Lookout Threat Lab researchers have discovered enterprise-level spyware used by governments to spy on citizens. The spyware codenamed “Hermit” was created by an Italian company called RCS Lab. We will learn about spyware and its malicious activities in this article.
Hermit Spyware Overview:
RCS Lab’s Hermit spyware recently resurfaced in Kazakhstan, and the government is suspected to be behind its deployment. The samples acquired by researchers imitated websites from Oppo, Samsung, and Vivo.
It is spread through emails, SMS, and website links that mask themselves as ones from legitimate sources. After installing itself into the system, the spyware can steal user information. Moreover, it can access microphones/cameras, read messages/notifications, and more.
The team behind Hermit, RCS Lab, is a “lawful intercept” company active for over three decades. The company says they only sell their spyware to customers with legit use cases.
RCS Lab says it condemns the abuse of its products. But according to security experts, such spyware is often misused to unethically spy on high-ranking individuals and normal civilians.
Previously, Hermit was detected in regions such as Italy and Syria. Chile, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Turkmenistan are some of the countries tied to RCS Lab.
According to Google, internet users should be concerned about the growing rate of the commercial spyware industry.
What is it capable of?
The Hermit spyware has over 20 parameters that let the user match their needs. It is also modular, meaning the software’s malicious nature is “hidden inside additional payloads”.
Lookout was able to acquire the following modules:
Hermit Modules
Function
Accessibility Event
Monitor foreground app.
Account
Record account emails.
Address Book
Steal contacts.
Audio
Record audio.
Browser
Steal bookmarks and searches.
Calendar
Steal calendar events and attendees.
Camera
Take pictures.
Clipboard
Steal clipboard content.
Device Info
Get device information including OS, phone numbers, apps, kernel, security patch, etc.
File Download
Download and install APK files.
File Upload
Upload files from the device.
Log
Enable/disable verbose logging.
Notification Listener
Exfiltrate notification content.
Screen Capture
Take screenshots.
Telegram
Prompt the user to reinstall Telegram on the device with a downloaded APK.
WhatsApp
Prompt the user to reinstall WhatsApp via Play Store.
How to avoid spyware like Hermit?
The safety of your devices depends upon you. Thus, you must be vigilant while browsing the internet. The first step is to keep your phone and apps up to date. These updates help patch vulnerabilities in the system.
Secondly, avoid clicking on links from sources you don’t trust. Emails are the most prominent way of spreading malware. So, double-check where the email is from before clicking on links in them.
Thirdly, only install apps from verified sources. Software from unknown sources can carry hidden malware. Moreover, it can disguise itself as some other software to hide its true nature.
Finally, make sure to check your installed app list and resource usage. Malicious software can install other unwanted applications and consume device resources.
Meanwhile, check out our thoughts on the upcoming Nothing phone (1).
Like many other industries, the consumer tech vertical seems to be going through a bit of a cycle as well. While smartphones are still big in developing markets, many developed markets are seeing degrowth when it comes to smartphones. We’ve already seen how the automobile market has taken a turn since the pandemic, with used vehicle sales at an all-time high. And in 2022, the handheld console industry is all set to go through its own renaissance phase.
Chinese dominance in the handheld console industry
Like most other consumer electronics categories, handheld consoles are also being dominated by Chinese players. Companies like AYN, Anbernic, AYANeo, PowKiddy, etc., seem to have created this trend.
Anbernic RG351MP
While the Nintendo Switch has been a poster boy for all things handheld gaming for the past few years, the aforementioned Chinese OEMs are taking things up a notch in 2022. And that is evident in the number of launches.
To give you an idea, handheld console products like the AYN Odin (crowdfunded and currently shipping), AYANeo (Windows-based handheld for AAA titles) on the higher end, and the likes of Anbernic’s RG351MP on the lower end of the spectrum are spoiling users for choice like never before.
That’s basically to say that there’s probably something for everyone, regardless of your budget. Those with deeper pockets can snag an AYANeo, whereas if you’re not looking to spend too much, you can pick one of the best retro consoles under $100.
