Xiaomi Band 6 was among the best budget fitness band last year. And now, the company has announced its successor. The new Xiaomi Mi Band 7 brings a couple of incremental upgrades. In this article, we will be discussing the key specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 in Nepal.
Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Overview:
Design
The first thing you will notice about the new Xiaomi Mi Band 6 is its screen. Here, Xiaomi has expanded the screen size from 1.56” to 1.62-inch. Xiaomi claims the new screen has a 25% more viewable area and can attain brightness of up to 500 nits. However, the pixel density is unchanged at 326 pixels per inch.
Likewise, the company has also added support for Always-On Display. However, it is available in select watch faces.
Except for the larger screen, the design of the Mi Band 7 is the same as its predecessor. The main body is made of polycarbonate material, while the anti-bacterial wrist bands use TPU. It has 5ATM waterproofing.
The weight of the standard version is 13.5 grams, while it is slightly higher at 13.8 grams for the NFC version.
Health and Fitness Tracking
Xiaomi Band 7 features an optical heart rate sensor for 24 hours heart monitoring and continuous blood oxygen monitoring. It can even warn users if their SpO2 level drops below the normal range.
Unfortunately, there is no built-in GPS. However, you still get 120 different sports modes. The fitness band can even record VO2 Max during heavy workouts.
Because of the 5ATM rating, you can even take the new Xiaomi Mi Band 7 to pool. It can even automatically detect four styles of swimming styles.
Xiaomi Sports Health has been updated with a new Vitality Contest mode. This allows users to challenge and compete against their peers and contact. They will receive medals every time they win a contest. Likewise, they will also receive notification and exercise records of their competition.
Battery and Charging
Xiaomi Band 7 gets its juice from a 180mAh battery that the company claims can last up to 14 days on typical usage. However, on heavy use the endurance will drop to 9 days. It charges via a two-pin magnetic charger that takes 2 hours to fully charge the Mi Band 7.
Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Specifications:
Body: 46.5 x 20.7 x 12.25 mm, 13.5-13.8gm (without strap)
Xiaomi Mi Band 7 is currently available in China, where it starts at CNY 249 for the standard version, while the NFC variant is a little expensive at CNY 299. If Xiaomi launches it in Nepal, we can expect the price of the Mi Band 7 in Nepal to start at NPR 5,500.
Xiaomi Band 7
Price in China (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Standard
CNY 249
5,500
NFC
CNY 299
6,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Xiaomi Mi Band 6.
With the new Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, Qualcomm hopes to improve the gaming experience in midrange devices. The chipset, which was released alongside the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, introduces features that are firsts in the 7 series. This article will go through the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 and the improvements it brings.
Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Overview:
CPU+GPU
Qualcomm has used Samsung’s 4nm process to manufacture the 7 Gen 1. it’s an octa-core SoC with the prime Cortex-A710 cores running at up to 2.4GHz, while other three Cortex-A710 and four Cortex-A510 can run at up to 2.36GHz and 1.8GHz, respectively.
Qualcomm has paired the CPU with an Adreno GPU but has not specified which one. However, they claim that the configuration improves graphics performance by 20% over its predecessor. Furthermore, the processor supports 3200MHz LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1 storage.
The company has also included Snapdragon Elite Gaming features such as Game Quick Touch and Adreno Frame Motion Engine to improve gaming performance.
Connectivity
The chipset incorporates an X62 5G modem with download speeds of up to 4.4Gbps and dual 5G connectivity. Likewise, the Qualcomm Fast Connect 6900 supports WiFi 6/6E at speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps.
The new SoC also brings supports Qualcomm aptX Lossless technology and 16-bit 44.1kHz lossless wireless streaming over Bluetooth 5.3.
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 features the Qualcomm Spectra Triple 14-bit ISP, also found in the Snapdragon 888. It can record 720p video at 480 frames per second and 4K HDR video at 30 frames per second. Furthermore, it supports a single 200MP camera, a first for the 7 series. In addition, the processor supports HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG formats.
The Qualcomm AI Engine 7th Generation improves computational photography and videography on phones equipped with the chipset.
Android SE for vault-like security
The chipset includes support for Android SE and a Trusted Management Engine, which are firsts for the 7 series. It is required to store digital keys, IDs, and mobile wallets.
It can also support 60Hz QHD+ and FHD+ displays with a 144Hz refresh rate. GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NavIC, and GNSS are all navigation systems.
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Smartphones with Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
The Oppo Reno 8 Pro is the first phone to launch with this mobile silicon. Besides this, rumors suggests Nothing Phone (1) is also expected to arrive with Snapdragon 7 Gen 1.
Meanwhile, check out the best premium mid-range phones of 2022.
We recently came up with our review of the Xiaomi 12X, where I said that the phone felt like a deliberate attempt to upsell the more expensive Xiaomi 12 instead. While I understand the upgrades for the added cost might not matter to everyone, it’s pretty tempting, to say the least. So in this review, I’ll be sharing my overall experience with these two phones and discussing if the Xiaomi 12 is actually worth the extra money or not.
Xiaomi 12 Specifications:
Body: 69.9 x 152.7 x 8.16mm, 180 gm, Gorilla Glass 5 back, Aluminum frames
Okay, let’s first look at their spec-sheet real quick. And the biggest differentiator between these phones is definitely their chipset.
