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Microsoft brings the biggest change to Office in decades with “Fluid”

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Microsoft has finally expanded its set of Fluid components to Teams, Outlook, OneNote, and Whiteboard. Users can now enjoy easy synchronization over such apps. Fluid components are web-based, so they can be edited in real-time. With this, the Microsoft Office suite is now more powerful and even more focused on collaboration.

Microsoft Fluid components in Office suites:

Microsoft confirmed last month that Fluid components will be available in Teams chat. With this feature, users can send a chat message that includes a table, action items, or a list that everyone can co-author and edit. Now, the company is finally including such components into its Office suite.

What is Microsoft Fluid?

Back in September 2020, Microsoft announced that it has converted Fluid Framework into an open-source project. The primary use of the technology is to enable user cooperation and real-time changes.

It broadcasts real-time changes using WebSockets and also keeps those modifications in the data via a Distributed Data Structure (DDS). Developers may now focus on the experience rather than synchronizing messages and data.

Fluid components are collaborative modules that exist across many applications, as opposed to static tables, graphs, and lists that are connected to particular documents. This simplifies cooperation by allowing the material to be copied, pasted, and shared with others. Microsoft notes that it is the “biggest change to Office in decades”.

How does it work?

Fluid components in Microsoft Team will now include built-in notes, allowing you to assign tasks and co-create an agenda from within the meeting. You can now enjoy the notes in your Outlook calendar too. Anyone with the required permissions can make changes to the notes which will be visible to all members of the meeting online.

Microsoft’s Fluid components across multiple apps.

Furthermore, as the notes sync in real-time, you can even copy them in apps like OneNote. Meanwhile, you will still be able to monitor all the changes made to it.

Moving on, Whiteboard will now allow you to take the conversation a step further by creating and modifying live Fluid components. A new collaboration cursor will appear on the board, allowing you to observe real-time updates to document made by teammates. In addition, a new virtual pointer will aid in capturing people’s attention quickly.

Final words

This is only the beginning of adding Fluid components to a variety of Microsoft Office applications. We are almost certain that the company will release additional features in the next years. If Microsoft is able to make the right use of components, it will transform the way we create and share documents online.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Mobvoi TicWatch E3.

LeoSquad is here: Nepal’s own virtual workspace for efficient remote working

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As the work-from-home lifestyle continues to flourish, the demand for a digital workspace has seen consistent growth as well. With this in mind, Analogue Inc, a Kathmandu-based software company, has launched LeoSquad. From large-scale organizations, startups, to freelancers, this extensive tool aims to simplify remote work culture by giving you a clear overview of all the company activities.

LeoSquad Overview:

Before we get into the intricate details, it’s important to highlight that this is an ISO/IEC 17788: 2014 certified software. If you’re unaware, this ISO standard identifies a cloud computing product for its excellency based on various pre-determined parameters. Plus, Analogue Inc wants its potential customers to know that LeoSquad is an all-in-one project management tool.

All-in-one project management tool

To compare, the company is proudly advertising its offering as a combo of multiple project management and collaboration tools. From Jira, Trello, Asana, to Slack, all the features you’d expect from these globally renowned work management platforms are supposedly available here.

And with this, comes the benefit of cost minimization and simplicity as you get the benefit of multiple project management tools in one low-cost combo. Because of its digital nature, LeoSquad allows a company to save up on multiple overheads including office space, daily accommodation expenses, office supplies, and other fixed costs too.

LeoSquad - Dashboard

As a result, the expenses saved on such factors can be utilized into other crucial aspects instead. Here, its “dashboard” is where you’ll find the said virtual workspace—with easy access to your company’s digitized structure, including employees, departments, clients, projects, etc.

What the company says

According to Analogue Inc, “the foremost vision of LeoSquad is to make workspace productive, and efficient along with building entrepreneurship in the country. LeoSquad presents a platform for all commercial enterprises and entrepreneurs making their work-life a fruitful one.”

Moving on. By definition, a virtual workspace should allow for efficient handling of all ongoing and future projects of the company; alongside a clear-cut collaboration and reporting framework. As you’d expect, LeoSquad’s project management tool has them all. Managers can assign tasks (and subtasks) to employees, track their progress, make comments, etc. as well.

On to the client side of things, it also enables efficient handling of potential leads, their follow-up, and so much more. And all of this is just scratching the surface. LeoSquad promises an easy-to-use UI/UX for its rather extensive virtual workspace.

LeoSquad - Highlights

Because it aspires to eliminate physical workstations to the best of its ability, the absence of total physical interaction has been substituted with the integration of the Zoom video conferencing tool instead. So, the potential awkwardness or tanglement of having to toggle between multiple tools is eliminated here.

LeoSquad: How much does it cost?

Fortunately, these hordes of features are available in relatively affordable packages. More importantly, there is also an absolutely free subscription tier that bundles some elementary features like multiple dashboards, HR & Payroll, asset management, etc.

Here, the “Basic” plan aims at organizations with 15 employees or less. This costs Rs. 10,000 per month and also comes with 50GB of cloud storage.

Then there’s the “Advanced” tier for 25 or fewer users and the “Premium” tier with 40 or fewer users. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, LeoSquad has been designed with flexibility in mind. So, there’s even an “Enterprise” plan for SME or large-scale organizations.

At launch, Analogue Inc is also offering a flat 20% discount to the first 100 customers. This is applicable to any of the aforementioned subscription tiers. You can learn more about it by visiting this link. Before adopting LeoSquad into your organization, the company is also offering a free demo of the product.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the OnePlus 9.

Best Budget Tablets in Nepal [Updated]

Though not as popular as they once were, there is still a market for Android tablets, especially the budget ones. They are sought after by students and educators alike for online education. Here, we have listed the best budget tablets under NPR 30,000 in Nepal. You can even use these tablets for casual multimedia consumption.

Because of the pandemic, Android tablets have become more relevant now. As institutions started adapting to online curriculum, demand for budget tablets has increased. Tablets are cheaper than laptops, and the touch screen interface makes them easier to use. They are obviously not as powerful as laptops but should be adequate for online classes, assignments, and multimedia consumption.

In addition, most users are already familiar with the Android ecosystem. This is one more reason to pick a budget tablet over a laptop. That being said, here is the list of the best budget tablets that you can currently buy in Nepal.

Best Budget Tablets in Nepal:

Lenovo Tab M10 HD

Starting our list of best budget tablets in Nepal is the Lenovo Tab M10 HD. It features a 10.1-inch display with HD resolution. Under the hood, it packs Snapdragon 429 SoC, which features four Cortex-A53 CPU cores clocked at up to 2.0GHz. It is available in two memory configurations, but we recommend you choose the 3/32GB variant.

Lenovo Tab M10

Moving on, the 5MP camera at the back has autofocus, which the 2MP front camera lacks. It has a dual-front facing speaker with Dolby Audio. Fueling the device is a 4850mAh battery that charges via a micro USB port.