What next? What’s the console for you?
With a slew of launches planned for the second half of 2022, we’re going to be spoilt for choices. AYANeo has the Air (touted as the cheapest Windows handheld) and Air Plus in the works, AYN is striving to ship their orders for the Odin, and Miyoo working on the Miyoo P60. Needless to say, it’s going to be an exciting year for retro handheld console enthusiasts.
AYANeo Air Plus
If you’re intrigued, a good place to start would be to first identify what kind of a gamer you are. Currently, the handheld consoles market is split broadly into three categories:
AAA titles (GTA 5, etc.) on the go — Windows handheld
Casual gamer — Android handheld
Retro gamer — Retro handheld with emulator support
As mentioned, there is a handheld console for everybody. Once you identify what kind of gaming you wish to engage in, it gets a lot easier. For those that are unable to figure out, the AYN Odin is a great pick.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the AYANeo Pro 2021.
With all the upgrades Intel and AMD have introduced with their latest CPU lineup, now’s a really great time to buy a gaming laptop. Naturally, Asus has also refreshed its gaming laptops with the newest processors. And among them, I’ve been testing the Asus TUF Gaming F15 (2022) for review for a couple of weeks now. Besides CPU, this guy also brings some notable upgrades in other departments like GPU and cooling system, which makes it a formidable mid-range gaming machine.
Asus TUF Gaming F15 (2022) Specifications:
Design&Build: Plastic/metal hybrid build quality, 13.91W x 9.88D x 0.88H-inches, 2.2 kg
But before getting on with the review, let’s get familiar with the 2022 editions of the Asus TUF Gaming A15 and the TUF Dash F15 real quick. Here, the TUF F15 and A15 are pretty much the same, except that the F15 is powered by Intel’s 12th Gen CPU while the A15 brings AMD’s Ryzen 6000 series CPU inside.
On the contrary, the TUF Dash F15 goes with a somewhat cleaner design and a marginally slimmer build quality, all at the sacrifice of performance to some extent.
For instance, the TUF F15 can be configured with up to Intel Core i7-12700H and a 140W RTX 3070 whereas the TUF Dash F15 maxes out at i7-12650H and 105W RTX 3070. So yeah, Asus has laid out its lineup of gaming laptops pretty clearly this time. Do you want maximum performance at the slight expense of portability or not? It’s up to you.
In any case, our unit of the TUF F15 is powered by the i7-12700H CPU, 140W RTX 3060 GPU, 16GB DDR5 memory, and a terabyte of PCIe Gen 3 SSD. And both RAM and SSD are upgradable here, by the way. This configuration costs Rs. 235,555 here in Nepal, around Rs. 147,000 in India, or $1,500 in the US.
Performance
Intel Core i7-12700H CPU (45W base power)
NVIDIA RTX 3060 (140W, 6GB GDDR6 VRAM)
16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
And for that price, this is easily one of the most powerful laptops you can get right now. The sheer performance jump that the 12th Gen processors bring is staggering! If you’re curious to learn more, we’ve discussed all about it in our full review of the Core i7-12700K desktop CPU. Anyway, pair that with the most jacked-up RTX 3060 mobile GPU available on the market, then the TUF F15 delivers quite impressive performance all around.
I mean, it absolutely annihilates the Core i7-11800H—be it in terms of single-core or multi-core workloads.
Just look at Cinebench R23. Its single and multi-core scores are the highest in our entire database! Similarly, this 12th Gen CPU posts a double-digit performance jump in other tests like 7Zip, V-Ray 5, and Corona, on top of productivity benchmarks like PugetBench and SPECWorkstation.
Benchmarks
1 of 7
Cinebench R23
7-Zip 21.07
V-Ray 5 (CPU)
Corona 1.3
PugetBench for Photoshop
PugetBench for Premiere Pro
SPECWorkstation 3.1.0
Talking about productivity, I also tried editing a 1080p video project on Premiere Pro here, and it handled everything from adding animation and text layers to making color corrections with a breeze. Apart from the processor itself, that DDR5 memory should be working its magic too, right?
