Huawei announced FreeBuds 4i wireless earbuds in China back in February 2021. It is the successor to last year’s Freebuds 3i and comes with some significant upgrades over its predecessor. And it has finally made its way to Nepal. In this post, we will be taking a closer look at the specs, features, official price, and availability of Huawei FreeBuds 4i in Nepal.
Huawei FreeBuds 4i Overview:
Design
Let’s talk about the design first. It has a 3D bionic ergonomic design that the company claims will result in a closer fit. Compared to the Freebuds 3i, the head is more rounded while the stem is flat. Each earbud weighs around 5.5 grams.
The new charging case has a rounded design. It has the company’s branding and an LED indicator on the front. The charging case weighs around 36.5 grams.
Features
Each earbud features a 10mm sound driver. Paired with a polymer composite diaphragm, Huawei claims that it will offer a more immersive listening experience. It also has a dual-microphone setup consisting of two beamforming mics. The earbuds have touch-sensitive controls.
Talking about the features, Freebuds 4i comes equipped with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology. This will help reduce environmental noise. There is also a transparent transmission mode that allows you to listen to the surrounding without having to take the earbuds off.
The dual-microphone picks up the vocals from noise using an AI neural network algorithm. The process is further aided by the special windproof design of the buds.
There is also a low-latency mode for gamers out there. FreeBuds 4i supports automatic pairing and wear detection too. However, you will need Huawei phones running EMUI 11 or above for the latter.
Battery
Getting to the battery, each earbud sports a 55mAh cell that offers up to 10 hours of music playback. Turning on the ANC, the earbuds will last up to 7.5 hours. The earphones get fully charge in 60 minutes while the charging case takes around 90 minutes. Once fully charged, the earphones and charging case together can provide battery endurance of up to 22 hours.
Huawei FreeBuds 4i Price in Nepal and Availability
The price of Huawei FreeBuds 4i TWS earbuds in Nepal is NPR 11,990. You can buy FreeBuds 4i from Huawei authorized stores across Nepal. Or, contact Huawei Nepal on their Facebook page for more info.
Asus has a wide range of gaming laptops catering to different market needs. The company’s TUF lineup brings powerful and durable hardware—at a relatively digestible price. Today, I have the Asus TUF Dash F15 2021 in for review which boasts the latest Intel 11th gen Tiger Lake-H processor and NVIDIA’s RTX 30-series graphics. Having used it for about a month or so, here’s what I have to say about this gaming laptop.
Asus TUF Dash F15 2021 Specifications:
Design& Build: Plastic + metal build, 14.17W x 9.92D x 0.78H-inches, 2.0 kg, MIL-STD-810H certification
Color Options: Moonlight White, Eclipse Grey
Display: 15.6″ matte IPS panel, 144Hz refresh rate, 62.5% NTSC color space
Resolution: FHD (1920×1080) resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio
Audio: 2x 2W bottom-firing speakers with DTS:X Ultra
Battery: 76 Watt-hours 4-cell Li-Ion battery
PowerSupply: 200W AC power adapter
Webcam: Unavailable
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 6 (ax), Bluetooth 5.1
I/O Ports: 1x LAN (RJ45), 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x 3.5mm headphone combo jack, 1x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x Kensington Lock
Pricein Nepal: Rs. 205,000
What’s inside the box: Laptop, power adapter, Asus TUF backpack, Asus TUF gaming mouse, quick start guide
Asus TUF Dash F15 2021 Review:
Design
Plastic + metal build quality
MIL-STD-810H certified design
Starting with the design—as you could already tell—the Moonlight White color option that I have with me is sort of a bold statement. And a bit of a gamble. While it looks quite breathtaking and all, the eventual downfall of this snowy finish might’ve already triggered OCD to some cleanliness freaks “Monica Gellers” out there.
For some consolation, Asus says this paint job has been designed to last for a pretty long time so I don’t expect it to wash out anytime soon. Plus, throughout my usage, this variant has done a surprisingly impressive job of keeping things intact as a couple of wipes with a dry cloth is all it takes to take this Dash F15 back to its original glory.
But if you want something way more subtle and traditional-looking, there is also an “Eclipse Grey” finish of this laptop available. Moving on, compared to the TUF A15 that we reviewed last year, this machine is respectably thinner and lighter as well. To compare, the TUF Dash F15 measures 19.9m and maxes out at 2kg—while its predecessor was 24.7mm thick and weighed 2.3kg.
A TUF machine
Even though this is far from what other thin-and-light gaming laptops manage to achieve, Asus deserves a pat on the back for this enhanced design. Moreover, since it falls under the company’s TUF lineup, the Dash F15 is MIL-STD-810H certified too.
This ensures durability against drops, vibrations, extreme temperatures, and such—although I haven’t gotten around to verify any of those claims. Anyway, the plastic-build keyboard chassis has ridged lines on either side resembling a sideways mesa, whereas the front-facing exhaust vent features a funky angled layout to deliver the “gamer” aesthetics.
Completing the gaming vibe is the big (yet subtle) TUF branding on the metallic lid. You can notice an Asus TUF logo on the top right as well. Also, the hinge is quite solid—but I still wished it could lay flat 180º. Port selection on this laptop leaves no room for complaint either.
Port selection
Here, one Ethernet, one HDMI 2.0b, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, one USB-C Thunderbolt 4, and one 3.5mm combo audio jack can be found on the left frame alongside the barrel pin charging connector. On the opposite side, you get two more USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and a Kensington lock slot.
