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Huawei MatePad 11 launched with Harmony OS 2, Snapdragon 865, 120Hz display, and more

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Huawei MatePad 11 launched with Harmony OS 2, Snapdragon 865, 120Hz display, and more

Huawei has unveiled a new tablet in China – the MatePad 11. It runs HarmonyOS 2 at its core and has a pressure-sensitive stylus for a smooth typing and scrolling experience. So, let’s walk through the specs of Huawei MatePad 11 along with its expected price in Nepal.

Hauwei MatePad 11 Overview:

Design and Display

To begin with, the MatePad 11 brings a 10.95-inch LCD panel with 2560 x 1600 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display has moderate size bezels on all sides. Further, the top bezel holds an 8MP front-facing camera while you get a 13MP camera on the back. The latter has autofocus, which the former lacks.

Huawei MatePad 11 Design and Display

The tablet comes with a second-gen M-pencil stylus with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and low latency. You can also pair it with an optical magnetic keyboard which allows you to use it as a notebook. 

Performance

Under the hood, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 powers the MatePad 11. The SoC is paired with 6GB of RAM and is available with three storage configurations – 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. There’s also a MicroSD card slot, which you can use to expand the storage up to 1TB. On the software front, it boots on Huawei’s in-house Harmony OS 2.0.

Rest of the specs

Besides, the tablet features four microphones as well as four Harmon Kardon-tuned speakers. In terms of connectivity, the tablet supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. Fueling the tablet is a 7,250mAh battery with support for 22.5W fast charging. You can even use your phones and accessories by utilizing the OTG reverse charging feature.

Huawei MatePad 11 Specifications

  • Dimensions: 253.8 x 165.3 x 7.25mm, 485 grams
  • Display: 10.95-inch IPS LCD, 16.7 million colors
  • Resolution: WQXGA (2560 x 1600 pixels)
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm)
  • Software: HarmonyOS 2.0
  • Memory: 6GB
  • Storage: 64/128/256GB (upgradable up to 1TB)
  • Rear Camera: 13MP f/1.8
  • Front Camera: 8MP f/2.0
  • Battery: 7250mAh with 22.5W fast charging
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 802.11 (a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth 5.1, USB Type-C
  • Speakers: Harmon Kardon tuned quad speakers
  • Colors: Island Blue, Dark Lime, Frosty Silver 

Huawei MatePad 11 Price in Nepal and Availability

The MatePad 11 costs CNY 2469 for the 64GB version, CNY 2799 for the 128GB version, and CNY 3299 for the 256GB version. We expect the price of Huawei MatePad 11 to start around NPR 50,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.

Huawei MateaPad 11 Price in China Price in Nepal (Expected)
6+64GB CNY 2469 NPR 50,000
6+128GB CNY 2799 NPR 55,000
6+256GB CNY 3299 NPR 65,000
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of Huawei Band 6.

Symphony Z40 Review: A Decent Budget Phone?

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Symphony Z40 Review: A Decent Budget Phone?

In this review, I will be sharing my experience with the Symphony Z40. But before that, let me familiarize you with the brand (if you aren’t already). You may not have heard about Symphony, but it is one of the largest smartphone brands in our neighboring country of Bangladesh.

Symphony started its journey as a bar phone manufacturer and then jumped to entry-level budget smartphones. Last year, the company expanded to Nepal as well with three budget devices. Among them all, I have been testing the Z40 for quite some time now. To note, it is the most powerful phone in Symphony Nepal’s portfolio.

Symphony Z40 Specifications:

  • Body: 76.6 x 165 x 8.9mm, 193.5 gm
  • Display: 6.55-inches IPS LCD panel, 16.7m colors
  • Resolution: HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels), 268 PPI
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G35 4G (12nm Mobile Platform)
  • Memory: 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable up to 128GB)
  • Software & UI: Android 10
  • Rear Cameras: Triple (13MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP portrait)
  • Front Camera: 13MP sensor (punch-hole)
  • Audio: Loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Security: Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Light, Proximity
  • Battery: 5000mAh Li-Po, 10W charging via USB-C port
  • Color Options: Dazzling Blue, Delightful Green, Jolly Blue
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 17,999 (4/64GB)
Buy Symphony Z40 here

Symphony Z40 Review:

Design and Build

  • 76.6 x 165 x 8.9mm, 193.5 gm
  • Plastic back/frame, glass front
  • Corrugated finish at the back

Starting with the design, the phone is available in three colors: Dazzling Blue, Delightful Green, and Jolly Blue. For this review, we got ourselves the Dazzling Blue variant of Symphony Z40. Its body and frame are both made out of plastic. The latter has been curved for a better grip.

Also, the rear panel is corrugated with a sun ray-like pattern. It is divided into two unequal parts by a line running behind the camera bump. The back also houses the physical fingerprint scanner, whose speed is in line with what we get on devices of this price point.

