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iQOO 8 launched with Snapdragon 888 and 48MP “gimbal” camera

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iQOO 8 launched with Snapdragon 888 and 48MP “gimbal” camera

iQOO has announced its latest flagship smartphones powered by Qualcomm’s premium chipsets. The iQOO 8 series features a vanilla iQOO 8 and a Pro model. Here, we will be discussing the key specs, features, expected price, and availability of iQOO 8 in Nepal.

iQOO 8 Overview:

Design and Display

iQOO 8 is available in three finishes – Legend, Track Edition, and “Burn” (roughly translated from Mandarin). The Legend edition highlights the company’s partnership with automaker BMW, featuring a tri-color stripe.

Similarly, iQOO pays tribute to racing tracks with the carbon fiber finish on the Track Edition. Finally, the “Burn” comes with white photochromic glass which changes to orange when exposed to light.

iQOO 8 Design and Display

iQOO 8 is built around a 6.56-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with support for a 120Hz refresh rate. It covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and can produce 1.07 billion colors. Still, it’s a little dim compared to the screen on the Pro model.

Like on the Pro model, iQOO has also included an independent display chip on the iQOO 8. According to the company, this chip helps maintain a stable frame rate while also increasing power efficiency. It can also upscale SDR content to HDR.

Performance and Memory

Under the hood, iQOO 8 packs Snapdragon 888, contrary to 888+ on the Pro model. It also gets the VC (Vapor Chamber) cooling treatment as the Pro model. The phone can be configured with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It also supports Memory Fusion which is iQOO’s take on virtual RAM technology.

Camera

iQOO 8 flaunts triple rear cameras that are arranged in an L-shape inside a rectangular module. Its 48MP primary camera uses Sony IMX598 sensor. There is no OIS but iQOO has included its parent company Vivo’s “gimbal-stabilization” technology.

It is accompanied by a 13MP ultrawide and 13MP portrait camera. Both the 13MP cameras use a Samsung ISOCELL 3L6 sensor.

iQOO 8 Camera Setup

Rest of the specs

iQOO 8 gets its juice from a 4,350mAh battery. It is smaller than the 4,500mAh battery on the Pro variant but retains the 120W fast charging. For this to work, iQOO has divided the battery into two cells of 2,175mAh each.

The phone boots on OriginOS based on Android 11. iQOO claims to have worked on the visual components of the UI, while also working on phone-PC connection.

iQOO 8 Specifications:

  • Body (H x W x D): 159.06 x 75.14 x 8.63/8.72mm
  • Display: 6.56-inch AMOLED panel, DCI-P3, 10-bit color, HDR, 120Hz Refresh Rate
  • Resolution: 2376 x 1080 pixels
  • Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm)
  • Thermals: VC Liquid Cooling
  • Software: Android 11-based OriginOS
  • Rear Camera: Triple:
    – 48MP Sony IMX598 primary
    – 13MP Samsung 3L6 ultrawide
    – 13MP Samsung 3L6 portrait
  • Front Camera: 16MP sensor (punch-hole cutout)
  • Biometrics: In-display fingerprint sensor
  • Battery: 4,350mAh with 120W wired charging

iQOO 8 Price in Nepal and Availability

iQOO 8 will go on sale in China starting August 24 at a starting price of CNY 3,799 for the 8/128GB variant. Similarly, the 12/256GB variant goes for CNY 4,199. We expect the price of iQOO 8 in Nepal to start at NPR 72,000, if and when it launches here.

iQOO 8  Price in China  Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB CNY 3,799 NPR 72,000
12/256GB CNY 4,199 NPR 80,000

Realme Book Slim with 2K display, 11th-gen Intel CPU launched

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Realme Book Slim with 2K display, 11th-gen Intel CPU launched

Realme has finally unveiled its first-ever Ultrabook, called the Realme Book Slim in India. The laptop boasts an 11th-gen Intel i3/i5 processor and an all-metal body. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and the expected price of Realme Book Slim in Nepal.

Realme Book Slim Overview:

Design and Display

To begin with, Realme Book Slim boasts a 14-inch 2K Full Vision IPS display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. This screen boasts 100% sRGB color space and up to 400 nits of brightness. The bezels around the screen are slender, while the laptop features a backlit keyboard with a 1.3mm key distance.

