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).
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
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Asus ROG Phone 5s Series
1 of 2
Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro
Asus ROG Phone 5s
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
In the way that the smartphone industry is cluttered, wired earbuds also offer a plethora of alternatives to select from. But, smartphone boxes these days have no room for earphones—while high-end phones these days skip a 3.5mm jack altogether. Despite this, the popularity of wired earphones hasn’t waned. In case you’re looking to buy a budget wired earphone, we have prepared this list of the best budget earphones under NPR 2,500 you can buy right now in Nepal.
[Note: The following list has been arranged in terms of the products’ price]
Best budget earphones under NPR 2,500 in Nepal:
1. Redmi Earphones
Starting our list of the best budget earphones in Nepal is the Redmi earphones. This could be the go-to option if you want Hi-Res certified audio on a budget. It’s the replacement for the Mi Earphones Basic, although it shares the design language with the Mi Dual Driver Earphones. Its earbuds are made of aluminum alloy and are powered by a 10mm dynamic driver.
It comes with a 1.25m Y-shaped cable and features a single button that allows you to control music playback, answer/end calls, and activate voice assistant. The earplug is protected by an anti-earwax mesh and the audio jack has a 90º angle as well.
Redmi Earphones Specifications:
Design: Aluminum main body, anti-earwax earplugs, 13 grams
Moving on, the Realme Buds 2 brings the good stuff from the first-gen Realme Buds and has improved in terms of both design and audio quality. Sadly, its audio jack doesn’t feature a 90º arc. Anyway, it has a rubber clip that can be used to keep the cables in place.
Additionally, there are magnets at the back of each earpiece, allowing you to stick them together when not in use. But, the driver port on these earphones doesn’t hold any control mechanism.
Moving on, Realme Buds 2 Neo is the cheaper alternative to standard Buds 2 but features similar specifications. Thankfully, it has a 90º angled jack for better grip whether playing games or watching movies in landscape mode. In terms of audio, both these earphones boast an 11.2mm dynamic driver which promises a bass-heavy sound.
Realme Buds 2 / Buds Air 2 Specifications:
Weight: 14 grams
Drivers: 11.2mm Dynamic driver
Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
Wire: 1.2m Y-shaped wire
Control: Single multi-function button
Water resistance: No
Microphone: Yes, built-in
Color options: Black (Buds 2) / Black and Blue (Buds 2 Neo)
Another entry in our list of best budget earphones in Nepal is the Mi Earphones from Xiaomi. As expected from a pair of earphones in this price range, these are made entirely out of plastic. It weighs 14 grams and has a metal sound chamber manufactured through a 20-step process to produce excellent sound quality.
Similarly, it has a wired remote with buttons to answer calls, control music playback, and make volume adjustments. However, the buttons currently do not support iOS devices. The buttons also have a built-in microphone, while you’re getting an L-shaped connector.
Mi Earphones Specifications:
Weight: 14 grams
Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
Wire: 1.25m (90º audio jack)
Control: Wired remote
Water resistance: No
Microphone: Yes, built-in
Price in Nepal: NPR 1,399
4. JBL T110
Here, the T110 is an entry-level earphone from JBL. It’s a lightweight earphone with the company’s Pure Bass sound. Besides this, it has a single-button remote with a tangle-free flat cable. It lets you control music playback, as well as answer calls on the fly—thanks to the built-in microphone.
Getting to the audio, the JBL T110 encloses a 9mm driver and weighs 12.5 grams. The stereo plug has a 45º angle.
JBL T110 Specifications:
Weight: 12.5 grams
Drivers: 9mm Dynamic driver, JBL Pure Bass sound
Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
Wire: 1.2m (arced audio jack)
Control: 1-button remote
Water resistance: No
Microphone: Yes, built-in
Color options: Black, Red, Blue, White
Price in Nepal: NPR 1,600
5. Sony MDR-EX110AP
Adding to our list of best budget earphones in Nepal is the Sony MDR-EX110AP. It’s the most lightweight earphone on the list, weighing just 3 grams. It comes with a Y-shaped cord and has a 1.2m cable length.
