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Realme launches TechLife Robot Vacuum with smart LiDAR technology

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Realme has been steadily expanding its AIoT product lineup with TVs, home cameras, smart bulbs, and other devices. The company has now added a vacuum cleaner to the list. So, let’s dig in to learn about the specs, features, availability, and expected price in Nepal of the Realme TechLife Robot Vacuum.

Realme TechLife Robot Vacuum Overview:

Design

The device looks like any other robot vacuum cleaner on the market. It has a spherical body with a matte black finish and a yellow accent surrounding the navigation system. 

The top of the device is made of impact-resistant tempered glass, which adds to its durability. According to Realme, the maximum height of the robot vacuum is barely more than 10cm, which should allow it to fit neatly under furniture.

Features

In terms of usability, the vacuum cleaner is effectively a two-in-one vacuum + mop device. This means that it can collect dust as well as mop up the floors. It features a LiDAR scanner and 38 different sensors for real-time navigation throughout your house.

Realme TechLife Robot Vacuum

Furthermore, you can store up to 300ml water in the built-in tank, and it also has efficient dust filtration components. The vacuum has a maximum suction capacity of 3000Pa (Max mode), which should be plenty to take up everything you’d wish to clean in any given room.

Similarly, a 5200mAh battery powers the machine for up to 5 hours. Charging up the device takes 6 hours, while it also supports the auto-recharge function so that you don’t need to manually plug it in.

Rest of the specs

Aside from that, the Realme robot vacuum cleaner is fully programmable for cleaning paths. You can set specific vacuum zones on top of customizing cleaning modes for different rooms. Furthermore, it has Google Assistant and Alexa built-in which allows you to control it with voice commands.

Realme TechLife Robot Vacuum Specifications:

  • Body: Cylindrical
  • Height: around 10cm
  • Suction: 3000Pa (Max mode), 500Pa (Quiet mode)
  • Sensors: LiDAR and 38 others
  • Water Tank: 300ml
  • Battery: 5200mAh (360 minutes charging time)
  • Other features: Google Assistant, Alexa support, Customizable home cleaning plan, Intelligent surface adaptation

Realme TechLife Robot Vacuum Price in Nepal

The price of Realme TechLife Robot Vaccum is EUR 299 (only on AliExpress) in the global market and it will be available from June 16 on Realme’s official online store and AliExpress. We expect the price of Realme TechLife Robot Vacuum in Nepal to be around NPR 45,000 if and when it launches here.

Vacuum  Price in Europe Price in Nepal (Expected)
Realme TechLife Robot Vacuum EUR 299 NPR 45,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison video of Mi 11X vs iQOO 7.

Razer’s RGB-infused Project Hazel N95 mask will launch later this year

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Razer first unveiled Project Hazel, an N95 respirator, back in CES 2021. The product was introduced as a concept, but in its E3 keynote, Razer confirmed that the Project Hazel mask will launch before the end of 2021.

Razer Project Hazel Mask Overview:

What is it?

Razer announced this project in response to the global COVID-19 outbreak. Project Hazel is an N95 grade smart mask that protects you against the high efficiency of bacterial filtration (BFE). It features a strong fluid resistance, which keeps you safe from drips and splashes. 

Razer Project Hazel Mask

Likewise, the mask has RGB lighting (of course) and an active ventilation system that can remove at least 95% of airborne particulates. Furthermore, it contains replaceable ventilation filters that minimize the CO2 build-up in the mask, which can induce headaches and dizziness.

Interestingly, it is equipped with Razer Voiceamp technology, where the mask has a built-in mic and amplifier combination to ensure your speech isn’t muffled even when you’re masked.

Launch and Availability

As previously stated, the project was only a concept until Razer decided in March 2021 to turn it into a real product. In the company’s E3 2021 presentation, Razer CEO stated that the Project Hazel mask will be available for purchase beginning early in the fourth quarter of this year.

In any case, if you want to see how the mask looks on your face, you can use the company’s Instagram filter.

In terms of availability, Razer will offer the mask in “drops” only through its official website. These drops will have a limited quantity of masks. Until now, Razer has not revealed any detail regarding the price or launch of the Project Hazel mask. But, if you don’t want to miss forthcoming drops, you may sign up for alerts on Razer’s website.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2021).

