Boston Dynamics wowed the world with its Spot, the robot dog. And now, the company’s got a rival from China. Weilan, a Chinese robotics firm’s “AlphaDog” is an AI pet that obeys orders and does not leave unpleasant surprises on the floor. But it costs a whole lot less than Spot. So, let us learn more about Weilan AlphaDog.
AlphaDog: An AI pet
AlphaDog is a robopet that you can take for a stroll. It “hears” and “sees” the surroundings by using sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. This is not the first time we’ve seen a robo-dog though. Boston Dynamics was the first company to introduce the public to the first AI dog, which was named Spot. And AlphaDog is Spot’s Chinese counterpart.
According to Weilan, in the future, the dog will be expected to serve in a variety of situations. Such as, leading the visually impaired, barking, and even carrying out voice orders from its owner.
Features
Weilan says AlphaDog is the fastest of its kind, with a top speed of about 15 kilometers (nine miles) per hour. Furthermore, the dog, like a playful puppy, will spin in the same place. It can maintain its equilibrium even when kicked by humans. Ma Jie, Weilan’s chief technical officer, claims that it can also anticipate ground friction and height in order to adjust its height, stride frequency, and adapts to the environment.
The developers have used 5G technologies to ensure reliability and fast response times. Weilan has already sold 1800 units in the first month of its release. Developers anticipate that future uses of their four-legged partner would benefit the visually impaired, but it is uncertain how soon we will see it in practice.
Weilan AlphaDog Robot Price and Availability
Weilan’s AlphaDog is available for industries and business firms in China at a price of CNY 16,000 (~ USD 2,450). To compare, Boston Dynamics’ Spot costs a whopping USD 74,500. According to the company, the majority of the new orders came from computer developers, technology enthusiasts, and kids. As of now, there is no information about its international shipments.
To know more about the AlphaDog, check out the official video.
Weilan’s Robot Model
Price
AlphaDog
CNY 16,000 (China-exclusive)
Meanwhile, check out our review of Asus ROG Strix Scar 15.
Samsung’s Galaxy M51 was a winner in its price segment. And the company didn’t wait too long to build on its success, which came in the form of Galaxy M62. By the way, this phone goes by Galaxy F62 in the Indian market. Let’s learn more about the Samsung Galaxy M62 in this review.
Samsung Galaxy M62 Specifications:
Body: 6.45 x 3.00 x 0.37 inches, 218 gm
Display: 6.7-inches “Infinity-O” Super AMOLED Plus, 16 million colors, 420 nits brightness, 393PPI, 60Hz refresh rate
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Color options: Laser Green, Laser Gray, Laser Blue
Price in Nepal: Rs. 39,999 (6/128GB) | Rs. 42,999 (8/128GB)
Samsung Galaxy M62 Review:
With the M62, Samsung has been clever enough to distinguish it against other midrange phones by offering a flagship chipset—albeit one that’s a year and a half old. More specifically, it’s the Exynos 9825. So, with this, is the M62 better than other mid-range phones like the Realme X7 (Dimensity 800U 5G) and the Xiaomi Mi 10i (Snapdragon 750G 5G) that come at a similar price?
Let’s get started with the talk of the town – the Exynos 9825. While other brands are rushing in on using a 5G chipset, Samsung has decided to take a step back with the Exynos 9825 which was used on the Galaxy Note 10 series from about one and a half years back.
But the bigger question here is whether this older flagship chipset will be able to hold its ground against today’s popular mid-range SoCs.
Samsung Galaxy F62
Xiaomi Mi 10i
Geekbench 5
Single Core
781
626
Multi-Core
1844
1968
3DMark Wildlife Stress Test
3409
1097
As you can see from these benchmarks, the Exynos 9825 stands above Snapdragon 750G in terms of both CPU and GPU. Also, its graphics performance is almost double of what the contemporary 5G mid-range SoCs can provide.
And this goes beyond the benchmark scores too. The real-life performance is better on the Galaxy M62 as well. Coming from Snapdragon 730G-powered Galaxy M51, everything is buttery smooth here— apps open relatively faster and multitasking is decent too.
Gaming experience
Gaming is also quite good on the Galaxy M62. In fact, better than Xiaomi’s Mi 10i. In PUBG Mobile, you can go as high as HDR graphics and Ultra frame rates and get a stable 40fps gameplay with 99% FPS stability. On the other hand, the Mi 10i with its highest setting, which is HD graphics and high frame rates, can only hit 30fps.
Similarly, you can crank it up to Extreme frame rate at Smooth graphics on the M62 and get stable 52fps. Lesser demanding games such as COD also run better on the M62 with the phone being able to provide better frame rates and stability. I tested other games like Genshin Impact too and found that both phones gave a similar fps mark.
But, the M62 can deliver better fps stability meaning that the phone will give you more consistent gameplay than the Mi 10i. And something that I have noticed during my usage is that after a prolonged gaming session of the aforementioned titles on both phones, they heat up to almost the same amount. Yet, the M62 cools down relatively faster than Mi 10i.
