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iQOO 7 Review: The Mi 11X Killer?

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iQOO 7 Review: The Mi 11X Killer?

So, here I am finally with the review of Vivo iQOO 7. It recently launched in India at a starting price of INR 32,000 and goes head to head against the likes of Xiaomi Mi 11X aka the POCO F3, which we know is a fantastic premium midrange phone that you can buy right now. And this is our review of the iQOO 7.

iQOO 7 Specifications:

  • Body: 76.4 x 163.3 x 8.4mm, 196 gm, Schott Xensation Glass
  • Display: 6.62-inches AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate, Schott Xensation Glass, 1300 nits (peak) brightness, 105% NTSC, HDR10+, SGS Eye Care
  • Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio, 398 PPI
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm Mobile Platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core (1×3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 585)
  • GPU: Adreno 650
  • Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
  • Software & UI: Android 11 with Vivo’s Funtouch OS 11.1 on top
  • Rear Camera: Triple-camera (with LED flash);
    – 48MP f/1.8 Sony IMX598 sensor, PDAF, OIS
    – 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens, 120º FOV
    – 2MP f/2.4 portrait sensor
  • Front Camera: 16MP f/2.0 sensor (punch-hole cutout)
  • Audio: Stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio, No 3.5mm audio jack
  • Security: In-display fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Ambient Light, Electronic compass, Linear Motor
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.1, GPS / AGPS / Glonass, USB Type-C, NFC, 4G LTE, 5G (sub-6GHz)
  • Battery: 4400mAh with 66W FlashCharge (66W adapter provided)
  • Color options: Storm Black, Solid Ice Blue
  • Price in Nepal: N/A (Not launched yet)

iQOO 7 Review:

The love for POCO F3 has grown even more among tech enthusiasts in recent days because my favorite tech YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss ranked it as his best value phone of 2021.

iQOO 7 - Design 2

Anyway, soon after publishing my review of Mi 11X, I have been using the iQOO 7 as my primary phone for more than two weeks now. And I think this one has what it takes to be the POCO F3 killer. It seems like iQOO took all the inspiration from Xiaomi and tried to make it even better.

The Mi 11X here is a great phone but it does compromise on one crucial aspect which is the cameras. But with the iQOO 7, you are getting an overall balanced phone, and trust me, I genuinely couldn’t find any major compromises or issues here.

Design & Build

  • 76.4 x 163.3 x 8.4mm, 196 grams
  • Schott Xensation Glass (front/back), plastic frames
  • No IP certification for dust/water protection
  • No SD card slot and 3.5mm audio jack

Let me talk about its design first. iQOO has kept things very simple here. The Storm Black variant that’s with me doesn’t have those “in-your-face” gradient patterns we usually associate with Vivo phones.

Yet, to make sure the device doesn’t look like a boring slab, it does have a subtle bluish gradient finish mostly around the center of the back panel. Additionally, the matte back finish doesn’t attract too much fingerprint while the camera module doesn’t protrude either.

Despite featuring a big 6.6-inch display, it weighs less than 200gms and more importantly feels ergonomically pleasing to hold. iQOO says they have used a Schott Xensation protection on both the front and the back, which isn’t as good as the Gorilla Glass but gets the job done regardless.

All the buttons are on the right side, and to differentiate the volume rockers with the power button, iQOO has implemented a brushed finish on the latter. I have also liked their position and tactile feedback. Small things that really matter. The frames are still plastic-made so not everything’s top-notch here.

Some serious sacrifices

Plus, like the Mi 11X, you don’t get a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot on the iQOO 7 either. Likewise, the power button here doesn’t double up as the fingerprint sensor, since the company is offering an in-display sensor.

And this definitely adds to the premium experience. It’s an optical fingerprint sensor, so it doesn’t work quite as well if your finger is wet. But in most instances, I have no complaint about its response or accuracy.

Display

  • 6.62-inches FHD+ AMOLED display
  • 120/300Hz refresh/touch sampling rate
  • 1300 nits peak brightness, SGS Eye Care

The display here is a 6.62-inch 1080p AMOLED panel with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate. Specs aside, this is an excellent quality screen although I have to mention that it’s not as good as flagship phones that are rated A+.

In the default settings, I found the colors to be on a slightly cooler side, with a mild blueish and reddish tint. However, you can always play with the color temperature in the display settings. Likewise, the touch sampling rate here is of 300Hz, which is a bit lower compared to 360Hz on the Mi 11X.

iQOO 7 - Display 1

And soon after switching to iQOO 7 from Mi 11X, I could instantly notice how its touch response isn’t as great as Mi 11X. Plus, I also wished the punch-hole cutout’s diameter was slightly smaller. The brightness of this panel is excellent though, and it is easily visible even on a bright sunny day.

