Anker has unveiled a new headphone in Nepal called the Soundcore Life Q35. It’s the successor to the Life Q30 and is touted to deliver 60 hours of battery life. So, let’s go through the specs, features, official price and availability of Anker Soundcore Life Q35 in Nepal.
Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Overview:
Build
The Life Q35 is an over-the-ear headphone that weighs around 267 grams. It has an adjustable headband while the earcups have a faux-leather material. Likewise, the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 comes in two color variants—Blue and Pink.
The Life Q35 supports LDAC audio codec that will allow users to stream lossless audio and play games with less lag. Similarly, it comes with 40mm silk-diaphragm drivers and supports Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless.
Moreover, it has 2 microphones with ANC to filter out ambient noise. You can switch between different ANC modes, such as Travel, Indoor, Outdoor, and Transparency to choose the noise-canceling level best suited to your surroundings. Users can also tweak the EQ settings in the Soundcore app.
Rest of the specs
The Q35 can deliver up to 60 hours of playback time with ANC off and 40 hours of battery life with ANC on. The connectivity option includes Bluetooth 5.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It charges via a USB-C port and can juice up to 100% in around 2 hours.
Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Specifications:
Weight: 267 grams
Driver: 40mm silk-diaphragm
Audio codec: LDAC
Battery: 60 hours (ANC off), 40 hours (ANC on)
Microphones: 2
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm audio jack
Ports: USB-C
Color: Blue, Pink
Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 is launched at an asking price of NPR 17,999 and comes with an 18-month warranty. One can purchase Soundcore Life Q35 from Hukut Store.
Headphone
Price in Nepal (Official)
Availability
Anker Soundcore Life Q35
NPR 17,999
Hukut Store
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge.
Garmin recently unveiled its latest lineup of smartwatches which includes Instinct 2 and Instinct 2S. There are also solar variants of these smartwatches with the claimed “unlimited battery life”. So, let’s walk through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Garmin Instinct 2 series in Nepal.
Garmin Instinct 2 Series Overview:
Design
Garmin Instinct 2 smartwatches are available in two sizes. The 40mm model is known as the Instinct 2S, while the 45mm version goes by the name Instinct 2. As aforementioned, there are also solar editions of these smartwatches called Instinct 2S Solar and Instinct 2 Solar.
Moreover, there are five different editions which include Standard, Camo, Tactical, Surf, and Dezl. You can pick the watch in 240 possible color combinations.
The watch is built according to military standards and is waterproof up to 100 meters. The 40mm variant flaunts a 0.79” x 0.79” screen with 156 x 156-pixel resolution, while the 45mm model has a 0.9” x 0.9” display with 176 x 176-pixel resolution.
These are monochrome displays with transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) technology that facilitates readability and extends battery life. Likewise, Instinct 2 Series also has Corning Gorilla Glass protection.
In terms of battery, Garmin is claiming unlimited battery life in its Instinct 2 Solar models. But, the statement comes with an asterisk. As is obvious, the solar-powered watch needs to be under the sun to gather energy. Garmin says the device needs to be outside in 50,000 lux conditions for an average of three hours a day for the “unlimited battery life”.
If the criteria are met, the 45mm solar watch can run indefinitely in smartwatch mode; however, the 40mm variant must be in battery saver mode to get unlimited battery life. Likewise, in smartwatch mode, the 45mm and 40mm non-solar variants have a battery life of 28 and 21 days, respectively.
Features
These smartwatches are compatible with the Garmin Connect IQ app, which allows you to download apps and widgets and customize the watch as per your need. As for the health and wellness features, it comes with a heart rate sensor, a blood oxygen monitor, and can track steps, sleep, and other activities. It is also capable of measuring VO2 max and HIIT workouts.
The Instinct 2 series also have GPS sensors (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) along with an altimeter, barometer compass, and a thermometer. Furthermore, the watches use Bluetooth and ANT+ for connectivity which allows them to read and send data to and from other devices. Instinct 2 Solar models include Garmin Pay support as well
Garmin Instinct 2 Series Price in Nepal and Availability
As for the pricing, the standard, non-solar edition of Garmin Instinct 2 and 2S retails at USD 349 whereas their solar variants have a price tag of USD 450. You can find the price of other editions on Garmin’s official site. We expect the price of the Garmin Instinct 2 Series to start at NPR 50,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.
Smartwatch
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Garmin Instinct 2, 2S (Standard, non-solar)
USD 350
NPR 50,000
Garmin Instinct 2, 2S (standard, solar)
USD 450
NPR 60,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Amazfit GTR 3/GTS 3.
Eyeing the growing Nepali tablet market, Huawei has launched the MatePad Pro 10.8 in Nepal. The tablet was initially launched in China last year, alongside other premium options. In this article, we will be discussing the key specs, features, official price, and availability of the Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 (2021) in Nepal.
Huawei MatePad 10.8 (2021) Overview:
Design and Display
As you would expect from a premium tablet, the back and the frames of the Huawei Matepad 10.8 Pro (2021) are made from aluminum. The back has a glass fiber texture and a Huawei logo in the middle. Likewise, the table weighs around 460 grams and measures 7.2mm in thickness. It comes in a sole Midnight Gray color option.
On the front, it has a 10.8-inches LCD panel with a WQXGA resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. There is no high refresh rate, but it does support the DCI-P3 wide color gamut.
