The Moto G60 is the more premium of the two devices Motorola announced in India today, with the other being the Moto G40 Fusion. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Motorola Moto G60 in Nepal.
Motorola Moto G60 Overview:
Design and Display
Like G40 Fusion, the Moto G60 features a 6.8-inch Max Vision display based on IPS technology. It sports an FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2460 resolution that results in a 20.5:9 aspect ratio and pixel density of 396 PPI. Plus, this screen has support for a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10 content too.
Being a budget phone that it is, the Moto G60 has a plastic body. Motorola has opted for a water repellent design although the phone lacks a proper IP certification. The phone weighs around 225 grams and is available in two color options – Dynamic Gray and Frosted Champagne.
The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G. It is available in a single memory configuration of 6+128GB. Users can expand the internal storage up to 1TB using the hybrid card slot. The phone ships with My UX based on Android 11 out-of-the-box. Motorola has also included ThinkShield for Mobile to safeguard the device.
Camera
The rear camera is headlined by the 108MP primary sensor. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide camera that also doubles as a macro lens. The third in the list is a 2MP depth sensor. For the selfies, there is a 32MP shooter at the front of the device.
Rest of the specs
Fueling the device is a massive 6,000mAh battery with a claimed battery backup of up to 54 hours on a single charge. The phone has support for TurboPower 20 (20W) as well as Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 via the Type-C port. Moto G60 has a bottom-firing single speaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Extra: Water repellant body, Google Assistant Button, ThinkShield for Mobile
Battery: 6000mAh with 20W TurboPower & QC 4.0
Motorola Moto G60 Price in Nepal & Availability
Motorola Moto G60 will go on sale in India starting 27thApril where its price is INR 17,999. We expect the price of the Motorola Moto G60 in Nepal to be around NPR 31,000 when it launches here.
Moto G60
Price in India
Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB
INR 17,999
NPR 31,000
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max.
Motorola has launched a couple of new mid-range devices under the G series in India. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the new Motorola Moto G40 Fusion in Nepal.
Motorola Moto G40 Fusion Overview:
Design and Display
Moto G40 Fusion features a 6.8-inch Max Vision LCD screen based on IPS technology. This FHD+ display has a pixel density of 396 PPI and a 20.5:9 aspect ratio. More importantly, it supports a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10 content.
At the back, the phone’s rear panel is made up of plastic. Moto G40 has a water repellent design and weighs around 225 grams. The phone is available in two color options – Dynamic Gray and Frosted Champagne.
It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G that we also get to see in the popular Redmi Note 10 Pro series. Moto G40 is available in 4GB and 6GB RAM variants. Similarly, users can also choose between 64GB and 128GB of expandable internal storage.
On the software front, the phone ships with Motorola’s My UX based on Android 11 out-of-the-box. The phone features ThinkShield for Mobile which is a collection of business-grade security solutions developed for smartphones.
Camera
The rear camera setup consists of a 64MP primary camera with quad-pixel technology. It is accompanied by an ultrawide sensor with a 118˚ Field of View. It also doubles as a macro sensor with a 2.5cm focus distance. Lastly, there is a 2MP sensor for depth information. For selfies, there is a 16MP shooter at the front of the device.
Rest of the specs
Fueling the device is a massive 6,000mAh battery which the company claims will provide a battery life of up to 54 hours on a single charge. It also has a Type-C port for data transfer/charging. Here, Moto G40 supports TurboPower 20 (20W) as well as Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0. In terms of audio, it has a bottom-firing single speaker setup and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Motorola Moto G40 Fusion Price in Nepal & Availability
Motorola Moto G40 Fusion will go on sale in India starting 1st May where its price is INR 13,999 and INR 15,999 for the 4/64GB and 6/128GB variant, respectively. We can expect the price of the Motorola Moto G40 Fusion in Nepal to start around NPR 24,000 when it launches here.
Moto G40 Fusion
Price in India
Price in Nepal (Expected)
4/64GB
INR 13,999
NPR 24,000
6/128GB
INR 15,999
NPR 27,500
Check out our comparison between Galaxy A52 & Redmi Note 10 Pro Max.
