Welcome to the third 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!
Realme 9 Review: Premium Looks, Affordable Price
Realme’s latest entry in the number is the vanilla Realme 9. Compared to the 5G variant, it brings an AMOLED display, a 108MP camera, and a slightly less powerful processor. So considering everything it brings, is the Realme 9 worth it, or are there better options in the market—let’s find out in this review.
Before we start, let’s take a quick look at what Realme 9 offers in terms of specifications.
Realme 9 Specifications:
- Body: 73.3 x 160.2 x 7.99mm, 178gm, Plastic back/frames
- Display: 6.6-inch Super AMOLED, 90Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, 1000 nits peak brightness
- Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6nm Mobile Platform)
- Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2 storage
- Software & UI: Realme UI 3.0 on top of Android 12
- Rear Camera: Triple (108MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
- Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
- Audio: Single speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
- Battery: 5000mAh with 33W charging
- Price in Nepal: Rs. 31,500 (6/128GB) | Rs. 33,500 (8/128GB)
Realme 9 Review:
Design & Build
- 73.3 x 160.2 x 7.99mm, 178 grams
- Glass front, Plastic back/frames
Okay, let’s start with the most remarkable thing about the phone, which is definitely its design. Realme 9 is by far the best-looking budget smartphone to have come through our doors in 2022 for review so far.
The Stargaze White variant that I have here has a “ripple tide thing” going on. And depending on how you are holding the phone, its back panel shimmers colorful rays, which looks pretty cool if you ask me.
But let me clarify that this is still an entirely plastic-made phone, which interestingly works in its favor. That’s because the plastic build helps Realme achieve a slim and lightweight device.
And another thing that I have noticed during the review is that its curved rear panel allows Realme 9 to have slimmer frames and a more pocketable form factor.
Furthermore, all the buttons are well within the reach here. But I was quite disappointed to find that Realme 9 has a single down-firing speaker only. It’s really weird that Realme offered stereo speakers on the much cheaper Realme 9i and not this.
Display
- 6.6-inches FHD+ Super AMOLED panel
- 90/360Hz refresh/touch sampling rate
That’s quite a shame because this guy had the potential of being a great multimedia phone for its price. Though an AMOLED panel is nothing new in this range, I found its Super AMOLED screen to be slightly superior to similarly-priced phones like the Redmi Note 11S when it comes to colors and details.
That aside, its bezels are pretty slim. And the tiny camera cutout on the left doesn’t distract you from being fully invested in whatever you’re streaming.
You even get an optical in-display fingerprint scanner underneath, which is something you don’t see that often in other budget phones. And it works pretty well unless your fingers are wet or something.
This fingerprint sensor even doubles as a heart rate monitor. Not the most accurate reading I have seen but it’s cool to even have this feature, I guess. By the way, this is also a 90Hz screen, which is not really a big deal since 120Hz displays are pretty common in this price range.
In my opinion, Realme can still make the phone feel a bit smoother through software optimization if it wants to. There are instances like when switching between apps, where 90Hz doesn’t feel like 90Hz.
Realme 9 also supports adaptive refresh rate, but it doesn’t work as intended (at the time of this review). For example, Facebook runs at 60Hz in the auto-select mode although it can run smoothly at 90Hz.
Software
- Realme UI 3.0 on top of Android 12
This looks to be a software problem since Snapdragon 680 has handled 90Hz quite well in our experience on the Redmi Note 11, Galaxy A23, and Moto G52. Hopefully, Realme will fix this with a software update as the phone feels smooth otherwise with its 360Hz touch sampling rate.
And while the mild vibration feedback whenever you are interacting with the screen is a nice touch, I wished the haptics were a bit stronger here.
Moving on, Realme 9 is among the few budget phones that ship with the latest Realme UI 3 on top of Android 12 out of the box. Then again, the company hasn’t committed to any kind of upgrade roadmap—so there’s that.
Realme’s custom Android skin is loaded with a few bloatware apps, some of which can annoy you with notifications. Thankfully, most of them can be uninstalled. And I have not come across any major software bug in day-to-day usage so far, save for the refresh rate.
Cameras
- Triple camera setup at the back
- (108MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
- 16MP selfie camera (hole-punch cutout)
Let’s talk cameras now. Realme 9 is the world’s first phone to feature Samsung’s new 108MP ISOCELL HM6 sensor. Therefore it is also a feature that Realme has used to create hype around the phone. So… how does it perform in real-life usage then?
- Blind Camera Test: Realme 9 vs Redmi Note 11S
Primary Images
As you can see in these images, photos from Realme 9 have quite saturated colors. That’s typical of a Realme phone if you ask me. It’s more evident when you place them side by side with other 108MP camera phones like the Note 11S.
In this instance, the punchy colors work quite well in the favor of Realme 9 as its photos usually look more pleasing to the eyes.
Ultrawide Images
I found the same thing with the ultrawide shots. Realme’s photos look more lively although there is not much detail on either of them.
Portrait Images
Yet, there is not a clear winner when it comes to portraits. Realme 9’s shots have a reddish tint whereas subjects look almost lifeless from the Note 11S.
Selfies
On the other hand, neither of them can take good enough selfies to set one as your profile picture. There is a lot of smoothening going on the Realme 9 whereas the Note 11S tends to add artificial details somehow.
Lowlight Images
As for regular nighttime images, they are not any better. However, the 108MP sensor on this phone does work its magic under Night Mode, which delivers noticeably better exposure, details, and colors.
Videography
Getting to videos, you can only record at 1080p 30 fps from both the front and the rear camera from these phones. And as you can see here, they suffer from poor stabilization and colors.
