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Sony Xperia 10 III is a 5G-ready mid-range phone with Snapdragon 690

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Sony announced three new devices in the latest Xperia event – Xperia 1 III, Xperia 5 III, and Xperia 10 III. While the first two are flagship-grade phones packing some serious specs, the latter is a modest offering for the mid-range segment. In this post, we will take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Sony Xperia 10 III in Nepal.

Sony Xperia 10 III Overview:

Design and Display

Like its predecessor, the Xperia 10 III features a 6-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution. As you would expect from an Xperia device these days, the phone comes with traditional bezels instead of cutouts or notches, and a tall aspect ratio of 21:9. The display has a touch sampling rate of 120Hz and is HDR-ready as well.

Still, Sony has managed to reduce the length and width of the phone by 3mm and 1mm respectively. The difference is quite significant given that Sony has included a beefier battery this time around.

Sony Xperia 10 III Design and Display

At the back, there is a pill-shaped camera module. Sony has used Gorilla Glass 6 for both the front and the back. In addition, the phone comes with IP65/68 ratings against dust and water.

Performance and Memory

Xperia 10 III is powered by Snapdragon 690 SoC. This chipset was announced last year and is the only one in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600 series to support 5G. With Sony’s Smart Connectivity feature, the phone can switch between 5G and Wi-Fi depending upon their respective signal strength.

In terms of memory, you get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The latter can be expanded up to 1TB using a hybrid card slot.

Camera

There are three cameras at the back of the phone. The 12MP primary camera uses a 1/2.8” image sensor with an equivalent focal length of 27mm. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide sensor with a 120º Field of View (FOV).

Sony Xperia 10 III - Cameras

The third camera is an 8MP telephoto lens with 54mm equivalent focal length. You can record 4K videos using the rear cameras. On the front, there is an 8MP camera for selfies.

Rest of the specs

Fueling the device is a decent 4500mAh battery which is a significant jump from 3600mAh in the predecessor. The phone supports USD PD fast charging. With its Adaptive Charging technology, Sony says the battery will remain healthy even after 3 years of use. The phone ships with Android 11 out-of-the-box and is also part of the Android Enterprise program. Thus, users will be getting updates in the future.

Sony Xperia 10 III Specifications: 

  • Body: 154 x 68 x 8.3mm; 151gm; Gorilla Glass 6 front/back
  • Display: 6.0-inches OLED panel; 60Hz refresh rate; 120Hz touch sampling rate; HDR
  • Resolution: FHD+ (2520 x 1080 pixels); 21:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 690; 11nm Mobile Platform
  • Memory: 6GB RAM, 128GB storage (expandable up to 1TB)
  • Software & UI: Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
    – 12MP, f/1.8 primary shooter
    – 8MP, f/2.4 telephoto lens
    – 8MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens with 120º FOV
  • Front Camera: 8MP f/2.0 lens
  • Biometrics: Fingerprint scanner
  • Water Resistance: IP65/68 dust/water resistant
  • Audio: 3.5mm jack, Hi-Res audio, LDAC, Qualcomm aptX HD audio
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (hybrid), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS / A-GPS / Glonass / Beidou / Galileo / QZSS, USB Type-C, NFC, 5G
  • Battery: 4500mAh with USB-PD fast charging

Sony Xperia 10 III Price in Nepal and Availability

According to Sony, Xperia 10 III will be available from early summer (June-September). The company has not revealed the price of the Sony Xperia 10 III yet.

  • Watch: Galaxy A52 vs Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

TCL adds 3 mid-range and budget phones in the existing 20 series

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After years of smartphone production for other OEMs, TCL has managed to make a name for itself in the industry for its own brand of smartphones with the 10 series from last year. And now, the company has added a trio of new devices to the existing TCL 20 series—the 20 Pro, 20L Plus (20S), and 20L. So, let’s break down all there is to know about these phones.