The bezels around the screen are uniform at 4.9mm, resulting in a 90% screen-to-body ratio. Furthermore, the screen can get as bright as 540 nits and has TUV Rheinland certification against blue light.
Performance and Memory
Talking about the performance, Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 (2021) comes packed with Snapdragon 870. It is the same chipset used in the Xiaomi Pad 5 Pro. It is paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage.
The base 8/128GB variant is yet not available in Nepal. You can even expand the storage further using Huawei’s proprietary NM memory card.
On the software front, MatePad Pro 10.8 boots on Harmony OS 2. The company has refined the home screen and added service widgets to boost productivity. You can also use the tablet as a secondary display for certain Huawei laptops.
Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 (2021) has a total of two cameras. The one at the back has a 13MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. It even has phase-detection autofocus. Similarly, the 8MP selfie camera uses an f/2.0 lens, but the focus is focused.
Fueling the tablet is a 7,250mAh battery with support for 40W fast charging. However, you will have to buy a compatible charger separately. Likewise, the tablet has support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 (2021) Specifications:
Dimension: 159 x 246 x 7.2mm, 460g
Display: 10.8″ FullView LCD panel, Wide DCI-P3, 90% screen-to-body ratio
Resolution: WQXGA (2560 x 1600 pixels), 240 PPI
Rear Camera: 13MP, f/1.8
Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0
Processor: Snapdragon 870 (7nm)
Memory: 8GB RAM, Up to 256GB (expandable using NM card)
OS: Harmony OS 2.0
Battery: 7,250mAh, 40W SuperCharge (wired)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, USB 3.0, OTG
Color: Midnight Gray
Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 (2021) Price in Nepal and Availability
The official price of the Huawei MatePad Pro 10.8 (2021) in Nepal is Rs. 119,990 for the 8/256GB variant. Likewise, you also get a 2nd Gen M-Pencil and Smart Magnetic Keyboard in the box.
Huawei Mate Pad Pro 10.8 (2021)
Price in Nepal (Official)
8/256GB, WiFi, M-Pencil (2nd Gen), Smart Magnetic Keyboard
Rs. 119,990
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8.
Samsung has also launched its new lineup of tablets, the Galaxy Tab S8 Series, at yesterday’s Unpacked event. The lineup includes three new flagship tablets. Here, we will walk through the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8 Plus, and S8 Ultra in Nepal.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Series Overview:
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the biggest of the bunch. Tablets have grown in popularity since the pandemic, as they have become a go-to gadget for work, school, gaming, and multimedia consumption. Considering this, Samsung is giving users the choice to have a full-fledged productivity machine with the new Tab S8 Ultra.
Design and Display
The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra packs a massive 14.6-inch Super AMOLED screen with WQXGA+ (2960×1848 pixels) resolution. It’s a 120Hz panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio. To compare, the largest iPad Pro at the moment measures 12.9-inches. This tablet also boasts Samsung’s slimmest bezel ever at just 6.3mm. It is available in a sole Graphite color.
Moreover, it has a metal unibody design with an armor aluminum frame. As per Samsung, the frames are 30% more scratch-resistant and 40% less prone to bending than that of Tab S7. It also has a notch upfront that accommodates its dual front-facing camera. Samsung also provides an S Pen inside the box with a latency of just 2.8ms.
The company has also unveiled a Book Cover Keyboard that transforms the tablet into a productivity machine. It’s made of “premium antimicrobial polyurethane” and connects to the tablet via magnetic pins, offering a full-size keyboard and glass touchpad.
Powering the Samsung Tab S8 Ultra is the flagship Snapdragon 8 gen 1 processor. In terms of memory, it’s available with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. You can further expand the storage up to 1TB using a microSD card. On the software front, it boots on Android 12.
Moving on, it has a dual 12MP wide and ultrawide shooter at the front that supports 4K@30 fps video recording. It’s equipped with Samsung’s auto-framing technology that works similar to Apple’s center-stage. That means, it locks the focus to the subject and keeps it at the center during video calls even when the subject is moving around. At the back, it has a 13MP primary and a 6MP ultrawide lens.
Rest of the specs
Fueling the handset is a massive 11,200mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging. It can fully charge the device in just 90 minutes, and you can even use it as a power bank for select Galaxy smartphones.
Moreover, the Tab S8 series is the first in the Galaxy Tab lineup to include WiFi 6E connectivity. You also get Bluetooth 5.2 support. There is also a cellular variant up for grabs. Likewise, it has an AKG tuned quad-speaker array with Dolby Atmos that offers clear audio. For biometrics, it has an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Specifications:
Dimension: 208.6 x 326.4 x 5.5mm
Weight: 726g (Wi-Fi) / 728g (5G)
Display: 14.6-inch Super AMOLED, 240PPI, up to 120Hz
Resolution: WQXGA+ (2960 x 1848 pixels)
Rear Camera: Dual (13MP primary+ 6MP ultra-wide)
Front Camera: Dual (12MP primary + 12MP ultrawide)
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm)
RAM: 8/12/16GB RAM, 128/256/512GB storage (expandable up to 1TB)
Audio: AKG tuned dual-speaker, Dolby Atmos
OS: Android 12
Security: Fingerprint scanner (in-display)
Battery: 11,200mAh with 45W fast charging
Connectivity: WiFi 6e, Bluetooth 5.2, 5G, LTE
Color: Graphite
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Price in Nepal and Availability
The official price of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra’s WiFi variant is GBP 999 for the 8/128GB variant, whereas the 12/256GB model costs GBP 1,099. We expect the price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra to start at NPR 170,000 when it launches in Nepal.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Price in the UK
Price in Nepal (Expected)
8+128GB, WiFi
GBP 999
NPR 170,000
8+128GB, Cellular
GBP 1,149
NPR 195,000
12+256GB, WiFi
GBP 1,099
NPR 185,000
12+256GB, Cellular
GBP 1,249
NPR 210,000
16+512GB, WiFi
GBP 1,249
NPR 210,000
16+512GB, Cellular
GBP 1,399
NPR 220,000
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8 Plus:
The Tab S8 and S8 Plus share most of the same specs from their elder sibling. They run on Android 12 and are powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU. Similarly, they boast a dual-camera array on the rear with a 13MP primary lens and a 6MP ultrawide sensor.