All in all, Realme 9’s camera setup is pretty decent for the price—especially for photos. Then again, I guess not everyone’s gonna like its over-the-top color processing.
Performance and Battery
- Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G SoC (6nm)
- 6/8GB RAM, 128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
- 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging
Under the hood, the phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680. And I don’t think this chip needs any introduction since it has been a frequent fixture in budget phones this year. In fact, the much more affordable Realme 9i has the same processor.
In case you’re unfamiliar, the 680 is built on a power-efficient 6nm process—which is also its main selling point.
Day’s worth of battery life
So it should not come as a surprise when I say that the Realme 9 offers a great battery life. Paired with a 5000mAh battery, I easily got a day’s endurance on a full charge from Realme 9 throughout the review period.
And I do a lot of streaming shows and music, web browsing, and also light gaming! So someone with a relatively more relaxed usage pattern should easily be able to squeeze two days of endurance!
Likewise, the phone supports 33W fast charging and Realme has included a compatible power brick inside the box itself, which takes around 70 – 75 minutes for a complete fill-up.
Optimized Night Charging
And an interesting feature here is something called “Optimized Night Charging”, which slows down the charging rate overnight so that you get a fully fueled phone by the time you wake up, without damaging the battery health or anything.
Lackluster gaming performance
Apart from the excellent battery life, there is not much to love about the Snapdragon 680 sadly. Sure regular usage and light gaming are not all that bad here but this chip is too underpowerful for mobile gaming in 2022.
For instance, you will be disappointed with how the phone handles popular modern titles like PUBG, as the phone maxes out at just Smooth graphics and High frame rates—which means 30 fps gameplay and nothing more.
And it’s not optimized to run high-fps games like Critical Ops at 90 fps either. Long story short, don’t buy Realme 9 or any other Snapdragon 680-powered phone if gaming’s a priority. For that, older chipsets like Helio G96 or newer ones like Snapdragon 695 will perform a lot better!
Realme 9 Review: Conclusion
Okay, that brings to me the end of this review. So… do I love the Realme 9? Well, I really appreciate what the company has done with the look and feel of the phone. Despite being a budget device, it has a touch of elegance that you won’t find in many of the competition. It feels good on hand and then you get this beautiful Super AMOLED screen with a built-in fingerprint reader too.
If only it had stereo speakers, I could have recommended the phone just for its multimedia capabilities.
And other aspects like cameras and gaming could’ve been a lot better too. So if you don’t care about aesthetics, you can find better all-rounder phones like the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G (or POCO X4 Pro 5G) by extending your budget a little. It offers a much better multimedia experience, as well as superior performance and everything else. However, if raw power is all you crave, then last year’s POCO X3 Pro is still well worth the money.
Realme 9 Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Sleek and slim design
- Vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Android 12 out of the box
- Decent cameras for the price
- Great battery life
Cons:
- Unoptimized 90Hz experience
- No stereo speakers
- Not meant for gaming
Samsung Galaxy M53 Review: Better Than Realme 9 Pro+?
If you were to ask what’s my favorite mid-range phone right now, my answer would be the Realme 9 Pro+. It’s just such a well-rounded smartphone that I’m comfortable recommending it to most people even to this day. And challenging the 9 Pro+, Samsung recently launched the Galaxy M53 in India and a few European markets, which I’ve been using for almost a month for this review.
Samsung Galaxy M53 Specifications:
- Body: 77 x 164.6 x 7.4mm, 176 gm, Plastic back/frames
- Display: 6.7-inches Super AMOLED Plus “Infinity-O”, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, Gorilla Glass 5, 420 nits brightness
- Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 394 PPI, 20:9 aspect ratio
- Chipset: MediaTek Diemsnity 900 5G (6nm mobile platform)
- CPU: Octa-core:
– 2x Cortex-A78 (2.4 GHz)
– 6x Cortex-A55 (2.0 GHz) - GPU: Arm Mali-G68 MC4
- Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4x RAM, 128/256GB UFS storage (expandable)
- Software & UI: Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4 on top
- Rear Camera: Quad (with LED flash);
– 108MP, f/1.8 sensor, PDAF
– 8MP, f/2.2 ultrawide sensor, 123° FoV
– 2MP, f/2.4 depth sensor
– 2MP, f/2.4 macro sensor - Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.2 sensor (hole-punch cutout)
- Audio: Mono speaker with Dolby Atmos audio, No headphone jack
- Security: Physical fingerprint sensor (side-mounted), Face unlock
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Gyro, Light, Proximity
- Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 a/b/g/n/ac (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / AGPS / Beidou / Galileo / Glonass / QZSS, USB Type-C, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
- Battery: 5000mAh with 25W wired charging (no power adapter provided)
- Color Options: Blue, Green, Emerald Brown
- What’s inside the box: Galaxy M53, SIM ejector, USB-C to USB-C cable, User manual and other documents
- Price in Nepal: N/A
- India: INR 28,999 (6/128GB) | INR 30,999 (8/128GB)
Samsung Galaxy M53 Review:
Design & Build
- 77 x 164.6 x 7.4mm, 176 grams
- Glass front, Plastic back/frames
- No IP certification against dust and water damage
Starting with the design, nothing has changed here from last year’s Galaxy M52 in terms of form factor. So yeah, this is quite a big phone, and one-handed usage is certainly a bit of a struggle here for someone with small hands like me. But despite the large size, Samsung has delivered quite a slim and lightweight build quality.
Then again, I do miss that heft on the M53 that I’ve come to expect from such a big phone.
