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Apple M1 SSD swapping issue: Should you be worried before buying an M1 Mac?

Apple

GadgetByte

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March 16, 2021

Apple M1 SSD swapping issue: Should you be worried before buying an M1 Mac?

The first phase in Apple’s plan to switch from Intel chips to its in-house silicon for its Macs was a massive success. The M1 chip in the latest Macs offered never-before-seen performance in the lineup’s history. However, starting last month, some M1 Mac users started reporting a strange problem – their SSDs were degrading faster than normal. Though Apple did not officially confirm the cause, users were quick to blame the SSD swapping technique. In this post, we will be taking a look at the concept of memory swapping, the supposed issue of SSD swaps in M1 Macs, and see if it’s something you actually need to worry about.

The basics

So, let’s start with the basics. Almost all of the present-day computers come with a separate location (secondary storage) to store users’ data and programs. When a user commands the computer to run a non-system software, the data involved is loaded into the RAM. The reason being that the RAM operates at a very fast speed. On the other hand, the size of the RAM is limited and it can only store a certain amount of data. Thus, at a moment, only the data that the processor needs immediately is stored.

The lifetime of an SSD

SSD or Solid State Drive is the preferred mass-storage media in mainstream computers. However, no SSD can last forever. At their core, SSDs are made up of NAND cells. Data are stored in them with the application of current signals. Every time a signal passes through a cell, it degrades the cell to an extent. SSDs degrade faster if you keep constantly overwriting them.

To prevent SSDs from degrading faster, manufacturers try to level the wearing over all the cells. They even cram in replacement cells in case some cells wear out faster. Still, SSD degradation is inevitable and there will be a time when it needs to be replaced with something new.

Memory (SSD) swapping

As mentioned earlier, the system doesn’t directly interact with the program on the storage. Instead, it reads, writes, and updates a certain instance of the program that is loaded into the RAM. Systems these days can run multiple programs simultaneously. However, the system cannot afford to consume all the RAM space. Thus, when multiple programs are opened, the system stores some of the program instances or the “pages” on the secondary storage.

It is done for background apps or apps with less priority. This process is called “Memory Swapping” as the system swaps data from the main memory to the secondary memory. Actually, memory swapping is not a new phenomenon. Almost all of the leading OS platforms use this process whether it be Windows, Linux, or the focus of this post – macOS.

Also read: Benchmarked: Apple M1 vs AMD Renoir vs Intel Tiger Lake CPU

SSD swapping issue in M1 Macs

SSD swapping is a common technique to improve performance in present-day computers. It becomes a problem only when it is overdone. It looks like the new MacBooks are constantly storing “pages” on the SSD to keep the RAM free for high-performance tasks. That is, the M1-powered MacBooks are relying on SSD swapping more than ever before.

SSD swap issues reported by M1 users

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For instance, some users are reporting 150 TB of data written onto an M1 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM and 2TB SSD. That is just 3% usage. However, if it was a 256GB model, that would have amounted to 30%. At such a rate, the SSD would only run properly over 1.5 years. On top of that, there were users complaining about up to 10% usage in two months.

Unified Memory Architecture in M1

The even bigger problem here is that the SSD on M1 MacBooks is not user-replaceable. The same is the case with the RAM. It is because Apple has integrated them into the chip itself. This unified memory architecture plays a huge role in the performance gain along with other factors such as optimization. By integrating the memory (RAM and SSD storage) into the chip itself, Apple was able to limit the transmission delay resulting in a faster computation.

Is this a legit issue?

It turns out that not everyone’s SSD usage was closer to those reporting the said issue. To put it into context, most of the users only had around 1 to 2% SSD usage. The high usage reports may have been a case of an incorrect reading by the software in use.

Another possibility could be that certain apps were causing the problem. For instance, some users reported that Rosetta 2 was causing higher swaps than other programs. This translator is used to make apps written for Intel processors (x86) work on the M1 chip (ARM) powered machines. Still, the number of writes per day was not that significant to be concerned, to begin with.

Whatever the cause may be, all the evidence suggests that problem is not with the M1 architecture itself. Thus, the SSD swapping issue is not something that should stop you from considering buying the latest M1 Macs. Still, you can minimize the effect of SSD swapping by opting for a system with higher RAM and SSD.

Meanwhile, check out our review of the iPhone 12.

You’ll definitely want to check out these Baseus Brand Day deals!

Nikhil Shrestha

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March 14, 2021

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Baseus has been selling its lineup of consumer electronic products in Nepal for quite some time now. From its budget-oriented earphones to TWS earbuds, the company is primarily known for its audio accessories. But like I mentioned earlier, there’s much more to its portfolio. And right now, Baseus is discounting all of its products under the Brand Day deal at Sastodeal.

Baseus Brand Day @Sastodeal

Here, as the name implies, all the deals that will be mentioned below will be available just for today. So if you want to make the best of it, you’ll have to pick up the pace. Anyway, the major highlight of this deal lies in Baseus’ audio accessories. The company is giving out a 20% minimum discount on all of its products alongside a 1-year replacement warranty. Let’s take a look at some products that we think are worth checking out.

Baseus Encok Wired Earphones H04

Even though wireless earbuds are taking the market by storm, wired ones are still preferred by many, especially for their affordability and excellent gaming performance. So, if you’re looking for an inexpensive wired earphone with great audio and zero-latency gaming, the Baseus Encok H04 should be on the top of your list. Right now, it is discounted from Rs. 1,400 to just Rs. 999. And that’s not even the best part.

Under the Baseus Brand Day, this earphone enjoys a “buy 1 get 1 free” offer. Yep. This affordable wired earphone’s effective price nets out to just Rs. 500. Combine that with the aforementioned 1-year replacement warranty, it simply doesn’t get better than this. Talking about the product itself, it’s an in-ear style earphone with soft rubber tips. But unlike ordinary earphones with a flat horizontal design, Baseus has incorporated a 120-degree oblique design for a comfortable fit. Its 3.5mm TRRS audio jack has undergone a gold plating process to prevent corrosion.

