feature is restricted to verified account with 1,000 subscribers.

Gamers can live stream their games straight from the Xperia 1 IV’s enhancer app. They can even choose to send the video to streaming app. In addition, Sony has also updated its portfolio of streaming accessories with new Vlog Monitor and a Shooting Grip.

Also Read:

Design, Display

Sony has stuck with the classic boxy squared-off design for this year’s Xperia 1 IV as well. The back panel has a matte finish, and the side rails are made of aluminum. Gorilla Glass Victus protects both the front and back of the device.

There is a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display over on the front with its unique 21:9 aspect ratio. Moreover, there is a 120Hz refresh rate and the upgraded panel is 50% brighter than the previous year. If we were to overlook the overall brightness and Victus protection, it is the same panel as the Xperia 1 III.

Rest of the specs

Starting off with the battery, you will find a 5,000mAh battery inside the Xperia 1 IV. While the phone supports 30W fast charging, the phone does not ship with a power brick. Furthermore, the handset is capable of fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Sony Xperia 1 IV Specifications:

Display: 6.5-inch OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 21:9 aspect ratio
Resolution: 4K (1644×3840 pixels)
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm)
Memory: 12GB RAM
Storage: 256/512GB
OS: Android 12
Rear Camera: Quad, 12MP , f/1.7, 24mm (OIS) + 12MP ultra-wide+ 12MP telephoto, 80-128mm ( 3.5x-5.2x optical continuous zoom, OIS), ToF 3D sensor
Front camera: 12MP, f/2.0, 20mm
Security: Fingerprint (side-mounted)
Battery: 5000mAh, 30W fast charging, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging

Sony Xperia 1 IV Price in Nepal and Availability

Sony Xperia 1 IV is available for pre-booking right now. The phones start shipping in mid-June 2022. Moreover, the 12/512GB variant of the phone costs USD 1,599.99. We expect the Xperia 1 IV to cost around NPR 227,999 when it launches in Nepal.

Sony Xperia 1 IV	Official Price	Price in Nepal (Expected)
12/512GB	USD 1,599.99	NPR 227,999

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Sony WH-1000XM4 .

Sharp Aquos R7 goes official with 1” camera sensor, 240Hz refresh rate, and more

Sharp

GadgetByte

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May 11, 2022

0

Sharp Aquos R7 goes official with 1” camera sensor, 240Hz refresh rate, and more

Sharp recently announced its flagship phone for 2022, called the Aquos R7. It’s predecessor, the Aquos R6, was the world’s 1st phone with a 1-inch camera sensor, and the R7 brings even better and improved camera setup. So, let’s go through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Sharp Aquos R7 in Nepal.

Sharp Aquos R7 Overview:

1-inch camera

Without deviating from the topic at hand, let’s first go through the main highlight of the phone. The Aquos R7 brings a new 47MP main camera with a massive 1” sensor that, the company claims, can capture 1.8 times more light than its predecessor. Like last year, Sharp has partnered with Leica to improvise on this aspect.

Ther camera uses Leica’s seven-element Summicron lens and offers 8K video recording with an F/1.9 aperture, 19mm focal length, and an Octa PD autofocus. This massive camera sensor is accompanied by a 1.9MP portrait sensor. For selfies and such, there’s a 12.6 camera on the hole-punch cutout.

Also Read:

Design and Display

Over on the front, the R7 has the same 6.6-inch WUXGA+ IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) OLED panel as its predecessor. It’s a 10-bit display with a 240Hz refresh rate, 2000 nits of peak brightness, and Dolby Vision support.

The front and back are both protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. It is also water and dust resistant with an IP68 rating. The screen houses an under-display fingerprint reader for biometrics.

Performance

Moving on, the phone gets its sheer power from the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. Aquos R7 is only available in a sole memory configuration of 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage options. The handset boots on the latest Android 12 and is fueled by a 5000mAh battery.

Sharp Aquos R7 Specifications:

Display: 6.6-inch Pro IGZO OLED, 2730 x 1260 pixels, 2000nits, 240Hz refresh rate (variable), 20 million:1 contrast ratio, HDR, 1 billion colors
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (5nm)
Rear Camera: Dual (47MP 1-inch CMOS sensor, 7-element f/1.9 Leica Summicron lens, 19mm equivalent focal length, 1.9MP Portrait )
Front Camera: 12.6MP (punch-hole cutout)
Memory: 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB UFS 3.1 storage (expandable up to 1TB)
Operating System: Android 12
Battery: 5,000mAh
Security: Qualcomm 3D Sonic Max under-display fingerprint sensor

Sharp Aquos R7 Price in Nepal and Availability

The Aquos R7 will be available for purchase in Japan in black and silver color options. Yet, the company is yet to make an announcement about the price and availability date.