It can also achieve extremely low brightness for you to use while in bed and the auto-brightness sensor is swift too. Moreover, the phone also comes with a DC dimming feature. Hence, you can turn on low brightness anti-flicker mode which reduces visual fatigue when the screen brightness is low.

Dedicated display chip

iQOO 7 brings a dedicated intelligent display chip too that converts regular SDR videos to HDR, but I didn’t find that very useful. Similarly, the company claims its dedicated intelligent chip offers an enhanced gaming performance by making use of MEMC tech that boosts fps while playing games. But right now, it is only supported in a handful of games such as COD and Genshin Impact.

Performance

  • Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G SoC (7nm)
  • 8/12GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
  • Android 11 with Vivo’s Funtouch OS 11.1 on top (upgradeable)

Regardless, the actual hardware on the iQOO 7 is pretty darn good. With Snapdragon 870, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, the gaming performance is excellent.

Gaming experience

Here, even the most demanding games like Genshin Impact don’t stutter when playing at the highest graphics settings with 60fps. iQOO says the phone has a 6000mm square graphite layer cooling system, but playing GPU-intensive games like the one above surely takes a toll on the thermals.

iQOO 7 - Gaming

After like 10 mins of gameplay, the phone starts getting warm. But what I like about this phone is that its gaming performance never throttles. Similarly, you can enjoy stable 60fps gameplay in PUBG mobile in HDR graphics and extreme frame rates.

If you want better graphics quality, you can dial up the setting to Ultra HDR graphics and Ultra frame rates too, but this is achieved at the expense of frame rates. Sadly, 120fps-optimized games like Shadowgun Wars and Critical Ops don’t run in 120fps and I think iQOO should fix this soon. Overall the gaming performance is quite good on the iQOO 7.

What about everyday usage?

Needless to say, the day-to-day life performance is stellar too. Apps install faster thanks to UFS 3.1 storage, and multitasking is swift as well. Complemented by a 120Hz refresh rate, everything is buttery smooth here. And unlike cheaper phones with a 120Hz refresh rate, I didn’t encounter micro-lags or stutters in the UI either. Snapdragon 870 handles them all perfectly.

iQOO 7 - Display 2

Moreover, Funtouch OS, for the most part, is clean but with some room for improvement. For instance, it comes with a lot of bloatware apps and you cannot even uninstall them.

I’m not fond of Vivo’s own voice assistant Jovi either. Fortunately, you can swap it with Google Feed instead. And I’m quite surprised with how well features like always-on display and dark mode this Android skin implements. If you remember, Xiaomi’s MIUI struggles in this very aspect.

Cameras

  • Triple-camera setup at the back
  • (48MP main with OIS, 13MP ultrawide, 2MP portrait)
  • 16MP selfie camera inside the punch-hole cutout

On top of this, the biggest benefit with the iQOO 7 over the Mi 11X has to be in the photography and videography aspects. Here, you are getting much more capable hardware. It bears a 48MP Sony IMX598 primary lens with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), a higher-res 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a modest 2MP portrait camera.

Normal Images

Comparing it with the Mi 11X, the iQOO 7 portraits better colors with superior dynamic range and exposure in shadows.

More importantly, its photos have an eye-pleasing color tone, whereas Mi 11X has this unnatural sharpening going on, while also boosting the contrast.

Wideangle Images

And the same goes with the ultra-wide images.

Images from iQOO 7 are sharper as well, thanks to a higher-res 13MP sensor.

Portrait Images

On the other hand, portrait shots from both these phones aren’t that great though.

Mi 11X brings a pinkish tone to the subject’s face whereas portraits from iQOO 7 look unnaturally orangish. But, it does a slightly better job with sharpness and dynamic range contrary to Mi 11X’s portraits that look like a painting when zoomed in.

Plus, you get lots of cool light effects on the iQOO 7, which you might enjoy playing with too.

Nighttime Images

As the sun goes down, the superiority of iQOO 7’s camera setup ranks higher, thanks to the aforementioned better camera sensor and OIS.

Contrary to Mi 11X, its images are brighter, sharper, and have a better dynamic range.

The night mode on the iQOO 7 also does an excellent job in maintaining exposure and details, while also bringing in more lights, especially in extremely low light conditions.

Selfie Images

Moving on, I have always like Vivo’s optimization when it comes to selfies and the iQOO 7 delivers in this aspect too.