Moreover, it also means that you can make clear phone calls via these earphones. A dedicated button lets you control phone calls or your music playback including going back to the previous track. Baseus hasn’t mentioned the exact sound driver it has used but it says that it covers the entirety of normal human hearing range (20Hz – 20kHz).

Key features:

Aluminum Alloy + TPE material
20Hz – 20kHz frequency response range
17 grams, 120-degree oblique in-ear shape
3.5mm interface, anti-oxidation audio jack
Price: Rs. 1,400 999 (BUY 1 GET 1 FREE)

Baseus Grain Mini USB Car Charger

Moving on, just like the one above, this also falls under the one-for-one deal. It is a minimalistic power adapter for your car which is where it gets its name. This “mono-block” design is pretty sleek and Baseus says that it sits just 0.9 cm above the port for an obstruction-free installation. Furthermore, the Grain Mini USB car charger’s one-piece bayonet also holds the device firmly even when you’re driving on a particularly bumpy road.

Similarly, Baseus also claims that this charger will not fall victim to the car’s high internal temperature thanks to its flame-retardant design. In terms of charging speeds, the two USB Type-A ports are rated to deliver up to 3.1A of total current. The Baseus Grain Mini USB car charger can charge all sorts of electronic gadgets including your smartphones, camera, iPad, etc.

Here, only one of the two USB-A ports supports 5V/2.1A charging while the other one will be restricted to 5V/1A if you plug in two devices at once. Likewise, its intelligent IC automatically adapts to the current requirement of the plugged-in device. With its 12-24V input voltage, this adapter is compatible with almost all mainstream four-wheelers.

Key features:

Mono-block design, PC+ABS material
DC 12V-24V input voltage
2x USB Type-A output (5V/3.1A max)
Blue indicator light of eased nighttime use
Smart voltage, power, heat, circuit control
CE, FCC, RoHS certified
Price: Rs. 900 (BUY 1 GET 1 FREE)

(Combo) Baseus Surge 2.4L Humidifier + W01 TWS earbuds

The next interesting item in the Baseus Brand Day @Sastodeal is this combo of a humidifier and a pair of wireless earbuds. Here, the Surge 2.4L desktop humidifier is a godsend to those who live in a relatively dry region or suffer from skin dryness, cracked lips, nose irritation, and other issues. Its 2.4L large capacity is rated to last a full day with a full charge. The 2.5cm nozzle can spray mist from the 180-degree rotation that you can adjust to your liking.

Because of its transparent design, you can also use it as a piece of décor by adding in petals or leaves. More importantly, it also serves as an aroma diffuser and can be used with Baseus Aroma Oil to remove the existing odor in your room. For comfortable usage during sleep, this humidifier has an operating noise level of just 30dB. In terms of safety, the company has embedded 3 levels of preventive measures. First off, the device automatically turns off once it detects low water volume. Similarly, in case you forget to turn it off, the Surge 2.4L humidifier automatically turns off after 10 hours. Finally, it also embeds electric shock prevention technology.

Key features:

ABS + PP material, 209.5 x 218 x 215mm, 1.09kg
DC 24V, 1A input, 24V/1A power adapter (1.8m cord)
4000±10% fan speed, 2.4L max tank capacity
60mL±24mL (min), 200mL±40mL (max) spray
Up to 12 hours (max), 40 hours (min) working time
Price: Rs. 4,999 3,749

Bundled with the humidifier is a pair of Baseus Encok W01 TWS earbuds. This is an in-ear style wireless earbuds with a 105-degree oblique anti-sweat waterproof design. Weighing just 5 grams, it should be pretty comfortable to put these on for a while. Regarding the audio quality, it has an 8mm moving coil speaker unit inside that the company says provides a great stereo listening experience with “HiFi 6D sound quality”. Likewise, it has a rated frequency range of 20Hz – 20kHz.

Featuring Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, the W01 promises stable lossless data transmission too. It also has a microphone built-in and Baseus has implemented a smart call noise reduction feature as well. Moving on, the touch control on either earbud lets you control playback or summon a digital voice assistant. You can also choose to use either earbud independently if you’d want. Furthermore, each earbud has a 60mAh battery that Baseus says should last up to 6 hours of continuous playback. Similarly, it boasts a humongous 2000mAh charging case that takes around 3 hours for a full charge.

Key features:

Sweat, splash-proof design, 5 grams each
20Hz – 20kHz frequency response range
8mm moving coil speaker unit
60mAh (earbuds), 2000mAh (case) battery
Up to 6 hours of continuous music playback
Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, ~10m range
HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP Bluetooth profile
DSP noise reduction, HD call
Price: Rs. 2,800

Baseus Brand Day @Sastodeal: What’s more?

Besides these, there are other interesting offers as well. Like I said before, almost every Baseus product enjoys a minimum of 20% discount and 1 year of replacement warranty. Additionally, lucky winners will also be getting a jacket, t-shirts for free. On top of this, one fortunate shopper will get a Baseus Encok W04 TWS earbuds worth Rs. 4,150 for FREE. It comes with a bigger 13mm audio driver and an IP54 dust/water resistant certification.

