Montblanc, best renowned for its fountain pens has introduced the Montblanc Summit 3, a premium timepiece. It’s the successor to Montblanc Summit 2 from four years ago and comes with Wear OS 3.0 at its core. So, let us look at the specifications, features, availability, and expected price of the Montblanc Summit 3 in Nepal.
Montblanc Summit 3 Overview:
Design, Display
Let’s start with where the luxury of this wristwatch comes in. The Montblanc Summit 3 features a titanium case in a variety of colors that are paired with leather and rubber strap options.
Here, the gray case comes with either black calf leather or a blue rubber strap. Similarly, the black casing is outfitted with a black calf leather or black rubber strap. There’s also a ‘bi-color’ casing with either British green calf leather or a black rubber strap. For controls, the watch has a rotating crown and two additional buttons.
On the front, the Summit 3 sports a 1.2-inch AMOLED display and a circular watch face. The screen has a 416 x 416-pixel resolution.
Moving on, the Montblanc Summit 3 is the first WearOS 3 smartwatch since the Galaxy Watch 4 series. However, unlike the latter, it gets the stock WearOS 3 treatment. This is backed by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+ chipset. In terms of memory, it comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage.
The watch has a heart rate monitor, a microphone, a barometer, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and an ambient light sensor for health and fitness purposes. Meanwhile, it connects to your phone through Bluetooth 5.0 and works with both iOS and Android.
Since it supports WearOS, you can connect it to WiFi for app downloads, and NFC capability allows for hands-free payments. The Summit 3 is said to have longer battery life than its predecessor (which lasts about a day), though the firm has not said how long.
Montblanc Summit 3 Specifications:
Display: 1.2-inch AMOLED, 416 x 416-pixel resolution
Montblanc Summit 3 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Montblanc Summit 3 will be available beginning July 15 for EUR 1,250. We predict the Montblanc Summit 3 to cost NPR 170,000 if Montblanc plans to enter the Nepali market.
Smartwatch
Price in Europe
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Montblanc Summit 3
EUR 1,250
NPR 170,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Honor Watch GS 3.
The new MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ is here. This flagship chip brings some moderate upgrades over the Dimensity 9000 released last year. In this article, we will go through the Dimensity 9000+ alongside its features and other notable upgrades.
MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ Overview:
CPU
The biggest highlight about this chip is that it gets a 5% CPU boost compared to its predecessor. The Cortex-X2 CPU core here has been overclocked from 3.05 to 3.2 GHz. Other than this, the rest of the CPU cluster remains the same with three Cortex-A710 cores (2.85 GHz) and four Cortex-A510 cores (1.80 GHz) for efficiency tasks.
Memory
On the memory front, the Dimensity 9000+ supports LPDDR5x RAM with a maximum bandwidth of 7500Mbps. According to the company, increasing the cache size here from 8MB to 14MB results in performance improvement by 7% and reduced bandwidth consumption by 25%. Furthermore, LPDDR5x RAMs consume 20% less power than LPDDR5 as well.
MediaTek says that the Mali-G710 MC10’s GPU performance has also improved by 10% compared to the previous generation.
It supports HyperEngine 5.0 technology, which offers AI-enhanced variable-rate shading (VRS), lower latency connection, and more to ensure a smoother gaming experience. Likewise, The MediaTek APU 590 used in this chip is said to be 4 times more power-efficient than the previous generation.
ISP
The 18-bit Imagiq 790 ISP in the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ is capable of recording HDR videos from three cameras simultaneously. It also supports a single-camera setup of up to 320MP and processing speeds of up to 9 gigapixels per second.
Connectivity
As for connectivity, the downlink speeds have been bumped up to 7Gbps but the Dimensity 9000+ still lacks mmWave 5G like its predecessor. It does have Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, dual-frequency GPS, NFC, and USB 3.1 Type-C support though.
First announced at the CES 2022, LG DualUp is now available for purchase in the US. It’s a premium monitor from the company, with the main highlight being the 28-inch screen which looks like two normal screens stacked on top of one another. So, let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the LG DualUp monitor in Nepal.
LG DualUp Monitor Overview:
Display
LG DualUp Monitor features a 27.6″ Nano IPS panel with an SDQHD resolution of 2560 x 2880 pixels. The display is equivalent to two regular 21-inch screens placed on top of one another. This gives LG DualUp its tall 16:18 aspect ratio that LG claims will help enhance productivity for programmers and officers alike.
Not only that, LG DualUp can come in handy for streamers and content creators. This monitor covers up to 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and is color calibrated from the factory.
The peak brightness of the LG DualUp Monitor is listed at 300nits. It also has a light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness based on the ambient luminance.
Furthermore, the screen has a Grey-to-Grey response time of 5ms and is HDR10 certified. It even has Rheinland Eyesafe Display Certification which ensures protection from blue light.
LG DualUp comes with an Ergo Stand that offers the flexibility to move the screen back and forth, as well as swivel, rotate, and tilt to configure it the way you like. The monitor ships with C-Clamp & Grommet and One Click Mount that you will need during installation.
Adding on, the monitor typically operates on a 40W power supply which can increase up to 190W based on different scenarios.
As for connectivity, LG DualUp Monitor has two HDMI ports, a display port, and a USB-C port. The latter even supports 90W PowerDelivery to charge your laptop and other accessories. In addition, a headphone jack is also available.
You can hook up the monitor to two different computers at the same time and control the contents using the KVM feature.
LG DualUp Monitor is currently available for sale in the US, where it retails for USD 699.99. It is not clear if LG will launch the DualUp Monitor in Nepal, but if it does, we expect its price to be NPR 105,500.
Monitor
Price in the US (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
LG DualUp (27.6″)
USD 699.99
NPR 105,500
Meanwhile, check out our thoughts on Nothing phone (1).
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.
Furthermore, the screen has a Grey-to-Grey response time of 5ms and is 
