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iQOO Z6 5G announced with Snapdragon 695 chipset, 120Hz display

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Vivo’s subbrand iQOO has launched the iQOO Z6 smartphone in India. It’s the brand’s latest mid-range offering and also the successor to last year’s Z5. In this article, we will be discussing the key specifications, features, and price of iQOO Z6.

iQOO Z6 Overview:

Design and Display

iQOO Z6 sports a 6.58” LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch-hole cutout. It will be an FHD panel with DCI-P3 wide color coverage. Official images shared by iQOO reveal a flat-edge design with curved edges. They also show off the new rectangular camera bump with a plastic back. Similarly, it comes with a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W charging. The fingerprint sensor is located on the ride side housed inside the power button.

Performance

iQOO is promoting the phone as the fastest 5G smartphone in the INR 15-18K range in India. The phone is powered by Snapdragon 695 chipset, which we can also find on the Note 11 Pro 5G. As per iQOO, the phone has managed to score 410563 points in the AnTuTu score.

For sustained performance, iQOO has added a 5-layered liquid cooling setup consisting of a 1445 sq. mm vapor chamber. It is said to reduce the core CPU temperature by 10°  C during intensive tasks. iQOO is offer the phone in multiple memory configurations, including an 8+128GB variant.

Camera 

The Z6 5G features a triple camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary sensor and two 2MP auxiliary lenses for macro and portrait. For selfies, there’s a 16MP shooter. Both the front and the back can record 1080P videos.

Given the overall specs and the design, the iQOO Z6 is a rebranded Vivo T1 5G.

Specifications:

  • Display: 6.58-inch (2408×1080 pixels) Full HD+ LCD screen with 120Hz refresh rate
  • Dimensions: 164x 75.84x 8.25mm; Weight: 185g
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 695 8nm 5G
  • CPU: Octa-Core (2.2GHz x 2+1.8GHz x 6 Kryo 560)
  • GPU: Adreno 619L
  • RAM: 4GB / 6GB / 8GB LPDDR4x
  • Storage: 128GB (UFS 2.1) storage, expandable memory up to 1TB with microSD
  • SIM: Dual SIM
  • OS: Android 12 with Funtouch OS 12
  • Back Camera: 50MP f/1.8 primary camera, 2MP depth sensor, 2MP macro camera
  • Front Camera: 16MP f/2.0 aperture
  • Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • Connectivity & Ports: 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, GPS/ GLONASS/ Beidou, USB Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack
  • Battery: 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging

iQOO Z6 5G Price & Availability

iQOO Z6 has been launched in India for a price of Rs. 15,499 for the 4GB + 128GB model, Rs. 16,999 for the 6GB + 128GB version and Rs. 17,999 for the 8GB + 128GB version. Its sale starts on March 22 from Amazon India. We can expect the IQOO Z6 to launch in Nepal for a starting price of Rs. 30,000.

iQOO Z6 5G Variants Price in India
4/128GB INR 15,499
6/128GB INR 16,999
8/128GB INR 17,999
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the iQOO Z5.

Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro announced with LHDC 4.0, Qi wireless charging and more

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Xiaomi has launched a new pair of TWS buds, called the Xioami Buds 3T Pro. It’s a premium bud from the brand that features ANC, LHDC 4.0 audio codec, Bluetooth 5.2, wireless charging, and more. So, let’s get through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro in Nepal. 

Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro Overview:

Body

Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro Design

The 3T Pro features a stem-style design with silicone ear tips. The buds weigh only 4.9 grams a piece, while the charging case weighs 48 grams. It is available in two color options: Carbon Black and Gloss White.

Features

Furthermore, each bud features a 10mm dual-magnet dynamic driver with a DLC diaphragm that boosts dynamic sensitivity, allowing you to hear every nuance in the music. Xiaomi also says that the buds have been tuned to a studio-level quality, which is believed to reduce distortion for a better listening experience.

Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro Internals

It has an active noise cancellation mode (ANC) that can reduce background noise by up to 40 dB. Users can select one of three ANC modes—Light, Balanced, or Adaptive—to filter noise based on its surroundings. The earbuds also have a Transparency mode.

Moving on, the Xiaomi Buds 3T is the company’s first Dimensional audio product. It can measure head movement to deliver a 360-degree soundscape. This is similar to Apple Airpods Spatial audio feature. You also get support for the LHDC 4.0 audio codec for clear, high-fidelity sound. In a nutshell, LHDC is an alternative codec to Qualcomm aptX and Sony LDAC.

Battery and Controls

The Xiaomi Buds 3T is touted to have a battery life of up to 6 hours on a single charge; with the charging case providing up to 24 hours of music listening time. Each earbud contains a 38mAh battery, while the casing contains a 480mAh cell. It takes around 70 minutes to fuel up the buds while it also supports Qi Wireless charging.

For controlling, each bud accepts touch gestures. Here, a single tap lets you play/pause the music or answer/end calls. Similarly, double and triple tap skips a track or plays the previous track, respectively. You can also press and hold either bud to activate ANC and transparency mode. 

Rest of the specs

Aside from that, the Buds 3T has an IP55 rating against dust and water resistance. Similarly, it comes with a triple microphone array that ensures clearer audio during calls. For connectivity, it utilizes Bluetooth 5.2 and supports quick pairing.

Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro Specifications:

  • Weight: 4.9gm (each earbud), 48gm (earbuds with case)
  • Sound Driver: 10mm dual magnetic dynamic driver with DLC diaphragm
  • Microphone: Triple
  • Audio Codec: LDHC 4.0
  • Battery: 38mAh (bud) | 480mAh (case)
  • Music Playback Time:
    • Earbuds: Up to 6 hours 
    • With case: Up to 24 hours 
  • Charging: Qi Wireless, USB Type-C
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
  • Control: Touch-enabled
  • Noise Cancellation: Yes, ANC (up to 40dB)
  • IP Rating: Yes, IP55 
  • Color Options: Carbon Black, Gloss White

Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

The Buds 3T Pro will retail for USD 199 for the global market. We expect it to cost around NPR 20,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.

Earbuds Price (Global) Price in Nepal (Expected)
Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro USD 199 NPR 20,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.

Kawasaki’s new ride is not a Motorcycle—it’s a goat

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Spot, Boston Dynamic’s robot dog, has regularly made headlines for his unusual dancing moves and stunts. However, it now has a competitor to steal all the thunder. Kawasaki, the well-known motorcycle manufacturer, has recently unveiled “Bex,” a quadruped robot goat capable of carrying up to 100 kgs of load. Read along to know more about the Bex robot goat from Kawasaki.

Kawasaki Bex Robot:

Kawasaki has revealed its new robot “Goat” at the International Robot Exhibition (iREX) 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. And, it’s named “Bex” after a certain species of wild goat. It’s an outgrowth of Kawasaki’s Kaleido program, which has been focusing on developing bipedal humanoid robots since 2015.

Kawasaki Bex Robot Design

Masayuki Soube of Kawasaki said in an interview, “Halfway between humanoid robots and wheeled robots, [we] wondered if there was an opportunity. That’s why we started developing Bex, a quadruped walking robot. We believe that the walking technology cultivated in the development of humanoid robots can definitely be applied to quadruped walking robots.”

The goat-ride

Moving on, a user on YouTube has shared a video showing the Bex robot in action. As you can see, it has horns and can move like a normal goat—thanks to its four-wheeled foot. The robot can also hold the weight of an adult human and ride around like a horse. Likewise, the rider can control the robot via handlebars. 

While Bex can surely walk like a goat, its pace is considerably slower than its real living sibling. So, when speed is a requirement, Bex utilizes its hybrid mobility system. It can lower its body and kneel on four pairs of wheels positioned on each knee, transforming it into a vehicle of sorts. Yet, this is only feasible on a leveled surface. The bot readjusts itself to stand on its four movable wheels when the ground becomes more uneven.

Modular and Practical

Despite carrying humans, Bex’s is designed is to transport building materials and other items from one site to another. Just so you know, it’s rated carrying capacity is around 200 pounds (100 kgs). Kawasaki aims to use the robot in performing remote industrial site inspections—similar to what Spot is doing at Hyundai facilities in Korea.

Moving on, the company has also designed the upper portion of the Bex to be completely modular. So, customers can customize it to meet their own requirements.

Kawasaki Bex Robot: Final Words

Besides Kawasaki, Hyundai has also developed a robot named “MobED” that carries your daily items; while China has recently unveiled a Yak-shaped robot to aid in military operations. Such innovations do make you feel that robots will help create a future where physical work will be a choice.

  • Check out our video of the Galaxy S22 Ultra vs iPhone 13 Pro Max gaming test.

Realme 9 Pro+ Impressions: A Cool Comeback?

Realme released its first number series phone for 2022—the Realme 9i—about two months. The company then followed it up with the relatively more premium Realme 9 Pro and the 9 Pro+ back in February. And now, the Realme 9 Pro+ is all set to make its Nepali debut on March 17. Here’s our early impressions or a mini-review of sorts of the Realme 9 Pro+ after having used it for a couple of days.

Realme 9 Pro+ Specifications:

  • Body: 73.3 x 160.2 x 7.99mm, 182 gm, Glass back, Plastic frames
  • Display: 6.4-inches Super AMOLED panel, 90Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, Gorilla Glass 5, Up to 600 nits brightness (HBM)
  • Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 409 PPI, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G (6nm mobile platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core:
    – 2x Cortex-A78 (2.5GHz)
    – 6x Cortex-A55 (2.0GHz)
  • GPU: Arm Mali-G68 MC4
  • Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage (fixed)
  • Software & UI: Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0 on top
  • Rear Camera: Triple (with LED flash);
    – 50MP, f/1.8 Sony IMX766 1/1.56″ sensor, OIS, EIS
    – 8MP, f/2.2 Sony IMX355 ultrawide sensor, 119º FoV, EIS
    – 2MP, f/2.4 macro lens, 4cm fixed focus
  • Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.4 Sony IMX471 sensor (hole-punch cutout)
  • Audio: Dual stereo speaker, Dolby Atmos audio, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Security: Optical in-display fingerprint sensor (with heart rate monitor), Face unlock
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Light, Proximity, Gyro, Magnetic induction
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 6 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
  • Battery: 4500mAh with 60W SuperDart charge (65W power adapter provided)
  • Color Options: Sunrise Blue, Aurora Green, Midnight Black
  • What’s inside the box: Realme 9 Pro+, Transparent case, SIM ejector, 65W power adapter, USB-A to USB-C cable
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 41,999 (6/128GB) | Rs. 45,499 (8/128GB)

Realme 9 Pro+ Impressions:

Right off the bat, the Realme 9 Pro+ is quite similar to the Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge in terms of overall specs, so it’s going to be interesting to see how these phones fare against each other.