The front is outfitted with two 12MP main and ultrawide cameras that also support the aforementioned Samsung auto-framing technology. However, there’s no notch on the Tab S8 and Tab S8 Plus.
Furthermore, they feature a metal unibody design. In terms of display, the Tab S8+ has a 12.4-inch WQXGA+ panel, while the vanilla Tab S8 settles for an 11-inch WQXGA resolution. These are sAMOLED panels that refresh at 120Hz.
Over on the memory front, they come with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Like S8 Ultra, they also enjoy AKG-tuned quad-speakers with Dolby Atmos. Moreover, the battery specs include 10,090mAh for Tab S8+, whereas the Tab S8 has an 8,000mAh battery, and both the tablets support 45W fast charging.
For biometrics, the S8+ has an in-display fingerprint scanner while the S8 has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The Tab S8 and S8 Plus also offer support for Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E. Likewise, they come with S-pen bundled in the box.
Front Camera: Dual – 12MP Primary – 12MP Ultrawide
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128/256GB (expandable up to 1TB via microSD)
Audio: AKG Tuned Quad-speaker, Dolby Atmos
OS: Android 12
Security:
S8: In-display fingerprint scanner
S8+: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Battery: 8000 mAh / 10,090mAh, 45W fast charging
Color Options: Graphite, Silver, Pink Gold
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8 Plus Price in Nepal and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and S8 Plus have a starting price of GBP 649, and GBP 849, respectively for the base 8/128GB, WiFi variant in the UK. We expect the price of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and S8 Plus to start at NPR 110,000 and NPR 145,000 when they launch in Nepal.
Devices
Configurations
Price in the UK
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
8/128GB, WiFi
GBP 649
NPR 110,000
8/128GB, Cellular
GBP 799
NPR 135,000
8/256GB, WiFi
GBP 699
NPR 120,000
8/256GB, Cellular
GBP 849
NPR 145,000
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
8/128GB, WiFi
GBP 849
NPR 145,000
8/128GB, Cellular
GBP 999
NPR 170,000
8/256GB, WiFi
GBP 899
NPR 150,000
8/256GB, Cellular
GBP 1049
NPR 175,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE.
Vivo has launched a new smartphone in India, called the Vivo T1 5G, which is aimed at younger Gen Z users. It’s the first smartphone under the T-series in India. To note, there’s also a Vivo T1 smartphone in China, which is a different phone altogether. Here, we will go through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Vivo T1 5G in Nepal.
Vivo T1 5G Overview:
Design and Display
To begin with, Vivo claims T1 to be the fastest and slimmest 5G phone in the sub-20,000 category in India. The phone measures just 8.25mm and weighs 187 grams. Here, the device has a plastic build and comes in a boxy design. It is available in Starlight Black and Rainbow Fantasy color options.
Over on the front, it flaunts a 6.58-inch IPS LCD panel with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The front also houses a water-drop style notch for the selfie camera.
Under the hood, the Vivo T1 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor. It’s an octa-core chipset built on a 6nm process and can be found on devices like Moto G71 5G. While Vivo is touting this phone as the slimmest 5G phone, it only supports two 5G bands—n77 and n78. On the contrary, the Moto G71 packs a total of 13 5G bands.
Anyways, the memory configuration includes up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Likewise, it comes pre-installed with Android 12 based Funtouch OS 12 on top. The device also has 5 layers cooling system that can reduce the core temperature by up to 10° celsius.
Moving on, Vivo T1 5G has a triple camera setup on the back. There’s a 50MP primary lens, alongside two 2MP macro and depth sensors. For selfies, it has a 16MP camera in the aforementioned waterdrop notch.
Rest of the specs
Aside from that, it packs a 5000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. For audio, there’s a loudspeaker and you also get a 3.5mm headphone jack. Similarly, it has a fingerprint scanner on the side.
Vivo T1 5G Specifications:
Display: 6.58-inch IPS LCD, FHD+ (2408 x 1080 pixels)
The Vivo T1 5G retails for INR 14,990 for the base 4/128GB variant. The 6/128 and 8/128GB model goes for INR 16,990 and INR 19,990, respectively. We expect the price of Vivo T1 5G to start at NPR 30,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.
Vivo T1 5G
Price in India (Official)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
4/128GB
INR 14,990
NPR 30,000
6/128GB
INR 15,990
NPR 32,000
8/128GB
INR 18,990
NPR 35,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme 8s 5G.
