Page 456 – GadgetByte Nepal

Realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker launched with up to 9 hours of music playback

GadgetByte

-

September 9, 2021

Realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker launched with up to 9 hours of music playback

Realme India held an online event to announce a slew of products, including smartphones, the company’s first tablet, and a couple of Bluetooth speakers. Here, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Realme Cobble Bluetooth speaker in Nepal.

Realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker Overview:

Realme Cobble is a more premium offering of the two speakers the company launched in India today. It was initially launched in Malaysia this year and is now making its way to other markets.

Design

It’s not hard to guess why Realme is calling it Cobble as this curved round shape is reminiscent of a stone. You can choose between two colors: Electric Blue and Metal Black.

Electric Blue variant has a camouflage pattern on the grille instead of Realme branding on the other. Also, its lanyard glows in the dark. The speaker weighs around 200 grams and is IPX5 rated against water splashes.

Sound quality

Here, Realme has gone with a 5W dynamic driver which is paired with a passive radiator. The speaker covers audio frequencies ranging from 110Hz to 18kHz. You can even choose between three audio presets – Dynamic, Bass, and Bright. There is also a dedicated Game Mode that Realme claims can limit the latency to 88ms.

Also Read:
- Realme Pocket Bluetooth Speaker official with a big battery, game mode
- Disappointing: Realme Nepal has already hiked the price of Realme 8

Connectivity

As for connectivity, the Cobble features Bluetooth 5.0 with an effective range of ≤ 10m radius. You can even control this speaker using your phone via the Realme Link app. However, this feature is only available on Android smartphones for now. Similarly, you can pair two Cobble Bluetooth speakers together for stereo sound output.

Battery endurance

Fueling the speaker is a 1500mAh battery that is rated to last up to 9 hours. The Type-C charging port is protected by a rubber flap to prevent water from getting in.

Realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker Specifications:

Weight: 200 grams
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 (up to 10m)
Codec: AAC, SBC
Audio setup: Dynamic driver + Passive radiator
Output power: 5W
Frequency response: 110Hz – 18kHz (-10dB)
Signal to Noise ratio: ≥85dB
Protection: IPX5 certified
Battery: 1,500mAh (Up to 9 hours)
Charging interface: Type-C (around 2.5 hours)
Companion app: Realme Link (Android | iOS)
Color options: Electric Blue, Metal Black

Realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker Price in Nepal

Realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker will be available in India for INR 1,799 starting September 15. We expect the price of the Realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker in Nepal to be around NPR 3,000 if and when it launches here.

Bluetooth Speaker	Price in India	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker	INR 1,799	NPR 3,000

Meanwhile, check out our review of Realme GT.

Poco M3 Pro 5G is now available in the 6/128GB memory variant in Nepal

POCO

GadgetByte

-

September 9, 2021

1

Poco M3 Pro 5G is now available in the 6/128GB memory variant in Nepal

Poco launched its latest 5G-ready mid-range phone, the M3 Pro 5G in the global market back in May 2021. The 4/64GB memory variant of Poco M3 Pro 5G made its way to Nepal last month. And now the company has launched the higher 6/128GB variant as well. Here, we will be discussing the key specs and features of the Poco M3 Pro 5G along with its official price in Nepal.

Poco M3 Pro 5G Overview:

Design and Display

Poco M3 Pro features a 6.5-inch FHD+ DotDisplay with a 90Hz refresh rate. The company has included DynamicSwitch technology that switches between 30Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, and 90Hz based on the content being viewed. Its 360º ambient light sensor has 4096 different brightness levels.

Poco M3 Pro 5G is based on Redmi Note 10 5G. To differentiate the two, Poco has gone with an aggressive design here. It’s quite apparent with the huge camera module and the company’s branding.

The 3D-curved back of the M3 Pro has a glossy finish and is available in three colors: Poco Yellow, Power Blue, and Cool Blue. It surely is a big phone with 8.92mm thickness and a weight of 190 grams.

Also Read:

Performance and Memory

Under the hood, Poco M3 Pro 5G packs MediaTek’s Dimensity 700, which is based on a 7nm process. It features two Cortex-A76 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.2GHz and 2.0GHz, respectively. There is a Mali-G57 GPU for graphics rendering which is clocked at 950MHz.

Poco M3 Pro 5G supports 12 different 5G bands. It supports dual 5G standby as well. The chipset even supports 5G carrier aggregation but it looks like the feature is not activated in the M3 Pro 5G.

There are two RAM variants to choose from here – 4GB and 6GB. They come with 64GB and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, respectively. M3 Pro 5G boots with MIUI 12 for Poco on top of Android 11.

Camera

The phone has a triple-camera setup. Its 48MP primary lens utilizes a 1/2″ sensor. It shoots 12MP shoots natively with 4-in-1 pixel binning. Here, four pixels combine to a Super Pixel of 1.6µm. Sadly, there is no ultrawide camera here. What you get instead are two 2MP sensors for macro and portrait shots.

On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture.

Also Read:

Rest of the specs

The phone packs in a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Poco is including a 22.5W charger in the box too. Poco M3 Pro supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, IR blaster, and Multi-Function NFC. However, the availability of the latter will vary according to the market.

Poco M3 Pro 5G Specifications:

Body: 161.81 x 75.34 x 8.92mm, 190 grams
Display: 6.5-inches IPS LCD panel, 90Hz refresh rate with DynamicSwitch, 400 nits, Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G (7nm)
Memory: 4/6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
Software & UI: MIUI 12 for Poco on top of Android 11
Rear Camera: Triple (48MP primary, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
Front Camera: 8MP f/2.0 sensor (punch-hole)
Security: Physical fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.1, USB Type-C, NFC (select region), IR Blaster
Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging (22.5W charger in-box)
Colors: Power Black, Poco Yellow, Cool Blue

Poco M3 Pro 5G Price in Nepal & Availability

The price of the Poco M3 Pro 5G in Nepal is NPR 23,999 for the 4/64GB variant and NPR 26,999 for the 6/128GB variant. You can buy Poco M3 Pro 5G in Nepal from Xiaomi-authorized retail stores or the company’s e-commerce partners like Daraz and Sastodeal.

Poco M3 Pro 5G	Price in Nepal
4/64GB	NPR 23,999
6/128GB	NPR 26,999

Check out our review of the Poco M3 Pro 5G.

Samsung AU8000 75″ 4K TV Review: A Grand TV Experience

GadgetByte

-

September 9, 2021

1

Samsung AU8000 75″ 4K TV Review: A Grand TV Experience

We recently came up with the review of Samsung’s AU7700 55” 4K TV. And today, we’re kicking things up a notch with the AU8000 75” 4K TV. It offers the best-in-class look owing to the narrow bezels, all on the attractive Air Slim design that’s just begging to be a part of your home theatre system. I have been testing the 75” version of the Samsung AU8000 4K UHD TV for the better part of a month now and will be sharing everything you need to know about it in this review.