Razer Blade 14 is the ultimate portable gaming laptop with Ryzen 5900HX and RTX 3080 GPU

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Razer has finally listened to its users; not only has the company brought back the 14-inch Blade machine, but it also packs an AMD chip inside of it. With this, Razer is the latest brand to embrace AMD’s mobile gaming CPUs. Here, we will look at the key specs and features of the Razer Blade 14, along with its expected price in Nepal.

Razer Blade 14 Overview:

Performance

While there are tons of thin-and-light gaming laptops, none have been as powerful as the new Razer Blade 14. For starters, this laptop packs the most recent Ryzen 5900HX. Equipped with 8 cores and 16 threads, Ryzen 5900HX can attain a clock speed of up to 4.6GHz Max Boost frequency. The chip is a step up from the HS or the H-branded chips that we often see in laptops of this form factor.

AMD Ryzen 5900HX

Razer hasn’t skimmed on the graphics either. Here, the company has included the top-of-the-line RTX 3080 to go with the 5900HX chip. There are also variants with RTX 3060 and RTX 3070. As for cooling, Razer has included a dual-fan liquid-vapour chamber. Each fan has a total of 88 fan blades.

Design and Display

The Blade 14 is Razer’s smallest and thinnest gaming laptop in the market today, taking the crown off the Blade 15. The laptop is forged from CNC aluminium, with Razer opting for an anodized finish. The laptop is just 16.8mm thin and weighs around 1.78kg.

Razer Blade 14 Display and Design

As for the display, there are two options. The base variant features a 144Hz FHD panel with 100% sRGB. On the other hand, the higher-end models offer a 165Hz QHD panel with 100% DCI-P3 coverage.

Keyboard and Camera

The keyboard on the Razer Blade 14 has Razer Chroma’s Per-Key RGB. In addition, the keyboard has an N-Key rollover; thus, the laptop will register all of the simultaneous key presses. The keys have a 1.1m actuation height. Similarly, you have a Precision trackpad. There is an IR HD-webcam at the top bezel with Windows Hello authentication.

Rest of the Specs

Razer Blade 14 features two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports with Power Delivery and Display Port 1.4. In addition, there are two Type-A ports and one HDMI 2.1 port. For a wireless connection, it has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.

The built-in stereo speakers come with an array microphone. They are on either side of the keyboard. The laptop also supports 7.1-surround sound using the HDMI port.

Razer Blade 14 Gaming

Fueling the laptop is a 61.6WHr lithium-ion polymer battery, which Razer rates for up to 12 hours of backup. There is a 230W power adapter included in the box. In addition, the laptop supports any 20W PD 3.0 USB-C charger.

Razer Blade 14 Specifications:

  • Design and Build: Anodized CNC Aluminum unibody
  • Color: Black with backlit green Razer logo
  • Display:
    • 14-inch FHD 144Hz, 1920 x 1080
    • 14-inch QHD 165Hz, 2560 x 1440
  • Display Features: 144/165Hz, AMD FreeSync
  • Keyboard: 1.1 actuation height, N-Key Rollover, Per-RGB RGB
  • Processor: Ryzen 9 5900HX (8 cores / 16 threads, 3.3GHz Base, 4.6GHz Max Boost)
  • Graphics: Up to GeForce RTX 3080
  • RAM: 16GB (dual-channel, fixed)
  • Storage: 1TB SSD (M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 slot)
  • Audio: Stereo speakers, THX Spatial Audio
  • Connectivity: W-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1
  • Ports: 2 x USB C 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Power Delivery, Display Port 1.4), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x HDMI 2.1 output
  • Battery: 61.6 Watt-hours
  • Adapter: 230 Watts, supports 20W PD 3.0 USB C charger
  • Security: Windows Hello, TPM 2.0, Kensington Security Slot

Razer Blade 14 Price in Nepal [Expected]

The price of the Razer Blade 14 starts at €1,999.99 for the base variant (144Hz, RTX 3060). On the other end, the top-of-the-line Razer Blade 14 costs €2,999.99. Every configuration comes with 16GB of RAM (soldered) and 1TB of NVMe SSD storage. If it launches here, we expect the price of Razer Blade 14 to start at NPR 325,000.