If you own an Apple or a Samsung watch, what’s something you wished was better? For me, it definitely has to be the battery life. We recently stumbled upon the Amazfit GTR 3, which boasts an excellent battery. With a price tag of around $180 and quite an impressive spec sheet, it does seem like a cheaper, viable alternative to other costlier smartwatches out there. But is it really? Let’s find out in our review of Amazfit GTR 3. On a side note, we also tested the Amazfit GTS 3, which we will also be discussing in this review. It offers almost the same specs as the GTR 3 but in different form factors.
Health Tracking: 24/7 hour heart rate monitoring, SpO2, Sleep tracking, Stress monitoring, PAI assessment
Sports Modes: 150 total (8 smart recognition)
Price: Rs. 29,500
Amazfit GTR 3, GTS 3 Review:
Design
Alumimum case
22mm universal strap buckle
5ATM water resistant
Starting off with the design, well, I think it looks pretty generic. I have the Amazfit GTR 3 in Black, while it’s available on a Grey finish too. Whichever option you go for, the watch comes with a 22mm universal strap buckle—meaning if you don’t feel the default strap options are up to your wheelhouse, you can always buy a third-party strap that matches your style.
Regardless, the default silicone straps feel comfortable, and thanks to its lightweight aluminum build quality, wearing this watch all day hasn’t been problematic for me in any way. On the back, protruding slightly is the BioTracker PPG 3.0 sensor whereas you get two buttons—a rotating crown and an extra button on the right—for navigation and easy access to apps.
The crown lets you scroll through options, open up the app list, and also acts as the Home button. You can also customize it to trigger a certain function by long-pressing it. In my case, I have set it to summoning the offline voice assistant. Likewise, the button down below brings out the exercise menu by default, but you can customize it to launch whatever function you please as well.
Display
1.39/1.75-inches AMOLED panel
Circular/Square dial, Always on Display
1000 nits peak brightness
By the way, if you prefer a squarish form factor, you can get the Amazfit GTS 3 instead. ‘S’ for squarish, ‘R’ for round—that’s how I distinguish these two smartwatch lineups. Their specs are pretty similar and offer near-identical functions for the same price tag. Because I prefer this classy circular look, I chose the GTR 3.
Okay, the display side of things is where I have a lot of praise for the GTR 3. It features a 1.39- inch AMOLED screen with 336 PPI and a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. And let me just tell you, this is an amazing display to look at and interact with.
Amazfit GTR 3, GTS 3 Display
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GTR 3
GTS 3
The screen’s AMOLED nature means you’re getting deep blacks and amazing contrast. Now, although its bezels are not the slimmest, when you set a dark-themed wallpaper here, the bezels seem almost non-existent. Goes on to show how good the contrast on this thing is! Plus, with 1000 nits of peak brightness, this smartwatch is bright enough even for the sunniest or brightest of ambient conditions.
Similarly, I haven’t faced any touch responsiveness issues on the Amazfit GTR 3 either. The animations while navigating the watch did feel a tad bit slow initially, but everything now runs pretty smooth thanks to a recent update.
The only thing that this screen misses is some form of display protection. Since it does not have a physical bezel towering over the screen like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, it’s more likely to get scratches when striking solid surfaces.
Let’s now talk about the health and fitness-tracking abilities of the GTR 3. For the most part, it’s got everything you’d expect ranging from heart rate monitoring to SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, step and calorie counting, etc.
Having said that, there’s no skin temperature monitoring here, which is a little disappointing. The Huawei Watch GT 3 that I used before had this feature and you can even get it on cheaper devices—although I can’t speak of their accuracy with much confidence. Regardless, I think that feature comes in handy during these COVID times.
I found its pedometer and heart rate sensor to be pretty accurate though. Also, the GTR 3’s sleep tracking is incredibly accurate. It recorded the time I went to sleep and the time I got up quite precisely and I’m really impressed with that.
Moreover, the watch also measures your deep and REM sleep cycles alongside sleep breathing quality. For the latter, it measures your blood saturation overnight on an hourly basis and tells you what your breathing quality score is—which in turn helps you form a good sleeping habit.
Another feature I’m incredibly fond of here is something called “One-time Measurement” that takes around 45 seconds to complete but covers your heart rate, stress, SpO2, and breathing rate in one take—so that you don’t have to record them individually for a given moment.
Heart Rate Monitoring
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Readings can get inaccurate at times
However, I have to tell you that I’ve encountered some inaccuracies with SpO2 monitoring on the Amazfit GTR 3 and GTS 3 during the review period. On a few occasions, it showed really low SpO2 readings which scared me a lot. So to cross-check, I used an oximeter which gave a 98% SpO2 reading instead. This has happened only 2-3 times with me, but I just thought you guys should know that.
The watch also brings a PAI score which is calculated based on the physical intensity of activities. The more cardiorespiratory exercises you do, the more your weekly PAI score is. As you can see, my PAI score is really low, meaning my exercises aren’t as physically strenuous as they should be.
Over 150 exercise modes
Alright, in terms of fitness, the GTR 3 does not disappoint though. You get more than 150 exercise modes here, including the basic ones like indoor/outdoor running, walking, cycling, and swimming, to hula hooping, skiing, frisbee, kite flying, etc.
Now, I am not so much of a fitness freak, but I do go for a run every now and then. During those times, I would turn on the built-in GPS on the watch that works really great, by the way. You can also adjust the accuracy of the navigation system to prolong battery backup via the settings. But do note that it takes some time to lock the GPS signal when initially turning it on.