You can explore the entire offers under Baseus Brand Day at Sastodeal by visiting this link. We’ve tabulated other exciting offers under this offer below:

Baseus Basic Series 13” Laptop Backpack	Rs. 2,300 1,200
Baseus Encok W07 TWS Earbuds	Rs. 4,650 3,720
Baseus D05 Gaming Headphone (with mic)	Rs. 4,999 3,920
Baseus GAMO C18 Type-C Gaming Earphone	Rs. 2,755 2,200
Baseus Cafule HW Quick Charging Data Cable (USB-C)	Rs. 1,200 960

Facebook to use “public” videos to train its AI

Facebook

GadgetByte

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March 13, 2021

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Facebook to use “public” videos to train its AI

Facebook has just announced its latest project called Learning from Videos. The project focuses on AI systems that can learn from “publicly available” data. The company says that it will help improve the platform’s content recommendation feature and policy enforcement along with creating a completely new experience. Let’s learn more about the Learning From Videos program in detail in this post.

Facebook “Learning From Videos” AI Project

It is not the first time that Facebook has come with an ambitious AI project. The company has its own facial recognition system that can automatically recognize people in the photos and recommend tags. Back in 2018, the company even started using images from Instagram to improve its AI algorithm. However, it is probably the first time the company is using videos to train its AI system.

Since Facebook is working with a self-supervised AI system, the system is less dependent on human and pre-processed data. In fact, you don’t need labelled data sets here as the system can mimic a human’s behaviour of learning. For the system to give reliable results, it needs to be fed with a large volume of data. As mentioned earlier, it will come from the videos that are uploaded and shared publicly by users/pages on Facebook.

Also Read: Facebook is reportedly looking to enter the smartwatch industry.

Applications

The company has already experimented with such a system. According to the company, it has been successfully using a similar AI system for recommending Reel’s videos on Instagram. Similarly, the company is planning to use AI for detecting foul languages and hate speech across its platform. According to the company, the usage of a self-supervised AI algorithm has resulted in a reduction of speech recognition errors by around 20%. Facebook is also proposing the use of the system in a multimodal video system to extract key moments from videos.

Applications of Facebook Learning From Videos

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Facebook is also looking to use the Learning from Videos to its upcoming AR glasses. The company has released demos of Project Aria and has already confirmed its partnership with Rayban for Smart AI Glasses. In its latest blog, the company has proposed Smart AR glasses that can capture videos automatically and make certain moments accessible when required using the Learning from Videos AI system.

Potential Controversies

While Facebook has proposed a number of application of the Learning From Videos the company has kept the public in the dark on how it is planning to control and oversee the use of public data. For instance, when The Verge questioned the company about asking users for their consent, the company replied that their data policy allows the use of uploaded content for “product research and development”. Hence, it looks like Facebook will be using public videos without notifying the uploader about it. It could also mean that there will be no option to opt-out of it. Similarly, the company has not outlined its strategy regarding the volume of data that it requires and how it is planning to supervise the whole process to reduce misuse.

On the other hand, self-supervised algorithms come with their own downsides. The ones used in the past for content recommendation systems have shown to boost misinformation. A report from MIT Technology Review has shed light on how these kinds of AI systems have boosted misinformation, controversy extremism, and political polarization for the sake of engagement.

Qualcomm is struggling to meet the demand of smartphone chips

Qualcomm

GadgetByte

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March 13, 2021

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Qualcomm is struggling to meet the demand of smartphone chips

Since the start of the pandemic and global lockdown last year, different industries have suffered from the global chip shortage. It was car manufacturers that had to suffer the most. Then we saw the global chip shortage create problems in the making and supply of computers and consoles. And now, the shortage has finally started showing its effects on the smartphone industry. According to the latest reports, Qualcomm is now feeling the heat of the global chip shortage. Let’s learn more about the global chip shortage and how it is affecting brands like Qualcomm and Samsung.

What is a chip and why is it important?

Chip is the heart of any electronic component. While the term is mostly associated with processors, chips are found everywhere including memory, modems, and other components.

It is actually an integrated circuit that consists of different components like transistors, diodes, and resistors built on a layer (wafer) of semiconductor material like silicone. It is where all the important functions are carried out. The chip in the graphics card is called GPU and it’s where all the major functions of the component are carried out including rasterization and coordination with the rest of the computer.

Global chip shortage

As mentioned earlier, the global chip shortage first hit the car industry ever since countries started imposing lockdowns last year because of the pandemic. This resulted in the reduction in the demands for cars and as a result, they stopped ordering chips. Foundries that manufacture the chips then shifted to other consumer products instead.

Because of the pandemic, demands for computers, laptops, and their corresponding components and foundries were more than happy to supply chips for them. Still, that was not enough as apparent by the fact that every major console and computer component including GPUs went out of stock pretty quickly.

Qualcomm is facing chip shortage

The smartphone industry that was unaffected all this time seems to be feeling the heat at the moment. This comes from the latest report from Reuter that states that Qualcomm is struggling to meet the demand for its chips. Qualcomm and MediaTek are the two biggest suppliers of smartphone chips in the world. The former is also the go-to supplier for premium and flagship Android offerings.

One of the reasons for this could be the increased demand for chips this year. With the US-imposed ban on Huawei and in-house HiSilicon, Qualcomm has seen a rise in the demands of its chips.

According to the report, Samsung, which happens to be the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturer, is experiencing a shortage of Qualcomm chips. A source in Samsung’s supply chain claims that this has affected the production of entry-level and mid-range devices. Another source has claimed that Qualcomm is not supplying enough Snapdragon 888 chips to other companies at the moment. Similarly, another source in the manufacturing industry told Reuters that the shortage of Qualcomm components could lead to a compromise in the smartphone shipments this year.

Opinions on current chip shortage (Samsung, Qualcomm, Xiaomi)

Earlier this year, Samsung predicted that the global chip shortage would soon affect mobile components. Back then, the company was referring to its memory business. With the resurgence of the automotive industry post lockdown, foundries such as TSMC started rushing to meet the demand of the industry. As foundries were utilizing their full capacity, they could not take future orders for smartphone manufacturers.