Samsung AU8000 75″ 4K TV Specifications:

Display: 75-inches LED-backlit LCD, PurColor technology
Resolution: 4K Ultra-HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Dimensions:
- Without Stand (W x H x D): 1676.7 x 960.3 x 26.6 mm
- With Stand (W x H x D): 1676.7 x 1003.4 x 332.2 mm
Weight: 32.1 kg (without stand) | 33.3 kg (with stand)
Sound: 2x Speakers (2CH) with 20W Output
Audio: Dolby Digital Plus Support, Q-Symphony
OS: Tizen OS
Processor: Crystal Processor 4K
HDR: Yes (HDR, HDR10+, HLG)
Refresh Rate: 60Hz, Motion Xcelerator, ALLM
Viewing Angle: Standard
Power: AC100-240V 50/60Hz (260W)
Wireless Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2
I/O Ports: 3x HDMI (with eARC support), 2x USB 2.0, 1x AV in, 1x RF in, 1x Digital Audio Output, 1x Ethernet
Remote: One Remote (battery included inside the box)
Price in Nepal: Rs. 379,990

Buy Samsung AU8000 75″ 4K TV here

Samsung AU8000 75″ 4K TV Review:

By the way, this particular model costs some USD 1200 in the US, Rs. 379,990 in Nepal, and Rs. 209,990 in India. Also, Samsung Nepal will be heavily discounting this TV during the upcoming festive seasons (Dashain, Tihar). We expect the AU8000 (75″) to cost under Rs. 3 lakhs by then—making it the perfect time to buy this big TV.

Design and Build

Plastic back, minimal bezels on all four sides
Height-adjustable stand, wall-mount support

Okay, let’s start this review of the Samsung AU8000 75″ TV with the design. From the back of the TV to its bezels or stands, the AU8000 is largely plastic-made. The front of the TV has minimal bezels, ensuring a stylish look. Samsung calls this design language “Air Slim”, which has contributed the relatively thinner form-factor compared to last year’s TU8000 series.

Design

1 of 2

The back of the TV borrows most of its design elements from the Q60A, which is Samsung’s entry-level lineup of QLED TVs. Meaning, the back face of the AU8000 is almost flat and is covered by textured plastic, while it also has the inset to house all the ports.

The connectivity options include two USB-A, one LAN, one AV-in, one antenna, and three HDMI ports, among which one of them supports eARC as well. On the other hand, the power-in connection is positioned independently over on the left. Furthermore, there are four slits at the back to hold all the cables for a cleaner setup.

The Flats

Contrary to the AU7700 that we recently reviewed, this TV brings a rather wide rectangular stand called “Flat Lift”. One can easily assemble it into the TV with a simple snap. But more importantly, this is a height-adjustable stand so you can dynamically fit the TV in a room.

Apart from this, there’s a Samsung logo off-center to the right side of the bottom bezel. You also can find the sole control button below the logo. Using this, you can power on/off the TV, control volume levels, and make other minor adjustments.

Now, in case you want to wall-mount the TV, that’s entirely possible as well. And based on my experience, I would advise you wall-mount it since the tall and thin form factor of this TV isn’t nearly as sturdy as you’d want.

Display

75″ 4K UHD resolution, LED backlighting
HDR, ALLM, Motion Xcelerator, Ambient Mode

Getting to the display, the AU8000 is a decent 75” 4K TV that delivers good pictures, but with a few exceptions. It supports HDR10+ and HDR10 high dynamic range (HDR) content on top of Motion Xcelerator for smoother picture quality.

Out of the box, the colors, contrast, and vibrancy of the panel are pretty good, and it can seamlessly play 4K video at 60fps. If you’re not a fan of the default color calibration, Samsung lets you play around with brightness, contrast, sharpness, and other settings as well.

Similarly, as with most Samsung TVs, it has five picture presets to choose from—Dynamic, Standard, Natural, Movie, and the Filmmaker Mode. While I didn’t like the extreme contrast from the Dynamic preset, my personal favorite is the Natural mode. It brings a perfect balance of the blacks and whites of the content, offering a crisp look.

However, if you do not prefer the highlighted tones of these picture modes, then either Movie or the Filmmaker mode is your go-to option here. It brings the brightness and contrast level down a notch while adding a bit of warmth to the color tone, which makes for the perfect color profile for enjoying a movie or a Netflix series.

But of course, this doesn’t apply to every type of movie/show. And ultimately, I found myself switching between different presets depending upon the content.

Perks

Adding to the viewing experience is the Contrast Enhancer feature which works like a charm to give that extra bit of punch the picture needs, particularly in gloomy scenes. It perfectly balances the details in light and dark areas and outputs an impeccable image quality.

Also, AU8000 auto-recognizes HDR contents and displays an “HDR” label in the picture mode settings. Similarly, Motion Xcelerator settings lie under the Picture Clarity menu where you can even opt for the custom option and set the judder value yourself.

From my experience, setting it to 4 or 5 for action, sports, or similar fast-paced content seemed to work best. Furthermore, to make this large TV gaming-friendly, there’s a dedicated Game Mode as well.

Ambient Mode

Besides all this, one of the coolest features of the Samsung AU8000 is the Ambient Mode. It lets your TV blend in with the room it’s set up in by applying different artworks—instead of just sitting there like a big canvas when not in use. You can choose from different live wallpapers and artworks, and select from multiple sleep-time options for when you’d like the TV turned off.

Disappointingly, Samsung doesn’t let you set a custom value for this—meaning either you’ll have to manually turn off the screen or have it on for up to 4 hours. Also, for a more customized experience, I would recommend using the SmartThings app, which lets you showcase your personal photos on the TV.

Software

Tizen OS
Windows Sharing / Samsung DeX / Apple AirPlay

Over on the software side of things, the AU8000 runs on Samsung’s own Tizen OS. I’ve already praised its ease of use and simplicity in our review of the AU7700. So this time, I’ll keep it brief and to the point.

A full web browser is also present on the TV, which is easy to use thanks to the remote’s cursor functionality. Similarly, voice control options include Bixby for Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, while Samsung has also enabled Google Assitant and Alexa support in India.

However, Bixby hasn’t let me down as it seamlessly performs the tasks requested. Plus, this TV can also mirror your computer or smartphone screen through Window Sharing, Apple AirPlay 2, and Samsung DeX.

Still, I found the entire UI/UX to be slightly choppier than expected, be it scrolling through the home screen or activating any functions. This isn’t essentially the fault of the Tizen OS. Instead, the aging Crystal Processor 4K powering the TV feels like the major culprit here.

To compare, the AU7700 that I reviewed a few days back has the same processor and is therefore afflicted with the same issues. For what’s supposed to be a premium TV option, Samsung most definitely should have upgraded the processor for delivering a smoother TV experience.