TCL 20 series Overview:

TCL 20 Pro 5G

Here, the TCL 20 Pro 5G the most feature-packed among the new releases. It has a 6.67-inch curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400×1080 and HDR10 playback support. TCL’s “NXTVISION” display features such as improved color quality, more realistic color, and AI tools that analyze the display’s surroundings are found here too. The phone is powered by Snapdragon 750G chipset combined with 6GB RAM and 256GB storage.

TCL 20 Pro 5G - Design Display

In terms of cameras, the TCL 20 Pro 5G features a 48MP Sony IMX582 main camera, a 16MP ultrawide lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, a 32MP selfie shooter is housed in a punch-hole cutout. Moving on, the handset gets its juice from a 4,500mAh battery that will keep it going all day.

TCL 20 Pro 5G Specifications:

  • Body: 164.2 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm, 190 gm
  • Display: 6.67 inches NXTVISION 2.0, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm)
  • Memory: 6GB RAM, 256GB internal storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: Android 11 with TCL UI
  • Rear Camera: Quadcamera;
    – 48MP f/1.79 Sony IMX582 sensor
    – 16MP f/2.4 ultrawide lens, 123° FOV
    – 5MP f/2.2 macro camera, Fixed Focus
    – 2MP f/2.4 depth camera
  • Front Camera: 32MP f/2.45 (punch-hole cutout)
  • Audio: Loudspeaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Security: Optical in-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
  • Battery: 4500mAh with 18W fast charging
  • Color options: Moondust Gray, Marine Blue

TCL 20L Plus (20S)

Contrary to the 20 Pro 5G, the TCL 20 Plus (also known as TCL 20S) is a relatively cheaper phone and isn’t 5G-ready either. Aside from that, the TCL 20L Plus has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a ” TÜV Circular Polarization Certification” and Low Blue Light certification. TCL says that the colors on this circularly polarized screen can appear natural even while wearing glasses.

TCL 20L Plus - Design Display

The device is powered by a Snapdragon 662 chipset found in phones like the POCO M3. It is available in only one memory configuration: 6GB RAM and 256GB storage. TCL 20 Plus has a big 5000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. A 64MP led quad-camera setup is located at the back of the device. In addition, you get a 16MP selfie camera for taking selfies.

There is a possibility that a modified version of this phone will be released in the United States later this year. The phone is called TCL 20S and will have a different chipset than the Snapdragon 662. However, the company hasn’t specified which SoC will be used on the 20S.

TCL 20L

Finally, the TCL 20L is a budget addition to the TCL 20 series of smartphones. It bears a lot of similarities with the 20L Plus but the company has introduced minor storage adjustments and changes in camera configurations. It has the same screen with polarized technology, the same battery, and the same Snapdragon 662 chipset.

TCL 20L - Design Display

The main distinction lies in the memory configurations. It comes with two memory options: either 4/6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS storage. Moreover, it brings a 48MP primary camera contrary to a 64MP sensor on the TCL 20L Plus.

TCL 20L Plus, 20L Specifications:

  • Body: 166.2 x 76.9 x 9.1 mm, 199 gm
  • Display: 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm)
  • Memory: 6/256GB (20L Plus), 4/128GB & 6/128GB (20L)
  • Software & UI: Android 11 with TCL UI
  • Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
    • TCL 20L Plus – 64MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth
    • TCL 20L – 48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth
  • Front Camera: 16MP f/2.2 (punch-hole cutout)
  • Audio: Loud Speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Security: Fingerprint scanner (side-mounted)
  • Color options:
    • TCL 20L Plus – Milky Way Gray, North Star Blue
    • TCL 20L – Eclipse Black, Luna Blue
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging (Type-C)

TCL 20 Pro 5G, 20L Plus, 20L Price & Availability

All three of these new phones are now in the UK, Italy, and Portugal starting today, with a global launch in the coming weeks. The price of TCL 20 Pro, 20L Plus, and 20L start at EUR 549, EUR 269, and EUR 229, respectively.