Realme 8 Pro - Design 1
Realme 8 Pro

Anyway, if you roll back a year, the Realme 8 Pro was heavily criticized by many for being a “not so good” value for money product, especially at a time when Xiaomi released its blockbuster phone, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. But I genuinely think that the company has made a comeback with the 9 Pro+. And it looks quite promising for Realme.

So, starting off with the things I have liked about it so far, the first thing that comes to my mind is the design. I have always been a fan of the compact form factor on Realme phones. And courtesy of its relatively smaller 6.43-inch screen, that trend follows with the 9 Pro+ as well. As a result, it doesn’t feel too heavy or too wide to use.

No more “DARE TO LEAP”

Plus, Realme has also included a glass back here. We are used to seeing plastic back on the company’s budget and mid-range phones, so this is some quality of life improvement that I actually appreciate. And because of this glass back, it feels much more premium than last year’s Realme 8 Pro.

Plus, I think Realme has learned its lesson against including big “Dare to Leap” branding at the back. There’s only a subtle Realme logo on the bottom left this time.

Realme 9 Pro+ - Design

On the other hand, you might find this glossy back panel with reflective, shimmering glitter attractive, but I would have preferred a matte finish instead. The frames are still plastic, but the slight curves on the back help with the grip a lot. In my limited use so far, I’ve also liked its weight distribution and the minimal thickness, which according to Realme is the lowest ever in the number series.

Decent display

Upfront, the Realme 9 Pro+ features a Gorilla Glass 5-protected AMOLED screen with a 20:9 Full HD resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. As expected, it comes with Widevine L1 certification alongside HDR10+ support. I have watched a couple of YouTube and Netflix videos so far without coming across any issues with HDR processing, contrast levels, or even brightness.

Realme says this display has a maximum brightness of 600 nits, which is a tad bit lower considering today’s standard, although I found its brightness to be adequate enough even under a bright ambiance. Complementing the display are the dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio support.

Realme 9 Pro+ - Display

They can get quite loud and the overall sound quality is pretty good as well. This screen also brings a 360Hz touch sampling rate, but it doesn’t feel as responsive when I’m typing and such. It seems that the phone enables the full 360Hz mode only when explicitly boosting the touch sensitivity to High under games.

But what’s certainly not inferior is the in-display optical fingerprint sensor here.

It’s incredibly fast and thanks to the phone’s overall compact form factor, unlocking with one hand is a lot easier as well. Additionally, this fingerprint sensor can even be used to monitor your heart rate. All you have to do is, go to Realme Labs → Heart Rate Measurement → and then place your finger on the fingerprint sensor for 15 seconds.

I compared its measurement against my Apple Watch Series 7 and their results were quite similar. But I would have preferred a standalone app for it though. Talking about apps, the company has included a lot of bloatware apps here. Luckily, most of them can be uninstalled!

What about performance?

Performance-wise, we get MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 920 chipset along with up to 8GB of DDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. We have seen the same configuration in Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge as well, so you can expect similar performance between these phones.

MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G

In case you’re unaware, the Dimensity 920 5G is a good midrange chip and is comparable to the Snapdragon 778G. Anyway, I played PUBG Mobile on the Realme 9 Pro+ for a few minutes where it could hit a stable 40 fps under HDR graphics and Ultra frame rates. Likewise, you can lower the graphics to Smooth and frame rates to Extreme to enjoy a smoother 60 fps gameplay.

Not the most powerful phone for gaming

However, the limitation with a mid-tier chipset like Dimensity 920 is reflected well on more graphics-hungry games like Genshin impact where I noticed slight lags at the highest settings. Hence, I have to keep it at 30 fps for stable gameplay.

So, if you are more into gaming, I would suggest you get Snapdragon 870-powered phones like the Xiaomi Mi 11X, Poco F3, or the iQOO 7 at more or less the same price as this phone.

Realme 9 Pro+ - Vapor Chamber Cooling

As for the thermals, Realme says it has used a Vapor Chamber Cooling System on the 9 Pro+ which significantly reduces the temperature and keeps the phone in a high-performance state for a longer period. However, because it is so compact and thin, I have faced some heating issues. Be it gaming for more than 10 minutes or charging the phone, the phone is slightly vulnerable to heat.

In my throttling test, the CPU throttled to 94% in 15 minutes and to 91% after 30 minutes. On the contrary, Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge with the same Dimensity 920 processor didn’t throttle at all. In Realme’s defense, it does have a better GIPS—i.e. higher performance. So, what Realme is doing here is offering better performance at the expense of greater heat dissipation.

50MP Sony IMX766 camera with OIS

Moving on, the biggest “competitive advantage” for the Realme 9 Pro+ seems to be its cameras.

Realme 9 Pro+ - Cameras

Here, the company has included a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS, which is present in much more expensive phones. Likewise, you get an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro camera.

I haven’t had the chance to click too many photos, but with OIS on board, the 9 Pro+ can capture photos with better sharpness and details than the Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge.