Also, being an M series phone, its design and color options aren’t particularly attractive either. The matte finish at the back is a nice touch but besides that, the M53’s design does nothing to me. When putting it next to the similarly priced Galaxy A33, I’m pretty sure most people will prefer the overall aesthetics of the A33 instead.
Not to forget, the M53 is also missing any form of IP rating, unlike the A33 which comes with IP67 dust and water resistance. So, I do think that given the price of the phone, Samsung could have done some tweaks to make the M53 a little more attractive here.
Display
- 6.7-inches FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus
- 120/240Hz refresh/touch sampling rate
- Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
As for the display, we all know that Samsung makes some of the best smartphone displays out there. And this 6.7” Super AMOLED Plus screen is no exception.
Its default color calibration does lean a bit on the warm side but there’s a temperature slider in the settings, so this is no biggie. That pristine AMOLED experience we expect from Samsung is alive and well here. And it’s definitely a better panel than the one you get on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 and the Realme 9 Pro+.
I’m also happy with its brightness levels and auto-brightness adjustment, and the phone handles the 120Hz refresh rate just fine without micro-stutters and lags or anything. There’s Widevine L1 certification for high-res streaming as well, so binging the latest episodes of Stranger Things looks first class here. Support for HDR playback would’ve been just the cherry on top but I don’t think that’s going to be a dealbreaker to many.
Audio & Haptics
- Single down-firing speaker, Dolby Atmos
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
Having said that, the Galaxy M53 doesn’t earn full points in the media consumption department since Samsung has gone with the same old mono speaker this time. Although it gets loud enough and there’s no distortion in sound quality even at max volume, a stereo speaker is really not a big ask on a phone that costs above INR 20,000.
Plus, I think, the haptics and touch sampling rate also could’ve been somewhat better here. As things stand, the typing experience on the Galaxy M53 is simply not as enjoyable as on the Realme 9 Pro+. The proximity sensor, Carrier Aggregation, and VoLTE call, however, work flawlessly here, so that’s good.
Performance
- Octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G SoC (6nm)
- 6/8GB LPDDR4x RAM, 128GB UFS storage (expandable)
- Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4 on top
Ok, let’s talk about performance now. And in this aspect too, I don’t see improvements over last year’s M52 here.
That’s because compared to Snapdragon 778G on its predecessor, the Dimensity 900 powering this phone is relatively under-powerful. And under-optimized as well. Be it in terms of CPU, GPU, or overall performance, the Galaxy M53 is marginally behind its predecessor and even the Dimensity 920-powered Realme 9 Pro+ for that matter.
Samsung Galaxy M53 Review: Benchmarks
But does that make any difference in day-to-day usage? Absolutely not, as it turns out. The M53 handles everything from loading up apps to keeping them in memory perfectly fine. I also ran my usual multitasking and speed test, and… the results speak for themselves:
| App list: | |
| Phone | Genshin Impact |
| Chrome | PUBG Mobile |
| Messenger | Netflix |
| YouTube | |
| Adobe Premiere Rush | |
It is still chasing the 9 Pro+ by some margin but that’s solely because of One UI 4’s rather heavy animation scale—which is something you can easily dial down under the Developer Options, by the way.
Talking about One UI, it still remains one of my favorite Android skins out there. But unlike the Galaxy A33 which is guaranteed to receive 3 or 4 years of OS updates (depending on the region), the M53 will only be getting 2 generations of updates. That means it will be updated to Android 14 only.
The bloatware situation is also quite upsetting here as it loads with a bunch of third-party and Samsung apps. Even the default lock screen wallpaper service here is Glance! Yeah, you can uninstall most of the unwanted apps and customize the lockscreen the way you want, but all this is certainly not the clean software people expect from Samsung.
Gaming experience
Ok, what about gaming on the Galaxy M53? Well, that’s where the Dimensity 900 fails to keep score against the excellence of the Snapdragon 778G.
For instance, the Galaxy M52 delivers smooth 60 fps on Call of Duty at High graphics & Max frame rates, whereas you’ll have to bring down the graphics to “Low” on the M53 and Realme 9 Pro+ for similar results. Apart from that, these two phones’ gaming performance is pretty similar. PUBG and Genshin Impact render similar gameplay at all settings as well.
And I’m especially impressed with the thermals on the Galaxy M53.
Samsung doesn’t usually do passive cooling on its phones but this one is a rare exception since it has a vapor cooling chamber inside. And based on our findings, it’s clear that this cooling system works just fine to keep the Dimensity 900 nice and cool at all times.
On top of this, the M53 has an upper hand over the Realme 9 Pro+ if you play a lot of high-fps-ready games as well. Here, Samsung has optimized titles like Injustice 2, Critical Ops, and Mobile Legends to run beyond 60 fps. Neither of them hit the 120 fps cap and I noticed slight frame drops into the game as well. But it’s still better than being limited to just 60 fps, right?
Cameras
- Quad camera setup at the back
- (108MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth)
- 32MP selfie camera (hole-punch cutout)
Moving on, the Galaxy M53 is the most affordable Samsung phone with a 108MP camera right now. And if you’ve checked out my review of the Galaxy A73, you know that I was impressed with its camera output, which also had a 108MP main sensor. So, honestly, I had high expectations with the M53 cameras too.
Normal Images
For this, we compared it against the Realme 9 Pro+ and found that the M53’s results from the primary camera look slightly more natural most of the time.
It does somewhat boost saturation but Realme’s image processing is a little overboard in this aspect. But besides that, I’d say these two phones compete very well in terms of details and dynamic range.
Yet in some cases, the M53 shoots underexposed photos—especially when it’s about to get dark.
Ultrawide Images
And although it lets you capture a wider field of view with its ultrawide camera, the edge distortion can be a bit too distracting. The Realme 9 Pro+ on the other hand manages slightly better details around the edges.