Ports
1 of 2
Left
Right
With the Thunderbolt 4 connection, Asus even lets you juice up this laptop using a 100W PD-compatible charger. Another neat design trick of this laptop is the front-facing LED indicators for power and battery status. There’s also a hard drive LED—which in this case indicates whenever the onboard SSD is being read from or written to.
Display
15.6″ matte non-touch IPS LCD panel
144Hz refresh rate, 62.5% sRGB gamut
By now, it’s pretty common knowledge that one key area where inexpensive gaming laptops compromise is the display. And the Asus TUF Dash F15 that we have in for review is no exception to this tradition either. Here, the pick of the litter is a 15.6” WQHD panel with 100% DCI-P3 color space, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 3ms response time.
On the other hand, our review unit is the base model with a 15.6” FHD screen with 62.5% sRGB color coverage and a 144Hz refresh rate. To note, there is a 240Hz variant as well but I’d advise against it. See the thing is, to build a thin chassis, Asus has had to install a Max-Q design GPU here.
As a result, this laptop won’t be able to hit the 240fps mark in most competitive AAA or eSports titles—even under low graphics settings. While this configuration does introduce superior colors with a 100% sRGB gamut, the added cost doesn’t add a significant enough value I think.
In all fairness, this is an average yet acceptable screen—considering its mediocre color coverage. Obviously, things don’t look nearly as vibrant as they should but for a relatively affordable gaming laptop, it’s hard to complain. Looking up the hardware ID under Device Manager reveals that Asus has used the CMN1521 panel here, which is the same one found in a few 2020 models of Acer’s Predator Helios series.
Expectedly mediocre display
Regardless, the saturation level here is mediocre compared to other high-end laptops I’ve tested so far. Under factory color calibration, this screen tends to look slightly bluish with low black levels too. Using our trusty SpyderX Pro, we calibrated this display and it now delivers comparatively punchier colors.
Additionally, we measured that this display covers 67% sRGB, 50% AdobeRGB, 50% DCI-P3, and 48% NTSC gamut. Likewise, I noticed that the screen looked significantly worse with overblown highlights when the laptop was running on battery. To solve this, I had to disable “Display Power Savings” under Intel Graphics Command Center.
In terms of brightness, Asus hasn’t revealed any numbers on its official site but our test concludes that TUF Dash F15’s screen has a peak brightness of 297.8 cd/m2 (nits) and a 1030:1 contrast ratio. This is pretty much in line with what you get from similar gaming laptops so no complaints here.
Sufficiently bright indoors
For indoor usage, I had no problem with visibility here when setting its brightness to 50-60%. The anti-glare coating helps with the ambient lighting reflections as well. However, it’s not the best companion to have with you outdoors. Besides the subpar brightness, its viewing angle is okay-ish only.
LED indicator
There’s an observable drop in saturation level when looking at the display from extreme angles—although this is almost dismissable under everyday usage. I also noticed mild IPS glow near the mid-left corner of the screen, but that’s unnoticeable when you’re in a fairly well-lit room.
Apart from the average colors, brightness, and viewing angles, I’m kinda let down by the fact that Asus decided to stick to the 16:9 aspect ratio on this laptop. While the side bezels on the TUF Dash F15 are pretty minimal, it’s got quite a pronounced chin with a minimalistic “Asus” branding.
I strongly believe the visual flair of this device would’ve shot up if only the company had opted for the taller 16:10 aspect ratio. Anyway, you can also notice rubber paddings on the side and top bezel (notice the lacking webcam here)—which are there to absorb pressure away from the panel when you shut down the lid.
Keyboard
Backlit chiclet-style keyboard (single-color)
Let’s now talk about its keyboard. Despite featuring a 15.6” chassis, the Dash F15 misses out on a Numpad. Right off the bat, our eyes catch the attention of the out-of-ordinary WASD keys. Even though it’s been meticulously disguised to give an optical-switch mechanical vibe, this laptop wholly employs island-style keys.
Instead, the translucent finish of the WASD keys is simply there to help you distinguish them apart. Plus, the ‘W’ key also has a small circular ridge to help you quickly position your fingers. About their quality, I’m quite satisfied with the typing experience on this thing.
Their 1.7mm key travel distance is right up my wheelhouse and I had no trouble maintaining my 70-80 WPM typing speed here. The keys are well spaced out and have a fairly quiet sound profile. To be precise, Asus benchmarks it as less than 30dB. They don’t rattle much either—although I can’t say the same for Tab, Backspace, Enter, and the right Shift key.
Single-zone RGB lighting
There are also 4 hotkeys on the top for quick access to volume, mic control, and Armoury Crate. Anyhow, this keyboard is backlit as well and you can play around with a total of three lighting modes. However, it doesn’t enjoy multi-zone RGB lighting and Asus has gone with a mint green backlight here.
I must say it looks pretty unique. Still and all, TUF Dash F15’s keyboard backlighting is pretty weak even under 100% brightness. You can clearly notice the uneven illumination in most of the keys—especially the ones with smaller etchings like colon and apostrophe. Another weird issue I noticed on this keyboard is ghosting.
Granted it doesn’t happen with most of the keys, it was still a bit of a nuisance for me. You see, when writing a tech article or editing one, I often come across using the word “GB”. And when typing it up with the left Shift acting as the Caps Lock substitute, the keyboard registers my input as “G B” instead of “GB ”. Surprisingly, this issue is non-existent when using the right Shift key.
Trackpad
Plastic trackpad with integrated left/right keys
On the other hand, Asus TUF Dash F15’s trackpad is acceptably average. It’s plastic-made so you’re not getting the most premium feel when sliding your fingers through its surface but I do appreciate the centered layout. Unlike the ones on the company’s ZenBook or ROG series, this doesn’t double as a Numpad either.