The BenQ GV1 is a portable projector with a trendy design. The vast majority of portable projectors are flat slabs. But, this one’s actually a mini-tower that resembles a Bluetooth speaker. Despite this, it is genuinely compact, lightweight, battery-powered, and completely wireless. So, without further ado, here are the specifications, price, and availability of the BenQ GV1 in Nepal.
BenQ GV1 Overview:
Design
The BenQ GV1 measures just 155 x 80 x 80mm and weights 708gm. It is very lightweight and small enough to fit into any bag. The upper portion of the device can be tilted up 15-degrees to align the image comfortably on your screen. Moreover, its “auto keystone” feature ensures that the projection stays aligned every time.
I was initially perplexed by the bottom-half speakers. Yes, it has a Bluetooth speaker in the lower half and a projector in the upper half. The speaker boasts an audio output of 5W. Moreover, there are buttons on the top to turn on the projector, volume up/down, and a control switch for switching between projection and speaker modes. The focus key is located on the right side of the projector.
In terms of connectivity, there is a power input as well as a USB-C port that allows you to connect the laptop with USB-C video out capabilities. However, it lacks an HDMI port. Furthermore, a remote control is also included in the package. If you prefer controlling it via your Android/iOS device, you can use the BenQ Smart Control app. The projector runs a customized version of Android which needs only a few steps to set up.
Projection
It can project a picture as large as 100 inches. While it only has a 480p resolution and a brightness of 200 lumens, it does allow Full HD playback. The battery life is claimed to be three hours, which should be sufficient for most movies. Besides that, it can project over 16.7 million colors.
BenQ GV1 Specifications:
Device
BenQ GV 1
Number of pixels
854 x 480 pixels
Native Resolution
480p WVGA (854 x 480 pixels)
Technology
DLP 3430
Display Color
16.78 Million Colors (8-Bit)
Screen size
30″- 100″
Brightness
200 Lumens
Dynamic contrast
100,000:1
Dimensions
80 x 155 x 80 mm
Weight
708g
BenQ GV1 Price in Nepal and Availability
The BenQ GV1 portable projector is now available in Nepal at a price tag of NPR 62,000. You can buy BenQ GV1 portable projector in Nepal at Zozo Hub.
About a week ago, Apple officially confirmed the “Spring Loaded” event. This came hours after it was found that Siri was leaking the information. Judas! With just a day between us and the event, let’s take a look at all the new products that Apple could announce at this event.
What to expect from the Apple Spring Loaded event?
AirTags
Let’s start with the AirTags. It is going to be a tiny round object with a Tile-like location tracker functionality. The design of AirTags has already been leaked a year ago courtesy of popular leaker Jon Prosser. According to him, it is a circular tracker size of a “bottle cap” that will require a third-party key chain to attach to the object that is being tracked.
In addition to Bluetooth, AirTags will also make use of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology for object tracking. For context, all of the latest iPhone and the Apple Watches all come with a U1 chip (except the Watch SE). AirTags should work on the same principle as Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag+.
AirPods 3
Like the AirTags, there are plenty of leaks out there about the third generation of AirPods. This year’s AirPods will look more like the Pro model. It will also come with silicone ear tips. The case will have rounded edges with an LED indicator on the front. It is also said to support wireless charging.
In terms of features, the AirPods 3 is said to be powered by an Apple H2 chip. It will have support for Spatial Audio but won’t feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
IPad Pro and Apple Pencil 3
Next is the 2021 model of the iPad Pro. According to the rumors, Apple will be unveiling both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models of the Apple iPad Pro 2021 at the Spring Loaded event tomorrow. The premium model might come with a Mini LED display panel. If that’s the case, it will be the first-of-its-kind in the lineup. The use of a Mini LED panel will make the display brighter and enable a better contrast ratio.
Last month, Bloomberg reported that the new iPad Pros will look exactly the same as their predecessor but will come with a better processor and improved camera. The processor on them is said to be on par with Apple’s M1 chip. There have also been talks of Apple using Thunderbolt connectors instead of the usual Type-C ports on the latest iPad Pros.