Although the photos are slightly smoothened, they look good and retain a good skin tone.

That being said, Portrait selfie could use some rework with an update, because at times, the edge detection is a mess.

Videography

In the videography aspect, you can capture up to 4K/60fps videos from its primary camera. Although this resolution lacks both EIS and OIS, it’s commendable that iQOO is offering 4K recording capability on a midrange phone regardless.

The EIS and OIS kick-in in other resolutions for stable recordings. Sadly, ultra-wide videos are capped at 1080 60fps and this mode is void of stabilization too.

Upfront, the selfie videos have good details, dynamic range, and the skin tone looks fairly nice as well. Additionally, these videos have ample Field of View too. While the audio pickup is decent, it’s nothing exceptional.

Battery

  • 4400mAh battery with 66W FlashCharge

iQOO 7 - Charging 66W FlashCharge

As for the battery, you get a smaller 4400mAh cell on the iQOO 7 whose endurance is quite identical to that of the Mi 11X. On my usage, I got about 5 to 6 hours of screen-on time, which translates to like a day’s worth of endurance. So, yeah, nothing extraordinary but not that bad either.

However, what is excellent here is the charging speed. The 66W charger provided inside the box juices up the battery from 0 to 50% in mere 10 mins while fully charging the phone in less than 35 minutes.

Audio

  • Stereo speakers with Hi-Res Audio

Moreover, iQOO 7’s stereo speaker setup is excellent as well. Once again, it’s not as good as those in flagship phones, but I would rate them as very good. Still, I think the vibration motor could have been better as the phone’s haptics isn’t flagship-level. I prefer the haptics on Mi 11X more.

Conclusion

So, I think that covers pretty much everything about the iQOO 7. Like I mentioned at the start of the review, I think the company has managed to deliver an overall balanced phone with the iQOO 7 which even surpasses the Mi 11X in crucial aspects like the camera.

iQOO 7 - Design 1

Yet, the problem with iQOO is brand recognition and that’s a major hurdle for a company that is only selling premium and flagship phones in the country. I did a small survey on my own where I asked 10 of my friends if they have heard of iQOO and the result is as follows.

9 of them have never heard of the brand before, out of which 7 of them won’t even consider buying its products despite carrying feature-rich specs at relatively affordable prices. As a result, how can iQOO gain customer trust?

I’m not really sure, I am no expert in that matter. But the one place they can start is by providing review samples for YouTubers like us on time so that we can make review videos as early as possible. Just kidding.

  • Watch our video review of the iQOO 7.

iQOO 7 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Terrific value for money
  • Subtle, attractive design
  • Bright, vibrant AMOLED display
  • Excellent gaming performance
  • Great cameras with OIS
  • Decent battery endurance

Cons:

  • No 3.5mm audio jack
  • No expandable storage
  • Lacks an IP certification
  • Sub-par vibration motor

Spotify launches Greenroom: A Clubhouse clone with drop-in audio for music fans

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Spotify launches Greenroom: A Clubhouse clone with drop-in audio for music fans

Clubhouse is the talk of the town right now. This audio drop-in app has been a hot topic ever since its iOS-exclusive introduction last year. And its popularity shows no sign of going down, so much so that other social media platforms are rushing in to integrate similar features. Yesterday, Spotify launched Greenroom – its version of Clubhouse.

Spotify Greenroom Overview:

Greenroom is a separate app from Spotify, where you can participate in live discussions about music, artists, and topic of your choice. It is available for both Android and iOS users.

The concept of Greenroom is not far off from that of Clubhouse. There are virtual rooms with people that share your topics of interest. You can browse through the rooms, join one, and participate in live conversations. You can even add upcoming sessions in the calendar, just like in Clubhouse.

However, the app inherits the green and black color scheme from Spotify. It has been promoted as a platform for fans to connect with their favorite artists and athletes. The topics are also centered on the two domains.

Why athletes, though?

That’s because the app was originally developed by Betty Labs, a company that Spotify acquired in June. Betty Labs is the company behind “Locker Room”, which is an audio-focused platform for sports fans. Spotify has taken the app, changed its appearance by a bit, and extended the capabilities to include music-related content.

Spotify Greenroom Features

Exclusive features

In Spotify’s defense, they have introduced some features yet not available in Clubhouse. To start with, Greenroom will be recording each live session for content moderation. The company will be removing content that promotes hate speech, violence, harassment, among others. You can even report rooms and block users.