TCL smartphones Price in Europe (Starting)
TCL 20 Pro 5G EUR 549
TCL 20L Plus EUR 269
TCL 20L EUR 229
  • Watch: Galaxy A52 vs Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

Sony Xperia 5 III goes official with Snapdragon 888 and a variable telephoto lens

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Sony Xperia 5 III (Mark 3) has an almost similar set of specifications to the Xperia 5 II, which was launched last year. But this time, the design is a little different with a rounded frame and a little more weight. The change has allowed Sony to pack a comparatively larger battery. So, without further ado, let us look at the specifications, features, availability, and expected price of the Sony Xperia 5 III in Nepal.

Sony Xperia 5 III Overview:

Design and Display

Like I said earlier, the design here is quite similar, with only minor variations in dimensions. Its predecessor is 8.0 mm thick, while the Xperia 5 III is slightly thicker at 8.2mm. It is also slightly heavier, weighing 169 grams to Xperia 5 II’s 163 grams.

Sony Xperia 5 III - Design

The phone features a 6.1-inch FHD+ HDR OLED panel with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Like the Xperia 1 III, it has a 240Hz motion blur reduction and a 240Hz touch scanning rate. The screen also covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. And not to forget, this display features Sony’s trademark 21:9 “CinemaWide” aspect ratio. Furthermore, the phone is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 6 at the front and back.

Performance

Here, the Xperia 5 III is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset coupled with 8GB of RAM, and 128/256GB of internal storage. In terms of durability, the device is water and dust resistant complying with the IP65/68 standards. Furthermore, it runs on Android 11.

Sony Xperia 5 III - Display

There is a dedicated microSD card slot for expanding storage. Furthermore, it equips a 3.5mm headphone jack as well, which is an essential and rare feature in 2021.

Camera

The camera department has undergone several reforms from its predecessor. Xperia 5 III brings the same 12MP triple camera setups as the Xperia 1 III. The biggest difference between this year’s model and its predecessor is the variable telephoto module and Dual PDAF sensors. It enables the telephoto lens to adjust its focal length between 70mm and 105mm, allowing it to catch details at a greater distance. This allows you to zoom from 2.9x to 4.3x.

Sony Xperia 5 III - Cameras

To snap selfies, the front camera has an 8MP f/2.0 lens. Similarly, all these sensors are ZEISS optics calibrated and also feature ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating. Sony’s native camera app, Photography Pro, also has a “Basic Mode” to appeal to a broader audience.

Rest of the specs

Moving on, the device packs a big 4500mAh battery with support USB PD fast charging via the Type-C port. Furthermore, the device has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and stereo speakers. The stereo speakers are louder and support 360 Reality Audio.

Sony Xperia 5 III Specifications:

  • Body: 157 x 68 x 8.2mm, 169 gm
  • Display: 6.1″ 21:9 CinemaWide FHD+ HDR OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch scanning rate, 240Hz Motion blur reduction, 100% DCI-P3 gamut
  • Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 6
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm)
  • Memory: 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
    – Primary: 12MP f/1.7, 24mm equivalent, 1/1.7″ sensor
    – Telephoto: 12MP 1/2.9″ sensor, f/2.3 (70 mm), f/2.8 (105 mm)
    – Ultrawide: 12MP f/2.2, 124° FOV, 1/2.5″ sensor
  • Front Camera: 8MP f/2.0 sensor (top bezel)
  • Audio: 3.5mm audio jack, 360 Reality Audio, LDAC, Hi-Res Audio, DSEE Ultimate, Dolby Atmos, Full-stage stereo speakers
  • Security: Fingerprint sensor
  • Battery: 4500mAh with 30W fast charging, Qi wireless charging
  • Connectivity: A-GPS, A-GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6, USB Type-C, 4G LTE, 5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave)
  • Color options: Green, Black

Sony Xperia 5 III Price in Nepal and Availability

Just like the Xperia 1 III, Sony says the Xperia 5 III should be available in summer 2021 (June-September). Likewise, the company hasn’t revealed details regarding the price of the phone either.