Don’t expect much from the DDR5 memory
After all, it promises significantly higher bandwidth, power efficiency, and other upgrades over DDR4. But the thing is, the TUF F15 uses a CL40 DDR5-4800 memory in dual-channel.
The CAS latency could differ depending on the individual unit but I doubt that’s gonna happen anytime soon because DDR5 RAM with as fast CAS latency as the best-performing DDR4 memories simply isn’t available right now. So if you were expecting some sort of magical performance leap with the latest memory standard, sorry to say that’s not happening anytime soon.
Say hello to the MUX switch
Let’s now get to the gaming side of things. As with all Asus gaming laptops, you’ll need to turn on Turbo mode for the best gaming result here, which maxes out the CPU and GPU performance, alongside fan speed.
But the company has also added a MUX switch this time. In case you don’t know, a multiplexer (or MUX) switch basically lets you disable a CPU’s integrated graphics so that it doesn’t get to bottleneck the faster discrete GPU’s performance.
When enabled, the dGPU is directed connected to the display and it therefore doesn’t need to route data through the iGPU first.
And here, the option to turn it on is right there inside the Armoury Crate app which is pretty neat of Asus because the MUX switch is usually hidden inside BIOS in most cases. Mind you that enabling or disabling it requires a cold reboot.
With this, Asus says you can expect roughly 5 to 10% better performance on average. Now that might sound worth it to some, but in this case, I’m not that convinced mainly because of one reason.
The thing is, the TUF F15’s display isn’t G-SYNC compatible, although it does support VESA’s Adaptive-Sync technology. But since Adaptive-Sync doesn’t work when enabling the MUX switch, I noticed screen tearing on multiple instances when gaming on this laptop. You can connect a G-SYNC compatible display with one of the available USB-C ports, but that’s neither here nor there.
Excellent gaming results
Other than this, enabling the MUX switch also takes quite a toll on the battery life, but I guess gamers won’t be particularly bothered by that. Okay, let’s talk scores now. Compared to a similarly configured 11th Gen laptop with 130W RTX 3060, the TUF F15’s results are remarkable. Especially on CPU-reliant games like CS: GO, where its average and 1% low fps are more than 50% higher than the competition.
1080p Gaming
1 of 5
CS: GO (Very High)
GTA V (Normal)
GTA V (High)
Borderlands 3 (High)
Borderlands 3 (Ultra)
Similarly, both GTA V and Borderlands 3 deliver over 100 fps at High settings. On to some relatively GPU-intensive games, I got 66 fps on Hitman 3 at Ultra preset. And moving down to Medium settings didn’t improve the fps throughput by a lot here.
1080p Gaming
1 of 7
Hitman 3 (Medium)
Hitman 3 (Ultra)
Control (Medium)
Control (Ultra)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Medium)
Medium, RTX Off
Control, on the other hand, managed 48.3 fps average at Ultra settings and High ray tracing, which jumps to 67.9 fps when switching to Medium preset. Cyberpunk 2077 is almost unplayable at Ultra settings with just 27.5 average fps. But at Medium settings, it delivers a respectable 46.8 fps. And with ray tracing turned off completely, the TUF F15 manages an impressive 104.5 fps average!
How about its cooling and fan noise?
All in all, this laptop can handle most modern AAA titles at medium to high settings with ease—absolutely no doubt about that. So what about cooling then? Such impressive gaming results can’t come at the expense of terrible thermal performance after all.
To make sure such powerful CPU and GPU perform consistently, Asus has significantly upgraded the cooling system this time. Unlike its predecessor, this guy has an additional exhaust vent on the left and an extra heatpipe underneath. And yeah, the TUF F15’s thermal performance is pretty impressive.
On the front, I noticed that the heat is mostly localized slightly left to the Enter key area, with the surface temperature reaching 43.4°C when playing some light games like CS: GO, or 48°C just above it. But that number would jump to 47.2 and 53.9°C under Cyberpunk 2077.