Upon request, Spotify will also provide a copy of the session to speakers, which they can then edit and turn into a podcast. Not to forget Spotify’s recommendation system, which is among the best of any streaming platform. It should add to the user’s experience of Greenroom.

Spotify Greenroom: Future promises

In the future, Spotify has promised that Greenroom will have programmed content related to music, culture, and other fields of entertainment.

Spotify Greenroom Creator Fund

While there is no option for monetization at the moment, there will be in the future. Spotify has already announced Creator Fund, which will generate revenue for creators down the line. It will open later in the summer.

It’s not just Spotify

Spotify is not the only company taking inspiration from Clubhouse. Remember how Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube all jumped to the short-video bandwagon because of TikTok’s growing popularity? It’s the same story all over again.

Twitter has already rolled out “Spaces” for live audio conversations while Facebook is currently testing Live Audio Rooms. Other companies like LinkedIn, Slack, Discord and even Reddit are working to integrate live audio features into their platform.

According to Appmagic, Greenroom has already been downloaded over 18 million times. Even in Nepal, it currently tops the Free Social App category in the Google Play Store charts.

  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison between Mi 11x and iQOO 7.

China launches crewed Shenzhou-12 spacecraft to its new space station

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China launches crewed Shenzhou-12 spacecraft to its new space station

China has successfully launched the crewed Shenzhou-12 spacecraft mission into its new space station. It is the country’s longest crewed space trip in history, as well as the first in over five years. The craft was launched into orbit on Thursday, accompanied by a Long March-2F carrier rocket.

Shenzhou-12 spacecraft launched by China:

Fly high in the sky

The Shenzhou-12 (which means “Divine Vessel” in Mandarin) capsule took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gobi desert, Northwest China at around 01:22 GMT on Thursday. Three male astronauts — Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo were on board the spaceship and will spend three months in orbit.

China Shenzhou-12 spacecraft

After crossing the Earth’s atmosphere and the critical separation of four boosters, two of the three astronauts gave “OK” gestures. “The flight was perfectly smooth,” says Chen Shanguang, deputy director of China’s manned space program.

China has already brought samples from Moon’s surface and recently landed a six-wheel rover named “Zhurong” on Mars as well.

Shenzhou-12: What’s the mission?

The big priority of these astronauts is to bring the 22.5-tonne Tianhe module into operation.

Prior to the launch, the mission’s commander, Nie Haisheng, stated, “I have a lot of expectations and we need to set up our new home in space and test a series of new technologies. So, the mission is tough and challenging. I believe with the three of us working closely together, doing thorough and accurate operations, we can overcome our challenges. We have the confidence to complete the mission”.

The Tianhe module was launched in April, and the astronauts will conduct experiments, test equipment, and prepare the station for expansion before the arrival of two laboratory modules next year.

A brief look into the past

Since its first crewed flight in 2003, China has flown a total of 14 astronauts into space with this mission. It is just the third country, after the former Soviet Union and the United States, to accomplish it on its own. Two of the previous flights’ astronauts were female, while the first station crew is entirely male populated.

For your reference, China is not a member of the International Space Station (ISS), owing to US concerns. On the other hand, it has strengthened cooperation with Russia and a number of other countries. And their space station may continue to operate longer than ISS, which is nearing the end of its operational life. However, China says it is open to international co-operation on its station.

  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison of Mi 11X Vs iQOO7.

Honor 50 series launched: Will support GMS outside of China

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Honor 50 series launched: Will support GMS outside of China

Honor has finally unveiled the Honor 50 series in China. It is the company’s first flagship offering after cutting ties with Huawei last year. Here, we will be discussing the key specifications and features of the Honor 50 Series (Honor 50, 50 SE, and 50 Pro), including their expected price in Nepal.

Honor 50, Honor 50 Pro Overview:

Display and Design

Honor 50 5G features a 6.57-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with a center-aligned camera cutout. The 50 Pro 5G, on the other hand, has a slightly larger 6.72-inch AMOLED screen. Apart from the bigger display, the Pro model has a pill-shaped camera cutout that differentiates it from the standard Honor 50.

Honor 50 Pro Design and Display

The rest of the display properties are uniform over the two phones. With the 10-bit color depth, the Honor 50 and 50 Pro can produce over a billion colors. Likewise, the duo supports a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate and is HDR certified.

At the back, the two phones feature a two-tier camera module. Two circular rings protrude on top of a pill-shaped base. The upper ring encloses the primary sensor, whereas the rest of the camera setup is inside the lower ring.