Qualcomm’s President, Cristiano Amon, admitted that the demand is higher than the supply during the recently concluded annual meeting of the company. Still, the company is confident that it can meet the fiscal Q2 sales forecast given in February.

Even Xiaomi has addressed the current situation. Lu Weibing, the Vice President of the company stated that it’s not just a shortage but an extreme one on its official Weibo handle.

Also Read:
- The global chip shortage could ease next year, says Qualcomm CEO
- Apple halts iPhone production as it is hit by the ongoing chip shortage

The consequences

There can be a lot of consequences of this global chip shortage. For starters, given the limited amount of chips, suppliers will prioritize the premium market segment. Just like what Huawei is doing right now. This could limit the supply of low-end and mid-range devices. On the other hand, it will result in a reduced shipment altogether.

Whenever a situation like this occurs, there is always a chance of panic buying driving the price of the component and eventually the end product to a higher level. Companies hoard huge volumes of products in advance that adds to the existing shortage. The components become difficult to get in the market, and their price increases significantly.

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

Google Chrome will now use less memory with its latest update

GadgetByte

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March 13, 2021

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Google Chrome will now use less memory with its latest update

While Google Chrome is the most popular web browser right now, it is also among the heaviest ones out there. It has a reputation for being a memory hog. The developers are well aware of this and are working continuously to make the browser more efficient in memory management. Their latest effort comes in the form of Chrome 89. The latest release of Chrome makes use of some advanced memory allocation techniques to improve the user experience. Learn about it in detail in this post.

Chrome M89 Memory Efficiency

According to the official Chromium blog, the new version of Chrome saves up to 22% memory during the browsing process on the Windows platform. Similarly, it also results in 8% memory savings in the renderer, and 3% in the GPU.

PartitionAlloc

The reason for these above-mentioned improvements is PartitionAlloc. It is a memory allocator that focuses on low latency, security, and space efficiency. It’s not the first time Google has implemented it in its product. Up until now, it was being used in Blink – the rendering engine for Chromium. The Chromium is an open-source project which forms the foundation of several popular web browsers including Chrome and its rivals such as Edge and Brave.

The way it works

In case if you are wondering how it works, let me explain you in simpler terms. Objects in modern computing devices are stored in different heaps which can be allocated, deallocated, and reallocated as per the need. Different heaps are stored in different memory locations which causes the partition of the memory. At times, these partitions can be outspread. PartitionAlloc improves the performance by aligning objects with partition with similar-sized objects. This results in fewer fragments and an improved memory footprint.

Now, that PartitionAlloc has been integrated into the browser, Google is hopeful that users on Android and Windows (64-bit) platforms will feel the difference. On the other hand, if you are a Linux user you will have to wait a little longer to get the update.

Memory Management

Similarly, Chrome is now even smarter when it comes to using and discarding memory. With the new update, your Chrome can now reclaim up to 100MiB per tab. That’s almost of 20% of some of the popular sites. For this, Chrome loads memory off the foreground tab that is not using at the moment. For instance, Chrome will discard big-size images that you have just scrolled-off screen.

Updates for macOS

For mac users, Chrome is even reporting up to 8% memory savings up to 1GiB. Chrome has pulled this off by limiting memory for background tabs. Such a technique was already being used in other platforms and is finally available in macOS. Similarly, Chrome has announced that it has recorded up to 65% score on Apple Energy Impact using the tab throttling for background tabs that was included in Chrome 87.

Updates For Android

Google has also made changes to the build, packaging, and runtime performance of Chrome. The company says that these changes have resulted in fewer crashes due to resource exhaustion. There are 5%, 7.5%, and 2% improvements in memory usage, startup, and page loading, respectively. The PlayStore can now generate and install optimized APK for each device along with the main base APK. Also, these split codes and resources can be loaded for a faster startup in Android O using the isolatedSplits feature.

Premium devices with Android Q+ and 8GB of RAM can enjoy better stability using 64-bit Chrome. Google says it loads 8.5% faster and 28% smoother.

Lastly, there is the Freeze-Dried tab that allows Chrome to load 13% faster. These are light versions of tabs (size similar to a screenshot) saved by Google to use at startup while the actual tab loads in the background.

Oppo Find X3, X3 Neo, X3 Lite officially announced

OPPO

GadgetByte

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March 12, 2021

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Oppo hosted an online event yesterday to announce the global launch of its latest flagship series of smartphones. The main highlight of the show was the Find X3 Pro, but Oppo did release a number of smartphones to go with it as well. This includes the regular Find X3, Find 3 Lite, and Find X3 Neo. In this post, we will be taking a look at the three phones in the Oppo Find X3 series including their specs, features, expected price, and availability in Nepal.

Oppo Find X3

Starting with the Oppo Find X3, it is very similar to the Pro model. The biggest difference here is the processor. The Pro model comes with the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset while the vanilla model is powered by the Snapdragon 870 chipset. The latter is a higher-clocked version of last year’s Snapdragon 865+. The phone is available in either 8/128GB or 8/256GB memory configuration.

Other than that, the Find X3 sports the same spacecraft-themed design as the Pro. The whole process of crafting the rear panel from a single piece of glass takes around 40 hours. You also get the Gradient Arc Camera bump that houses the quad-camera setup. It includes a 50MP dual primary camera. Accompanying the two is a 13MP telephoto lens with a 5X hybrid optical zoom. The fourth sensor is a 3MP microscopic lens that is capable of 60X magnification.

On the front, there is a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with A+ certification from DisplayMate. It’s a QHD+ screen and is capable of displaying over 1 billion colors. Refresh rate can vary between 5Hz to 120Hz based on the contents being viewed. Other features include HDR10+ certification, SDR to HDR upscaling, SGS Eye Care certification, and Color Vision Enhancement.

