HTC has just released its newest consumer-focused VR headset. The HTC Vive Flow is a compact and lightweight VR headset that you can wear like sunglasses. Here, we will be looking at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the HTC Vive Flow in Nepal.
HTC Vive Flow Overview:
HTC is not new to the VR headset industry. The company has launched a bunch of enterprise-level products previously, including the Vive Focus 3. However, the Vive Flow is the first entry-level VR headset from the company for the mainstream audience, and it will be competing against the likes of Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2.
Design
Unlike the majority of the mainstream VR headsets that require you to put a strap around your head, the Vive Flow can be worn as pair of sunglasses. Plus, it only weighs around 189 grams. That being said, it looks bulky and is nothing like the recently launched Ray-Ban Stories.
You can fold HTC Vive Flow like regular sunglasses thanks to the dual-hinge system. The arms are fitted with stereo speakers that support spatial audio.
Specifications and Features
As for specs, HTC Vive Flow features two displays of 1600 x 1600 pixels each. They run at 75Hz and have a 100º field of view. Since HTC has used diopter lenses here, users do not need to wear glasses while using the headset. Moreover, there are two cameras on the front for “passthrough videos”. Also in the future, they will be able to track users’ hand movements.
Vive Flow also features an active fan that pulls in cold air from around the face and pushes warm air out of the top vent. It doesn’t come with a dedicated controller though. Thus, you will have to rely on your Android phone that you can use as a pointer after the pair up.
HTC Vive Flow Price in Nepal and Availability
HTC Vive Flow is currently available for pre-order in the US for USD 499. Users who pre-order will receive a carrying case and some VR content for free. We expect the price of HTC Vive Flow in Nepal to be around NPR 65,000, if and when it launches here.
VR Headset
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
HTC Vive Flow
USD 499
NPR 65,000
Meanwhile, check out our comparison between Galaxy M52 and OnePlus Nord 2.
In this full review, I’ll be discussing the Realme GT Master Edition at length, which is the most affordable phone in the company’s GT series right now. If you are not aware, the Realme GT series features three devices: the Realme GT, the GT Master Explorer Edition, and the GT Master Edition.
Sadly, the GT Master Explorer Edition isn’t launching in Nepal, India, and other South Asian markets. Anyway, the Realme GT Master Edition, or GT ME in short, delivers an excellent value for money. For me, it is almost a perfect mid-range phone in 2021, although there are some caveats which I will talk about later in this review.
Realme GT Master Edition Specifications:
Body: 73.5 x 159.2 x 8.0mm, 174 gm, 3D Glass Body/Vegan Leather
Battery: 4300mAh with 65W SuperDart Charge (65W adapter inside the box)
Color Options: Voyager Green, Luna White, Cosmos Black
Price in Nepal: N/A (launching soon)
Realme GT Master Edition Review:
Design & Build
73.5 x 159.2 x 8.0mm, 174 grams
Glass front, Vegan leather option
Here, the first thing that Realme has learned from its previous mistakes can be seen on the design front. The company’s recent couple of launches like the X7 Max and X7 Pro had this bizarre design choice, which naturally received a lot of valid criticism.
Design
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Power Button
Ports
Volume Rockers
However, that complaint is gone for good with the GT ME since this phone adopts a new, unique-looking design that feels refreshing and definitely something I like. For this, Realme collaborated with Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa to make something they call a “suitcase” design.
Looks aside, I’m quite fond of the feel of this vegan leather as well, while the horizontal grid pattern provides me with a nice grip. It doesn’t gather any dust or smudges either, so I’ve used it without a case so far. But sadly, it did catch some scribbles that don’t go away easily.
Textured casing
So yeah, it’s always safer to use a case and Realme has provided one inside the box. Even the case embodies the aforementioned suitcase design so that the phone’s texture isn’t quite lost when putting it on. And of course, it is much better than the generic transparent case that we usually get on phones these days.
If the suitcase approach isn’t quite up to your taste, there’s also a Luna White version of the GT ME with a standard glossy glass-like finish.
I also admire Realme’s signature form factor which is lighter and compact than most mid-range phones you could find right now. Not to mention, they have also retained the 3.5mm headphone jack, which I think is a perfect example of companies taking feedback seriously from their community. In this case, the Realme Community.
Display
6.43-inches FHD+ Super AMOLED display
120/360Hz refresh/touch sampling rate
HDR10+ compliant, 1000 nits brightness
Moving on to the display, in 2021, it has pretty much become a norm for premium mid-range phones to feature quite a stellar display. And the GT ME is no exception. I found its screen quality to be almost identical to the one from the Realme X7 Max—maybe even better.
You’re getting a familiar 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and up to 360Hz touch sampling rate. During my usage, I’ve been quite pleased with the overall quality of the panel.
Although it’s not as color-accurate as the ones on significantly more expensive flagship phones, this one still offers punchy colors with excellent contrast and brightness levels. And thanks to the 360Hz touch sampling rate, the touch response is excellent as well. During my usage, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the fluidity while typing or playing games on this thing.
Plus, the onboard in-display fingerprint sensor is quite responsive too. Because of the phone’s compact form factor, the position of the sensor is also spot-on for my hand. Still and all, the vibration feedback isn’t that great and is strictly okay-ish for the price. So yes, this is definitely one area where Realme can improve upon.
As for the performance, with the combination of Snapdragon 778G and a 120Hz refresh rate, everything is smooth on the GT ME: from UI transitions to using any apps like Chrome or Instagram. Furthermore, Realme has optimized this chipset and its UI ridiculously well.
So much so that you don’t feel that big of a difference between say, this phone and a Snapdragon 888-powered device like the Realme GT. Just goes on to show how much Qualcomm’s midrange Snapdragon 700-series chipsets have evolved and are impressively closing the gap over the flagship Snapdragon 800 lineup.