So yeah, Samsung’s decision to include an older flagship chipset seems to have paid off well. Yes, the M62 does not support 5G as its competitors do, but if you ask me, it isn’t much of a dealbreaker for someone living in South Asia.
Better software support
And not to forget, just like the Galaxy M51, Samsung’s One UI is well optimized on the M62 as well. Plus, unlike most other phones in its price range, the M62 comes with Android 11 out-of-the-box and promises 4 years of security update, which you don’t see on Chinese brands.
Design & Build
Glass front, plastic back/frame
Another aspect where Samsung has improved is the design. It definitely looks better than the M51, if you ask me. But since it comes with a big 7000mAh battery and a big 6.7-inch display, it’s a huge phone weighing well over 200gms. As a result, it isn’t very comfortable to use for long hours.
Buttons, Design, Ports
1 of 3
Buttons
Ports
Back
Likewise, the entire body of the phone is plastic just like the M51. Putting it against the Mi 10i, well, M62 doesn’t get a vote from me in the design aspect. I think the Mi 10i with its dual Gorilla Glass 5 design takes the cake right away.
I also think Samsung should introduce minimalistic color options on the M62 as they did with S20 Fan Edition last year. Although Samsung has tried to hype up the new laser gradient design language, M62’s color options look quite dull, to be honest.
Display
6.7-inches FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus screen
420 nits peak brightness, 60Hz refresh rate
As for the display, it is similar to the Galaxy M51 i.e. you get a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED Plus screen. It is still stuck on a 60Hz refresh rate, which is a little frustrating considering how the Galaxy A32 4G features a 90Hz AMOLED display. And that phone’s a lot cheaper than the M62.
Still, the actual quality of the panel is quite good. As usual, it’s vibrant and can get plenty bright too. The black levels are on point and you will not notice any kind of backlight bleeding or touch issues with this display.
Battery
7000mAh battery with 25W fast charging
Plus, with the energy-efficient AMOLED display and the 7nm chipset at work, the 7000mAh cell doesn’t run out that easily. The phone easily gave me around 2 days of juice with normal usage.
During weekends when I’d be continuously watching videos and play games for hours, it would last throughout the day with around 20% juice left, which by today’s smartphone standard is an easy A+.
Filling up the battery isn’t a joyful ride though, as the phone makes you wait for almost 2 hours and some time to get fully juice up with its proprietary 25-watt fast charger. This makes the Galaxy M62 one of those devices that you’d want to put to charge before going to bed.
Audio
Mono speaker, 3.5mm audio jack
Likewise, another thing that didn’t impress me so much on this device is the speakers. I was expecting the phone to have stereo speakers, but just like the M51, it doesn’t.
The audio quality from the single speaker is not bad, but as I said in my review of the Galaxy M51, with the display of that quality was matched by stereo speakers, the multimedia experience would have been something else.
Okay, finally let’s talk about the cameras now. Galaxy M62 has the same quad camera setup as the M51, which comprises a 64MP primary lens, a 12MP Ultra-wide-angle lens alongside a 5MP depth, and Macro sensors. Honestly, I had a lot of curiosity as to how M62’s camera would perform given the superior ISP and DSP of its flagship inheritance.
To some extent, this silicon superiority has paid off really well. Now, this might not be visible while you just look at M62’s pictures. But when you compare it against the likes of other mid-rangers, well, the difference is pretty clear.
Normal Images
Comparing it with the 108MP camera of the Mi 10i, as you can see, the color optimization in M62’s pictures is amazing.
Normal
1 of 6
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
I admit that both phones do not project natural colors, but M62 has its way of giving a very subtle pop in saturation that makes it stand out.
Wideangle Images
The superior color optimization of the M62 continues on the ultra-wide shots as well.
Wideangle
1 of 6
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Plus, its images have a wider field-of-view and have a better dynamic range compared to Mi 10i. So, I would easily give M62 the crown in this aspect.
Portrait Images
Portrait
1 of 6
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Even for portraits, the M62 is evidently better in almost all aspects from the subject, background blur to mostly everything.
Selfie Images
In regards to selfies, well, Mi 10i’s images seem to be a little, just a little desaturated while M62 has a prominent red tint.
Selfie
1 of 8
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
Galaxy M62
Mi 10i
So, honestly, I am not a fan of both. However, in most scenarios, the M62 seems to bring out a better skin tone. Therefore if I absolutely had to choose, I would go with the M62.
Nighttime Images
Keeping the daylight comparison aside, normal nighttime images from the M62 turn out slightly more grainy compared to the Mi 10i.
Nighttime
1 of 8
Galaxy M62 - Nighttime
Mi 10i - Nighttime
Galaxy M62 - Nighttime
Mi 10i - Nighttime
Galaxy M62 - Night Mode
Mi 10i - Night Mode
Galaxy M62 - Night Mode
Mi 10i - Night Mode
While this gets fixed in the night mode from the M62, it’s worth noting that the Mi 10i does a slightly better job.
Wideangle Nighttime
1 of 4
Galaxy M62 - Wideangle Nighttime
Mi 10i - Wideangle Nighttime
Galaxy M62 - Wideangle Night Mode
Mi 10i - Wideangle Night Mode
But, wide-angle nighttime shots are clearly better from the M62 thanks to slightly better exposure management.