Audio

2CH 20W bottom-firing speaker
Dolby Digital Plus, Q-Symphony

Over on the audio, the AU8000 hosts two bottom-firing 2CH speakers with 20W of total output and Dolby Digital Plus support. The speaker system of the AU8000 is apparently the same as that of the AU7700, and so is the processing and audio output.

Here, the sound quality is punchy and loud enough to fill our medium-sized room. But at full volume, the soundstage gets narrower, where it kind of blends the instrument and human voices. The bass feels relatively flat as well, which most audiophiles might not like. Nonetheless, the acoustics are ideal for watching Netflix movies and series.

That said, if you can go the extra mile, you can partner the AU8000 with a dedicated sound system or a soundbar. The latter is also compatible with Samsung’s Q-Symphony technology allowing for a more immersive audio experience where the audio output from the TV’s speakers and the soundbar sync up.

Remote

Made from recycled material
Decent tactile feedback

Moving on, the bundled remote is compact and rectangular, with only the essential keys. The power, microphone, number, and ambient mode buttons are located above the circular navigation pad, while the channel and volume rockers, as well as dedicated service buttons for Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and the internet, are located right below. There’s a pinhole microphone at the top to pick up your voice commands.

Samsung AU8000 75″ 4K TV Review: Conclusion

To conclude this review, the Samsung AU8000 is an outstanding 75″ 4K TV with excellent contrast and color accuracy. Furthermore, its gaming-oriented features like ALLM and Motion Xcelerator definitely helps the TV stand out in the market.

The nightmare, however, is the sluggish performance, which ultimately weakens the ideal combo of excellent picture and audio quality. While this is pretty common for a budget TV, such an issue should be non-existent on a TV that costs over a thousand dollars. Thus, Samsung really needs to upgrade the processor on its forthcoming upper mid-range TVs. Yet, many people might still find AU8000 a decent choice, especially if you find it on sale with big discounts.

Samsung AU8000 75″ 4K TV Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Air Slim design
Good viewing angles
Ambient Mode
ALLM, Motion Xcelrator
Simple-to-use UI
Loud, balanced sound
Samsung One Remote

Cons:

Plastic stand
Laggy user interface
No multi-voice assistant support as in India

Acer Aspire 5 2021 (A514) Review: Ticks Most Boxes

GadgetByte

-

September 9, 2021

0

Acer Aspire 5 2021 (A514) Review: Ticks Most Boxes

The Acer Aspire series has delivered some of the best value-for-money laptops in recent years. So, when we decided to review some of the best budget laptops of 2021, the Acer Aspire 5 2021 was a name that we simply could not afford to miss. Having used it for over a week as my daily driver, I’m sharing my experience with the Acer Aspire 5 2021 in this full review.

This particular model that I have brings Intel’s Core i5-1135G7 processor paired with entry-level MX350 graphics from NVIDIA, while memory options include 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. You can get the exact same model for around NPR 100,000 here in Nepal, INR 60,000 in India, and some USD 700 in the US.

Acer Aspire 5 2021 (A514) Specifications:

Design & Build: Aluminum lid/plastic chassis, 12.91W x 8.78D x 0.70H-inches, 1.7 kg
Color Options: Blue, Black, Pink, Silver, Gold
Display: 14-inch IPS panel, Acer ComfyView (matte)
Resolution: FHD (1920 × 1080 pixels)
Keyboard: Backlit chiclet keys
Processor: 11th gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 (4C/8T, Up to 4.2GHz, 28W)
Graphics:
- Integrated: Intel Iris Xe
- Optional: NVIDIA GeForce MX350 (2GB GDDR5 VRAM)
RAM: 8GB DDR4 (single-channel)
Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 SSD
Connectivity: WiFi 6 AX201, Bluetooth 5.2
I/O Ports: 3x USB Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1x combo audio jack, 1x RJ45, 1x HDMI
Battery: 52Wh battery, 65W AC power adapter
What’s inside the box: Laptop, power adapter, quick start guide

Buy Acer Aspire 5 2021 here

Acer Aspire 5 2021 Review:

Design

12.91W x 8.78D x 0.70H-inches, 1.7 kg
Aluminum lid (matte finish), plastic body

Let’s start with the design first. For the most part, while the body of this laptop is plastic-made, Acer has been kind enough to include a sand-blasted aluminum lid. Like the rest of the chassis, it has a matte finish which keeps out fingerprints and smudges quite effectively.

As you can see, my unit of the laptop enjoys a blue shade. But you can get one that suits your personality the best as Acer offers four more color options for the Aspire 5, namely: pink, silver, black, and gold. However, this vibrant aesthetics doesn’t extend to the rest of the laptop as everything from the keyboard deck to the bottom panel gets a silver finish.

Design

1 of 3

Its hinge is yet another thing I’m fond of as I found it to be better than the one on other laptops that we have been testing, like the Asus VivoBook 15. Even though it’s made of plastic, the hinge feels quite sturdy. And the fact that it elevates your laptop’s keyboard deck to a slight extent is an added bonus.

Still, I wished this hinge could lay the lid further down. I know I’m nitpicking at this point but coming from the amazing Lenovo IdeaPad 3, I can’t help but miss such nifty features.

Ports

1 of 2

Getting to the I/O, most of the ports are located on the left frame. There are two USB-A, one USB-C, one HDMI, one DC-in, and an Ethernet port. Over on the right, you have one USB-A, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock slot. Acer has fitted in two LED indicators for power and charging on this side as well.

Display

14″ non-touch matte FHD IPS panel
45% NTSC, 260 nits of brightness

Moving on, the matte coating on this 14” FHD panel means I had no problem using it under indoor lighting conditions. But since this is a budget laptop, color accuracy is going to take a major hit here—and it does. This display covers just 45% of the NTSC color gamut, although that’s pretty standard among laptops in this price range.

Nevertheless, the display on my unit had poor factory color calibration. It produced a greyish tint that made pink hues look purple-ish. Thankfully, things now look better with superior saturation after I re-calibrated with the SpyderX Pro.

On the other hand, the Aspire 5 2021 hits 260 nits of peak brightness. Thus, I had no trouble looking at this display indoors at around 50% brightness. This IPS panel has good viewing angles as well.

Display Properties

1 of 2

Plus, the side bezels are pretty minimal here. Yet the ones on the top and bottom are quite thick as they house a webcam and an “Acer” branding, respectively.

Keyboard and Trackpad

Full-size backlit keyboard (single-color)
Precision trackpad, integrated left/right keys

Coming to the keyboard, I was quite skeptical of the white backlight on these silver keys. This type of color combination would normally render the backlight useless. While I strongly believe Acer should have given something with better contrast, I didn’t find it to be that bad after all my time typing on this thing. The keys are quite decent with fairly minimal key travel too.