So, if you are a light-to-moderate user who mostly uses Instagram, WhatsApp, Chrome, such kinds of apps, practically, you should have the same user experience on the GT ME as the more expensive phones.
Additionally, GT ME doesn’t tend to get warm or overheat when using light apps either—while that’s not the case with Snapdragon 800-series or MediaTek’s Dimensity 1200-powered smartphones.
Gaming experience
However, the one key area where the GT ME lags behind is when playing extremely demanding games. Here, pushing Genshin Impact to the highest of settings results in frequent stutters and overheating after just 5 minutes into the game. On the contrary, you will get comparatively better performance from Dimensity 1200 or Snapdragon 870 powered phones.
Other games like PUBG Mobile and COD run fairly smoothly though, and the phone doesn’t heat up that bad either. You can achieve 40fps in PUBG mobile under HDR Graphics and Ultra frame rates, with 100% stability. Setting the graphics to Smooth and frame rates to Extreme gets you smoother 60fps gameplay as well.
COD, which is another graphics-intensive yet optimized game, can hit 60fps under High graphics and Max frame rates as well. Sadly, 120fps titles like Critical Ops, Oddmar, and Mortal Kombat cap out at 60fps. But according to Realme, they’ve vouched to bring 120fps mode on these games pretty soon including a high refresh rate option in PUBG Mobile.
Cameras
Triple camera setup at the back
(64MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
32MP selfie camera in the punch-hole cutout
Cameras
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Back
Front
One of the reasons why I said the Realme GT ME might just be a perfect midrange phone is because of its impressive camera performance.
Normal Images
Here, I like the images from its primary camera during daylight. Compared to the OnePlus Nord 2, it has better details and pleasing punchy colors. So most of the time, you will find Realme GT ME doing a better job here.
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GT ME
Nord 2
GT ME
Nord 2
GT ME
Nord 2
Still, being a mid-range phone, it does struggle to take close-up shots better as it doesn’t have a shallow depth of field. At times, you will notice the camera struggling to lock in focus as well.
Portrait Images
Nonetheless, portraits are much, much better on the Realme GT ME. Maybe even the best in its class. As you can see, it has superior highlight control and shadow processing alongside better skin tone.
Portraits
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GT ME
Nord 2
GT ME
Nord 2
GT ME
Nord 2
GT ME
Nord 2
GT ME
Nord 2
It also maintains the exposure and the background color better. Hence, the GT ME is a clear winner on this front.
Selfie Images
Selfies are equally good from this phone too. I like the warm skin tone it produces, whereas the details and colors look equally nice too.
Selfie
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Portrait Selfie
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Portrait Selfie
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Portrait Selfie
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Portrait Selfie
Portrait selfies also have a good natural background and look pleasing.
Wideangle Images
Here, its 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor isn’t extraordinary, although decent for the price. Its images have a slight color shift with a warmer tone and subpar details.
Wideangle
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Ultrawide
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Ultrawide
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Ultrawide
But if there is ample light, the photos come up usable.
Nighttime Images
Now, what’s average about the GT ME is its nighttime shots and videography capabilities. As you can see, the nighttime images from the GT ME introduce a lot of noise and have a soft, not-so-pleasing output.
Nighttime
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GT ME
Nord 2
GT ME
Nord 2
On the contrary, the OnePlus Nord 2 shoots photos with better low-light performance in the normal mode.
Night Mode
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GT ME
Nord 2
GT ME
Nord 2
Turning on night mode, once again, the Nord 2 maintains better exposure and details most of the time, while the Realme GT ME is not that far behind—while being slightly inconsistent.
Videography
In terms of videography, you can record upto 4K 30fps footage with gyro-EIS from this phone. However, the stabilization isn’t great in 4K 30fps and 1080p 60fps mode, while there’s a noticeable wobble if your hands aren’t that still. To compare, Nord 2’s videos come out much steadier. So, I had to dial down the setting to 1080p 30fps to get better stabilization.
You can also shoot videos from the ultra-wide-angle lens at 1080p resolution with fairly decent stabilization. Selfie videos cap out at 1080p 30fps and you can get pretty steady results with “Super Steady Mode” turned on—although it does come at an expense of a narrower field of view.
Battery
4,300mAh battery with 65W charging
Another aspect where the Realme GT Master Edition does a pretty good job is the battery endurance. Realme is one of those brands that does not usually include a big battery in favor of a lighter and slim form factor. To no one’s surprise, Realme has opted for a relatively smaller 4500mAh cell here.
Its battery life isn’t spectacular but if you are a moderate user, it should last you through the day. But since I am a relatively heavy user, I had to charge the battery as soon as I’d get home by night. Nevertheless, it’s not that big a-deal since Realme’s proprietary 65W Type-A to Type-C charger only takes about 30 minutes to go from 0 to 100%.
Software
Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top (upgradeable)
With that out of the way, allow me to talk about the things I didn’t like about this phone. First, it has to be the number of bloatware apps that come pre-installed. This has to be some sort of record for the number of bloatware among any other smartphone brand right now.
Although someone like us with the technical know-how will be able to uninstall such apps or block their notification pretty easily, such notifications could be incredibly frustrating to someone like your grandparents or anyone with little to zero idea about the cause of such nuisances.
Audio
Mono speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
Another aspect where the Realme GT ME sees an unnecessary compromise is in the speaker front. You only get a single speaker here while smartphones from practically every other company at this price range come with dual speakers.
Even though this audio setup is decently loud with good clarity, I’ve dearly missed the immersive audio experience that we get from phones with dual speakers
Realme GT Master Edition Review: Conclusion
Regardless, despite some of its obvious flaws, if you look at what the Realme GT Master Edition offers for the price, overall, it is without a doubt an incredibly promising and well-balanced offering.