  • Meanwhile, check out our comparison of Galaxy A72 VS Realme X7 Pro.

Oppo A54 launched in Nepal with Helio P35, HD display, & unrealistic price tag

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Oppo has unveiled its new mid-range smartphone in Nepal, the Oppo A54. Like with other A-series phone from the Chinese mobile maker, this one too is underwhelming given the features and its price tag. Let’s dive deeper into the details about the new Oppo A54 including its official price in Nepal.

Oppo A54 Overview:

The new Oppo A54 comes with a 6.51-inch IPS LCD screen with HD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The selfie camera here is a 16MP sensor that is housed inside the punch-hole cutout. Around the back, the camera module gives an illusion of sporting four lenses. However, in reality, it only has a triple camera array. The primary lens is 13MP followed by two 2MP lenses for depth sensor and macro.

oppo a54 charging

The device is powered by MediaTek’s Helio P35 SoC. 4GB RAM and 128GB storage complement the chipset. However, there is a MicroSD slot for memory expansion. As for the battery, it has a huge 5000mAh unit that supports 18W fast charging.

On the software side, the Oppo A54 still runs on ColorOS 7.2 on top of Android 10. Other features include IPX4 water resistance, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Oppo A54Specifications:

  • Display: 6.51-inches LCD, HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm mobile platform)
  • GPU: PowerVR GE8320
  • OS: Android 10 with ColorOS 7.2 on top
  • Memory: 4GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB storage (expandable)
  • Rear camera: Triple camera
    – 13MP primary lens
    – 2MP macro lens
    – 2MP depth sensor
  • Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole cutout)
  • Battery: 5,000mAh battery with 18W charging (Type C port)
  • Sensors: Fingerprint (side-mounted), Accelerometer, Proximity
  • Color Options: Crystal Black, Starry Blue

Oppo A54 Price in Nepal and Availability

Oppo A54 has hit the shelves in Nepal starting April 15 for the price of Rs.25,990. This price is for the 4GB RAM, 128GB storage variant.

Oppo A54 Price in Nepal  
4/128GB NPR 25,990
  • Check out our unboxing & impressions of the Oppo F19 Pro.

Mi TV Stick with Android TV 9, built-in Chromecast launched in Nepal

Xiaomi has just announced the launch of Mi TV Stick in Nepal. It is a portable streaming device with Android TV OS, which was launched in August of last year in India. In this post, we will be discussing the key features of the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick along with its official price and availability in Nepal.

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Overview:

Here, Xiaomi Mi TV Stick weighs around 28.5 grams. And with a length of just 92.4 mm, it should fit in most of the pocket. Thus, you can always carry it wherever you go. When connecting it to a TV, the device doesn’t occupy much space either. The color options are limited as it is only available in the black variant.

Talking about the internals, Mi TV Stick is powered by a quad-core CPU with four Cortex A53 cores. Graphics are rendered by ARM Mali-450 GPU. Similarly, it comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. As for the software, it runs on Android TV 9.0.

That’s pretty dated seeing how Google’s already launched Android TV 11. And then there’s the new Google TV standard itself. Also, it’s unclear if the Mi TV Stick will get updated to any newer iteration of Android TV.

Built-in Chromecast

Anyway, since it comes with Android TV, users can make use of Google Assistant, Play Store, and Chromecast. With the latter, you can easily output contents from iOS, Android, and Windows devices to your TV in 1080p.

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick with Remote

For the initial setup, simply connect the stick to the HDMI port of your TV. Then, connect it to the internet and you’re good to go. For this, Xiaomi has included dual-band Wi-Fi support. Similarly, you also get Bluetooth 4.2.

You also get the same Bluetooth remote as Mi TVs that are available in Nepal. The remote itself is simplistic and features few buttons including dedicated ones for Netflix, Prime Video, and Google Assistant. As for audio, it supports Dolby Audio and DTS Digital format.