The phone is fueled by a 4,500mAh battery with support for 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging, 30W Air VOOC charge, and 10W reverse wireless charging. Other features include Dolby Atmos support, ColorOS 11.2 (Android 11), under-display fingerprint sensor, Wi-Fi 6, and NFC.

Specifications:

Display: 6.7″ QHD+ AMOLED panel, 5Hz – 120Hz, 10-bit depth with 1.07 billion colors, 1300 local peak bright, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+
Rear Camera: Dual 50MP primary lens with Omni-directional PDAF, 13MP telephoto lens with 5X hybrid optical zoom, 3MP microscopic sensor with 60X Magnification
Front Camera: 32MP sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 (7nm)
Storage: 8/128GB, 8/256GB
UI: ColorOS 11.2 based on Android 11
Battery: 4500mAh, 65W SuperVOOC 2.0, 30W AirVOOC wireless charging
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, 2X2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, AGPS/Beidou/GLONASS, QZSS
Others: Under-display fingerprint scanner, IP68 rating, 10-bit Full-path Colour Engine

Oppo Find X3 Price in Nepal and Availability

Oppo Find X3 is available only in China where its price starts from 4,499 Yuan for the 8/128GB variant. There is also an 8/256GB variant with a price tag of 4,999 Yuan. If it launches here in Nepal, we can expect the price of Oppo Find X3 in Nepal to be around NPR 90,000.

Oppo Find X3	Price in China	Price in Nepal [Expected]
8/256GB	4,499 Yuan	NPR 90,000
8/256GB	4,999 Yuan	NPR 95,000

Oppo Find X3 Neo

Next on the list is the Oppo Find X3 Neo. It features last year’s Snapdragon 865 processor and is available in a single memory configuration of 12/256GB. Like the rest of the device in the series, it also doesn’t have a microSD card slot. On the front, there is an FHD+ AMOLED panel with a left-aligned punch-hole cutout. The screen is curved, HDR10 certified, and has a 90Hz refresh rate.

At the back, there is a quad-camera setup that consists of a 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 13MP telephoto lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The phone is fueled by the same 4,500mAh battery with support for 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging.

Specifications:

Display: 6.5″ FHD+ AMOLED panel, 60/90Hz, 1100 local peak bright
Rear Camera: 50MP primary lens with OIS, 16MP ultrawide camera, 13MP telephoto lens, 2MP macro sensor
Front Camera: 32MP sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm)
Memory: 12/256GB
UI: ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11
Battery: 4500mAh, 65W SuperVOOC 2.0
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, 2X2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, AGPS / Beidou / GLONASS / Galileo / QZSS
Others: Under-display fingerprint scanner

Oppo Find X3 Lite

Moving on, Oppo Find X3 Lite is a modest entry in the lineup. It comes with the Snapdragon 765G chipset and features 8GB of RAM that is paired with 128GB of internal storage. Still, the latter is non-expandable.

On the front, there is a 6.4-inch AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution. It features a 90Hz refresh panel with an optical fingerprint scanner underneath. The rear camera setup consists of a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and two additional 2MP sensors for macro and portrait photos.

Find X3 Lite has a slightly smaller 4,300mAh battery but you still get the support for 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charge. Another highlight of this device is that it comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Specifications:

Display: 6.4″ FHD+ AMOLED panel, 60/90Hz, 750 local peak brightness
Rear Camera: 64MP primary lens, 8MP ultrawide camera, 2MP mono lens, 2MP macro sensor
Front Camera: 32MP sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm)
Memory: 8/128GB
UI: ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11
Battery: 4500mAh, 65W SuperVOOC 2.0
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, AGPS/Beidou/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS
Others: Under-display fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm headphone jack

Oppo Find X3 Neo, Lite Price in Nepal & Availability

Both the Oppo Find X3 Neo and Find X3 Lite are available in the Global market for GBP 699 GBP and GBP 399. If Oppo decides to launch them in Nepal, we can expect the price of Oppo Find X3 Neo and Find X3 Lite to be around NPR 120,000 and NPR 70,000, respectively.

Oppo Find X3 Series	Memory Configuration	Price in the UK	Price in Nepal [Expected]
Find X3 Neo	12/256GB	GBP 699	NPR 120,000
Find X3 Lite	8/128GB	GBP 399	NPR 70,000

Meanwhile, check out our early impressions of the Oppo F19 Pro.

Oppo Find X3 Pro launched with a unique design and flagship specs

OPPO

GadgetByte

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March 11, 2021

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Oppo Find X3 Pro launched with a unique design and flagship specs

After launching the mid-range F19 series in India a few days ago, Oppo has now unveiled the latest iteration of Find X-series smartphones. The new Find X3 Series is home to three different smartphones, excluding the vanilla X3 that is set to launch sometime in the future. In this post, we will be taking a look at the best Oppo has to offer. We will discuss the specifications, features, expected price, and availability of Oppo Find X3 Pro in Nepal.

Oppo X3 Pro Overview:

Design

The main highlight of the Oppo Find X3 Pro is its design. This time, Oppo has gone with a futuristic design that is based on spaceships. It is available in two color options – Gloss Black and Blue. The former has a glossy surface while the latter uses an AG matte surface. The phone is just 8.26mm thick and weighs around 193 grams. Find X3 Pro also has an IP68 rating against dust and water damage.

The most noticeable aspect of the device is the camera hump which the Oppo calls the Gradient Arc Camera. The square camera module looks unique as it slopes down the rear panel from all sides. The whole panel is forged at a high temperature using a single sheet of glass. The OC0 process then adds the Porcelain glaze to the forged surface. Then, the panel is painted with Shine-through Mirror Black. The end result is a continuous curved surface with over 2,000 control points. According to the company, the whole process takes 40 hours to complete.