Similarly, the power and volume buttons are on the right side, while a dedicated Google Assistant button resides on the opposite frame. The top frame is clean, and most of the ports are at the bottom. All in all, the Symphony Z40 is like most other budget phones out there in terms of its design. Its radiating design and relatively bulky form factor are reminiscent of Xiaomi’s Redmi lineup of entry-level phones.

Display

  • 6.55-inches HD+ IPS LCD panel
  • 60Hz, 268 PPI, Widevine L3

Moving on, Symphony Z40 features a 6.55-inch HD+ display with 1600 x 720 pixels. The screen is surrounded by thick bezels. In addition, there is a left-aligned punch-hole cutout that could get distracting at times. Also, its diameter is quite large compared to what we’re used to on other budget or mid-range phones.

Symphony Z40 - Display 1

Anyway, despite the lower resolution, the contents look quite sharp here. And you will only notice jaggedness if you pixel peep. In addition, Z40’s color reproduction and viewing angle are fine. On the other hand, it thoroughly struggles with outdoor visibility. But that is to be expected with such budget phones.

Regardless, I would have liked Symphony Z40’s screen more had it supported HD streaming on Netflix and other streaming platforms. Right now, that’s not possible here as it only has Widevine L3 certification for sub-540p streaming. This could technically be fixed with a software update but I highly doubt Symphony, of all companies, will roll an update bringing support for Widevine L1.

Performance

  • Octa-core MediaTek Helio G35 4G SoC (12nm)
  • 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable up to 128GB)
  • Android 10 (almost stock) with few customizations

Under the hood, the Symphony Z40 packs a MediaTek Helio G35 chipset. It’s an entry-level SoC with two clusters of 4x Cortex-A53 CPU cores clocked at 1.8GHz and 2.3GHz. Handling the graphics is PowerVR GE8320.

This silicon has been paired with either 3/4GB of RAM and 32/64GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. The latter is expandable up to 128GB using an external MicroSD card as well. Here, our review unit of Symphony Z40 is of the 4/64GB configuration.

Symphony Z40 - Design 2

As expected, this combination can’t handle heavy multitasking. However, you can use social media apps, enjoy music and videos, and even play games under controlled settings without any major hiccup. That being said, be prepared to tolerate delays between opening apps, and even a few crashes here and there.

Gaming experience

Getting to gaming, PUBG Mobile maxes out at Balanced graphics and Medium frame rate. After just 15 minutes of Team Deathmatch, the CPU temperature rose to 40ºC from 33º (monitored using CPU Monitor app). Also, the gameplay starts as playable but becomes more sluggish over time—suggesting performance throttling.

Thus, it is clear that Symphony Z40 is not made for heavy gaming. Then again, which budget phone is? On the other hand, you can play light games fairly smoothly here. I tried Piano Tiles 3 and faced no issues even with the touch response.

Software

Getting to UI, Symphony Z40 ships with Android 10 out-of-the-box. You will find some games and bloatware pre-installed on the phone. The good thing is that you can uninstall most of them. However, you can’t get rid of Google’s suite of apps, Facebook, and My Symphony app. The UI is also ad-free, in case you were wondering.

Symphony Z40 - Display 2

The company has added a couple of neat customization features too. First, you can add a circular battery indicator around the aforementioned camera cutout. Second, you can change the color accent of the UI elements from display settings.

You can even re-configure the Goggle Assistant button to launch a shortcut of your choice. At the time of writing this review, our unit of Symphony Z40 was still on January’s security patch while there’s no word on the Android 11 update either. So, it is safe to assume that the phone will receive little-to-no future software support.

Camera

  • Triple camera setup at the back
  • (13MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP portrait)
  • 13MP selfie camera (punch-hole cutout)

Okay, let’s talk about the cameras now. The rectangular camera bump at the back of the phone has enough room for three camera sensors, the first of which is a 13MP primary camera. Accompanying it is a 5MP ultra-wide and a 2MP depth sensor.

Normal Images

As you can see from these photos, the primary sensor struggles with maintaining exposure. The skies are blown out.

Similarly, they also come out a bit dark.

Turning on the HDR mode helps a bit. HDR images are a bit brighter and, in some cases, better exposed, too.

Wideangle Images

Likewise, photos from the 5MP ultrawide camera aren’t any good either.

The pictures have blown-out backgrounds and little detail.

Portraits

Regardless, the portrait photos have decent edge detection, though it is not perfect around hairs.

Selfie Images

Additionally, the selfie camera whitens the subject’s face.

It has a hard time dealing with exposure, and turning on the portrait mode makes the situation worse.

Battery and Audio

  • 5000mAh battery with 10W charging
  • Single speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack

Moving on, Symphony Z40 features a massive 5,000mAh battery which charges over a Type-C port. A 10W charger is included in the box too. On average, the phone provided around 5 hours of screen-on time during my usage. The onboard charger takes an excess of 3 hours to juice it up from 0 to 100%.