The Aspire 5’s trackpad also shares the silver-matte finish as the keyboard deck. Some models even feature a fingerprint scanner but our unit lacks one. Regardless, the relatively central placement of this trackpad makes sure accidental touches are avoided. Plus, I have no complaints about its responsiveness or gesture compatibility either.

Audio

Down-firing stereo speakers

In terms of audio, the Aspire 5 gets bottom-firing dual speakers. And as you’d expect, these aren’t that good. While the mids and highs come off marginally better, from the lacking bass to insufficient loudness, Acer has delivered an incredibly lackluster audio setup on this laptop.

Webcam

720p HD camera
No privacy shutter

Videos from this 720p webcam come off grainy even if you are in a well-lit room. Still, it should suffice for attending online classes and such. But if you want a more professional setup, you’re gonna have to buy a separate external webcam.

Performance

Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU (28W TDP)
NVIDIA GeForce MX350 discrete graphics
8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD

Now, let’s talk about the performance. As I mentioned in the beginning, our Acer Aspire 5 2021 packs the 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU and NVIDIA’s MX350 GPU. I would’ve loved to see the newer MX450 in action, but I digress. As for memory, there’s 8GB of soldered RAM and 512GB of NVMe SSD.

Here, the SSD storage is user-upgradable and you even get an additional DIMM slot to install one more RAM stick. There’s a vacant SATA interface to add a hard disk (HDD) or SSD. Acer also offers this laptop with AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series CPU, but this variant isn’t as widely available as the one with an Intel processor.

Anyway, the Aspire 5 has handled my daily workloads quite well—which includes having multiple Chrome tabs open in the background alongside opening apps like LibreOffice and Photoshop. That being said, I did notice a couple of instances where the fan noise got quite audible while the keyboard deck would also get mildly warm sometimes.

Gaming experience

Since there’s a discrete GPU onboard, albeit an entry-level one, I played a few rounds of CS: GO to see how well the Aspire 5 fares under demanding workloads. With graphics set to High, I was able to get 40 – 50fps on average. Under this, I noticed stutters on multiple occasions while the fps count would drop as low as 20 sometimes.

Additionally, the laptop also tends to heat up quickly during gaming, especially on the left side of the keyboard deck. I recorded the temperature of this area at 42º Celsius after just 30 minutes into the game.

CrystalDiskMark

	Read (MB/s)	Write (MB/s)
SEQ1M Q8T1	3440.37	2094.94
SEQ1M Q1T1	1570.13	1806.47
RND4K Q32T1	416.34	393.17
RNK4K Q1T1	44.53	131.97

Cinebench R23

CPU: Multi-Core	4312
CPU: Single Core	1357
MP Ratio	3.18x

Geekbench 5

CPU: Single Core	1309
CPU: Multi-Core	3930
Compute (OpenCL, MX350)	13773
Compute (OpenCL, Irix Xe)	9781

Battery

52Wh 3-cell battery
65W AC power adapter

On to the battery, Acer has not specified the exact capacity but opening up the laptop, we found it to be 52Wh cell. As for its endurance, using the laptop at 100% brightness can give you up to 5 hours of screen-on time (SoT).

On the other hand, keeping brightness at around 60% under regular usage yields 6.5 – 7 hours of SoT. In terms of charging, the 65W power adapter takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to juice it up from 0 to 100%.

Acer Aspire 5 2021 (A514) Review: Conclusion

Wrapping up this review, after using the Aspire 5 2021 as my daily driver for over a week, what I can confidently say is that Acer has delivered a powerfully compact laptop that ticks most of the boxes. While it’s somewhat of an eye-candy as well, it also has a sturdy design, decent display, battery life, and reliable performance.

Getting the one with discrete graphics lets you play few lightweight games at low to medium settings as well. However, the company should try to improve on aspects like thermals, webcam, audio, and keyboard backlight on the upcoming iterations of this laptop.

Acer Aspire 5 2021 (A514) Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Sturdy build quality
Adequate brightness
Reliable performance
Discrete graphic option
Rich port selection
Decent battery endurance

Cons:

Default color calibration is quite off
Backlight blends with keyboard

Realme Watch 2 Review: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

GadgetByte

-

September 8, 2021

0

Realme Watch 2 Review: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

In this review, I’ll be discussing the Realme Watch 2 at length. Last year, Realme launched its very first smartwatch, dubbed the “Realme Watch”. And it was not well received, to say the least. The company then went on to launch a few smartwatches with moderate success, before coming up with the Realme Watch 2 a couple of months ago.

On paper, this looks like a decent upgrade over its predecessor, but just how much of that pans out in terms of real-life usage is the real question. Plus, with fitness trackers like Honor Band 6 and Mi Band 6 pushing the envelope for health tracking on a budget, should you really be considering budget smartwatches like this? Let’s find out in this review of the Realme Watch 2.

Realme Watch 2 Specifications:

Body (H x W x L): 35.7 x 257.6 x 12.2 mm, 38 grams
Display: 1.4-inches IPS LCD panel,320 x 320 pixels, 600 nits
Design: Polycarbonate body, Silicon wrist band (22mm)
Water Resistance Level: IP68 rating
Compatibility: Android 5.0+ / iOS 11
Companion App: Realme Link (Android | iOS)
Sensors: 3-axis Accelerometer, Heart rate, Blood oxygen
Sports Mode: 90 different modes
Built-in GPS: No
Battery: 315mAh (up to 14 days)
Charging: Magnetic charger
Price in Nepal: N/A (not launched yet)

Realme Watch 2 Review:

Design and Display

Polycarbonate body, Silicon wrist band (22mm)
1.4-inch TFT LCD display, 600 nits of brightness

So, let’s start with the display. While its 1.4-inch screen sounds untouched coming from the first-gen Realme Watch, the company has brought noticeable changes to the panel. The first thing you will notice is the symmetrical bezels on the top and bottom. Additionally, the screen is brighter and more vibrant, too. It also feels relatively more fluid and responsive.

Realme Watch 2

1 of 2

That being said, there is still no automatic brightness adjustment onboard, while the flip-to-wake function is quite inconsistent.

Still no AMOLED

Furthermore, the screen isn’t AMOLED either, meaning you’ll miss out on Always-on Display here. As a result, I found myself relying heavily on the screen wake-up button. This wouldn’t have been a problem at all, had Realme not cheaped out on such an essential component. The tactile feedback of this button is even worse than the one on Realme Watch as it feels more plasticky and squeaky when pressed.

Watch faces from Grafflex

Anyway, you get plenty of watch faces to choose from on Watch 2, including the one Realme made in collaboration with the South Korean artist “Grafflex”. A total of 6 watch faces come pre-loaded, including some live wallpapers. And you can replace them with a variety of other options from the Realme Link app.