Videography
In terms of videos, the Galaxy M62 can record up to 4k 30fps, but it lacks a 60fps option across all resolutions. Nonetheless, both 4K and Full HD 30 fps videos are quite stable. Samsung even lets you shoot wide-angle videos at 4k. At the front, you can record up to 4K/30fps footages. The video quality isn’t mind-blowing but does an okay-ish job.
Conclusion
To conclude this review, what do I think about the Samsung Galaxy M62 as a whole? Having used the Mi 10i and the Realme X7, I must say the Galaxy M62 is a complete no-nonsense midrange phone—and the best one under NPR 40,000 in Nepal. It defeats the competition with its superior performance, bigger battery, unrivalled software support, and excellent camera optimization.
Watch our video review of the Samsung Galaxy M62 (F62).
Samsung has launched a new smartphone under its Quantum series—the Galaxy Quantum 2. Visually, it represents recent ‘A’ series devices from the company. Also, it may launch as Galaxy A82 5G in the global market. So, let us learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2.
Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 Overview:
Design and Display
With the addition of new smartphones to the Galaxy A series, Samsung is very certain about which design to use with this phone. Galaxy A32, A52, and A72, which are already available have common design approaches, and the new Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 follows this trend.
It features a big 6.7-inch WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. That places it in the same league as last year’s Galaxy S20+. Furthermore, this display has a peak brightness of 1200 nits and a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels.
At the back, Quantum 2 has a triple rear camera configuration that includes a 64MP main sensor with OIS support, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. The display houses a 10MP front-facing sensor with Dual-pixel AutoFocus inside the punch-hole cutout. Similarly, the unit has a matte texture, weighs 176gm, and has a thickness of 8.1mm.
Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 is powered by a two-year-old Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset, which is similar to the Snapdragon 855 used in the S10 series. This has been paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. A microSD card can be used to extend the memory up to 1TB. Furthermore, the handset features an Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and based on the specifications, we anticipate a good response time.
A rebrand for A82?
In case you didn’t know, Samsung could rebrand this phone as Galaxy A82 5G for the global market. We are saying this because it sports the model number SM-A826 which lines up with the Galaxy A82’s identifier. Previously, the Galaxy A Quantum launched globally as Galaxy A71.
Quantum 2 is the company’s second smartphone to have a quantum random number generator (QRNG) chipset. It uses light to generate “unpredictable and patternless” numbers which can be used in services that require security in a more safe and secure manner, such as banking or other commercial services.
Rest of the specs
Furthermore, the smartphone will ship with Android 11 out of the box with Samsung’s latest One UI 3.1 skin. Besides that, the unit is powered by a 4500mAh battery that allows 25W fast charging. For connectivity, it utilizes Bluetooth v5.0 and has support for NFC as well. Moreover, the device has support for a single nano-SIM only.
Security: Optical in-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
Battery: 4500mAh with 25W fast charging
Color options: Gray, White, Light Violet
Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 Price and Availability
Samsung Galaxy Quantum 2 is exclusive to South Korea. According to MySmartPrice, the phone costs KRW 699,620 (~ USD 622). If and when the phone launches as the Samsung Galaxy A82 5G in Nepal, we expect its price to be around NPR 77,000.
Samsung Galaxy A82
Price in South Korea
Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB
KRW 699,600
NPR 77,000
Meanwhile, check out our initial impressions of the Samsung Galaxy A72.
The 25K price bracket in the Nepalese smartphone market currently holds a ton of great options. Most of these phones brag a decent specs-sheet with a few standout features of their own. We’ve been frequently updating our buyers’ guide to help you guys choose the best smartphone under NPR 25000 in Nepal but today, we’re conducting a poll to know your opinion.
Poll: Best smartphone under 25000 in Nepal
As expected, the 25K range in Nepal is mostly populated by phones from Xiaomi and Samsung. Here, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 9 has a pretty-capable MediaTek Helio G85 chipset and a quad-camera setup. But, if you want something newer, there’s the Redmi Note 10. It brings a Super AMOLED display, 33W fast charging, Snapdragon 678, and more.
Similarly, the Redmi 9 Power (9T) is a pretty good option too. It is also among the most affordable phones in Nepal with a 6/128GB memory configuration. Likewise, Samsung’s Galaxy M21 from last year has a Super AMOLED screen, 48MP triple cameras, and a big 6000mAh battery.
The newer Galaxy M12, on the other hand, skips the vibrant OLED panel for an LCD but brings a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. Besides these, other noteworthy phones under 25K in Nepal are the Oppo A53 and OnePlus Nord N100. These are essentially the same phone and bring a 90Hz refresh rate display too. Yet, if you like a near-stock Android experience, the Nord N100’s OxygenOS is the way to go.
Hello everyone, hope all of you are doing well. Buying a premium mid-range phone is tough right now since there are so many enticing options available. And here, I am comparing two of the arguably best premium midrange smartphones of 2021, the Samsung Galaxy A72 and the Realme X7 Pro.