Symphony Z40 - Fingerprint Sensor

For audio, the phone has a bottom-firing single speaker. It can get loud enough but does not stand out much. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired connection.

Conclusion

To sum it up, the Symphony Z40 has all the recipes for a decent entry-level phone. This includes a good screen, a fairly powerful processor, a clean UI, and all-day battery life. Still, I would love to see Symphony optimize the camera and thermals. As it stands, it is an average performing budget phone with a sturdy design, clean ad-free UI, and adequate storage.

Symphony Z40 Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Sturdy design
  • Good display
  • Clean, ad-free UI
  • Decent battery life

Cons

  • No Widevine L1 certification
  • Heats up quickly under gaming
  • Unoptimized camera app

Realme to partner with Kodak on the cameras of Realme GT Master Edition

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Realme to partner with Kodak on the cameras of Realme GT Master Edition

Days after the launch of Realme GT 5G, rumors of a Mater Edition surfaced on the internet. Now, more details about the device have emerged, with a source claiming that Realme is collaborating with Kodak in the camera department. As it stands, Realme GT Master Edition would have 

Realme GT 5G Master Edition Rumors:

Realme’s VP recently teased a new smartphone launch by posting a picture on Weibo with Japanese designer Mr. Naoto Fukasawa. He didn’t give any details regarding the phone, but Digital Chat Station, a reliable leakster, stated that Realme’s upcoming smartphone will be the GT 5G Master Edition.

The photo with the Japanese designer makes sense because he also designed the company’s previous Master Edition (Realme X2 Pro Master Edition).

 Also Read:

Cameras from Kodak

Moving on, Realme VP Xu Qi Chase shared a camera sample on his Weibo profile, along with a obscured name. It clearly hints that it’s a shot from an unreleased device.

Rumored Realme GT Master Edition Camera Samples

Likewise, Digital Chat Station chimed in that Realme is collaborating with a veteran camera manufacturer. The Realme GT Master Edition will be the first phone to be out with this partnership.

Realme Kodak RumorsAnother leaker revealed that the partner company is Kodak. The photographic firm filed bankruptcy in 2012 and has since shifted its attention to software and hardware for commercial printing solutions. You can still see Kodak-branded cameras in the market which are the result of Kodak’s licensing program. The Realme GT 5G Master Edition could be just another product to come out of this program.

It’s not the first time a smartphone brand has joined hands with a camera manufacturer. Realme won’t even be the first brand the BBK electronics to do so. Last year, Vivo announced a partnership with Zeiss for the X60 series. Then came the OnePlus 9 series with Hasselblad cameras. Looking at how the two partnerships have fared so far, it’s best advised not to get any excited for the Realme-Kodak partnership.

Leaked Specifications

The leaked renders of the  Master Edition reveal a design similar to Realme GT 5G. The phone is designed by Naoto Fukusawa. Fukusawas has brought three new color shades including one with faux leather stripes at the back. The others will have a matte finish.

According to 91mobiles, the phone will sport a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, Snapdragon 778G will replace the Snapdragon 888 chipset. The triple camera setup will remain the same. It will have a 64MP primary camera accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide sensor and a 2MP macro camera. Fueling the phone will be a 4,300mAh battery. Realme will also include support for 65W fast charging.

Realme GT 5G Master Edition Launch

There is no specific date for the release of GT Master Edition. However, as the company’s officials are teasing it, we can expect the launch within July. The price is said to start at €399 for 8/128GB.

Smartphone Expected Price 
8/128GB €399
12/256GB €449
    • Meanwhile, check out our impressions of Realme X7 Max.

    Samsung Galaxy A22 (4G) with 48MP OIS camera launched in Nepal

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    Samsung Galaxy A22 (4G) with 48MP OIS camera launched in Nepal

    Samsung announced the 4G variant of Galaxy A22, alongside its 5G model back in June. Among the two, the former has finally hit the Nepalese market. Here, we will talk about the key specifications and features of the Samsung Galaxy A22 (4G) along with its official price in Nepal.

    Samsung Galaxy A22 4G Overview:

    Design and Display

    Galaxy A22 is both slimmer and lighter than its 5G sibling. It is 8.4mm thick and weighs around 186 grams. The device features a 6.4-inch display with a waterdrop notch. It is a Super AMOLED panel contrary to the TFT screen on A22 5G. Yet, its resolution is restricted to HD+. Still, this screen supports a 90Hz refresh rate.

    Samsung Galaxy A22 4G Design and Display

    The phone has rounded edges and a left-aligned camera bump. The LED flash is now outside of the bump. Galaxy A22 4G is available in four colors – Black, Mint, White, and Violet.