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Specifications:

  • Dimension: 92.4 x 30.2 x 15.2mm, 28.5g
  • Processor: Quad-Core (Cortex A53)
  • GPU: ARM Mali-450
  • Memory: 1GB RAM, 8GB storage
  • Output: 1080p @ 60Hz
  • Video Formats: MO, VOB, AVI, MKS, TS, MP4
  • Sound: Dolby Atmos, DTS
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2
  • Ports: HDMI output, micro-USB port
  • Remote Control: Mi Bluetooth Remote

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Price in Nepal & Availability

The official price of the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick in Nepal is NPR 5,999. It will soon be available via Xiaomi authorized stores across Nepal.

That being said, we believe the pricing could have been better as Mi TV Stick is available for just INR 2,799 (~NPR 4,500) in India.

Streaming device Price in Nepal Availability
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick NPR 5,999 Soon (via Xiaomi authorized stores)
  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max.

Sony Xperia 1 III brings a 4K 120Hz OLED screen and a variable telephoto lens

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Sony’s Xperia Pro garnered a lot of attention for its “professional camera companion” stature. And now, the company has finally launched Xperia 1 III. The design is quite the same as the Xperia 1 II (Mark 2) from last year, but there is a whole lot of improvements in the device with a knockout display and a very intriguing camera set. So, let’s find out more about Sony Xperia 1 III including its specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and more.

Sony Xperia 1 III Overview:

Design and Display

As always, Sony Xperia 1 III has a display with a CinemaWide aspect ratio of 21:9. It features a 6.5-inch HDR OLED panel with a QHD resolution (3840 x 1644). Furthermore, the display is protected with Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, while the back has a frosted matte finish. 

Sony Xperia 1 III-Design, Display

The device also features a 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz motion blur reduction, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The boxy design is unchanged, and you get to see quite noticeable bezels as well. In terms of audio, it houses the world’s first front-facing stereo speaker with 360 Reality Audio. Plus, the onboard stereo speaker is 40% louder than its predecessor. However, this feature is available on Tidal only.

Performance

The device is powered by the industry flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset which is coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256/512GB storage. Moreover, there’s microSD card support to expand the storage.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chip

Furthermore, the device is IP65/68 water and dust resistant and sports a 3.5mm headphone jack too. It packs a 4500mAh battery with 30W fast charging, wireless charging, and a battery share function. The phone runs on Android 11.

Camera

Without a doubt, the cameras are one of the major highlights of the Xperia 1 III. The device features a variable telephoto lens in its triple rear-camera setup. All three lenses feature the same 12MP resolution, as well as a ToF sensor and Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating. In addition, the handset also includes a world-first Dual PD variable optics sensor. But this time, Sony has done some more tweaks in the camera department.

Sony Xperia 1 III-Camera

The optical telephoto lens allows choosing the focal lengths between 70mm and 105mm using a folded periscope lens design. The variable focal length allows capturing moving objects with fast autofocus at a distance. Sony has added a new AI super-resolution zoom, which adds details to telephoto images without comprising the quality of the photo. For selfies, there is an 8MP f/2.0 lens which is the same one used last year.

Rest of the specs

Furthermore, the Xperia 1 III hosts Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 (ax) as a connectivity option. The Photography Pro app now includes a “Basic Mode” to simplify its usability, which includes easy modes for portrait orientation, artistic bokeh effect, and panorama. Talking about the device’s dimension, it weighs 187 grams and is built around a thickness of 8.2mm.