Razer Blade 14 Gaming Laptop Price in Europe Price in Nepal [Expected]
144 FHD, RTX 3060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD €1,999.99 NPR 325,000
165Hz QHD, RTX 3070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD €2,399.99 NPR 390,000
165Hz QHD, RTX 3080, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD €2,999.99 NPR 485,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Razer Blade Stealth 13.

Here are the best game announcements from PC Gaming Show at E3 2021

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Lemnis Gate

First announced last year, developers have confirmed the August 3 launch date for Lemnis Gate. It’s a time-bending First Person Shooter turn-based strategy game, where each individual gets 25 seconds of time-loop. Once a player hits the 25 seconds mark, the control shifts to the other player, who, at this point, can even intercept previous moves of the opponent before it happens.

They always Run

Developed by Alawar production, They always Run is a 2D side-scrolling game. The main character, Aiden, is a mutant with an extra arm. He is a bounty hunter chasing wanted criminals for reward. He uses his third arm to carry weapons or during combat.

Rawmen: Food Fighter Arena

It is an online multiplayer shooter game, where players throw dishes and ingredients at each other. The game supports up to 8 players. However, it can start with even two players. Users can fight in a town-based setting or a competitive arena. The highlights include players sliding and jumping across the arena, launching themselves as meatballs by jumping into one, and attacking enemies with doughnuts.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong

It’s an RPG game, where players will be able to choose between three characters. The trailer at the PC Gaming Show shed light on the backstory of one of them, Lysha, who wants to protect her daughter. The game takes place in Boston.

Ixion

In Ixion, the earth is dying, and humanity’s future lies at the group of people blasted onto a space station. As a leader, you will have to make decisions regarding survival, research, and space exploration. However, you will have to wait longer, as it will only launch next year.

FAR: Changing Tides

It’s a sequel to FAR: Lone Sails. Like Ixion, here you will be leading a ship to a potential new home. However, this one takes place on the earth, where you will have to cope with the massive flood.

Next Space Rebels

Space is for everyone, and thus, you are at your backyard building rockets to be a part of the ongoing Space Revolution.

Orcs Must Die! 3

It’s a third-person tower defense game, where you stop orcs from getting in, using weapons and traps. You can kill orcs by yourself or do it together with friends. The third installment in the series brings two new campaigns, new heroes, a Scramble mode, war machines, and war guardian. This releases on July 3rd, 2021.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

A sequel to 2015’s Dying Light, Day Light 2 takes place 20 years after the original game in a city in Europe. The map is larger; there are over 3,000 parkour animations and tools like grappling hook and paraglider.

WarTales

This open-world RPG takes place after the demise of the Edoran Empire by the Great Plague. You will be playing as a band of mercenaries called WarTales.

Best Games at PC Gaming Show at E3 2021 [Summary]

  • Lemnis Gate
  • They always run
  • Rawmen: Food Fight Arena
  • Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
  • Ixion
  • FAR: Changing Tides
  • Next Space Rebels
  • Orcs Must Die! 3
  • Dying Light 2: Stay Humans
  • WarTales

Thus, this is our list for the ten best games announced at the PC Gamer’s PC Gaming Show at E3 2021. Most of these games are already available for wishlists in Steam and will launch later this year. Which games are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments section.

NTA approves two ISPs to provide in-flight internet in Nepal’s skies

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Passengers flying 10,000 feet above Nepal’s skies will soon be able to enjoy in-flight internet facilities. Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has approved two ISPs to provide in-flight internet service in Nepal.

In-flight internet service in Nepal:

Many countries have already permitted the use of in-flight internet in planes with Nepal now joining the list. Passengers will now be able to use internet service within a few months, according to the NTA.

The proposal for in-flight internet service was submitted to the NTA back in April. After months of planning, the authority has finally granted approval to two broadband providers to provide mobile internet services during flights. The companies selected for the service are Thales Ink and Sita For Aircraft.

How does it work?