    Performance and Memory

    Powering the device is MediaTek Helio G80. It is a 12nm chip which can be seen in Samsung’s Galaxy A32 (4G) as well. The chipset comes with MediaTek Hyper Engine, which improves gaming performance through better management of CPU, GPU, and network resources.

    Galaxy A22 arrives in two RAM variants – 4GB and 6GB. Users can between 64GB and 128GB of internal storage.

    Rest of the specs

    The device flaunts a quad-camera setup at the back. The highlight here is the 48MP primary camera, which comes with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). There is an 8MP camera with a wider Field of View. Accompanying them are two additional sensors for portrait and macro shots. There is a 13MP selfie shooter up front.

    Samsung Galaxy A22 4G Camera

    Fueling the device is a 5,000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging. The phone supports Dolby Atmos audio, and it features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for biometrics.

    Samsung Galaxy A22 4G Specifications: 

    • Body: 73.6 x 159.3 x 8.4mm, 186 gm
    • Display: 6.4-inches “Infinity-U” Super AMOLED, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 600 nits peak brightness (HDR)
    • Resolution: HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio, 274 PPI
    • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G80 4G (12nm Mobile Platform)
    • CPU: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
    • GPU: Arm Mali-G52 MC2
    • Memory: 4/6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB eMMC 5.1 storage (expandable)
    • Software & UI: Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI Core 3.1 on top
    • Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
      – 48MP, f/1.8 primary sensor, PDAF, OIS
      – 8MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, 123º FOV
      – 2MP, f/2.4 portrait lens
      – 2MP, f/2.4 macro lens
    • Front Camera: 13MP f/2.2 sensor (notch)
    • Audio: Loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
    • Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
    • Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic, Virtual Light, Virtual Proximity
    • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
    • Battery: 5000mAh with 15W fast charge (15W adapter inside the box)
    • Color options: Awesome Black, Violet (Mint, White not available in Nepal)

    Samsung Galaxy A22 Price in Nepal & Availability

    The price of the Samsung Galaxy A22 (4G) in Nepal is NPR 27,999 for the 6/128GB variant. It is up for pre-order from Sastodeal until 6th July where two lucky buyers get a chance to win a Samsung AKG Earphone worth NPR 2,399.

    Samsung Galaxy A22 Price in Nepal (Official) Availability
    6/128GB NPR 27,999 Hukut Store
    • Meanwhile, check out our early impressions of the Galaxy A22.

    The Witcher: Monster Slayer AR game is hitting mobile devices soon

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    The Witcher: Monster Slayer AR game is hitting mobile devices soon

    The mobile gaming industry is a multibillion-dollar sector led by titles like Pokemon Go, Call of Duty Mobile, and PUBG Mobile. It’s no surprise that some of the most popular PC games, such as Valorant, are turning their attention to mobile gaming. Nonetheless, Spokko, a member of CD Projekt Red, is bringing its renowned RPG game, The Witcher, to mobile devices.

    The Witcher on mobile devices:

    The company formally revealed its work on Android platforms last year. Now, it has officially stated that the game will be coming to iOS as well.

    Gameplay

    Furthermore, the creators have released a 15-second trailer, allowing fans to have their first glimpse of the game. It depicts a wide variety of creatures against a constantly shifting background that changes from day to night.

    The Witcher Monster Slayer character

    The Witcher: Monster Player will be a first-person RPG-inspired combat game. In the game, players will embark on a dark fantasy journey in the Witcher’s realm, where they must explore the world and gradually become elite monster hunters. Players will use their ‘witcher senses,’ a feature of the Witcher series, to monitor their targets.

    Players will be able to train their characters by brewing potions and oils. Bombs and other equipment will also be there to help them in the battle.

    Additionally, the game will use augmented reality, which will give a new experience to users. Players must engage in perilous adventures that drive the realm of the Witcher series.

    Registration

    As aforementioned, the game will be accessible on both the iOS and Android platforms. If you have an Android device, you can pre-register for the game right now. This allows you to download the game right at launch and gain access to a special sword to take on your adventure as a bonus. However, iOS users are out of luck for the time being.

    The Witcher: Monster Slayer Launch

    According to Spokko, The Witcher: Monster Slayer will be available on mobile devices starting July 21st. To note, the game will be free on both platforms. 

    Game  Launch
    The Witcher: Monster Slayer July 21, 2021
    • Meanwhile, check out our review of IQOO Z3.

    Qualcomm looks to dethrone Apple M1 with upcoming Nuvia chipset

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    Qualcomm looks to dethrone Apple M1 with upcoming Nuvia chipset

    Last year, Apple surprised everyone with the in-house Arm-based M1 chip. The chip that debuted in the MacBook series notebook displayed significant performance boosts compared to traditional x64 solutions. Since Apple doesn’t license its design, the rest of the laptop makers have been looking for ways alternatives. Luckily for them, Qualcomm says its upcoming Nuvia-based laptop chipset will be exactly what they need.