Xiaomi 12
Xiaomi 12X
Display
6.28” FHD AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
Rear Cameras
50MP primary (OIS), 13MP ultrawide, 5MP telemacro
Front Camera
32MP (hole-punch)
Battery
4500mAh, 67W wired charging
Wireless Charging
50W (10W reverse)
N/A
Processor
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm)
Snapdragon 870 (7nm)
OS
Android 12
Android 11
Even though the Snapdragon 870 on the 12X is a dependable processor that’s more than powerful enough for most people, it’s not flagship level—at least not by 2022’s standard. Based on all the benchmarks we ran, the 8 Gen 1 on the Xiaomi 12 delivered roughly 20 – 25% faster CPU and well over 50% faster GPU performance.
Sounds terrific, right?
Well, not quite. The thing is, Xiaomi has used the exact same liquid cooling solution on both these phones—most likely due to their common design, dimensions, and everything else.
Xiaomi 12 Review: Benchmarks (vs Xiaomi 12X)
Benchmarks
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AnTuTu 8.5.3
AnTuTu 9.2.9
Geekbench 5.4.4
Browserbench JetStream 2
PCMark Work 3.0 (Performance)
Wild Life
(Stress) Wild Life
(Extreme Stress) Wild Life
GFXBench
(Battery, Manhattan 3.1) GFXBench
(Battery, T-Rex) GFXBench
AndroBench
Cross Platform Disk Test
PCMark Storage 2.0
And as most of you guys already know, the 8 Gen 1 is a particularly hot and inefficient chip compared to the 870. So with two different classes of processors housed inside an identical, compact chassis, we can expect one of two things to happen:
Either the Xiaomi 12 will overheat ridiculously bad under a heavy load
Or, the company has significantly throttled the phone’s performance to prevent overheating
And when comparing it against other 8 Gen 1-powered phones with a beefier cooling system like the POCO F4 GT, it’s clear that Xiaomi has chosen to throttle the performance here. Especially in terms of GPU. But I can’t really complain about this decision since that’s probably what I’d do as well considering Xiaomi 12’s petite form factor.
Xiaomi 12 Review: Benchmarks (vs POCO F4 GT)
Benchmarks
1 of 14
AnTuTu 8.5.3
AnTuTu 9.2.9
Geekbench 5.4.4
Browserbench JetStream 2
PCMark Work 3.0 (Performance)
Wild Life
(Stress) Wild Life
(Extreme Stress) Wild Life
GFXBench
(Battery, Manhattan 3.1) GFXBench
(Battery, T-Rex) GFXBench
AndroBench
Cross Platform Disk Test
PCMark Storage 2.0
With this, its gaming performance isn’t on par with what the flagship phones of 2022 manage. In fact, you can expect similar gaming results from the 12 and 12X. Both of them deliver an easy 60 fps gameplay on PUBG and Call of Duty at the highest graphics.
And I’m also really impressed with the thermals on the Xiaomi 12 since its peak surface temperature stays just around 40°C even after 30 minutes into these games. But something like Genshin Impact is heavily throttled here.
Playing at max possible settings with 60 fps enabled, I was only netting 30 to 45 fps on average—mostly in the mid-30s—which is complemented by relatively frequent frame drops too. Then again, the phone stays comfortably cool enough to dismiss any notion of overheating, so… there you go.
CPU Throttling Test (20 threads, 30 minutes)
1 of 2
And unlike the 12X, high fps-ready games like Critical Ops sail at a steady 120 fps on the Xiaomi 12, even though Mech Arena shares the same fate as Genshin Impact.
All in all, this is certainly not a phone you’d want to buy for gaming.
Not just the compromised cooling solution, but its physically compact size also means gamers might have a difficult time adjusting their grip on this phone. “So what about everyday performance then?”, you might be asking. Thankfully, everything is solid as far as general usage goes.
Great everyday performance
Apps load real fast, the multitasking experience is great, and the phone just feels snappy! On multiple occasions, I did notice it getting slightly warm when shuffling between multiple apps at once, but it’s not a big deal, to be honest.
More importantly, the phone boots on the latest Android 12-based MIUI 13, and Xiaomi has also promised 3 major OS and 4 years of security patches here.
That’s a direct blow to the 12X which is loaded with an older operating system and zero software commitment. So yeah, there’s only one flagship phone between these two, no matter how obsessively Xiaomi claims it has “redefined flagship category” with the 12 series.
Battery
4500mAh battery with 67W fast charging
50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless charging
What’s next then? Yes—besides performance—the Xiaomi 12 tries to justify its higher price tag with support for 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging as well. But most people will get by 67W of wired charging just fine… including me! Despite all my years of reviewing smartphones, handsfree charging is something that hasn’t really mattered much to me… I don’t know.
On the other hand, you can easily burn through its battery in a day—just like the 12X—but the overnight battery drain situation here is noticeably better. Maybe it’s because of the Android 12-based MIUI 13 optimization or something, I’m not exactly sure.