Moreover, the rumors of some new accessories to go with the new iPad Pros are pretty exciting too. The most notable one will be the Apple Pencil. The third iteration of the accessories will come with a new tip. From the looks of it, Apple seems to have ditched the matte finish on its predecessor for a glossy one.
iMac 2021
Apple could also launch new iMacs in the event. The upcoming all-in-one desktop will mark the switch from Intel processors to Apple Silicon. It will also be the first time the lineup will have gone through a visual re-design since 2012. According to the rumors, the new iMacs will feature a flat rear panel. On the front, Apple is getting rid of the metal chin. Similarly, the bezels will also be slimmer. As per a tweet by @L0vetodream, it might be available in multiple color options as foreshadowed by the colors in the logo for the Spring Loaded event.
So, are you excited about the Apple Spring Loaded event? Let us know what products are you looking forward to in the comment section below.
Meanwhile, check out our long-term review of the iPhone 12.
When it comes to new launches, Samsung is relentless. We recently covered the upcoming Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy Z Fold 3 from the company. And now, a “Lite” version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 from last year has been leaked online.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Lite Rumors Roundup:
Galaxy S7 Lite’s renders were first leaked by Evan Blass, a well-known leakster. He released the first clear and high-resolution photograph of the device on Voice. It reveals Tab S7 Lite’s display, dual cameras, and a magnetically attached S Pen at the back. According to previous leaks, the device will have a 12.4-inch (or 12.6-inch) LCD screen, Snapdragon 750G chipset, and 4GB of RAM.
This design is essentially the same as the regular Tab S7, with a button-less approach and a comparatively slim bezel on the front. We can see an antenna line along the top of the design to ensure a strong network connection. Additionally, there are dual microphones, and AKG branding, and a USB-C charging port. Sadly, a headphone port seems to be missing here. The tablet will come with Android 11 and probably with the latest One UI 3.1 skin.
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, Wi-Fi 5, USB-Type-C
Colors: black, green (which may be light green), pink, and silver
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Lite Launch Date
According to Evan Blass, there is a slim possibility that the Tab S7 Lite will make an appearance at Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event on April 28. However, its actual launch is expected to take place in June 2021.
Additionally, Samsung could also launch the cheaper Tab A7 Lite alongside the Tab S7 Lite. The Galaxy Tab S7 Lite will be available in four different color options: black, green (which may be light green), pink, and silver.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.
ZTE made a significant impact on the mobile market with its and the world’s first under-display camera, the ZTE Axon 20. The company has now released its successor, the Axon 30 Pro, and Axon 30 Ultra. Without further ado, let’s get into the specifications, features, and expected prices of ZTE Axon 30 Pro and Axon 30 Ultra in Nepal.
ZTE Axon 30 Ultra Overview:
After making a lot of buzz with a true in-display smartphone camera, ZTE has tried something new with this phone. The Axon 30 Ultra is a high-end smartphone with flagship features such as a Snapdragon 888 processor and a 6.67-inch curved FHD OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate (HDR10+).
In addition, a 4600mAh battery with 66W wired charging is also included. It has a punch-hole in the center that houses a 16MP camera. The display also gets Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 protection and a touch-sampling rate of 300Hz.
All of the specs seem to be the same as those of other high-end smartphones, but the camera is the star of the show here. It has a quad-camera configuration with three 64MP lenses and a fourth 8MP 5x periscope lens and OIS. The primary sensor is a Sony IMX686 sensor with OIS and a bright f/1.6 aperture. The second 64MP module has a marginally longer lens with a 35mm focal length and f/1.9 aperture. Finally, there’s a 64MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 120-degree field of view and a 13mm lens.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6/6E, NFC, BT v5.2, USB Type-C, GPS
Color: Black, Glaze White, Rulan, Light Coffee
ZTE Axon 30 Pro Overview:
Moving on, the ZTE Axon 30 Pro is somewhat inspired by its Ultra sibling. It features the same Snapdragon 888 chipset and a 6.67-inch OLED display. However, the refresh rate has been limited to 120Hz, and it has a smaller 4200mAh battery with 55W charging as opposed to the Axon 30 Ultra that comes with 66W fast charging. Surprisingly, the unit has a touch sampling rate of 360Hz compared to 300Hz on the Ultra.