On the audio front, this earphone brings a 9mm dynamic driver. Furthermore, it has neodymium magnets which help to produce music at quite a high sound pressure level.
Sony MDR-EX110AP Specifications
Weight: 3 grams
Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
Wire: 1.2m (90º audio jack)
Control: Wired remote
Water resistance: No
Microphone: Yes, built-in
Price in Nepal: NPR 2,000
6. Mi Dual Driver Earphones
Mi Dual Driver Earphones is a simple wired headset with a 3.5mm plug and old-fashioned analog sound. As the name suggests, the key feature of this earphone is the dual dynamic driver setup in each earpiece. This includes a larger 10mm unit and a smaller 8mm driver. The earpiece casing is made of anodized aluminum.
Interestingly, the earpiece on the left has a convex shape while on the right earbud is concave. There are magnets in the earphones which keeps them together while not in use. For added durability, it has an L-shaped plug as well. The control option includes a three-button remote, while there’s microphone support too.
Mi Dual Driver Earphones Specifications:
Weight: 18 grams
Drivers: Dual Dynamic Drivers (10+8mm), 32 Ohm
Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
Wire: 1.2m (90º audio jack)
Control: 3-button remote
Water resistance: No
Microphone: Yes, built-in
Color options: Black, Blue
Price in Nepal: Coming Soon
7. Skullcandy Ink’d Plus In-Ear Earbud
The final entry in our list of best budget earphones in Nepal is the Skullcandy Ink’d Plus In-Ear Earbuds. At 11.52 grams, it features a 10mm driver with 16 Ohms of impedance. It has a 3.5mm aux cable. It boasts a 20Hz-20KHz frequency response range, which is the entire hearing spectrum of an average human being.
For controls, it has an in-line remote with a single button and microphone, which lets you manage calls and audio. Unfortunately, the audio jack isn’t right-angled here.
Skullcandy Ink’d Plus In-Ear Earbuds Specifications:
Weight: 11.52 grams
Drivers: 10mm Dynamic Drivers; 16 Ohm
Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
Control: 1-button remote
Water resistance: No
Microphone: Yes, built-in
Price in Nepal: NPR 2,590
Best budget earphones under NPR 2,500 in Nepal [Updated]
Honor Nepal has added two wearables gadgets to its lineup of smartwatches and fitness trackers. Let’s learn more about the specs, features, official price, and availability of Honor Watch GS Pro and Watch ES in Nepal.
Honor Watch GS Pro Overview:
Rugged Design
Honor Watch GS Pro is not a watch that Honor expects you to wear while you go to the office or gym. It is designed to last on your adventures. It’s Honor’s first and only rugged smartwatch for now. It features a circular AMOLED panel that measures 1.39-inch and packs in 454 x 454 pixels.
The body is completely made up of polycarbonate except for the bezel, which is made up of stainless steel. Here, the strap of the watch is made of silicone. The highlight of the watch is the MIL-STD-810G military certification against 14 tests.
Adventure companion
Like I mentioned earlier, the Watch GS Pro is designed to accompany you during your adventurous trip. Honor says it can plan your day ahead.
Through the watch, one can have access to important weather information such as sunrise and sunset time, moon and tidal phases, and alert against bad weather conditions. It also features a GPS route back feature. It helps the user track their way back home using a dual-satellite system.
Honor Watch GS Pro supports over 100 different workout modes. More than 15 of those are professional workout modes and the rest are customized workout modes. The watch can also act as a skiing coach. It can keep track of total duration, average speed, user’s heart rate, average pace, biggest slope, and climbed distance during a skiing session.
Talking about health tracking, it supports 24/7 heart rate monitoring and all-night sleep tracking. It even features a SpO2 sensor for evaluating your blood oxygen levels.