Lenovo Tab M10 HD Specifications:

  • Dimension: 168 x 242 x 8.1mm, 480 gm
  • Display: 10.1-inch IPS display, 1280 x 800 pixels
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 429 (quad-core, 2.0GHz)
  • Memory: 2/3GB RAM, 32GB storage (expandable)
  • Operating System: Android 10
  • Cameras: 5MP rear, 2MP front
  • Audio: Dual-speakers, Dolby Atmos
  • Battery: 4850mAh (MicroUSB charging)
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz, 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 27,990 (3/32GB)

Alcatel Aquaman 10 4G (3T20 2020)

Alcatel Aquaman 10 4G is the second tablet on this list to feature a 10.1-inch HD+ display. It is slightly thicker than the Lenovo Tab M10 HD but weighs less. Powering the device is MediaTek MT8766B chipset with 4x Cortex-A53 CPU cores (2.0GHz).

As for memory, you get 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It should get you through everyday tasks, but don’t expect it to run high-end games—or handle heavy multitasking.

This tablet has two 5MP cameras, one at the back and the other on the front. It has a dual speaker setup as well. Alcatel has packed a 5500mAh battery inside, which charges over a Type-C port. Given the entry-level hardware, it should last you a day under normal usage. You can even use it as a power bank to charge your smartphone.

Alcatel Aquaman 10 4G (3T10 2020) Specifications:

  • Body: 243.3 x 161.2 x 9.35-mm, 475 grams
  • Display: 10.1-inches HD+ IPS display (1280 x 800 pixels)
  • Chipset: MediaTek MT8766B SoC (quad-core, 2.0GHz)
  • Memory: 3GB RAM, 32GB storage (expandable)
  • Operating System: Android 10
  • Cameras: 5MP f/2.4 (Rear) | 5MP f/2.2 (Front)
  • Audio: 2 speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, 2 microphones, +3m far-field
  • Battery: 5500mAh (Up to 18 hours 4G talk time)
  • Charging: USB Type-C (3 hours 51 minutes)
  • Connectivity: SIM card (4G), Wi-Fi a/b/g/n (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 23,490
  • Check out our quick review of Alcatel Aquaman 10 4G.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 2020 (WiFi-only)

At 7mm thickness, Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 2020 has the sleekest design on this list. Even with the metal body, the tablet weighs only 476 grams. Its 10.4-inch panel has a WUXGA resolution of 2000 x 1200 pixels. Powering the tablet is Snapdragon 662 chipset. It is paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB of expandable memory.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) Review

There is an 8MP shooter on the front with autofocus. Similarly, Samsung has included a 5MP camera for selfies and video calls. The onboard quad-speaker setup supports Dolby Atmos as well. Fueling the device is a 7000mAh battery that supports 15W charging.

For biometrics, Samsung has included face unlock with Knox security on the Galaxy Tab A7. The tablet ships with Android 10 with One UI 2.5 on top.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020) Specifications:

  • Dimension: 157.4 x 246.6 x 7.0; 476g
  • Display: 10.4-inches TFT IPS; 16M colors
  • Resolution: WUXGA+ (2000 x 1200)
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm)
  • Memory: 3GB RAM, 32GB internal (extendable up to 1TB)
  • Rear camera: 8MP, autofocus (no flash)
  • Selfie camera: 5MP
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Smart Switch, Wi-Fi Direct, USB2.0, 3.5mm jack
  • Audio: Quad-speakers, Dolby Atmos
  • Security: Samsung Knox, Face Unlock
  • Battery: 7000mAh (non-removable)
  • Price: Rs. 27,999 (Wi-Fi only)
  • Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (2020)

Best Budget Tablets in Nepal [Summary]

SN Best Budget Tablets in Nepal Price
1 Lenovo Tab M10 HD Rs. 27,990
2 Alcatel Aquaman 10 4G Rs. 23,490
3 Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (Wi-Fi only) Rs. 27,999

Xiaomi applies for a patent to charge devices through sound

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Xiaomi invests heavily in R&D and is continuously working on different charging solutions. The company recently showcased its 200W HyperCharge technology and a while ago, teased Air Charge as well. But that’s not all. To further push the boundaries of charging technology, Xiaomi has filed a new patent for charging devices via sound.

Xiaomi sound charging patent:

Xiaomi has applied for a patent at the CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration) which reveals some key details of the upcoming charging solution.

Sound is the new source

Every year, companies demonstrate their take on fast smartphone charging technology. We reported a few days earlier that Infinix is possibly working on a flagship phone with 160W fast charging. If the company indeed delivers the product to the market, Infinix NOW will boast the fastest charging speed among any phone you could buy.

Xiaomi, on the other hand, has been pulling the curtains on unique and intriguing charging concepts in order to lead the market. The new sound charging technique is helping them get closer to their objective.

Per the patent, the charging method can charge smartphones and other electronic devices without the use of a power outlet. The Sound Charging device contains a “sound collection device, a plurality of energy conversion devices, and a power conversion device” to convert environmental vibration to mechanical vibration, according to the patent description.

The device will then convert this mechanical vibration into alternating current (AC), which will be converted to direct current (DC) by the power conversion device.

Final words

This novel method of wireless charging is a first for the industry. However, it is still only a patent, and the practical use of such technology will require more research. That is not to say Xiaomi will not demo sound charging technology in the near future.

When it comes to commercializing a breakthrough technology, several things must be considered. So, we’ll have to wait and see whether Xiaomi will reveal additional information in the coming days about its sound charging technology or not.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Xiaomi Mi Band 6.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 Review: Flagship Killer Of Smartwatches

Hey… E3 is here! No, not the game expo event (that just ended) but a new Wear OS-powered smartwatch from Mobvoi. According to the company, the TicWatch E3 is an affordable alternative to the TicWatch Pro 3—and I believe Mobvoi has tried to accomplish that by making the right sacrifices. No fancy dual-display or other premium design choices here but what it retains from the Pro sibling is all the powerful hardware underneath. More on this review of the Mobvoi TicWatch E3.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 Specifications:

  • Weight: 32 grams (without strap)
  • Dimension: 44 x 47 x 12.6 mm
  • Display: 1.3-inch HD LCD panel, 2.5D glass
  • Case: Polycarbonate and glass fiber, Panther Black color
  • Strap: Silicone, Interchangeable (20mm universal)
  • Strap Colors: Black, Yellow, Blue
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 (12nm)
  • Software: Wear OS by Google
  • Memory: 1GB RAM, 8GB storage
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
  • Audio: Speaker, Microphone
  • Companion App: 
  • Water Resistance: IP68 rating
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, HD PPG Heart Rate, SpO2, Low Latency Off-Body
  • Navigation: GPS + GLONASS + Beidou
  • Functions: 24-hour heart rate, Blood oxygen, NFC, Step Counter, Workout Mode (21), VO2Max, Google Assistant
  • Battery: 380mAh (Up to 1.5 days)
  • Price in Nepal: N/A (Not launched yet)

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 Review:

Design

  • Circular dial, Polycarbonate case
  • 20mm (universal) silicone strap
  • IP68 dust and water resistance

Kicking off this review with the design, the Mobvoi TicWatch E3 skips all the bells and whistles for a basic yet classy look. The circular dial has been carved from polycarbonate and glass fiber material. So, if you’ve been accustomed to stainless steel or titanium encased smartwatches, this one’s gonna feel cheap on the wrist.