Performance and Software

Running the show underneath is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G chipset. To note, Honor 50 and 50 Pro are the first devices to launch with the chipset. About 778G, it is a toned-down version of the Snapdragon 780G. It is built on top of TSMC’s 6nm node instead of Samsung’s 5nm.

In other news, Honor’s decision to cut ties off with Huawei has finally paid off. The company has confirmed that its phones and tablets will ship with Google Mobile Services (GMS) for the global market. However, it is not clear if it will be pushing GMS to older smartphones. Honor also confirmed that the 50 series is arriving to 40 different markets although their exact availability hasn’t been disclosed yet.

Camera

The quad-camera setup at the back has 108MP ISOCELL HM2 as the primary camera. This 1/1.52-inch sensor captures 12MP photos using the non-binning technique by default. The rest of the setup is underwhelming for an upper mid-range phone. Here, Honor has included an 8MP ultrawide camera and two auxiliary sensors of 2MP each.

For selfies, there is a 32MP camera upfront. In the Pro model, it is accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide camera as well.

Rest of the specs

Moving on, the 4,300mAh battery on the standard model is bigger than the 4,000mAh cell on the Pro model. However, the Pro variant has faster 100W charging to compensate for the smaller battery. On the other hand, the standard model charges at 66W.

Honor 50, 50 Pro 5G Specifications:

  • Display:
    • Honor 50: 6.57″ FHD OLED
    • Honor 50 Pro: 6.72″ FHD OLED
  • Display Properties: 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate, HDR
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G (6nm)
  • Memory: 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB storage
  • Software: Magic UI 4.2 based on Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Quad (108MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth)
  • Front Camera:
    • Honor 50: 32MP
    • Honor 50 Pro: Dual (32MP primary + 12MP ultrawide)
  • Battery: 4300mAh/66W (Honor 50), 4000mAh/100W (Honor 50 Pro)

Honor 50 SE Overview:

Moving on, the Honor 50 SE has a 6.78-inch FHD display with support for a 120Hz refresh rate. But unlike its more expensive siblings, it makes use of an LCD panel. In addition, the touch sampling rate is capped at 240Hz.

Inside, the device is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G processor. Thus, the phone supports dual-5G standby. The phone can switch between two SIMs for uninterrupted 5G experience.

Honor 50 SE Color Options

If not for the absence of the depth sensor, it would have the same camera setup as the Honor 50 and 50 Pro. Under the hood, it packs a decent 4000mAh battery that juices up via a 66W fast charger. It can fill the device up to 72% in just 20 minutes.

Honor 50 SE 5G Specifications:

  • Display: 6.78-inch LTPS LCD, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate
  • Resolution: FHD (2388 x 1080), 387 PPI
  • Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G (6nm)
  • Memory: 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage
  • Software: Magic UI 4.2 based on Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Triple (108MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro)
  • Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.2
  • Battery: 4000mAh, 66W charging

Honor 50, 50 SE, 50 Pro Price in Nepal

The starting price of Honor 50, 50 Pro, and 50 SE is CNY 2,699 Yuan, CNY 3,699 Yuan, and CNY 2,399, respectively. Honor 50, 50 Pro will sell starting June 25 whereas the SE will be available from July 2.

We expect the price of Honor 50, 50 SE, and 50 Pro in Nepal to start at NPR 55,000, NPR 50,000, and NPR 73,000, respectively, if and when they launch here.

Honor 50 series Price in China Price in Nepal (Expected)
Honor 50 SE 8/128GB 2,399 Yuan NPR 50,000
8/256GB 2,699 Yuan NPR 55,000
Honor 50 8/128GB 2,699 Yuan NPR 55,000
8/256GB 2,999 Yuan NPR 60,000
12/256GB 3,399 Yuan NPR 67,000
Honor 50 Pro 8/256GB 3,699 Yuan NPR 73,000
12/256GB 3,999 Yuan NPR 78,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Mi Band 6.

Television prices are likely to rise in 2021: Here’s why

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Television prices are likely to rise in 2021: Here’s why

Consumers wanting to purchase electronic items for their homes might soon have to dig deeper into their pockets, particularly for televisions. Industry experts predict that television prices will rise in 2021 due to exorbitant increases in component and raw material costs.

Television prices rise in 2021:

Prices for televisions eventually fall as they age and newer models enter the market. But no, not this year. In 2021, the price of the television is expected to rise significantly and may eventually exceed the price at which they were introduced.

Panels

Panels account for a large portion of the overall cost of a TV. In recent months, the prices of open-cell panels have more than doubled in worldwide markets. According to OMDIA, prices for TFT panels had already seen a 50% increase in 2020, and are expected to go up in 2021 as well. 