In general, in-flight connectivity works via two types of technology. One, an in-built antenna at the bottom of the plane’s fuselage (main body) receives signals from the nearest ground tower. Here, unless and until the airplane is flying over a large area with no towers (such as an ocean), the connection will be flawless up to a certain height.

On the other hand, the second approach is to use an antenna on the plane to receive data from satellites in geostationary orbit. Passengers on the plane connect to the WiFi through an onboard router.

According to NTA’s director Mr. Ambar Sthapit, BTS (Base Transceiver Station) satellite will offer internet service to the passengers in aircraft. To note, the onboard internet will employ the service of the plane’s own country’s telecommunications service provider, not Nepal’s.

This means that a network of service providers from other countries will also be able to operate on our skies,” says Ambar Sthapit. For instance, Lufthansa Airlines will have German telecom provider’s internet, Air India will feature Indian telecom’s internet, and so on.

With this, Nepal is now just the third SAARC country to allow in-flight internet, following India and Afghanistan.

  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison between Mi 11X and iQOO7. 

Honor 50 series launching this week: Here are its key specs and features

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Honor is all set to unveil the Honor 50 series of smartphones, which includes the Honor 50, 50 SE, and 50 Pro. Prior to the debut, 91mobiles has disclosed the entire specification of these phones. So, let’s walk through the specs and rumors of Honor 50, 50 SE, and 50 Pro.

Honor 50 5G, Honor 50 Pro Rumors:

Design and Display

Here, the leak reveals that the Honor 50 5G will flaunt a 6.57″ OLED FHD+ display with 32MP front-facing camera. The 50 Pro 5G, on the other hand, will have a slightly larger 6.72″ AMOLED screen with a pill-shaped cutout for the dual-camera arrangement. The primary selfie camera is a 32MP sensor which is accompanied by a 12MP lens.

Honor 50 Pro 5G Design

Moving on, the Honor 50 measures 159.96 x 73.76 x 7.78 mm and has a weight of 175 grams while the 50 Pro has a dimension of 163.46 x 74.66 x 8.05 mm and weighs slightly heavier at 187 grams.

Rest of the specs

In terms of performance, both smartphones are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G. The vanilla model is fueled by a 4,300mAh battery that supports 66W rapid charging, while the Pro model is powered by a smaller 4,000mAh battery that supports 100W fast charging. Honor says its 100W charging solution only takes 25 minutes to juice up the 4000mAh battery. 

Over on the optics, the Honor 50 series has a radical camera design at the back. Here, the 50 and 50 Pro has a quad-camera setup with a 108MP primary, an 8MP ultra-wide, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor.

Honor 50, 50 Pro 5G Specifications (Rumored):

  • Display: 
    • Honor 50: 6.57″ FHD OLED
    • Honor 50 Pro: 6.72″ FHD OLED
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G (6nm)
  • Rear Camera: Quad (108MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth)
  • Front Camera: 
    • Honor 50: 32MP
    • Honor 50 Pro: Dual (32MP, 12MP)
  • Battery: 4300mAh (Honor 50), 4000mAh (Honor 50 Pro)
  • Charging: 66W (Honor 50), 100W (Honor 50 pro)

Honor 50 SE 5G Rumors:

Moving on, the Honor 50 SE is the entry-level device in the lineup. It sports a 6.78″ FHD+ LCD display with a 16MP front-facing camera. The phone is equipped with a triple rear camera configuration and is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 900 processor.

Likewise, the camera arrangement includes a 100MP f/1.9 primary, an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 2MP f/2.4 macro sensor. 

Honor 50 SE Design Camera

Under the hood, it packs a decent 4000mAh battery that juices up via a 66W fast charger. Moreover, it weighs 191 grams and has a thickness of 8 mm. 

Honor 50 SE 5G Specifications (Rumored):

  • Display: 6.78″ FHD LCD
  • Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G (7nm)
  • Camera: Triple (100MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro)
  • Front-cam: 16MP sensor
  • Battery:  4000mAh with 66W fast charging

Honor 50, 50 SE, 50 Pro Price and Launch Date

Honor will debut its 50-series of smartphones in China on June 16. For now, there’s no word on their pricing and availability.