Battery
Honor Watch GS Pro can last you up to 25 days, that is, if you turn off the GPS in the Power saving mode. If you turn on the GPS, the company says this smartwatch can last up to 100 hours.
Similarly, if you decide to use the GPS with power saving turned off, the battery endurance scales down to up to 40 hours. It comes with a built-in speaker and microphone so you don’t have to take your phone out while answering calls. Similarly, the onboard storage on this smartwatch can store up to 500 songs.
Honor Watch ES is the more stylish of the two. It is designed to be worn during our normal day-to-day activities. It has a 1.64-inch AMOLED panel. The watch has a pixel density of 326 PPI. The panel is protected by a layer of 2.5D glass cover.
Watch ES supports over 95 different workout modes, out of which 10 are professional modes. The rest of them are customized modes.
The watch can automatically detect and record exercises such as walking (indoor and outdoor), rowing, and elliptical. It is also loaded with 12 different workout animations and 44 standard body-movement animations.
It uses an optical sensor for 24/7 heart rate monitoring. Honor says that the watch provides accurate readings, offers supervision, and alerts against abnormal conditions.
Similarly, it can also detect the oxygen saturation level in your blood. Huawei’s TruRelax feature lets you control your stress by guiding you through a series of breathing exercises.
Moving on, TruSleep supports different sleep phases (deep, light, REM sleep, and awake), and breathing analysis. Similarly, the watch also has a Female Cycle Tracker that keeps track of the menstrual cycle.
Rest of the features
Honor Watch ES can notify you of weather forecasts as well. Likewise, users can also control the music playback using the watch. Lifting the watch will display incoming calls, new messages, and calendar events.
Honor is claiming up to 10 days of battery life on a single charge here. Similarly, 30 minutes of fast charging will provide enough juice for an additional week of typical usage.
Honor Watch ES Specifications:
Weight: 45.5 gm (without the strap)
Design: Polycarbonate body, Stainless still strap, rugged design
Display: 1.64-inches AMOLED, 70% screen to body ratio, 326 PPI
Workout Modes: 95 (10 Professional modes)
Color: Meteorite Black, Coral Pink
Honor Watch GS Pro, Watch ES Price in Nepal & Availability
Honor Watch GS Pro and Watch ES are now available in Nepal, where their price is NPR 31,999 and NPR 12,999 respectively. You can buy these watches from select Honor stores across Nepal and Daraz.
Smartwatch Model
Price in Nepal
Honor Watch GS Pro
NPR 31,999
Honor Watch ES
NPR 12,999
Meanwhile, check out our review of Honor MagicWatch 2.
At a time when smartphones are getting considerably larger year after year, Samsung is leading the battle to combat this with its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip smartphone lineups. I’ve used the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 for a couple of days and here, I’ll be sharing my initial impressions of the phone.
While being a foldable phone, the Flip 3 is not just for power users—it’s for regular users as well. It is Samsung’s third generation of Flip device, which was unveiled recently alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Buds 2, and the Watch 4 series.
Personally, I love the idea of folding a smartphone to shrink it to half its size. And, this is exactly what the Flip 3 achieves with its folding mechanism. Compared to last year’s Z Flip or Z Flip 5G, this one comes with a few important upgrades.
First and foremost, Samsung has included a tougher glass up front, protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass DX for the cover display—while the exterior front cover gets the Victus treatment.
You might be aware that the first-generation Z Flip was widely chastised for using soft glass. Addressing this, the Flip 3 comes with a PET screen protector on top, rather than TPU, which is 36% tougher according to the official claim. At just 183 grams, the phone feels adequately lightweight as well.
We know that Samsung positions its Z Fold lineup as a luxury, business-class device, while the Flip series falls more into the lifestyle category targeted towards the younger generation. As a result, the Flip 3 enjoys fun color options such as Lavender, Green, Cream, and Phantom Black.