Design
69.9 x 152.7 x 8.16mm, 180 grams
Glass front/back, Aluminum frames
No IP certification against dust and water damage
Anyway, these phones look and feel identical too. From their clean design, weight distribution, and handy ergonomics, to the lack of an IP rating—these phones are indistinguishable.
One small thing—while both of them feature a glass sandwich body, the Xiaomi 12’s back panel is also protected by Gorilla Glass 5 whereas the one on the 12X isn’t.
Cameras
Triple camera setup at the back
(50MP main, 13MP ultrawide, 5MP telemacro)
32MP selfie camera (hole-punch cutout)
Cameras
1 of 2
Back
Front
So… that’s it, right? Apart from the performance and wireless charging capability, are these two phones basically one and the same? Surprisingly not, as it turns out. If you take a look at their camera specs, there’s nothing that puts one on top of the other really. Yeah, it’s pretty upsetting to learn that a phone that costs upwards of USD 700 doesn’t have a telephoto camera. Come on, Xiaomi!
Maybe HDR recording on the Xiaomi 12 is something you care about but other than that, their camera hardware and capabilities look like a carbon copy of each other. But what this comparison fails to take into consideration is the crucial role of image processing, aka computational photography.
Normal Images
And when I actually compared the cameras of these two phones for this review, I found that the Xiaomi 12 delivers better-looking images most of the time. Eh… “better-looking” might be putting it generously. “More consistent” is what it is.
Normal
1 of 16
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
While photos from the 12X already had punchier colors, the Xiaomi 12 takes it one step further. And it shoots distinctively contrast-heavy images as well. Although such processing certainly looks pleasing in some cases, it does come off overdone at times.
Ultrawide Images
Ultrawide
1 of 8
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
But the ultrawide shots are consistently better from the Xiaomi 12 in terms of colors, dynamic range, and everything else.
Portrait Images
Portrait
1 of 12
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
Likewise, portraits from the Xiaomi 12 have better HDR and exposure control compared to how the 12X manages reddish/pinkish skin tone. Then again, its contrast-heavy shots end up looking somewhat unnatural sometimes.
Selfie Images
Selfie
1 of 6
12
12X
12
12X
12
12X
Same thing with selfies.
Lowlight Images
And when it comes to lowlight photos, I found that the Xiaomi 12 captures a better essence of the night with more natural-looking skies.
Lowlight
1 of 8
12 - Nighttime
12X - Nighttime
12 - Nighttime
12X - Nighttime
12 - Night Mode
12X - Night Mode
12 - Night Mode
12X - Night Mode
However, the 12X isn’t that far behind either when turning on Night Mode.
Videography
As for videos, both phones can shoot at up to 8K 24 fps from the main camera. And across all resolutions, it’s clear that the Xiaomi 12 records slightly steadier videos. But disappointingly enough, this guy is also limited to just 1080p recording from the selfie camera.
Audio & Haptics
Dual stereo speaker, Dolby Atmos
No 3.5mm headphone jack
X-axis linear vibration motor
Aside from the cameras, their speakers are tuned differently as well. Not that the 12X has a bad audio output or anything, but the Xiaomi 12 sounds comparatively fuller and it gets a bit louder too.
On the contrary, I didn’t find any difference in terms of haptics and call quality on these phones. That means—some of Xiaomi’s most expensive phones of 2022 feature a relatively weak vibration motor and a virtual proximity sensor that’s not 100% reliable. sigh
Display
6.28-inches FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay
120/480Hz refresh/touch sampling rate
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection
On to the display side of things, you’re looking at a 6.28” Full HD AMOLED panel that’s curved on the sides here. And for the most part, it’s as practical as it looks beautiful. From launching MIUI’s sidebar to cruising through Android’s gesture navigation, such subtle curves make using the phone a lot more… effortless.
And I know accidental touch is always a concern with curved displays, but I haven’t really faced such issues on this phone—even when using it without a protective case!
You can still notice dark edges here but that’s an inherent tradeoff with curved screens themselves. But the biggest worry about such displays is durability itself. One whack to a concrete surface and you may be well on your way to a repair center. So even though this display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, I’d still recommend using a decent screen protector and a case.
Binge everything
everywhere, all at once
Moving on, the Xiaomi 12’s display is also great for media consumption. This HDR10+ certified 12-bit screen produces excellent colors and inky blacks for the best viewing experience. The default color calibration feels a bit cold to my eyes, but you can easily adjust it under the settings.
On top of this, there’s no trouble with HDR playback on this phone either. Unlike the 12X. So you can stream all kinds of shows/movies at high resolution and excellent color details here.
Top: Xiaomi 12X | Bottom: Xiaomi 12
Further elevating the display experience is its 120Hz refresh rate and up to 480Hz touch sampling rate. And although you won’t encounter micro stutters or lags on this flagship phone, the company has been greedy by keeping the LTPO panel exclusive to the “Pro” model. As a result, the Xiaomi 12’s display can only switch between 60 and 120Hz depending on the content.
Similarly, with 1100 nits of peak brightness, the phone stays visible even in the harshest lighting conditions. And its optical fingerprint reader is equally easy to reach and responsive. But like the 12X, I’ve had issues with its automatic brightness adjustment as well—especially when it’s dark around.