On a related note, the automatic workout detection feature leaves little to complain about as well. It’s not as good as what I have experienced with the Galaxy Watch 4, but it’s not that bad either. As I mentioned earlier, I go for outdoor runs often and this watch would recognize it after 5-6 minutes into the workout.
Proprietary Zepp OS platform
Moving on, the GTR 3 runs on Zepp OS which is Amazfit’s proprietary operating system for its smartwatches. Likewise, all your workout and health-related data syncs with the Zepp app, which is available on both Android and iOS platforms. While the app itself is not the most intuitive, I’d say it gets the job done. It is very simple to use which is something I appreciate.
Having said that, just like the Huawei Watch GT 3, you don’t get a lot of third-party app support here. There are a few options for different apps but personally, I don’t find them that useful. Anyway, it has a pretty decent selection of watch faces though and I am totally obsessed with this cat watch face, because, well, I am obsessed with cats.
Zepp OS Platform
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Fitness Details
App UI
Watchfaces
Moreover, I haven’t had the most bug-free experience with these smartwatches. For instance, notifications don’t appear instantaneously most of the time and I had to check my phone instead, which defeats the primary purpose of having notifications pop up on your watch in the first place. And of course, the notifications aren’t actionable either, and all you can do is view and delete them.
Can’t take calls
Also, the GTR 3 has a built-in microphone, but since it’s not complemented by a speaker, you cannot make or receive calls here—although it does support call notifications. The Amazfit GTR 3 Pro, which is a slightly more expensive version of this watch, can indeed make/receive calls. So if that is important to you, I’d suggest you go for the “Pro” version instead.
One incredibly annoying—and possibly a deal-breaking—bug I’ve had with the GTR 3 is that it would just shut down and restart on its own for no reason. This has been happening from the day I started using it and even after 2 updates I’ve received so far, the issue is still not fixed. Hopefully, Amazfit will look into this ASAP!
On the other hand, the watch comes with Amazon Alexa as well as offline voice assistant support. As a result, you can give voice commands like “start workout”, “brightness up”—for hands-free control.
This feature is not an absolute necessity, but it does make operating the watch a little simpler. Plus, it’s pretty fun to use as well! Finally, something that the GTR 3 utterly nails is the battery life.
Battery
450/250mAh battery
Two-pin magnetic charger
Amazfit promises a whopping 21 days of backup—whereas I managed to get around 12 days of endurance when keeping all the assorted health functions on, the brightness level to 50%, and using a live watch face.
Considering how all these elements are highly battery-consuming, this is a holy grail for someone who does not like charging their watch every other day. However, do note that if you choose to get the GTS 3, it doesn’t have as good battery life as this one since it features a smaller battery.
For charging, you get a magnetic one inside the box which fills up the watch from 0-100% in about 2 hours.
Amazfit GTR 3, GTS 3 Review: Conclusion
Summarizing my experience with the Amazfit GTR 3, well it has been bitter-sweet. On one hand, I really appreciate its battery life, the amazing display—whereas it is competent with the health and fitness-related stuff with great accuracy. But at the same time, the persistent software bugs have made my experience somewhat bitter.
However, the few software-related issues I discussed earlier are something that can be fixed with updates, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Overall, the Amazfit GTR 3 does everything a good smartwatch should do. And looking at its relatively cheaper price tag, this sure seems like a worthy option against the more expensive alternatives.
If you prefer square dials, Amazfit GTS 3 has almost the same experience but with less impressive battery life.
Handheld gaming devices are nothing new. In fact, many of us probably grew up with one. From the iconic Nintendo Game Boy to the PlayStation Portable, these video game consoles were the go-to pastime for most 90’s kids. Fast forward to 2022, the Nintendo Switch lineup pretty much dominates the handheld gaming arena—alongside a few small brands trying their best. One such company is Aya Neo. And in this review, I’ll be discussing the Aya Neo Pro 2021 Windows gaming console.
Founded in 2020, Aya Neo has seen great success in such a short period. I’ve been using the Aya Neo 2021 Pro for over a month and I can definitely see why people love this thing! Although it is one of the most powerful handheld gaming devices—one that’s capable of running a huge library of PC games—this device is targeted towards a very niche crowd. Not to mention, at USD 1,215, it’s quite expensive as well!
What about the competition?
To compare, the USD 649 (512GB) Steam Deck sounds like a much sweeter deal of the two. Besides the favorable price itself, it can play entire games from your Steam library and also dual boot on Windows.
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Steam Deck
Nintendo Switch (OLED)
However, it’s just hitting the shelves after almost 6 months of the announcement—and Valve is only selling the Steam Deck in a handful of regions including the US, Canada, UK, and the EU. That’s not to say the Aya Neo Pro is readily available everywhere, but you get the point.
Even the best Nintendo Switch costs just around 1/4th this price. Then again, the Aya Neo Pro is an absolute Switch killer in terms of performance. The number of games available on a Windows PC is much higher—whereas it can emulate Nintendo Switch and other console games too. Likewise, the Aya Neo Pro also supports dock which makes it a bonafide Switch competitor.