Its relatively compact form factor is not the best choice for efficient drag-and-drop exercises either. Regardless, none of this matters much considering the laptop’s gaming origins. I mean, you are going to use a reliable mouse for your gaming sessions—thereby rendering this touchpad useless.
There’s even the option to switch it off under the Armoury Crate. Here, you can notice the mint green theme across the trackpad as well. The integrated left/right keys click fine, whereas I had no trouble operating multi-finger gestures either—thanks to the Windows Precision drivers.
Audio
2x 2W bottom-firing speaker setup
DTS:X Ultra, Built-in array microphone
When it comes to the audio, the TUF Dash F15 enjoys a dual bottom-firing speaker setup with 4W of total output. The rubber feet on the bottom chassis elevate to minimize the extent of audio muffle but I feel like Asus could’ve done a better job with one simple design tweak.
Here, the rubber feet on the lower portion near the speakers are significantly shorter than the ones on the top. If only they were on a level with one another, the speaker grille could get a reasonably wider room to breathe. At any rate, its sound quality isn’t half bad.
Things can get loud enough for an average-sized room while there’s plenty of detail in mids and highs to enjoy as well. You can even customize the sound profile with the DTS:X Ultra app depending on the task at hand like listening to music or playing games. Moreover, the built-in array microphone on this thing also supports AI noise cancellation.
Performance
Intel 11th-gen Core i7-11370H CPU (35W TDP)
NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU (80W, 6GB GDDR6 VRAM)
16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Okay, let’s now get into the performance side of things. You can configure the Asus TUF Dash F15 with up to Intel Core i7-11375H CPU and RTX 3070 GPU. Our review unit ships with one tier lower i7-11370H processor and RTX 3060 graphics with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM.
This has been paired with 16GB of single-channel DDR4 RAM and 512GB of NVMe PCIe Gen 3 SSD. Unlike most Ultrabooks these days, you can upgrade both RAM and SSD here. At any rate, this configuration costs NPR 215,000 (~ USD 1,800) in Nepal. The same model retails for some INR 125,000 in India or around USD 1,360 in the US.
CrystalDiskMark
Read (MB/s)
Write (MB/s)
SEQ1M Q8T1
3490.34
2784.50
SEQ1M Q1T1
2115.10
1514.04
RND4K Q32T1
403.19
427.03
RNK4K Q1T1
64.30
136.78
Unigine Heaven
(FPS: 111.5, Score: 2809, Min FPS: 9.9, Max FPS: 228.3)
API: OpenGL
Multi-monitor: Disabled
Quality: High
Anti-aliasing: x2
Tessellation: Extreme
Fullscreen: Yes
Stereo 3D: Disabled
Resolution: System
GFXBench
1440p Aztec Ruins OpenGL (High Tier) Offscreen
150.678 fps
1080p Car Chase Offscreen
348.935 fps
1080p Manhattan 3.1 Offscreen
481.131 fps
1080p ALU 2 Offscreen
2029.71 fps
1080p Driver Overhead 2 Offscreen
200.117 fps
1080p Texturing Offscreen
204.605 fps
3DMark
Overall
Graphics
Physics
Combined
Fire Strike Extreme v1.1
8377
8845
13499
4261
Total
Graphics
CPU
Time Spy v1.2
6718
7211
4843
Like I mentioned in the beginning, Asus has had to use a Max-Q GPU to maintain the thin form-factor of this laptop. This RTX 3060 draws up to 80W of power or up to 85W with Dynamic Boost. To compare, you can find much more powerful RTX 3060-powered laptops with up to 130W TGP as well.
Ultraportable gaming CPU
Additionally, even though the i7-11370H is a Tiger Lake-H series CPU, this processor has been designed for ultraportable gaming laptops. What this translates to is the fact that unlike the traditional ‘H’ series processors with up to 45W of configurable TDP, this silicon can’t draw the same level of power for optimum performance.
Instead, the i7-11370H falls under Intel’s entirely new H35 series of CPUs with cTDP capped at 35W. What’s more—all the processors under the H35 lineup are quad-core, which is quite unorthodox for a typical gaming laptop.
Despite all this, the Asus TUF Dash F15 hasn’t let me down throughout all my workloads. Keeping 10-12 Chrome tabs open alongside typing up word documents, listening to music on Spotify, editing images on Photoshop results in zero hiccups to this beast.
Intel especially pointed out the stellar single-threaded performance of this CPU and that’s mirrored in real-life usage as well. Looking at the single-core benchmarks scores, we can see some impressive results.
Windows 11 Compatibility
1 of 2
TPM Module
WhyNotWin11
However, its quad-core design means if your use case involved 3D rendering, video editing, and such, the i7-11370H shouldn’t be your biggest bet.
Sub-par multi-core performance
In fact, Asus TUF Dash F15 posted worse multi-core benchmark results compared to the 25W hexa-core Ryzen 5 5500U on the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 that I had a chance to review recently. But since multi-core performance isn’t of much importance to a gaming laptop, I can sweep this one under the rug.
Cinebench R23
Asus TUF Dash F15
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
CPU: Multi-Core
6605
7238
CPU: Single Core
1455
1164
MP Ratio
4.54x
6.22x
Geekbench 5
Asus TUF Dash F15
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
CPU: Multi-Core
4809
5505
CPU: Single Core
1503
1094
Compute (OpenCL)
94455
13296
Before getting into gaming, I’d like to quickly discuss different performance profiles under Armoury Crate. Here, the Turbo profile maxes out CPU, GPU, and cooling trifecta while the Silent mode does the opposite in pursuit of a quieter performance. To note, I ran all the benchmarks and gaming tests under the Turbo profile for the best output.