Xiaomi 12 Review: Conclusion
Okay, let’s wrap up this review now. Needless to say that the Xiaomi 12 and 12X are very, very similar phones. And judging their value proposition turned out to be a lot more difficult and confusing than I’d initially anticipated.
While the cheaper 12X is clearly meant to persuade you into buying the more expensive Xiaomi 12, now I’m not entirely sure if this phone is worth it after all.
For that, let’s consider the phone’s price and its biggest competition, the Samsung Galaxy S22. Both of them are compact flagships of 2022 with similar dimensions and weight. And while Xiaomi’s recommended retail price of USD 749 for the base variant sounds enticing at first, its actual market price is a bit higher in some regions where the phone is available.
For example, in Germany and Pakistan, the Galaxy S22 and Xiaomi 12 pretty much cost the same.
That means the S22 gives you better peace of mind with its IP68 dust/water-resistant design, significantly better cameras with a proper zoom lens, a better display, cleaner software with longer update commitment, and more at the expense of a smaller battery and slower charging. And I think the pros comfortably outweigh the cons in this instance.
Even in markets like Nepal where the Xiaomi 12 has a healthy price advantage over Samsung’s latest, I think getting the S22 makes more sense because of all the flagship features Xiaomi has skipped on in the name of cost-cutting. I mean, you are paying premium dollars on a phone so why not spend a little extra on one that has it all!
This is a complete review of the Realme Pad Mini. Google’s revelation to discontinue its high-end Pixel Slate in 2019 with no plans to continue the tablet line in the future disappointed many large-screen users, including myself. This did not look well for the Android tablet market as a whole given that Google owns Android. But, ever since the pandemic, the demand for large-screen devices has surged like never before. As a result, different smartphone manufacturers entered this market for better or worse. And one such brand is Realme.
Realme Pad Mini Specifications:
Body: 211.8 x 124.5 x 7.6mm, 372 grams
Display: 8.7-inch IPS LCD panel, 1340 x 800 pixels
Battery: 6,400mAh, 18W fast charging, reverse charging support
Connectivity: LTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C
Price in Nepal: N/A (Starting at INR 10,999 (3/32GB, Wi-Fi) in India)
Realme Pad Mini Review:
Realme dabbled in the world of Android tablets with the Realme Pad last year, which was a low-cost rival to the popular Samsung Galaxy Tab A family. But the company recently launched an even more affordable tablet dubbed the “Realme Pad Mini”.
Currently, it’s available in Europe and a handful of South-Asian regions including India where it costs INR 10,999 for the base 3/32GB WiFi-only model or two thousand more for the LTE variant. And for what it’s worth, this thing looks like a solid tablet. So, is the Realme Pad Mini a go or no-go for this price—let’s find out in this review.
Design
211.8 x 124.5 x 7.6mm, 372 grams
Metal unibody design
Owing to its affordability, Realme has undoubtedly made compromises on the Pad Mini—but not in terms of design or build quality. It keeps the metal unibody design of Realme’s first-gen tablet, which gives it a sturdy hands-on feel. And I’m totally sold on these flat edges from the usability perspective since it helps a lot with the grip.
Complementing this is the slim form factor of the device with an equally good weight distribution across the chassis. So it doesn’t feel uncomfortable to carry during those long jam sessions when watching movies and stuff. Likewise, the matte finish at the back ensures that you won’t struggle with fingerprints or smudges either.
However, I would recommend wrapping it around a case or cover, since my unit already has dents here. This did not happen during the time of review, by the way; instead, it arrived in the package like this. Therefore I can’t guarantee that won’t suffer scratches or dents if you happen to drop it from a table or something.
Battery
6400mAh battery
18W USB Type-C charging
Anyway, under the backplate is a 6400mAh battery, large enough to last you through your favorite series or podcast sessions for hours. I’ve been using Realme Pad Mini for more than two weeks now and I’m yet to drain its battery entirely before bedtime. However, charging it from empty to full takes a whopping two hours with the 18W charger included in the box.
Display
8.7″ IPS LCD panel, HD+ resolution
Widevine L1 certification
On a different note, the quality of its screen is just… fine. Obviously, it’s not an AMOLED panel and I wasn’t expecting one either. But this 8.7-inch IPS screen is accompanied by just HD+ resolution, which means contents don’t look as sharp as they would on a Full HD display.
Even the core quality of this screen is not on-par with the IPS panel you’ll find on smartphones these days. Realme’s decision to opt for an inferior display quality is apparent on this tablet, as one can easily notice the lack of saturation when watching shows/movies—or just general web browsing. But to make matters a little less terrible, there’s a feature called “Video display enhancement” in the settings which makes the content look brighter and more vivid. Then again, it is limited to select Google apps, such as YouTube and Photos only.
Fortunately enough, Realme has secured Widevine L1 certification here, so you can enjoy HD content on OTT platforms. And if you prefer reading comics or manga, I found that its lower resolution doesn’t make the experience any less enjoyable. On the other hand, screen visibility isn’t an issue on this tablet while you’re indoors, which extends to cloudy outdoors too. But of course, it does struggle to maintain sufficient brightness levels under direct sunlight.