Still, one crucial thing you might wanna consider is that the Realme X7 Max, which is quite similar to the GT ME, actually delivers better raw performance, is usually available for INR 25,000 every now and then.
So you might want to get that instead and save some cash. However, if you prefer a unique-looking design, you should definitely cash in extra for the GT ME. Plus, with Realme axing the “X” series, the X7 Max might not be in stock for very long either.
Watch our video review of the Realme GT Master Edition.
Infinix recently announced the successor to its Note 10 series that was launched a while ago. The new Note 11 series, which includes the Note 11 and Note 11 Pro, promises significant improvements in terms of display, performance, and cameras. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and expected price of Infinix Note 11 and Note 11 Pro in Nepal.
Infinix Note 11, 11 Pro Overview:
To be clear, Infinix has withheld some details on the vanilla Note 11. Thus, we’ll update the article as soon as the information becomes available.
Design and Display
To begin with, both phones in the Note 11 series sport a big 6.95-inch display with FHD+ resolution. The refresh rate has been upped to 120Hz while the touch sampling rate remains at 180Hz.
Moreover, there is a rectangular camera cutout on the rear, as well as an Infinix logo on the bottom. The Note 11 comes in Graphite Black, Celestial Snow, and Glacier Green color options, while the Note 11 Pro comes in Mithril Grey, Haze Green, and Mist Blue.
Powering both smartphones is an octa-core Mediatek Helio G96 processor. On Note 11 Pro, it is coupled with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. The latter is expandable up to 2TB via a microSD card, whereas you can virtually expand the RAM up to 11GB too.
However, the memory configuration for the Note 11 is yet to be announced. Similarly, there is a 9-layer graphene cooling system to keep the chipset cool. Fueling the devices is a 5000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.
Camera
In terms of optics, the Pro variant has a triple-camera system at the back, led by a 64MP primary sensor. This is accompanied by a 13MP telephoto lens with 30x digital, 2x optical zoom, and a 2MP depth sensor.
On the other hand, the standard Infinix Note 11 has a 50MP main camera and a 2MP telephoto lens. Both devices include a 16MP camera on the punch-hole cutout for selfies.
Rest of the specs
Besides the cameras, the Pro model also stands out with its stereo speakers setup. Furthermore, for biometrics, there is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for FM radio.
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth, USB Type-C
Battery: 5,000mAh with 33W fast charging
Infinix Note 11, 11 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
Infinix has neither revealed the availability of these devices, nor their prices. We’ll keep you updated with all those details once they’re available.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme GT Master Explorer Edition.
Mobvoi has launched a new smartwatch called the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS. It’s the successor to TicWatch Pro 3 and features a secondary display that produces a splash of colors using the backlight like the Pro 3. So, let’s get into specs, features, expected price, and availability of Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS in Nepal.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS Overview:
Design and Display
The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra flaunts a 1.4-inch AMOLED primary display with 454 x 454-pixel resolution and a pixel density of 326 PPI. There is a secondary FTSN display that consumes less power. It’s always-on and has an improved backlight setup.
The FTSN panel shows the time, date, step count, or current exercise metrics without waking up the main screen. What distinguishes the Ultra from the standard Pro 3 is that it allows you to adjust the color of the backlight, with a choice of 18 distinct hues. However, this display is still monochrome.
Furthermore, the watch is MIL-STD-810G certified and features stainless steel, nylon, or fiberglass chassis. It has a 22mm replaceable strap and Corning Gorilla Anti-fingerprint Cover Glass. Similarly, it is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance.
Under the hood, the Pro 3 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 4100 and a Mobvoi dual-processor chipset. This has been paired with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. On the software front, it comes pre-installed with Wear OS 2 and will get the new Wear OS 3 update in the second half of 2022.
In terms of battery, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS has a 577mAh cell that can last up to 45 days in Essential Mode and 72 hours in the Smart Mode. Furthermore, there are more than 20 workout modes to choose from. Likewise, the health monitoring feature includes 24-hour heart rate and stress monitoring, SpO2 tracking, step counting, and others.
Rest of the specs
For connectivity, it uses Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, built-in GPS, and NFC. Also, it comes with a set of microphones and speakers to take/make phone calls or play music.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS Price in Nepal and Availability
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS is now available for USD 299.99 and comes in a single Shadow Black color option. We expect the price of the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS in Nepal to be around NPR 40,000 if and when it launches here.
Smartwatch Model
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS
USD 299.99
NPR 40,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Mobvoi TicWatch E3.
Earlier this year, OnePlus introduced the third member in its main flagship lineup in the form of the OnePlus 9R. The company has followed it with a “T” variant. Here, we will be discussing all the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the OnePlus 9RT in Nepal.
OnePlus 9RT Overview:
Design and Display
The design of the OnePlus 9RT is very similar to the vanilla 9R. It sports a larger 6.62-inch E4 AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The talking point has been its touch sampling rate which has now been bumped from 240Hz to 600Hz. Additionally, the phone has 100% DCI-P3 coverage and support for HDR10+. It also boasts a maximum brightness of up to 1300 nits.
Flagship level performance and cooling
The phone is powered by Snapdragon 888 chipset. It’s a step up from the Snapdragon 870 on the original 9R. OnePlus has also worked on the cooling apparatus. The Penta-layer cooling system on 9RT covers 19067.44 mm2 results in a 20% improvement in heat dissipation.
The phone will be available in two RAM variants (LPDDR5): 8GB and 12GB. Similarly, users can add 7GB of virtual RAM. Moreover, you can pick between 128 or 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage.