Gaming experience
In graphically lax games like CS: GO, the TUF Dash F15 delivers 126fps on average under High settings whereas that number bumps to 168fps when dialing down the graphics to Low. Similarly, I got 97fps on average in Valorant with the graphics set to High while it averages at 102 and 106fps under Medium and Low settings, respectively.
This result is a tad bit underwhelming compared to other RTX 3060-powered laptops I’ve tested so far like the MSI GF65 Thin 10UE. There’s no noticeable frame drop with a couple of hours of continuous gaming so I’m left to blame the low-TDP CPU for this.
In terms of thermals, Asus has fitted in four exhaust vents in total: two on the side and two at the back. Likewise, its dual-fan configuration has been complemented by five heatpipes in total, connecting to the CPU, GPU, VRM, and VRAM. Under Turbo mode, the fan noise is pretty loud—with an almost whistling effect to it.
But unlike what MSI does with its fan settings, turning Turbo mode on the TUF Dash F15 only cranks the fan speed when you’re running CPU/GPU intensive tasks. Moving on, under heavy load, almost the entire keyboard chassis gets quite warm—whereas the Tab and Caps Lock row enjoy fairly respectable temperatures.
Fairly ineffective thermal solution
You could feel hot air blowing out of all four sides but it simply couldn’t keep up with the workload. Anyway, GPU-intensive titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Star Wars Battlefront II are complemented with smooth gameplay too. With DX12 and DLSS turned on, the former manages 64fps on average under High graphics preset.
Comparably, that number climbs to 65 and 69fps with Low and Normal settings, respectively. On the other hand, turning on DX12 raytracing on Star Wars Battlefront II results in a pretty stuttery experience. At High graphics quality, I got just 29fps on average whereas it jumps to 34 and 36fps under Medium and Low settings.
But with raytracing turned off, you can get more than smooth gameplay here. To compare, it can hit 69, 76, and 88fps on average under High, Medium, and Low graphics, respectively. I also noticed Asus TUF Dash F15 2021’s gaming performance to be a tad bit underwhelming compared to the MSI GF65 Thin 10UE I got to review recently.
35W vs 45W CPU
This gaming laptop features a last-gen Core i7 10th gen CPU and RTX 3060 GPU with 75W power. Comparatively, it delivers at least 10-20% better FPS results on average than the TUF Dash F15.
Overall, if you mostly play games like CS: GO, Valorant, or FIFA with relatively low TGP demand, this setup is more than fine. However, if you are a serious AAA gamer, you’ll want to get the one with RTX 3070 GPU and an octa-core CPU for better gaming performance.
Battery
76 Watt-hour 4-cell battery
200W AC power adapter
With that out of the way, allow me to discuss its battery life. The TUF Dash F15 packs a sizeable 76 Watt-hour and Asus claims that it can deliver up to 16.6 hours of battery life on a single charge. While that was never going to reciprocate in terms of real-life usage, I managed to get acceptable screen-on time here—considering it’s a gaming laptop and all.
With iGPU and Panel Power Saver mode turned off, brightness set to 50-60%, and keyboard backlight set to 67%, I managed to get 3-3.5 hours of SOT. On the contrary, turning on iGPU, Panel Power Save, and Silent mode can yield 7-8 hours of battery endurance.
Pretty respectable battery endurance
Both these numbers sure sound spectacular but they obviously don’t include any gaming. Here, iGPU mode disables the discrete RTX 3060 graphics in favor of the integrated Iris Xe graphics. In addition, the Panel Power Save feature dials the refresh rate from 144Hz to 60Hz for battery-saving reasons.
On the charging front, the onboard 200W AC power adapter takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes to fully juice up this battery. As aforementioned, you can hook up a 100W USB-C power connector into this laptop too.
Asus TUF Dash F15 2021 Review: Conclusion
To sum up this review, the Asus TUF Dash F15 makes quite the statement for itself. This gaming laptop arrives in a relatively lightweight body and offers an impressive battery life. Also, its military-grade durability, well-spaced keys, and gaming performance are pretty decent for the price as well.
Having said that, Asus has used a literally underpowered GPU here—whereas the quad-core CPU powering the laptop isn’t the most powerful choice for a gaming laptop either. So, if you can sacrifice portability for sheer power, then there are better options to shop for. On the flip side, if you’re indifferent to the minor dip in performance, then this is still a decent gaming laptop for its price.
Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has published a working procedure for 5G tests, thereby opening the way for 5G trials in the country. The procedure contains the terms and conditions that telecom companies have to adhere to during, before, throughout, and after the 5G trials.
NTA opens the way for 5G Trials
The procedure guidelines published on July 19 are based on the decision of the Radio Frequency Policy Determination Committee. The committee falls under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT).
Telecom companies need to submit an application to NTA detailing their plans and modality for 5G trials. Plus, they’ll need to include details regarding the trial site, frequency, and proposed timeline for operation connection and operation. NTA has made it mandatory for telcos to include both rural and town areas in their trial site.
5G infrastructure in Nepal
NTA will then decide to either approve or disapprove the request. Telcos can only start building the network infrastructure after the approval. If they fail to report any progress in infrastructure development, NTA can revoke their trial license. Once the trial is over, telcos can continue using network equipment for 4G after NTA’s approval.
The frequency required for the 5G trials will be provided to telcos for free by NTA. On the other hand, they won’t be allowed to charge any fee from the customer during the trial period. This trial period can last up to 12 months.
Progress report
Telcos will also be required to submit reports to NTA about the progress of the trial every 3 months. They need to include opportunities, problems, and suggestions regarding 5G implementation.