Even in terms of dynamic range, highlights, and exposure control, in most of the images that I have clicked, the ones from Realme are fuller and superior.

The Pixel influence

The portraits look very good on the Realme 9 Pro+ as well. It maintains a good skin tone and the background looks nice too. It seems to me that they have taken a slight inspiration from the Pixel phones when it comes to portraits.

For nighttime photography, I roamed the streets of Kathmandu to click photos of temples and stupas and they looked good for the price too. All in all, the Realme 9 Pro+ feels like a good camera phone for the price. But I will be running it through more tests to give you a solid verdict.

In terms of videos, the resolution option here ranges from 720p, 1080p, to 4K—although 4K resolution lacks the 60 fps option. And it looks like Realme has also disabled OIS at 4K resolution since the 4K/30fps footages aren’t that stable—while that doesn’t seem to be the case for 1080p videos.

Finally, the Realme 9 Pro+ comes with a modest 4500mAh battery that supports 60W fast charging. Since it has lived in my pockets for just about a day now, I haven’t had the chance to test its endurance properly.

Anyway, Realme says you can expect its battery to go from 0 to 100% in 54 minutes with the onboard charger which isn’t that fast compared to the competition—but that’s not a deal-breaker in any way.

Realme 9 Pro+ Impressions: Final Words

So that was it for our initial impressions of the new Realme 9 Pro+. To note, it certainly isn’t the most powerful phone you could find for the price. But Realme is heavily leaning on the design and camera side of things to deliver an overall balanced package instead. We are coming up with the full review of the Realme 9 Pro+ pretty soon so watch out for that as well.

  • Check out our unboxing and impressions video of the Realme 9 Pro+

POCO M4 Pro 4G Impressions: (Almost) A Clear Winner!

This is our early impressions of the new POCO M4 Pro 4G. By the way, there’s already a 5G variant of this phone that launched way back in November 2021, by the way. Considering the competition, the M4 Pro 5G delivered decent performance and didn’t sacrifice a whole lot to bring 5G connectivity either. So what could POCO do with a cheaper 4G variant of the phone?

POCO M4 Pro 4G Specifications:

  • Body: 73.8 x 159.8 x 8.09mm, 179.5 gm, Plastic build quality
  • Display: 6.43-inches Super AMOLED panel, 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate, DCI-P3 gamut, 1000 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass 3
  • Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 409 PPI, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G96 4G (12nm mobile platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core:
    – 2x Cortex-A76 (2.05GHz)
    – 6x Cortex-A55 (2.0GHz)
  • GPU: Arm Mali-G57 MC2
  • Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB UFS 2.2 storage (upgradable)
  • Software & UI: Android 11 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 13 on top
  • Rear Camera: Triple (with LED flash);
    – 64MP, f/1.8 primary sensor
    – 8MP, f/2.2 ultrawide lens, 118º FOV
    – 2MP, f/2.4 macro lens
  • Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.45 sensor (hole-punch cutout)
  • Audio: Dual stereo speaker, Hi-Res Audio, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light, E-compass, Gyroscope, Proximity
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 a/b/g/n/ac (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE (VoLTE)
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 33W Pro fast charging (power adapter provided)
  • Color Options: Cool Blue, Power Black, POCO Yellow
  • What’s inside the box: POCO M4 Pro 4G, Transparent case, SIM ejector, 33W power adapter, USB-A to USB-C cable
  • Price in Nepal: N/A (INR 14,999 for 6/64GB)

POCO M4 Pro 4G Impressions:

Well, there are a few upgrades and a couple of obvious downgrades here—most notably in the performance department—to meet that lower price point. Talking about price, the POCO M4 Pro 4G starts at INR 14,999 for the base 6/64GB variant while the specced-out 8/128GB model goes for INR 17,999.

There’s even a flat INR 1,000 bank discount as an introductory offer, which makes it a really appealing budget phone. As per our sources, this phone is set to launch soon in Nepal as well. I’ve been using it for a couple of days now and this is my initial impressions, or rather a mini-review, of the new POCO M4 Pro 4G.

The ergonomics… hot damn! 

Now, holding the phone in my hands, I’m immediately impressed by its design.

POCO M4 Pro 4G - Design

I mean… yes, POCO could have gone with a matte finish to prevent smudges and dust build-up at the back of the phone but besides that, the M4 Pro’s ergonomics is rock solid. I like how these slight curves at the back make handling the phone so easy, whereas it is also complemented by flat frames with a matte finish for that modern kick.

This all-plastic build quality doesn’t feel cheap, hollow, or any of those things either. At 179.5 grams, POCO says this is its lightest M-series phone yet but the M4 Pro still retains excellent heft and weight distribution.

Both power and volume rockers are placed on the right frame here, and reaching them with one hand wasn’t much trouble for me. The power button doubles as a fingerprint reader too—and it’s quite fast and responsive as you’d expect.

poco M4 Pro 4g is even IP53 certified against dust and splash damage, which is always nice to see on a phone in this price range.

POCO has also included an IR blaster, 3.5mm headphone jack, and stereo speakers, so you’re getting the whole package here. Unlike the M4 Pro 5G, its Z-axis linear motor has a fairly strong, loud, and “buzzing” feedback which makes the typing experience pretty enjoyable. While I prefer fluid, precise haptics myself, the M4 Pro’s vibration feedback is more than fine for a budget phone.