    In an interview, the new Chief of Qualcomm, Cristiano Amon, stated that the Nuvia-based laptop chipset will be available beginning next year. He even added that Qualcomm could soon have the best chipset in the laptop market. 

    Nuvia-based Qualcomm chipset:

    Nuvia, a CPU and technology design startup, was acquired by Qualcomm earlier this year for $1.4 billion. Nuvia was founded by ex-Apple employees who left the company in 2019. In addition, Qualcomm has hired three silicon veterans who previously worked for Apple, AMD, Google, and Broadcom. These specialists specialize in the development of energy-efficient Arm-based processors.

    Prospects

    During an interview with Reuters, newly-appointed Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said that his firm is confident in its ability to develop processors for laptops. Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices, two long-dominant processor vendors, have no processors that are as energy-efficient as Apple’s. This supremacy will be challenged by the upcoming Qualcomm Nuvia chip, which will compete directly with Apple’s M series. 

    Unlike its smartphone chip business, where it licenses designs from ARM, Qualcomm will have to come up with a design of its own to compete against Apple’s M1. Custom chip design is the priority for Qualcomm for now. However, it can always return to Arm-based designs if things do not

    The CEO notes that “If Arm, which we’ve had a relationship with for years, eventually develops a CPU that’s better than what we can build ourselves, then we always have the option to license from Arm”. 

    Further, the company wants to push 5G connectivity into laptops, so it is pairing modems within the laptop processors. Amon also said that the company’s goal is to have “leading performance for a battery-powered device”. Earlier, the company announced the Snapdragon X65 5G modem, which can be used in a wide range of products including laptops, smartphones, PC and even IoT products.

    Phoenix CPUs

    Given that Qualcomm is working on a high-performance CPU, it might be a reference to Nuvia’s Phoenix core. This is just a wild guess, but Nuvia built the Orion SoC on a core architecture called Phoenix. When compared to AMD’s Ryzen 4700U, it can reach a 40 to 50 percent better IPC with just 33 percent of the power consumption.

    Nuvia Phoenix vs AMD Ryzen 4700U

    Qualcomm, on the other hand, has made it clear that they won’t be leveraging Nuvia’s design to create server or smartphone chips anytime soon. Instead, it will license Nuvia’s core designs to other firms who wish to create custom silicon for data centers.

    Nuvia-based Qualcomm chipset: Launch

    The new Nuvia-based Qualcomm chipset is likely to launch in the second half of 2022. Aside from that, we may also see the second generation of Apple’s in-house silicon. So, Qualcomm must really push boundaries to make its processors equivalent to Apple’s M series.

    • Meanwhile, check out our review of IQOO Z3.

    OnePlus 9T with ColorOS 11, 108MP Hasselblad camera to launch this quarter

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    OnePlus 9T with ColorOS 11, 108MP Hasselblad camera to launch this quarter

    OnePlus is said to be working on a new smartphone called the OnePlus 9T. What’s intriguing in this year’s T-variant is that it can ship with ColorOS 11 pre-installed. So, let’s get into the leaks and rumors surrounding the specs and launch of the OnePlus 9T.

    OnePlus 9T Rumors Roundups:

    Tipster claims

    Per the tipster on Twitter, OnePlus is working on 9T 5G, which will arrive in Q3, 2021. Further, he has added that the handset will boot on ColorOS 11 (Global) and will retain the Hasselblad partnership in the camera department. However, it will feature a 108MP quad-camera setup compared to the 48MP  setup on 9 Pro. 

    As we all know, OnePlus phones in China run ColorOS by default, so it’s no surprise that the forthcoming 9T will use continue to use Oppo’s proprietary OS there. However, the tipster’s assertion that the handset will debut with the global version of ColorOS 11 appears to be incorrect, since the company has already confirmed that the global devices will use OxygenOS.

    But, on the other hand, it’s quite unlikely for OnePlus and Oppo to use different OS after merging all of the other departments together. As such few have suggested that the two OS will gradually converge into one. If that’s the case, it’s likely that they will go with the OxygenOS moniker as it’s more popular than ColorOS in the global market.

    Specifications

    Moving on, a Weibo tipster stated that the 9T will feature an LTPO Samsung E4 flexible AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Although Qualcomm recently launched the Snapdragon 888+, the OnePlus may go with the regular 888. While firms like Asus, Honor, Motorola, Vivo, and Xiaomi have been rumored to be working on a smartphone with the new chip, the name OnePlus has not been mentioned here. 

    OnePlus merger with Oppo

    OnePlus recently made waves in the global smartphone industry when the company’s CEO Pete Leu announced that they will be integrating their teams with Oppo. Again, this came as no surprise given that OnePlus smartphones in China had already begun to ship with ColorOS. Furthermore, they formally announced a few days ago that they are also merging the OxygenOS and ColorOS codebases.