5G in Nepal: The roadblock
State-owned Nepal Telecom (NT) is all but ready to start 5G trials in the country. The Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government is yet to pick a Communications and Information Technology Minister. This has halted the process of spectrum allotment. We believe the process will resume once the position in MoCIT is filled.
The recent political changes can hamper Nepal’s dream of becoming the first South Asian country to have fifth-generation mobile connectivity. Next in line is India which has already given green signals to a couple of telcos for 5G trials.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the ZenBook Flip 13.
A few days after the launch of the Poco F3 GT, the company has unveiled its latest entry in the X series—the Poco X3 GT. The device is basically a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G launched in China in May. So, let’s get into the specs, features, availability, and expected price of the Poco X3 GT in Nepal.
Poco X3 GT Overview:
Currently, the Poco X3 lineup is home to standard X3 and X3 Pro, both of which follow the company’s own design language. Ergo, they’re not a reskinned Xiaomi/Redmi phone. However, that is not the case with the X3 GT.
Design and Display
Starting with the display, the Poco X3 GT flaunts a 6.6-inch LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. The screen boasts a Full HD resolution, is HDR10 certified, and has a punch-hole cutout for housing the front camera. It also hosts Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the front.
Moreover, the phone has a polycarbonate body and a rectangular camera cutout on the back. Poco X3 GT is available in three color options – Cloud White, Wave Blue, and Stargaze Black.
Under the hood, it packs MediaTek’s Dimensity 1100 SoC, which is a flagship chipset based on TSMC’s 6nm process. In terms of memory, the phone is available with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Furthermore, the Poco X3 GT boots on Android 11-based MIUI 12.5. Fueling the device is a 5,000mAh battery that charges via a USB-C port using a 67W Turbo adapter.
Camera
In terms of optics, it features a triple camera module at the back led by a 64MP primary sensor. The main lens is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro sensor. Likewise, on the front, there’s a 16MP lens for selfies and video calls. The rear camera is capable of recording 4K videos at 30fps.
Rest of the specs
Aside from this, Poco X3 GT has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometrics. In terms of connectivity, the phone supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, IR, and NFC. Lastly, you get a stereo speaker setup with Dolby Atmos audio.
Back Camera: Triple (64MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro)
Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
Biometrics: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C, NFC, IR blaster
Battery: 5000mAh with 67W Turbo Charging
Poco X3 GT Price in Nepal and Availability
Poco X3 GT has been launched at an asking price of USD 299 for the 8/128GB variant while the 8/256GB model costs USD 329. The device will be available across Southeast Asia, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. We expect the price of the Poco X3 GT to start around NPR 40,000 if and when it launches in Nepal.
Poco X3 GT
Price in the US
Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB
USD 299
NPR 40,000
8/256GB
USD 329
NPR 45,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Note 10 Pro (Max).
Last year, Apple announced iPhone 12 series with a magnetic MagSafe charger. Now, similar technology is making its way to Android phones. Realme has already admitted to working on its next flagship “Realme Flash”, which will be the first in the Android smartphone world to support wireless magnetic charging.
Realme Flash: Everything we know so far
The company shared a teaser poster of Realme Flash on its social media handles. There is no official information about the Realme Flash, except that it’ll the first Android phone with a magnetic charger.
The poster only provides a glimpse of the phone’s rear panel. Still, you can notice the left-aligned triple camera setup and rounded corners. It’s kinda reminiscent of the camera module on the OnePlus 9—kinda.
Leaked Specs
Detailed specs of the phone are already out, courtesy of GSMArena. According to the leak, Realme Flash will feature a curved screen with a circular cutout at the top-left.
Inside, the phone will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888. Additionally, it will be paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. However, we can expect other memory configurations at the time of launch. Similarly, the phone will boot Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top.
The wireless magnetic charger will be called MagDart. It will attach to the back of the phone and will feature a USB-Type C port. From what we have seen so far, there will be at least be two variants of MagDart chargers. One looks quite similar to Apple’s MagSafe, while the other looks far from it.
Here, the bigger MagDart charger will have a faster charging speed than its Apple counterpart. The exact speed is not known yet, but it will be more than 15W.
Also, it will have a built-in fan and vents to keep the temperature in check. The leak also suggests that MagDart will be the fastest magnetic charger at its launch.
Realme Flash Official Launch Date
Realme Flash will be launched during the “Realme Magnetic Innovation Event” scheduled for August 3. It will start at 5:30 PM IST (5:45 PM NPT). Users will be able to watch the live stream on Facebook and YouTube.
Smartphone
Launch Date
Realme Flash
August 3, 2021
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme X7 Max.
Samsung has officially dropped the price of Galaxy Z Fold 2 in Nepal. With the unpacked event scheduled for August 11 where Samsung will be unveiling its latest Z flip 2 and Fold 3, the older generation Z Fold 2 has seen a massive price cut. Currently, it sees a price cut of Rs. 40,000.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Overview
The original Galaxy Fold was a sort of experiment in the field of foldable phones. The idea was an innovative one but the phone faced a lot of durability issues. Its launch was postponed multiple times because of Samsung’s inability to solve all the problems. Samsung will likely avoid those situations with its successor.
As you may have already noticed, Samsung has tweaked the naming scheme to include the Fold 2 in the Z series. The Z series will be Samsung’s lineup of foldable smartphones. There are already two devices under the Z lineup – Z Flip and Z Flip 5G. So, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 basically has had two devices to take inspiration from. And it seems to have done a very good job.