Realme Slim Book Design and Display

Furthermore, it has an all-metal build with 14.9mm of thinness. It has a large multi-touch trackpad with Windows Precisions drivers. The Realme Book Slim comes in two color options to choose from — Real Blue and Real Grey.

Performance

Powering the laptop is the Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU coupled with up 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 512GB PCIe SSD storage. There’s another variant with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.

Realme Slim Book Cooling

The graphics tasks are handled by integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU on the i5 variant and Intel UHD graphics on the i3 model. For thermals, Realme Book Slim comes with dual-fans and dual-heat pipes setup.

Fueling the laptop is a 54Whr battery that supports 65W charging via a USB Type-C port. According to the company, it can go from 0 to 50% in just 30 mins.

Rest of the specs

Moreover, the laptop comes with a feature called PC Connect which seamlessly connects your Realme smartphone and laptop. In terms of I/O options, it brings one USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 port, two USB-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The i5 variant, however, gets Thunderbolt 4 support as well.

For wireless connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 on the Core i3 variant. Whereas, the Core i5 model gets Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 support. Over on the audio, it comes with a Harman stereo speaker setup with DTS HD.

Realme Book Slim Specifications:

  • Build: All-metal, 1.38 kg
  • Display: 14-inch IPS, 3:2 aspect ratio, 100% sRGB, 400 nits
  • Resolution: 2K (2160 x 1440 pixels)
  • Keyboard: Backlit, 1.3mm key travel
  • CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G4 / Intel Core i3-1115G4
  • GPU (i5/i3): Integrated Intel Iris Xe / Intel UHD Graphics
  • RAM: 8GB LPDDR4x
  • Storage: 512GB (i5) / 256GB (i3) PCIe SSD
  • Battery: 54Wh, Up to 11 hours
  • Adapter: 65W AC adapter
  • Webcam: Yes, 720p
  • Connectivity:
    • i3: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1
    • i5: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
  • Ports:
    • i3: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 3.5mm Headphone Jack
    • i5: 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm audio combo jack
  • Colors: Real Blue, Real Grey

Realme Book Slim Price in Nepal and Availability

Realme Book Slim will be available starting August 30 in India at an asking price of INR 46,999 for the i3 variant, while the i5 model costs INR 59,999. We expect the price of Realme Book Slim in Nepal to start at around NPR 80,000, if and when it launches here.

Realme Book Slim Price in India Price in Nepal (Expected)
i3, 8+256GB INR 46,999 NPR 80,000
i5, 8+512GB INR 59,999 NPR 100,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Alldocube GT Book review.

Realme GT Master Edition launched in India: Coming soon to Nepal as well

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Realme GT Master Edition launched in India: Coming soon to Nepal as well

A couple of weeks after their Chinese debut, the Realme GT Master Edition has made its way to the Indian market. And as we confirmed earlier with Realme VP Mr. Madhav Sheth, the phone is coming to Nepal as well. Here, we will be discussing the key features, expected price, and availability of the Realme GT Master Edition series in Nepal.

Realme GT Master Edition Series Overview:

To note, the GT Master Edition series consists of one more phone in the Chinese market, which goes by “Realme GT Master Explorer Edition”. However, this one isn’t available in the Indian market yet.

Design and Display

Here, Realme GT Master Explorer Edition is the more premium of the two. It features a 6.55-inch curved Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. Similarly, GT Master Edition, on the other hand, features a smaller 6.43-inch Super AMOLED panel. The panel is void of any curves but retains the faster refresh rates.

Realme GT Master Exploration Edition Design and Display

As with other Master Edition phones in the past, Realme has once again joined hands with Naoto Fukasawa, a popular industrial designer. Fukasawa has taken inspiration from suitcases for these phones.

Thus, the rear panels on the two Master Edition phones have ridged patterns on a soft leather-like surface. If you want something more mainstream, you can always go with the frosted glass back as well.

Performance and Memory

In terms of performance, GT Master Explorer Edition also has an upper hand here. It is powered by Snapdragon 870, whereas GT Master Edition packs Snapdragon 778G. The latter has 8GB RAM paired with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage whereas the Master Explorer Edition gets a 12GB RAM variant as well.