    OnePlus merger with Oppo

    In exchange, OnePlus promised improved Android and security upgrades. The Nord and Nord CE will receive two major Android upgrades and three years of security updates, while the number series will receive three major Android updates and four years of security updates. Similarly, Nord N phones will receive one major Android upgrade as well as three years of security patches.

    OnePlus 9T Launch Date (Rumored)

    The company has yet to make an official announcement on the existence or debut of the OnePlus 9T. However, speculations suggest that it will be released in September.

    Device Launch (Expected)
    OnePlus 9T September
    • Meanwhile, check out our long-term review of the OnePlus 9 Pro.

    Mi Notebook Pro X 15 launched with a 3.5K OLED panel and RTX 3050 Ti graphics

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    Mi Notebook Pro X 15 launched with a 3.5K OLED panel and RTX 3050 Ti graphics

    Xiaomi has introduced its latest notebook, the Mi Notebook Pro X 15, in China. The laptop, which features an 11th-generation Intel Tiger Lake-H CPU and an Nvidia Ampere graphics card, is an improvement over the existing Mi Notebook lineup of laptops. So, let’s walk through the specifications of the Mi Notebook Pro X 15, along with its expected price in Nepal.

    Mi Notebook Pro X 15 Overview:

    Design and Display

    The Mi Notebook Pro X, as the name suggests, has a 15.6-inch OLED display with a resolution of 3,456 x 2,160 pixels (3.5K). The panel has a peak brightness of 600 nits, response time of 1ms, and it covers 100% of the DCI-P3 and sRGB colors. Xiaomi has also included a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass for further protection.

    Mi Notebook Pro X 15 Design and Display

    Moreover, there are narrow bezels surrounding the display, and as it has a large body, there’s a sizeable multi-touch trackpad as well. It weighs around 1.9 kg and is as thin as 17.5 mm. The Mi Notebook Pro X 15 is available in a sole color option of Space Gray. 

    Performance

    In terms of performance, the Mi Notebook Pro X 15 features 11th Gen Intel H35 gaming processors. Buyers can choose between Core i5-11300H and Core i7-11370H processors. The former offers 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD, whilst the latter has 32GB DDR4 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD. Rounding out the setup is NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics with 4GB of  GDDR6 memory. 

    The laptop is powered by an 80Whr battery that Xiaomi claims can deliver 11.5 hours of video playback. It charges using a 130W USB-C adaptor and can charge up to 50% in just 25 minutes.

    Rest of the specs

    Mi Notebook Pro X 15 Ports

    Moving on, it has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity. The power button doubles a fingerprint sensor. Likewise, the port options include one Thunderbolt 4.0, one USB Type-C (w/PD), two USB Type-A ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an HDMI 2.1 interface. On the audio front, it is equipped with dual Harman Kardon speakers with DTS audio.

    Mi Notebook Pro X 15 Specifications

    • Body: 348.9 x 240.2 x 18.47mm, 1.9 kg
    • Display: 15.6-inches OLED panel with 3456 × 2160 pixels, 100% DCI-P3 / sRGB color gamut, 600 nits, 1ms response
    • Processor: Intel Core i5-11300H / Core i7-11370H
    • Memory: 
      • i5 – 16GB + 512GB NVMe SSD
      • i7 – 32GB + 1TB NVMe SSD
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
    • Keyboard: 1.3mm key travel, Backlit
    • Audio: Stereo Harman Kardon speakers with DTS
    • Touchpad: 125 x 81.6mm
    • Security: Fingerprint reader
    • Battery: 80Whr, 130W power adapter
    • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, 1 x Thunderbolt 4.0, 1 x USB Type-C (w/PD), 2 x USB Type-A ports, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 x HDMI 2.1

    Mi Notebook Pro X 15 Price in Nepal and Availability

    The Mi Notebook Pro X is priced at CNY 7,999 for the Core i5 model and CNY 9,999 for the Core i7 variant. It will be available in China starting July 19. We expect the price of Mi Notebook Pro X 15 to start at NPR 153,000, if and when it launches in Nepal.

    Mi Notebook Pro X 15 Price in China Price in Nepal
    Core i5-11300H, 16+512GB CNY 7,999 NPR 153,000
    Core i7-11370H, 32GB+1TB CNY 9,999 NPR 190,000
    • Meanwhile, check out our review of Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2021).

    Explained: What is virtual or extended RAM in smartphones?

    GadgetByte
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    1
    Explained: What is virtual or extended RAM in smartphones?

    With the global smartphone shipment volume hitting new levels every quarter, the longevity of smartphones is put into question. When you’ve had a smartphone for a while, it can feel a little sluggish. The phone’s slowness may be due to different reasons including RAM limitation. From failing to keep apps in memory to inferior multitasking performance, this results in an overall underwhelming smartphone experience. In order to resolve such issues in smartphones, a technique called virtual or extended RAM is getting popular in recent times.