Meanwhile, check out our review of the OnePlus 10 Pro.

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra unveiled with third-gen in-display camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

ZTE

GadgetByte

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May 10, 2022

0

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra unveiled with third-gen in-display camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

ZTE Axon 20 5G was the first phone to feature an in-display selfie camera. The company improved the tech in its successor. And, now we have the third-gen in-display camera in the newly released Axon 40 Ultra. Along with it, the company has also launched Axon 40 Pro. And, in this article, we will be discussing the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the ZTE Axon 40 Pro, and Axon 40 Ultra in Nepal.

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Overview:

Third Gen In-display Camera

The main highlight of the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is undoubtedly the next-gen under-display camera. As a result, you don’t get any notch or anything of that sort here.

The phone employs a new UDC Pro chip and a new sub-pixel arrangement above the camera to make the display area more uniform. This is backed by a 1-drive 1-pixel circuit design to reduce the anti-aliasing effect, allowing each pixel to be controlled separately. The phone also has a self-developed pro-photography algorithm 3.0 for improved post-processing of the image.

Thanks to all of this tech, the Axon 40 Ultra’s 16MP under-display camera can snap selfies much like other flagship phones’ front cameras.

On the back, the phone houses a trio of 64MP cameras, with a main and ultrawide lens using Sony IMX787 sensor. The remaining is a telephoto lens that supports up to 5.7x optical zoom. The primary and telephoto cameras both include optical image stabilization (OIS). Likewise, this trio of 64MP lenses is accompanied by a flicker sensor, a ToF sensor, and a tri-microphone setup for audio zoom and recognition features. By the way, one can shoot at up to 8K resolution from all three cameras.

Display

Furthermore, the under-display camera tech is fitted inside a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen. It’s a 10-bit panel with 400 PPI pixel density, 120Hz refresh, and a 360Hz touch sampling rate. It also supports a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 1440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, and a peak brightness of 1500 nits.

Also Read:

Performance

Powering the smartphone is Qualcomm’s current-best Snapdragon 8 gen 1 processor. The memory option includes 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Yet, the latter is exclusive to a 1TB storage configuration while the former two are paired with either 256GB or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. There’s also a large 36,356 mm² vapor chamber to keep the temperature in check during heavy workloads.

Likewise, fueling the handset is a 5000mAh battery. You can juice up the cell with 80W fast charging and is also compatible with QC and PD protocols.

Rest of the specs

For audio, ZTE Axon 40 sports stereo speakers with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound and DTS: X Ultra technologies. Similarly, X-axis linear motor handles the haptic feedback of the phone. The company is also offering a standalone chip for the hardware-based security of the device. Currently, Google and Samsung are among the few brands to offer this kind of solution as Titan and Knox, respectively.

ZTE Axon Ultra Specifications:

Dimensions: 163.28 × 73.56 × 8.41mm; 204g
Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling, 1440Hz PWM dimming, 1500 nits, 100% DCI-P3
Resolution: Full HD+ (2480 x 1080 pixels), 400PPI
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm)
Memory: 8GB / 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 3.1
OS: Android 12 with MyOS 12
Rear Camera: Quad, 64MP Sony IMX778 primary (OIS) + 64MP Sony IMX 778 ultra-wide+ 64MP telephoto (5.7x optical zoom, OIS), ToF sensor
Front camera: 16MP (under-display)
Security: Fingerprint (in-display)
Battery: 5000mAh, 80W fast charging

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Price in Nepal and Availability

As for the pricing, the Axon 40 Ultra starts at CNY 4,998 for the base 8/256GB variant. Likewise, the specced-out 16GB RAM and 1TB storage cost CNY 7,298. We expect the price of the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra to start at NPR 100,000 if and when it launches in Nepal.

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra	Price in China (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/256GB	CNY 4,998	NPR 100,000
12/256GB	CNY 5,298	NPR 110,000
12/512GB	CNY 5,798	NPR 120,000
16GB, 1TB	CNY 7,298	NPR 145,000

ZTE Axon 40 Pro Overview:

Moving on, the Pro variant of the Axon 40 flaunts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display. Like the Ultra, it’s a 10-bit color depth screen with a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. Interestingly, it comes with a higher 144Hz refresh rate contrary to the 120Hz on the Axon 40 Ultra. However, the screen brightness has been reduced to 1000 nits, nonetheless, it should be more than enough for many.