Display

Oppo Find X3 Pro features a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with QHD+ resolution. The display used here has received A+ certification from DisplayMate. It is curved, has minimum bezels, and features a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. The refresh rate can vary between 5Hz to 120Hz depending upon the contents viewing viewed.

The O1 Ultra Vision Engine can scale the resolution of low-res videos to up to 2 times. Find X3 Pro is also HDR10+ certified and it can upscale standard videos for an HDR-like experience.

Find X3 Pro is also the first Android phone to have 10-bit Full-path Colour Engine. It allows the phone to capture, store, and preset image and videos with minimum loss in quality and dynamic range. Other features include AI Adaptive SGS Eye Care certification, 8192 automatic brightness levels,

Performance and Memory

As you would expect with all Android flagship launching in 2021, this one too is powered by Snapdragon 888 chipset. It’s the most advanced chipset based on Samsung’s 5nm process. This silicon also features a 5nm-based Snapdragon X55 5G modem integrated into the silicon.

Users can activate Oppo’s O-Sync Display Hyper Response Engine while playing games. It speeds the synchronization speed between display and processor by up to three times. The result is a reduced response time of 5-10ms from 30-40ms.

Thanks to the anti-fragmentation engine and the UI First 4.0, the random read and write speeds are 10% faster. Similarly, the sequential read and write speeds are 30% faster.

Camera

Talking about the cameras, there are four of them enclosed by the Gradient Arc Camera module. The phone features 50MP Dual Primary camera that uses Sony IMX766 sensor (1/1.56″). One is a wide-angle lens while the other is an ultra-wide-angle lens. The latter uses a freeform-surface lens that reduces chromic aberration and purple fringing. Oppo claims that the setup is capable of capturing photos with up to 1 billion colors.

Accompanying the two is a 13MP telephoto lens with 5X optical zoom capability. There is also a macro lens that supports up to 60X magnification.

The rear camera can capture images in 10-bit RAW+ format. Other features include AI Scene detection, AI Color Palette, AI Highlight Video for lowlight videos, Color Vision Enhancement for people with Color Vision Deficiency.

Rest of the specs

Fueling the device is a moderate 4,500mAh battery that consists of two cells of 2250mAh each. Still, it is bigger than the 4,200mAh cell that was on its predecessor. The charging speed is the same as the phone supports 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 technology. It can charge the device up to 40% in just 10 minutes.

However, this time around Oppo has also included support for wireless charging. The 30W AirVOOC wireless charging can juice up the device completely in 80 minutes. There is also reverse charging technology support. The phone features an under-display fingerprint scanner and comes with connectivity features such as Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and 5G.

Oppo Find X3 Pro Specifications:

Design: Glossy Back / AG Glass
Display: 6.7″ QHD+ AMOLED panel, 5Hz – 120Hz, 10-bit depth with 1.07 billion colors, 1300 local peak bright, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+
Rear Camera: Dual 50MP primary lens with Omni-directional PDAF, 13MP telephoto lens with 5X optical zoom, 3MP macro sensor with 60X Magnification
Front Camera: 32MP sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, 5nm platform
GPU: Adreno 660
RAM: 12GB LPDDR5 @ 3200MHz
Storage: 256GB UFS 3.1 @ 2Lanes HS-Gear4
UI: ColorOS 11.2 based on Android 11
Audio: Dolby Atmos, Oppo Relax 2.0
Battery: 4500mAh, 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 (40% charge in 10min), 30W AirVOOC wireless charging (100% in 80 minutes)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, 2X2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, AGPS/Beidou/GLONASS, QZSS
Sensors: Ambient light, Geomagnetic, Color Temperature, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gravity, Gyroscope, Pedometer
Others: Under-display fingerprint scanner, IP68 rating, 10-bit Full-path Colour Engine
Colors: Gloss Black and Blue

Oppo Find X3 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability

Opp Find X3 Pro is priced at GBP 1,099 in the UK and will go on sale starting April 14. Given Oppo Nepal’s launch record, we might not see the phone launch here officially. But in case it does, we expect the starting price of Oppo Find X3 Pro in Nepal to be around NPR 185,000.

Oppo Find X3 Pro	Price in the UK	Price in Nepal (Expected)
12/256GB	GBP 1,099	NPR 185,000

Meanwhile, check out our early impressions of the Oppo F19 Pro.

Xiaomi launches Mi10s with Snapdragon 870 chipset, 108MP camera for under $500

Xiaomi

GadgetByte

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March 11, 2021

0

Xiaomi launches Mi10s with Snapdragon 870 chipset, 108MP camera for under $500

Despite the launch of the Mi 11, Xiaomi is not yet done with last year’s Mi 10 series. That’s because the company has launched a new device in the Mi 10 series. Mi 10S is a 5G smartphone that debuted in China. For the most part, the devices’ specs and design match that of the Mi 10 Ultra. However, there are some differences in terms of chipset, camera-module, and more. Let’s see in detail what the Mi 10S is all about including its expected price in Nepal.

Mi 10S Overview

The device sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with FHD+ resolution. Moreover, opposed to the Mi11 that features a 120Hz refresh rate, the Mi10s has a 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate, and 1120 nits of peak brightness. It covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and is HDR10+ certified. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. There’s a punch-hole cutout in the top left corner for the 20MP selfie camera.

Around the back, the rear camera module is arranged in a vertical array. The module features Samsung’s 1/1.33″ 108MP primary sensor with OIS. Then there’s the 13MP ultra-wide lens with 123-degree FOV, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. Audio on this device is handled by a dual speaker setup tuned by Harman Kardon. Furthermore, as per DxOMark, the speakers of the Mi 10S are the best that it has tested.

mi 10s audio Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, which is a slightly overclocked version of Snapdragon 865. It is paired with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage. The battery is a 4780mAh unit that supports 33W wired fast charging, 30W wireless charging, and 10W wireless reverse charging. Not to miss out, the device is equipped with vapour chamber liquid cooling tech for the management of the thermals.