As for fan noise, I recorded its 47.8dBA at peak. This isn’t the quietest I’ve heard on a gaming laptop, but putting on a pair of headphones is all you need to drown it out. My only complaint, as far as its thermals go, is that the laptop gets a bit warm even when it’s idle. As opposed to Acer or MSI, Asus is pretty strict about its fan control mechanism.
Until the system senses that it’s absolutely necessary to up the fan speed, it stays pretty much silent—even when you’re on Turbo mode. It’s pretty great if you’re using the laptop in a noise-sensitive environment like a college or office, but if you don’t care about fan noise, you can always crank it up under the Manual mode for cooler temperatures.
Design & Build
13.91W x 9.88D x 0.88H-inches, 2.2 kg
Plastic/metal hybrid build quality
Performance aside, the TUF F15 is unapologetically a gaming laptop from its design as well. Although Asus has gone easy with that aggressive gamer aesthetics over the years, you can still tell that this is a gaming machine from its beefy build quality and other visual cues.
I have it in the “Jaeger Gray” finish, whereas it is also available in the “Mecha Gray” variant with an embossed TUF logo on the lid. In spite of all the internal upgrades, Asus says it has managed to minimize the chassis volume by 4.5% this time. And it is 100 grams lighter than its predecessor as well.
Its lid feels like it has a faux-aluminum finish, but the rest of the chassis is all plastic. Then again, great performance mixed with a plastic build is about as good as it gets in the mid-range segment. So unless the laptop isn’t sturdy or something, I don’t mind.
And since this is a TUF series laptop, to begin with, it doesn’t disappoint in the durability department. Besides the military-grade toughness, its hinge, lid, and keyboard deck are all solid. The soft matte finish on the keyboard deck that doesn’t attract fingerprints as much is a nice touch too.
Decent port selection
Above it, we can also see a funky X-shaped set of LED indicators, which are visible even with the lids closed. The connectivity side of things is also pretty decent. There’s a Kensington lock and a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port on the right.
Ports
1 of 2
Left
Right
And on the left side, you get an additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port alongside a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, a Thunderbolt 4, an HDMI 2.0b, an RJ45, and a power connector. Both USB-C ports here support DisplayPort 1.4 as well, whereas the standard USB 3.2 Gen 2 port even lets you connect a G-SYNC compatible display that I talked about earlier.
Display
15.6″ anti-glare non-touch FHD IPS panel
300Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB gamut
Adaptive-Sync, Optimus, MUX Switch
Talking about the display, the 2022 edition of TUF F15 also brings some neat upgrades here. Content creators can go for the 15.6” WQHD variant with 100% DCI-P3 gamut and a 165Hz refresh rate, while its entry-level model with a 144Hz refresh rate still has an underwhelming 62.5% sRGB coverage.
But unless you’re really tight on budget, I’d advise you to go with the 300Hz variant like ours, which is sort of a middle child between the two with its 100% sRGB panel. And on our unit, the default color calibration was almost on point too. Slightly reddish maybe, but perfectly serviceable.
Display Properties
1 of 4
Color Gamut
Gamma
Brightness
MPRT
Validating the company’s display claims, we found that this screen covers 98% sRGB and 74% P3 gamut. The color reproduction looks pleasing and the contrast level isn’t half bad either considering its IPS nature. The viewing angle is also quite nice, with a drop in saturation and brightness levels noticeable only when you’re looking at it from extreme angles.
The speakers could’ve been better
So whether you’re just going about your everyday work or streaming some show, it’s going to be a great experience. There is some mild backlight bleeding near the bottom right corner of the screen, but I can easily look past it.
If only its down-firing speakers were somewhat better, the binge-watching experience on the TUF F15 would’ve been terrific! Even when playing around with different equalizer presets in the Dolby Access app, I couldn’t settle for an enjoyable audio quality.