The plastic bottom half of the watch doesn’t scream luxury build material either—but hey—the E3 isn’t gunning for an elite design in the first place. This unisex smartwatch arrives in a solitary Panther Black case with a black strap by default, while Mobvoi says blue and yellow strap options are available too.

20mm universal strap

Regardless, if you have a 20mm universal wristband lying around, you can easily switch up the visual flair of this… otherwise bland smartwatch. Anyway, this pre-installed silicone strap can fit any wrist size and throughout my usage, it’s been comfortable and skin-friendly enough to discourage any doubts of allergy or skin irritation either.

Once again, it does feel a bit cheap but with the standout features inside (which I’ll be discussing shortly), I can easily look past it. Moving on, the right frame of the TicWatch E3 hosts two buttons for your navigational needs. But like the Pro 3, Mobvoi’s decision to skip a rotating crown feels like a missed opportunity.

The power button on the top takes you to the homescreen or launches the menu, whereas the other one can be customized to launch an app of your choosing. Moreover, long-pressing the former triggers Google Assistant while a double-press temporarily cranks up the illumination level.

TicWatch E3 - Sensors

Now, this brightness bump feature seemed weird to me at first but I soon found a use for it. We all know how Wear OS is notorious for sub-par battery life.

A quick jolt of brightness

So, to preserve as much endurance as possible, I’d kept TicWatch E3’s brightness to just 40% most of the time. But in sunny outdoors or similar well-lit environments, this would be insufficient. Thus, for a quick fix, this feature is a godsend. Still, I would’ve preferred if this shortcut was user-programmable as well.

Besides the buttons, the right frame is where you’d find the microphone and beneath it—what I’m assuming—an exhaust vent. Similarly, the left frame houses the speaker grille whereas all the other health-tracking sensors are stacked on the bottom.

At any rate, the TicWatch E3 should speak to all those who find big, bulky smartwatches unappealing. With a circular dimension of 44 – 47mm and a strapless weight of 32 grams, I’ve had no problem wearing it to bed at night either.

Display

  • 1.3-inches IPS LCD, 2.5D glass
  • 360 x 360 px, Multiple watch faces

With that out of the way, let’s talk about the display. While the TicWatch Pro 3 shipped with a head-turning dual-display setup, that grandeur has been cut off on this low-cost alternative.

TicWatch E3 - Display 2

Even though I don’t mind the lack of a monochromatic FSTN screen, downgrading the AMOLED panel to an LCD is disappointing. As a result, colors don’t look as vibrant and punchy on this display and then there’s the power-efficiency concern too.

Additionally, the Mobvoi TicWatch E3’s 1.3″ screen features a 2.5D curvature for a relatively premium look—and yeah, this does look nice. Anyhow, what I’m really concerned about is the lack of any Gorilla Glass protection here.

Questionable display protection?

Had it been sculpted from sapphire glass like the Huawei GT 2 Pro that we recently reviewed, my worry could be dismissable. But that’s not the case with the E3. What’s more, the display enjoys an open design—void of any protrusion from a tachymeter or minute markings—further complicating things by a bit.

Again, I wouldn’t have had to talk about this issue if only it were MIL-STD-810G compliant like most other smartwatches in this price bracket. But seeing how even the costlier TicWatch Pro 3 skipped this certification, Mobvoi was never gonna introduce it on the cheaper variant, to begin with.

TicWatch E3 - IP Rating

Still, I find some solace in the fact that the E3 is IP68 dust and water-resistant. So, just make sure that you refrain from bumping it to a tough surface and you should be fine. Throughout my usage, I accidentally smacked it against the wall once but the watch suffered no visible dent or other damage. That’s promising, huh?

Anyway, even though the 2.5D curvature accentuates the visual appeal, the surrounding bezel is abnormally thick and steals a potentially deluxe design. I feel like Mobvoi could’ve easily installed the aforementioned tachymeter or minute markings here but, oh well. Now, getting back to the core display itself, the colors look pretty washed out here.

Sharp screen

Yet, with time, I must say I got used to it. Of course, that remission will fade away when bringing an AMOLED screen to the mix though. Nevertheless, packing in 360 by 360 resolution, everything from text to animation looks sufficiently sharp here.

On the other hand, you can select from 5 levels of illumination here, although it lacks auto-brightness adjustment. So you see, the brightness bump shortcut I talked about earlier seems to have been born out of necessity here.

Despite this, I’ve had no issue regarding outdoor visibility on the Mobvoi TicWatch E3 all through the review. Sure, things get a little difficult under direct sunlight but it’s not that big a deal. Moving on, the Wear OS platform means this smartwatch lets you choose from thousands of watch faces that you can download from the Play Store. The ones built-in are no slouch either.

I’m quite fond of this design called “Futurist” which displays all the essential information in a pretty cool layout. But I did notice one of several bugs on the Mobvoi app when trying to switch between dial faces.

Here, the app seems to have clearly separated paid and free ones with a label. Seems to. However, even some of those that don’t display a price tag like this one called “Retro Wave” are behind a paywall. Talking about payment, the TicWatch E3 also features NFC payments through Google Pay.

“OK Google” works now

Getting to the UI, you’ll find the Google Assistant menu to the left of the homescreen whereas all the widgets or “Tiles” (as Google likes to call it) are located on the right. If you recall our review of the OPPO Watch, you’ll know that the “Ok Google” hotword was broken in all Wear OS-powered smartwatches until then.

Thankfully, Google finally rolled out an update fixing this problem back in March. And now, you can trigger the assistant with the “Ok Google” or “Hey Google” command—and receive speech output accordingly.

TicWatch E3 - Speaker

Likewise, all the incoming notifications are timestamped and chronologically stored on the bottom layout of the UI. You can also switch between three levels of notification previews that vary in different levels of obtrusiveness. Unseen notifications can are also marked with a little icon.

Similarly, the command center on the top is home to the settings menu alongside brightness control, DND, airplane mode, and other options. Mobvoi TicWatch E3 also supports music playback control, which gets its place in the command center as well. Despite featuring an LCD panel, this smartwatch also supports Always-on Display, where it grayscales the watch face.

But considering its battery-consuming properties and sheer imperfect implementation, I chose not to turn on AoD here. Plus, both “raise to wake” and “tap to wake” functions work perfectly fine. Moreover, the Wear OS gestures like “flick to launch” notification panel, menu, or command center don’t leave much room for complaint either. But I will say it hesitates to do its job well when you’re lying flat.