Performance
Octa-core Unisoc T616 (12nm)
3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable)
If not the display, the performance is where the Realme Pad Mini gains full points. It is powered by the Unisoc T616 chip which—if you look at its core specifications—is nearly identical to the MediaTek Helio G80 featured on the Realme Pad. While the latter didn’t really offer a buttery smooth experience, the low-res display on the Pad Mini means that’s not the case here.
You see, a screen with fewer pixels requires less processing power—especially in terms of GPU—and consequently is more energy-efficient as well. Plus, this tablet runs on Android 11-based Realme UI R edition which is a lightweight operating system in and of itself.
This ultimately relieves the processor’s stress which makes things somewhat smoother and relatively more responsive. And I don’t have any complaints about its memory management either.
Software
Having said that, the software aspect leaves things to be desired. Although I appreciate its near stock Android-like layout, Realme hasn’t really made any tablet-specific tweaks on this OS originally built for smartphones. In comparison, Samsung’s One UI on tablets brings meaningful changes to help things adapt naturally on large screens. Yet, I am hopeful that Realme will issue an Android 12L-based upgrade sometime in the near future to enhance the user experience.
Moreover, while this is not a gaming tablet by any means, you can enjoy some popular titles such as PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile at medium settings. But maybe it’s because of the underpowered processor or the HD display, graphics felt a touch off to me.
Audio
Dual-speakers with Dolby Atmos
Getting to the audio, unlike the Realme Pad, this guy gets only two speakers: one at the top and one at the bottom. Its audio output can get pretty loud—although you will notice some distortion at max volume. And bass is nearly non-existent on this thing as well. So if you’re an audiophile, then you’d be better off with wired or wireless earbuds.
Cameras
8MP rear camera
5MP front camera
Cameras
1 of 2
Front
Rear
Moving on, as with most budget and mid-range tablets, cameras are not the strongest suit of the Realme Pad Mini. It comes with an 8MP lens at the back and a 5MP sensor on the front—both of which can take average-looking photos.
Realme Pad Mini
1 of 3
Normal
Selfie
Normal
Of course, I’m not going to complain about the dynamic range or sharpness of the images here, but its quality is good enough for taking photos of notes or when chatting with friends and family on a video call.
Realme Pad Mini Review: Conclusion
Okay, so let’s wrap things up now. The Realme Pad Mini—like the first-gen Realme Pad—is aimed at those who value affordability above all else. And for a low-cost tablet, it ticks almost every box. You get a clean software experience, great performance, and its all-metal construction is just the icing on the cake. Granted that the overall display quality could’ve been better, but its price makes it easy to overlook a few flaws. All in all, if you want a small yet powerful Android tablet, the Realme Pad Mini is one of the easiest recommendations for 2022 so far.
Corsair, a well-known manufacturer of PC gaming components, has unveiled its first gaming laptop, the Corsair Voyager a1600. It’s an all AMD machine with a row of specialized buttons to map live stream functions. Here, we will go through the specs, features, availability and expected price of the Corsair Voyager a1600 in Nepal.
Corsair Voyager a1600 Overview:
All-AMD
To begin with, the Voyager a1600 is powered by a top-of-the-line AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU. It’s an octa-core CPU with 16 threads and a maximum clock speed of 4.2GHz. This is accompanied by a Radeon RX 6800M GPU, 32GB of RAM (Corsair Vengeance DDR5), and 2TB of NVMe SSD storage.
There is also a lower-specced Ryzen 7 6800HS variant with the same RX 6800M graphics card. It can be configured with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of NVMe SSD.
There’s also a specific mux-switch enabling a smooth transition between the integrated GPU and discrete GPU, which are both based on the same RDNA2 architecture in this case. The laptop has two fans with vapor chamber cooling system to keep the thermals under control.
On the front, Corsair is offering a huge 16-inch QHD+ IPS LCD panel with a refresh rate of 240Hz and supports AMD FreeSync Premium. A full-size Cherry MX low-profile mechanical keyboard with per-key RGB illumination is located on the bottom shelf.
Just above the keyboard sits a row of shortcut buttons which are called S-keys. It can be controlled via Elgato Stream Deck software and can be used for live streaming controls like switching scenes, playing media, and changing audio.
Rest of the specs
Furthermore, the connectivity option includes two Thunderbolt 3 USB 4.0 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, one SDXC 7.0 card reader, and one audio jack. A 99Whr battery powers the laptop.
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3-enabled USB 4.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
Wireless Connectivity: 802.11ax (WiFi 6E), Bluetooth 5.2
Battery: 99Whr
Corsair Voyager a1600 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Corsair a1600 with the Ryzen 7 6800HS is expected to cost USD 2,700. The high-end variant with Ryzen 9 6800HS will cost USD 3,000. Yet, the company hasn’t revealed any information about the availability of these machines. If and when the Corsair Voyager a1600 is released in Nepal, we expect the price to start at NPR 340,000.
Corsair Voyager a1600
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Ryzen 7 6800HS, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
USD 2,700
NPR 340,000
Ryzen 9 6800HS, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD
USD 3,000
NPR 380,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a mid-year refresh of the regular 8 Gen 1, which has been the go-to chip for flagship Android phones this year. Qualcomm reference numbers show respectable gains over the 8 Gen 1 and MediaTek Dimensity 9000. The brand aims to solve the heat and power usage issues rampant in the 8 Gen 1. So, let’s see what improvements it brings to the table.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Overview:
What’s New?