Xiaomi Mi 10S Specifications:

Body: 162.38 x 74.8 x 9mm; 208 gm
Display: 6.67-inches AMOLED panel; 90Hz Refresh Rate; 180Hz Touch Sampling Rate; Corning Gorilla Glass 5; 100% DCI-P3; HDR10+; 1120 nits peak brightness
Resolution: FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels)
Chipset: Snapdragon 870; 7nm Mobile Platform
GPU: Adreno 650
RAM: 8/12 LPDDR5
Storage: 128/256 UFS 3.0
Software & UI: MIUI 12 on top of Android 10
Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
– 108MP primary shooter
– 13 ultra-wide lens
– 2MP macro lens
– 2MP depth sensor
Front Camera: 20MP lens; Punch-hole
Security: In-display Fingerprint Scanner (optical), Face Unlock
Battery: 4780mAh with 33W fast charging; 30W Wireless Charging, 10W reverse charging.

Mi 10S Price in Nepal [Expected]

Currently, the device is China exclusive. Its sale begins on March 12 and is already up for pre-orders. As for the price, the base variant (8GB/128GB) costs CNY 3299. Similarly, other variants, 8/256GB and 12/256GB are priced at CNY 3499 and 3799 respectively.

Xiaomi is mum about the global availability of the device. However, if it were to arrive in Nepal, the base variant would probably cost around NPR 65,000.

Xiaomi Model Variant	Price in China	Price in Nepal (Converted)
Mi 10S (8/128GB)	¥3,299	Rs. 59,196
Mi 10S (8/256GB)	¥3,499	Rs. 62,784
Mi 10S (12/256GB)	¥3,799	Rs. 68,168

Also, check out our long-term review of Xiaomi Mi 10!

Asus ROG Phone 5 goes official with SD 888, 144Hz Screen and more

GadgetByte

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March 10, 2021

0

Asus ROG Phone 5 goes official with SD 888, 144Hz Screen and more

Asus has finally unveiled its latest lineup of flagship gaming smartphones. The ROG Phone 5 features the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset, 144Hz Samsung AMOLED panel, and it has also brought back the 3.5mm headphone jack. Keep reading to learn more about the recently launched Asus ROG Phone 5 along with its specs, features, expected price, and availability in Nepal.

Asus ROG Phone 5 Overview

Design and Display

This year the Rog Phone 5 lineup features three devices – the vanilla model, the Pro model, and the Ultimate model. The vanilla model looks a lot like its predecessor with the Republic of Gamers logo on the back. The higher-end variants on the other hand feature the new ROG Vision display at the back. The ROG Vision is the first rear matrix display ever on a smartphone. It is capable of displaying different animations for charging, incoming calls, and X Mode. Similarly, users can even create different custom animations according to their style.

Coming to the front, the Asus Rog Phone 5 features a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel from Samsung. It comes with a 144Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling rate. Asus is also claiming touch input latency to be just 24.3ms. The display also has DC dimming and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. On top of everything, Asus is promising to roll out an OTA upgrade with an always-on HDR feature that will upscale SDR contents to HDR for the ultimate HDR experience.

Performance and Memory

At the heart of the Rog Phone 5 lies the flagship-level Snapdragon 888 chipset from Qualcomm. It offers up to 25% better CPU and 35% better GPU performance compared to the Snapdragon 865. The Rog Phone 5 now comes with the X Mode that lets users switch between performance profiles. Users can even play with the performance settings and fine-tune the performance level at their convenience.

Aero Active Cooling

Asus is also shipping the Pro and the Ultimate variant of the Rog Phone 5 with AeroActive Cooler 5. It’s a clip-on external cooling fan that the company claims can reduce the device’s core temperature by up to 15°C. What makes it even more efficient is the fact that Asus has played with the design of the phone to put the motherboard as middle as possible. This way, it is much closer to the cooler.

In addition to the cooling, the AeroActive Cooler 5 has two shoulder buttons, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a built-in kickstand. Even without the cooler, the Rog Phone 5 has two ultrasonic buttons in the form of AirTrigger 5. You can even buy ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad and accessories for a better gaming experience.

Talking about the memory, the phone is available up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. The Pro Model is available in a 16/512GB variant. Similarly, the Ultimate variant comes in an 18/512GB variant.

Camera

Nothing much has changed in the camera department. The Asus ROG Phone 5 features the same 64MP primary camera with the Sony IMX686 image sensor. It can output a 16MP pixel-binned image with pixels as large as 1.6 microns. Accompanying it are a 13MP ultrawide shooter and a 5MP macro lens. The rear camera setup is capable of recording 8K 30fps videos, 4K 60 fps videos, and 120 fps slow-motion videos. On the front, there is a 24MP selfie camera.

Battery

Fueling the phone is the 6000mAh battery with support Quick Charge 5.0 and PD Charging. In order to attain high charging speed, Asus has divided the battery into two cells of 3000mAh battery each. The two cells are separated with the motherboard placed between them. In a time where chargers are slowly disappearing from the phone’s packaging, Asus has included a 65W HyerCharge adapter in the box.

Rest of the Specs

As you would expect the phone has two Type-C ports – one on the bottom and one on the side. The latter allows the user to continue playing games even with the charger hooked in. It can also be used to connect the AeroActive Cooler 5.

Connectivity is another important aspect for gamers and the Asus Rog Phone 5 doesn’t disappoint here as well. It comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. The latter also has support for Qualcomm aptX Adaptive. Similarly, other connectivity features include a dual sim slot, 54/4G connectivity, Wi-Fi Direct, and NFC.