Anyway, I often noticed that this display looked noticeably worse on battery power. Be it in terms of brightness, colors, or contrast. And to solve this, all you gotta do is disable “Display Power Savings” under the Intel Graphics Command Center. Although this battery-saving feature could come in handy at times, I wish laptop makers (or Intel?) wouldn’t leave it on by default.
Bright enough display
TUF F15’s display can get plenty bright as well. I won’t say 344 nits peak brightness is enough for comfortable outdoor usage but if you can find a shade of some kind, this can be perfectly usable.
Not to forget, there’s also a layer of matte-coating here to prevent ambient light reflections from getting in your way. Apart from this, you can probably already tell that this 300Hz display has absolutely spoiled me with its smoothness. And its 3.1ms MPRT response time means you won’t have to deal with ghosting or any such issue when you’re playing some fast-paced games.
Keyboard
Backlit full-size keys (with Numpad)
1.7mm travel, Single-zone RGB lighting
Moving on, Asus has used the same keyboard on the TUF F15 2022 as last year. You’re looking at a full-sized chiclet keyboard with a dedicated Numpad and everything. The WASD keys also get a special transparent flair, which sets them apart from the rest of the keys. Including a Numpad is nice and all but I wish Asus had found a way to retain full-sized keycaps for the arrow keys too.
But the actual typing experience on this keyboard is not that bad.
They have quiet and rather soft feedback which could be exactly what most people like—even though I prefer a bit less spongy keystrokes myself. The 1.7mm key travel distance is also perfect for me, and I was able to maintain my usual typing speeds without any trouble. And although it doesn’t support N-key rollover, I didn’t notice any ghosting issue here.
This is also a backlit keyboard with single-zone RGB that’s configurable via the aforementioned Armoury Crate app. Buuuuuut… its actual backlighting is so inconsistent and all the keys are properly well-lit either. I’ve also faced this issue with past TUF laptops, so seeing Asus continue to repeat the same mistake is a little disappointing.
Trackpad
Plastic trackpad with integrated left/right keys
At least the trackpad’s seen an upgrade this time! It’s 26% larger and the separate left/right keys have been integrated into one as well. This is still a plastic-made trackpad so the gliding motion isn’t as smooth as it could be. And its clicking feedback is quite spongy too. But it handles all your multi-finger gestures and whatnot flawlessly, so there you go.
Webcam
720p HD camera, No privacy shutter
What’s next? Yes, a webcam. As expected, the TUF F15 has a standard 720p camera up top. Although it’s not extraordinary or anything, this is more than usable for attending casual video calls.
Battery
90 Watt-hour 4-cell battery
240W AC power adapter
Finally, let’s talk about its battery life. A 90 Whr battery sure sounds large, but because it’s feeding such power-hungry processors, this guy managed just around 2 and a half hours of screen-on time under my regular usage consisting of web browsing together with editing word documents.
That was under Silent mode with Standard GPU profile turned on, whereas you can almost double the battery endurance by switching to Eco mode.
Asus TUF Gaming F15 (2022) Review: Conclusion
Okay, wrapping up this review, the 2022 edition of the Asus TUF Gaming F15 is a clear winner—oh, yes. The performance jump compared to 11th Gen CPU in its predecessor is huge, whereas Asus has gone the extra mile to include the highest TGP RTX 30 series GPU too.
But simply throwing in high-performance processors is just half the battle when it comes to delivering a great gaming experience. You also need a competent thermal system that can keep the temperature in check and a display that’s able to keep up. Thankfully, the F15 has got it all covered!
Once again, I wish its base model had a 100% sRGB color gamut too, but I guess that’s too much to ask for in the mid-range segment. So if you’re a gamer or even a content creator looking to buy a new laptop at this price range, I feel confident recommending the TUF F15 to you.
I tried but I really can’t find any major, deal-breaking flaw here. I can obviously nitpick about a few things like the underwhelming speakers, uneven keyboard backlighting, and a couple of other stuff. But let’s get real here—all those things can easily be overlooked for such an awesome laptop overall.