Aya Neo Pro 2021 Specifications:
Design&Build: ABS plastic build, 255 x 106 x 20mm, 650 gm
Accessories: 1x Type-C to Type-C cable, 2x Type-C to Type-A adapter, Extra key grip caps, Warranty card, Manual
Price in Nepal: N/A (USD 1,215)
Aya Neo Pro 2021 Review:
Design and Build
255 x 106 x 20mm, 650 grams
All-plastic build quality
In terms of design, this thing is reminiscent of the Nintendo Switch while being slightly bigger and bulkier. I have it in the Dark Star color option, whereas you can find it in Light Moon or a vintage-themed “Retro Power” color scheme as well. The matte finish certainly looks and feels nice even though the Aya Neo Pro has an all-plastic construction.
There are no weird creaks or anything—except for a minor gap at the top vent that results in some clicky noise when applying some pressure. Moving on, the Aya Neo Pro is pretty heavy for a handheld device.
At 650 grams, it’s fine for casual gaming but I often found myself searching for something to lay my wrists on during longer gaming sessions. Regardless, the control and trigger buttons are placed at just the right place and are therefore easy to get used to.
Buttons
On the left, we have an analog thumbstick which is also clickable. Below it is a classic D-pad and four additional buttons: one for rumble on/off, one Xbox button that brings out the Xbox Game Bar, and one Start and Select button each.
Buttons, Controllers
1 of 2
Left
Right
Over on the right side are the ABXY gaming buttons, right analog stick, and 4 more hotkeys to make navigating through Windows OS on this touchscreen a little simpler. There’s one that triggers the Windows menu, one for the Task Manager, one for the on-screen keyboard, and one Escape key.
Plus, the keyboard button can also launch the Aya Space if you have it installed.
Moreover, the top frame houses the left/right shoulder and trigger buttons alongside the power and volume toggles. Here, the control buttons and triggers feel responsive and smooth, although the joysticks could have been better. One more thing, all the extra buttons on board that I discussed earlier have relatively short key travel, so their tactile feedback isn’t that great.
I/O selection
As for I/O, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top—which would’ve been more convenient if it were placed on the bottom. There’s no USB-A connection available but you’ll find a total of three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports here, two of which also support DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery.
Therefore, even if you don’t have the docking station, you can hook it up to an external monitor or a TV—provided that you have the right cables and adapters, of course.
To make up for the missing USB-A port, Aya Neo does ship a couple of USB-A to USB-C adapters inside the box. Besides this, you’ll find a couple of stereo speakers on the bottom frame. And they’re… not that good. Neither do they get very loud, nor do they have a respectably wide soundstage.
Display
7-inches HD+ H-IPS touchscreen
500 nits brightness, 76% NTSC gamut
Let’s now talk about the display. Aya Neo Pro brings a 7” IPS touchscreen with a 76% NTSC color gamut, which delivers decent colors and viewing angles. With 1280 by 800 pixels resolution spread across a tiny display, there’s no visible pixelation either.
More importantly, this HD resolution enables the Aya Neo Pro to run most games with respectable fps since the GPU isn’t stressed to push that many pixels here.
On the other hand, this handheld gaming console can hit 500 nits of peak brightness which is quite impressive. But the brightness level is where things get a little tricky. While it maintains visibility perfectly fine in a well-lit room or when you’re outdoors, it just can’t get dim enough.
Say you want to play some games curled up inside a blanket in this freezing weather. Even when keeping the brightness level to 0%, it’s too bright for my eyes. As a result, I’ve had to resort to third-party applications like “Dimmer” to get this display to somewhat comfortable levels. Then there’s the rampant backlight bleed issue infecting this screen.
Sure it’s no problem when playing games with a daytime setting, but it has the potential to pull you off the immersiveness in something like Control that tends to literally get dark at times. Likewise, this display’s glossy finish means it’s incredibly reflective as well.
Software
Windows 10 Home
Upgradable to Windows 11
Okay, allow me to get into the software side of things now. The Aya Neo Pro boots on Windows 10 and is even Windows 11-compatible. For all my benchmarks and gaming tests, I stuck with Windows 10 since there are still some hiccups—major and minor—with gaming on Windows 11.
Then again, a keyboard-less Windows experience is far from ideal, and getting used to navigating the Aya Neo Pro certainly takes some getting used to.
While Aya Space comes pre-installed on newer consoles from the company, we had to install it separately. This is basically a performance hub for Aya Neo devices that’ll let you access all the installed games, adjust performance profiles, view system status, and much more.
It also lets you switch between the intensity of the vibration feedback but the app straight up crashed a couple of times I tried it. Then there were a few instances where it seemingly worked, but I was greeted with a “Controller Disconnected” prompt when getting back to the game.
Performance
AMD Ryzen 7 4800U CPU (10-25W TDP)
AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics (Integrated)
16GB LPDDR4x RAM, 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
Finally, let’s talk about its performance. Powering the Aya Neo Pro is AMD’s Zen 2-based Ryzen 7 4800U mobile CPU. This octa-core processor features Radeon Vega 8 GPU with 8 cores, clocked at up to 1.75GHz. As you’d expect, this combo is powerful enough to handle all the latest and greatest games with adjusted settings.
You obviously won’t get to enjoy every title with pristine graphics quality, but I’ll trade off better graphics for smoother gameplay any day of the week. Complementing this is 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM in dual-channel (4266MHz) and a whole terabyte of M.2 NVMe SSD with significant read/write speeds.