Portrait Images
Realme 9 Pro+ also shoots more pleasing portrait shots in general where the subjects are artificially brightened.
On the contrary, the M53’s portraits are somewhat underexposed and have a worse dynamic range.
Selfie Images
Even its selfies have this distinctive warm, yellowish tinge with little details. That’s not to say Realme’s selfies are all that great though since the subjects look a bit pale here too.
Nighttime Images
But when it gets dark, the 9 Pro+ shoots way better, way sharper lowlight photos since it has OIS onboard. On the contrary, the Galaxy M53’s standard nighttime shots are noisy and underexposed.
But with Night Mode turned on, it does bring the exposure to a more acceptable level.
Videography
Getting to videos, the Reame 9 Pro+ shoots noticeably steadier videos at both 4K 30 and 1080p 60 fps modes, mostly thanks to a little cropping-in magic. At 1080p 30 fps, the M53 manages similar stabilization without cropping in.
vs Galaxy A33
Other than this, I also checked its cameras against the Galaxy A33 to see if the 108MP sensor is all that special.
As it turns out, these two camera systems are quite similar. M53’s photos have slightly better HDR and maybe even a bit better exposure maintenance sometimes, but that’s about it. So, unlike the Galaxy A73, the M53’s 108MP camera is not what Samsung has painted it out to be.
Battery
- 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging
- No power adapter inside the box
Cameras aside, the Galaxy M53’s battery life is great. Under normal usage, this phone will easily last you through the day with some charge to spare before you go to bed. But, I guess the battery endurance could’ve been even better if Samsung had implemented a dynamic refresh rate feature.
Likewise, while Samsung at least shipped a 15W power brick with the Galaxy M52 last year, you’re not getting one this time. And a compatible 25W adapter takes it from 0 to 100% in a little under 1.5 hours.
Samsung Galaxy M53 Review: Conclusion
Okay, let’s wrap up this review of the Samsung Galaxy M53 now. From everything I’ve discussed so far, it’s clear as day that this phone is not as impressive as I initially thought it would be. Above all else, Samsung’s biggest selling point in the mid-range segment has always been the cameras.
But unfortunately, this guy doesn’t live up to those expectations. Maybe that’s because Samsung hasn’t optimized the Dimensity chip well, or maybe it’s something else. Whatever the reason, the M53 needs a lot of work in the camera department.
And compared to the Galaxy M52, even the performance is somewhat of a downgrade here. So if you’re looking to buy a reliable mid-range phone right now, the M53 just doesn’t make any sense as long as Samsung is still selling the M52. That too at a cheaper price! On the other hand, the Realme 9 Pro+ is still a great option in this segment!
Or if you’re shopping for something that’s better-looking, has a longer software commitment, and even an official IP rating, then the Galaxy A33 is also a decent alternative—especially since it has received a healthy price cut since the launch.
Samsung Galaxy M53 Review: Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Pretty lightweight for a big phone
- The 120Hz Super AMOLED display is nice
- 2 years OS, 4 years security updates
- Excellent battery endurance
Cons:
- Not the best value for money
- Somewhat downgraded performance
- Cameras aren’t well-optimized
- No IP rating
- Still no stereo speakers
- Weak vibration motor
Aya Neo Air Plus launched with Intel Alder Lake-U processors
After the release of Neo 2 and Neo Slide, the company has now launched its most affordable handheld gaming PC called the Aya Neo Air Plus. It’s available in both the Intel and AMD processor options. Here, we will take a quick look at the Aya Neo Air Plus and its specifications, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal.
Aya Neo Air Plus Overview:
Three available configurations
The Aya Neo Air Plus will have two Intel Alder Lake-U processors, and one AMD Mendocino chip model.
Initially, the company announced that the Aya Neo Air Plus will feature the AMD Mendocino chipset with RDNA 2 graphics. However, the brand decided to offer Intel options to keep up with the competition from AYN’s Loki Mini and Mini Plus devices.
The least expensive variant will house an Intel Pentium Gold 8505 processor. It features a single P-core and 4E-cores with maximum clock speeds of up to 4.4GHz. Likewise, the other processor option from team blue is the Intel Core i3-1215U with 2 P-cores and 4 E-cores.
- Also Read:
Rest of the specs
The handheld gaming PC will boast a 6-inch 1080p display. AYA Neo has not revealed the RAM and storage capacities as of now. Furthermore, in terms of OS, it will support Windows, AYA Neo OS, and Steam OS.
Aya Neo Air Plus Price in Nepal and Availability
Aya Neo plans on shipping the Intel variants from December 28, 2022. However, the AMD Mendocino-powered variant is expected to hit the market at the end of February 2023. In terms of price, it starts at USD 249 and goes up to USD 299. We expect the price of Aya Neo Air Plus to start at NPR 35,000 if and when it launches in Nepal.
| Aya Neo Air Plus Variants | Price in the US | Price in Nepal (Expected) |
| Intel Pentium Gold 8505 | USD 249 | NPR 35,000 |
| Intel Core i3-1215U | USD 299 | NPR 40,000 |
| AMD Mendocino | USD 299 | NPR 40,000 |
- Meanwhile, check out our review of the Aya Neo Pro.
Redmi Note 11S Review: More Than What Meets The Eye
Redmi has launched three devices under the latest Note 11 series in Nepal. We have already covered Note 11 and Note 11 Pro (4G/5G) in detail, and in this review, I will be talking about the Redmi Note 11S. This phone is the middle ground between the rest of the series, both in terms of price and features. Before we begin our review, let’s take a quick look at the specs sheet of the Redmi Note 11S.