The camera is still more or less similar. You get dual 64MP lenses acting as the primary and ultrawide shooters. In addition, there is a 5MP macro and a 2MP depth sensor as well. Moreover, the phone lack Wi-Fi 6E connectivity as well but it’s restricted to Wi-Fi 6.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, NFC, BT v5.2, USB Type-C, GPS
Color: Classic Obsidian Black, Hazy Misty Blue
ZTE Axon 30 Ultra and 30 Pro Price and Availability
The Axon 30 Pro and 30 Ultra start at CNY 2998 and CNY 4698, respectively, and are already available in China. It’s unlikely that these phones will launch in Nepal officially, but we expect the price of ZTE Axon 30 Pro and 30 Ultra to start at NPR 60,000 and NPR 97,000, respectively if it’s unofficially available here.
ZTE Axon 30 series
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Axon 30 Ultra (8/256GB)
CNY 4698
NPR 97,000
Axon 30 Ultra (12/256GB)
CNY 4998
NPR 100,000
Axon 30 Ultra (16GB/1TB)
CNY 6666
NPR 130,000
Axon 30 Pro (6/128GB)
CNY 2998
NPR 60,000
Axon 30 Pro (8/128GB)
CNY 3298
NPR 66,000
Axon 30 Pro (8/256GB)
CNY 3598
NPR 71,000
Watch: Samsung Galaxy A52 vs Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
In an effort to provide services faster and more conveniently, the Government of Nepal has launched NeLIS and Mero Kitta. Both are online platforms for delivering services under the Department of Survey. Let’s learn more about them in detail.
What is NeLIS & Mero Kitta?
NeLIS stands for Nepal Land Information System and it’s a central database where all the data related to survey and plots will be stored from survey offices across the country. This central database will allow the concerned authorities to check the flow of service along with tax collection on each survey office. NeLIS needs to be updated with measurement-related data from the latest surveys.
Similarly, Mero Kitta is an online platform where Nepalese citizens can get land-related services without having to visit survey offices. As of now, users can apply for services like Map print, Plot Register Print, and FieldBook Print. Users can even pay their taxes online using the platform.
For now, 18 out of 126 survey offices across Nepal haven’t been embedded into the system, but the government promises that they’ll go online within this year as well.
One can use Mero Kitaa by visiting www.merokitta.dos.gov.np. You’ll need a digital copy (less than 2MB) of your citizenship and land ownership certificate to be eligible to receive any of the aforementioned services. Then, users need to file an application for the service of their choice. Once the application is filed, users will receive an OTP on their smartphone that they need to preserve safely until the completion of the service.
The application needs to be verified, after which the user will receive information about the payable fee/tax on their phone. One can pay it online platform using Connect IPS or through bank vouchers. After that, users will receive a PDF copy of the map on the platform. Users will also receive a reminder via SMS about the same.
Maps received in such a way will remain there for a period of 7 days. Users need to download it within that period using the OTP.
Advantages
The Department of Survey believes that this new platform will ease the crowd that we normally seen in survey offices. This will in turn help the government keep COVID-19 in check as well. On the other hand, it is another step towards the dream of Digital Nepal. It’s just one of the multiple steps that the country has taken in this direction in recent times.
Before this, the GoN had announced the Beta phase of the Nagarik App and it had also opened the way for Nepalese citizens to make international payments via Dollar cards.
Watch: Free Wi-Fi all over Nepal – Worldlink Mobility explained!
Last week, Microsoft announced the launch of its latest Surface Laptop. The new Surface Laptop 4 is the successor to the Surface Laptop 3. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 in Nepal.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Overview:
Design and Display
Like its predecessor, the Surface Laptop 4 is available in two display options. Both the 15” and the 13.5” variant come with Microsoft’s signature 3:2 PixelSense touch display. The resolution of the 15” variant is higher to maintain the 201PPI over both variants. Additionally, the displays are Surface Pen enabled and support up to 10 point multi-touch.
The exterior of these devices is made up of aluminum. The 15” variant is available in two color options – Platinum and Matte Black. Its palm rest is made from metal. On the other hand, there are two additional color options for the 13.5” variant – Ice Blue and Sandstone. Users can also choose Alcantara material for the palm rest.
Performance and Memory
You can make the choice between an 11th Gen Intel Core and AMD Ryzen Microsoft Surface Edition processors. AMD and Microsoft have worked on customizing Ryzen CPUs to meet the power and multitasking needs of the surface laptop. The 15″ variant can be configured with Ryzen 7 4980U Microsoft Surface Edition while the 13.5″ option can be configured with Ryzen 5 4680U Microsoft Surface Edition. The former comes with up to 8 cores while the latter is a 6 core CPU.