OnePlus 9RT has a rectangular camera island with rounded edges. It doesn’t have the Hasselblad branding but comes with Sony’s 50MP IMX766 sensor. It’s the same sensor used in the ultrawide camera of the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro.
It even supports Digital Overlap HDR. This means that it can take two photos at different exposure and combine them for a clearer image. This feature is already available on OnePlus 9, 9 Pro, and Nord 2. Accompanying the main sensor is a 16MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro sensor.
Rest of the specs
The battery department sees no upgrade though. Fueling the phone is the same 4,500mAh battery with support of 65W fast charging. There is no wireless charging either. In China, the phone ships with ColorOS 12 based on Android 12 of the box.
However, it is expected to be replaced with OxygenOS, if the phone launches elsewhere. Another highlight of the device is its new three-antenna Wi-Fi system, which the company claims can limit average latency to up to 38ms.
Rear Camera: Triple (with LED flash);
– 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor
– 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens
– 2MP macro sensor
Front Camera: 16MP sensor
Security: Fingerprint scanner
Battery: 4500mAh with 65W charging
OnePlus 9RT Price in Nepal and Availability
OnePlus 9RT is already available for pre-order in China, while the actual sale starts on October 19. Its price is CNY 3,299 for the 8/128GB, CNY 3,499 for the 8/256GB, and CNY 3,799 for the 12/256GB variant. We expect the price of the OnePlus 9RT in Nepal to start at NPR 70,000 if and when it launches here.
OnePlus 9RT
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB
CNY 3,299
NPR 70,000
8/256GB
CNY 3,499
NPR 75,000
12/256GB
CNY 3,799
NPR 80,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the OnePlus 9 Pro.
Alongside the new smartwatches in the GT lineup, Amazfit has also launched the PowerBuds Pro earbuds. What makes these buds stand out is that they come with a variety of health tracking features. So, let’s get through the specs, features, availability, and expected price of Amazfit PowerBuds Pro in Nepal.
Amazfit PowerBuds Pro Overview:
Body
Starting with the design, the Amazfit PowerBuds Pro looks like a standard set of TWS earbuds. They have a long stem design and weigh just 6.7 grams each. Similarly, the charging case weighs 42 grams.
The earbuds are IP55 rated against dust and water resistance. The PowerBuds Pro is available in a sole “Frost White” color option.
In terms of audio, Amazfit promises an incredible level of ANC in the Powerbuds Pro. The buds features three noise cancellation modes: Indoor, Travel, Sports, and Adaptive—and can filter up to 40dB of noise. It also has three sets of mics on each bud for crystal clear phone calls.
For controls, a long press on either earbud will turn ANC mode on/off, a single press will play/pause music or accept calls, a double press will skip the currently playing track or reject calls, and three taps will activate voice assistant.
Health features
As aforementioned, the PowerBuds Pro packs health-related features as well. It has an in-ear PPG heart rate sensor that tracks your heart rate during workouts. It can also measure your spine angle using the built-in accelerometer and alert you if your posture needs to be improved.
Furthermore, it can track your listening patterns and recommend lowering the volume in accordance with WHO’s hearing protection standards. Other features include steps and calories burnt count.
Rest of the specs
Besides this, the case has a 510mAh battery while each bud is powered by a 68mAh battery. Amazfit claims up to 5 hours and 45 minutes of music playback on these earbuds with ANC on, and 9 hours without it.
Amazfit PowerBuds Pro Specifications:
Weight: 6.7 gm (ear earbud), 42 gm (case)
Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.0
Audio: Active Noise Cancellation (up to 40dB), 3 mics
Amazfit PowerBuds Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
Amazfit PowerBuds Pro is available at an introductory price of CNY 899 in China. To be clear, the buds were released globally in July and are available for USD 150. We expect the price of the Amazfit PowerBuds Pro in Nepal to be around NPR 20,000, if and when it launches here.
Earbuds Model
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Amazfit PowerBuds Pro
USD 150
NPR 20,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.
I posted my early impressions video of the A52s a little over a month ago and since then, I have been using this phone as my daily driver. It’s been a little over a month now, and I’ll finally be sharing my long-term review of the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G here.
Now, the phone is about 10-15% more expensive than your typical midrange phones like the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE, and the Realme GT Master Edition. So in this review, I am going to answer if the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is worth the extra cash.
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G Specifications:
Body: 75.1 x 159.9 x 8.4mm, 189 gm, IP67 dust/water resistant
Ok, let me start with the aspect where the A52s outclasses the competition. And I strongly believe it’s the cameras. While I was using this phone, I also reviewed the OnePlus Nord 2, Realme GT Master Edition, and the GT Master Explorer Edition, whereas I’m currently testing the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G. And none of them can beat the reliability of the A52s.
Normal Images
The photos from its primary 64MP lens have a pleasing color reproduction, are well-detailed, and their dynamic range & contrast levels on most occasions are also fair enough.
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With Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) on board, it’s really helped me capture detailed photos of my pets, which is something you simply can’t achieve from phones without OIS.
Nighttime Images
Low-light
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Nighttime
Night Mode
Nighttime
Night Mode
Nighttime
Night Mode
Plus, it helps deliver sharp and well-detailed pictures during low light conditions too.
Portrait Images
Likewise, I also found the portraits from the A52s to be incredibly consistent. As you can see, it has a nice background blur and skin tone.
Portrait
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And if you zoom in, the image looks sharp enough and the edge detection is also quite good.
Wideangle Images
Similarly, unlike an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens which is common on phones at this price range, Samsung is offering a 12MP lens that not only offers better details but a wider field of view too.
Normal v Ultrawide
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Ultrawide
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Ultrawide
I found this lens to have an almost identical color processing as the primary camera as well, so I am quite happy in this department.