Performance, Wear OS

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 (12nm)
  • 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, Wear OS

What’s next? Yes, allow me to get into the performance side of things now. Like I mentioned in the beginning, Mobvoi chose to retain top-notch hardware from the TicWatch Pro 3, while compromising on aspects like design and display to be able to deliver this smartwatch. And boy am I glad about this decision.

Powered by the flagship-grade Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 chipset, everything’s so, so smooth here. To note, besides the Pro 3, TicWatch E3 is the only other smartwatch to feature this powerful silicon. Complementing this is 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage.

Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 vs 4100

Compared to its predecessor, the Wear 3100 (28nm) from back in 2018, Qualcomm says Wear 4100 offers 85% better CPU and memory performance, 2.5x faster GPU, and 2x better camera experience.

Manufactured under a power-efficient 12nm process, this chip promises superior battery endurance as well. Seeing other watchmakers still not upgrade to this objectively supreme chipset is a little puzzling though. But if rumors are to be believed, the upcoming smartwatches from OPPO and Motorola will indeed be powered by Snapdragon Wear 4100.

Wear 4100 vs 4100+

Qualcomm also has a slightly better wearable platform, which is the Wear 4100+. Between the two, the only difference is that the plus variant also features an AON co-processor for handling ambient tasks like heart-rate monitoring, AoD, for efficient resource and power management.

Anyway, I’m loving the Wear OS experience on the TicWatch E3 so far. From launching apps, selecting menus, to UI transitions, it’s smooth sailing here. Because of the built-in WiFi, you don’t need to rely on a smartphone to download apps or such either. The incoming notifications are actionable, of course.

TicWatch E3 - Menu

Plus, it supports emojis, Nepali Unicode font, and even images. Sweet! However, the built-in vibration motor is too weak—to the point where I’ve missed multiple alerts. And this is not something that can be fixed by a firmware update.

You can choose to type up replies, use Text-To-Speech (TTS), select from available emojis, or use smart reply for messages. Surprisingly, swipe typing on such a small screen has been quite accurate throughout my usage.

Google has improved Wear OS

Then there’s the freedom to install from thousands of apps on the Play Store. This is something Wear OS takes pride in compared to smartwatch platforms from other vendors like Samsung’s Tizen OS and Huawei’s LiteOS. From Google Maps, Telegram, Viber, Spotify, Shazam, to AccuWeather, it’s all here.

All the apps are arranged in a block-style fashion under the Mobvoi launcher. Here, the said apps aren’t alphabetically ordered although you can make it so.

TicWatch E3 - Display 1

But if you prefer the classic Wear OS layout instead, there’s the option to enable Google’s default launcher as well. 8GB of internal storage is plenty enough for a smartwatch but unlike Huawei, Amazfit smartwatches, you can’t locally store music here. As a result, you’ll have to carry your smartwatch during your workout sessions—in case you wish to stream some tunes along the way.

TicWatch E3 also supports making calls and messages—from the watch itself. But in a couple of instances, I noticed how canceling a call from the watch didn’t actually work. The phone call UI would go away with the outgoing call still in progress. Weird. Now, talking about the call quality itself, it’s pretty impressive. People on the receiving end described my voice as loud and clear.

Despite this, the onboard speaker is sub-par only since calls sound a little noisy here. Tech enthusiasts will also know that Google and Samsung recently inked a deal to merge Wear and Tizen OS—two of the best smartwatch platforms. With the powerful chipset at the helm, I am hopeful that the TicWatch E3 will get this update too.

Health, Fitness Tracking

  • 21 workout modes with automatic detection of 3
  • Blood oxygen, heart-rate monitoring, built-in GPS

In terms of health and fitness tracking features, this smartwatch brings Mobvoi’s portfolio of solutions under the “Tic” branding—alongside similar alternatives from Google. For the purposes of this review, I tested all the health-related features of Mobvoi TicWatch E3 via the company’s Tic-branded options.

Regardless, the TicWatch E3 brags 21 workout modes under TicExercise. This includes outdoor run/walk, indoor run/cycle, pool swimming, basketball, mountaineering, and more. As expected, this smartwatch boasts auto workout detection as well. Mobvoi calls it TicMotion but disappointingly, it can only recognize three types of exercises: walk, run, and cycle.

You can select which ones to turn on/off, but seeing how even budget fitness trackers like the Huawei Band 6 and Mi Band 6 can detect up to 6 types of workouts, the TicWatch E3’s limitation feels almost embarrassing. Nonetheless, for the available ones, it does auto workout recognition better.

Auto workout detection works fine

Throughout the review period, the Mobvoi TicWatch E3 was able to accurately trace my workout sessions. It consisted of determining the kickoff time and when I ended my exercise. Its auto-pause feature is another handy tool to have. The watch even displays the duration of your break and resumes the workout automatically once it detects you’re on the move.

Besides the standard metrics like heart rate, calories, distance, and speed, the E3 can also monitor VO2Max levels all through the exercise and even lap your workouts.

And thanks to the built-in GPS, it eliminates the need to carry around a smartphone to trail your exercises as well. It works best when using in conjunction with a phone but that’s not elementary. By itself, the TicWatch E3 was able to lock to a GPS signal impressively fast enough—be it indoors or outdoors.

To compare, this is comparatively quicker than other smartwatches I’ve tested so far like the Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro, Amazfit T-Rex, and Fitbit Versa 3. Looking at the recorded map in the Mobvoi app, I can’t complain about the accuracy either.

Still, this is a relatively inferior navigation system compared to the TicWatch Pro 3. That’s because this big-budget smartwatch supports five standards of satellite positioning system compared to E3’s three. Even so, this shouldn’t matter at all to most users.

HIIT for professionals

If you’re a professional athlete who undergoes high-intensity interval training (HIIT), then there’s something in store here. It lets you choose from 11 different HIIT exercise modes with the ability to set duration, count, and break time between up to three modes. Plus, if you regularly train under a select group of exercises, the TicWatch E3 also lets you save them as presets.

Apart from this, there is practically every health monitoring feature here, that you’d expect from a flagship smartwatch. It has 24-hour heart rate (TicPulse), SpO2 (TicOxygen), stress (TicZen), and sleep (TicSleep) monitoring.

Still, their “all-day” aspect is a little questionable. It can deliver resting heart rate level on-request… just like that. Yet, looking up the 24-hour data, we can notice that it settles for hourly records only. And this is true for blood oxygen monitoring too.

Nevertheless, you can enable alerts against abnormal heart rate during regular usage or when you’re in a workout. TicWatch E3 also graphs your daily heart raze zones under different categories like anaerobic, cardio, fat burn, warm up, and resting for a detailed insight. But weirdly enough, this data is only available on the watch, and not on the companion app.

Continuous blood oxygen monitoring

Moving on, continuous SpO2 tracking has been one of the most sought-after features in modern smartwatch/fitness trackers and this device doesn’t disappoint. The watch can also remind you of abnormal blood oxygen levels which is fantastic.