Camera

Moving on, the triple camera setup on GT Master Explorer Edition includes a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor (with OIS), along with a 16MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro shooter. On the GT Master Edition, the primary camera is a 64MP sensor.

Realme GT Master Exploration Edition Camera Bump

Similarly, the resolution of the ultrawide camera is also halved to 8MP, while it does retain the 2MP macro camera. Realme has included a 32MP Sony IMX615 selfie camera in both phones.

Rest of the specs

GT Master Explorer Edition is backed by a 4,500mAh battery, while the GT Master Edition has a smaller 4,300mAh cell. Both of them support 65W SuperDart fast charging. Regardless, only the Explorer Edition boasts dual speakers (with Hi-Res Audio) while neither of them carry a 3.5mm audio jack.

Realme GT Master Edition Series Specifications:

GT Master Edition Master Explorer Edition
Display 6.43” Super AMOLED, 1000 nits, 360Hz touch sampling rate 6.55” Super AMOLED, 1100 nits, 480Hz touch sampling rate
Display Properties 120Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut
Chipset Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm)
Memory 6/128GB, 8/128GB, 8/256GB 8/128GB, 12/256GB
Software & UI Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top
Rear Camera 50MP Sony IMX766 primary, 16MP ultrawide, 2MP macro 64MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro
Front Camera 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor (punch-hole)
Security Optical in-display fingerprint sensor
Battery 4300mAh, 65W SuperDart 4500mAh, 65W SuperDart
Connectivity Dual SIM, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C
Color Options Voyager Grey, Luna White, Cosmos Black

Realme GT Master Edition Price in Nepal

Realme GT Master Edition will be available in India from August 26 (8GB versions only) at a starting price of INR 25,999 for the base 6/128GB model. We expect the price of Realme GT Master Edition in Nepal to start at around NPR 45,000 when it launches here shortly.

Realme GT Master Edition Price in India Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB INR 25,999 NPR 44,000
8/128GB INR 27,999 NPR 47,000
8/256GB INR 29,999 NPR 50,500
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme X7 Max.

iQOO 8 Pro with Snapdragon 888+, E5 AMOLED display goes official

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iQOO 8 Pro with Snapdragon 888+, E5 AMOLED display goes official

After a bucket full of rumors, iQOO has officially launched the iQOO 8 Pro in China. The device comes with a significant upgrade over the previous-gen iQOO 7 series. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the iQOO 8 Pro in Nepal.

iQOO 8 Pro Overview:

Design and Display

iQOO 8 Pro flaunts a 6.78-inch 120Hz LTPO panel with 10-bit color, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. The smartphone is the first to use Samsung’s new E5 AMOLED screen.

iQOO 8 Display and Design

This panel boasts 3200 x 1440 pixels resolution and has A+ certification from DisplayMate. The edge is curved and you get a punch-hole cutout at the center. Likewise, the device boasts an independent display chip that converts SDR content to HDR.

iQOO 8 Pro comes in two colors — White and Black. The former is the Legendary Edition with a BMW branding while the latter is the Track version with a carbon-fiber finish.

Performance

Under the hood, the handset packs the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ processor. The major difference between the standard Snapdragon 888 and the Plus variant is that the clock speed of the Cortex-X1 running in the latter is 2.995GHz, while the same CPU core in the Snapdragon 888 operates at 2.84GHz.

iQOO 8 Pro VC cooling

Furthermore, iQOO has equipped the phone with VC Liquid Cooling for better heat dissipation. In terms of memory, the iQOO 8 Pro is available with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. It boots on Android 11-based OriginOS.

Camera

Moreover, the device has an L-shaped triple camera setup on the back. There’s a 50MP Sony IMX766V primary sensor with 23mm focal length, a 48MP f/2.2 114° ultrawide angle camera with 6P lens, and a 16MP telephoto camera with OIS. Over on the front, it has a 16MP sensor for selfies.

Rest of the specs

Fueling the handset is a dual-cell 4500mAh battery that supports 120W Ultra-Fast Flash charging and 50W wireless Flash charging. It also sports 10W reverse wireless charging support. This makes it the first iQOO phone with support for wireless charging.