OMDIA forecast for TV Price in 2021-2022

Similarly, DSCC forecasts a 12% increase in LCD panel prices in Q2 2022 following a 14.5% increase in Q1 2021.

Raw material cost

Additionally, the cost of televisions has risen due to an increase in the pricing of raw materials. Materials like copper, aluminum, plastic, and steel have seen a tremendous price change from last year. Plus, the costs of the ocean and air freight have also shot up this year.

Moreover, COVID-19 is one of the main reasons for the low import and export of required components. The ongoing pandemic has had an impact on mining operations and is increasing the overall input cost for appliances.

Global chip shortage

Moving on, crypto miners have a big role in increasing GPU scarcity, to the point that Nvidia had to introduce a mining restriction on their graphics cards. The TV sector, on the other hand, is also experiencing a chip scarcity, though not of GPUs, but of display driver chips.

This scarcity has harmed anything with OLED or LCD panels. This includes computers, tablets, cellphones, wearables, TVs, automobiles, and other electronic appliances.

Samsung TU8000 55 4K TV - Display

The simple microeconomic law of demand and supply states that when demand exceeds supply, the price of commodities increase. Samsung already warned that component shortage will have an impact on TV manufacturing, and the repercussions may be seen in increased sticker prices.

TCL, too, has hiked the prices of its 6-series of televisions due to rising component and raw material costs. According to Wired.com, larger TV models are now 30% costlier than they were last summer.

Television prices rise in 2021: Conclusion

To conclude, there are several reasons that have led to the high sticker price of televisions. Meanwhile, because countries like China, Taiwan, and Japan dominate chip and display panel production, if such items are not supplied in the other regions, it will create a shortage scenario. And if the numbers above are anything to go by, we cannot hope to see television prices go down any sooner.

  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison between Mi 11X and iQOO 7.

Nokia launches two new feature phones with 4G and VoLTE support

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Nokia launches two new feature phones with 4G and VoLTE support

Nokia has refreshed two of its most popular feature phones of the past couple of years—the Nokia 105 and Nokia 110. The new devices come with 4G connectivity compared to the 2G support on their predecessors. In this post, we will discuss the key features of the new Nokia 105 4G and Nokia 110 4G, along with their expected price and availability in Nepal.

Nokia 105, 110 4G Overview:

As mentioned earlier, the main highlight of the refreshed Nokia 105 and 110 is 4G connectivity. Voice calls can make use of VoLTE, resulting in clearer HD calls. Here, the two phones are almost identical with the only difference being the presence of a rear camera on the Nokia 110 4G.

Nokia 105 4G

Likewise, these two phones feature a similar design but come in different color options. They have a curved back while you’ll find a flashlight on the flat top. As for specifications, the phones come with a 1.8″ display. There is an accessibility feature that reads out the menu too. It should come in handy for users with visibility issues.

Nokia 110 4G

Equipped with 128MB of RAM, you’ll get 48MB of internal storage on both phones. The latter is expandable via a MicroSD card as well. Nokia 105 and 110 4G runs on Series 30+ OS. For entertainment, the company has included an MP3 player and wireless FM. Nokia has packed a 1,020mAh battery on each phone, promising up to 12 days of backup (dual-SIM, 4G).

Key Features:

  • 1.8″ QQVGA panel
  • 4G VoLTE, Series 30+ OS
  • MP3 Player, Wireless FM
  • Expandable storage
  • Rear camera (Nokia 110 4G)
  • Flashlight
  • 1.020mAh removable battery
  • MicroUSB charging

Nokia 105 4G and Nokia 110 4G Price in Nepal

Nokia 105 4G and 110 4G will soon be available in Europe at a price of EUR 34.90 and EUR 39.90, respectively. We expect the price of Nokia 105 4G and Nokia 110 4G in Nepal to be NPR 5,000 and NPR 6,000, respectively, when they launch here shortly.

Feature Phones Price in Europe Price in Nepal (Expected)
Nokia 105 4G EUR 34.90 NPR 5,000
Nokia 110 4G EUR 39.90 NPR 6,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison between Mi 11X and iQOO 7.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 brings flagship-grade Snapdragon Wear 4100 under $200

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Mobvoi TicWatch E3 brings flagship-grade Snapdragon Wear 4100 under $200

Mobvoi has introduced a new budget wristwatch to the market – the TicWatch E3. It is the cheaper alternative to the TicWatch Pro 3 with a comparable feature set. So, let’s walk through the specs, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal of Mobvoi TicWatch E3.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 Overview:

Design

To begin, the TicWatch E3 sports a 1.3-inch HD LCD panel and a circular watch face, and 2.5D glass. It weighs around 32 grams without the strap and measures 44 x 47 x 12.6 mm. The watch case is made of polycarbonate, and it comes with a replaceable silicone strap (20mm universal).