A great phone for your binge-watching sessions

Besides the great design, this is also an amazing phone for content consumption. POCO has upgraded to an AMOLED display this time, which is a major improvement over the IPS LCD panel on the M4 Pro 5G.

POCO M4 Pro 4G - Display 2

Protected by Gorilla Glass 3, this 6.43” Full HD screen delivers great colors thanks to the wide DCI-P3 gamut and pitch-black contrast with inky blacks and bright whites. Its viewing angle is equally great with no noticeable off-axis color shift. The phone is also Widevine L1 certified for HD playback on OTT platforms like Netflix, but do note that this budget phone lacks any form of HDR playback.

Moving on, I have no issue with the brightness on this thing though. POCO says the M4 Pro 4G achieves 700 nits under the High Brightness Mode (HBM)—whereas it can hit a peak brightness of 1000 nits.

This AMOLED upgrade doesn’t come at a sacrifice of a higher refresh rate or Always on Display support either. Because I’ve used a loooooot of phones with a 120Hz refresh rate, this 90Hz screen doesn’t feel all that special to me but if you’re coming from a regular 60Hz display, the M4 Pro’s smoothness is bound to be a visual treat.

And it’s adaptive as well, meaning the screen intelligently switches between 60 and 90Hz to save battery. Unfortunately, this display is subject to micro-stutters and jitters—which is something we’re well familiar with budget and mid-range phones from Xiaomi and POCO with a high refresh rate. This is most vividly noticeable once you’re scrolling through your Google Feed.

Is the chipset to blame for the micro stutters?

Other than this, I also noticed micro stutters when going over my apps on the POCO launcher and occasionally even when scrolling through a website on Chrome or opening the recent apps screen. It’s not that the POCO M4 Pro 4G has an incompetent chipset or anything since the Helio G96 powering the phone is equipped to handle up to 120Hz FHD displays. Hopefully, a fix is on the way!

MediaTek Helio G96 - 120Hz Support

Complementing this display is a set of stereo speakers, where the earpiece doubles as the secondary speaker unit. The M4 Pro gets fairly loud enough and is fine for listening to podcasts or binging your favorite shows. And there’s not much distortion at the max volume either. But the audio sounds almost flat when playing something with a high dynamic range as it boosts the mids and high frequencies over everything else.

How’s the performance then?

On to the performance of things, the POCO M4 Pro 4G is powered by MediaTek’s Helio G96. Apart from the aforementioned issue of micro-stutters, this 12nm chip handles usual everyday tasks pretty well. With 6GB RAM even in the base variant, you can expect a decent multitasking experience too. I usually juggle between 5-6 apps at a time and the M4 Pro managed to keep them in memory just fine.

Seems like Xiaomi has really improved RAM management with MIUI 13. It does come with a bunch of bloatware apps and games but you can uninstall most of them. However, the M4 Pro is still on Android 11 and not the latest Android 12-based MIUI 13. Although it’s more than likely that this phone will get the Android 12 update, that’s about it.

I don’t think Android 13 is on the cards for this budget phone.

And whatever happened to POCO UI, right? POCO had confirmed its custom UI to arrive by the end of 2021 but we’re well into 2022 and it’s still a no show.

Xiaomi MIUI 13 - Global

Regardless, you can enjoy some casual gaming on the POCO M4 Pro 4G. PUBG Mobile maxes out at HD graphics and High frame rates but I prefer the stable 40 fps gameplay under Smooth graphics and Ultra frame rates instead. Yet, this 12nm chip does show its thermal inefficiency as the phone gets warm quite quickly.

After just 8 minutes into the game, I clocked the CPU and battery temperature at 42 and 38°C respectively. Relatively less taxing games like Asphalt 9 and Mobile Legends play without any frame drops either.

Decent cameras (wait what?)

On the other hand, it brings a triple camera array at the back consisting of a 64MP primary, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro shooter housed inside this wide camera island. Upfront, there’s a 16MP selfie camera inside the hole-punch cutout.

POCO M4 Pro 4G - Back Cameras

Now, apart from the cameras, the POCO M4 Pro 4G is pretty much identical to the Redmi Note 11S. So if you’re conflicted between these two phones, I’d suggest going for this one because of the cheaper price tag. Plus, the 108MP camera on the Note 11S isn’t going to make a whole lot of difference for the additional money anyway.

Normal, Ultrawide Images

Here, the main 64MP shooter actually takes decent photos with a good amount of details and saturation, contrast levels—even though the overall shot comes off warm.

The ultrawide camera introduces a cooler hue instead but there’s not much detail to talk about here.

Portrait Images

Portrait photos have acceptable edge detection but it messes up the subject’s skin tone rather horribly. You can notice the unnatural pink tint alongside a hint of beautification on its portrait shots.

Selfie Images

It’s the same with the selfie cameras too. What’s worse is that Redmi and POCO phones with a MediaTek processor have always struggled with maintaining a good skin tone—so I doubt a future update is going to solve this!

Nighttime Images

Low-light photos are pretty impressive on the M4 Pro with decent exposure control. With Night Mode turned on, you can get well-balanced photos with greater highlights, details, and reduced noise as well.