Selfie Images
Selfie
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Portrait Selfie
Selfie
Portrait Selfie
Selfie
Portrait Selfie
Selfie
Portrait Selfie
And if you are someone who takes a lot of selfies, A52s is unarguably one of the best options at this price. You get a warm and likable skin tone with great exposure.
Videography
The one aspect in the cameras where Samsung could have done better, despite its good hardware, is in the videos. Here, the 1080p 60fps and 4K 30fps recordings don’t have the best stabilization, so I had to dial it down to 1080p 30fps, which again doesn’t deliver good details like 4K.
And besides the primary camera which has OIS, this lack of stabilization at higher resolutions holds true for the ultra-wide and the selfie camera as well. So, I think Samsung is deliberately disabling OIS and EIS in 1080p 60fps and 4K 30fps mode on this phone.
Display
6.5-inches FHD+ Super AMOLED display
120/240Hz refresh/touch sampling rate
Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Now, another thing I’ve liked about the A52s is that it’s a great phone if you watch a lot of movies. Although its display doesn’t sound at all spectacular when looking at the spec-sheet, with a Samsung-made AMOLED panel, you are usually getting better contrast and colors.
Hence, I really enjoyed watching underlit scenes of Kota Factory 2 and the beautiful color palettes in Squid Game. Its stereo speaker setup gets decently loud and sounds balanced as well. So, for binging movies and occasionally listening to some tunes, this phone does more than an okay job.
Still, the one complaint that I have with this display is that it’s restricted to just a 240Hz touch sampling rate. And since I have used phones with 360Hz and even 480Hz touch response rates, trust me, the A52s doesn’t hold up that well.
Plus, Samsung really should have included a better vibration motor as the haptics on this thing isn’t as premium as its price tag would suggest. I have no issue with the phone’s 120Hz refresh rate though—as it feels plenty smooth and free from any weird micro lags.
Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.1 on top (upgradeable)
Now, I am quite happy with its performance actually—even though I have one crucial suggestion to make. Initially, I used the 6GB RAM variant of the Galaxy A52s and found it to be slightly sluggish. So, I got myself the 8GB variant instead which is unsurprisingly better. Therefore, try to avoid the 6GB RAM variant if you are buying this phone.
Also, given the price tag, Samsung should have provided a more powerful chipset like the Dimensity 1200 or Snapdragon 870, instead of the Snapdragon 778G, which is available on much cheaper devices. Regardless, compared to the Snapdragon 720G on its predecessor the Galaxy A52, everything is faster here, be it opening apps, multitasking, or gaming.
Yet, I don’t know if it’s only me, but I found the Realme GT Master Edition with the same Snapdragon 778G chip to be more fluid and faster.
Gaming experience
That being said, when it comes to gaming, I found A52s to score similar fps results as the Realme GT ME. Popular titles like PUBG and COD Mobile run smoothly at 60fps by tweaking the settings, and Samsung has optimized most of the high refresh rate games to run at 120fps as well.
I played Critical Ops, Oddmar, Bomb Squad, Grimvalor, and all of them can hit 120fps without any hiccups. In terms of thermals, the Galaxy A52s delivers excellent results as well. I’m yet to face any issues like overheating or the phone getting warm here. Even when gaming continuously for 30 minutes and more, the phone’s surface temperature never reached above 40 degrees.
Design
75.1 x 159.9 x 8.4mm, 189 grams
Glass front, polycarbonate back/frame
IP67 dust-and-water resistance
And one of the reasons for that is how Samsung hasn’t gone overboard to deliver an incredibly slim form factor on the A52s. For instance, the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE and the Galaxy M52 are quite thin, and I found that these phones get warm relatively easily.
Design
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Keys
Ports
Still and all, I do have one complaint on the design front. Although it looks quite appealing with all the refreshing colors, good heft, and the IP67 dust & waterproofing on board, Samsung has used a cheaper plastic material at the back. Having used the phone without a case for a month, there are already some visible scratches and discoloration on my unit.
And with the plastic frames, this thing is not going to look the same after a year or so. So in this regard, Samsung should have at least offered a glass back like on its other premium A-series phones.
Battery
4500mAh with 25W fast charging support
Anyway, getting to the battery life, I got similar results from the A52s like its predecessor despite the smoother 120Hz refresh rate. So, this is a solid B+ phone in terms of battery backup. On my typical usage, I got around 5 to 6 hours of screen on time and had to rush back to charge the phone as I reached home by 8 PM.
Samsung has also cheaped out by offering a 15W charger inside the box while the phone supports 25W input. Plus, its competitors are offering up to 67W charging speed at this price range. As a result, juicing up the phone with its default 15W charger is pretty slow and takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes to get fully charged. So, you’ll need to buy a separate 25W PD charger that fills up the battery relatively faster at 1 hour 10 minutes.
Overall, as I mentioned at the start of this review, Samsung is asking a bit of a premium price for the Galaxy A52s 5G than what the phone actually delivers. But this doesn’t come as a surprise since Samsung has always done that with its A-series… having you pay a bit more than the competition.
All in all, if you want the absolute best value-for-money smartphone, the Galaxy A52s isn’t the best option. I think Samsung’s own Galaxy M52 that was launched recently is cheaper than the A52s and offers a very similar experience.
But again, if your priorities are superior cameras, a better-looking design, a water-resistant phone, it is worth paying extra for the A52s. Also, the phone is priced amazingly here in Nepal compared to markets like India and the UK. I even think Galaxy A52s costs the cheapest here—making it a great value proposition.
Watch our video review of the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G.