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 Display

For dust and water resistance, TicWatch E3 has IP68 certification as well. The smartwatch is available in a single Panther Black case while the strap options include black, blue, and yellow.

Features

The underlying specs of the TicWatch E3 are incredibly impressive for a non-flagship smartwatch. Powering it is Qualcomm’s flagship-level Snapdragon Wear 4100 chipset. Apart from Mobvoi’s own TicWatch Pro 3, this is the only other smartwatch to feature this silicon. This has been complemented by 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage. The watch runs on the latest version of Google’s Wear OS and is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones.

In terms of connectivity, it uses Wi-Fi (b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5.0. Fueling the device is a 380mAh battery which the company claims can last between a day or a day and a half. It includes all the fitness tracking options you’d find from a premium smartwatch like 24-hours heart rate, blood oxygen, stress level, and sleep monitoring.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 - Strap Colors

Besides this, Mobvoi is offering 21 exercise modes including walking, running, HIIT, mountaineering, pool swimming, yoga, etc. on the TicWatch E3. It includes automatic workout detection of three of them as well (walk, run, cycle). Plus, it is also capable of recording VO2Max levels during your workout.

Rest of the specs

Moreover, the TicWatch E3 brings a triple satellite positioning system. As a result, you won’t need a smartphone to track your workout routes. The watch also has NFC for contactless payments via Google Pay. You can make phone calls or messages via the smartwatch itself as well since it has a built-in microphone and speaker system.

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
  • 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
  • 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)

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 Price in Nepal and Availability

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 is now available in the global market where its price is USD 199.99. We expect the price of the Mobvoi TicWatch E3 smartwatch in Nepal to be NPR 25,000 when it launches here shortly.

Smartwatch Price in the US Price in Nepal (Expected)
Mobvoi TicWatch E3 USD 199.99 NPR 25,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Mi Band 6.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 to have the highest-resolution under-display camera yet

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 to have the highest-resolution under-display camera yet

Reports suggest that we will be seeing multiple smartphones with under-display selfie cameras in the second half of this year. Brands like Xiaomi, ZTE, Vivo, and Samsung are all rumored to showcase their under-display selfie camera tech. Here, Samsung’s solution sounds most exciting, as reports suggest that it will have the highest resolution of any in-display camera.

Samsung under-display camera sensor:

Separate reports from IT Home and Ice Universe point to the same thing – Samsung’s under-display selfie camera will be of the highest resolution solution to date.

Last year, ZTE launched Axon 20 5G, which is the first and only commercial smartphone with an in-display camera yet. The company dropped the tech in its subsequent releases, so it’s safe to conclude it was not as effective as hoped. Apparently, ZTE adopted Visionox’s in-display camera tech on the Axon 20 5G. And the images taken from the camera were poor, given the resolution was low.

It has been reported that Samsung’s implementation will have two screens. The small portion of the screen above the camera will have different pixel arrangements to allow light penetration. The main talking point will be its transmittance, which according to Ice Universe, will be as high as 40%. It will reduce the blurring effect, thus improving the clarity of the images.

However, the modified portion will still be different from the rest of the screen. It will be interesting to see how Samsung addresses the issues.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Rumors

According to the rumors, Samsung’s in-display camera solution will debut on the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The phone will be powered by Snapdragon 888 chipset while its 7.5-inch primary screen will have an adaptive refresh rate and stylus support. Fueling the device will be a 4380mAh battery. Its camera setup is said to be inferior to that of the S21 Ultra.

Samsung Under-display Camera Availability

It Home reports that Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 with an under-display camera will launch in early August. The phone will go on sale starting at the end of the month.

Smartphone Launch Date (Expected)
Galaxy Fold 3 (w/ under-display camera) August

So what are your thoughts on in-display cameras? Would you like to have one on your next smartphone? Let us know in the comments section.

  • Watch our camera comparison between Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Speedo’s futuristic swimsuit promises improved performance to swimmers

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Speedo’s futuristic swimsuit promises improved performance to swimmers

Speedo, the world’s leading swimwear company, has unveiled Fastskin 4.0 – the swimsuit of the future. It’s a concept swimsuit based on the company’s image of what swimwear will look like in 2040. It contains a variety of futuristic advancements, such as an energy-harvesting fabric and a built-in AI Coach.