But since it requires staying incredibly still to get a measurement, the 24-hour blood oxygen monitoring fails to deliver. Therefore, most of my SpO2 charts read empty with no data during different hourly intervals throughout the day. Likewise, its stress recording is quite impressive. However, having to stay perfectly still to get a measurement substracts a comprehensive all-day readout.

And God almighty, the manual stress monitoring on TicWatch E3 is the slowest I’ve ever seen on a smartwatch—or even a fitness band. Mobvoi has also complemented this with breathing exercises under TicBreathe—which maxes out at up to 5 minutes.

Inspired by Apple Watch, the company has also included noise level monitoring here. But unlike an Apple Watch, the TicHearing app can’t run in the background.

Inconsistent sleep tracking

In any way, sleep monitoring on this smartwatch has been pretty much spot-on during my usage in terms of my time to bed and the time I got up. But for reasons unknown, the watch has recorded me being awake mid-sleep practically every day. I can absolutely vouch for its inaccuracy because I tend to sleep like a log.

Anyway, Mobvoi substitutes sleep score found in most other smartwatches with sleep efficiency instead—which is the same thing but it’s represented in percentage. Besides this, the TicWatch E3 records your nightly heart rate and SpO2 levels as well.

The companion app needs work—a lot of it

All these data sync with the Mobvoi app while the initial setup also requires you to install the Wear OS app. And I must say, the company has a lot of work cut out for it with regards to its app if it wants to level with the industry’s front runners.

Maybe it was in preparation for the launch of TicWatch E3 but Mobvoi recently updated the UI/UX of its companion app. But besides the newer visuals, it doesn’t compare to something like the Huawei Health app.

I feel like this is only the simplest extension of the data that can be visualized on the watch itself. Yes, it does retain historical records and the detail of many aspects at length but that’s about it.

You can’t read the specific data in the chart by clicking on it, so having to manually align the data on the Y-axis is an unnecessary challenge. The map of your workout route can’t be zoomed in either. It’s just so… basic. Additionally, the entire “Explore” tab feels like an elaborate ad for Mobvoi’s portfolio of products. Also, it’s almost criminal for an app to lack native dark mode in 2021.

Thankfully, you can sync TicWatch E3’s data to other apps like Google Fit, Strava, and Runkeeper. There’s also something called “TicCare” under which you can share your health data with other TicWatch users and vice-versa. And another interesting feature here is audio recording and AI transcribing. The transcribing part works pretty fine but Mobvoi has been greedy enough in limiting the feature to just 1 hour.

Battery

  • 380mAh battery, Up to 1.5 days
  • Proprietary magnetic pin charging

Finally, let’s get into the battery section of this review of the Mobvoi TicWatch E3. Because of its Wear OS heritage, it expectedly can’t last as long as those from Huawei and Amazfit. Here, it is fueled by a 380mAh battery which should last between 1 – 1.5 days according to the company. And that’s precisely what my tests have concluded.

With brightness set to level two, every health monitoring feature turned on, the watch connected to my phone at all times, WiFi set to auto, and around 50 minutes of GPS usage, it lasted me for around 23.5 hours.

But with the built-in GPS turned off, I managed to go about 32 hours without having to juice it up. If you’re low on power, the Essential Mode comes to the rescue, which turns on automatically once the battery level hits 5% too.

Essential mode for the best battery life

I haven’t tested the watch under this mode to confirm its battery endurance, but turning this on should give you at least a couple of weeks of battery life. For longer endurance, this mode restricts your smartwatch experience to the most basic info only—and resting heart rate level when pressing the bottom right button.

TicWatch E3 - Charging

On the charging front, the TicWatch E3 uses a proprietary bean-shaped magnetic connector. It latches onto the watch pretty firmly so no problem there. But like Pro 3, this one is void of wireless charging as well. At any rate, the onboard charger takes around 1 hour and 34 minutes to fully juice up. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support wireless charging.

Conclusion

Time to wrap up this review of the Mobvoi TicWatch E3. Fair to say, I’m thoroughly impressed with what the company has managed to deliver with the TicWatch E3. It’s almost like a flagship killer for smartwatches. The powerful Wear 4100 platform makes the Wear OS experience oh-so enjoyable on this relatively affordable device of its kind.

For core fitness enthusiasts, the company’s decision to cut costs in the design and display department to offer a supreme smartwatch experience with a bunch of health tracking features makes all the sense. Yet, that’s not to say the E3 is perfect—even disregarding its inferior build quality, soft vibration motor, LCD screen, and lack of wireless charging.

There are a few inconsistencies with the exercise modes, and the sleep monitoring also requires further refinement. Not to forget, the Mobvoi companion app still has a long way to go as well. Despite all this, I still believe that the TicWatch E3 is an excellent value-for-money smartwatch—easily outclassing most other alternatives inside the $200 price range.

  • Watch our video review of the Mobvoi TicWatch E3.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Excellent value for money
  • Flagship-level performance
  • Great third-party app support
  • IP68 dust and water-resistant
  • Built-in GPS works perfectly
  • Decent phone call quality
  • 20mm universal strap design
  • Several health tracking features

Cons:

  • Polycarbonate watch case
  • LCD screen with muted colors
  • Big bezel looks unappealing
  • Pretty weak vibration motor
  • Sleep tracking is inconsistent
  • Not the best at battery life
  • No wireless charging support

Motorola Moto E7 Power Review: Getting The Basics Right

Lately, Motorola has been trying to tap into the South Asian market. The brand made a comeback to the Nepali market last and has been updating the portfolio from time to time. Here, Moto E7 Power is the most affordable Motorola phone you could buy in Nepal. It packs some interesting features for an entry-level phone. In this review, I will be discussing all the good and bad aspects of the Motorola Moto E7 Power.

Motorola Moto E7 Power Specifications:

  • Body: 75.9 x 165.1 x 9.2mm, 200 gm, IP52 rated
  • Display: 6.5-inches “Max Vision” IPS LCD panel, 269 PPI
  • Resolution: HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G25 (12nm)
  • Memory: 2/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable up to 1TB)
  • Software & UI: Android 10 with My UX on top
  • Rear Camera: Dual-camera;
    – 13MP f/2.0 primary sensor, PDAF
    – 2MP f/2.4 macro camera
  • Front Camera: 5MP f/2.2 lens (teardrop notch)
  • Security: Physical fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted)
  • Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, loudspeaker
  • Connectivity: Hybrid Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / LTEPP / SUPL, 4G, USB Type-C
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 10W charging
  • Color Options: Tahiti Blue, Coral Red
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 12,999 (2/32GB)

Motorola Moto E7 Power Review:

Design

  • Plastic unibody with a matte finish
  • IP52 rating for dust, splash protection

Let us start with the design and feel of the device. Moto E7 Power is quite sturdy, and it does not feel cheap despite having plastic as the principal material. Motorola has gone with this matte finish that is good-looking and resistant to smudges and fingerprint marks.