Design and Display
There is a noticeable change in the design of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 from its predecessor, the Galaxy Fold. The outer screen is now a 6.2-inch HD+ display. It supports HDR10+ although the refresh rate is 60Hz only. Still, it has a tall aspect ratio of 25:9 and comes with a punch hole for a 10MP selfie camera.
Similarly, the size of the inner display has been increased too. It is now a 7.6-inch display as compared to the 7.2-inch panel of the Galaxy Fold. The panel is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. It supports HDR10+ and has a refresh rate of 120Hz.
Interestingly, the Z Fold 2 also brings the variable refresh rate tech from the Note 20 Ultra where the display can dynamically adjust the refresh rate between 11Hz & 120Hz depending upon the content on the screen.
Unfortunately, the 120Hz experience is only available on the main 7.6-inch display, and not on the 6.2-inch cover display. In terms of protection, the cover display is strengthened by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus while the back panel makes do with its predecessor – the Gorilla Glass 6.
UTG to the rescue
The bezels are thin and instead of a notch, there’s a punch-hole that houses the selfie camera. Furthermore, the polymer glass of the Galaxy Fold has been replaced by the Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG). Moreover, the display structure has been changed too. It now employs the Under Metal Cushion.
A gap is visible when the screen is folded and it is necessary for the UTG to fold over. Moreover, the gap also makes it easier for the phone to open. Also, the hinge on the device shares the same flex mode feature as that of the Galaxy Z Flip.
The device can stay in place between 75 to 115 degrees thanks to the new CAM technology. There’s also the “sweeper” to sweep away dust particles from getting into the hinge and damaging this pristine piece of hardware.
Samsung offers its customers an option to customize the hinge color too. However, this feature will be limited to certain regions only. People elsewhere will have to do with the offered Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black color. Oh, and not to forget, the fingerprint sensor is no longer under the display. It is side-mounted and doubles up as the power button. And there’s no Bixby button either.
Performance and Camera
The Z Fold 2 is powered by the last-gen Snapdragon 865+ along with 12GB of RAM. Making use of the larger unfolded display, Samsung is introducing a bunch of new features like “App Continuity”.
Here, users will now be able to seamlessly transition between screens while continuing with the apps they were previously running. Another exciting feature is called “App Pair” where you can easily open multiple apps spanning the main display with a single shortcut.
This is kinda similar to what Microsoft did with the Surface Duo or Asus with its ZenBook Duo series of laptop. Just like the Note 20 Ultra, the Z Fold 2 also boasts Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tech for a faster data transfer between devices.
The device will flaunt a triple camera setup on its back. Its three cameras are arranged vertically inside the rectangular module, along with an LED flash. The module has a significant bump compared to the rear surface.
Galaxy Z Fold 2’s rear camera setup consists of a 12MP primary, 12MP telephoto, and 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. In terms of selfie cameras, there are two – a 10MP sensor on the main display, and the same lens on the smaller cover display. They support 4k 30fps and 4k 60fps recording at 16:9 and 21:9 aspect ratio.
Battery and rest of the specs
Galaxy Z Fold 2 features a 4,500mAh battery (dual cell). It supports 25W wired charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. On the software side of things, the device runs on Samsung’s own One UI.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Specifications:
Outer Display: 6.2″ Super AMOLED with HD+ (2260 x 816 pixels) resolution; 60Hz refresh rate
Inner Display: 7.6″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X with FHD+ (2208 x 1768 pixels resolution); 120Hz refresh rate
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+; 7nm Mobile Platform
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 was launched in Nepal for a price of NPR 2,49,999. However, after the price drop, you can get it for a ballpark price of Rs. 209,999. Samsung Nepal is also offering 1-year breakage insurance. You can buy the Galaxy Z Fold 2 from different Samsung authorized stores in the country.
Model Name
Old Price in Nepal
New Price
Galaxy Z Fold 2
NPR 2,49,999
NPR 2,09,999
Check out our review of Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra!
Nothing Ear 1 may have made all the headlines, but it was not the only wireless earbuds to have launched yesterday. ZTE Buds and LiveBuds Pro were unveiled alongside the company’s Axon 30 5G. Here, we will be looking at the specs, features, and expected price of ZTE Buds and LiveBuds Pro in Nepal.
ZTE LiveBuds Pro Overview
Let’s start with the premium one. As the name suggests, it is the Pro version of ZTE LiveBuds that was launched towards the end of last year. It gives continuity to the in-ear design. The earbuds are sweat-resistant.
The Pro feature here is the Active Noise Cancellation (up to 35dB). For it to work, ZTE has included three microphones on each earbud. There is also a transparent mode when you need to be aware of the surrounding.
There is also a game mode that reduces transmission latency to just 70ms. ZTE LiveBuds Pro boasts a combined battery life (case + earbuds) of up to 24 hours.
ZTE BudsLive Pro Features:
In-ear design with silicone tips
10mm dynamic drivers
Sweat-proof
3-mic ANC (up to 35dB)
Transmission mode
Game mode (up to 70ms)
24 hours of combined playback
ZTE Buds Overview
Moving on, ZTE Buds is the more modest of the two. It has an open-fit design, which means you don’t get silicone ear tips for a customized fit.
The earbuds are lightweight at just 3.4 grams and are sweat-proof. They have noise reduction technology for better call quality. Another highlight of the ZTE Buds is the 500mAh battery in the case.
ZTE Buds Features:
Open-fit design
3.4 grams (each earbud)
Noise reduction during calls
5 hours of music playback
500mAh battery in case
ZTE Buds and LiveBuds Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
ZTE Buds and BudsLive Pro are now available in China with price tags of CNY 169 and CNY 349, respectively. You will soon be able to buy it from ZTE Mall. We expect the price of ZTE Buds and BudsLive Pro in Nepal to be around NPR 3,500 and NPR 7,000 if and when they launch here.