Realme X7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A72 Specifications:
Realme X7 Pro
Samsung Galaxy A72
Body
6.33 x 2.96 x 0.33-inches, 184gm, No IP rating
6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 inches, 203gm, IP67 dust/waterproof
While the Galaxy A72 is Samsung’s latest premium midrange phone with some high-end features, the Realme X7 Pro is one of the most underrated phones right now. So, which phone should you pick and more importantly, which one is perfect for you? Let’s find out.
Okay, I will be judging these phones’ design in three aspects basically: the way it looks, how it feels, and other assorted design traits.
In terms of looks, the Galaxy A72 is definitely an eye-candy, especially with the pastel color options it comes in. However, it feels ever-so-slightly boxier. But don’t get me wrong, the phone is not uncomfortable or anything. It’s just that the A72 has a bigger form factor.
Realme X7 Pro, on the other hand, is a comfortable device to use. It has rounded corners that aid in the grip. But the caveat here is that it looks really ordinary, especially this Mystic Black color variant that I have with me.
It’s as if you’re holding a $200 phone rather than something that costs $400. But keeping the ergonomics and looks aside, the Galaxy A72 also features an IP67 dust and water resistance which is something new on a non-flagship phone, thereby earning an edge in the design aspect.
Display
X7 Pro: 6.55″ SAMOLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate
Galaxy A72: 6.7″ SAMOLED panel, 90Hz refresh rate
Likewise, upfront, both phones offer a Super AMOLED screen with excellent color calibration, and similar brightness, contrast levels.
But Realme does take the win here since it comes with a flagship-grade panel, which btw is the same screen that you’ll find on the OnePlus 8T. Therefore, not only are you getting a higher 120Hz refresh rate, but X7 Pro’s display also has a slightly superior quality compared to the A72.
Additionally, both phones feature under-display optical fingerprint sensors. Yet, Realme’s implementation is faster even with the animation on while Samsung’s in-display sensor is slightly slower.
Performance
X7 Pro: MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ (7nm)
Galaxy A72: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm)
Realme also has a big advantage in the performance department. It features MediaTek’s top-end Dimensity 1000+ chipset while the A72 uses a mid-range Snapdragon 720G processor from Qualcomm.
Although Samsung has worked to improve the optimization on the phone, ultimately, it’s no match to Realme’s excellent selection of chipset. From regular usage, gaming to benchmarks, the X7 Pro is streets ahead of the Galaxy A72. Plus, the Dimensity 1000+ is also a 5G-ready chipset which makes X7 Pro more future-proof than the A72.
Just to show you how faster the Realme X7 Pro actually is, I conducted a couple of speed tests, including app opening and multitasking tests. And in each of them, the X7 Pro outperformed the Galaxy A72 by a considerable margin. Similarly, in multiple video rendering tests as well, the A72 was slower in completing the task.
But, I do have to tell you that both of them do a similar job in terms of RAM management. They can hold apps in their memory pretty well and I’ve had no issues whatsoever with either of them.
Gaming experience
Getting to the gaming side of things, with a higher-quality GPU on the X7 Pro, you will be able to get more fps, all the while playing games in higher graphics settings.
But when it comes to the software, Samsung’s One UI is the better Android skin, period. Realme did change the look and feel of its UI, but it’s still OPPO’s ColorOS in disguise. On the other hand, One UI looks much better, is simpler to use, has less bloatware, and its features like dark mode, always-on display are better optimized too.
Okay, let’s get through with the cameras now. I did briefly compare these cameras in my full review of the A72, where I said that the A72 has slightly superior camera capabilities, and that still holds true.
Normal Images
You can see that in normal daytime images, the A72 has a better dynamic range and has chosen to portray natural colors in its pictures.
Normal
1 of 6
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
On the other hand, Realme’s photos are comparatively more saturated. Other than that, both cameras are quite competitive in terms of details, sharpness, and the likes.
Wideangle Images
The wide-angle images share a similar fate as the primary ones with the A72 having a slightly better dynamic range.
Wideangle
1 of 6
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
Plus, it has a relatively wider field of view too. Except that, there is hardly anything to distinguish among them.
Telephoto Images
Here, the A72 also has an edge when taking zoomed images as it features a dedicated 8MP telephoto lens while the X7 Pro misses out on that.
3x Zoom
1 of 4
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
So, naturally, Galaxy A72 has better zooming capabilities than the X7 Pro. It can shoot up to 3x optical and 30x digitally zoomed photos while the X7 Pro maxes out at digital zoom up to 5x. As far as the quality of such images goes, as you see, it’s better and sharper on the A72.
Portrait Images
Realme also struggles with the skin tone in portrait shots as it has this red tint in the subject’s skin that makes it look a little unnatural. On the contrary, Samsung tries to bring out a more natural hue.
Portrait
1 of 8
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
Still, subject focus and background separation are good from both cameras. Having said that, portraits from the Galaxy A72 look better most of the time. But there are instances like this one here, where Realme is able to deliver superior portraits.