On top of that, this one has an IP52 rating. While it doesn’t make the phone fully weatherproof, it will save the phone from minor splashes.

You get a trio of buttons on the right side. The dedicated Google Assistant button and the power button have textures that distinguish them from each other, with the volume rocker between them.

Still, I would have liked if Motorola had placed the Google Assistant button on the left, which is clean except for the triple-card slot. This button is placed very high, and most of the time, I would mistake it for volume up instead.

At the back, there is a left-aligned pill-shaped camera bump, a fingerprint scanner with the classic Motorola logo, and a speaker grille. The 3.5mm headphone jack is at the top, and Moto even includes a wired earphone jack in the box.

Similarly, the bottom side is home to the microphone and Type-C port. Both the in-box earphone and the Type-C port are quite rare at this price point, so kudos to Motorola.

Display 

  • 6.5” HD+ IPS LCD panel, 269 PPI
  • 1600 x 720 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio

Moto E7 Power features a 6.5-inch “Max Vision” display with a waterdrop-style notch for the selfie camera. The fact it is a budget offering is apparent with the thick bezels around the screen.

Coming to the panel, it is an HD+ IPS LCD screen, which is what most devices offer in this price range. There is an LED towards the left of the notch, which lights up whenever you receive a notification. The display produces saturated colors as the colors are set to Boosted by default. Having it set to Natural felt much better to me.

Moto E7 Power Display

Visibility becomes an issue when you take the phone outdoor, but not when indoors (which I expect you to be during the ongoing prohibitory order). The phone also has Widevine L1 certification, so that should help.

Performance

  • Octa-core MediaTek Helio G25 (12nm platform)
  • 2/4GB RAM, 32/64GB eMCP storage (expandable)

Moto E7 Power is powered by the MediaTek Helio G25 chipset that went official last year. Based on TSMC’s 12nm process, it features eight Cortex-A53 cores (@2.0GHz) and IMG PowerVR 8320 GPU (@650MHz).

You can get phones with Helio G35 for a similar price, which could look more powerful on paper. However, the overclocked GPU and CPU don’t make much difference in real-life usage.

Though the phone has a higher 4/64GB variant, only the base 2/32GB model is available in Nepal. It takes a while to open any app, and the phone struggles to keep the app in the background. So, multitasking is out of the question.

Gaming experience

MediaTek promotes its Helio G-series as gaming-oriented because of the HyperEngine technology. Thus, we had to test few games on it. Starting with Call Of Duty Mobile, I will say that the game has not been optimized well for the device. You can only play in Low graphics settings. With the refresh rate set to High, the game was smooth except for occasional lags.

Moto E7 Power Gaming

PUBG Mobile, on the other hand, can run at Balanced graphics and refresh rate. The gameplay does not seem smooth, partly because of the supported refresh rate. That being said, I did not experience much lag as I did with COD. I also noticed that the phone starts getting warmer after 30 minutes of playing these demanding games. As a result, the games turn choppy.

Less-demanding games fare a lot better. I tried games like Clash Royale and FreeFire, and the experience was much better. The latter offered more graphics settings and was smoother compared to other aforementioned FPS titles.

Software

  • Android 10 with Motorola’s My UX on top
  • Clean and ad-free UI, Near stock Android

Anyway, the software has been a great selling point for Motorola devices. Still, I feel like the company could have done better. For instance, Motorola could have opted for Go Edition instead of the full-fledged Android version, at least for the 2GB variant. Here, Moto E7 Power runs My UX on top of Android 10.

However, you do not get to enjoy much of the gestures and customization that My UX is known for. The ones that I could find on the phone were “Chop to open Flashlight” and three-finger screenshot.

You will not be getting any ads or shady notifications that you find on other “value-for-money” budget devices. There were no pre-installed bloatware apps either. You get all the Google apps, some of which can even be uninstalled (Home, Fit, Podcasts, One).

Cameras

  • Dual camera setup at the back
  • (12MP primary, 2MP macro)
  • 5MP selfie camera inside the notch

There are three cameras on the Moto E7 Power, two on the back and one on the front. The rear camera setup consists of a 13MP primary shooter and a 2MP macro camera.

Normal Images

I would say the shots from the 13MP primary camera look good, but only when there is ample light. They are not sharp but I won’t say they are horrible either. For better results, I recommend you turn on the HDR.

The quality deteriorates as the day transitions into the night, and there is no dedicated night mode to help you either. The photos lack detail and are full of noise.

Portrait Image

Coming to the portraits, they are decent for the price. The images are not sharp. You can adjust the blur intensity before taking the picture.

 

Selfie Images

Similar is the case with the 5MP selfie shooter.

The photos are not sharp. They look soft, but the overall quality is decent for the price segment.

Macro Images

Moving on, the shots from the 2MP macro camera lack detail and sharpness.

Therefore, it is there just to make up the numbers.

Audio, Call Quality

  • Single speaker, 3.5mm audio jack

Moving on to call quality, I had no problem making and attaining calls on the Smart Telecom network.

Coming to the audio, the single speaker on E7 Power is moderately loud, but it sounds grainy. It is on the back of the phone where it’s most likely to be blocked when placed on a flat surface. Thankfully, there is a wired earphone in the box that I found myself using most of the time because of the higher quality compared to the speaker.

Battery

  • 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging (Type-C)

Likewise, the battery is among the strongest suits of the Moto E7 Power. The 5,000mAh battery provided me a screen-on time of 7 hours on average. I used the device for things like YouTube, social media browsing, and light gaming.

Therefore, on normal usage, it should easily last a day of usage. It is great to see Motorola offer Type-C charging on an entry-level device like the E7 Power. A 10W adapter comes in the box. Still, the phone takes an excess of 3.5 hours to go from 0 to 100%.

Conclusion

To conclude, Motorola has gone for the basics with the Moto E7 Power. The device comes with a sturdy yet elegant design with great battery backup and a clean, ad-free UI.

The 2GB RAM variant falls short on performance because of the chipset limitation and full-fledged Android. So, if you’re thinking of getting the phone, be sure to buy the 4/64GB variant.

Aspects like camera, performance, and charging speed left us wanting more, but it is typical of phones in this price range.

  • Watch our video review of the Moto E7 Power (Nepali).

Moto E7 Power Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Attractive matte design
  • Decent display quality
  • Near stock, ad-free Android UI
  • Supports both 4G bands in Nepal
  • Earphones provided in the box
  • Great battery endurance

Cons:

  • Falls short on performance
  • 2GB RAM is insufficient
  • Limited My UX features
  • Slow 10W charging

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 Review: An Underwhelming Experience

Back in April, Nokia launched two new products in Nepal. One was a wireless speaker (SP-101) while the other was a headphone (E1200). Of the two, I have been testing the Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 for a while now, and I’ll be sharing my experience with this portable speaker in this review.

Before starting this review, let us take a quick look at the official specification listing of the Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101.