Smartphones Launch
Honor 50 SE, Honor 50, Honor 50 Pro June 16
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Mi Band 6.

Latest Realme X9 Pro leaks reveal striking similarities with Oppo Reno 6 Pro+

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Last year, Realme launched the X7 series in China. The lineup consisted of the vanilla X7 and X7 Pro—both with MediaTek Dimensity chipsets. Realme re-branded V15 as X7 for the Indian market, while the Pro model launched as is. Now, fresh leaks have revealed that the company is prepping for the launch of its successor. The upcoming Realme X9 series (X9, X9 Pro) will feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors.

Realme X9, X9 Pro Rumors Roundup:

Like the existing X7 series, the Realme X9 lineup will have three devices. The company is adding a “Master Edition” to go with the Realme X9 and X9 Pro. Information about the three phones was scarce, up until now. The Pro variant has now leaked in full, revealing much of its key specifications.

Realme X9 Pro (RMX3366)

The latest leak suggests that the Realme X9 Pro will be a rebadged Oppo Reno 6 Pro+. The phone is already part of the TENAA listing with the RMX3366 model number.

Design and Display

As for the specs, Realme X9 Pro will feature a 6.55-inch E3 AMOLED panel from Samsung. The curved edges of the display will add to the premium feel of the device. Its 90Hz refresh rate will be a step down from the 120Hz on the Realme X7 Pro.

Realme X9 Pro will have a slim profile with a thickness of just 8mm. An aluminum alloy frame will hold the device together. In addition, the front and the back of the phone will have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

Realme X9 Pro Renders

Performance and Memory

Moving on, the Chinese variant of the phone will pack a powerful chipset in the form of Qualcomm Snapdragon 870. Built on a 7nm process, it is the overclocked version of last year’s Snapdragon 865+.

Likewise, X9 Pro’s global variant is expected to feature Dimensity 1200 instead. In related news, OnePlus is rumored to rebrand the global variant of Realme X9 Pro as its upcoming Nord 2. Furthermore, X9 Pro will be available with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage.

Rest of the specs

Realme X9 Pro will flaunt a triple camera setup at the back. Sony’s 50MP IMX766 sensor will replace the 64MP IMX686 in its predecessor as the primary camera. Plus, an ultra-wide lens and a 2MP monochrome lens will accompany it. There will be a 32MP selfie shooter on the front.

X9 Pro will get its juice from a 4500mAh battery in a dual-cell configuration. This means that the phone will support 65W Dart Charging. As expected, it will boot on Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top. Unfortunately, it will not inherit features like X-axis linear motor, telephoto camera, and OIS from the Reno 6 Pro+.

Realme X9 Pro Specifications (Rumored):

  • Display: 6.55-inch AMOLED, 90Hz refresh rate
  • Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 870 5G / Dimensity 1200
  • Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
  • Software & UI: Realme 2.0 on top of Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Triple; (50MP primary, 16MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth)
  • Front Camera: 32MP (punch-hole)
  • Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
  • Battery: 4500mAh with 65W charging

Realme X9

As for the standard X9, we know that it will feature Snapdragon 778G processor. It is the successor to last year’s Snapdragon 768G. The new chipset is built on TSMC’s 6nm process and comes with a tri-cluster CPU architecture with 1x Cortex-A78 (@ 2.4GHz), 3x Cortex-A78 (@ 2.2GHz), and 4x Cortex-A55 (@ 1.9GHz). Unfortunately, this is all we know about the X9 so far.

Realme X9 and X9 Pro Price & Availability

Realme X9 series could soon launch in China. According to leaks, the X9 Pro will be priced at 2,699 Yuan and 2,999 Yuan for 8/128GB and 8/256GB variants, respectively. Similarly, the standard Realme X9 will have a price between 2,000 and 2,500 Yuan.

Realme X9 series Expected Price in China
Realme X9 Pro 8/128GB 2,699 Yuan
8/256GB 2,999 Yuan
Realme X9 2,000 – 2,500 Yuan
  • Meanwhile, check out our unboxing and the first impression of the Realme X7 Max.