Redmi Note 11S Specifications:
- Body: 159.87 x 73.87 x 8.09mm, 179g
- Display: 6.43-inch AMOLED panel, 1000 nits (peak), 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate
- Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels)
- Chipset: MediaTek Helio G96 (12nm)
- Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
- Software & UI: MIUI 13 on top of Android 11
- Rear Camera: Quad
— 108MP Samsung HM2 primary
— 8MP ultrawide
— 2MP depth
— 2MP macro - Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
- Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, Stereo speaker, Hi-Res audio
- Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
- Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
- Battery: 5000mAh with 33W charging (33W charger inside the box)
- Color Options: Graphite Gray, Twilight Blue, Pearl White
- Price in Nepal: Rs. 29,999 (6/128GB) | Rs. 31,999 (8/128GB)
Redmi Note 11S Review:
Design
- 159.87 x 73.87 x 8.09mm; 179 grams
- Glass front, Plastic back, Plastic frames
- IP53 rating
With that out of the way, let’s get this review started, beginning with the design. Like the rest of the series, Note 11S sports a boxy design, characterized by its flat frames and rounded corners. Then you have the two-tier camera bump at the island at the back one, like the one we saw on the Note 11 Pro.
The Redmi Note 11S resembles its higher-end sister in appearance. But once you hold them in your hands, it is not difficult to tell the difference. Redmi Note 11 Pro feels a lot more premium because of its glass back.
Although Xiaomi claims that the Redmi Note 11S’s rear is also made of glass, it’s hard to make out from the phone itself. Weighing in at 180 grams, it’s way lighter than the Note 11 Pro and doesn’t quite have the heft of a glass.
A hammer would be a sure way to test it, but I’m not willing to take such chances. Even if it’s indeed glass, I will say it fails to add to the premiumness of the phone, which I believe is the whole point of having a glass back.
While the Note 11S may not feel more premium, it is unquestionably more comfortable to hold. It’s lighter, with a gently curved back panel for a better ergonomic grip. Furthermore, the phone is IP53 water resistant with a rubber gasket on the sim tray, which by the way, can hold two SIMs and a microSD card.
All the keys are on the right and well within reach. The power button even doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which offers a fast and accurate way to unlock the phone.
Display
- 6.43-inches FHD+ AMOLED “DotDisplay”
- 90/180Hz refresh rate/touch sampling rate
- Gorilla Glass 3 protection
On the front, there’s a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a camera cutout in the middle. The display specifications are quite similar to what we got on its predecessor – Redmi Note 10S. However, Redmi has optimized the colors better on the Note 10S.
As I recall, consuming multimedia on Note 10S was far from a pleasant experience. The phone would often boost contrast and add artificial details via sharpening during video playback.
Thankfully, that is not the case with its successor. With the Vivid display mode, I found the colors and contrast to be on point most of the time.
In addition, you do get Widevine L1 certification, enabling you to stream HD content off Netflix and other streaming platforms.
Couple that with stereo speakers, you won’t be disappointed with the multimedia experience on this phone. Sure, you should not expect punchy bass with this audio setup, but for the price, you cannot complain much.
I’m also quite impressed with the phone’s implementation of a 90Hz refresh rate. You won’t experience many micro-stutters when navigating through UI or switching between apps. Everything feels smooth and the phone even dials back to 60Hz whenever it detects static content.
Battery
- 5,000mAh battery
- 33W fast charging (included in the box)
Needless to say, this feature contributes to the overall battery endurance of the phone. In my time reviewing the phone, Redmi Note 11S averaged a day of backup with each full charger.
I normally use my phone for social media and media consumption with a few casual gaming sessions in between. Even so, the phone would require recharging only at the end of the day. With the 33W charger included in the box, the phone gets from 0 to 100% in a little over an hour.
Performance
- Octa-core MediaTek Helio G96 (12nm)
- 4/6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB UFS 2.2 storage
Now, let’s talk about the performance. So, if you look at the recent market trend, brands are going for power-efficient chips. In this regard, Snapdragon 680, built on a 6nm process, has almost been a go-to chip in the sub-30K price segment. It even features on Note 11. However, this chip doesn’t impress with its raw performance.
Thus, if you prefer raw performance over power efficiency, you would be better off with Helio G96 that is powering the Note 11S. Not only does this chip boast better raw performance, it is also better optimized for mobile gaming.
Gaming
While playing PUBG: Mobile, you can bump the refresh rate to Ultra with graphics set to Smooth. The game averages 40fps for the most part, except for some dips here and there.
Likewise, Redmi Note 11S also supports 90fps mode on Critical Ops. This option is not available on most Snapdragon 680-powered phones as they usually max out at 60 fps.
But since it is a mid-range phone, the cooling setup is not going to woo gamers. Redmi has included layers of graphite and copper as part of its LiquidCool technology, but it fails to keep up with the heat generated from long gaming sessions.
The phone gets warm around the camera bump and you will notice frequent frame drops. So, if you plan to play games for longer, I recommend dialing down the graphics settings accordingly.
Day-to-day Usage
- Android 11 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 13 on top
- Virtual proximity sensor
It won’t be an issue if you are a casual gamer like me. The phone can handle all of your day-to-day tasks with ease. You can even switch between apps without much hiccups. However, if you return to an app after leaving it for more than a few minutes it will require a reload. But it is the same with most phones in this segment, so no worries.
I also like how Xiaomi has improved haptics on its budget and midrange phones over the years. As evident in Note 11S, it no longer feels cheap and is actually better than some of the competition.