Nighttime Images
Besides, A72 also boasts OIS in its primary and telephoto lens which means not only you are going to get better video stabilization, but it also delivers better nighttime shots.
Nighttime
1 of 6
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
As you can see from these images, low-light images are better on Galaxy A72 with better exposure and details while X7 Pro tends to saturate the images and are a little muddy too.
Night Mode
1 of 8
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
With night mode turned on, Realme’s images restore considerable details. But again, Samsung’s images have slightly more details and are brighter too. However, because photos from the X7 Pro have a slight pop in color, most of the time, it might seem like the better of the two, when in reality, that’s not the case.
Selfie Images
In terms of selfies too, Samsung is a bit superior. Here, the reddish tint on the X7 Pro’s selfies looks a bit unnatural.
Selfie
1 of 8
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
But, details and subject focus are on point. There are instances when X7 Pro manages to make the subject look good, but with the A72, it is almost all the time.
Portrait Selfie
1 of 6
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
X7 Pro
Galaxy A72
Portrait selfies share the same story with Realme struggling to manage skin tone properly. The blur amount and background look equally good on both devices though.
Videography
Video-wise, you can record upto 4K 60 fps on the X7 pro, while the max Galaxy A72 can hit is 4k 30 fps. And even with EIS at work, the 4k 60 fps footages from the Realme X7 Pro are quite stable. Plus, the 1080P 60fps footages are also better on the Realme X7 Pro.
Coming to the front, the X7 Pro can go only up to 1080p 30fps while Samsung lets you shoot stable videos even at 4k 30 fps. Likewise, with the ultra-wide-angle lens too, Samsung allows recordings up to 4k 30 fps while Realme limits the X7 Pro to just 1080p 30 fps.
Battery and Charging
X7 Pro: 4500mAh with 65W SuperDart Charge
Galaxy A72: 5000mAh with 25W fast charging
Moving on to the battery, the Galaxy A72 has a bigger 5,000mAh cell while the X7 Pro settles for a smaller 4,500mAh unit. With a bigger battery and a 90Hz refresh rate, you will be able to get slightly better endurance with the A72.
However, Realme X7 Pro gets a much faster 65-Watt fast charging that takes the battery from 0 to 100% in just 35 minutes while Samsung’s 25-watt charger requires more than twice the time to juice up.
Audio and Haptics
X7 Pro: Stereo speakers, No headphone jack
Galaxy A72: Stereo speakers, 3.5mm audio jack
Since these two are premium midrange phones, both of them feature a stereo speaker setup with really good audio output. But, the audio from Realme X7 Pro sounds louder and fuller.
Likewise, when it comes to haptics, Realme’s feedback is more subtle and feels nice whereas A72’s haptics feels slightly cheap. Although Samsung gives you an option to change the intensity of the vibration, even in the lowest setting, it feels like too much.
Realme X7 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A72: Verdict
Okay, time for the moment of truth. Based on my findings, the Realme X7 Pro comes off as a better value-for-money phone as it is cheaper than the Galaxy A72 and yet offers a superior screen, faster performance, and excellent audio and haptics. Samsung, on the other hand, delivers good looks, better software support, and slightly better camera quality.
But, if you compare the popularity and sales figures of these two phones, they vary a lot. In fact, the Galaxy A72 outsells the X7 Pro by a huge margin. And although it’s quite surprising, I think it’s ultimately because of Realme’s incompetence and Samsung’s excellent marketing campaigns that have led to this outcome.
Realme’s own undoing
First off, Realme didn’t create enough hype for the X7 Pro as much as they should have. They launched it in China back in September of 2020, only to bring the phone 3-4 months later to India. Likewise, at a time when Realme needs more people to talk about their premium phones, there seem to be very few unboxing and reviews in comparison to that of say, the Galaxy A72.
For a company that wants to do well in the premium and flagship category, Realme could do better. And speaking of premium phones, the company also announced Realme GT and the GT Neo recently, which look quite good on paper.
But, their launch roadmap is unclear and ambiguous. So, my suggestion to Realme is, instead of focusing and losing energy and resources in launching the same rebranded Narzo phones, maybe you could look at how good of a prospect you have in the premium mid-range segment, and how the Realme X7 Pro failed in this category despite having superior specs than that of the A72.
Watch our video comparison of Realme X7 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A72.
One area where Apple’s iPhones have always had an upper hand over their Android counterpart is the software upgrade policy. Android manufacturers launch a flood of devices every year but only provide support to a handful of smartphones, that too for a relatively short duration. Here, we are comparing the Android software update trend in different midrange smartphones in Nepal.
For this, we have taken three devices from the major online/offline brands over different lineups and compared their current Android version against the one they were launched at. These all are mid-range smartphones that were launched about a year back. We have tried to pick phones from different lineup/series wherever possible to make the Android update trend more apparent.
Samsung released a wide range of devices in 2020 and most of them have already received Android 11 updates. The company has also been killing it in terms of the monthly software updates. Almost all of the new devices excluding the one with 0x and Core moniker will receive 4 years of security updates.