Realme has been on a roll of launching new smartphones. The company recently unveiled the GT Neo 2 in the Realme GT series, as well as new additions to its midrange 8 series. Moreover, for the entry-level market, Realme has launched the C25Y. I’ve been using the phone for a few weeks now and in this review, I will be sharing my experiences on how the Realme C25Y performs in day-to-day life.
Connectivity: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / A-GPS / Beidou / GLONASS, micro USB
Battery: 5000mAh, 18W fast charging
Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Light, Magnetic induction
Color Options: Glacier Blue, Metal Grey
Price in Nepal: NPR 18,749
Realme C25Y Review:
Design
164.5 x 76 x 9.1mm, 200gm
Glass front, plastic back/frames
Starting off this review with the design, the Realme C25Y sports a textured surface on the back. To be honest, visually, it looks a little off-putting to me. Its textured pattern does feel pleasant in the hand though. I have the Glacier Blue color option, which has a bright blue hue on the bottom that fades into light blue as you move upwards.
Furthermore, the rear includes a fingerprint scanner and a camera cutout. The fingerprint sensor works correctly, although Realme could have made things better by adding a different texture or a slight groove to it. Most of the time, I couldn’t tell where the sensor is since its texture is so similar to the phone’s frame.
Now, although the back doesn’t attract any fingerprints or smudges, Realme should have provided a case to wrap the phone around. Still and all, at 200 grams, the C25Y will definitely make its presence felt in your pocket.
Display
6.5-inches HD+ IPS LCD panel
420 nits brightness, Widevine L3
On to the display, it’s pretty basic stuff here. You get a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with HD+ resolution and a water-drop notch for the selfie camera. The “HD” of it is a deal-breaker here as brands have started providing FHD resolution in this price bracket.
As a result, when streaming videos over YouTube or Netflix, the subjects look soft with slightly subdued colors. Force-enabling 1080p mode on YouTube doesn’t help much either. However, the screen appears to have a fair degree of clarity—but remember this is strictly limited to typical usages like browsing through the UI and surfing over social media handles.
Too many compromises
Furthermore, on top of an HD panel, the Realme C25Y also skips a higher refresh rate. In comparison, the Redmi 10 Prime, which costs just INR 500 more in India, has an FHD display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
That’s not it! The final nail on this hopeless coffin is that the phone doesn’t even support Widevine L1 certification. That means you are capped out at SD videos on Netflix and other OTT platforms. On the other hand, this display can get fairly bright enough indoors, although it does struggle with visibility when you’re outside—even on a fairly cloudy day.
Performance
Octa-core Unisoc T610 4G SoC (12nm)
4GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB eMMC 5.1 storage
Android 11 with Realme UI R Edition on top
In terms of performance, the C25Y is driven by a Unisoc T610 chipset. But hey, don’t dismiss this “Unisoc” SoC just yet since it’s a rather capable chipset for everyday use. It is fabricated under a 12nm process and features two Cortex-A75 and six Cortex-A55 cores, all clocked at 1.8GHz.
Moreover, it has been paired with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB eMMC 5.1 storage (expandable). So, going over my everyday chores like web-browsing, YouTube streaming, and surfing over Twitter feeds is nothing of a hassle here.
Gaming
Gaming, on the other hand, is where the phone struggles the most. I played demanding titles like PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile where my experience was nothing to write home about.
Here, PUBG Mobile is playable at HD graphics and High frame rate but stutters greet you every now and then. Similarly, the relatively well-optimized games like Call of Duty Mobile is playable at Medium graphics and High frame rate, but I did notice occasional stutters here as well.
So, dialing down to the lowest graphics setting helps for better stability. Also, after 30 minutes of gaming, the phone gets noticeably warm near the camera module.
Software
Leaving those considerations aside, the software is where the Realme C25Y really gets tricky. It runs the new Realme UI R Edition on top of Android 11. This is the first time I’ve been using this UI, and it didn’t appeal to me too much.
It forgoes several basic actions, including quick uninstall, sidebar, and split-screen. Furthermore, this Android skin lacks a dedicated game mode, customization levels on dark mode, and worst of all, you can’t even snap a screenshot using 3-finger gestures. These are simple yet highly useful actions I use on Realme devices that boot on standard Realme UI.
Overall, there are a number of compromises Realme has made with its new R Edition skin, and having the fundamental choices missing is a tad frustrating.
Cameras
Triple camera setup at the back
(50MP primary, 2MP macro, 2MP B&W)
8MP selfie camera in the teardrop notch
Let’s talk about the cameras now. Realme C25Y sports a triple-camera setup at the back. This consists of a 50MP primary, and a couple of 2MP sensors for portrait and macro shots. On the front, there’s an 8MP selfie shooter.
Cameras
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Front
Rear
With those specs listed above, you may have figured that it lacks an ultrawide lens. On top of this, the front camera can’t even click portrait shots. Realme, you messed this up!
Normal Images
Normal
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Under ample lighting, photos from the primary camera turn out to be fairly good. They have a high dynamic range, and the colors are also quite natural. Yet, the pictures appear to be sharpened here.
Portrait Images
Portraits
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Moving on, the portraits from the C25Y are often hazy and sharpened. And, as one would expect from a budget phone, the edge detection is poor while the subject has a reddish tint to it as well. Also, you can clearly see how it struggles to maintain exposures and dynamic range.
Macro Images
Macro
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Close-up shots from the onboard macro camera aren’t that great either. The photos have fairly subdued colors yet have a decent level of detail.
Nighttime Images
Nighttime
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Likewise, the nighttime shots come off grainy and with little detail, while it shoots soft-looking photos sometimes.
Night Mode
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However, turning on the night mode helps the matter a little. It sharpens the image and tries to maintain the exposure. The dynamic range is also a bit improved in the night mode.
