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

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

Realme GT Master Edition Series Overview:

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

Design and Display

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

Realme GT Master Exploration Edition Design and Display

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

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

Performance and Memory

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

Camera

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

Realme GT Master Exploration Edition Camera Bump

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

Rest of the specs

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

Realme GT Master Edition Series Specifications:

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

Realme GT Master Edition Price in Nepal

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

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

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

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

iQOO 8 Pro Overview:

Design and Display

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

iQOO 8 Display and Design

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

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

Performance

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

iQOO 8 Pro VC cooling

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

Camera

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

Rest of the specs

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

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

iQOO 8 Pro Specifications:

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

iQOO 8 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

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

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

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

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

Realme GT Overview:

The GT lineup

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

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

Performance

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

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

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

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

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

Design and Display

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

Realme GT color options design display

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

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

Camera

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

Realme GT Camera Setup

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

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

Rest of the specs

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

Realme GT Fast Charging Technology battery type-c port

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

Realme GT Specifications:

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

Realme GT Price in Nepal & Availability

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

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

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

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

Google Pixel 5a 5G Overview:

Design and Display

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

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

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

Performance and Memory 

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

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

Camera

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

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

Google Pixel 5a 5G Camera setup

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

Rest of the specs

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

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

Google Pixel 5a 5G Specifications:

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

Google Pixel 5a 5G Price in Nepal and Availability

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

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

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

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

Fluoroborate salt for Lithium-ion batteries:

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

Altering the salt

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

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

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

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

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

Test

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sweat-powered battery:

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

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

Sweat is the new power source

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

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

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

Inside the sweat-powered battery

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

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

The working mechanism

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

Sweat Powered Battery Demo

Test result

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

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

Aiding more cause

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

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

Sweat-powered battery: What’s next?

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

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

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

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

Asus ROG Phone 5s, 5s Pro Overview:

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

Performance and Memory

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

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

Other Upgrades

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

Rest of the specs

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

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

Asus AeroActive Cooler 5

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

Asus ROG Phone 5s Series Specifications:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Intel Arc for high-performance graphics cards

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

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

Intel DG1 graphics chip
Intel Iris Xe

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

Alchemist Microarchitecture

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

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

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

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

Leaks

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

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

Intel Arc Alchemist Graphics Card Launch Date

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

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

Best Budget Earphones Under NPR 2,500 in Nepal [Updated]

In the way that the smartphone industry is cluttered, wired earbuds also offer a plethora of alternatives to select from. But, smartphone boxes these days have no room for earphones—while high-end phones these days skip a 3.5mm jack altogether. Despite this, the popularity of wired earphones hasn’t waned. In case you’re looking to buy a budget wired earphone, we have prepared this list of the best budget earphones under NPR 2,500 you can buy right now in Nepal.

[Note: The following list has been arranged in terms of the products’ price]

Best budget earphones under NPR 2,500 in Nepal:

1. Redmi Earphones

Starting our list of the best budget earphones in Nepal is the Redmi earphones. This could be the go-to option if you want Hi-Res certified audio on a budget. It’s the replacement for the Mi Earphones Basic, although it shares the design language with the Mi Dual Driver Earphones. Its earbuds are made of aluminum alloy and are powered by a 10mm dynamic driver.

It comes with a 1.25m Y-shaped cable and features a single button that allows you to control music playback, answer/end calls, and activate voice assistant. The earplug is protected by an anti-earwax mesh and the audio jack has a 90º angle as well.

Redmi Earphones Specifications:

  • Design: Aluminum main body, anti-earwax earplugs, 13 grams
  • Drivers: 10mm Dynamic driver; 32 Ohm; Hi-Res Audio certified
  • Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
  • Wire: 1.2m Y-shaped wire
  • Control: Single Multi-function Button
  • Water resistance: No
  • Microphone: Yes, built-in
  • Color options: Black, Blue, Red
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 749
  • Read our review of the Redmi Earphones

2. Realme Buds 2 / Buds 2 Neo

Moving on, the Realme Buds 2 brings the good stuff from the first-gen Realme Buds and has improved in terms of both design and audio quality. Sadly, its audio jack doesn’t feature a 90º arc. Anyway, it has a rubber clip that can be used to keep the cables in place.

Realme Buds 2

Additionally, there are magnets at the back of each earpiece, allowing you to stick them together when not in use. But, the driver port on these earphones doesn’t hold any control mechanism.

Moving on, Realme Buds 2 Neo is the cheaper alternative to standard Buds 2 but features similar specifications. Thankfully, it has a 90º angled jack for better grip whether playing games or watching movies in landscape mode. In terms of audio, both these earphones boast an 11.2mm dynamic driver which promises a bass-heavy sound.