Sony Xperia 1 III Specifications:

  • Body: 165 x 71 x 8.2mm, 187 gm
  • Display: 6.5″ 21:9 CinemaWide 4K HDR OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch scanning rate, 240Hz Motion blur reduction, 100% DCI-P3 gamut
  • Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (Front), Gorilla Glass 6 (Rear)
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm)
  • Memory: 12GB RAM, 256/512GB storage (expandable up to 1TB)
  • Software & UI: Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
    – Primary: 12MP f/1.7, 24mm equivalent, 1/1.7″ sensor
    – Telephoto: 12MP 1/2.9″ sensor, f/2.3 (70 mm), f/2.8 (105 mm)
    – Ultrawide: 12MP f/2.2, 124° FOV, 1/2.5″ sensor
    – Dedicated camera shutter button
  • Front Camera: 8MP f/2.0 sensor (top bezel)
  • Audio: 3.5mm audio jack, 360 Reality Audio, LDAC, Hi-Res Audio, DSEE Ultimate, Dolby Atmos, Full-stage stereo speakers
  • Security: Fingerprint sensor
  • Battery: 4500mAh with 30W fast charging, Qi wireless charging
  • Connectivity: A-GPS, A-GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6, USB Type-C, 4G LTE, 5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave)
  • Color options: Purple, Gray, Black

Sony Xperia 1 III Price in Nepal and Availability

Sony announced the Xperia 1 III at an event on April 14 and says it will be available from summer 2021 (June-September) although pricing details haven’t been revealed yet.

  • Meanwhile, check out our review of the Sony WH-1000XM4.

Infinix Note 8 Review: Decent Budget Phone?

Previously, we had reviewed the Infinix Note 7 and the Hot 10. Both of them were some good value-for-money budget phones. Today, I have the latest Infinix Note 8. This device brings some good upgrades like a 64MP camera and a big display. But is it better than the POCO M3 or Galaxy M12 which are some of the best budget phones right now? Well, let’s find out in this review of the Infinix Note 8.

Infinix Note 8 Specifications:

  • Body: 6.90 x 3.10 x 0.35 inches, 206 gm
  • Display: 6.95-inches IPS LCD panel, 258 PPI, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
  • Resolution: HD+ (1640 x 720 pixels)
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm Mobile Platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • GPU: Arm Mali-G52 MC2
  • Memory: 6GB RAM, 128GB storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: XOS 10.1 on top of Android 10
  • Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
    – 64MP primary lens, PDAF
    – 2MP portrait lens
    – 2MP macro lens
    – AI lens with Quad-LED flash
  • Front Camera: Dual-camera (16MP primary, 2MP portrait lens)
  • Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, Loudspeaker
  • Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / A-GPS, USB Type-C, 4G
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, E-compass, Light, Proximity
  • Battery: 5200mAh with 18W fast charging
  • Color options: Gray, Blue, Green
  • Price in Nepal: N/A (not launched yet)

Infinix Note 8 Review:

Design & Build

  • Glass front, plastic back/frame
  • Polycarbonate reflective back

Starting with the design, the Note 8 is a pretty huge and wide device. However, despite weighing over 206 grams, it doesn’t feel that bulky. But, if you are someone with a small hand, you’ll have a hard time using this smartphone.

Besides the size, the style aspect of the Infinix Note 8 is pretty good. The device has a polycarbonate reflective back. I have the grey color variant, and it looks quite good. And despite being a plastic back, the phone does look and feel premium. That being said, with the glossy back like this, there comes the usual issue of fingerprint smudges.

On the right, just below the volume buttons, there is the lock button that doubles down as a fingerprint sensor. The sensor is quite snappy and I am satisfied with it. Anyway, on the left-hand side, you get a dual nano-SIM tray with a dedicated microSDX slot.

Display

  • 6.95-inches HD IPS LCD panel
  • Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection

Upfront, you get a massive 6.95-inch screen with a punch-hole cut out for the dual selfie cameras. And you’ll also find a speaker grill on the upper edge. The display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.

And despite featuring only an HD resolution, the display quality is quite good. Hence, you’ll have an enjoyable experience. I found that it has good viewing levels and the videos seem vibrant too.