For biometrics, it has an ultrasonic 3D fingerprint scanner. The company claims it can unlock the device in just 0.2 seconds.

iQOO 8 Pro Specifications:

  • Body: 165.01 x 75.20 x 9.19mm, 203.9gm (Legend) / 202.5gm (Track)
  • Display: 6.78-inch Samsung E5 AMOLED LTPO panel, 10-bit color, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 120Hz Refresh Rate
  • Resolution: 3200 x 1440 pixels, DisplayMate A+ certification
  • Memory: Up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM
  • Storage: Up to 512GB UFS 3.1 internal storage
  • Thermals: VC Liquid Cooling
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm)
  • Software: Android 11-based OriginOS
  • Rear Camera: Triple:
    – 50MP f/1.75 Sony IMX766V primary, gimbal-like
    – 48MP f/2.2 114° ultrawide with 6P lens
    – 16MP telephoto, OIS
  • Front Camera: 16MP sensor (punch-hole cutout)
  • Biometrics: In-display 3D fingerprint sensor
  • Battery: 4,500mAh with 120W wired, 50W wireless, 10W wired charging
  • Connectivity: Triple-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5.1/5.8GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C, Beidou / GPS / GLONASS / GALILEO / QZSS, NFC, 5G

iQOO 8 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

iQOO 8 Pro is available in three memory configurations. The base variant (8+256GB) gets a price tag of CNY 4,999, while the high-end 12+512GB configuration costs CNY 5,999. The transitional model, or the 12+256GB variant costs CNY 5,499. We expect the price of iQOO 8 Pro to start at around NPR 100,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.

iQOO 8 Pro Price in China Price in Nepal (Expected)
8+256GB CNY 4,999 NPR 100,000
12+256GB CNY 5,499 NPR 110,000
12+512GB CNY 5,999 NPR 120,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Vivo iQOO 7.

ICYMI: Realme GT with Snapdragon 888 is launching soon in Nepal

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ICYMI: Realme GT with Snapdragon 888 is launching soon in Nepal

Alongside the GT Master Edition, Realme launched the Realme GT in India last week. The company has been heavily marketing this phone as a flagship killer smartphone. Thankfully, the phone is launching soon in Nepal as well. Let’s learn more about the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Realme GT in Nepal.

Realme GT Overview:

The GT lineup

If you are into automotive, you will know where Realme got the GT moniker from. GT in the automotive world stands for “Grand Tourer”, and is used to refer to luxury cars that are designed for high speed and long-distance.

Thus, Realme found the moniker fitting for its device which it claims is a “high-performance flagship device” with a “sustained speedy performance and trendsetting design”.

Performance

Let’s start with the performance side of things. The phone comes with the Snapdragon 888 chipset. It is a flagship processor from Qualcomm that is based on Samsung’s 5nm chipset.

It’s the go-to chip for flagship Android devices right now, although Qualcomm has already launched its successor. The device is available with 8GB and 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM. Similarly, Realme has gone for UFS 3.1 standard for internal storage.

Here, Realme GT features a 3D tempered liquid cooling which the company claims is capable of reducing the core temperature by up to 15-degree Celsius. Realme says it is possible because of its latest-gen cooling setup that consists of stainless steel and copper structures.

There is a dedicated GT mode that you would want to use to make the most of this “performance flagship”. It promises optimized performance, improved visuals, vibrations, sound effects, and faster loading of games.

Realme has also announced the new HyperBoost 4.0 resource management tool that prioritizes gaming over everything else. This phone also has a tactile engine linear motor feedback for 4D in-game vibrations.

Design and Display

Moving on, Realme GT sports a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ panel. It has a tiny hole punch on the left that houses the selfie camera. Talking about the display, it covers 100% of the P3 and 98% of the NTSC color gamut. The phone doesn’t miss out on a higher refresh rate as the display provided here refreshes at a rate of 120 times per second.

Realme GT color options design display

Realme GT is available in three color options – Deep Sea Blue, Galactic Silver, and Dawn Yellow. The latter differs from the other two because of its leather-like finish. It also has a black stripe that runs down the length of the phone starting from the square camera module. As a result, the “Realme” branding has also been shifted to the left.

The other two options feature a polished glass finish. No matter the finish, the phone has a 3D curved body and weighs only 186 grams. Similarly, it is just 8.4mm thick.