Leak: Samsung to produce Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 895 chipset after all

Snapdragon 895 and Exynos 2200 will be powering Android flagship smartphones of 2022. While enthusiasts are looking forward to how these chips will fare against each other in terms of performance, the latest leaks have revealed that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 895 will also be manufactured by Samsung.

Samsung wins bid for Snapdragon 895

Having used TSMC’s process for Snapdragon 865, Qualcomm turned to Samsung for the Snapdragon 888. The two processors are based on 7nm and 5nm nodes, respectively.

Earlier, a tweet from reliable leakster Ice Universe indicated that Qualcomm is leaning towards TSMC’s 4nm process for the Snapdragon 895. Many speculated that the shift was due to the heating issue associated with Snapdragon 888.

However, if Mauri QHD is to be believed, Qualcomm has failed to secure TSMC as its chip maker. As a result, Samsung will be manufacturing Qualcomm’s flagship chipset for the second year straight.

It looks like TSMC has committed all its 4nm resources, including foundries for Apple. The report also suggests that the California-based company has even secured TSMC’s 3nm foundry. Apple will be using the chips for upcoming Macs, iPhones, and iPads. It could mean that Qualcomm may have to stick to Samsung for longer than it likes.

Problem with Samsung Foundry

The problem here is that Samsung’s process node is known to be inferior to that of TSMC. For reference, AnandTech analyzed Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 and concluded that Samsung’s 5LPE node (5nm) was comparable to TSMC’s N7P (7nm).

In addition, the leakster also claims that there will be no performance difference between Samsung’s 5LPA and 4LPE (4nm) nodes. Thus, Samsung’s first-gen 4nm node will be its third-gen 5nm node at its core, rebranded under a new name.

Doing so will have several benefits for Samsung. To start, the company can utilize its existing 5nm plants for upcoming chipsets without any modifications. In addition, it will ensure better yield than what a newer process node would have otherwise.

Nothing is confirmed yet

Still, all of this is just hearsay for now and it might not even turn out to be true. However, Mauri QHD claims that his source, Hades, has been right 7 out of 8 times.

So what do you think of the rumors? Which foundry would you prefer between Samsung and TSMC for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 895?

  • Meanwhile, check out our gaming review of the Exynos 2100.

From camera to touch responsiveness, Poco X2 users complain about multiple issues

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Despite rebranding most of its phones from sister company Redmi, Poco’s products have been met with great market reception thanks to their aggressive pricing. Last year’s mid-range champ, the Poco X2, was likewise a terrific smartphone. However, there have been several issues due to the phone’s service deterioration. These flaws were experienced by the majority of X2 users, and to make matters worse, Poco made some rash comments about the issues.

Poco X2 issues:

Companies like Poco have built their foundation by delivering excellent value-for-money products. They even flaunt this ability in their product launch events by comparing their phones to others in the market to signify self-superiority.

However, many of those brands don’t appear to be concerned with consumer after-sales support. With the recent debacle, Poco is kind of turning to be one such company.

Bugs everywhere

There have been so many flaws with the Poco X2 that I can’t state them all in one breath. The device includes flaky software, failing cameras, an ad-rich user interface, a disappointing Android 11 upgrade, Widevine L1 downgraded to L3, and so on. However, this was not the case when the device was first released.

Display issue

In January 2021, Poco X2 began receiving an upgrade for MIUI 12, as well as numerous other problems. The upgrade caused battery drain and heating problems. The most prevalent issue was poor touch responsiveness and broken animations even while moving from one app to another. 

Creepy cameras

Moving on, the X2’s camera has entirely lost its way with the March update for many users. According to them, the camera app either freezes or simply displays a blank screen. When accessing it, there are multiple instances of the “Can’t connect to the camera” error. The situation deteriorated when the problem could not be resolved even with a software flash or a factory reset.

The problem appears to be more software-related in the early days since individuals using the GCam app can use their cameras normally. Furthermore, Poco X3 NFC customers are experiencing similar troubles.

However, several Poco users in India stated that the problems were fixed once the motherboard was replaced. According to Xiaomi/Poco service facilities in India, the issue can only be resolved by replacing the motherboard, which costs INR 10,000. This is one of the strangest responses I’ve ever heard from a brand.