Qualcomm has abandoned Samsung’s 4nm process in favor of TSMC‘s more energy-efficient 4nm process. While it retains the same octa-core architecture, changes have been made to improve performance.
Because of the overclocked Cortex X2 core (based on ARMv9 architecture), which is now clocked at 3.20GHz, the 8+ Gen 1 boasts 10% faster CPU performance. Similarly, increasing the GPU clock speed has improved performance by 10% with features such as volumetric rendering for more realistic fog and smoke effects in games.
TSMC’s 4nm process boosts the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s performance by up to 30%. Despite the faster clock speeds, Qualcomm claims that overall power efficiency has been improved, as have the thermals and battery life.
The chip manufacturer also reported a 20% increase in AI performance with the 7th generation Qualcomm AI Engine. Furthermore, the 3rd Gen Qualcomm Sensing Hub enables low-power AI with minimal impact on battery life.
The updated Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 supports up to 16GB of 3,200MHz LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, just like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Similarly, 144Hz at QHD+ resolution and 60Hz at 4K with 10-bit rendering and HDR10+ are supported.
The chipset includes an X65 modem capable of peak 5G speeds of up to 10Gbps. Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless technology and Bluetooth LE Audio are also supported.
Furthermore, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 uses the same 18-bit Snapdragon Sight ISP. The ISP can process 4,096 times more component data than the 14-bit ISP used by last year’s Snapdragon 888. The 8+ Gen 1 will also be able to take photos at a rate of 3.2 gigapixels per second.
The ISP supports 200MP sensors and 8K video recording at 30 frames per second. Multi-frame noise reduction, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision are also available.
In a press release, Qualcomm revealed the brands that are expected to use their new chipset. Among the brands on the list were ASUS, iQOO, HONOR, Black Shark, OSOM, Xiaomi, OnePlus, RedMagic, and Motorola. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 has been confirmed in the following phones:
Oppo held a launch event in China yesterday, where it unveiled the Reno 8 Series. At the same event, the company announced its latest audio accessory. The new Oppo Enco Air is a budget TWS earbud with AI noise reduction, IP rating, and promising battery life. In this article, we will be discussing the key specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Oppo Enco R in Nepal.
Oppo Enco R Overview:
Design
The Oppo Enco R is a pair of extremely-light earbuds, weighing 3.5 grams each. It’s not hard to figure out that the inspiration for this design comes from Apple’s AirPods.
Oppo Enco R has a striking resemblance to the AirPods with the stem and open-ear fit design. The earbuds come with IPX4 splash resistance and thus can be worn during exercise and workouts.
As for colors, Oppo is not giving any option except for White. Oppo Enco R comes in an elliptical charger case that matches the color of the earbuds. The case has a green indicator LED on the front and a Type-C charging port on the right. With the earbuds inside, the charging case has a weight of 40 grams.
Sound and Connectivity
Inside, Oppo has fitted each earbud with a 13.4mm audio driver. The company even claims that it is twice as effective as an ordinary 12mm driver. Likewise, the Oppo Enco R has a dedicated bass chamber to boost the low frequencies for the mainstream audience. There is no ANC, but the earbuds use a noise-reducing AI algorithm for calls.
Oppo Enco R also sports a Bluetooth 5.2 chip for wireless connection. There is also a dedicated low-latency mode for those looking to game, which reduces the latency to 94ms.
You can connect the earbuds to your phone using Oppo’s HeyMelody app, which is available on both Android and iOS platforms. The app lets you check the battery status, switch between sound modes, and update the firmware.
It has touch-based controls that you can use to manage music playback, adjust sound, and summon your phone’s voice assistant. You can even remotely control your phone’s camera with the Oppo Enco R to shoot images and videos. However, this video is limited to select Oppo phones running the latest ColorOS software.
Battery and Charging
Each earbud includes a 27mAh battery which the company claims can last up to 4 hours of continuous music playback. The charging case features a larger 300mAh battery, which further increases the endurance to 20 hours. It takes 1.5 hours for the earbuds to charge, while the case takes 2 hours for the same.
Oppo Enco R Price in Nepal and Availability (Expected)
Oppo Eno R is currently exclusive to the Chinese market, where it sells for CNY 299. If it launches here, we expect the price of Oppo Enco R in Nepal to start at NPR 6,499.
TWS Earbuds
Price in China (Expected)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Oppo Enco R
CNY 299
NPR 6,499
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Oppo Reno 7 Pro.
Realme has been among the fastest-growing smartphone brands in the world ever since its inception in 2019. And it is equally popular in Nepal, mostly because of its youth-centric offerings. Realme has already inaugurated two authorized service centers in the country. Here, we will be discussing all the first Realme exclusive service centers in Nepal.
Realme mobile authorized distributor in Nepal
The sole authorized distributor of Realme phones in Nepal is Jagdamba Mobiles Pvt. Ltd. Jagdamba Mobiles is a venture of Shanker Group which has experience in managing over 30 companies across 14 sectors. It took Realme Nepal’s business in November 2021.