Infinix Note 8 - Display

Furthermore, you can easily see what’s on the screen with full brightness while using the device out on a sunny day. However, because its competitors such as the POCO M3 offer FHD+ resolution and the Galaxy M12 that comes with a 90Hz refresh rate, Infinix should be providing a FullHD resolution at least.

So, this is something that I wish that Infinix improves upon. Furthermore, it is not Widevine L1 certified, so no HD streaming on Netflix either.

Performance

  • Octa-core MediaTek Helio G80 SoC (12nm)
  • 6GB RAM with 128GB internal storage (expandable)

Under the hood, the device comes with a MediaTek Helio G80 processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of memory.

We know that Helio G80 is a decent chipset, that can handle anything that you throw at it with quite ease—as long as it’s lightweight. Here too, I had no trouble going through my daily tasks such as web surfing, texting, watching youtube videos, and so more. Light gaming and multitasking are a breeze too.

Gaming experience

I did notice a fair amount of loading time while playing PUBG and COD. However, once it loads, it’s smooth sailing from thereon. On PUBG, the default graphics are on HD settings with a high frame rate. It can’t go higher than that, but gaming feels ultra-smooth in the allowed maximum settings. No lags at all.

Infinix Note 8 - Gaming

Moreover, you’ll also notice how good the touch response is. It was something that I liked on the Note 7 and thankfully Infinix has carried it over to the Note 8 too. Similarly, for COD it can easily be played in Medium settings with a high frame rate.

Coming to the UI, the Infinix Note 8 comes with XOS v7.1 on top of Android 10. It still doesn’t have Android 11 and I am not quite sure what’s the company policy is when it comes to future updates. The XOS UI is also full of bloatware which if you don’t uninstall or keep them in silent mode will keep notifying you now and then, which is kinda irritating if you ask me.

Audio

  • Dual speaker system, 3.5mm audio jack

For audio, it has two speaker grills – one on the top and another on the bottom. The dual speakers are surprisingly good. You’ll have no trouble hearing the audio, though I did notice some minor distortion with full volume.

Camera

  • Gimmicky quad-camera setup at the back
  • (64MP primary, 2MP macro, 2MP depth, AI lens)
  • Dual selfie cameras (16MP primary, 2MP portrait)

As for the cameras, there’s a quad-camera setup arranged in a rectangular module on the back. However, I said with the Note 7, this setup is a marketing gimmick.

I mean there’s a 64MP primary lens and the remaining three are the 2MP lenses for macro, depth sensor, and AI lens. They could have at least given an ultra-wide lens, given how the competition has one.

Normal Images

Anyway, coming to the photos taken from the 64MP primary lens, you get good quality photographs in well-lit conditions.

The pictures are sharp, natural, and cover the dynamic range well for its price, but again nothing extra-ordinary.

Portrait Images

Talking about the portraits, here too, it’s nothing extraordinary.

Macro Images

Macro-lens too is sub-par, as expected.

Nighttime Images

For night-time images, there’s a dedicated super night mode in the Infinix Note 8, which does help in taking images that are recognizable.

However, there’s no sharpness or detail in the pictures.

Selfie Images

Coming to the selfies, the Infinix Note 8 has a dual-selfie camera setup. One is a 16MP lens and the other is a 2MP depth sensor.

Selfies are good as they capture enough details and feel more real.

Videography

Video-wise, you can capture up to 2K videos from both the front and the back camera. Surprisingly even at this resolution, it is quite stable, and better than what you get from its competition.

Battery

  • 5200mAh battery with 18W fast charging

Similar to Note 7, the battery life is a big selling point for this one too. The Note 8 has a 5200mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. And this time over a USB C port.

Infinix Note 8 - Design 1

With a full battery, doing moderate work, I was easily able to get around a day and a half of battery backup. So, really impressed by the battery life on this one.

Conclusion

To sum up this review, the Infinix Note 8 is a decent budget device. It has a good performance and the battery life is superb. The camera setup is okayish and nothing that will blow your mind, but you’ll probably not complain much about it either.