Wireless Earbuds
Price in China
Price in Nepal [Expected]
ZTE Buds
CNY 169
NPR 3,500
ZTE LiveBuds Pro
CNY 349
NPR 7,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme Buds Q2.
Months after the official launch of the Axon 30 series, ZTE has finally unveiled the standard Axon 30. So, let’s check out the key specs, features, expected price, and availability of ZTE Axon 30 5G in Nepal.
ZTE Axon 30 5G Overview:
Axon 30 5G is a follow-up to last year’s Axon 20 5G, which is the world’s first commercial phone with an under-display camera (UDC). Its successor builds on the first-gen tech, bringing further improvements.
Under-display selfie camera
Let’s start with the main highlight of ZTE Axon 30, the under-display selfie camera. Axon 20 5G’s UDC suffered from low resolution and transmittance, and ZTE has tried to fix that here. First, the screen above the camera now has a high pixel density of 400 PPI.
It is composed of 7 different layers of highly transparent material. In addition, the company has included an independent display chip and 3 processing technologies for display enhancement. Here, the 16MP under-display camera uses 4-in-1 pixel binning to form a 2.24μm pixel.
Display and Design
Moving on, Axon 30 5G inherits the already impressive display specs from its successor. You get the same 6.92-inch 10-bit AMOLED screen with 100% DCI-P3 coverage and a 20.5:9 aspect ratio. ZTE has integrated faster refresh and touch sampling rates of 120Hz and 360Hz, respectively.
Axon 30 also is the first phone to have eye-protection certification from TÜV, SGS, and UL. There is also a DC Dimming feature to reduce screen flickering in low brightness.
Anyway, ZTE has replaced the glass back compared to other entries in the Axon 30 series with a 3D polymer shell here. It has a nano-level glow texture overlay on top.
Running the show underneath is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 SoC. While it is not the most powerful chipset out there, it is still a healthy upgrade from Snapdragon 765G on the Axon 20 5G.
The phone comes with up to 12GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. In addition, the virtual RAM feature lets users use 5GB of internal storage like RAM.
Camera
At the back, you have a quad-camera setup led by the 64MP Sony IMX682 sensor. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide, a 2MP depth, and a 5MP macro sensor. While there are not many changes in the camera specs, the camera module has certainly gone through a bold makeover.
Rest of the specs
Fueling the phone is a 4200mAh battery with support for 55W fast charging. It ships with ZTE’s MyOS 11 based on Android 11 out-of-the-box.
ZTE Axon 30 will go on sale in China from August 3. Its price starts at CNY 2,198 for the 6/128GB variant. The company has teased Axon 30’s global launch too. ZTE has teased its comeback in Nepal as well. We expect the price of ZTE Axon 30 5G in Nepal to start at NPR 45,000 if it launches here.
ZTE Axon 30 5G
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB
CNY 2,198
NPR 45,000
8/128GB
CNY 2,498
NPR 50,000
8/256GB
CNY 2,798
NPR 56,000
12/256GB
CNY 3,098
NPR 62,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro.
After months of anticipation, Carl Pei’s Nothing is finally unveiled its first product —Ear (1). The Ear (1) is just the beginning of a long and exciting journey for Nothing. Here we will be discussing the key specifications, features, expected price, and availability of Nothing Ear (1) in Nepal.
Nothing Ear (1) Overview:
The deal with transparency
Ear (1) is bound to stand out among its competitors because of the unusual design choice. That looks to be the primary design inspiration for the TWS. In the interview with TechCrunch, CEO Pete Lei said, “It turns out, there’s a reason why there’s not a lot of transparent consumer tech products out there.”
On the other hand, transparent design is very hard to pull off. You are trying to make something look perfect when it would have been covered completely in traditional design. This, in part, has contributed to the delayed launch of the product.
Not so original design
Keeping the transparency aside, the Ear (1) reminds me of Oppo Enco W51, which we reviewed a while ago. You have an AirPod-like stem design with silicone tips at the end. Nothing ships Ear (1) with three pairs of the latter for optimum fit. Each earbud weighs around 4.7 grams.
Sound and Connectivity
Inside, you get an 11.6mm dynamic Graphene driver. AAC and SBC are the only codecs supported here. Thus, you won’t be able to enjoy high-fidelity using Ear (1).
As for connectivity, Ear (1) comes with the latest Bluetooth v5.2. It is compatible with Android (v5.1 and above) and the latest iPhones (11 and later). It even supports Fast Pairing with select Android smartphones.
Moving on, Nothing Ear (1) comes with hybrid Active Noise Cancellation. It is the Apple AirPods-like feature that Carl Pei was referring to earlier. You even have the option to switch to transparency Mode; when you don’t want complete isolation from the surrounding.
Nothing has included three high-definition microphones for the AI-powered environmental noise cancellation.
Customization Options
The steam of the earbud is home to touch-sensitive controls. It supports tap (double and triple), tap and hold, and sliding input. Users have the option to customize the triple tap and tap and hold as per their liking.
Talking about the companion app, it offers four sound preset to choose from – all tuned by Teenage Engineering. You can even adjust the noise cancellation level from the app.
Rest of the Specs
On a full charge, the Ear (1) can last up to 4 hours with the ANC turned on Turning off the ANC will add two hours of playback. With the case, the number increases to 24 hours and 34 hours, respectively. Ear 1 supports fast charging which provides a combined 8 hours of playback (case+earbuds) with a quick 10-minute charge.
You can fully charge the case in 52 minutes. It even supports wireless charging but it is slower as it takes around 2.5 hours.