Watch our video review of the Asus TUF Gaming F15 (2022)
Huawei introduced the Watch GT 3 Pro in China back in April. It’s the successor to GT 2 Pro from last year, and it brings some interesting features like ECG, diving mode, and more. And it has now made its way to the Nepali market as well. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and official price of the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro in Nepal.
Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro Overview:
Design and Display
The GT 3 Pro is available in two variants: a white ceramic version with a 43mm case and a titanium model with a slightly bigger 46mm case. The latter sports a 1.43″ screen on the front while the former has a 1.32″ display. Both have an AMOLED panel and sapphire glass encased in a circular frame.
Similarly, the Titanium model can be paired with a Black Viton or Grey Leather strap, whilst the Ceramic variant can be worn with a White Leather or White Ceramic strap.
Huawei is heavily touting GT 3 Pro for its built-in ECG functionality, which monitors the user’s heart rhythm and electrical activity. Per the company, this feature has been approved by Chinese medical authorities. By the way, the wristwatch runs on Huawei’s own HarmonyOS.
Furthermore, the GT 3 Pro can be worn when diving in pools and open water since it has a 5ATM and IP68 waterproof rating, and a “Free Diving Mode” that can endure a depth of 30 meters. There’s also a “Golf Mode” that comes with 300+ golf courses to choose from. It supports over 100 sports modes in total, 18 of which are “professional” modes.
Other health-related capabilities of the smartwatch include heart rate, blood oxygen, body temperature, sleep, stress monitoring, and more.
Rest of the specs
Aside from that, the smartwatch has a built-in speaker and microphone that allows for Bluetooth calling. You can also make hassle-free payments from the watch, thanks to NFC support.
In terms of battery life, Huawei promises up to 14 days on the Titanium variant and 7 days on the Ceramic model. The company also claims that a 10-minute charge would be enough to power the watch for an entire day.
Compatibility: Harmony OS 2.0 or later, Android 6.0 or later, iOS 9.0 or later
Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic, Optical heart rate, Pressure, Temperature
Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro Price in Nepal
The price of the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro in Nepal is NPR 47,990 for the sole 46mm (Grey Leather) variant. You can buy Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro in Nepal from authorized e-commerce stores like Hukut.
Huawei has introduced two laptops from its MateBook series in Europe. The MateBook 16s and MateBook D16 are announced with 12th gen Intel CPUs. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Huawei MateBook 16s and MateBook D16 in Nepal.
Huawei MateBook 16s Overview:
Design and Display
The MateBook 16s comes with a 16-inch IPS screen with a screen resolution of 2520 x 1680 pixels, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a 90% screen-to-body ratio. The display also offers 300 nits of brightness along with support for a 100% sRGB color gamut.
The device sports a metallic build with a smooth matte finish across the chassis and measures 17.8 mm thick. It’s only available in one color, which is Space Grey.
Performance
On the performance front, the MateBook 16s is available with two Alder Lake series chipsets, the Intel Core i5-12500H and Core i9-12900H. For graphics, it relies on the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics.
Moreover, the memory option includes 16GB of LPDDR4x dual-channel RAM and up to 1TB NVMe PCI storage. It is powered by an 84Wh battery and comes with a 135W charger.
Rest of the specs
Connectivity options on the MateBook 16s comprise two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB-C (support data, charging, and DisplayPort), one Thunderbolt 4, (charging and DisplayPort), one HDMI, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Likewise, there’s also a fingerprint scanner for biometrics.
Huawei MateBook 16s Specifications:
Display: 16-inches IPS LCD, 2520 x 1680 pixels, 300 nits
Keyboard: Full-sized backlit keyboard
Touchpad: Multi-touch supported touchpad
Processor: Intel Core i5-12500H / Core i9-12900H
Memory: 16GB LPDDR4X RAM, 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
Battery: 84 WHr, 135W USB-C power adapter
Webcam: 1080p HD camera
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 5.2
I/O ports: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C (support data, charging, and DisplayPort), 1x Thunderbolt 4, (charging and DisplayPort), 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack
Huawei MateBook D16 Overview:
The MateBook D16 also has a 16-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, a maximum brightness of 300 nits, and 100% sRGB coverage. It is offered with two CPU options: Intel Core i5-12500H or Intel Core i7-12700H.