The only thing to complain about is its UI, which Infinix needs to improve—by a lot, and fast. Other than that, it is in the same league as its competition like the Poco M3 and the Galaxy M12.

  • Watch our video review of the Infinix Note 8/8i (Nepali).

Infinix Note 8 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Reflective back looks attractive
  • Big 6.95-inches LCD screen
  • Decent gaming performance
  • Surprisingly nice sound quality
  • Terrific battery endurance

Cons:

  • Wide and bulky form factor
  • No 1080p Full HD display
  • Infinix XOS is pretty terrible
  • Gimmicky quad-camera setup

Poll: Which is the best smartphone under Rs. 20,000 in Nepal?

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Budget smartphones are what sell the most in Nepal. But for general customers, it might be a difficult process to select the best ones for them. For this, we have our trusty buyers’ guide detailing the best phones under NPR 20,000 in Nepal. And today, we want your input to know which phone do you think is the best under smartphone under 20000 from this poll.

Poll: Best smartphone under 20000 in Nepal

Here, the Coolpad Cool 6 originally launched in Nepal for over 26K. However, it recently received a massive price cut. The most attractive selling point of this phone is its motorized pop-up camera. As a result, you get a clean, distraction-free viewing experience. On the contrary, Samsung’s Galaxy M12 brings a notched display, but with a smoother 90Hz refresh rate.

Similarly, the Redmi 9 Power/9T is another decent option in the 20000 price range. It has a big 6000mAh battery and a 48MP quad-camera setup. Likewise, the POCO M2 has a powerful Helio G80 chipset. While all these phones run on pretty modified, heavy Android skin, there’s a couple of options with near-stock experience as well.

Both Micromax In Note 1 and Motorola Moto G9 Play run on stock Android for a clean UI/UX. While the In Note 1 brags a capable Helio G85 SoC, the G9 Play opts for a more power-efficient Snapdragon 662 chipset instead. Another interesting phone under 20K in Nepal is the Realme C15. It recently received a price-cut as well. Featuring a big 6000mAh battery and a 13MP quad-camera setup, the phone is available with either Helio G35 or Snapdragon 460.

Weilan unveils AlphaDog, a $2400 alternative to Boston Dynamics’ Spot

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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.

Alpha Dog - Design, Standing
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.

Alpha Dog - running

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 Galaxy M62 Review: Setting The Benchmark For Midrange Phones!

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
  • Chipset: Exynos 9825 (7nm Mobile Platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core (2×2.73 GHz Exynos M4 & 2×2.40 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
  • GPU: Arm Mali-G76 MP12
  • Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: One UI 3.1 on top of Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
    – 64MP f/1.8 primary lens, PDAF
    – 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens, 123° FOV
    – 5MP f/2.4 portrait lens
    – 5MP f/2.4 macro lens
    – LED flash
  • Front Camera: 32MP f/2.2 sensor (punch-hole)
  • Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, Loudspeaker
  • Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Light, Proximity
  • Battery: 7000mAh with 25W fast charging
  • 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?

Performance

  • Octa-core Samsung Exynos 9825 SoC (7nm)
  • 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB internal storage (expandable)

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.

Galaxy M62 - Design 2

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.

Galaxy M62 - Gaming

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.

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.

Galaxy M62 - Display 1

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+.

Galaxy M62 - Charging

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.

Cameras

  • Quad-cameras at the back
  • (64MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP portrait, 5MP macro)
  • 32MP selfie camera inside the punch-hole cutout

Galaxy M62 - Back Cameras

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

While this gets fixed in the night mode from the M62, it’s worth noting that the Mi 10i does a slightly better job.

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 Galaxy M62 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio
  • Vibrant Super AMOLED screen
  • Top-notch battery endurance
  • Decent camera performance

Cons:

  • A bit boxy and boring design
  • No higher refresh rate display
  • Lacks a stereo speaker setup