Speedo Fastskin 4.0 Overview:

After launching the Fastskin series some 20 years ago and making significant advances in the industry, Speedo has introduced a new realm to push the boundaries once more.

Concept

Here, the Fastskin 4.0 concept was created in collaboration with Aqualab. When combined with other future advancements, Speedo claims the suit can lead to a 4% improvement in sprint events by 2040. Such development might result in men’s 50m freestyle record eventually breaking past the 20-second barrier and the women’s 100m breaststroke time falling below the 60-second mark.

Design

Fastskin 4.0’s visual aesthetics looks to be inspired by something out of an MCU movie in terms of design. It isn’t just a tailored fit but is instead completely personalized to the athlete’s every muscle, micrometer, and color preference. The suit, created using 3D scanning, AI prediction, and 3D bio-engineered printing, also has customizable compression and adaptive buoyancy cells.

The outfit has an AI Live Coach, which eliminates the need for coaches to cheer from the sidelines. Furthermore, a built-in exoskeleton flexes for maximum power while the surface of the suit has patterns that mimic shark skin for optimum water flow. In addition, it has a core reactor that equalizes body posture for improved streamlining.

Features

As the suit is bio-engineered, it features a fabric that biodegrades 80 percent of the garment once it has served its purpose. Likewise, the swimsuit has an Adaptive Smart Lock Seal, which holds the athlete’s body in position to provide total racing confidence.

Speedo Fastskin 4.0 Back

The suit’s structure has built-in AI sensors to track athletes’ vitals. It will aid in tracking health conditions before, during, and after races. To power these sensors, the swimwear has a special Energy Harvesting Fabric. The suit uses this fabric to turn every race into energy, which then fuels the AI system.

Speedo Fastskin 4.0: Final Words

While the Speedo Fastskin 4.0 is a futuristic vision, the company has been setting the standard in the present with its LZR Pure Intent and LZR Pure Valor suits. As Speedo continues to go invest more in this arena, we can expect to see the newest innovation in the industry in a frequent manner.

  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison of Mi 11X vs iQOO 7.

Nokia Lite Earbuds launched in Nepal with up to 6 hours of music playback

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Nokia Lite Earbuds launched in Nepal with up to 6 hours of music playback

Nokia is finally making its presence felt in the accessories market in Nepal. The company released a couple of audio accessories back in April, and now, it has added a third one. Nokia Lite Earbuds (BH-205) is a budget TWS earphone which boasts a battery backup of up to 6 hours. Here, we will be discussing the key features of Nokia Lite Earbuds, along with the official price in Nepal.

Nokia Lite Earbuds Overview:

These come with an elliptical charging case, inside which the two earbuds lay flat with their tips down. The case has a Nokia branding on top and a series of four LEDs on the front to indicate battery levels.

Talking about their design, the Lite Earbuds feature a long stem with Nokia’s branding stamped on. They have silicone ear tips, and Nokia packs three different sizes of them inside the box. It is available in two colors – Polar Sea and Charcoal.

Each earbud features a 6mm audio driver that covers frequencies ranging between 20Hz to 20kHz. For connectivity, Nokia has opted for Bluetooth 5.0 with a range of up to 10m. You can even use one single earbud at a time. The touch-sensitive controls onboard let you control music playback and answer or reject calls.

Nokia Lite Earbuds - Charging Case

Nokia Lite Earbuds comes with a 40mAh battery that the company claims can last up to 6 hours on a single charge. The 400mAh cell of the charging case adds 5 more charge cycles, taking the total playback time to 36 hours. Here, the case has a Type-C port for charging.

Specifications:

  • Sound Driver: 6mm audio driver
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20KHz
  • Battery: 40mAh (earbuds), 400mAh (Case)
  • Music Time:
    • Earbuds: Up to 6 hours
    • With case: Up to 36 hours (five times)
  • Bluetooth Version: v5.0 (10 meters range)
  • Control: Touch
  • Color options: Polar Sea, Charcoal

Nokia Lite Earbuds Price in Nepal & Availability

Almost two months after its initial release, Nokia Lite Earbuds (BH-205) is now available in Nepal with a price tag of NPR 3,699. The pricing is reasonable given that these earbuds cost EUR 39 (~ NPR 5,500) in the international market. You can buy Nokia Lite Earbuds from the company’s official authorized stores across Nepal.

TWS Earbuds Price in Nepal (Official)
Nokia Lite Earbuds NPR 3,699
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.
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