Like the MateBook 16s, it brings 16GB of RAM onboard, however, storage is limited to 512GB. Fueling the device is a 60Wh battery which comes with a 65W charger support.
Huawei MateBook D16 Specifications:
Display: 16-inches IPS LCD, 1920 x 1200 pixels, 300 nits
Keyboard: Full-sized backlit keyboard
Touchpad: Multi-touch supported touchpad
Processor: Intel Core i5-12500H / Core i7-12700H
Memory: 16GB LPDDR4X RAM, 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe
Battery: 60 WHr, 65W USB-C power adapter
Webcam: 1080p HD camera
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 5.1
I/O ports: 2x USB-C, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack
Huawei MateBook 16s, MateBook D16 Price in Nepal and Availability
The company has already announced the launch of MateBook 16s and MateBook D16 in Europe. However, Huawei has yet to reveal its official price and release date. We will update the article as soon as further information is available.
Meanwhile, check out our pick for the best smartwatches of 2022.
Back in January, Poco launched the second smartphone in its C series—called the Poco C31 in Nepal. The phone has now received a price hike across one of its two memory variants. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and official price of Poco C31 in Nepal.
Poco C31 Overview:
Design and Display
The Poco C31 features a 6.53-inch HD+ LCD display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s a TÜV Rheinland certified panel that helps reduce strain on the eyes. The back of the device has a triple camera setup in a square-shaped cutout. The phone also has a P2i coating alongside rubberized seals for protection against water damage.
In terms of performance, the device is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35, paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 32/64GB of internal storage. The latter is expandable up to 512GB via a microSD card. It boots on Android 10-based MIUI 12 out-of-the-box. On top of that, Poco is ensuring an ad-free experience with C31.
Camera
As for the optics, the C31 boasts a triple rear camera setup led by a 13MP main camera. Accompanying this are two 2MP lenses for portraits and macro shots. On the front, it has a 5MP sensor inside the waterdrop notch for selfies.
Rest of the specs
Besides this, Poco C31 gets a fingerprint scanner on the back. For connectivity, it uses Wi-Fi 802.11 (a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5.0. It is backed by a 5000mAh battery that supports 10W charging via a Micro USB port.
Fossil launched Gen 6 as the world’s first Snapdragon Wear 4100+ powered smartwatch last year. The company has now launched a hybrid edition of the watch called the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid. It’s aimed at folks who prefer a classic look with the benefits of modern smartwatches. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid in Nepal.
Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Overview:
Design
The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid draws design inspiration from the company’s classic analog lineup and comes in two styles: Machine and Stella. The former has a 45mm case size with a textured bezel and is available in Black, Smoke, and Silver finishes.
The Stella has a 40.5mm case with a beveled edge. This is geared more towards women, thus the color options include Rose Gold, Silver, and Two-Tone.
Both smartwatches offer interchangeable bands (18mm for Machine and 24mm for Stella) with options in metallic, classic leather, and silicone.
Features
The key selling point of the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid is its compatibility for Amazon Alexa. In order to use the voice assistant, there is also a built-in microphone. The smartwatch’s health and fitness tracking features include continuous heart rate monitoring, workout monitoring, and sleep and step tracking. It also has a new SpO2 sensor for more precise readings.
The classics of the Gen 6 Hybrid come from an e-ink display, which also contributes to improved battery life. It is claimed to last for two weeks on a single charge.
Furthermore, the watch interface has been redesigned to better accommodate the round dial of the watch. The companion app has also been revamped for both the Android and iOS platforms, with greater customization options.
Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid Price in Nepal and Availability
The Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid will be available for purchase from the official website on June 27 for USD 229. Likewise, if you choose a variant with a metallic band it will cost you USD 249. We expect the price of the Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid to be NPR 35,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.