    What is virtual RAM?

    Virtual RAM isn’t entirely a new technique. It is a feature we’ve been using for a while. But in terms of smartphones, this is a fairly new concept. If you’re a tech enthusiast like us, then you may have heard of SWAP (in Linux), and Virtual Memory (in Windows) which temporarily increases RAM in desktops or laptops. Extended RAM in smartphones works in a similar way.

    What is virtual or extended RAM in smartphones?

    With this, the phone uses internal memory or creates a partition in the storage which functions as RAM. This means that your smartphone can separate some portion of the storage and consider it as RAM, assisting in better memory management or multitasking.

    Vivo Origin OS unveiled Funtouch

    This technology was recently seen in certain Vivo phones including the company’s flagship X60 series. Called “Memory Fusion”, Vivo’s OriginOS separates 3GB of internal storage and claims that the RAM, taking the phone’s RAM from 8GB to 11GB. Nubia does something similar called “RAM Boost” where the phone’s 12GB RAM can act as 18GB.

    How do RAM and virtual RAM work?

    You might already be familiar with what RAM (Random Access Memory) is. It’s a form of volatile storage which is way faster than typical storage forms. Your primary storage is only used to store images, pictures, or data in other formats.

    When you perform an action on your phone, RAM is where every single process and thread gets loaded. Think of it as a playground. The larger its area, the more children can play in it and vice versa. That analogy should make it pretty clear that having more RAM means you will technically be able to load more applications at once without any significant lag(s).

    Now in the context of virtual RAM, the phone can call upon a certain portion of internal storage (in Vivo’s case: 3GB) and “fuse” it into RAM for a smoother experience.

    Here, when you switch from one app to another, it will save your process/thread of the previous app in memory more efficiently. As a result, when you choose to re-launch that app, it will pick up right where you left off, as though you never left it in the first place.

    The “short-term” of it all

    This is due to the fact that the app data is contained in RAM. And its efficacy is (mostly) proportional to the volume of RAM available. The programs you use are essentially left running in the background when you select other apps. However, keep in mind that RAM is short-term memory.

    Realme 8 Pro - Gaming

    This implies that it cannot allocate space to each program you try to load. When an app is left idle for an extended period of time, the data is lost. Then, the memory is assigned to another program. This is referred to as RAM management. And this is why big games or similar heavy apps reload frequently when you re-launch it after a while.

    Therefore, virtual RAM builds on the principle of actual RAM where relatively un/underused app(s) are moved to the extended memory so that the actual RAM can be used for some other task instead. And when you return to the app, the data from virtual RAM is accessed by the actual RAM. As a result, data acquisition takes less time and multitasking gets more effective. Ultimately, it provides you with a lag-free or undelayed experience.

    Extended RAM in Xiaomi smartphones

    And recently, Xiaomi started rolling out the RAM expansion feature in Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G via a software update in China a couple of days ago. With this, the system will be able to allocate 2GB of internal storage as virtual RAM when required. This will take the phone’s effective RAM capacity as 8GB and 10GB for 6GB and 8GB RAM variants, respectively.

    Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G - Virtual RAM
    Image: Gizpie

    According to Gizpie, the translated text reads “After the memory expansion is turned on, the system will provide an additional 2.00GB of running memory.” While this feature is exclusive to the Chinese MIUI ROM on Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G for now, we expect Xiaomi to integrate it into the global version of MIUI shortly.

    Imperfect extended RAM in iQOO’s Funtouch OS?

    The entire objective of virtual RAM is to aid in efficient multitasking—by allowing the system to hold as many apps/processes in the background as possible. If your phone has to frequently re-load app states, then that’s either because the device is running low on available memory.

    Or, the system is not well optimized and is therefore killing app processes in the background unnecessarily. And the latter’s what happened to iQOO’s latest mid-range phone, the iQOO Z3. Or at least we think it is. Throughout our usage, we found Vivo’s Funtouch OS running the show on the phone to be quite strict on relatively small background processes.

    For instance, apps that consistently need to run in the background for sticky notifications got their processes killed after a while. What’s even bizarre is the fact that this happened even when we had the phone on. Meaning, Funtouch OS deemed it necessary to terminate the aforementioned app processes when we were actively using the phone.

    It’s not uncommon for Android systems to kill background processes when the phone’s been turned off for a while or overnight, so this was quite alarming—with a hint of irony. It feels like in a bid to allow efficient multitasking between comparatively resource-demanding apps, the memory management algorithm in Funtouch OS seems to be unwarrantedly strict on low-end processes.

    In Vivo’s defense, this seems fixable with an OTA update though. So for now, we can only hope Vivo addresses this issue in the upcoming version of Funtouch OS—or with a quick hotfix.