Yup, the Flip is water-resistant
Moving on, the company has also addressed some major durability issues with the Flip 3. The phone is IPX8 water-resistant, which means it can endure being submerged in water for half an hour at up to 1.5 meters.
Unfortunately, the ‘X’ in the rating signifies that it does not have IP certification for dust protection. Even though, the sweeper technology inside the hinge should prevent small dust particles from getting in.
Likewise, Galaxy Z Flip 3’s back panel is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, while the frames, as well as the hinge, are made of Armor aluminum. Samsung says that this is 10% tougher than regular frames on the Z Flip and Z Flip 5G.
According to the firm, the hinge has been tested 200,000 times to assure long-term reliability—just like on its predecessors. Aside from that, the phone has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometrics.
Display
Main: 6.7-inches FHD+ 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Cover: 1.9-inches 60Hz Super AMOLED AMOLED
Anyways, the phone unfolds to a tall 6.7-inches Dynamic AMOLED screen with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It means, it can swing between 60-120Hz depending on the type of content on the display. As expected from a Samsung panel, well, it is top-notch and I’m fond of its responsiveness too.
It’s just that watching YouTube videos with those black bars around the corners feels odd. Either that, or you’ll have to crop the videos a lot to fill up the screen completely. So I’m still getting accustomed to this wide aspect ratio.
Plus, you will also notice quite a bit of bezel on all four sides of the display. But since that’s necessary to protect the screen, that’s okay I guess. In addition, while scrolling through the display, I was often weirded out when my fingers clashed with the hinge in the middle. Still, after using the phone for a while, it gets less noticeable.
Similarly, the cover display has had a major makeover, with this year’s Flip 3 featuring a much bigger 1.9-inch 60Hz display—contrary to the puny 1.1-inch panel on its past two iterations. Thanks to the larger screen real estate, the display actually delivers a series of practical functionalities.
For instance, viewing the notifications is much more pleasant here, and being able to click selfies without having to flip the screen is what I would call, convenient. Samsung even lets you customize the cover display with a widget of your choice. Further, scrolling down the screen triggers quick toggle options like screen brightness and volume adjustments.
Cameras
(12MP primary sensor, 12MP ultra-wide lens)
10MP punch-hole selfie camera (main screen)
Cameras
1 of 2
Front
Back
Moving on to the cameras, Samsung has borrowed the same 12MP primary and 12MP ultrawide lens from the first-gen Z Flip. Upfront, there’s also the identical 10MP selfie shooter.
Images
1 of 3
Normal
Ultra-wide
Selfie
Now, I haven’t had a chance to take it for a thorough spin, but I did click a few shots from the rear and front. And, Samsung’s slightly saturated color optimization can be witnessed here. The pictures do look pleasing though.
But again, this is just my initial impression of these cameras, and I will go into this in greater detail in my complete review, so look out for that.
Performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G SoC (5nm)
8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
Performance-wise, you get Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 888 chipset under the hood. Actually, this is just the second time I am using the Snapdragon variant of a Samsung flagship, following the Z Fold 2 last year, so I’m really pumped about it.
On my initial impressions, its performance has been stellar. In my brief time with the phone, I haven’t faced a single hiccup in animations or transitions. Additionally, because the Flip 3 has a tall aspect ratio, gaming has also been a good experience so far—at least in terms of how they look.
The phone, by the way, comes in two memory variants—8GB of RAM and either 128 or 256GB of internal storage. The base variant or the 8/128GB pair is priced at USD 999.99 and the 8/256 costs USD 1049.99. To note, this is the first time a foldable, or rather I should say a flippable is available below the USD 1,000 price tag.
Software
Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.1 on top
Moving on, I also like the fact that Samsung has well-optimized One UI here. And that is seen in features like app continuity. For instance, if I have the selfie camera open on the cover screen, flipping the phone open effortlessly continues with the same app. This applies to other apps like Phone Dialer and Music Player as well.