Comfortable strap

In case you haven’t noticed, the “Realme” branding from the chin is gone this time. Instead, there is the company’s “Dare to Leap” slogan slapped onto the wrist strap. The branding is subtle and not that noticeable when putting on the smartwatch—which begs the question: why even bother to put it in the first place?

Top: Realme Watch | Bottom: Realme Watch 2

Compared to the 20mm strap on its predecessor, I found the wider 22mm strap on the Watch 2 to be more comfortable. I also like the fact that it’s a traditional loop-buckle strap, which feels more convenient to me than the Apple Watch-inspired strap on the first-gen Realme Watch.

Watch UI

Realme’s custom OS

Getting to the UI, for the most part, it’s remained the same as last year. Swiping from the left brings the status bar, which now features a quick shortcut to settings.

Similarly, swiping down triggers the notification shade where you can scroll between the recent notifications. Weirdly enough, opening up a notification on Realme Watch 2 shows less information than on the Realme Watch.

Need for further optimization

That’s because the company has enlarged UI elements like fonts and icons this time around. While the latter has been optimized for a streamlined view on the app list, the same design practice is absent in terms of notifications. Plus, these non-actionable notifications lack emoji support as well.

Left: Realme Watch | Right: Realme Watch 2

Additionally, you will find quick tiles for activity, heart rate, weather, and music control on the right. Except for the last one, these tiles aren’t interactive (or customizable). As a result, you will have to open the desired app from the app list on the bottom for further detail.

Here, you can access all of the watch features, including SpO2 monitoring, camera control, and a bunch of basic functionalities like alarm, stopwatch, etc.

Realme Link app

Android 5.0 and above, or iOS 11 and above

Moving on, the Realme Watch 2 pairs with your smartphone via the Realme Link app—just like any other smart AIoT product from the company. What’s commendable here is that the app is now available for iOS users too. Though Realme Link’s iOS version was made available last year, it still doesn’t let you connect the original Realme Watch to iPhones to this day.

Regardless, the process of connecting the Watch 2 to an iPhone is the same as that on Android smartphones. Just scan the QR code on the watch when turning it on for the first time. The app’s UI is pretty much the same across the two platforms while features like music, camera control, and find my phone work flawlessly across the two platforms.

Smart AIoT control

Another highlight here is that the Realme Link app has been integrated into the watch itself. With this, you can control other Realme AIoT products connected to your phone. I tested this feature with my Buds Air 2 Neo and Buds Wireless 2 and found it to be quite useful.

I could toggle between ANC/Transparency mode and gaming mode on them without having to reach out to my phone or the wireless earbuds themselves. However, if you don’t own any other Realme AIoT product, this feature won’t amount to much.

Health and Fitness Tracking

24-hour heart monitoring
Blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring
90 sports mode (no swim tracking)

Let us now move on to the health and fitness tracking side of things. Under this, the Realme Watch 2 offers everything you would want from a budget smartwatch. For starters, it features an optical heart sensor for 24-hour heart monitoring. And just like on last year’s model, the watch can be configured to check your heart rate every 5 minutes.

Inconsistent sleep tracking

Still and all, I simply don’t understand why Realme decided to get rid of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep tracking on Watch 2. Not adding a feature is one thing, but removing something present on the previous iteration feels unreasonably weird.

Sleep Tracking

1 of 2

I also found that the first-gen Realme Watch was more capable of accurately recording my time to bed, the time I got up, and my other sleep metrics like the time I would be awake in the middle of my sleep sometimes. Also, there’s no tile for sleep data which is kinda frustrating.

90 sports modes

Nevertheless, the 90 sport modes present on the Realme Watch 2 is a big improvement over its predecessor. Yet, the watch can only store 10 of them at once. Basic workouts like an indoor and outdoor run are irremovable but you can replace the other 8 with the remaining 80 modes via the Realme Link app.

That being said, most of the sports modes record the same metrics like steps, heartbeat, and duration with some difference here and there. Compared to the Realme Watch, I noticed that it graphed my workout data fairly better in terms of the pace and cadence—while being neck-and-neck in terms of metrics like steps, distance, and heart rate.

Still no swim tracking

In addition, Realme Watch 2 can’t even track pool swimming despite its IP68 dust-and-water resistance, while the company says the watch is not suitable to wear during showers either. Additional 5ATM certification would’ve been even more ideal for things like deep dive swimming but this ultimately feels like yet another inexcusable omission.

Outdoor Walk Exercise

1 of 2

With that out of the way, all the data from the watch is synced to your Realme account. You can view some of them on the watch itself but obviously, you’ll have to refer to the companion app for deeper insights.

Even though viewing your workout data on the watch is quite easy thanks to color-coded metrics, I had to refer to the app for more details. Weirdly enough, things like average speed and peak heart rate are only viewable on the watch.

Battery and Charging

315mAh battery
Magnetic Pin charger

In terms of battery endurance, the Realme Watch 2 has been pretty great. I was able to get over a week (~ 9 days) of battery life from this smartwatch on a full charge. During my usage, I set its brightness to 60%, tuned all-day heart rate monitoring to every 5 minutes, and tracked about two hours of workout every day.

Charging

1 of 2

As for charging, you get a 2-pin magnetic charger that takes the Watch 2 from 0 to 100% in about 1 hour and 52 minutes.

Realme Watch 2 Review: Conclusion

All in all, I have mixed feelings about the Realme Watch 2. It is a clear upgrade from the Realme Watch although it was not a good product, to begin with. While I had fun using the watch, neither of its features stands out in particular. In addition, the Watch 2 misses out on features like an AMOLED panel, REM sleep tracking, 5ATM rating, and swim tracking that have become standard across mainstream fitness bands these days.

I feel like Realme is positioning this smartwatch as an unofficial successor to the Realme Band, seeing how that budget fitness tracker is lacking a successor to this day—while the Watch 2’s spec-sheet reads fitting to a fitness tracker instead of a smartwatch.