Prior to this, Pashupati Tradeline handled Realme’s operation in Nepal. However, after mass public criticism surrounding the pricing and availability of Realme phones in the country, Realme India intervened to look over and appoint a new distributor.
Where to buy genuine Realme mobile at the official price in Nepal?
Although Realme is mostly an online brand, the company sells most of its mobile phones in Nepal via retail shops (offline). There are currently 100+ Realme stores in Nepal where you can buy their phones.
Similarly, you can purchase Realme mobiles from offline e-commerce shops like Daraz too. However, you are more likely to get a discount from retail shops.
Realme Mobile Service Center in Nepal
Before, Realme used to rely on Oppo’s service center for repairs and service of its product in Nepal. If you’re not aware, Realme used to be a sub-brand of Oppo. Thus, sharing of resources like service centers was common back then. However, Realme has been cutting off its reliance on Oppo since its spin-off a few years ago.
The company finally launched its first exclusive service center at Sundhara, Kathmandu in December 2021. It is located on the 5th floor of the CTC Mall. You can visit the service center between 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM for any service-related queries or other issues. Alternatively, you can contact them at 16600143666 (Toll-free) and 9813-915973.
Realme then added another exclusive mobile service center at Itahari Chowk. Located on the 3rd floor of Surya Complex, Realme’s second exclusive store is open from 10 AM to 6 PM except for Thursdays.
The world’s biggest smartphone chip supplier MediaTek has added a new processor to its arsenal, called the MediaTek Dimensity 1050. it is the company’s first chipset to feature both sub-6Hz and mmWave 5G connectivity.
MediaTek Dimensity 1050 Overview:
Seamless 5G Connectivity
The Dimensity 1050 can seamlessly switch between long-range sub-6GHz and super-fast mmWave 5G connections. According to MediaTek, the chipset can deliver up to 53% faster speeds than LTE + mmWave aggregation.
Furthermore, it employs the most recent 3CC-CA connectivity technology in sub-6GHz exclusive areas to achieve downlink speeds of up to 4.6Gbps. The chipset also includes the most recent Wi-Fi 6E, which introduces tri-band connectivity.
Architecture
MediaTek Dimensity 1050 is built on top of TSMC’s N6 (6nm) manufacturing process. It is an octa-core chip with two Cortex-A78 cores with up to 2.5GHz clock speeds and six Coretex-A55 cores with up to 2.0GHz clock speeds.
MediaTek has included an ARM Mali-G610 graphics processor. Furthermore, it supports the in-house HyperEngine 5.0, which introduces additional resource management features for gaming. Likewise, the chip is compatible with LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 storage.
MediaTek Dimensity 1050 supports Full HD+ displays with refresh rates of up to 144Hz. There is also native 10-bit color support, as well as HDR10+ Adaptive, CUVA HDR-vivid, HLG, and Dolby Vision.
Dimensity 1050-powered phone will also be capable of adaptive refresh rate thanks to the Intelligent Display Sync technology.
MediaTek Dimensity 1050 also has a dedicated APU for AI-related processing tasks. All of the chip’s AI requirements are fulfilled by MediaTek APU 550. This enables smartphone manufacturers to use sensors with resolutions of up to 108MP in conjunction with AI noise reduction. Dual HDR video capture is also possible with the Imagiq 760 HDR-ISP.
Video Support: AV1 video decoding, HDR10+ playback, and Dolby Vision
Display Support: 144Hz Full HD+
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
MediaTek Dimensity 1050 Launch and Availability
MediaTek has confirmed that smartphones powered by the Dimensity 1050 will be available between July and September of 2022. We can expect Vivo, Realme, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus to be among the first to use the chipset.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme Pad Mini.
POCO unveiled its first-ever smartwatch a couple of weeks ago, called the “POCO Watch”. And like most of the company’s products out in the market, it is tapping into the smartwatch segment with affordability in mind. It costs 79 Euros in Europe, while it is yet to launch in Nepali and Indian markets. I have been using the POCO Watch for over 2 weeks and in this review, I will be discussing if it is the best budget smartwatch to buy right now!
In terms of looks, this watch is nothing extra. I have it in the standard Black color variant which looks very basic, but it is available in two other color options as well: Blue and Ivory. And if I had to choose, I would certainly go with Ivory.
Design
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Buttons
Display
Optical heart rate sensor
Going past the looks, this is one comfortable watch to wear. It is compact, lightweight, and the silicone straps are soft enough to not cause any discomfort. I do have to tell you that being a budget smartwatch whose build material is entirely plastic, this one does not exactly feel very premium, although it does not feel that cheap either.
So yeah, almost all is well on the design front, except I wish this button on the side was a bit more clicky. As things stand, it’s a little too rigid for my liking. Good thing is that the POCO Watch is 5 ATM certified. This means it can withstand everything from minor splashes to drizzles to even showers and swimming.
Display
1.6-inches AMOLED panel
301 PPI, Always on Display
Now moving on to the front, you are greeted with a 1.6-inch AMOLED display that has really good contrast and colors. And unlike many budget smartwatches out there, I found its screen to be very responsive.