Benchmarks:
CrystalDiskMark
Read (MB/s)
Write (MB/s)
SEQ1M Q8T1
2464.32
1973.02
SEQ1M Q1T1
2042.41
2175.61
RND4K Q32T1
413.96
1972.45
RNK4K Q1T1
54.94
216.50
Higher is better
Cinebench R23
CPU: Multi-Core
7913
CPU: Single Core
1219
MP Ratio
6.49x
Higher is better
Geekbench 5
CPU: Single Core
1175
CPU: Multi-Core
6118
Compute (OpenCL)
13382
Higher is better
Unigine Heaven
(FPS: 31.3, Score: 787, Min FPS: 10.6, Max FPS: 77.6)
API: OpenGL
Multi-monitor: Disabled
Quality: High
Anti-aliasing: x2
Tessellation: Extreme
Fullscreen: Yes
Stereo 3D: Disabled
Resolution: System
Higher is better
3DMark
Overall
Graphics
Physics
Combined
Fire Strike Extreme v1.1
1610
1619
17130
672
Total
Graphics
CPU
Time Spy v1.2
1300
1145
5603
Higher is better
Gaming experience
On the gaming front, even when overclocking it to 30W—which is beyond the 20W default limit—the results don’t look that impressive for 50% more power consumption. So, I tested all the games at the 20W “Game” mode, where most AAA games averaged at about 25-40fps at their lowest settings.
On the other hand, light-medium games can hit stable 60fps when meddling through the settings a little.
For instance, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla delivers 38fps on average at low settings, which is about 60% higher than when playing at high settings. Aya Neo also highlights that this thing can handle Cyberpunk 2077. But even at the lowest graphics settings, it managed just around 27fps on average. Relatively less-demanding titles like GTA V and The Sims 4 do hit 58-60fps even at high settings.
Gaming Results:
20W TDP mode
Games
Settings
Average FPS
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
High
24
Medium
30
Low
38
Control
High
21
Medium
25
Low
37
Forza Horizon 5
High
41
Medium
53
Low
69
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Medium
29
Low
34
Lowest
47
Tekken 7
High
35
Medium
60
Low
Stable 60
Valorant
High
104
Medium
112
Low
130
Cyberpunk 2077
High
17
Medium
22
Low
27
GTA V
High
58
Medium
64
Low
77
The SIMS 4
High
63
Medium
75
Low
89
Aer
Max
Stable 60
Abza
Brawlhalla
Similarly, Tekken 7 is well playable at low settings with a stable 60fps but I struggled to play fighting games like this with these controls.
The last time I remember playing Tekken and Street Fighter was with arcade gamepads.
So, this is a “me” problem and not an “it” problem. Furthermore, I thoroughly struggled with FPS games like CS: GO and Valorant on the Aya Neo Pro because I’ve never tried these games on controllers before. And unlike an Xbox or PlayStation, you don’t get aim-assist on Windows machines either. Sandbox RPG games like GTA V, Assassin’s Creed, Control, Aer, etc. are easy to navigate and get around though.
Haptic feedback
Adding to the gaming experience is the X-axis linear vibration motor that’s unpleasantly set to “strong” by default. So I switched to the “slight” profile for more subtle vibration feedback instead.
For the most part, it does enhance the gameplay—especially in racing games like Forza Horizon 5—where in-game events like the engine revving up or a crash are well replicated by the vibration motor.
Handling the thermals is the single air-intake fan at the back and an exhaust vent at the top. If you have large hands, chances are you could block the intake a little depending on how you’d grip the device. But this wasn’t that much of a trouble for me.
Then again, the Aya Neo Pro warms up pretty fast even when turning on the “Excellent” fan profile that cranks the fan speed fast as 4700 RPM—although the fan noise isn’t that bothersome even at its loudest. Unless you’re blocking the ventilation in some way, the surface temperature never hits the “uncomfortable” territory, which is fantastic!
Battery
47Wh battery with 60W USB PD charging
Fueling the Aya Neo Pro is a 47Wh battery that supports 60W USB PD charging. I’d say its endurance is just about decent.
Playing games at 50% brightness under the 20W TDP profile, it lasted me about 1 hour and 45 minutes—but I was able to squeeze out an extra hour or so of screen-on time under medium and light games. Using the 60W adapter provided inside the box, it takes around 2 hours to fuel it completely.
Aya Neo Pro 2021 Review: Conclusion
Wrapping up this review, the Aya Neo Pro 2021 is a fun and capable handheld gaming PC to have. Like I mentioned in the beginning, this thing is for a niche group of consumers and if you fall under the target demographics, you’re probably gonna love it. It runs on Windows—and thereby lets you play your PC games anywhere. Not only that, the powerful AMD processor underneath is well-equipped to handle most current-gen games as well.
Now, even though it achieves what it’s set out to do, the Aya Neo Pro is extremely expensive. So if money is no object to you or you can’t wait for the Steam Deck to arrive—the Aya Neo Pro is as good as it gets.
A few months back, Honor launched its flagship 60 series. The lineup included Honor 60 and 60 Pro smartphones. Recently, the company has introduced a new member in the series, called the Honor 60 SE 5G. Interestingly, the camera module of this device is reminiscent of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Here, we will go through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of Honor 60 SE 5G in Nepal.
Honor 60 SE 5G Overview:
While the company has officially announced the phone, they haven’t revealed the full specifications of the device.