The phone comes with dual-front-facing speakers with Dirac HD Sound. The 7-magnet speaker features a Cirrus Logic amplifier for less distorted sound. The phone supports Hi-Res Audio (384kHZ / 32-bit) via the 3.5mm headphone jack and ESS DAC 9280AC Pro for lossless sound. Asus has also included AudioWizard and quad microphones with Asus Noise Reduction Technology.

Also, check out the ROG Phone 6 series here.

Asus ROG Phone 5 Specifications:

Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate, 300Hz Touch sampling rate 111.23% DCI-P3, 10-point multi-touch, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm)
RAM: 8GB/12GB/16GB LPPDDR5 RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 RAM (Pro)| 18GB LPDDR5 RAM (Ultimate)
Storage: 128GB/256GB (Vanilla) | 512GB UFS 3.1 storage (Pro and Ultimate)
OS: Android 11
Rear Camera: 64MP Sony IMX686, 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 5MP macro lens
Front Camera: 24MP selfie camera
Audio: Front-FacingStereo speaker, Dirac HD, 3.5mm headphone jack, Hi-Res (384kHz / 32-bit), ESS DAC 9280AC Pro
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E a/b/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz, 5GHz), 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, dual-Type-C port (bottom & side)
Battery: 6000mAh with Quick Charge 5.0 & PD Charging 3.0

Asus ROG Phone 5 Price in Nepal & Availability

The price of the Asus ROG Phone 5 starts at 800 Euros for the 8/128GB variant. The Pro and the Ultimate models are priced at 1,200 and 1,300 Euros, respectively. Though the phone is confirmed to launch in India, it’s unlikely that Asus ROG Phone 5 will launch officially in Nepal. Still, you might get your hands on it via unauthorized channels. As such, we expect the price of Asus ROG Phone 5 in Nepal to be around NPR 1,15,000.

Asus ROG Phone 5 Series	Memory	Price in Europe	Price in Nepal [Expected]
Vanilla	8/128GB	799 Euros	NPR 1,15,000
	12/256GB	899 Euros	NPR 1,30,000
	16/256GB	999 Euros	NPR 1,45,000
Pro	16/512GB	1199 Euros	NPR 1,70,500
Ultimate	18/512GB	1299 Euros	NPR 1,85,000

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

Infinix Hot 10 with a 6.78″ HD screen, Helio G70 launched in Nepal

Infinix

GadgetByte

-

March 10, 2021

0

Infinix Hot 10 with a 6.78″ HD screen, Helio G70 launched in Nepal

Infinix launched the Hot 10 in Pakistan back in September 2020. And now, the phone has made its way to Nepal as well. So let’s take a look at the features, specs, official price in Nepal, and availability of Infinix Hot 10.

Infinix Hot 10 Overview:

Design and Display

Infinix Hot 10 sports a 6.78-inch TFT IPS panel that is slightly larger than its predecessor. It is an Infinity-O display and there’s a circular cutout for the selfie camera on the top left corner of the screen. However, even with the increase in the display size, the resolution has remained unchanged at 720 x 1640 pixels.

At the back, we get to see Infinix’s signature Gem-Cut design. The rear panel is laser engraved to create visual designs that come to light when viewed from different angles. The rectangular camera bump is on the top right corner.

Performance and Memory

The biggest upgrade on the Infinix Hot 10 over its predecessor is in the processor. While the Hot 9 and Hot 9 Play featured entry-level MediaTek Helio A25 SoC, Infinix has replaced it with Helio G70. The G70 offers a 123% improvement in single-core performance. Similarly, it also boosts the multi-core performance by 64%. The new GPU also provides a 114% performance boost over its predecessor.

Helio G70 is part of MediaTek’s gaming-oriented lineup for budget users. Unlike its predecessor, you can expect to do some gaming on this device. The device comes with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. The latter can be expanded up to 512GB using an external SD card.

Also Read: Infinix Note 8i with Helio G80, quad-cameras launched in Nepal

Camera

Even with the marketed 16MP quad-camera arrangement, the cameras in the Infinix Hot 10 are nothing to write home about. There is not even an ultra-wide sensor and the 16MP primary camera is accompanied by three other gimmicky sensors. It includes a macro lens and a bokeh camera, both of which make use of 2MP sensors.

The fourth sensor is listed as an AI sensor but Infinix has not specified anything about its specs or what it is supposed to do. On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera with an aperture of f/1.8. It is backed by a dual-flash arrangement.

Rest of the specs

Infinix Hot 10 features a massive battery of 5200mAh, which supports 10W charging via the micro USB port. For security, the company has included a physical capacitive fingerprint scanner at the back of the device.

However, you can also use the software-based Face Unlock feature. The device comes with DTS Audio and ships with Android 10-based XOS 7.0 on top.

Infinix Hot 10 Specifications:

Body: 171.1 x 77.6 x 8.88-mm; Plastic body with gem-cut finish
Display: 6.78-inches TFT IPS panel; Infinity-O panel
Resolution: HD+ (1640 x 720 pixels);
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G70; 12nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.7 GHz Cortex-A55)
Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB (expandable)
Software & UI: XOS UI on top of Android 10
Rear Camera: Quad;
– 16MP primary lens
– 2MP macro lens
– 2MP depth sensor
– AI sensor
– Quad-LED flash
Front Camera: 8MP with dual-flash
Security: Physical fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted)
Audio: DTS Audio, 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS, Micro USB, OTG
Battery: 5200mAh with 10W charging
Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass
Color options: Moonlight Jade, Amber Red

Infinix Hot 10 Price in Nepal and Availability

Infinix Hot 10 is now available for pre-order in Nepal where its price is NPR 18,490 for the 4/128GB variant. Likewise, the product delivery will start on March 12. You can buy Infinix Hot 10 in Nepal exclusively from Daraz.

Infinix Hot 10	Price in Nepal
4/128GB	NPR 18,490

Check out our review of Infinix Hot 10.