During calls, voices were crystal clear at both ends. However, I found the proximity sensor not working as intended. Turns out, Xiaomi has used a virtual sensor that works based on the phone’s orientation and movement instead of physical proximity.
It feels weird to me that the company is still using a virtual sensor after all the debacle with the Note 10 Series last year.
As for software, Redmi Note 11S boots on Android 11, which is a little underwhelming as Android 13 is already around the corner. There is no sure way to tell when and if it will get any software update. Maybe Xiaomi should take some notes from Samsung in this regard.
Like the rest of the series, it runs on Xiaomi’s custom MIUI 13, but without any Android 12 features. The bloatware is not as bad on the Note 11S as it used to be with Redmi devices in the past and you can uninstall most of it.
But I would say, the company should offer an option to choose Google Discover instead of App vault to the left of the home screen. I believe many would prefer the former over the latter as I do.
Camera
- Quad-camera setup at the back
- (108MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
- 16MP selfie camera
Anyways, let’s get into the photography side of things. Note 11S is the cheapest phone from Xiaomi to don a 108MP camera. However, it does leave much to be desired when it comes to computational photography as you can find inconsistencies in the photos.
You could argue that it’s hard to find a good “camera phone” in this price and I kinda agree as well. But again, I compared Note 11 with another 108MP camera phone in Realme 9 and I still found the former lacking in one way or the other.
- Blind Camera Test : Realme 9 vs Redmi Note 11S
Primary
Just look at these photos side by side. I know even Realme 9’s photos are not anything to write home about. However, they are better in most instances. They are more pleasing compared to Note 11S, despite the saturated colors. Most of Note 11S pictures are heavy on contrast and over sharped.
Portraits
There is no clear winner when it comes to portrait as both phones fail to preserve the natural color tone of the subject. Realme tends to add reddish tint to portraits whereas the subject looks too pale on Note 11S.
Ultrawide
Ultrawide shots from Note 11S lack dynamic range and look almost lifeless. Realme on the other hand has poppy colors though it is not any better when it comes to details.
Night Mode
Both phones struggle to retain details under low light even with the Night Mode. Even so, Realme 9’s pictures look comparatively better because of saturated colors.
Selfies
As for selfies, both phones are equally terrible, so I would not recommend any of them here.
Videography
Moving on, you can record 1080p 30 fps videos both from the rear and front-facing cameras on the two phones. However, there is not much to talk about video quality and stability.
Redmi Note 11S Review: Conclusion
Honestly, this year has not been that good for the budget segment with brands nerfing their newer models in one aspect or the other. In Note 11S, it’s the Mali G57 GPU which is a step down from Note 10S’ quad-core Mali G76. There is no 4K recording as well.
However, if you overlook these minor details, Redmi Note 11S is actually a decent mid-range phone for 2022, especially for multimedia consumption. It could have been better with some camera and software optimization.
Still, there are some good alternatives if you have a little room to wiggle in your budget. The first suggestion would be the Note 10 Pro, which is marginally expensive but offer a 120Hz screen, a more premium design, and optimized cameras.
You can also go with the latest Note 11 Pro 5G (Pro+ 5G in India) if you want 5G connectivity as well. There is also Poco X3 Pro for guys that really don’t care about AMOLED screen and want the best performance possible.
Redmi Note 11S Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 90Hz AMOLED screen
- Stereo speakers
- Decent performance
- Good endurance
Cons
- Stuck on Android 11
- Average cameras
- Virtual proximity sensor
New vulnerability in Unisoc chipsets puts 11% of Android users at risk
Check Point Research, a leading cybersecurity analysis firm, discovered a critical vulnerability in smartphones powered by Unisoc SoCs. The issue was found in the modem firmware and is cited to affect 4G and 5G handsets. Read along to know more about this Unisoc chipset vulnerability.
Unisoc chipset vulnerability:
Unisoc chipsets have lately gained popularity in low-cost and mid-range smartphones due to their affordability in comparison to other SoC manufacturers. As a result, it now accounts for 11% of the market share worldwide.
However, its mobile silicons, particularly 4G and 5G ones, have recently been discovered to have a security issue that impairs the device’s cellular communication.
Check Point Research stated in a blog that “they have unveiled several vulnerabilities that can jeopardize the modem’s and other chip related weaknesses that can put Android mobile users at risk.”
Per them, attackers may be able to remotely access customers’ devices via SMS and radio packets. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-20210, was discovered when scanning message handlers in the Non-Access Stratum (NAS).
It was first detected on a Motorola Moto G20 equipped with the Unisoc T700 chipset and running on the January 2022 security patch.
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Response
Check Point states that Unisoc has already acknowledged the vulnerability and assigned it a 9.4 (critical) rating out of 10. Google has also announced that the fix will be included in the future Android security patch release.
What can you do?
Slava Makkaveev, Reverse Engineering, and Security Research attorney stated that “There is nothing for Android users to do right now, though we strongly recommend applying a patch that will be released by Google in their upcoming Android Security Bulletin.”
As a result, it is advised that you upgrade your Unisoc SoC smartphones to the most recent software version when the next patch is released.
- Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme Pad Mini.
Evercade EXP official: Retro handheld gaming console with cartridge support
Evercade has launched its latest retro gaming console called the EXP. It is a cartridge-based handheld device with many exciting bells and whistles. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Evercade EXP in Nepal.
Evercade EXP Overview:
Design and Display
Evercade EXP is a follow-up to the original Evercade that was announced in 2020. The EXP has a similar form factor as the original one but now the button letters are inscribed. The addition of R2 and L2 shoulder buttons is another notable change in the design.
The standard Evercade EXP is available in a single white color option. An all-black limited version is also available which comes bundled with several accessories.