So, it’s fair to say that most value-oriented smartphone buyers who invested a chunk of their money on Poco X2 might not be able to afford that amount.

Poco X2 Widevine downgrade

Likewise, in the same update, users are also complaining that the Widevine L1 support is no longer available. Instead, it has been downgraded to Widevine L3. As a result, the phone no longer supports HD streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, and other platforms.

No brand reply

Despite all of this, Poco has yet to issue an official statement. However, Poco India did tweet about a few measures to follow, addressing the issue.

Poco X2 issues: Conclusion

During its initial release, the Poco X2 was a superb smartphone. Even now, the device compares favorably to the most recent Redmi products. However, the company does not appear to focus on its after-sales service.

As the aforementioned issue arose for multiple consumers, it appears that Poco is either not using quality hardware or isn’t putting sufficient emphasis on stable software upgrades. Or maybe it’s both of these things.

All we can say is that a timely and bug-free software upgrade and the use of better quality hardware would assist to boost the brand’s public image.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Poco X3 Pro.

Scientists say they’ve devised a way to travel to Alpha Centauri

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Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to our solar system and is presumed to offer the highest possibility of discovering an extraterrestrial being. Nevertheless, with current technology, reaching there is next to impossible. However, scientists have devised a laser-powered sail that they believe will allow unmanned spacecraft to travel 24 trillion miles and visit Alpha Centauri within 20 years.

Laser powered sail for Alpha Centauri:

The Australian National University (ANU) has designed a laser-powered sail as part of an international effort to investigate the planets surrounding Alpha Centauri. Breakthrough Starshot project plans for the development of an ultra-lightweight spacecraft that will function as a light-sail. The sail should reach the triple star system 4.37 light-years away at an incredible pace.

While this distance sounds like a lot (which it is), Alpha Centauri is three times closer than the next closest Sun-like star system. Here, the laser propulsion system would propel the probes into orbit. Similarly, the lights that will power the sail will be released from the Earth’s surface.

Distance from Earth to Alpha Centauri

In the figure, we can see millions of laser lights striking at a point to illuminate the sail and push it onto its interstellar journey. 

“To cover the vast distances between Alpha Centauri and our own solar system, we must think outside the box and forge a new way for interstellar space travel”, said Dr. Chathura Bandutunga, the study’s lead author.

The space of Alpha Centauri

There are three stars in Alpha Centauri: Centauri A, Centauri B, and Proxima Centauri. Astronomers disclosed in December last year that they were “carefully investigating” a mystery radio signal from Proxima Centauri.

Proxima Centauri is 4.2 light-years away from Earth and features two confirmed planets. The first one is a Jupiter-like gas giant and the next has a rocky world in the habitable zone known as Proxima Centauri b.

Australia’s Parkes radio telescope detected the signal in mid-2020. Meanwhile, the detected signals were not ascribed to any Earth-based or near-Earth human-created source. That means it’s certainly from an unknown source. Or, the signal is likely to have a natural explanation, but that hasn’t stopped alien-hunting scientists from paying more attention.

Sail on journey

Once the sail begins its trip, it will travel for 20 years across the vacuum of space before arriving at its destination. It will record photos and scientific measures as it travels to its destination, which it will transmit back to Earth.

The potential stumbling point, though, is the continued use of lasers to control the sail. The Breakthrough Starshot program calculated that the necessary power would be roughly 100GW (GigaWatt). That is around 100 times the capacity of the biggest battery in the world. Similarly, to attain such great power, around 100 million lasers will be necessary. And of course, other potential dangers in the vacuum of space.

NASA announced in 2017 that they are contemplating a trip to Alpha Centauri. The crew wants to complete the mission in 2069, on the 100th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.

Journey to date

The only spacecraft to leave our solar system are Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Because of its speedier trajectory, the former, which was launched 16 days after the latter, was the first to reach interstellar space in 2012. Six years later, the Voyager 1 spacecraft exited our solar system. But not before capturing Earth from a record distance of 3.7 billion miles away—which was so elegantly described by Carl Sagan as “Pale Blue Dot“.

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