Similarly, users can opt for the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7 for both 13.5” and 15” variants. However, the Core i5-1135G7 variant is only available with the former. In terms of RAM, you can choose between 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB of LPDDR4X RAM. Similarly, the Surface Laptop 4 comes with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD storage.
Microsoft says the Surface Laptop 4 has been built for its video conferencing app “Teams“. The HD webcam boasts “incredible low-light capability”. It is also compatible with Windows Hello Face authentication. Similarly, the studio microphone array will also make the video calling experience better. The Dolby Atmos Omnisonic speakers will kick in during multimedia consumption.
Fueling the device is a 47.4Wh battery whose backup differs according to the internals. The 15” variant boasts a battery life of 16.5 hours and 17.5 hours for Intel and AMD Ryzen options, respectively. Similarly, the 13.5” variant has a battery life of 17 hours and 19 hours for Intel and Ryzen editions, respectively.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Specifications:
Display: (13.5”/15”) PixelSense Display, 10-point Multi Touch, Surface Pen enabled
Resolution: 2256 x 1504 pixels (13.5″) / 2496 x 1664 pixels (15″), 201 PPI, 3:2 aspect ratio
RAM: 8 / 16 / 32GB LPDDR4x
Processor:
– Quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 (13.5″) / Quad-core 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1085G7 (13.5″/15”)
– Hexa-core AMD Ryzen 5 4680U Microsoft Surface Edition (13.5”) / Octa-Core AMD Ryzen 7 4980U Microsoft Surface Edition (15″)
Microsoft has started shipping the Surface Laptop 4 from April 15. The price starts at $999.99 and goes up to $2,299.99 depending upon the configuration. We can expect the starting price of Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 in Nepal to be around NPR 140,000 when it’s available via unofficial channels.
Microsoft Surface Products
Price in the US (Starting)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Surface Laptop 4
$999.99
NPR 140,000
Check out our review of the Lenovo Yoga 7i (2021).
After the unveiling of the Moto E6i back in February, Motorola launched the Moto E7 Power shortly. It’s a budget phone positioned below the Moto E7 Plus that was launched last year in Nepal. And now, it’s available in Nepal. So let’s take a look at the specs, features, official price, and availability of Moto E7 Power in Nepal.
Motorola Moto E7 Power Overview:
Design and Display
Moto E7 Power features a 6.5-inch Max Vision display based on IPS technology. The phone sports an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. That results in a pixel density of 269 PPI and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The phone has a waterdrop notch on the front and has noticeable bezels around the screen.
Talking about the design, Moto E7 Power has a plastic body and weighs around 200 grams. One of the highlights of the phone is that it features an IP52 certification against water and dust.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the device packs MediaTek’s Helio G25 chipset. It’s a budget gaming chipset from the company that we have previously seen in devices like Redmi 9A. As with other Motorola devices, this one too comes with a near-stock version of Android 10. As a result, unlike other budget devices, you won’t be receiving any ads and bloatware. But since Android 11 has been out for so long, we wished it ran the latest Android skin out-of-the-box.
The base variant of the phone comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. However, it is also available in a 4/64GB configuration although that variant isn’t available in Nepal just yet. You can expand the storage up to 1TB using an external microSD card slot. In doing so, you will have to sacrifice dual-SIM functionality for that as the SIM slot here is a hybrid one.
Camera
At the back, the phone features a pill-shaped camera bump that houses the dual-camera setup and the LED flash. The primary camera makes use of a 13MP sensor and has an f/2.0 aperture. There is also support for phase detection autofocus. It is accompanied by a 2MP macro sensor. The absence of a dedicated depth sensor means the phone relies on software for the bokeh effect in the portrait mode. Other camera features include panorama and HDR mode.
On the front, there is a 5MP front-facing camera with AI face beautification. Both rear and front-facing cameras can record FHD videos at 30fps.
Rest of the specs
Moto E7 Power is fueled by a massive 5,000mAh battery. You also get support for 10W charging via the Type-C port. At the back, there’s a physical fingerprint scanner with “Moto” branding integrated on it. There is a Google Assistant button placed alongside the power button and volume rockers on the right side of the device.