Selfie Images
Selfies
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Now, when it comes to selfies, subjects look extremely over-sharpened, while the backdrop is muted in color. There is also a reddish/pale hue to the face.
Videography
In terms of videos, the phone maxes out at 1080p/30fps recording and does not feature any stabilization option either. So, as expected, the footage comes off quite wobbly. Furthermore, videos from the C25Y have a warm tone to them and are over-sharpened.
Battery
5,000mAh, 18W charging
Micro USB port
Aside from the under-par cameras, the Realme C25Y delivers a fairly impressive battery life. It comes with a 5000mAh cell that supports 18W fast charging. Under medium to heavy usage, the phone provides a net 7-8 hours of screen on time.
Charging it up, on the other hand, is quite a drag. Using the power adapter provided inside the box, the device juices up from 0 to 100% in around 2 hours 41 minutes. However, what’s yet another letdown here is that it comes with a classic Micro USB port.
Audio
Single mono speaker
3.5mm headphone jack
Finally, the audio quality from the mono speaker at the back is strictly adequate. The sound output is basic and sufficient for watching videos, but listening to music is a questionable joy. As a result, most of the time, I preferred listening to music over headphones or a portable speaker instead.
Realme C25Y Review: Conclusion
To sum up this Realme C25Y review, it’s a rather unimpressive phone. While its appearance and battery life are somewhat appealing, the phone ultimately falls short of the competition in terms of performance, camera, and display. What’s more aggravating is that Realme is even scrimping on its software.
Thus, as I mentioned earlier, spending just INR 500 extra in India would bring you a far superior device in the form of Redmi 10 Prime. So, at this price, the Realme C25Y is a definite no-go.
Last year’s Redmi 9 Prime was a budget phone that we adored. Just a few months ago, Redmi launched its successor with an improved GPU, camera, and battery. Before heading into this review of the Redmi 10 Prime, there’s one crucial thing to understand. For all the upgrades it brings, this budget phone is priced higher than its predecessor.
It now starts at INR 12,499/NPR 20,999 for the 4/64GB variant. Similarly, the higher-end 6/128GB variant costs INR 14,499/NPR 23,999. I have been testing Redmi 10 Prime for some time now and in this review, I will be sharing my experience to help you decide if this phone is really for you.
Before we begin, let’s take a quick look at the specs of Redmi 10 Prime.
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers
Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1
Battery: 6,000mAh with 18W charging (USB Type-C)
Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Proximity, Electronic Compass, IR Blaster
Color Options: Phantom Black, Bifrost Blue, Astral White
Price in Nepal: Rs. 20,399 (4/64GB) | Rs. 23,999 (6/128GB)
Redmi 10 Prime Review:
Design
161.95 x 75.57 x 9.56mm, 192 gm
Glass front, Polycarbonate body
Let’s start with the design first. Here, the company has gone with the EVOL-like finish that it introduced with the Note 10 series. That being said, I’m not a fan of this glossy Bifrost Blue finish, which catches fingerprints way too easily. Redmi does ship the phone with a case, but the one that came with my unit did more harm than good.
The uneven surface of the case has left white blemishes on my phone. So if you are planning to buy this phone, I recommend you go with either Phantom Black or the Astral White variants that have a matte finish instead. Still, if you really fancy Bifrost Blue, I strongly recommend you to get a good third-party case.
Design
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Back
Ports
On the right, we have the volume rocker and a power button. The latter doubles as a fingerprint scanner which is both fast and accurate. On the left, you have a SIM card tray that can accommodate two nano SIMs and a microSD card.
Audio and Call Quality
Dual-stereo speakers
Dual microphone
Redmi 10 Prime has a speaker on both top and bottom, which makes it among the cheapest phones to feature a stereo audio setup. However, the output from the top speaker is faint and is often overshadowed by the one on the bottom.
The earpiece and dual-microphone didn’t let me down during phone calls. I didn’t face any problem with the proximity sensor either.
Display
6.5-inches FHD+ IPS LCD screen
90Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass 3
Over on the front, we have a 6.5-inch FHD+ display. While it’s not an AMOLED panel, it does support a 90Hz refresh rate, making scrolling through the UI a fairly smooth experience. This screen also dials down to 60Hz in some apps like File manager, Camera, and when streaming videos.
Redmi says its 45Hz mode is triggered by static content but I have not been able to confirm it yet. For an LCD display, the colors and viewing angles are quite good here. I also did not have any problem with brightness. It certainly takes a little hit outdoors but remains usable even so.
Plus, since it has Widwine L1 certification, you can stream HD content from Netflix and other streaming platforms. As for protection, Redmi has gone with Gorilla Glass 3 here.
As for optics, Redmi 10 Prime features a quad-camera setup at the back, led by a 50MP lens. This is followed by an 8MP ultrawide, and a couple of 2MP sensors of macro and portrait shots. Up front, you’ll find an 8MP selfie camera.
Normal, Ultrawide Images
The photos from the main sensor are a little too sharp for my liking, while the colors are muted too. In contrast, photos from the ultrawide sensor look more lively but are void of details.
Normal vs Ultrawide
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Normal
Ultrawide
Normal
Ultrawide
Normal
Ultrawide
Normal
Ultrawide
Portrait Images
Moving on, the portrait mode does tone down the sharpening by a bit. But the edge detection is not that great as evident from these clicks.
Portrait
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Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
Nighttime Images
The night shots are not that exciting either. The details are soft and the overall output is grainy. Turning on the Night Mode doesn’t improve things either. In its defense, the phone adds brightness to the picture, while also trying to maintain exposure. However, the end result is not that promising.
Nighttime
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Nighttime
Night Mode
Nighttime
Night Mode
Nighttime
Night Mode
Nighttime
Night Mode
The macro camera lacks autofocus. And the output from this 2MP sensor is just passable.