Xiaomi has already rolled out Android 11 devices for Mi Note 10 Lite. Similarly, Poco X3 also got the update last month. However, the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Pro Max haven’t got the update yet which is sad seeing how they are among the most popular phones from the company in 2020.
Realme UI has gotten lighter over time. However, the company still needs to improve on its software update game. Realme refreshed its number series twice last year but neither of them has gotten the stable version of the latest Android skin yet.
We have categorized two brands together as both are offline-centric brands under the BBK umbrella. The two companies do not openly talk about software upgrade policy and are also among the slowest in terms of updates.
That being said, it was Vivo who first brought a phone running on Android 11 out-of-the-box in Nepal. More specifically, the Vivo V20. It then switched from FunTouch OS to OriginOS and it’s unclear if the devices running on the former will ever get updated to OriginOS.
OnePlus guaranteed three years of major Android upgrade even before Samsung did. However, its recent budget and mid-range devices like Nord N10 5G and Nord N100 will only receive one major upgrade. So, OnePlus has actually gone backward in this regard.
Android update trend in Nepal: Conclusion
So when it comes to Android software updates in mid-range devices, Samsung reigns supreme in Nepal. And the best thing is they have kept improving in recent times. Brands and like Xiaomi and Realme, though having some of the most popular mid-range devices in the segment, have not delivered at what is expected of them. Still, if you are geek enough you can unlock the bootloader, install a custom recovery on these devices and try out new features by installing a custom ROM.
Coming to the BBK umbrella, OnePlus was great at updates when it launched few devices per year. However, it doesn’t look interested continuing this legacy in the mid-range category. On the other hand, Oppo and Vivo were never really known for their software updates. It’s like those situations where you save yourself from getting disappointed by not having any expectations in the first place.
So, are you satisfied by the frequency of Android update that brands roll out in Nepal? Let us know in the comments section.
Check out our comparison of the Galaxy A72 and Realme X7 Pro.
Last year’s Galaxy M21, M31, and the M51 were a massive hit for Samsung. Building on its success, Samsung Nepal has just launched the Galaxy M62 which is a rebranded Galaxy F62 for the international market. Let’s learn more about the Samsung Galaxy M62 along with its official price and availability in Nepal.
Samsung Galaxy M62 Specifications:
Galaxy M-series was Samsung’s attempt to take over Chinese brands in the budget and mid-range in the South Asian market. This lineup is focused on providing reliable smartphones, especially in terms of battery endurance for everyday life.
Here, the Samsung Galaxy M62 also features some good specs for the price. It has a 6.7-inch Full HD+ display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 20:9 aspect ratio. However, the back panel on the M62 looks more modern than that of the last year’s M51, thanks to a glossy finish and gradient design.
Likewise, the Galaxy M62 offers an improvement on the performance front too. Compared to the mid-range Snapdragon 730G that powers the M51, the Galaxy M62 has a 7 nm-based Exynos 9825 chipset.
Since it’s the same chipset powering the Galaxy Note 10+ from 1.5 years ago, you can expect better performance than the Snapdragon 700 series mobile chipset. Similarly, the phone is available in 2 memory options: 6/128GB and 8/128GB. Both variants come with a dedicated microSD card slot.
What about the cameras?
On the optics department, the Galaxy M62 boasts similar specs as the Galaxy M51. On the back, there’s a 64MP primary lens, 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and 5MP macro and depth sensor. The front houses a 32MP selfie snapper. Since the camera processing is performed by Exynos 9825’s ISP, we can expect better camera output than the M51.
Other specs of the M62 are also pretty similar to that of M51. You get a 7000mAh battery with a Type C port and 25W fast charging support, Bluetooth 5.0, and One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 running the show.
Battery: 7,000mAh with 25W fast charging (included inside the box)
Connectivity: 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz / 5Ghz), Type-port, 3.5mm headphone jack
Samsung Galaxy M62 Price in Nepal & Availability
Galaxy M62 is now available for purchase in Nepal. The price of the Samsung Galaxy M62 in Nepal is NPR 39,999 for the 6/128GB memory variant. Similarly, the 8/128GB option costs NPR 42,999.
Samsung Galaxy M62 Variants
Price in Nepal
6/128GB
Rs. 39,999
8/128GB
Rs. 42,999
Also, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy F62.
Tech Studio is the official distributor of HiFuture and AQFiT products in Nepal. Similarly, Neo Store is Nepal’s exclusive distributor for over 30 international brands. And now, Tech Studio and Neo Store have partnered up to bring exciting offers to their customers.
Tech Studio partnership with Neo Store
Both brands’ product catalog includes electronic items. While Tech Studio mostly deals in wearables and other accessories, Neo Store boasts a wider range of products including laptops, smartphones, cameras, TVs, etc. To celebrate the collaboration, both companies are offering some exciting offers to their customers.
Here, with every purchase of a Dell laptop at Neo Store, you will now get the AQFiT W11 smartwatch worth NPR 5,999 for free. In addition, you’ll receive a 5% discount and a free Dell backpack as well. So, let’s take a look at the AQFiT W11 smartwatch to learn more about it.