Camera

The rectangular camera on the back is home to the triple camera setup and the LED flash. The primary camera here is a 64MP Sony IMX682 image sensor. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide angle camera. Completing the setup is an underwhelming macro sensor of just 2MP. On the front, the punch-hole houses a 16MP selfie camera.

Realme GT Camera Setup

The phone can record 4K videos @ 60fps. Similarly, it can record slow-mo videos at up to 720p 480fps. It lacks support for Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) but Realme has at least included the support for Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS).

The camera features are not anything extra-ordinary. Thus, if you want advanced camera capabilities you should wait for the upcoming Realme 8 Series.

Rest of the specs

Fueling the device is a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging technology. With this, the phone can go from 0 to 100% in just 35 minutes. Realme GT comes with dual stereo speakers and a 3.5 headphone jack. Other audio features include Dolby Panorama sound effects and Hi-Res Audio.

Realme GT Fast Charging Technology battery type-c port

Talking about connectivity, the phone comes with both 5g and Wi-Fi 6 support. It also has support for Bluetooth 5.2 and NFC. The phone ships with Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11.

Realme GT Specifications:

  • Boyd: 158.5mm x 73.3mm x 8.4mm, 186 gm
  • Display: 6.43-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 100% P3 Wide Color, 98% NTSC
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm)
  • RAM: 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 RAM
  • Storage: 128GB / 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
  • OS: Realme 2.0 on Android 11
  • Rear Camera: 64MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide-angle, 2MP macro
  • Selfie Camera: 16MP sensor (punch-hole)
  • Audio: Stereo speaker, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio
  • Connectivity: 5G, Dual Nano Sim slot, Wi-Fi a/b/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz, 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo, NFC, Type-C
  • Battery: 4500mAh with 65W fast charging
  • Color options: Racing Yellow, Dashing Blue, Dashing Silver

Realme GT Price in Nepal & Availability

Realme GT will be available from August 25 in India at a price of INR 37,999 for the 8/128GB variant while the 12/256GB model costs INR 41,999. We expect the price of Realme GT in Nepal to start at around NPR 66,000 when it launches here shortly.

Realme GT Price in India Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB INR 37,999 NPR 64,000
12/256GB INR 41,999 NPR 70,500
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme X7 Max.

Google Pixel 5a 5G goes official with a bigger battery and IP67 rating

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Google Pixel 5a 5G goes official with a bigger battery and IP67 rating

The Pixel 6 lineup is among the most talked-about phone in recent times. But because it’s a flagship series, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. To reduce this gap, Google has finally announced the Pixel 5a 5G. Here, we will be discussing the key specs, features, expected price, and availability of Google Pixel 5a 5G in Nepal.

Google Pixel 5a 5G Overview:

Design and Display

Consistent with the previous leaks, the Pixel 5a 5G sports a similar design as its predecessor. However, Google has made the phone comparatively more durable by opting for a metallic body instead of a polycarbonate one. In addition, the new Pixel 5a 5G is IP67 rated against water and dust damage too.

This time around, there is only one color option. The “Mostly Black” color of the phone looks to have been extracted from the two colors of Pixel 5.

Moving on, Pixel 5a 5G features a bigger screen that measures 6.34-inch. This OLED panel has 2400 x 1080 pixels resolution that results in a taller 20:9 aspect ratio. The other aspect of the display has remained unchanged such as the punch-hole cutout, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and HDR support.

Performance and Memory 

There is not much change on the inside either. Google has decided to stick with Snapdragon 765G for this phone. It is the same chipset that was used in the regular Pixel 5 and 4a 5G. This has been paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

Interestingly, Google is not providing unlimited storage for Google Photos to the Pixel 5a 5G users, which has been one of the main appeals of the Pixel lineup so far.

Camera

Like with the processor, the phone doesn’t bring any changes to the cameras either. Pixel 5a 5G’s camera setup is identical to that of Pixel 5 and 4a 5G.

You get a 12.2MP primary camera with dual-pixel phase detection autofocus. It even supports Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for stable footage. It is accompanied by a 16MP ultrawide sensor with a 118.7º Field of View (FOV).

Google Pixel 5a 5G Camera setup

Still, there is no spectral + flicker sensor as in the Pixel 5, which enhances recording under pulsed light sources.

Rest of the specs

Moving on, the biggest advantage that Pixel 5a 5G has is its battery. It features a 4,680mAh battery, which may not sound much, but is the biggest battery ever in a Pixel phone.