Now, because of the large layout of this screen, the top edge isn’t easily reachable with one hand. Yet, One UI does make it a bit easier while using the phone. That being said, the coolest feature of the Z Flip 3 has to be the Flex Mode, which allows it to stand on its own at a 90-degree angle.
As a result, I can simply keep it at my bedside and let it showcase it like a clock. On the other hand, attending online meetings is quite fun now, as I don’t have to look for something to hold the phone stable on a surface or use my hand to do so. It can even act as a tripod for shooting videos and selfies.
I believe that the possibilities of this feature will pique the interest of content creators in particular. Right now, there are only a handful of apps that fully support Flex mode, although you do have the option to go to the settings and enable it for other desired apps as well.
Battery & Audio
3300mAh battery with 15W fast charging
10W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless charging
Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos audio
On the battery front, Samsung has fitted a dual-cell battery here. The top half of the phone encompasses a comparatively smaller 930mAh cell, while the bottom half houses a bigger 2370mAh cell. This totals to a 3300mAh battery, which is the same capacity as on last year’s Z Flip.
To reemphasize, I’ve only had this phone for a day, so I can’t really comment on its battery endurance just yet. But, considering how this relatively smaller battery has to fuel a huge 120Hz screen as well as the cover display, I’m assuming its screen-on time will be just average.
Then again, that’s a direct trade-off to maintain Z Flip 3’s form factor itself, since including a bigger battery would compromise the phone’s slim design. In terms of charging, you get 15-watt wired charging support—the same as on previous Z Flip phones.
I had hoped for Samsung to include a faster charging mechanism, especially considering that the device has a fairly small battery, in a dual-cell configuration. Over on the audio, it has a stereo speaker setup which also supports Dolby Atmos audio.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Impressions: Conclusion
So, there you have it guys, my initial impressions of the all-new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. It’s easily the most interesting and the narrow phone I’ve used in a while. Plus, the well-optimized One UI of the Flip 3 is the cherry on the top. However, for a thorough review, I will be using it as my daily driver for the upcoming days, so stay tuned for more.
Check out our initial impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.
After using the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 for a little over a day, I’ll be sharing my early impressions of the phone here. Amidst the barrage of leaks and spoilers, the latest foldable phone from Samsung is finally here. Launched alongside a new flip phone and a couple of wearables, Galaxy Z Fold 3 is technically the fourth-gen foldable phone from the company.
Besides the conventional feature upgrades—that number—the “4th gen” of it all is quite a big deal. It goes on to show just how confident Samsung is in this form factor and the company’s attestation towards making foldable mainstream.
Color Options: Phantom Black, Phantom Green, Phantom Silver
What’s inside the box: Galaxy Z Fold 3, SIM ejector, USB-C to USB-C cable, User manual and other documents
Price in Nepal:
Rs. 219,999 169,999 (12/256GB)
Rs. 229,999 179,999 (12/512GB)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Impressions:
Design
Glass front/back, Armor aluminum frame
271 grams, IPX8 water resistance
As last year’s Z Fold 2 had a pretty well-received design, Samsung hasn’t worked much to bring about any significant change on the Fold 3 in this regard. Except maybe making it a couple of millimeters thinner.
But more importantly, the company has managed to bring down the weight from 282 to just 271 grams. While that still doesn’t compare against a regular smartphone, I got used to its heft almost instantaneously—especially when holding it unfolded.
On top of this, Z Fold 3 sneaks in IPX8 water resistance as well. This makes it the only foldable phone in the market to feature an official IP rating. With all the intricate engineering that’s gone into building this phone, I’m honestly surprised as to how Samsung was able to achieve this feat.
Stout body
So yeah, it’s clear that durability was one of the key areas the company focused on when designing the Z Fold 3. Compared to its predecessor, the hideaway hinge and frame enjoys armored aluminum material that promises 10% better sturdiness.
Additionally, both the cover display and the back are now protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus. Contrary to it, Samsung had cheaped out on the Fold 2 by going with Gorilla Glass 6 at the back.