This smartwatch features a 1.4-inch Super Retina display that provides sharp and clear images. It includes features such as heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep monitoring, calorie counter, as well as 15 different sports modes to help you meet your fitness goals with ease. Aside from that, it has common features such as message notification, camera, and music control. AQFiT W11 is IP68 dust/water-resistant too.
It is powered by a 170mAh lithium-ion battery that should last at least 5 days on a single charge. It connects via Bluetooth v4.2 and is compatible with Android 4.4 and above or iOS 9.0 and above.
Specifications:
Battery Capacity: 170mAh
Companion App: YFit
Chipset: Nordic NRF52832
Bluetooth: Version 4.2
Display Size: 1.4inch, 320×320 pixel
Display: IPS HD Full Touch Color Display
Dial Shape: Square
G-Sensor: ST LIS2DH12TR
Battery Capacity: 170mAh, Lithium-Ion
Waterproof Level: IP68 (5 ATM)
Compatible OS: Android 4.4 or higher, iOS 9.0 or higher
Duration and Eligibility
Like I mentioned earlier, you can avail of this scheme on the purchase of any Dell laptop from Neo Store. However, this offer is only available until April 30th, 2021.
Product
Discount
Free Gift
Every Dell laptops
5% discount
AQFiT W11, Dell backpack
Meanwhile, check out our selection of best budget smartwatches.
The Nepalese New Year is right around the corner and Daraz is celebrating it with a promotional campaign. If you are lucky enough, you can even win Datsun Redi-Go as the grand prize. In this post, we will be taking a look at the Daraz Nawa Barsha 2078 Sale campaign including the best deals, offers, duration, and other major highlights.
As with all the recent promotional campaigns, one of the major highlights of the Nawa Barsha 2078 campaign is bank discounts. Daraz has collaborated with nine major banks to award discounts on pre-payments made via bank cards. Under the scheme, users will receive discounts of up to Rs. 1000 for debit cardholders and Rs. 1500 for credit cardholders.
The supported banks are:
Bank
Debit card
Credit card
Himalayan
N/A
20% off (max Rs. 1500)
Kumari
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
20% off (max Rs. 1500)
Machhapuchchhre
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
20% off (max Rs. 1500)
Mega
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
20% off (max Rs. 1500)
Nabil
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
20% off (max Rs. 1500)
NMB
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
20% off (max Rs. 1500)
Sanima
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
20% off (max Rs. 1500)
Standard Chartered
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
Sunrise
15% off (max Rs. 1000)
20% off (max Rs. 1500)
In order to enjoy the bank discounts, you’ll need to activate your debit/credit card beforehand. The activation process varies by bank and so will the time it takes to complete.
Moving on, there is something for e-wallet users as well. In certain hours pre-determined by Daraz, users will avail of special discounts on payments made via eSewa. More specifically, you can get up to 15% off (max Rs. 500) when making payments via eSewa. Additionally, Visa cardholders get to enjoy up to 20% off (max Rs. 500) on pre-payment of their first purchase on Daraz as well.
Like always, there will also be discount vouchers worth up to Rs. 5000 up for grabs. Here, Daraz is offering Mega Vouchers worth Rs. 5000 and Early Bird Vouchers worth Rs. 5000. All these vouchers will be brand or product-specific—not to mention, limited in quantity.
Best deals on Daraz Nawa Barsha 2078
Besides payment discounts, Daraz is offering up to 60% price-cut under the “Maha Deal” campaign. From TVs, speakers, to phones, there are quite a-many interesting offers here. We’ve tabulated the best ones we found below:
Product
Original Price
Offer Price
Samsung 55” TU8000 4K TV
Rs. 113,990
Rs. 92,900
– Use code “SAVES5000” for extra Rs. 5,000 off
LG 49” UM7300 4K TV
Rs. 129,990
Rs. 89,990
– Use code “SAVES5000” for extra Rs. 5,000 off
Konka 50 Inch 4K TV
Rs. 77,000
Rs. 57,000
– Use code “SAVES3500” for extra Rs. 3,500 off
Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch
Rs. 29,999
Rs. 28,499
– Use code “SAVES1500” for extra Rs. 1,500 off
Fitbit Versa 3 Smartwatch
Rs. 39,999
Rs. 37,999
– Use code “SAVES2500” for extra Rs. 2,500 off
TicWatch (select products)
–
Upto 18% on select models
Samsung WW91K54EOUX/TL 9KG Eco bubble Front loading washing machine
Rs. 99,990
Rs. 81,500
– Use code “SAVES5000” for extra Rs. 5,000 off
Whirlpool Neo Fresh 245L Double Door Refrigerator
Rs. 46,720
Rs. 38,499
– Use code “SAVES2500” for extra Rs. 2,500 off
Panasonic 8kg Universal Motor Font Load Washing Machine
Rs. 68,590
Rs. 57,999
– Use code “SAVES3500” for extra Rs. 3,500 off
Hisense 10.5Kg Fully Automatic Top Loading Washing Machine
Rs. 56,990
Rs. 47,9490
– Use code “SAVES2500” for extra Rs. 2,500 off
Midea DC Inverter Wall Mounted 1.0 ton AC
Rs. 72,000
Rs. 61,199
– Use code “SAVES3500” for extra Rs. 3,500 off
Xiaomi Mi Desktop Monitor 1C
Rs. 28,000
Rs. 21,499
– Use code “SAVES1000” for extra Rs. 1,000 off
Amazon All-new Fire HD 8 tablet
Rs. 20,000 (32GB)
Rs. 27,000 (64GB)
Rs. 16,000 (32GB)
Rs. 19,000 (64GB)
– Use code “SAVES1000” for extra Rs. 1,000 off
Go Pro Hero 9
Rs. 63,500
Rs. 62,500
– Use code “SAVES3500” for extra Rs. 3,500 off
Rs. 57,900
– Use code “SAVES3500” for extra Rs. 3,500 off
– 1-year insurance
Samsung Galaxy M51
Rs. 43,999 (8GB)
Rs. 39,999 (6GB)
Rs. 41,499 (8GB)
Rs. 37,999 (6GB)
– Use code “SAVES2500” for extra Rs. 2,500 off
Samsung Galaxy A51
Rs. 39,999
Rs. 37,000
– Use code “SAVES2500” for extra Rs. 2,500 off
Oneplus Nord N10 5G
Rs. 39,499
Rs. 38,700
– Use code “SAVES2500” for extra Rs. 2,500 off
Maha Deal includes discounts on different categories including mobiles, tablets, accessories, laptops, TV, wearables, etc.