Music lovers will be delighted to know that Pixel 5a 5G features stereo speakers as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. Additionally, the Type-C port also supports audio signal output.

Google Pixel 5a 5G Specifications:

  • Body (H x W x D): 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.3-inches, Polycarbonate body, 183gm
  • Display: 6.34-inches OLED panel, HDR, Gorilla Glass 3
  • Resolution: FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G (7nm Mobile Platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core (1×2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1×2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6×1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
  • GPU: Adreno 620
  • Memory: 6GB LPDDR4x  RAM, 128GB UFS 2.1 storage (fixed)
  • Software & UI: Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Dual-camera:
    – 12.2MP 1.4µm f/1.7 primary shooter, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS+EIS
    – 16MP 1.4µm f/2.2 ultra-wide lens, 118.7º FOV
  • Front Camera: 8MP 1.12µm f/2.0 lens, Dual Pixel PDAF
  • Security: Fingerprint scanner (rear-mounted), Titan M security module
  • Audio: Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC
  • Connectivity: 5G (sub-6), Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0+LE, GPS / GLONASS / GALILEO / QZSS, NFC, Type-C, 5G
  • Battery: 4620mAh cell with 18W fast charging

Google Pixel 5a 5G Price in Nepal and Availability

Pixel 5a 5G is available for pre-order in the US and Japan with a price tag of USD 449. The actual sale starts on August 26. Although the phone is unlikely to launch here, we expect the price of Google Pixel 5a 5G in Nepal to be around NPR 60,000, if and when it does.

Pixel 5a 5G  Price in the US  Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB USD 449 NPR 60,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the OnePlus Nord 2.

EVs could get a lot safer in the future with the new lithium-ion batteries

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EVs could get a lot safer in the future with the new lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion is the dominant battery type in portable devices such as phones, tablets, and computers. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, share a different story since lithium-ion batteries pose a potential threat on such a large scale. Now, scientists have tested a fluoroborate salt, which can make lithium-ion cells more dependable for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems.

Fluoroborate salt for Lithium-ion batteries:

While most EV components are similar to those found in conventional vehicles, the main difference lies in the battery. Their batteries are larger, heavier, and consist of hundreds of individual lithium-ion cells. They contain dangerous chemicals and can explode if disassembled wrongly.

Altering the salt

Professor Doug MacFarlane and Dr. Mega Kar in partnership with Calix Ltd have come up with a solution to make Lithium-ion batteries more suitable for electric vehicles.

Lithium Salt
Image: Structure of Lithium Salt (Advanced Energy Materials)

The salt being used in these batteries is lithium hexafluorophosphate, which is toxic and can cause fire and safety hazards. Still, with portable devices, it is more secure. But, as mentioned before, with electric vehicles and outdoor grid-scale energy storage systems, their potential hazard is exponentially magnified.

Now, scientists in their recent researches have described a novel salt for lithium batteries. Their aim is to develop safe fluoroborate salts which don’t undergo catastrophic reactions even when exposed to air.

Lead study author, Dr. Binayak Roy from Monash University School of Chemistry says “the main challenge with the new fluoroborate salt was to synthesize it with battery-grade purity which we have been able to do by a recrystallization process”.

Test

To put it through its paces, the salt was put together with the lithium battery and lithium manganese oxide cathodes. And the results were intriguing. Even after being exposed to air, the cell cycled over 1000 times. In comparison to the hyper-sensitive hexafluorophosphate salt, this is an inconceivable accomplishment.

As per Dr. Roy, when coupled with a new cathode material in a high voltage lithium battery, this electrolyte beats the traditional salt. Additionally, at higher voltages, as necessary for next-generation batteries, the salt is extremely stable on aluminum current collectors.

Fluoroborate salt for Lithium-ion batteries: What’s next

The study represents a significant step forward for the EV sector. While it addresses one of the market’s key concerns, battery hazard, it also ensures vehicle sustainability. As a result, electric vehicles could be safer and cheaper to operate.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

This sweat-powered battery will fuel the wearable devices of the future

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This sweat-powered battery will fuel the wearable devices of the future

Smart wearables are rising in popularity. To make them truly smart, scientists are working on alternative energy sources to power them. Scientists have now built a sweat-powered battery capable of producing enough energy to power commercial temperature monitors.