Realme Buds 2 / Buds Air 2 Specifications:

  • Weight: 14 grams
  • Drivers: 11.2mm Dynamic driver
  • Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
  • Wire: 1.2m Y-shaped wire
  • Control: Single multi-function button
  • Water resistance: No
  • Microphone: Yes, built-in
  • Color options: Black (Buds 2) / Black and Blue (Buds 2 Neo)
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 1,450 (Buds 2) / NPR 1,300 (Buds 2 Neo)

3. Mi Earphones

Another entry in our list of best budget earphones in Nepal is the Mi Earphones from Xiaomi. As expected from a pair of earphones in this price range, these are made entirely out of plastic. It weighs 14 grams and has a metal sound chamber manufactured through a 20-step process to produce excellent sound quality.

Mi Earphones

Similarly, it has a wired remote with buttons to answer calls, control music playback, and make volume adjustments. However, the buttons currently do not support iOS devices. The buttons also have a built-in microphone, while you’re getting an L-shaped connector.

Mi Earphones Specifications:

  • Weight: 14 grams
  • Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
  • Wire: 1.25m (90º audio jack)
  • Control: Wired remote
  • Water resistance: No
  • Microphone: Yes, built-in
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 1,399

4. JBL T110

Here, the T110 is an entry-level earphone from JBL. It’s a lightweight earphone with the company’s Pure Bass sound. Besides this, it has a single-button remote with a tangle-free flat cable. It lets you control music playback, as well as answer calls on the fly—thanks to the built-in microphone.

JBL T110 Specs Design

Getting to the audio, the JBL T110 encloses a 9mm driver and weighs 12.5 grams. The stereo plug has a 45º angle.

JBL T110 Specifications:

  • Weight: 12.5 grams
  • Drivers: 9mm Dynamic driver, JBL Pure Bass sound
  • Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
  • Wire: 1.2m (arced audio jack)
  • Control: 1-button remote
  • Water resistance: No
  • Microphone: Yes, built-in
  • Color options: Black, Red, Blue, White
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 1,600

5. Sony MDR-EX110AP

Adding to our list of best budget earphones in Nepal is the Sony MDR-EX110AP. It’s the most lightweight earphone on the list, weighing just 3 grams. It comes with a Y-shaped cord and has a 1.2m cable length.

Sony MDR-Ex110Ap best budget earphones in nepal

On the audio front, this earphone brings a 9mm dynamic driver. Furthermore, it has neodymium magnets which help to produce music at quite a high sound pressure level.

Sony MDR-EX110AP Specifications

  • Weight: 3 grams
  • Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
  • Wire: 1.2m (90º audio jack)
  • Control: Wired remote
  • Water resistance: No
  • Microphone: Yes, built-in
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 2,000

6. Mi Dual Driver Earphones

Mi Dual Driver Earphones is a simple wired headset with a 3.5mm plug and old-fashioned analog sound. As the name suggests, the key feature of this earphone is the dual dynamic driver setup in each earpiece. This includes a larger 10mm unit and a smaller 8mm driver. The earpiece casing is made of anodized aluminum.

Mi Dual Driver Earphones best budget earphones in nepal

Interestingly, the earpiece on the left has a convex shape while on the right earbud is concave. There are magnets in the earphones which keeps them together while not in use. For added durability, it has an L-shaped plug as well. The control option includes a three-button remote, while there’s microphone support too.

Mi Dual Driver Earphones Specifications:

  • Weight: 18 grams
  • Drivers: Dual Dynamic Drivers (10+8mm), 32 Ohm
  • Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
  • Wire: 1.2m (90º audio jack)
  • Control: 3-button remote
  • Water resistance: No
  • Microphone: Yes, built-in
  • Color options: Black, Blue
  • Price in Nepal: Coming Soon

7. Skullcandy Ink’d Plus In-Ear Earbud

The final entry in our list of best budget earphones in Nepal is the Skullcandy Ink’d Plus In-Ear Earbuds. At 11.52 grams, it features a 10mm driver with 16 Ohms of impedance. It has a 3.5mm aux cable. It boasts a 20Hz-20KHz frequency response range, which is the entire hearing spectrum of an average human being.

Skullcandy Ink’d Plus In-Ear Earbuds best budget earphones in nepal

For controls, it has an in-line remote with a single button and microphone, which lets you manage calls and audio. Unfortunately, the audio jack isn’t right-angled here.

Skullcandy Ink’d Plus In-Ear Earbuds Specifications:

  • Weight: 11.52 grams
  • Drivers: 10mm Dynamic Drivers; 16 Ohm
  • Connectivity: Wired (3.5mm headphone jack)
  • Control: 1-button remote
  • Water resistance: No
  • Microphone: Yes, built-in
  • Price in Nepal: NPR 2,590

Best budget earphones under NPR 2,500 in Nepal [Updated]

Wired Earphone Model Price in Nepal
Redmi Earphones NPR 749
Realme Buds 2 / Buds 2 Neo NPR 1,450 / 1,300
Mi Earphones NPR 1,399
JBL T110 NPR 1,600
Sony MDR-EX110AP NPR 2,000
Mi Dual Driver Earphones NPR 2,099 (expected)
Skullcandy Ink’d+ In-ear Earbuds NPR 2,590

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So do you agree with our list of best budget earphones under NPR 2500 in Nepal? Have we missed any? Let us know in the comment section.