Making the most of the shopping frenzy
Similarly, Daraz has also announced a variety of games and other benefits under the Nawa Barsha 2078 campaign. Select products will be subject to free delivery too.
One Rupee Game
The famous “One Rupee Game” sees a bunch of exciting products to win from. They’re as follows:
Baltra Rocker 4.1 Sound System 80W
Digicom DG-Z750BT 5.1 Channel Bluetooth Multimedia Speaker
Konka Tower Air Cooler 35 liters
OnePlus Nord N100 (4/64GB)
Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless In-Ear Earbuds
X-Age TAB 40 + X-Age ConvE 20000mAh Power Bank
Under this, you can simply add the desired product to your cart and then checkout by paying Re. 1 through your bank card. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll get the product delivered to you for just Re. 1. And even if you don’t win, the amount will be refunded to your account.
Add to cart
With this, simply adding a product you’d like to buy on the card earns you a chance to win it for free.
Mission NNY
Additionally, under Daraz’s “Mission NNY”, users can win different gift vouchers by completing 10 missions as assigned by the company before April 20. This is only available via the Daraz mobile app.
MEGA Giveaway
Finally, one lucky customer who makes any purchase throughout the campaign period will win the Datsun Redi-Go 5 seater hatchback car worth Rs. 2,399,000.
Daraz Nawa Barsha 2078 campaign duration
Daraz Nawa Barsha 2078 campaign has gone live from today (April 11/Chaitra 29) and will last till April 20 (Baishak 7).
With the year nearing its end, the better way to make your new year’s celebration more worthwhile could be to get a reward. Brands like Oppo, Vivo, Samsung have already announced their new year offer. And now, e-commerce platform Sastodeal has come up with a shopping spree of its own. Here, we have covered all the offers and rewards of the Sastodeal Nepali New Year 2078 offer.
Sastodeal Nepali New Year 2078 campaign
Under this, Sastodeal is offering exclusive brand deals, discount vouchers, flash sales, and up to 80% off on products. For the Nepali New Year (NNY) 2078 campaign, the company has partnered with digital wallets and multiple Nepali banks.
When paying for a product via eSewa, you will get up to a 20% discount (max Rs. 1,500). Similarly, Sastodeal has also partnered with the following banks to offer up to 30% discount (max Rs. 3,000) on card payment:
Himalayan Bank
Laxmi Bank
Mega Bank
NIC Asia Bank
But before paying with a credit card to take advantage of the offer, ensure that your card is activated for online purchases.
Sastodeal has allied with multiple big brands for this campaign as well. During the extent of this shopping frenzy, the company will conduct exclusive brand deals on products from companies like Xiaomi, Dell, Samsung, Panasonic, Fitbit, CG, Fantech, Yasuda, etc. In addition, Sastodeal is already providing service to select international products and get them delivered to your home.
Duration, grand prize, and eligibility
To take advantage of this offer, simply shop at Sastodeal between Chaitra 29 and Baisakh 3rd. If you’re lucky enough, you could win a Pure Epluto 7G scooter. It is an electric vehicle with up to 1.5 kW of power. Pure Epluto 7G has an electronically aided braking system with front disc and rear drum brakes.
Furthermore, you can simply register at Sastodeal to win a MarQ 49” 4K Smart TV. That’s a straightforward and interesting notion. Other than this, the NNY 2078 includes exclusive discount vouchers and flash sales that will bring down the price of different products on the platform.
Campaign
Duration
Sastodeal Nepali New Year (NNY) 2078
Chaitra 29th to Baisakh 3rd
Meanwhile, check out our review of the NIU NGT Electric Scooter.