Moving on, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has been tested to withstand up to 200,000 folds, much like the one before it. To put that into context, averaging 100 un/folds a day, this hinge is engineered to endure for well over 5 years.
Likewise, Samsung lets you choose from three color options: Phantom Green, Phantom Black, and Phantom Silver. And I gotta say, I’m really digging this elegantly subtle greenish hue on the Phantom Green variant that I have with me. There’s also a Galaxy Z Fold 3 Thom Browne Edition, but its availability will be limited to select markets like the US.
Display
Unfolded: 7.6-inches QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
LTPO backplane, Adaptive refresh rate (10-120Hz)
Folded: 6.2-inches HD+ 120Hz Dynamic 2X AMOLED
Because of its similar dimensions to the Z Fold 2, the display size has stayed the same here. You’re getting a 6.2” screen on the front that unfolds to a 7.6” Dynamic AMOLED display.
However, Samsung has heard our cries about the Fold’s 2 “continuity error” because of the mismatched refresh rate between two screens. As a result, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 implements a 120Hz refresh rate on both displays—albeit with a minute difference.
While the main display uses an LTPO backplane with a variable refresh rate between 10 and 120Hz, the cover screen skips this lavishness for a traditional AMOLED panel that can circle between 60 and 120Hz depending on the screen’s content.
As expected, the colors and contrast levels from a Samsung-made OLED display are unquestionably top-notch and during my brief time with the phone, I’ve had no issue with it so far. Since a foldable phone quite literally hinges on the tenacity of the flexible display, ensuring its reliability and tip-top endurance is crucial.
Keeping that in mind, Samsung says it has optimized the panel structure and used a different kind of protective film on the Fold 3. All of this cumulatively deliver 80% superior durability compared to Fold 2’s main display.
To compare, the screen layer arrangement on the Fold 2 went AMOLED panel → Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) → protective layer → and a factory-applied screen protector. Well, things aren’t that different on the Fold 3 but according to the company, it has switched from TPU to PET screen protector here.
The next Note?
Mostly known for its scratch-resistant properties, I believe Samsung’s decision to ditch TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) in favor of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) also has something to do with the phone’s S Pen support.
Yes, you heard that right. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is also the first foldable phone that enables stylus input. Since TPU material is comparatively softer, it makes for a relatively worse surface to write on. Additionally, the difference between the two is palpable as Fold 3’s main display doesn’t feel nearly as plasticky as the one on Fold 2.
Nonetheless, because the Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) on this phone is nowhere near as strong as regular glass, Samsung has had to develop an entirely different S Pen just for the Fold 3. The S Pen Fold Edition is a Bluetooth-free stylus with an excellent input latency, which feels closer to 9ms like on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. But don’t quote me on that just yet.
There’s also a larger S Pen Pro, which is a Bluetooth-enabled active stylus with support for air gestures. On a grand scale, it even seems that Samsung is desperately betting on the Fold 3 and S21 Ultra to fill up the void left by the lack of a Galaxy Note device this year—thanks to their stylus support.
Regardless, one interesting thing I discovered is that the Z Fold 3 explicitly won’t let you use a stylus other than the S Pen Pro and S Pen Fold Edition on its main display. Trying it out with Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s stylus, we were greeted with a pop-up message warning us against doing so.
Cameras
Triple-cameras at the back
(12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto)
10MP selfie camera (cover display, punch-hole)
4MP f/1.8, under display camera
Moving on, do you feel something missing when looking at this screen? Nabbing another “world’s first” title to its name, the Fold 3 brings an under-display camera (UDC) as well. To note, there are already a couple of commercially available phones with UDC like the new MIX 4 from Xiaomi, but this is the first foldable phone to include one.
Cameras
1 of 3
Cover Display
Rear Camera
Under-display Camera
Sadly, Samsung’s first take on an under-display camera leaves much to be desired. From the couple of photos that I’ve managed to take, I’ve found that this 4MP sensor captures sub-par images with incredibly low details. To top it all off, its pixel density is weak enough for one’s eye to notice the camera zone too.