Realme Watch 2 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Bright, vibrant screen
Buckle-strap is convenient
Up to 90 sports mode
Decent battery life

Cons:

No AMOLED panel
No swim tracking
UI needs optimization

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review: Irresistible For The Price

GadgetByte

-

September 8, 2021

0

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review: Irresistible For The Price

Positioned between 2020’s Buds+ and the more premium Galaxy Buds Pro, the Buds 2 delivers incredible value—with features comparable to the Buds Pro. So in this full review, I’ll be discussing all about the Galaxy Buds 2 in this review to help you decide if it is the one for you.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Specifications:

Dimension:
- Earbud: 17 x 20.9 x 21.1mm, 5.0 gram each
- Charging Case: 50.2 x 50.0 x 27.8mm, 41.2 grams
Color Options: Graphite, White, Olive, Lavender
Chipset: BES2500ZP
Sound Driver: Dual-driver
Audio Codec: AAC, SBC, SSC
Noise Cancellation: Yes, ANC with Ambient mode
Microphone: Yes, 3 + Voice Pickup Unit
Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.2
IP Rating: Yes, IPX2 (earbuds only)
Playback Time:
- Earbuds: Up to 5/7.5 hours (ANC on/off)
- With case: Up to 20/29 hours (ANC on/off)
Talk Time:
- Earbuds: Up to 3.5 hours (ANC on/off)
- With case: Up to 13/14 hours (ANC on/off)
Control: Touch-based control
Charging: Fast Wired Charging, Qi Wireless Charging
Companion App: Samsung Wearable (Android | iOS)
Price in Nepal: NPR 17,999

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review:

Design and Comfort

Lightweight, minimalistic design
IPX2 water resistance

Let’s now talk about the earbuds themselves. Though Buds 2 is supposed to be a follow-up to 2020’s Galaxy Buds Plus, it would be pretty fair to put it against the more expensive Buds Pro, since their spec sheets reveal a lot of parallels between the two. So, I’ll also be bringing up the Buds Pro time and again in this quick tour of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.

Pocketable and elegant case

Starting with the design, the Buds 2 comes in this pocketable case that weighs just 41.5 grams. It has a glossy all-white exterior which makes it prone to scratches and smudges. But on the inside, Samsung has gone with a matte finish—that matches the color of earbuds themselves. Galaxy Buds 2 is available in four color options: White, Graphite, Lavender, and Olive. If all this looks a bit too familiar, that’s because the Buds Pro comes in a similar-looking case as well.

Comfy earbuds

Moving on to the earbuds, they are pretty lightweight, weighing just 5 grams each—so light that you might forget about them having in your ear once you start grooving to the music.

The default ear tips fit securely in my ear but there are two extra pairs of ear tips in the box. Samsung has even added a “fit test” feature in the Galaxy Wearable app to help you attain the best fit.

All these factors contribute towards making Galaxy Buds 2 some of the most comfortable earbuds to put on—even for long hours. I also like how they don’t stick out much from the ears, unlike the relatively bulky-looking Buds Pro.

Once you get accustomed to the comfy fit of Galaxy Buds 2, resorting back to the Pro is not easy. Don’t get me wrong, the latter is not uncomfortable by any means. It’s just that the Buds 2 feels much better—at least to my ears.

That being said, the Buds Pro does have a superior IPX7 certification as opposed to Buds 2’s IPX2. So you’re gonna have to be extra careful when using the Buds 2 under the rain, or even you sweat excessively.

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity
Galaxy Wearable App

In terms of connectivity, Galaxy Buds 2 enjoys the newer Bluetooth 5.2 protocol—opposed to Bluetooth 5.0 on the more expensive Galaxy Buds Pro. And I’m glad to report that there are no connection drop or interference issues with either of these earbuds.

Here, the Galaxy Buds 2 pairs with the aforementioned Galaxy Wearable app, which also lets you play around with different ANC modes, control options, and audio presets. This time around, the Buds 2 plugin is not available on iOS. Thus, iPhone users won’t have access to the app.

Like the Buds Pro, the Buds 2 can quickly switch between Samsung’s Galaxy lineup of tablets, smartwatches, and smartphones—given that all devices are connected to the same Galaxy account. It even supports Quick Pair and Swift Pair with Samsung and Windows PC, respectively.

Controls

Touch-based control

When it comes to controls, Buds 2 has a touch-enabled area on either earbud to play/pause music, skip tracks, or retreat to the previous one. You can also switch between ANC and ambient mode by long-pressing the earbuds. Inside the Galaxy Wearable app, there’s the option to configure these for volume control or waking up the voice assistant as well. However, this customization feature is not available in non-Samsung phones.

Samsung has apparently even added the “Double Tap Edge” volume control gesture on the Buds 2 via an OTA update, but I’m yet to receive the said update (R177XXU0AUH2). It works fine on the Buds Pro, but I’m not sure how well it will work on these earbuds since it has a different surface.

Little Slow to react

Nonetheless, I did notice a slight delay between my touch input and earbuds registering it. However, there has not been a single instance where Buds 2 has failed to register my touch input so far. Also, the convex structure of the touch-sensitive area means your fingers naturally settle to the surface without any difficulty.

Sound Quality

Dual-driver setup (tweeter + woofer)

If you recall, I had mentioned in my initial impression video of these earbuds that Buds 2’s sound quality is reminiscent of the more expensive Buds Pro. While that is true for the most part, I must say I have noticed some differences having used them for weeks now.

Before going into any intricate detail, I want to mention that I used a Samsung smartphone, particularly the Galaxy A22, to test them out. Thus, I was able to make use of Samsung’s proprietary Scalable Codec. On the other hand, non-Samsung phones will have to rely on AAC and SBC codecs only.

Here, the Galaxy Buds Pro handles the extreme lows and highs better. You get more thumpy bass, better instrument separation, resulting in an overall superior listening experience, which is quite apparent when listening to songs like MMM (by Seedhe Maut.) Similarly, American Idiot by Green Day feels more sprightly on Buds Pro.

That being said, everyone has a different taste in music. And if you happen to be a casual listener who mostly tunes into pop charts, Galaxy Buds 2 won’t disappoint. In fact, listening to something like Stay (by The Kid LAROI and Justin Beiber) and Happy Endings (by Mike Shinoda feat. iann dior and UPSAHL), I found the audio quality to be quite similar on both earbuds.

On some songs like Dua Lipa’s Levitating, I preferred the subtle sound of Buds 2 to the relatively heavy audio profile of the Buds Pro.

Perhaps the biggest differentiator between these earbuds in the audio department is the 360º audio support on the Buds Pro—which the Buds 2 lacks. With this, it can track your head movements for an immersive audio experience. So, if you want the absolute best pair of earbuds Samsung has to offer, then Galaxy Buds Pro is still the way to go.

ANC

3-mics + Voice Pickup Unit
3-three level Ambient Sound

Regardless, Buds 2 is ANC-capable though. I tested it on my commute to the office and found it to be fairly effective. Although it did not cancel the ambient sound completely, it managed to subdue the intensity of the traffic noise to a great extent. Plus, I found that it is more effective against low-frequency sounds than say, bells, horns, and human voices.

Also, ANC on Buds 2 isn’t on Par with the Buds Pro, the High ANC setting on the Buds Pro delivers better cancellation.

There’s also the Ambient Sound mode, which is Samsung’s take on transparency mode. Since Buds 2 lacks Voice Detection like the Buds Pro, you will have to manually turn it on. Human voices under Ambient mode come out synthesized to my ears. But this has always been how Samsung chooses to implement ambient audio, so complaining about it isn’t going to do any good

Furthermore, you can choose between low, moderate, and high ambient modes. As you go higher up the settings, the overall incoming sound gets louder, though it doesn’t seem to have a greater impact on human voices. To compare, Galaxy Buds Pro offers an extra high setting too but I found the medium setting to be more and adequate.