In terms of videos, both the front and the back camera is limited to 1080p 30 fps recording—exactly like the POCO M4 Pro 5G and the Redmi Note 11S. As you’d expect, the videos are of strictly average quality with slight wobbles.

What to expect in terms of battery life

Finally, there’s no upgrade in the battery department this time since you’re getting the same 5000mAh cell that supports 33W Pro fast charging.

Under medium usage consisting of taking a bunch of photos/videos, streaming Netflix and Twitch, browsing the web, alongside some gaming every now and then, I managed to get around 7 hours of screen on time here. Pretty amazing stuff! As for charging, the phone can climb from 0 to 100% in a little over an hour.

POCO M4 Pro 4G Impressions: Final Words

Wrapping it all up, I think the POCO M4 Pro 4G is a great budget phone. Especially with that bank discount I talked about earlier (not sure the phone will launch at a similar price in Nepal though). Sacrificing 5G connectivity, it brings an AMOLED display which makes it an impressive device for multimedia consumption. And its battery life is pretty remarkable as well!

Sure there are a bunch of rough edges that POCO has got to sort out, like optimizing the cameras, responsiveness of the 90Hz refresh rate, and the Android 12 update thing. Nonetheless, that doesn’t keep the M4 Pro 4G from being a good budget phone under INR 15,000.

  • Check out our unboxing and impressions video of the POCO M4 Pro 4G. 

Asus ROG Flow X13 2021 with Ryzen 5000 H-series CPU launched in Nepal

Asus has launched the 2021 iteration of the ROG Flow X13 gaming laptop in Nepal. It’s a 2-in-1 laptop powered by AMD 5000 H-series processors and GeForce RTX GPUs. In this article, we will go through the specs, features, availability, and official price of Asus ROG Flow X13 2021 in Nepal. 

Asus ROG Flow X13 (2021) Overview:

Design and Display

The Flow X13 is an ultra-thin gaming laptop with a convertible design. It sports a 13.4-inch IPS LCD display that has 4K resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and 60/120Hz refresh rate. Similarly, it’s a touch-screen with Pantone validation, stylus support and covers 85% DCI-P3 color gamut. 

Asus ROG Flow X13 2021 Design and Display

Furthermore, the 360° hinge here enables users to use this laptop in three different modes: tablet, stand, and tent. It has a backlit chiclet keyboard and houses a 720P HD camera on the top bezel. 

Performance

In terms of performance, Asus ROG Flow X13 (2021) comes in two different CPU configurations—either AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS or Ryzen 9 5980HS. The latter variant is called the Supernova edition.

These processors are paired with either GeForce RTX 3050 or RTX 3050Ti or GTX 1650 graphics. All the GPUs come with 4GB of DDR6 VRAM with 35W TGP that can reach 40W in Dynamic Boost.

Asus ROG Flow X13 2021 with XG mobile dock

If you are not content with the GPU onboard, ROG Flow X13 even supports XG mobile docking station—an external GPU (eGPU) dock—which comes with GeForce RTX 3080 GPU at 150W TGP.

Over on the memory front, ROG Flow X13 comes with up to 32GB LPDDR4X RAM and 1TB of NVMe SSD storage. Fueling the device is a 62Whr cell that charges via a 100W AC adapter. As per Asus, it can charge 50% battery in just 30 mins. 

Rest of the specs

Moving on, the I/O option includes a 3.5mm audio jack, an HDMI 2.0b, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, one ROG XG Mobile Interface, and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (w/DP and PD) ports. Likewise, it utilizes WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity. 

Asus ROG Flow X13 (2021) Specifications:

  • Display: 13.4-inch IPS touchscreen, 360º hinge, 120Hz, Pantone validated, Stylus support
  • Resolution: WQUXGA (3840 x 2400 pixels), 16:10 aspect ratio
  • Keyboard: Backlit chiclet
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900H / Ryzen 9 5980HS
  • GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
  • RAM: Up to 32GB LPDDR4x (2 x SO-DIMM)
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
  • Audio: Dual speakers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio
  • Webcam: 720P HD
  • Security: Fingerprint scanner
  • Battery: 4-cell 62Wh Li-ion
  • Power Adapter: 100W USB Type-C
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1
  • Ports: 1x 3.5mm audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-Am 1x ROG XG Mobile Interface, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (w/ DP, PD)

Asus ROG Flow X13 (2021) Price in Nepal and Availability

Asus ROG Flow X13 has finally launched in Nepal with a price tag of Rs. 238,888. For the price, you get a 120Hz panel, Ryzen 5900HS, RTX 3050 Ti, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD.

If you buy Asus ROG Flow X13 (2021) from Nagmani-authorized stores you will get two years of warranty, a laptop sleeve, and a mouse for free.

Asus ROG Flow X13 (2021) Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
13.4″ WUXGA 120Hz, Ryzen 9 5900HS, RTX 3050 Ti, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD Rs. 238,888 Nagmani
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Asus TUF Dash F15 2021. 

Huawei MateBook 14 (2021) with 2K touch screen, 11th Gen Intel CPU official in Nepal

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Huawei has finally launched the MateBook 14 (2021) in Nepal. The notebook brings a sleek design, 2K “FullView” display, and an active cooling system. Here, we will be discussing the key specs, official price, and availability of the Huawei MateBook 14 (2021) in Nepal.