Selfie Images
Moving on, selfies from the 8MP front camera come out decent though. While edge detection on portrait selfies is not perfect, I didn’t notice any vast difference between normal and portrait selfies.
Selfie
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Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
Normal
Portrait
In terms of videos, the Redmi 10 Prime can only record up to 1080p 30fps videos. There is no image stabilization either, so the output is rather shaky.
Performance
MediaTek Helio G88 chipset (12nm mobile platform)
4/6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB eMMC 5.1 storage
As for performance, this budget phone comes with MediaTek’s Helio G88 chipset. This brings a higher clocked GPU (1000Mhz) compared to the G80 on Redmi 9 Prime. As for memory, my review unit of the Redmi 10 Prime comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
This chipset is plenty powerful for day-to-day tasks and even some gaming. Here, PUBG Mobile defaults at Balanced graphics and Ultra frame rate. While the phone gets a little warm while gaming, I didn’t notice a considerable drop in performance.
The battery drain was only 12% after around 45 minutes of gameplay as well. Similarly, you can play COD Mobile on Medium graphics and High frame rate.
For the aforementioned games, the display locks at 60Hz mode. 90Hz gameplay is only supported in a handful of games including Critical Ops, the experience of which was quite smooth. Moving on, this phone lacks a dedicated gyroscope and the software implementation is not effective while gaming.
Software
Xiaomi’s MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11
Redmi 10 Prime boots on MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11. You can now uninstall the majority of pre-loaded Xiaomi. This includes ShareMe, Recorder, Notes, Weather, and Calculator. That being said, few of the apps like Music, Security, and File Manager are still untouchable.
The one area where MIUI can improve is its RAM management. Redmi 10 Prime can not hold apps for too long, which can get frustrating at times.
Battery
6,000mAh with 18W fast charging
22.5W power adapter inside the box
Fueling the phone is a massive 6,000mAh battery that will last over a day under normal usage. I usually got 7.5 to 8 hours of screen-on time here. Though Redmi includes a 22.5W charger inside the box, the phone can only charge at 18W at max. With the included charger, it takes the phone 2.5 hours to go from 0 to 100%.
Redmi 10 Prime even supports reverse charging of up to 9W. Thus, you can use it to power your accessories or even smartphone.
Redmi 10 Prime Review: Conclusion
Wrapping up this review of the Redmi 10 Prime, as I said in the beginning, this phone starts at a much higher price than its predecessor. And it does reflect on its overall experience as well. However, if you can afford a little extra, you will be better off with the Redmi Note 10S, which I feel offers the better overall experience of the two.
Finding the finest yet portable Bluetooth speaker for your specific needs isn’t as simple as it appears at first look. It has nothing to do with a lack of alternatives—but there are very few alternatives at a reasonable price. In response to this demand, Realme has launched its first Bluetooth speaker. I’ve been using the Realme Pocket Bluetooth speaker for over three weeks now, and in this review, I’ll explain why it’s the best bang for your buck.
To begin with, the Realme Pocket keeps it simple in terms of design. It’s oval in shape, and as implied by the name, can easily fit in your pocket. The speaker is entirely composed of plastic and weighs only 113 grams.
Despite the fact that it is made of plastic, it feels sturdy and can withstand a fall or two. Furthermore, it is IPX5 certified, so it can easily survive splashes of water—and even low-pressure water jets from squirt guns and such.
Connectivity and Controls
Bluetooth 5.0 (Realme link app)
Power/playback control button
Over on the connectivity front, this speaker pairs with the Realme Link app on your phone through Bluetooth 5.0, and I had no connectivity issues here. The pairing process is quite simple as well. A brief push on the power button wakes the speaker, and the initial pairing is as easy as scanning and connecting it to the app. After that, it automatically connects to the last paired device.
Additionally, you can also pair two of them at once for a stereo sound system. I can’t say how well it’ll function since I only have one of them, but it sure sounds like a good feature to have.
For music controls, there’s an ‘M’ button that can play/pause tracks with a single click and change the track with a double-click. Similarly, a triple-click lets you route back to the previous song. Moreover, you can customize the actions via the Realme Link app.
Audio
3W Dynamic Bass Boost driver
Now, let’s talk about the highlight of the show—which is its audio. The Realme Pocket speaker packs a 3W Dynamic Bass Boost driver that gives it enough oomph to fill a medium-sized room. What’s different here from the regular Bluetooth speakers is that you can change the speaker sound mode from its companion app. There are three modes to choose from—Bass Boost+, Dynamic, and Bright.
Customize according to your taste
Under the first audio preset, the lows have enough bass to please the bassheads and there’s also a great level of thumps. But this is a budget speaker, so make sure to keep your expectations in check.
On the other hand, the Dynamic mode offers a balanced sound output while the Bright mode slightly accentuates the vocals. However, the soundstage is not that wide here. Still and all, even at the highest volume level, I couldn’t hear any distortion in audio.
Moreover, you can access the Game Mode via the aforementioned app, although my testing revealed no exceptional results. A pure gimmick is afoot?
Battery
600mAh, Up to 6 hours
USB Type-C charging
On to the battery, the Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker easily lasted me for 5-6 hours of music playback time with its 600mAh unit. Thankfully, the company has provided a Type-C port for charging which takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes to fully juice up the speaker.
Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker Review: Conclusion
To summarize this review, the Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker reigns supreme in its class with little-to-no competition, owing to its budget price tag. Not only does it offer good sound quality, but it also brings an official IP certification, a decent battery life, stereo pairing ability, and a lightweight design.
So, if you’re exclusively looking for a budget Bluetooth speaker, the Realme Pocket is simply the best option out there.
Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker Review: Pros and Cons