Call Quality and Game Mode

I’m quite impressed by the call quality of the Buds 2 as well. Samsung’s new machine learning-based algorithm works well as my voice was always clear and audible even when I was walking through a busy street. Still, the Buds Pro manages to perform better in this regard—especially in windy situations—because of its windshield technology which is not present on the Buds 2.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has a game mode as well, which brings down the audio latency by a bit. Still, I would not recommend it to any competitive gamers as the noticeable in-game latency still feels quite weird.

Battery

61mAh cell on each bud
472mAh on charging case

Getting to the battery side of things, I managed to get the advertised endurance of 5 hours with ANC on from the 61mAh cell on the Buds 2. Without ANC, it can deliver around 7.5 hours of listening time. On the other hand, the case can fuel the earbuds up to three times. Galaxy Buds 2 supports fast wired and wireless charging as well.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review: Conclusion

All in all, Galaxy Buds 2 is here to give Samsung’s own Galaxy Buds Pro a run for its money. The latter still stands out with its superior ANC and slightly better audio tuning. That being said, it’s hard to recommend the Pro given what the Buds 2 offers at a much cheaper price, especially in markets like Nepal and India. So unless you own an iPhone, Galaxy Buds 2 is among the best pair of TWS earbuds under USD 150. Also, it’s pretty disappointing to see a couple of features like quick pair and control customization lacking on non-Samsung Android phones

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review: Pros & Cons:

Pros:

Lightweight & minimalistic design
Comfortable fit
Decent sound quality
Great Call Quality

Cons:

ANC is not top-notch
No 360-degree audio
Touch response could have been better
Few features are restricted to Samsung devices

Meanwhile, Check out our early impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.

Acer Swift 3X 2021 with Intel’s Iris Xe Max discrete GPU goes official in Nepal

GadgetByte

-

September 7, 2021

0

Acer Swift 3X 2021 with Intel’s Iris Xe Max discrete GPU goes official in Nepal

Acer has launched the Swift 3X 2021 laptop in Nepal. It is backed by an 11th gen Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe Max graphics with 4GB VRAM. So, let’s dig in to know about the specs, features, availability, and price of Acer Swift 3X 2021 in Nepal.

Acer Swift 3X 2021 Overview:

Design and Display

Starting with the display, this laptop flaunts a 14-inch LCD panel with FHD resolution and 300 nits brightness. The screen reserves 72% NTSC color space.

There’s a backlit keyboard alongside a built-in fingerprint sensor for biometrics. The laptop weighs just 1.37kg and measures 0.71-inch thick.

Also Read:
- Nubia Red Magic 6S Pro is official with Snapdragon 888+, 720Hz touch sampling
- Poco F3 GT with Dimensity 1200, Maglev triggers launched in Nepal

Performance

On the performance side of things, Swift 3X 2021 is powered by the Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU with 2.8GHz of base and up to 4.7GHz of single-core turbo clock frequency. Furthermore, this is a quad-core processor with 12MB of Intel Smart Cache (L3). Likewise, the graphics are handled by Intel Iris Xe MAX GPU with 4GB of LPDDR4X VRAM.

Memory wise, it comes with 16GB of LPDRR4X RAM and 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD storage. Fueling the laptop is a 3815 mAh battery.

Rest of the specs

Moving on, the I/O connectivity option includes one Thunderbolt 4 (with USB Charging), two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (one featuring power-off charging), a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an HDMI 2.0 port. For wireless connectivity, it utilizes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Acer Swift 3X 2021 Specifications:

Dimension and Weight: 12.7 x 8.4 x 0.71-inches, 1.37kg
Display: 14-inch LCD display, 300 nits brightness, 72% NTSC
Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7 (4C/8T, Up to 4.7GHz)
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Max Graphics with 4GB VRAM
Memory: 16GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe
Webcam: 720p HD camera
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x Thunderbolt 4 (w/ USB Charging), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (one with power-off charging), 1x HDMI 2.0
Keyboard: Backlit
Security: Fingerprint scanner
Battery: 3815mAh 4-cell, Li-Ion

Acer Swift 3X 2021 Price in Nepal and Availability

Acer Swift 3X 2021 is now available in Nepal with a price tag of NPR 148,000. It is available for purchase from authorized distributors like ITTI all over Nepal.

Acer Swift 3X 2021 Price in Nepal

Intel Core i7-1165G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD NPR 148,000

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (2021).

Worldlink introduces 300Mbps Photon Series internet with mesh Wi-Fi in Nepal

GadgetByte

-

September 7, 2021

0

Worldlink introduces 300Mbps Photon Series internet with mesh Wi-Fi in Nepal

Worldlink, the leading ISP in Nepal, has launched the Photon Series 300Mbps internet. Currently, this is the highest bandwidth plan available for residential users in the country, overtaking the likes of CG Net’s 120Mbps and Vianet’s 100Mbps plans. Let’s take a look at the features, pricing, and availability of the WorldLink Photon Series 300Mbps internet plans.

Worldlink Photon Series Overview:

WorldLink is looking to create a major buzz in the country with this offering. On top of high bandwidth, the company is also using a mesh Wi-Fi network in your house/office.

But what’s mesh Wi-Fi?

Mesh Wi-Fi network consists of the main router that connects directly to your modem and a series of nodes around your house for full Wi-Fi coverage. So, this type of networking is mostly useful for multi-storeyed houses, offices, and such settings—rather than small homes.

The mesh ensures seamless Wi-Fi coverage across all parts of your home. With this, you can now connect with a single Wi-Fi network (SSID) across all locations without compromising on speed or signal strength. For this, Worldlink is using Nokia’s WiFi Beacon 1.1 router.

To note, mesh Wi-Fi is not a new technology. But it’s the first time we’re seeing an ISP promoting it in Nepal. While companies like CG Net, Subisu, Vianet, and others tout their speed, Worldlink’s concern towards maintaining a steady internet connection is definitely noteworthy.

Also Read:
- Vianet teams with Ncell to provide free mobile data with its internet plans
- Sastodeal’s “The Great Electronics Sale” kicks off with up to 70% discount

Pricing

Package	Duration	Price
Package	Duration	With TV (3)	Without TV
300Mbps	1 month	Rs. 2,200	Rs. 2,100
	3 months	Rs. 6,450	Rs. 6,150
	12 months	Rs. 22,000	Rs. 21,000

One Time Charge	Price
	1 month	3 months	12 months
Dual Band (ONU)	Rs. 2,500	Rs. 2,000	Free
Drop Wire	Rs. 500
Deposit (ONU)	Rs. 500
Smart Installation	Rs. 3,000

To note, the term “Smart Installation” refers to the company’s service for proper router/node installation to ensure a strong Wi-Fi connection across every nook and cranny of your house. To make the most out of the mesh Wi-Fi network, placement of the main router and accompanying nodes have to be identified through proper inspection of the location.