Huawei MateBook 14 (2021) Overview

Design and Display

Huawei MateBook 14 (2021) is primarily made out of metal. The laptop is fairly lightweight at 1.49 kg and is just 15.9mm thick. It is available in sole Space Gray color options.

Huawei MateBook 14 2020 AMD Design

Opening the lid, you are greeted with a 14-inch 2K screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It’s a FullView Display based on IPS technology. It even has 100% sRGB coverage and 10-point multi-touch. The display is also TUV Rheinland certified against blue light emission.

Performance and Memory

Under the hood, MateBook 14 (2021) packs the 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7.  It is a quad-core CPU with 8 threads and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.2 GHz. There is an active cooling system consisting of Huawei Shark fins and dual heat pipes. The base laptop variant of the laptop comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD.

Huawei MateBook 14 2021 Cooling

Rest of the Specs

Huawei MateBook 14 2021 features a 56Wh lithium-polymer battery. The company even includes a 65W USB-C charger in the box.

The laptop features two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB-C port, one HDMI port, and a 3.5mm 2-in1 headphone jack. It has two speakers and four microphones.

Huawei MateBook 14 2021 Ports

Other notable features include the recessed camera, fingerprint sensor (integrated into the power button), touchpad with Huawei Share tag.

Huawei MateBook 14 (2021) Specifications:

  • Dimension: 307.5 x 223.8 x 15.9mm; 1.49kg
  • Build: Metal + Plastic
  • Display: 14″ IPS Touch panel; 100% sRGB; 300 nits; 90% screen to body ratio; 178-degree viewing angle; 10-points touch;
  • Resolution: 2160 x 1440 pixels; 3:2 aspect ratio
  • Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7/ Core i7-1165G7
  • GPU: Intel Iris Xe (integrated)
  • RAM: 8GB RAM
  • Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • Ports: 1 x USB Type-C (data, charging, DisplayPort), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI and 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Audio: 2 x 2W speakers, 4 x microphone
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 5.1
  • Keyboard: Full-size Backlit chiclet Keyboard
  • Webcam: 720P HD (hidden)
  • Battery: 56 WHr Lithium Battery
  • Charger: 65W USB Type-C charger
  • Color: Space Gray

Huawei MateBook 14 (2021) Price in Nepal and Availability

The official price of Huawei MateBook 14 (2021) in Nepal in Nepal is Rs. 1,48,990. It is for the base Core i5 variant with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage.

Huawei MateBook 14 (2021)  Price in Nepal (Official) 
Core i5-1135G7, 8GB RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD  Rs.  148,990
  • Check out our review of the Asus Zephyrus G14.

Realme launches TechLife Watch S100 with all-day SpO2, up to 12 days battery life

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Alongside the Realme 9 5G and 9 Speed Edition, the company has launched a new wearable, called the Realme TechLife Watch S100. The smartwatch promises up to 12 days of battery life. So, let’s go through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Realme TechLife Watch S100 in Nepal. 

Realme TechLife Watch S100 Overview:

Body

Realme TechLife Watch S100 Design and Display

To begin, the Watch S100 features a 1.69-inch color touchscreen with a resolution of 280 x 240 pixels and a peak brightness of 530 nits. It has a metallic housing and is IP68 water-resistant up to 1.5 meters. The Watch S100 weighs 34 grams and comes in two color options—Black and Grey.

Features

The wearable comes equipped with a Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor for constant heart rate monitoring. It also features a three-axis accelerometer for activity tracking. 

Realme TechLife Watch S100 Sensor

Health and fitness features include 24/7 blood oxygen and heart rate tracking, sleep monitoring, and others. The company has also included a skin temperature measurement feature to monitor the temperature of your wrist and body. There are also 24 distinct sports modes and 110+ watch faces to choose from.

Rest of the specs

The Watch S100 is fitted with a 260mAh cell that is rated to provide up to 12 days of battery life. It connects to your smartphone via a Realme Fit app and supports devices with Android 5.0+ and iOS 11+. 

Realme TechLife Watch S100 Specifications:

  • Dimension: 25.1 x 3.58 x 1.16
  • Design: Metal body, Removable Wrist band
  • Display: 1.69-inches IPS panel, 530 nits 
  • Resolution: 240 x 280 pixels, 218PPI
  • Water Resistance Level: IP68, Up to 1.5 meters
  • Sensors: 3-Axis Accelerometer, Optical Heart Rate, SpO2
  • Sports Mode: 24 different modes
  • Battery: 260mAh
  • Charing Type: Magnetic charging base
  • Color Options: Black, Grey
  • Companion App: Realme Fit (Android | iOS)

Realme TechLife Watch S100 Price in Nepal and Availability

The TechLife Watch S100 is priced at INR 2,499 in India, where it will be available from March 14. We expect the price of Realme TechLife Watch S100 to be NPR 5,000, if and when it launches in Nepal. 

Smartwatch Price in India (Official) Price in Nepal (Expected)
Realme TechLife Watch S100 INR 2,499 NPR 5,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme 9 Pro+.

Realme 9 5G launched with Dimensity 810, 90Hz LCD screen

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Realme announced two new 9 series phones today. It includes the new Realme 9, which brings a new processor and support for 5G connectivity. In this article, we will be discussing the key specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Realme 9 5G in Nepal.