Nothing has been very confident about the pricing of the Ear (1). While it is not going to be dirt cheap, the company says it is affordable given the features it packs.
For context, Nothing Ear (1) is priced at $99 in the US, £99 in the UK, INR 5,999 in India, and €99 in Europe. The first sale is on July 31 on Nothing’s official site.
The company will be focusing on direct sales to keep the price down. It has already announced partnerships with Samarttech and Selfridges. UK, India, Europe, and North America will be the primary market for Nothing. In total, Nothing will be available in 45 different countries.
We can expect the price of Nothing Ear 1 in Nepal to be around NPR, if and when it launches here.
Nothing Product
Price in India
Price in Nepal [Expected]
Ear (1)
INR 5,999
NPR 10,000
There will be more
In addition to TWS, Nothing is also working on two other products. While we don’t know what they are, we believe they will all follow the same “principle unique design and seamless connection”.
Nothing has also clarified that they have not yet thought of utilizing any of Essential’s intellectual properties in its products. Nothing bought Essential for trademarks, but it has no further plans for the time being.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the OnePlus 9 Pro.
Last year, Oppo entered the smartwatch market with the Oppo Watch. Today, the company has launched its successor in the form of Oppo Watch 2. Here, we will be discussing the key specifications, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability of Oppo Watch 2.
Oppo Watch 2 Overview
Design and Display
Coming from the company’s first smartwatch, Oppo hasn’t made many changes to the design. Oppo Watch 2, like its predecessor, features a square display with curved edges. You can choose between two sizes – 42mm and 46mm.
Here, the 46mm case option hosts a larger 1.91″ AMOLED panel whereas the 42mm option brings a 1.75″ screen instead. Despite this, both displays cover 100% of DCI-P3 color space and a 326 PPI. Also, like the last-gen Oppo Watch (46mm), these displays retain 3D curvature on the sides.
You can customize the watch with a wide range of watch faces. Oppo lets you create a watch face of your own as well. The watch also inherits the AI Wear dial feature that lets users make new watch faces using pictures taken from a smartphone.
Moving on, the silicone strap of the first-gen Oppo Watch now has a buckle design. There is a calfskin version if you are interested.
Performance
Inside, Oppo Watch 2 runs on Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon Wear 4100, which is a healthy upgrade from the Wear 3100 on its predecessor. Here, this chip features four Cortex-A53 CPU cores and is fabricated under the newer 7nm process node.
According to Qualcomm, Wear 4100 uses 25% less power and boasts 2.5 times greater graphics prowess. Oppo has paired it with Ambiq’s Apollo 4s co-processor. The watch will use Wear 4100 in Smart Mode, whereas it will switch to Apollo 4s under Battery Saving Mode.
The latter also limits the smart capability of the watch. However, users can still use the health/workout monitoring and notification feature. The switch is automatic when in full smart mode, thanks to Oppo’s UDDE (Ultra Dynamic Dual Engine) technology.
Moving on, its 24-hour heart rate monitoring can detect irregular beats. Similarly, the sleep-tracking feature can detect breathing problems too. You can even use it together with a blood glucose meter, weight scale, and blood pressure monitor.
Oppo Watch 2 supports over 100 different sports modes. It even supports the automatic detection of at least six of them. As a safety precaution, Oppo has added fall detection and a one-key SOS emergency call to the watch.
Smart features
This smartwatch has eSIM support in China, but it is to be seen if the company retains the feature when it eventually launches globally. Oppo has included a stress detection feature on the watch as well, and the new Relax app to go with it.
It also has a built-in GPS (triple positioning system) to accurately track your training route and movement. Oppo Watch 2 can double as a viewfinder and trigger for your smartphone’s camera app too.
Moving on, it ships with ColorOS Watch 2.0, which the company has optimized to run over 50 different popular apps, including Baidu Maps, WeChat, and NetEase Cloud Music. But we expect its global variant to run on Google’s Wear OS—or the new Wear platform co-developed by Google and Samsung.
Additionally, it features an E-Game mode. When turned on, it will redirect all your phone’s notifications to the watch. In addition, Watch 2 can record your heart rate and calories consumed during the period.
Battery and Charging
In terms of battery, the larger 46mm variant features a 510mAh battery that the company claims can last up to 4 days in Smart Mode. It can be stretched to 16 days using Power Saver mode. On the other hand, the 42mm variant packs a smaller 360mAh cell that can last for 2.5 days and 10 days, respectively.
Similarly, Oppo claims that 10 minutes of charging using VOOC 2.0 technology can provide one day of battery on the 46mm variant. This number climbs to 15 minutes for the smaller 42mm case.
Oppo Watch 2 Specifications:
Body:
41mm: 42.78 x 36.79 x 11.40mm, 31 gm, 20mm case
46mm: 46.37 x 38.51 x 11.55mm, 35 gm, 22mm case
Display:
42mm: 1.75-inches 3D AMOLED, 372 x 430 pixels
46mm: 1.91-inches 3D AMOLED, 402 x 476 pixels
Display Properties: 60Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3, 326 PPI
Oppo Watch 2 will be available in China starting August 6, where its price at CNY 1,299 and CNY 1,499 for the 42mm Bluetooth, eSIM variants, respectively. Similarly, the 46mm eSIM model costs CNY 1,999. We expect the price of Oppo Watch 2 in Nepal to start at NPR 25,000 when it launches here.
Oppo Watch 2
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
42mm, Bluetooth
CNY 1,299
NPR 25,000
42mm, eSIM
CNY 1,499
NPR 30,000
46mm, eSIM
CNY 1,999
NPR 40,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Oppo Watch.