Motorola Moto E7 Power Specifications:
Display: 6.5-inches IPS LCD panel, 269PPI
Resolution: HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Mediatek Helio G25 (12nm)
Memory: 2/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable up to 1TB)
Software&UI: Android 10
Rear Camera: Dual-camera;
– 13MP primary sensor with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF
– 2MP macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture
– LED flash
The price of Motorola Moto E7 Power in Nepal is NPR 12,999 for the 2/32GB variant. Similarly, the 4/64GB variant costs Rs. 15,990. You can buy Moto E7 Power in Nepal from Daraz or different Motorola authorized retail stores across the country.
Moto E7 Power
Price in Nepal
2/32GB
NPR 12,999
4/64GB
NPR 15,990
Also, check out our review of the Moto E7 Power (Nepali).
Once a prominent player in the South Asian market, Micromax lost its market share to then-emerging Chinese companies like Redmi and Realme. However, the company is in the smartphone business once again, this time with its IN branded phones. These phones that were initially presented as an Indian alternative to the Chinese offerings in India are now expanding neighboring markets. Today, we have come with a detailed review of the Micromax IN Note 1 smartphone that recently launched in Nepal. So without further ado, let’s get into the matter.
Micromax In Note 1 Specifications:
Body: 6.50 x 3.03 x 0.35 inches, 195 gm
Display: 6.67-inches IPS LCD panel, 395 PPI, 78% NTSC color space
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm Mobile Platform)
Price in Nepal: Rs. 18,990 (4/64GB) | Rs. 19,990 (4/128GB)
Micromax In Note 1 Review:
Design
Glass front, Polycarbonate back, plastic frame
As with all the phones in this price segment, the Micromax IN Note 1 comes with an all-plastic body. The phone is available in two color options – Green and White. The Green variant that we have here flaunts a geometric “X” design on the back when light falls on it. The back is glossy and reflective and thus prone to fingerprints marks and smudges.
So, it will be wiser to use the clear case included in the box. There is a left-aligned rectangular camera module that protrudes slightly from the rear panel.
Design
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Back
Ports
The back is also home to a physical fingerprint scanner which has now started to get outdated as smartphone manufacturers have started using side-mounted ones even in this price range. Personally, the side-mounted implementation feels more accessible and it also gives the rear panel a cleaner look.
If you followed the phone’s initial launch in India, you would know that the first shipment of the phone had some serious quality issue. However, that seemed to have been addressed in the further shipments as the company promised. The unit that we have does creak a bit when it is pressed on the top left portion but it is not much of a deal-breaker.
Display
6.67-inch FHD+ display
No Gorilla Glass Protection
The phone features a 6.67-inch display with a center-placed punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. The bezels are quite thin and the 4.6mm punch-hole did not bother me much. It is among the few phone that offers FHD+ resolution in the sub-20K price category.
The pictures are quite sharp and the viewing angles are fairly good. The brightness level is also decent for the price point. Still, the display has some downsides. You won’t be able to stream HD+ content from Netflix and similar platforms as the phone only has the Widevine L3 certification.
There were also few instances where I noticed the display flicker while watching YouTube videos at the lowest brightness level. The display doesn’t come with any Gorilla Glass protection but a protection glass is included in the box.
Performance
Octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 SoC (12nm)
4GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
The phone is powered by MediaTek Helio G85 which is a very capable chipset in this price range. And the same is reflected by the benchmark results.
Test
Micromax In Note 1
Androbench
Seq. Read
309.71 MB/s
Seq. Write
197.9 MB/s
Geekbench 5
CPU (Single Core)
359
CPU (Multi-Core)
1321
Compute (OpenCL)
1161
PCMark (Work 2.0 Performance)
7938
3DMark (Wild Life)
693
Our unit came with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. There is also a dedicated microSD card slot to expand the latter.
In daily usage, the phone performs well. You can even light multi-task on this own. That being said, there will be times you will notice some stutters when switching between apps. However, these moments were few and far between during the review duration of the Micromax In Note 1.
Gaming Experience
I played COD Mobile and PUBG Mobile on the device and the experience was satisfactory. In the former, you can crank up the settings to Medium graphics and higher frame rates. The PUBG Mobile on the other hand supports ultra frame rates on Balancex graphics.