Realme 9 5G Overview

Design and Display

Realme 9 5G comes with a 6.5” 90Hz display, which was not there on last year’s Realme 8. However, the company has also replaced the Super AMOLED screen with an IPS panel. That being said, it still retains the 180Hz touch sampling rate and the left-aligned camera cutout.

The phone is 8.5mm thick and weighs around 188 grams. You can choose between two colors: Stargaze White and Meteor Black.

Realme 9 5G Design and Display

Performance

Under the hood, Realme has gone with the 5G-ready Dimensity 810 5G chipset. In addition to the support for 5G connectivity, it even brings a newer 6nm process which makes it more power-efficient compared to the Helio G95 on the Relame 9i.

The two chipsets feature the same 2x Cortex A76 + 6x Cortex-A55 core configuration. However, the performance cores are clocked a little higher on Dimensity 810. Talking about graphics, Dimensity 810’s dual-core Mali G57 GPU is actually a downgrade from the quad-core Mali G76 on the G95.

Camera

At the back, Realme 9 5G brings a triple camera consisting of a 48MP primary sensor accompanied by a 2MP macro and a 2MP portrait sensor. In contrast, Realme 8 featured a quad-camera setup with a 64MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultrawide sensor. On the front, there is a 16MP sensor for selfies and video calls.

Realme 9 5G camera setup

Rest of the Specs

Fueling the Realme 9 5G is a 5,000mAh battery. The phone charges slower at 18W against its predecessor’s 30W charging. It still boots on Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top. There is a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for biometrics.

Realme 9 5G is available in two memory configurations. The base variant has 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, while the top-end model comes with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.

Realme 9 5G Specifications:

  • Display: 6.5-inches LCD panel, 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate
  • Resolution: Full-HD+ (2412 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 810 (6nm)
  • Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top
  • Rear Camera: Triple camera;
    – 48MP f/1.8 primary lens
    – 2MP f/2.4 B&W lens
    – 2MP f/2.4 macro lens
  • Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
  • Security: side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 18W SuperDart Charge

Realme 9 5G Price in Nepal and Availability (Expected)

Realme 9 5G will go on sale in India on March 14. There, its price is INR 14,999 for the 4/64GB variant and INR 17,499 for the 6/128GB variant. If it launches here, we expect the price of Realme 9 5G in Nepal to start at NPR 25,500.

Realme 9 Price in India (Official) Price in Nepal (Expected)
4/64GB INR 14,999 NPR 25,500
6/128GB INR 17,499 NPR 30,500
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Realme 8.

Realme 9 5G “Speed Edition” goes official with Snapdragon 778G, 144Hz screen

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After launching the 9 Pro and 9 Pro+ last month, Realme has added two more phones to its latest number series. Among the two phones announced today, Realme 9 SE is a completely new phone with no direct predecessor. In this article, we will be discussing the key specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Realme 9 SE in Nepal.

Realme 9 SE Overview:

Performance

Realme has justified the Speed Edition moniker by including Snapdragon 778G under the hood. In terms of raw performance, it is even better than the Snapdragon 695-powered 9 Pro. It brings faster Cortex-A78 performance cores (1x 2.4GHz + 3x 2.2 GHz) and a capable GPU in the form of Adreno 642L. However, this chip is based on an older 6nm process.

Though you can choose between 6GB and 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, you will get 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage on both. Likewise, there is also an option to expand the storage further with an external memory card.

Display and Design

Moving on, Realme 9 SE brings a 6.6” LCD screen with support for a 144Hz refresh rate. This makes it the fastest display in the series. Likewise, the screen is said to switch between six different levels of refresh rate based on the app and content. The screen boasts a 240Hz touch sampling rate and 600 nits of peak brightness.

Realme 9 SE Design and Display

Over on the back, Realme 9 SE has a shining textured design with anti-fingerprint properties. It is available in Starry Glow and Azure Glow color options.

Cameras

In terms of photography, Realme 9 SE brings a triple camera setup. The primary camera here uses a 48MP sensor. Accompanying it is a duo of 2MP sensors for portraits and macro, respectively. Unfortunately, there is no ultrawide shooter here. For selfies, Realme has included a 16MP shooter inside the left-aligned punch-hole display cutout.

Realme 9 SE Camera

Rest of the Specs

Realme 9 SE gets its juice from a massive 5,000mAh battery, and it has support for 33W fast charging. It has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for biometrics. It even brings support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. The phone still boots on Android 11, which is quite a bummer given all the specs that it offers for the price.

Realme 9 SE Specifications:

  • Display: 6.6-inches LCD panel, 144Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate
  • Resolution: Full-HD+ (2412 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G (6nm)
  • Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top
  • Rear Camera: Triple camera;
    – 48MP f/1.8 primary lens
    – 2MP f/2.4 B&W lens
    – 2MP f/2.4 macro lens
  • Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
  • Security: side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 30W SuperDart Charge

Realme 9 SE Price in Nepal and Availability (Expected)

Realme 9 SE will go on sale starting March 14 in India, where it starts at INR 19,999 for the base 6/128GB variant. If it launches here, we expect the price of the Realme 9 SE in Nepal to start at NPR 34,500.

Realme 9 SE Price in India (Official) Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB INR 19,999 NPR 34,500
8/128GB INR 22,999 NPR 40,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our unboxing of the Realme 9 SE.