    “Dynamic RAM Expansion” in Realme phones

    Joining this bandwagon, Realme has introduced Dynamic RAM Expansion (DRE) in a couple of its smartphones as well. Namely, the Realme 8, 8 5G, X7 Max, and Narzo 30 5G support DRE. Under this, the Realme 8, 8 5G, and Narzo 30 5G can add up to 2GB of virtual memory while the high-end X7 Max takes that number up to 7GB.

    Virtual/extended RAM in smartphones: Conclusion

    As I said earlier, we’ve seen virtual RAM in action; and are (maybe unknowingly) using it in our Linux and Windows system. Yet, we are yet to fully experience virtual or Extended RAM in terms of smartphones.

    Actually, there was this app called “Roehsoft RAM Expander” that apparently swapped SD card storage to work as RAM. But I can’t comment about its legitimacy. I had tried it back in 2012 – 2013 in my Samsung Galaxy Y days but couldn’t get it to work—despite root access.

    Regardless, while virtual RAM in smartphones sounds like a great feature especially for low to mid-range phones, Vivo is currently restricting it to its flagship phones running OriginOS. On the other hand, Nubia’s entire portfolio of smartphones includes high-end gaming devices only.

    Like I discussed earlier, Xiaomi has integrated this feature in its Redmi phones as well. This feature will likely be implemented by other OEMs in their smartphones as well. And we can’t wait to experience it first-hand.

    • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Mi 11X (POCO F3).

    NASA’s James Webb Telescope passes launch clearance review, slated to launch during Halloween

    GadgetByte
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    NASA’s James Webb Telescope passes launch clearance review, slated to launch during Halloween

    The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), along with the Ariane 5 spacecraft, has passed the Arianespace launch clearance review. It is a joint mission between NASA, Europen Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). JWST is the next big space research observatory after Hubble, aiming to address lingering mysteries about the Universe.

    James Webb Space Telescope launch review:

    As aforementioned, Arianespace conducted the review, which confirmed that the Ariane 5 (spacecraft) and the flight plan are ready for launch. Arianespace’s technical analyses of the mission’s major components, including the launch trajectory and payload separation, have shown a positive result. Furthermore, the test is necessary as the telescope must fold up within the fuselage before unfolding once in orbit. 

    In total, the review gave final assurance that all components of the launch vehicle and spacecraft are entirely compatible. 

    From 1996

    The initial preparations for JWST began in 1996, with a $500 million budget and an estimated launch date of 2007. However, production and Ariane 5 issues resulted in a budget increase and a delayed launch. Now, the mission’s ultimate development cost is close to $15 billion, and it is projected to have a lifespan of at least a decade.

    Launch Window

    The world’s most powerful and largest telescope will be sent into orbit by the Ariane 5 spacecraft. As part of the agreement, ESA will offer the launch service to NASA-engineered telescope, employing Ariane 5 as a launch vehicle. It will take the telescope to a precise transfer orbit, towards its target – the second Lagrange point (L2).

    WEBB and Ariane 5 illustration

    Moreover, the spacecraft will experience a variety of mechanical forces, vibrations, temperature fluctuations, and electromagnetic radiation during the launch.

    Lagrange points are the locations in space where the gravitation pulls of two objects are in equilibrium. These pulls provide enough force to lock objects in their orbits. The L2 point being discussed here is home to numerous ESA projects like Hershel, Planck, and Gaia. 

    After separation, the JWST will begin its four-week trip to the L2 point before beginning the observation. To note, L2 is four times away from the Moon. The launch is meticulously timed to ensure that Webb gets in its intended orbit and the Ariane 5 upper stage safely escapes from Earth. The team behind the computation of the launch also comes from ESA.

    Components

    JWST will observe the Universe in the near-infrared and mid-infrared – at wavelengths longer than visible light. To do so, it carries a suite of state-of-the-art cameras, spectrographs, and coronagraphs. The telescope also features a five-layer sun shield that will keep the telescope cool by blocking Sun’s infrared light.

    Likewise, ESA plays a big part in the mission. Aside from the Ariane 5 launcher and launch services, the agency is giving the NIRSpec instruments and a 50% stake in the MIRI (Mid-infrared Instrument), as well as manpower to assist mission operations.

    Prospect

    According to the scientist, the JWST will be able to look back in time to see the formation of the very first galaxies. It will allow them to study the origin of stars, exoplanets, and even our solar system.

    Similarly, it could also be used to look for bio-signatures in the space. Previously, researchers from Ohio State University claimed that the telescope could detect alien life within 5 to 10 years of its launch.

    Launch date

    The three space agencies are working towards the launch readiness date of October 31, 2021. The precise launch date, however, is dependent on the launch schedule of the spaceport and will be determined closer to the launch readiness date.

    • Meanwhile, check out our review of IQOO Z3.
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