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 specifications:

  • Body: 86 × 50 mm, 160gm
  • Design: Compact, travel-friendly design
  • Driver: 43 mm audio driver
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 
  • Audio: Integrated microphone for calls
  • Buttons: Volume control, play/pause, power
  • Battery: 800mAh battery, up to 4 hours of wireless playback
  • Port: Micro-USB charging
  • Others: Can link with two speakers for stereo output
  • Price: Rs. 3,999

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 Review:

Here, it is essential to know that not all Nokia products come from the same manufacturer. By signing up for Nokia’s branding licensing, a company can have its name and logo on its products. In India, for instance, Flipkart sells Nokia TVs, whereas RichGo offers audio accessories in China and other markets.

The Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 comes from HMD Global. Having used a couple of its phones in the previous year, I expected the speaker to be well-built above all else. And, for the most part, this holds true.

Design and Build

  • Small, circular form factor
  • No official IP certification

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 comes in a small round body. The speaker grill is located on the top and is covered with mesh fabric material. HMD Global chose a rubber-like material for the bottom, which I don’t believe was properly glued in our unit.

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 Power and Pair Buttons

I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts coming off after few months of use. The speaker has a short, black cord that users can use to carry the speaker around. Furthermore, it weighs just 160 grams making it easy to take it with your most places.

If you’re a color snob, the SP-101 could disappoint because it’s only available in the black color option. Having more youthful choices would have added to the appeal of the speaker.

Likewise, it also lacks a dust/water-resistance certification. For a portable speaker, I think this is quite the crucial feature to lack. At the very least, Nokia has included a flap cover to protect the charging port.

Connectivity

  • Bluetooth 5.0, No auxiliary input

On the connectivity front, the speaker uses Bluetooth 5.0. I used it with my phone and a Windows laptop and had no issues with connectivity.

The pairing process is rather simple too. You can long press the power button to turn on the speaker. Then, turn on Bluetooth on your phone and hit connect. The speaker automatically connects to previously paired devices as well.

In my time with the Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101, I did not experience any disconnection or interruption. Although there is no 3.5mm headphone jack, you can still connect two of them for stereo audio.

Controls

  • Volume, playback control, power button

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 Buttons

Moving on, this speaker has four buttons in total. They are divided into two groups of two, each on the opposing side of the speaker.

On one side, there is a power key and a play/pause button. Meanwhile, there is a volume up/down button on the opposing end. Long-pressing these buttons will allow you to skip tracks as well.

Audio Performance

  • 43mm audio driver

The speaker has a 43mm audio driver. You can notice the passive radiator on the bottom of the device. What I found from my tests is that its sound quality isn’t all that good, even for a budget speaker.

However, it is loud enough for small to medium-sized rooms. Bass lacks thumping. In addition, the instrument separation is not that good. Most of the time, the vocals are clear, except at high levels when they begin to crackle. It can be aggravating at times.

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 Passive Radiator

Moving on, the speaker has a built-in microphone that you can use to make phone calls. With this, you can also activate the virtual assistant on your phone. The call quality is decent but it does not have noise cancellation of any sort.

Battery

  • 800mAh battery, Up to 4 hours of playback
  • Micro USB port, No fast charging support

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 packs an 800mAh battery, which Nokia claims can last for up to four hours of playback. Interestingly, at least for me, each full charge provided 5 hours of average backup. That’s great!

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 Charging Port

On the other hand, Nokia is still old-fashioned when it comes to charging. The company chose a micro USB port instead of Type-C. And because of the round design, you might struggle to find the correct position of the port. Likewise, the charging indicator gets easily blocked by the cable. The entire charging process takes an excess of 2 hours.

Conclusion

So, let’s conclude this review of the Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101. For me, the best part of this speaker is its battery backup. I was able to get more playback time than what the company has promised to provide.

In addition, it has a microphone built-in, which works well considering it’s a budget device. And that’s about it—nothing else stands out. The speaker is not loud enough and has quality issues. It’s difficult to endorse SP-101 when competing brands provide similar or better experiences at comparable prices.

Nokia Wireless Speaker SP-101 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Decent design language
  • Great battery backup
  • Portable form factor
  • Cord for added portability
  • Bluetooth 5.0 connection
  • Built-in microphone

Cons:

  • Sub-par audio quality
  • No dust/water resistance
  • Unrefined build quality

Nokia G10 with Helio G25, up to 3 days of battery life goes official in Nepal

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Nokia has officially launched yet another budget phone in Nepal, the Nokia G10. With a slightly less powerful Helio G25 processor onboard, this is an affordable alternative to the Nokia G20 which is already available in Nepal. So, let’s get into the specs, features, official price in Nepal, and availability of the Nokia G10.

Nokia G10 Overview:

Design and Display

Nokia G10 has a similar design language as its expensive sibling. It features a textured back with a circular camera layout. The front has a V-shaped notch with small bezels on the side, whereas there’s a significant chin with a “Nokia” branding.

Nokia G10 Front Back

G10 flaunts a 6.5-inches HD LCD screen with a 2.5D cover glass. It has a 1600 x 720 pixels resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio.

Performance

As aforementioned, the G10 is equipped with the MediaTek Helio G25 chipset. This silicon supports MediaTek’s HyperEngine technology for enhanced memory management. Complementing Helio G25 is 3/4GB of RAM, and 32/64GB of internal storage.

You can further expand its memory up to 512 GB via an external SD card. Like it is with other Nokia phones, the G10 ships with stock Android 11 as well—although it’s not a part of the Android One program.

Camera and Battery 

In terms of optics, it has a triple-camera setup at the back. There’s a 13MP main camera along with a 2MP depth and 2MP macro sensor. On the front, the V-shaped notch holds an 8MP selfie shooter.

Nokia G10 Camera

Fueling the device is a large 5050mAh battery. Nokia claims up to 3 days of battery life with this setup. There’s no fast charging support here and the company provides a 10W power adapter inside the box.

Rest of the specs

Aside from that, Nokia G10 has a dedicated 3.5mm audio jack and a single bottom-firing speaker setup. For biometrics, it uses a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The phone is available in two color configurations: Blue and Dusk.

Nokia G10 Specifications:

  • Body: 164.9 x 76 x 9.2 mm, 194 gm
  • Display: 6.5-inches IPS LCD, 2.5D glass, 20:9 aspect ratio 
  • Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels)
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G25 (12 nm)
  • Memory: 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable up to 512GB)
  • Software: Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Triple (13MP primary, 2MP macro, 2MP depth)
  • Front Camera: 8MP (teardrop notch)
  • Battery: 5050mAh Li-Po cell, 10W charging (Type-C)
  • Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, Single speaker setup
  • Security: Fingerprint (side-mounted), Face unlock
  • Others: Google Assistant button, Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient light sensor
  • Color Options: Blue, Dusk

Nokia G10 Price in Nepal and Availability

The price of the Nokia G10 in Nepal is NPR 16,999 for the sole 4/64GB variant. You can buy Nokia G10 from different Nokia authorized retail stores across Nepal.