Inside, the company has fitted in a powerful-enough Snapdragon 870 SoC. This is paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The handset also features a graphene-based thermal management system.

Also Read:

Over on the camera front, the Axon 40 Pro has a quad-camera array at the back. The largest of all is a 108MP primary lens which is followed by an 8MP 120° ultra-wide-angle unit, a 2MP 4cm macro snapper, and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies, there is a 16MP lens on the front. But do note, that it’s not an under-display camera, instead, the selfie camera is housed inside a hole-punch cutout.

Furthermore, to get the phone up and running all day, you get a 5000mAh battery that supports 66W fast charging. The rest of the specs include DTS:X Ultra-supported stereo speakers and X-axis linear motor.

ZTE Axon 40 Pro Specifications:

Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, 10-bit, 100%144Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling, 1000nits
Resolution: Full HD+
Processor: Snapdragon 870 (7nm)
Memory: 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 RAM
Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1
OS: Android 12 with MyOS 12
Rear Camera: Quad;
– 108MP primary
– 8MP, 119° ultra-wide
– 2MP macro
– 2MP depth
Front camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
Security: Fingerprint (in-display)
Battery: 5000mAh, 66W fast charging

ZTE Axon 40 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

ZTE Axon 40 Pro will retail for the starting price of CNY 2,998 for the vanilla 8/128GB model. The 12/256GB and 12/512GB option carries a price tag of CNY 3,298 and CNY 3,798, respectively. If ZTE plans to launch Axon 40 Pro in Nepal, we expect its price to start at NPR 65,000.

ZTE Axon 40 Pro	Price in China (Official)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB	CNY 2,998	NPR 65,000
12/256GB	CNY 3,298	NPR 70,000
12/512GB	CNY 3,798	NPR 80,000

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Xiaomi 12 Pro.

Dizo Watch Pro with built-in GPS, 90 sports modes launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

-

May 10, 2022

0

Dizo Watch Pro with built-in GPS, 90 sports modes launched in Nepal

Realme’s sub-brand, Dizo, has launched just a new smartwatch in the Nepali market. The Dizo Watch Pro is the company’s most premium smart wearable in the Nepali market so far. In this article, we will be discussing the key specs, features, official price, and availability of the Dizo Watch Pro in Nepal.

Dizo Watch Pro Overview:

Design and Display

Dizo Watch Pro sports a square display with a diagonal length of 1.75-inch. Realme has adopted a TFT LCD panel with 320 x 385 pixels resolution. The screen’s brightness peaks at 600 nits, which should be enough for outdoor visibility. It even has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Dizo Watch Pro weighs around 40 grams and comes in two colors: Black and Space Blue.

Health and Fitness Tracking

Dizo Watch Pro features an optical PPG sensor for 24-hour heart rate monitoring. The watch can even measure your blood oxygen level. For sports enthusiasts, the watch comes with 90 sports modes, including outdoor and indoor running, badminton, weight lifting, and more.

Meanwhile, check out all prices and specs of Dizo smartwatches

Realme has even included a dual-band GPS navigation system to track your workout path and route more precisely.

Also Read:

Rest of the Specs

All this is fueled by a 390mAh battery which the company claims can last up to 14 days. However, the battery endurance will depend upon your usage and will only last a few hours with continuous GPU tracking. Realme includes a magnetic charger in the box, which snaps to the base of the watch.

You can connect the Dizo Watch Pro to your phone via the Realme link app. From there, you can change the watch faces and other settings. The app is available on both iOS and Android platforms. The watch won’t let you take or make calls, but you can reject them, check notifications, and control camera straight from the watch.

Dizo Watch Pro Specifications:

Body: 255.2 x 38.9 x 12.65 mm, 40 grams
Display: 1.75-inches TFT LCD panel
Water Resistance Level: IP68 dust & water resistance
Companion App: Realme Link (Android | iOS)
Sports Mode: 90 different modes
Built-in GPS: Yes (GPS + GLONASS)
Battery: 390mAh (up to 14 days)
Charging: USB Magnetic pin

Dizo Watch Pro Price in Nepal

The official price of the Dizo Watch Pro in Nepal is 8,390. You can buy it from authorized online stores like Hukut.

Smartwatch Model	Price in Nepal (Official)	Availability
Dizo Watch Pro	Rs. 8,390	Hukut

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Watch 2 Lite.