Sweat-powered battery:

Scientists are now turning to the human body to power the future wearables. Earlier, researchers from the University of California were successful in producing 400 millijoules of energy in ten hours from human sweat.

Now, another team from Nanyan Technological University has successfully developed a device capable of 3.9 mW output.

Sweat is the new power source

The team led by Professor Lee Pooi See generated 20 hours’ worth of electricity with just 2ml of sweat. As per See, it’s sustainable as it does not contain heavy metals or toxic chemicals, thus reducing harmful electronic waste. The battery can be used in future wearable devices and health sensors.

Irene Goldthorpe, an engineer at the University of Waterloo says, “It is well known that electronics do not like moisture, and thus, wearable devices are typically fully encapsulated to shield them from sweat.”

He added, “This work turns sweat from a hindrance into an asset, showing that it can improve the conductivity of printed interconnects and even using sweat as an electrolyte in a wearable, bendable battery. This may open a new paradigm in the design of wearable electronics.”

Inside the sweat-powered battery

Moving on, the device consists of a sweat-absorbent textile wrapped around a 0.8-inch battery. The device lays flat as any normal bandage. Since there is no metal or toxic component, it does not cause any issues when worn.

The fabric absorbs the sweat, which the battery converts into energy. The sweat-retaining property of the fabrics means it can maintain a continuous supply of sweat to the battery.

The working mechanism

This battery uses silver flakes-containing printing ink and a hydrophilic polymer. The ink functions as electrodes onto the stretchable fabric. Furthermore, when sweat comes into contact with the battery, it increases the conductivity of the silver flakes and causes the electric current to flow.

Sweat Powered Battery Demo

Test result

On spraying the device with artificial human sweat, researchers recorded a voltage of 3.57 V. Moreover, testing it on a real person showed that it can generate a voltage of 4.2 V and an output power of 3.9 mW.

For context, the output is enough to power a commercial temperature sensor capable of sending continuous data to a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Aiding more cause

Aside from this, the slimness of the battery address some major problems in modern-days wearables. First and foremost, it is sleeker, and hence, more appealing to customers than standard button batteries.

Secondly, unlike today’s thinner batteries, it stores and generates enough charge on its own to last the whole day.

Sweat-powered battery: What’s next?

A patent application for the sweat-powered battery has also been filed through the university’s enterprise and innovation company, NTUitive. The researchers are now planning to explore the effects of other components of human sweat and how factors such as body heat may affect the performance of the battery.

  • Meanwhile, check out our impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Asus ROG Phone 5s series with Snapdragon 888+, 18GB RAM goes official

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Asus ROG Phone 5s series with Snapdragon 888+, 18GB RAM goes official

Back in March, Asus launched the ROG Phone 5 lineup powered by Snapdragon 888 chipset. However, since Qualcomm has already launched the SD 888+ chipset, Asus has updated the lineup with new models. Here, we will be discussing the key features of Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro, along with the specs and expected price in Nepal.

Asus ROG Phone 5s, 5s Pro Overview:

ROG Phone 5s series consists of vanilla 5s and a Pro model. Unlike the regular ROG 5 series, here is no Ultimate variant this time around.

Performance and Memory

Between the two lineups, the biggest difference lies on the inside. Like I mentioned earlier, the ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro are equipped with the latest Snapdragon 888+ chip. It boasts a maximum clock speed of up to 2.995 GHz, up from 2.84 GHz on the Snapdragon 888. AI performance also gets a boost from 26 TOPS to 32 TOPS.

You can configure the ROG Phone 5s lineup with up to 18GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

Other Upgrades

Moving on, Asus has also bumped the touch sampling rate from 300Hz to 360Hz on the new models. This should make the phones more responsive during gaming. The company has even added a color AMOLED panel at the back of the 5s Pro. On the other hand, ROG Phone 5s features an RGB logo.

Rest of the specs

Besides this, other aspects have remained unchanged. You get a 6.78-inch Super AMOLED FHD panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. 

Feuling the phone is a 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W charging. The Pro model comes with an AeroActive Cooler 5. It’s a chip-on cooling fan that also adds two shoulder buttons.