Nokia G10 Price in Nepal
4/64GB NPR 16,999
  • Meanwhile, check out the review of the Vivo iQOO 7.

Leica’s first smartphone, the Leitz Phone 1 is a rebranded Sharp Aquos R6

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Leica has officially launched its first phone, which is called the Leitz Phone 1. It sports a 1-inch camera sensor, which we originally saw on the Sharp Aquos R6. Like its inspiration, the Leitz Phone 1 is also exclusive to Japan.

Leica Leitz Phone 1 Overview:

If you’re unfamiliar with Leica, it is a premium camera, lens manufacturer. In the smartphone world, it is most well known for its partnership with Huawei for the company’s premium phones. Leica has now launched its first smartphone—Leitz Phone 1, which shares most of its specifications with Sharp Aquos R6.

Design and Display

The company isn’t afraid to admit that the Leitz Phone 1 is a rebranded Aquos R6. The external design is said to be inspired by “Leica’s DNA,” implying that the device has seen little rework from its Sharp counterpart. At the back, there’s a circular camera bump with a Leica-branded lens cover.

Leica Leitz Phone 1 Front Back

Likewise, the device flaunts a 6.6-inch IGZO OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate. It features a matte black glass cover on the “Leica Silver” metallic body. Splashes of water or even full-on immersion won’t damage the phone as it has IP68 certification for water/dust resistance. Leitz Phone 1 measures 9.5mm in thickness and weighs around 212 grams.

Performance

As mentioned earlier, its hardware is similar to the Aquos R6. Thus, Snapdragon 888 chipset’s presence is unquestionable here. Memory-wise, you get 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of internal storage that can be extended up to 1TB.

Moving on, Leitz Phone 1 boots on Android 11 with Leica’s own custom user interface called “largely monochrome” on top. That doesn’t imply the phone isn’t in color. Instead, default applications like the camera app have desaturated menus and buttons.

Camera and Battery

In terms of optics, the Leitz Phone 1 has a large 1-inch 20MP sensor with a 19mm equivalent focal length. The circular camera array allows for the installation of a metal lens cover, simulating the feeling of using a professional Leica camera.

Leica Leitz Phone 1 Camera with cap

On the front, there’s a 12.6-megapixel selfie snapper. Fueling the device is a 5000mAh battery that charges via the Type-C port onboard.

Leica Leitz Phone 1 Specifications:

  • Build: Black color, 9.5mm thick, 212gm
  • Display: 6.6-inch Pro IGZO OLED, 2730 x 1260 pixels, 2000 nits (peak), 240Hz refresh rate (variable)
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm)
  • Rear Camera: 20MP 1-inch CMOS sensor, 7-element f/1.9 Leica Summicron lens, 19mm equivalent focal length
  • Front Camera: 12.6MP (punch-hole cutout)
  • Memory: 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB UFS 3.1 storage (expandable up to 1TB) 
  • Operating System: Android 11 with Leica’s custom UI
  • Battery: 5,000mAh with Intelligent Charge 2.0
  • Security: Qualcomm 3D Sonic Max under-display fingerprint sensor

Leica Leitz Phone 1 Price and Availability

Leica Leitz Phone 1 is a SoftBank-exclusive smartphone in Japan that costs JPY 187,920 (~ USD 1,700). The phone will be up for pre-order from June 18 and will be available for purchase in late July. However, there is no mention of the phone’s global availability yet.

Smartphone Model Price in Japan
Leica Leitz Phone 1 JPY 187,920 (~ USD 1,700)
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Mi 11X vs iQOO 7.

Motorola Defy (2021) launched with a rugged design and enterprise-level features

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Motorola is reviving its Defy series of smartphones after almost a decade of dormancy. It will now host a new lineup of rugged phones. For this, Motorola is collaborating with Bullitt, the company behind Cat phones. The first entry to come out of this partnership is Motorola Defy (2021). Here, we will discuss the key specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability of Motorola Defy (2021).

Motorola Defy (2021) Overview:

As mentioned earlier, this phone has a rugged design. However, from the inside, it is a lot like the Motorola G9 Play that is already available in Nepal.

Design and Display

To start with, Motorola Defy features a 6.5-inch HD+ screen. It is protected by a thick layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The phone has a waterdrop notch on the top and has substantial bezels. It is usable even with wet fingers.

Moving on, Motorola Defy has a rugged plastic build. The company has sealed the housing twice to avoid water damage. The phone is IP68 certified and thus, can survive in water of 1.5m depth for up to 35 minutes. In addition, it has military-grade certification (MIL-SPEC 810H) against extreme temperature, vibration, and tumbles. Motorola says that Defy can survive a drop of up to 1.8m.

Performance and Memory

Under the hood, it packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 662 processor. This silicon is based on the older 11nm process and features 4x Cortex-A73 and 4x Cortex-A53 CPU cores. The chipset is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Users can expand the storage by using an external MicroSD card.

Camera

The square camera bump at the back houses the triple camera setup. Its 48MP primary camera shoots 12MP photos by default using 4-in-1 pixel binning. Accompanying it are two 2MP auxiliary lenses for macro and portrait shots.

Motorola Defy 2021 Camera Module

On the front, there is an 8MP shooter for selfies and video calls.

Rest of the specs

Fueling the phone is a 5,000mAh cell, which supports 20W TurboPower charging over the Type-C port. Motorola is claiming up to 2 days of battery backup on this phone.

The company is also targeting enterprise-grade customers with Defy (2021). The phone is part of the Android 10 Enterprise program and supports features such as zero-touch for mass deployment and management. There is also a programmable shortcut key with “Push to Talk” mode.

Motorola Defy (2021) Specifications:

  • Design: Reinforced PCB, textured, lanyard
  • Display: 6.5″ HD+ panel, Gorilla Glass Victus (0.5mm recess), Usable with wet fingers
  • Rear Camera: 48MP primary, 2MP depth, 2MP macro
  • Front Camera: 8MP (teardrop notch)
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm)
  • Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB storage (expandable)
  • OS: Android 10 (2 years of update)
  • Battery: 5000mAh, 20W TurboPower
  • Connectivity: 4G, VoLTE, VoWi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Type-C, NFC
  • Protection: IP68 certification, MIL-SPEC 810H, -25°C to +55°C operable temperature
  • Extra Features: Android Enterprise, Zero-Touch, Programmable Key with Push to Talk

Motorola Defy (2021) Price in Nepal & Availability

Motorola Defy 2021 will be available in select European and Latin American markets within the next few weeks for the price of EUR 329. There is not much demand for rugged smartphones in Nepal. Still, if Motorola Defy (2021) makes its way into Nepal, we expect its price to be NPR 42,000.

Motorola Defy (2021) Price in Europe Price in Nepal (Expected)
4/64GB EUR 329 NPR 42,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison between Mi 11X and iQOO 7.