It has a standard button layout but lacks a joystick. Moreover, it has A and B buttons for gaming in portrait mode.
More so, the menu button has been moved to the right above the start and select button for ease of access. As for the display, the EXP has a 4.3-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.
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Performance
Under the hood, Evercade EXP houses a 1.5GHz processor and 4GB of built-in memory. It supports the whole of Evercade’s cartridge ecosystem with over 300 games.
The TATE mode allows the user to enjoy classic vertical games “the way they were meant to be played”. By turning the EXP 90 degrees, games like Toaplan’s Truxton and Atari’s Centipede can be played in vertical mode by using the dedicated A and B buttons.
Rest of the specs
According to Evercade, the EXP lasts around 4 to 5 hours on a single charge. The 3,000mAh battery charges via a Type-C port. Furthermore, it has Wi-Fi connectivity and an HDMI port for gaming on an external monitor.
Evercade EXP Specifications:
- Body: 192.7 x 78.5 x 20.7 mm
- Display: 4.3” IPS, 800×480 pixels
- Processor: Unspecified 1.5GHz Processor
- Storage: 4GB
- Audio: Stereo speakers, 3.5mm stereo jack
- Wireless connectivity: Built-in WiFi
- Wired connectivity: 720p Mini HDMI Output for TV
- Battery: 3000mAh (4-5 hours of gaming)
- Charging: USB-C Charging
Evercade EXP Price in Nepal and Availability
Evercade EXP will be available for USD 150 in the winter of 2022. Its standard version will also include the IREM Arcade 1 Collection and a USB-C cable. The standard Evercade EXP is expected to cost around NPR 22,000 if it launches in Nepal. There is also a limited version with bundled carrying case, double-sided poster, art cards, keyring, and certificate of authenticity that costs USD 227.
| Evercade EXP | Official Price | Price in Nepal (Expected) |
| Standard Edition | USD 150 | NPR 22,000 |
| Limited Edition | USD 227 | NPR 32,000 |
- Meanwhile, check out our review of the Aya Neo Pro 2021.
AYN debuts Loki series of handheld gaming PCs to take on affordable and high-end market
AYN, the maker of Odin Android handheld, recently announced the Loki family of handheld gaming consoles. It is offered in several standard configurations, although all versions also have some characteristics in common. So, without further ado, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the AYN Loki series in Nepal.
AYN Loki Overview:
Mini, Mini Pro
AYN has divided Loki into four SKUs—Mini, Mini Pro, Loki, and Loki Pro. As you might’ve guessed, the Mini and Mini Pro are entry-level models in the series and are available with both Intel and AMD CPU configurations.
Here, the chipset options from Intel include a Celeron 7305 for the Mini and a Pentium 8505 chip for the Mini Pro. These are team green’s latest Alder Lake-based silicons with one performance core and four efficiency cores.
Similarly, AYN also offers Mini and Mini Pro with AMD’s latest Mendocino processor based on Zen 2 architecture and paired with RDNA 2 graphics.
The notable difference between these devices is in the battery capacity, with the Mini Pro getting a larger 40.5Wh battery compared to the Mini’s 26.5Wh. Regardless, the memory options comprise 8GB RAM and 128GB of NVMe storage.
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Loki, Loki Pro
Moving on, Loki is the middle ground between the entry-level and top-of-the-line variants. It is powered by AMD’s Zen 3+ architecture-based 6600U CPU and the Radeon 660M GPU (6 core) handles graphics. Memory-wise, you can configure this handheld console with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB NVMe storage.
The top-tier Loki Pro is driven by a Ryzen 7 6800U processor with Radeon 680M graphics featuring 12 GPU cores. This is coupled with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 512GB of storage. Not to forget, all the models enjoy user-expandable storage if in case you need it.
Rest of the specs
Furthermore, on the front, these devices are fitted with a 6-inch IPS panel with 1920 x 1080 pixels screen resolution. In addition, they all include RGB lights under the analog sticks, around the sides, and on the back of the handheld to personalize the aesthetic.
The connectivity option includes a 3.5mm headset jack, a USB-C port with support for video output, along with support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity.
AYN Loki Specifications:
| Mini | Mini Pro | Loki | Loki Max | |
| Display | 6-inch IPS LCD, Full HD+ (1920 x 1080 pixels) | |||
| Processor | Intel Celeron 7305 (Alder Lake) / AMD Mendocino (Zen 2) | Intel Pentium 8505 (Alder Lake) / AMD Mendocino (Zen 2) | Ryzen 5 6600U (Zen 3+) | Ryzen 7 6800U (Zen 3+) |
| Graphics | Intel UHD / RDNA 2 | Radeon 660M | Radeon 680M | |
| RAM | 8GB (LPDDR4x-4266 (Intel) / LPDDR5-6400 (AMD)) | 8/16GB (LPDDR5-6400 MHz) | 16GB (LPDDR5-6400 MHz) | |
| Storage | 128GB (M.2 2230 PCIe NVMe SSD) | 128/256/ 512GB (M.2 2230 PCIe NVMe) | 512GB (M.2 2230 PCIe NVMe) | |
| MicroSD | Yes | |||
| Wireless | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | |||
| Battery | 26.5Wh | 40.5Wh | 46.2Wh | |
| Ports | USB 4.0 (Intel) or USB 3.2 (AMD), 3.5mm jack | USB 4, 3.5mm jack | ||
| Controllers | Full controller with Xbox-style layout, Hall Sensor, Analog Triggers, Gyroscope, Rumble support | |||
| Colors | Black, White | |||
AYN Loki Price in Nepal and Availability
In terms of pricing, the Loki Mini is the most affordable one, with a price tag of USD 239. The top-of-the-line Max, on the other hand, costs USD 775. These are already on the company’s official website for pre-order. If and when it is launched in Nepal, we anticipate that the AYN Loki Mini and Max to be NPR 35,000 and NPR 105,000, respectively.