Asus AeroActive Cooler 5

Even without the cooler, the ROG Phone 5s lineup two ultrasonic buttons. The Pro model also has two additional sensors at the back, which are not available on the vanilla model.

Asus ROG Phone 5s Series Specifications:

  • Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate, 360Hz Touch sampling rate 111.23% DCI-P3, 10-point multi-touch, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ (5nm)
  • Memory: 8/12/16/18GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB storage
  • OS: Android 11
  • Rear Camera: 64MP Sony IMX686 primary, 13MP ultra-wide-angle, 5MP macro
  • Front Camera: 24MP selfie camera
  • Audio: Front-facing stereo speaker, Dirac HD, 3.5mm headphone jack, Hi-Res (384kHz / 32-bit), ESS DAC 9280AC Pro
  • Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E a/b/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz, 5GHz), 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, dual-Type-C port (bottom & side)
  • Battery: 6000mAh with Quick Charge 5.0 & PD Charging 3.0

Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro Price in Nepal

Asus ROG Phone 5s series is available for pre-order in Taiwan where its price starts at NTD 29,990 for the ROG Phone 5s and NTD 37,990 for the Pro variant. We expect the price of Asus ROG Phone 5s and 5s Pro in Nepal to start at NPR 135,000 and NPR 167,000 respectively, if and when they launch here.

Asus ROG Phone 5s Series  Price in Taiwan  Price in Nepal (Expected)
ROG Phone 5s  16/256GB  NTD 29,990  NPR 135,000 
18/512GB  NTD 33,990  NPR 150,000 
ROG Phone 5s Pro  18/512GB  NTD 37,990  NPR 167,000 
  • Meanwhile, check out our impressions of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Intel takes on NVIDIA and AMD with “Arc” branded graphics cards

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Intel takes on NVIDIA and AMD with “Arc” branded graphics cards

Earlier this year, Intel announced its first Iris Xe-based desktop GPU. The company has now announced Intel Arc – a dedicated brand for consumer-grade graphics cards. Here, we will be looking at Intel’s newest venture and its plans for the GPU market.

Intel Arc for high-performance graphics cards

Intel Arc graphics cards will be based on Intel Xe-HPG architecture. It is different from the Iris Xe LP architecture found in Intel’s integrated graphics solution for Ultrabooks and most 11th gen Tiger Lake processors.

However, Intel has been emphasizing the scalability of the architecture since day one. According to the company, it can be used in discrete GPU solutions as well as in servers and in supercomputers.

Intel DG1 graphics chip
Intel Iris Xe

Intel has already confirmed that the GPUs under the Arc brand will be consumer-grade. That is, you should be able to buy Intel Arc GPU from the market as you would normally. Intel has not said anything about entering the server GPU market yet, but it could be a possibility given the company’s scalability claims.

Alchemist Microarchitecture

Like I mentioned earlier, the Arc cards will be based on Iris Xe-HPG microarchitecture. Intel has codenamed it, Alchemist, while it was formerly known DG2. It is a combination of multiple Xe microarchitectures like LP, HP, and HPC.

Intel has also confirmed the name of future generations of microarchitecture: Battlemage, Celestial, Druid.

As for features, Alchemist graphics cards will support DirectX 12 Ultimate, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and AI-powered super-sampling. The last two have been NVIDIA’s forte, since the RTX 20-series days.

While AMD has retaliated with its own solutions, NVIDIA’s 2nd Gen Tensor cores and Deep Learning Super Sampling have proven to be superior to team red’s solution. For now, Intel is yet to say anything about how it plans to implement them in its cards.

Leaks

Despite this, Intel hasn’t revealed much about the Alchemist graphics card. However, a leak from earlier this month hinted at 128 execution units and a maximum clock speed of up to 2,200MHz. It also has an OpenCL score of 13,710.

Intel has also released a video highlighting the performance of a pre-production unit handling titles like Metro Exodus, PUBG, Forza Horizon 4, and more.

Intel Arc Alchemist Graphics Card Launch Date

The first Alchemist graphics card under the Intel Arc brand will debut in the first quarter of 2022. Intel says more detail on these cards will be unveiled later this year.

Graphics Card  Launch Date
Intel Arc Alchemist Graphics Card  Q1, 2022
  • Meanwhile, check out our mid-range Gaming PC build under $1000.

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