Nevertheless, the UDC is practically invisible when there’s something dark occupying the screen. Besides, I observed it to sort of blend away when looking at the phone upright—similar to the crease in the middle of the screen.
Copy and Paste
While Samsung dared to go for a new camera setup for the front camera, it has left the remaining camera arrangement untouched from the Fold 2. This consists of a trio of 12MP sensors at the back, including OIS support for the wide and telephoto camera, whereas the ultra-wide lens misses out on optical stabilization.
For visible differentiation, Fold 3 incorporates an oblong-shaped camera module which is quite unique for a Samsung phone. Similarly, the cover display hosts a 10MP selfie shooter.
Images
1 of 3
Normal
Ultra-wide
Under-display
Judging from the few samples I’ve taken so far, the photos bear a classic Samsung tag with punchy colors and plenty of details. But I’ll be testing them at length in our full review, so be sure to check that out.
Performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G SoC (5nm)
12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256/512GB UFS 3.1 storage
Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.1 on top
Apart from all the hardware marvel, this relatively novel smartphone form factor requires equally competent software to go with it. Thankfully, Samsung has stepped up its software game big time.
According to the company, 57 out of the top 100 apps have been optimized to utilize Fold 3’s main display to the fullest. These include the likes of YouTube, Spotify, MS Office, TikTok, etc. Even Instagram can now go fullscreen here.
Also, One UI 3.1 embeds one-handed usability design principles exceptionally well. It makes the most out of the large screen real-estate by letting you open up to three apps at a time—on top of the floating windows. Flex Mode is yet another ingenious software feature that’s seen as a healthy upgrade.
This was only available in select system apps like Camera on Fold 2. Whereas, One UI 3.1 now lets you turn it on even for third-party apps. Anyway, powering the Z Fold 3 is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and either 256 or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
So, the performance standard is not going to be a problem here. In terms of audio, there’s a dual stereo speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support. It can get plenty loud with a fair amount of details as well.
Battery
4400mAh battery with 25W wired charging
10W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless charging
Now, remember how I praised Samsung for being able to bring down the phone’s weight? That is, indeed, a direct result of the smaller battery. Compared to the 4500mAh cell on the Fold 2, its successor has a 4400mAh battery. Meanwhile, the charging standard remains the same at 25W wired, 10W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Impressions: Conclusion
So, that was it for my initial impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. Like I mentioned before, we will also be coming up with its full review, so stay tuned for that. Till then, look out for our impressions on the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Watch 4 series, and the Buds 2 as well.
Meanwhile, check out our initial impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.
Nepalese have long complained about the price of internet in the country, be it broadband or mobile data. The rise of CG Net gave a big sigh of relief. However, the company’s slow expansion has been a matter of night terrors for many. In the midst of all of this, the Nepal government is planning to reduce internet prices in the country.
Nepal Government to reduce internet prices
The government is planning to reduce the price of the internet to make it more accessible for consumers. Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, Chief of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT), stated at an event that plans have been made to lower service fees and give inexpensive internet to all.
He noted, “We are studying whether mobile data or Wi-Fi can have reduced charges”.
According to him, both the government and private service providers will work together to reduce fees and expand access. Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), on the other hand, intends to decrease the country’s internet price to 2% per capita.
According to the current broadband policy, internet costs should be 5% of the country’s per capita income. Joining forces, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has proposed lowering the cost of internet access to 2% of per capita GDP by 2025. As a result, NTA has begun the process, and policy change is currently underway.
Nepal Government to reduce internet prices: Final words
At a time where the internet is more of a need than a luxury, the government’s efforts to reduce charges are noteworthy. We sincerely hope that the idea will soon become a reality, and Nepalese will be able to enjoy cheaper internet rates.
Meanwhile, check out our initial impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.
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