Honor Watch GS Pro and Watch ES launched in Nepal

Honor Nepal has added two wearables gadgets to its lineup of smartwatches and fitness trackers. Let’s learn more about the specs, features, official price, and availability of Honor Watch GS Pro and Watch ES in Nepal.

Honor Watch GS Pro Overview:

Rugged Design

Honor Watch GS Pro Design

Honor Watch GS Pro is not a watch that Honor expects you to wear while you go to the office or gym. It is designed to last on your adventures. It’s Honor’s first and only rugged smartwatch for now. It features a circular AMOLED panel that measures 1.39-inch and packs in 454 x 454 pixels.

The body is completely made up of polycarbonate except for the bezel, which is made up of stainless steel. Here, the strap of the watch is made of silicone. The highlight of the watch is the MIL-STD-810G military certification against 14 tests.

Adventure companion

Honor Watch GS Pro GPS Route Back

Like I mentioned earlier, the Watch GS Pro is designed to accompany you during your adventurous trip. Honor says it can plan your day ahead.

Through the watch, one can have access to important weather information such as sunrise and sunset time, moon and tidal phases, and alert against bad weather conditions. It also features a GPS route back feature. It helps the user track their way back home using a dual-satellite system.

Fitness and Health Tracking

Honor Watch GS Pro supports over 100 different workout modes. More than 15 of those are professional workout modes and the rest are customized workout modes. The watch can also act as a skiing coach. It can keep track of total duration, average speed, user’s heart rate, average pace, biggest slope, and climbed distance during a skiing session.

Talking about health tracking, it supports 24/7 heart rate monitoring and all-night sleep tracking. It even features a SpO2 sensor for evaluating your blood oxygen levels.

Battery

Honor Watch GS Pro Calling

Honor Watch GS Pro can last you up to 25 days, that is, if you turn off the GPS in the Power saving mode. If you turn on the GPS, the company says this smartwatch can last up to 100 hours.

Similarly, if you decide to use the GPS with power saving turned off, the battery endurance scales down to up to 40 hours. It comes with a built-in speaker and microphone so you don’t have to take your phone out while answering calls. Similarly, the onboard storage on this smartwatch can store up to 500 songs.

Honor Watch GS Pro Specifications:

  • Weight: 45.5 gm (without the strap)
  • Design: Polycarbonate body, stainless steel strap, rugged design
  • Display: 1.39-inches AMOLED full-screen touch panel
  • Resolution: 454 x 454 pixels, 326 PPI
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1
  • Chipset: Huawei Kirin A1
  • Storage: Up to 500 songs
  • IP Rating: 5ATM water-resistant
  • Durability: MIL-STD 810G (14 tests)
  • Workout Modes: Over 100 (10+ Professional modes)
  • Color: Charcoal Black, Marl White Beige

Honor Watch ES Overview:

Design and Supported Workout

Honor Watch ES design

Honor Watch ES is the more stylish of the two. It is designed to be worn during our normal day-to-day activities. It has a 1.64-inch AMOLED panel. The watch has a pixel density of 326 PPI. The panel is protected by a layer of 2.5D glass cover.

Watch ES supports over 95 different workout modes, out of which 10 are professional modes. The rest of them are customized modes.

The watch can automatically detect and record exercises such as walking (indoor and outdoor), rowing, and elliptical. It is also loaded with 12 different workout animations and 44 standard body-movement animations.

Health Tracking

Honor Watch ES workout modes

It uses an optical sensor for 24/7 heart rate monitoring. Honor says that the watch provides accurate readings, offers supervision, and alerts against abnormal conditions.

Similarly, it can also detect the oxygen saturation level in your blood. Huawei’s TruRelax feature lets you control your stress by guiding you through a series of breathing exercises.

Moving on, TruSleep supports different sleep phases (deep, light, REM sleep, and awake), and breathing analysis. Similarly, the watch also has a Female Cycle Tracker that keeps track of the menstrual cycle.

Rest of the features

Honor Watch ES can notify you of weather forecasts as well. Likewise, users can also control the music playback using the watch. Lifting the watch will display incoming calls, new messages, and calendar events.

Honor is claiming up to 10 days of battery life on a single charge here. Similarly, 30 minutes of fast charging will provide enough juice for an additional week of typical usage.

Honor Watch ES Specifications:

  • Weight: 45.5 gm (without the strap)
  • Design: Polycarbonate body, Stainless still strap, rugged design
  • Display: 1.64-inches AMOLED, 70% screen to body ratio, 326 PPI
  • Workout Modes: 95 (10 Professional modes)
  • Color: Meteorite Black, Coral Pink

Honor Watch GS Pro, Watch ES Price in Nepal & Availability

Honor Watch GS Pro and Watch ES are now available in Nepal, where their price is NPR 31,999 and NPR 12,999 respectively. You can buy these watches from select Honor stores across Nepal and Daraz.

Smartwatch Model Price in Nepal
Honor Watch GS Pro NPR 31,999
Honor Watch ES NPR 12,999
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Honor MagicWatch 2.