Both the games are is playable for the most part in the supported highest settings but you will experience some stutters here and there. Also, the heating doesn’t help either. You will notice the phone heat up near the camera module. So, it is recommended to lower the graphics for longer gameplay.
DuraSpeed
Also, the phone doesn’t come with a dedicated game mode. But you can restrict the background activity by enabling the DuraSpeed feature from the settings. Here, you can allow or restrict individual apps from running in the background.
Micromax IN Note 1 features a quad-camera setup on the back. The 48MP sensor on the back clicks 48MP shots by default which is odd given that most manufacturers opt for lower-res pixel-binned images by default.
Normal Images
Talking about the performance, the photos come out good under good lighting conditions.
Normal
1 of 4
However, when trying to capture diverse subject such as scenery, the camera shows muted colors and struggle with maintaining highlights.
Wideangle Images
The 5MP ultrawide camera is nothing to write home about.
Wideangle
1 of 6
Normal
Wideangle
Normal
Wideangle
Normal
Wideangle
The shots from the sensor come off pale and less detailed. Also, the ultrawide sensor has some hard time maintaining exposure.
Portrait Images
The portrait shots also did not impress me either. The edge-detection is way off here.
Portrait
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Selfie Images
In this regard, the selfie camera does a better job.
Selfie
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Selfie
Portrait Selfie
Selfie
Portrait Selfie
Selfie
Portrait Selfie
While it is not perfect itself, portrait selfies somewhat better edge detection. The selfie camera smoothens the facial part which makes the shots less detailed.
Nighttime Images
I still like the dedicated night mode that the phone comes with. Not only does it add illumination to the pictures, but also manages exposure much better than in the normal shots.
Nighttime
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Nighttime
Night Mode
Nighttime
Night Mode
Nighttime
Night Mode
Nighttime
Night Mode
The only caveat being the processing time. The phone takes almost 3 seconds to process nighttime shots.
Weird enough, the phone doesn’t save all of the photos that you capture. There were multiple instances where I would shoot a picture only for it to be non-existent in the gallery.
Software
Neat-stock Andriod experience
2 years of guaranteed software updates
While the company says that the phone offers a “Pure Android OS Experience” it is not exactly the case. The company has added some of its touches. For instance, the icons are different and the phone comes with additional features such as Intelligent Assistance and Dura Speed.
UI
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App drawer
Settings
Still, the company delivers on its promise of no ads and there is hardly any bloatware. The only app that is not stock android is the Gallery app. The company has also promised two years of software updates. However, Micromax has been slow in providing timely updates. The phone debuted in November 2020 but it was not until February 2021 that the company provided the December security patch that the phone is still stuck at.
Similarly, the Android 11 update is said to roll out in April but as of now, the company hasn’t even announced an early-access program. Although, we are hopeful that the company will live p to that promise.
On the other hand, if you want to explore new features and are not afraid of taking risks, you can unlock the bootloader and try custom ROMS. You can find the official tutorial with the kernel code from the official forum.
Battery and Calls
5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging
The device packs in a 5,000mAh battery that can easily last you a day with light to moderate usage. Micromax has included support for 18W charging and a compatible charger is included in the box. With the charger, you can juice up the device from 0 to 100% in around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
The phone comes with a triple card slot so you won’t have to choose between dual-sim functionality and expandable memory. In terms of network reception, I had no problem making and receiving calls on NTC and Smart Cell inside the Kathmandu Valley. The calls are also clear.
Rest of the Features
Down firing speaker
Dedicated Google Assistant button
The phone comes with a down-firing single speaker which is adequately loud. You can even connect the phone to a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection which major ISPs are promoting these days.
Micromax has also included a dedicated Google Assistant button on the left side of the phone. It’s mushy compared to other buttons but gets the job done most of the time. I also didn’t have any problem with the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Conclusion
The IN Note 1 is among the first device from Micromax in quite some years and the rustiness does show here. The phone packs some competitive specs for the price and is almost on par with what companies like Xiaomi and Samsung are providing.
The phone does have its own merits, such as it provides a clean, ad-free experience without having to worry about unnecessary apps or bloatware. Plus it provides a Full HD display that many brands don’t provide in this price range. It’s only the cameras of the phone that have average performance, but other than that, it’s a good value in its price segment.