| Device | Configurations | Price in the US | Price in Nepal (Expected) |
| Mini | 8/128GB | USD 239 | NPR 35,000 |
| Mini Pro | 8/128GB | USD 279 (Intel) / USD 299 (AMD) | NPR 40,000 (Intel) / NPR 42,000 (AMD) |
| Loki | 8/128GB | USD 489 | NPR 65,000 |
| 16/256GB | USD 579 | NPR 80,000 | |
| 16/512GB | USD 649 | NPR 85,000 | |
| Loki Max | 16/512GB | USD 775 | NPR 105,000 |
- Meanwhile, check out our review of the Aya Neo Pro.
Google has once again joined hands with Samsung for next-gen Tensor chip
Last month, Google officially announced the upcoming Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. As per reports, the Pixel 7 series will be powered by a new Tensor chip. Like its predecessor, the 2nd Gen Google Tensor will be manufactured by Samsung. In this article, we will be discussing everything we know so far about the next-gen Google Tensor chip.
2nd Gen Google Tensor Chip Overview:
The latest news about the 2nd Gen Tensor chip comes from the Korean news outlet Digital Daily. According to their sources, Samsung has already secured orders from Google for the production of the next-gen Tensor chip. To recall, it was Samsung that fabricated the first Tensor chip for the Google Pixel 6 Series.
4nm Process
While the original chip was based on a 5nm process, its successor will be built on top of Samsung’s 4nm process. With the use of a narrower process, the second-gen Google Tensor chip should bring some improvement in power efficiency.
Power efficiency was among the major concerns for Google while designing the Tensor chip. The company even opted for CPU cores based on older ARMv8 architecture for the same.
Google did not go for raw performance but invested heavily in the Machine Learning and AI capability of the chip. It is possible that the 2nd Gen Tensor chip will be heading the same way.
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PLP Packaging Technique
Google’s next Tensor chip will make use of PLP packaging technology. As per the report, PLP minimizes discarded edges when cutting chips from silicon wafers. This brings down the cost of each chip while also improving productivity.
Samsung is remarkably close to sealing a deal with Google for manufacturing chips for the latter’s servers. The South Korean foundry is already supplying DRAM and NAND Flash chips to Google, as well as chips for Waymo’s self-autonomous vehicles.
2nd Gen Tensor Chip Mass Production
Mass production of the 2nd Gen Google Tensor chip will start in June, whereas the first phones powered by the chip will be available in October.
- Meanwhile, check out our review of the Google Pixel 6.
Bizbazar “२० मा Biz” happening on Jestha 20 with exciting deals and offers
Bizbazar is here to spice up your shopping experience with a new campaign called “२० मा Biz”. The exciting offers include Combo Hours, Unbox & Win, Fit & Mad, Auction, etc. The campaign will go live on Jestha 20 (June 3). In this article, we will take a look at the deals and offers from the upcoming Bizbazar २० मा Biz campaign.
Bizbazar २० मा Biz Overview:
Online eCommerce site Bizbazar will offer a minimum of 20% discount on products during their २० मा Biz campaign. The campaign will start at 12:00 AM on 20th Jestha and last for 24 hours. Don’t forget to check out Bizbazar’s Facebook live on the day for appealing giveaways and vouchers.
Bizbazar has also announced it will bring new and exciting offers on the 20th of every month. So make sure to stick around for that.
Combo Hour
Combo Hour is for all the gaming enthusiasts out there. You can buy a combo pack of gaming devices within this offer, like gaming chairs, mechanical keyboards, controllers, and much more.
Unbox & Win
You can get a chance to win up to 20% discount on your current २० मा Biz product and up to Rs. 20,000 on your next purchase. To be eligible for the competition, all you have to do is share an image or video of you unboxing a २० मा Biz product from Bizbazar.
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What’s in the box?
This fun game will take place during Bizbazar’s live event. The first person to guess what’s inside the box will get a chance to win the product. A person has to guess both the product name and brand name to win.
Discounts on Electronics
Bizbazar will also offer “unbeatable prices” on selected electronic items during the campaign. The products will be on sale for a limited time on 20th Jestha.
One Day Delivery
Bizbazar aims to be a game-changer with its one-day delivery service. On top of the 20% discount, they will deliver packages containing the following products within 24 hours:
- Laptop
- Mouse, Mousepad
- VR / Boxes
- Drones
- GoPro
- Headset, Keyboard, Mouse
- Headphones, Earphones, Mechanical Keyboard
Fit & Mad
Buyers will also get 20% off on fitness and sports items throughout the २० मा Biz campaign on Bizbazar.
The Handy Tools
Bizbazar will also slash 20% off on “The Handy Tools” products. These items include tools for renovation, construction, and utility.
Auction: The Bidding War
Bizbazar will also host online auctions where interested buyers can bid for the product of their choice.
Bidding for auctions on Bizbazar will start at 12 AM in the morning. Interested buyers must have a registered account to bid. The bidding continues until the seller accepts a bid.
Fill up this survey and get a voucher worth Rs. 120
20 lucky people who complete the survey and sign up for Bizbazar will receive a voucher worth Rs. 120 that can be used on their next purchase on the site. More so, registering on Bizbazar will let you personalize your shopping experience and speed up your future purchases.
Sign up to Bizbazar Survey Form- Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy M33 5G.