Design and Display
Starting with the design, the camera module of Honor 60 SE looks similar to that of the iPhone 13 Pro models. However, as opposed to the boxy look of the iPhone, it has curved edges on the back. Similarly, the front of the device has a 120Hz curved display with a punch-hole cutout at the center.
In terms of performance, a recent Geekbench listing showed the 60 SE with Dimensity 900 chipset. It’s a 6nm chipset with two Cortex-A78 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores. This is paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Over on the software front, it runs on Android 11 based MagicUI 5.0.
Moreover, the smartphone has a triple camera setup on the back. It is led by 64MP primary while the company has not revealed the sensor size of the rest other two cameras.
Rest of the specs
The Honor 60 SE supports 66W fast charging, yet the exact battery capacity of the smartphone is unknown as of now. Likewise, it is available on three color options—Bright Black, Ink Jade Green, and Flowing Light Illusion.
The Honor 60 SE 5G retails for CNY 2,199 for the 8/128GB variant while the higher 8/256GB model goes for CNY 2,499. It’s already up for pre-order in mainland China where the delivery starts from February 18, 2022. We expect the price of Honor 60SE 5G to start at NPR 45,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.
Honor 60 SE 5G
Price in China
Price in Nepal
8/128GB
CNY 2,199
NPR 45,000
8/256GB
CNY 2,499
NPR 50,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE.
Dell debuted the 2021 iteration of the G5 gaming laptop last year with the new RTX 30-series graphics. It eventually made its way into the Nepali market but with 10th Gen Intel CPUs. You can finally buy the laptop with newer Intel and AMD processors. Here, we will be discussing the specifications, key features, price, and availability of the Dell G5 2021 in Nepal.
Dell G5 2021 Overview:
Design and Display
Dell has tried to spice up the design of this budget gaming laptop. You can notice the Alienware-inspired design with the orange accent right away.
Inside, you get a 15.6-inch LCD panel with a 165Hz refresh rate. It is an anti-glare panel with a brightness of just 300 nits. There is also an option for a 120Hz (250 nits) panel.
Performance and Memory
Under the hood, the laptop comes with 10th and 11th Gen Intel CPUs. There is also a Ryzen Edition with AMD’s Ryzen 5800H. They are paired with RTX 30-series GPUs. Models with RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3060 are currently available in Nepal.
As for memory, you get up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of SSD. You have the option of expanding the former up to 32GB.
The laptop has a dual intake vent through which air is taken in, while the laptop consists of four exhaust vents located on the side and rear. Users have access to Alienware Command Center to fine-tune the laptop’s performance for the desired gaming experience.
Fueling the G5 2021 is a 56/86Wh battery. It has a dual-speaker setup with Nahimic Audio. Moving on, there is a full-sized keyboard with the aforementioned orange backlight.
Dell G5 (2021) Specifications:
Body (H x W x D): 21.21 x 357.26 x 272.11-mm, 2.44 kg
Webcam: HD 720p RGB camera with digital array microphones
Audio: 2x 2W speakers tuned with Nahimic 3D audio
Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2×2), Bluetooth
Dell G5 (2021) Price in Nepal and Launch
The price of Dell G5 (2021) starts at Rs. 118,000. It is for the base variant with Intel Core i5-10200H and GTX 1650. Likewise, the high-end model with Intel i7-11800H and RTX 3060 is available for Rs. 195,000. The sole Ryzen Edition model with Ryzen 5800H has a price tag of Rs. 195,000.
Researchers from MIT have recently invented a lightweight polymer that is tougher than steel but also light as plastic. Dubbed as a 2DPA-1 polymer, it can be easily manufactured in large quantities.
2DPA-1 Polymer Overview:
Unlike other polymers that form a spaghetti-like chain, the new material is a two-dimensional structure that self-assembles into sheets. Scientists have long believed that if polymers (which includes all plastic) could be formed into a two-dimensional sheet, they would be able to create strong yet lightweight materials.
However, after many years of work, researchers came to the conclusion that it simply could not be done. This was due to the fact that the monomers—which join other molecules to form polymer can rotate up and down. This causes the material to grow in three dimensions instead of a sheet-like structure.
But, through a recent study led by Michael Strano, researchers have developed a novel polymerization technique that allows the creation of a two-dimensional sheet known as a “polyaramide”. Here, for monomers, they used a compound called melamine which under the right condition can grow to form a two-dimensional disk. And, when these disks pile on top of one another, they produce an extremely robust structure.
Moving on, the newly created material has up to six times the deformation resistance of bulletproof glass. Similarly, even though the material has one-sixth the density of steel, the energy required to destroy it is double that of steel.
Strano says, “We don’t usually think of plastics as being something that you could use to support a building, but with this material, you can enable new things. It has very unusual properties and we’re very excited about that.”
“Such a material could be used as a lightweight, durable coating for car parts or cell phones, or as a building material for bridges or other structures”
Another interesting feature of the new 2DPA-1 material is that it is impermeable to gases or liquids. The monomers here interlock like LEGOs, preventing any molecule to go through them. Thus, manufacturers can use it in car parts to add an extra layer of security against corrosion resistance.
2DPA-1 Polymer: Mass Production
According to the researchers, the polymer can be easily mass-produced by simply increasing the amount of materials used at the start. However, the material needs to be introduced in the market at affordable rates to be able to extensively scale it.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE.