Smartwatch
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Fossil Gen 6 Hybrid
USD 229
NPR 35,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Honor Watch GS 3.
Vivo Y55, a mid-range phone from the Y series of Vivo, has launched in Nepal. Alongside the AMOLED display, the 44W fast charging support is the main highlight of this phone. Now, let’s discuss more details about the Vivo Y55 including its specs, official price, and availability in Nepal.
Vivo Y55 Overview:
Design and Display
As aforementioned, the Vivo Y55 has an AMOLED panel of 6.44 inches. It is an FHD+ resolution screen with a 180Hz touch sampling rate and DCI-P3 color gamut.
The phone sports a 3D design, built from plastic that measures 8.42mm, and weighs around 182 grams. It comes in Snow White and Black Star shades.
Performance
On the performance side, the phone is equipped with Snapdragon 680 chipset, a power-efficient chip manufactured on a 6nm process. This phone offers 8GB of RAM, which should be plenty for your everyday tasks, and 128GB of storage provides enough space for your photos and videos.
It even has a virtual RAM feature that can add an additional 4GB of RAM using the available internal storage. Likewise, the handset boots on FunTouch OS 12 based on Android 12.
Talking about cameras, a primary lens of 50MP, a 2MP depth-sensing lens, and a 2MP macro-shooter is set up on the rear end of the phone. Whereas, a single 16MP selfie camera sits on the teardrop style notch on the front. Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) is available on the rear camera for stable video shooting.
Rest of the specs
Fueling the device is a 5000mAh battery that supports 44W charging. And, as per Vivo, Y55 can offer up to 10 hours of PUBG and up to 18 hours of YouTube playback.
For biometrics, it has an in-display fingerprint scanner. The connectivity option includes dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Welcome to the sixth 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!
Huawei has released its latest TWS earbuds, the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 in Europe. It is the successor of the FreeBuds Pro and offers improved performance and battery life. So, let’s dig into the specifications, features, availability, and expected price of the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 in Nepal.
Huawei FrereBuds Pro 2 Overview:
Design
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 looks no different than its predecessor in terms of design. The stem is rectangular in shape, whereas the earbuds retain the in-ear design. The earphones are also water and dust resistant to IP54 standards. It is available in three colors: Silver Blue, Silver Frost (Black), and Ceramic White.
The TWS is fitted with quad-magnet drivers and supports a frequency range from 14Hz to 48kHz with the Hi-Res Dual Sound system. It features the widest frequency range of any Huawei earphone to date; and is the world’s first earbuds with such a driver. You also get an adaptive equalizer setting that learns user behavior and adjusts the audio for improved sound output.
Huawei has also partnered with the French sound technology company Devialet to improve the audio output. In terms of Active Noise Cancellation, the Freebuds Pro can reduce ambient noise by up to 40dB. This is accomplished via a three-mic array—up from two in the original FreeBuds Pro.
The company has offered three different ANC modes here, namely General, Cozy, and Ultra modes. In order to be aware of their surroundings, users can switch to the Awareness mode.
Rest of the specs
Huawei did not divulge the actual battery capacity during the launch. However, the case is said to provide up to 30 hours of battery life. The battery life of earbuds is stated to be 4 hours with ANC and 6.5 hours without.
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 Specifications:
Driver: 11mm Quad-magnet driver
Frequency: 14Hz to 48kHz.
Music Time: 4hr (with ANC), 30hr (with charging case)
Controls: Touch gestures
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes (up to 40dB)
IP Rating: Yes (IP54)
Color: Silver Blue, Silver Frost (Black), Ceramic White
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 Price in Nepal and Availability
The FreeBuds Pro 2 is up for pre-order now for a price of EUR 200. Those who pre-order the earbuds will get Huawei Band 7 for free. We expect its price to be NPR 30,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.
TWS Earbuds
Price in Europe
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2
EUR 200
NPR 30,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Honor Watch GS 3.