And it’s bright too, so I haven’t faced any visibility issues on this thing under direct sunlight either. You also get an auto-brightness feature here for which the watch takes a second or two to recognize the ambient lighting condition and adjust the brightness accordingly. So it’s not that swift exactly, but it gets the job done!
My only complaint about its display is that the “raise to wake” feature does not work instantaneously as the screen takes about a second to light up. And another thing is that its bezels are not the slimmest, which makes it looks somewhat outdated in 2022!
Companion App
Mi Fitness (formerly Xiaomi Wear)
Available for both Android and iOS devices
Now onto the usability side of things, the watch pairs with Xiaomi’s “Mi Fitness” app, which is available for both Android and iOS users. Pairing and setting up the watch is really simple. And I like the fact that the app is very comprehensive and the settings are presented in an easy-to-understand manner. So, going about the app will not be an issue for anyone.
Mi Fitness app
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Dashboard
Workout
Device
About Device
Profile
All your health-related data is there on the home page itself. In my case, I have customized all the health metrics based on my priority, where the first 6 things include what I like to keep track of on a day-to-day basis.
Watch Faces
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I guess the only thing that has bugged me a little about the app is the fact that it takes quite some time to sync data with the watch. So you will have to wait a while if you wish to view your real-time health data on the phone. And not just that, downloading and installing watch faces also takes about a minute or two here.
100+ sports modes, Auto workout detection, Built-in GPS
Other than that, I am quite happy with the performance of this watch. It can measure your heart rate and SpO2 levels quite accurately. And more impressively, it gives very precise readings of your sleep data. It was able to record the exact time I went to bed and the exact time I woke up; and other metrics like REM sleep, deep sleep, light sleep, and even short naps.
Sleep Tracking
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Apart from that, the POCO Watch can record other regular stuff like calories burnt and steps taken, along with stress monitoring, breathing training, and period tracking.
Health Monitoring
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Blood Oxygen (SpO2)
Calories
Heart Rate
Steps
Stress
For fitness tracking, there are more than 100 options to choose from on the POCO Watch including common exercises like walking, running, and yoga to some training-based exercises and dance, whereas you even have combat and water sports choices. To put it in simple words, fitness enthusiasts have a lot of options here.
Decent health tracking features
But you have to keep in mind that unlike other expensive smartwatches out there, it only tracks the duration of any particular exercise along with your heart rate and calories burnt in almost all of them. Well, except for things like walking, running, and treadmill, where the watch also measures cadence, pace, and strides.
Daily Stats
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I am not someone who is into intense workouts or training, and all I do is a bit of running, some yoga. And I also like to go for walks to get my body moving. So it’s fine for me as far as fitness tracking goes. But if you are an athlete or just about someone who needs to track their exercises on a more professional basis, you’ll want to look somewhere else.
GPS lock isn’t as instantaneous
Moving on, just like the cheaper Redmi Watch 2 Lite we reviewed a while back, the POCO Watch also has built-in GPS and I found their performance pretty similar. The GPS lock here is not instantaneous, as it takes about 10-15 seconds to catch the signal. Although, I found the location tracking to be pretty accurate.
But do keep in mind that you cannot view your workout trail on the watch itself; that information is only available in the app.
The POCO Watch also has automatic workout detection, but it only works with exercises like running and walking. While it is able to detect both of them just fine, it does not pause when you stop and you will have to do it manually, which has been a slight issue for me.
Exercise
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You see, many times, I have forgotten to pause or end my walking sessions and the watch would just go on recording it which would drain the battery extensively. So yeah, I wish POCO would push an update to fix this soon.
Now, being a budget smartwatch, you don’t get a microphone for making calls, although you can reject them from the watch itself. And the notifications here are non-actionable too.
Battery
225mAh battery
Up to 14 days of battery life
Okay, so I have been saving the best feature of the POCO Watch for the last, which has to be its battery life—hands down. I got around 7 days of endurance when using it with 80% brightness, continuous heart-rate monitoring turned on, GPS usage twice a day for about 2 hours, along with tracking my SpO2 levels every 10 minutes—which the watch does not let you track continuously, by the way.
So even though it’s half of what POCO promises, with all this heavy lifting the watch has to do, I would rate its battery life a solid A. For charging, as I said in the beginning, you get a 2-pin magnetic charger inside the box. It takes just a little more than an hour and a half to get its 225 mAh battery from 0 to 100%.
POCO Watch Review: Conclusion
Alright, so after using the POCO Watch for a good number of days, what I can say is that it is definitely a good option in the budget smartwatch category. It’s feature-rich, everything works almost seamlessly, and I don’t have many complaints on the usability side as well.
However, I can’t help but notice how it has the exact same specs as the Redmi Watch 2 that launched last year, which makes the POCO Watch yet another Xiaomi-POCO re-branding affair.
And if you’ve been following us long enough, you know that I am not a fan of rebrandings! I think it restricts creativity and innovation. So while I wish POCO had at least made some changes; maybe on the design front or added some features to differentiate, sadly, that’s not the case! Other than that, as I said before, this is a pretty reliable budget smartwatch.
![Realme Exclusive Mobile Service Center Lists [Updated]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Realme-Service-Centers-in-Nepal.jpg "Realme Exclusive Mobile Service Center Lists [Updated]")