Beacon 1.1 installation

As expected, Worldlink levies a separate charge for each Beacon router deployed on the site. The prices mentioned below are when using up to 2 Beacon 1.1 routers. If your location needs additional ones, then it’s going to cost an additional NPR 8,000 for each Beacon 1.1.

For every Beacon 1.1	Price
For every Beacon 1.1	1 month	3 months	12 months
Beacon 1.1 Rental	Rs. 4,000	Rs. 3,000	Rs. 2,000
Beacon 1.1 Deposit	Rs. 2,500

Furthermore, apart from the 3 TV connections that come bundled in the package, you can add to it as well. But of course, extra STB connections incur extra charges.

Additional NetTV connections	Price
Secondary STB activation	Rs. 2,000
Secondary STB deposit	Rs. 500

Worldlink Photon Series: Available locations

As of now, the Worldlink’s Photon Series 300Mbps internet plans are available in 20 different locations inside Kathmandu Valley. These include Battisputali, New Baneshwor, Dhungedhara, Gatthaghar, Sallaghari, Baluwatar, Pepsicola, Koteshwor, Manbhawan, Sitapaila, Dholahiti, Kalimati, Bansbari, Kirtipur, Satungal, Kaldhara, Bouddha, Banepa, Balaju, Imadol, and Kapan.

Meanwhile, check out our hands-on review of CG Net.

Sastodeal is offering electronic items at much cheaper prices than the offline market

GadgetByte

-

September 7, 2021

0

Sastodeal is offering electronic items at much cheaper prices than the offline market

One of Nepal’s leading e-commerce platforms, Sastodeal, has come up with “The Great Electronic Sale” shopping frenzy. Sastodeal is referring to it as Nepal’s biggest electronic sale where you can get up to 70% off on over 30 brands and 10,000+ products. The campaign has already gone live from September 5 and will last till the 9th of September. Let’s learn more about “Sastodeal The Great Electronics Sale”.

Sastodeal The Great Electronics Sale Overview:

The sale brings enticing deals for the customers with massive discounts and vouchers on electronic home appliances, smartphones, washing machines, and more.

Discounts

Here, buyers can enjoy up to 69% off on computer and laptop peripherals, up to 56% off on trendy gadgets, up to 68% off on electronics accessories. And there are discounts on other product categories as well.

Products	Discounts
Refrigerator	Up to 26%
Washing machines	Up to 26%
Televisions	Up to 38%
Small home appliances	Up to 50%
Mobile	Starting from Rs. 1,999
Audio accessories	Up to 67%
Electronic accessories	Up to 68%
Trendy gadgets	Up to 56%
Computer and laptop peripherals	Up to 69%
Laptops	Up to 10%

Also Read:
- Nubia Red Magic 6S Pro is official with Snapdragon 888+, 720Hz touch sampling
- Zepp Z premium smartwatch with titanium alloy body launched in Nepal

Vouchers

Sastodeal is offering a range of voucher discounts based on the minimum amount of purchase. You can get up to Rs. 3,500 off using these voucher codes.

Voucher Amount	Min. Purchase	Voucher Code
Rs. 400	Rs. 3,000	GS400
Rs. 1500	Rs. 20,000	GS1500
Rs. 2500	Rs. 40,000	GS2500
Rs. 3500	Rs. 60,000	GS3500

Flat eSewa discount

Likewise, you can also get flat Rs. 1,500 off on a minimum purchase of Rs. 7,500, if you make payments from your eSewa wallet.

Sale highlights:

Let’s now take a look at few interesting deals under Sastodeal’s latest shopping campaign:

Product	Old Price	Offer Price
Amazfit GTS 2 Mini	Rs. 16,499	Rs. 12,000
Baseus Encok WM01 TWS earbuds	Rs. 4,800	Rs. 2,499
Samsung 192L Single Door Refrigerator	Rs. 28,490	Rs. 24,000
Skullcandy Riff Wireless On-Ear Headphone (S5PXW-L673) – Navy Blue	Rs. 7,990	Rs. 5,599

Sastodeal The Great Electronics Sale: Duration

As I mentioned earlier, Sastodeal The Great Electronics Sale will run from 5 September to 9 September 2021 (Bhadra 20 to Bhadra 24).

Campaign	Duration
Sastodeal The Great Electronics Sale	September 5 – September 9

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G.

Samsung launches its 2021 range of 5-in-1 convertible ACs in Nepal

Samsung

GadgetByte

-

September 7, 2021

0

Samsung launches its 2021 range of 5-in-1 convertible ACs in Nepal

Samsung caters to a wide range of products globally. After the launch of its AI-powered washing machines a while ago, the company has now launched two new convertible ACs in Nepal. So, let’s get into the specs, features, official price, and availability of Samsung convertible AC in Nepal.

Samsung Convertible AC Overview:

Body

Samsung has launched new convertible ACs called the AR12AXHZAWKNIM and AR18AXHZAWKNIM in Nepal. The former has 1 ton of cooling capacity while with the latter you get up to 1.5 tons.

Over on the design, these ACs have a slim form factor and a bigger display on the front. Inside, there are big fans and wide blades.

Also Read:
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series with Wear OS goes official in Nepal
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is finally up for pre-booking in Nepal

Features

Both models boast 5 convertible modes: Party, Normal, Pleasant, Eco, and Home Alone, to deliver a different level of cooling. In Party mode, it consumes up to 120% power while that number goes down to 40% in Home mode.

For ensuring a healthy environment, these coolers have anti-dust and bacteria filters. It removes harmful irritants from the air and also improves cooling performance. Furthermore, thanks to the Digital Inverter Technology, it maintains the correct temperature without having to switch the compressors on/off frequently. Thus, it ensures less fluctuation and consumes less power.

Cooling

In terms of cooling, it offers 4-way and 2-way swing cooling. Under 4-way, the air flows left to right and up to down while the 2-way mode offers only up and down cooling. As a result, you get the flexibility to set it according to your need.

According to Samsung, these ACs cool the air 43% faster than conventional air coolers. In addition, it has a voltage fluctuation protector that prevents AC from sudden voltage surges.

Samsung Convertible AC Price in Nepal and Availability

As aforementioned, Samsung has launched two new ACs of 1 and 1.5 tons in Nepal at a starting price of NPR 89,990. It is available for purchase from authorized Samsung stores all over Nepal.

Product	Price (starting)	Availability
Samsung 5-in-1 convertible AC	NPR 89,990	Authorized stores

Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy A22.

Acer Swift 3X 2021	Price in Nepal
Intel Core i7-1165G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD	NPR 148,000