Courtesy of Indian tipster Mukul Sharma, the design and the key specs of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A82 has leaked online. It will be the most premium offering in the Galaxy A-series ahead of the recently launched A52 and A72. In this post, we will be rounding up all the rumors and leaks surrounding the specs, features, and launch of the Samsung Galaxy A82.
Samsung Galaxy A82 Rumors Roundup
Popular Indian tipster Mukul Sharma has spotted the upcoming Samsung A Quantum 2 in Google Play Console listing. After all, the first Quantum device was an A-series phone with advanced encryption for added security. This phone is supposedly based on the yet-to-be-announced Galaxy A82 smartphone. Thus, this listing should give us an idea of what A82 will bring to the table.
Design and Display
The listing has provided us the first look at the front of the device. The phone in the listing features a flat FHD+ panel with a center-aligned punch-hole cutout. However, Samsung can decide to go with an A80-like flip-camera module on the A82. At least, that is what all the rumors suggest.
The side-bezels and chin look slim. The volume rocker and the power button are on the side of the device. Like other recent premium A-series devices, this one too will feature an under-display fingerprint scanner.
On the performance side, the phone is listed with Qualcomm SM8150P. It is believed to be the Snapdragon 855+. But it could also turn out to be the Snapdragon 860 that recently debuted with the Poco X3 Pro. However, the two chipsets are almost similar. The phone will ship with Android 11 with OneUI on top.
We also expect the phone to feature at least four sensors at the back. According to the rumors, it will have Sony IMX686 sensor as the primary camera. It will be accompanied by an ultrawide, a telephoto, and a macro sensor.
Given the specs of the recently launched A52 and A72, we are confident that the phone will come with a higher refresh rate screen, Optical Image Stabilization, and an IP67 rating.
Samsung Galaxy A82 (Rumored Specs):
Display: Flat FHD+ AMOLED panel
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
Camera: 64MP quad-camera setup
Security: In-display fingerprint scanner
Extra: Higher Refresh rate, IP67 rating
Samsung Galaxy A82 Expected Launch Date
Samsung is yet to confirm the existence of Galaxy A82. However, given the recent listing of the device, it could announce the device pretty soon.
Meanwhile, check out our initial impressions of the Samsung Galaxy A72.
Coolpad made a comeback in the Nepalese market after a long hiatus last year. The Chinese brand debuted the Coolpad Cool 6 in Nepal before anywhere else. And now, the phone has received a huge price cut. Let’s learn more about Coolpad Cool 6, along with its specifications, features, official price, and availability in Nepal.
Coolpad Cool 6 Overview
Design and Display
Coolpad Cool 6 features a 6.53-inch FHD display. The highlight of the device is that the screen is void of any kind of notches or cut-outs. Its predecessor, the Coolpad 5, on the other hand, featured a dew-drop notch. The front camera has been integrated into a pop-up mechanism. With this, the device promises an immersive viewing experience without any distraction.
The back panel of the phone sports a gradient design. A pill-shaped camera bump on the top right corner houses the triple camera setup. It also features a mount for the physical fingerprint sensor. Coolpad Cool 6 is available in two color options – Blue and Silver.
Performance and Memory
In terms of performance, the device packs in Helio P70 chipset. It’s an octa-core chipset from MediaTek with four Cortex A73 cores and four Cortex A53. It is certainly an upgrade to Helio P22 in the CoolPad 5. However, it’s already almost three years old and there are better mid-range chipsets now. At this price range, the company could have easily gone with the MediaTek Helio G-series chipset. Even the Helio G70 is available in much cheaper Realme C3 is more powerful than P70.
The device comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. You may not be able to play demanding games in the highest graphic settings on this device, but it will be enough for day-to-day tasks, light gaming, and multitasking.
Camera
Coolpad Cool 6 flaunts a triple camera setup at the back. It has some major upgrades in terms of megapixels compared to its predecessor. The setup is led by a 48MP camera setup which is accompanied by two other 2MP sensors for macro and portrait shots. It’s a bummer that the company could not accommodate an ultra-wide sensor in there. Coolpad Cool 6 supports Night Mode, HDR, UHD, Pro, Panorama, and Intelligent scanning, and other camera-centric features.
The 21MP selfie camera on the front is attached to a mechanical pop-up mechanism. Thus, it remains hidden from plain sight when not in use. The selfie camera also comes with multiple modes like the Night Mode, HDR, UHD, Pro Mode, Filters, and Beauty mode.
Rest of the specs
The device features a decent battery of 4,000mAh capacity. The company has not hinted at anything about the fast charging support, which makes me believe that Cool 6 only supports 10W charging via its USB Type-C port. For biometrics, there is a capacitive fingerprint sensor on the back of the device. The phone ships with Android 10 out-of-the-box.
Coolpad Cool 6 originally debuted in Nepal at a price tag of NPR 26,499. However, the company recently announced a price drop on the phone. The new price of Coolpad Cool 6 in Nepal is just NPR 19,995. You can buy the phone from Coolpad’s retail stores or Daraz.
Samsung Galaxy F12 has been officially launched in India as a new mid-range device. In many ways, the Galaxy F12 is similar to theGalaxy M12 launched two weeks earlier in Nepal. Lets’s look into more detail about what Samsung Galaxy F12 has to offer including its specs, features, and expected price in Nepal.
Samsung Galaxy F12 Overview:
Design and Display
Galaxy F12 features a 6.5-inch Infinity-V PLS LCD screen with a smoother 90Hz panel. It has an aspect ratio of 20:9 aspect and a resolution of 720p (1600 x 720 pixels). The 8MP selfie camera is housed in the centrally aligned waterdrop style notch. At the back, we get to see an F62-like panel. The left-aligned rectangular camera bump houses the quad-camera setup while the LED flash resides just outside the bump.
Performance and Memory
The phone is powered byExynos 850 processor. It is Samsung’s in-house chipset built on an 8nm process. Fueling the device is a 6,000mAh battery that supports a 15W fast charge. Furthermore, it boots with One UI 3.1 on top of Android 11. The device is available with 4GB of RAM and 64/128GB of storage. You can expand the memory up to 512GB using a micro SD card.
Samsung is promoting the 48MP ISOCELL GM2 primary sensor as a “true 48MP camera”. Following the primary sensor, there’s a 5MP ultra-wide lens, and two 2MP macro and depth lens. Both the macro and depth sensor holds an aperture of f/2.4. On the front, there’s an 8MP snapper for selfies.
Rest of the specs
Besides the major specs, Galaxy F12 shares basic camera features like Photo, Pro, Video, Panorama, Filters, etc, and a 10x Digital Zoom. The unit, like the Samsung Galaxy F02s that was launched at the same event, enjoys a 3.5mm headphone jack. For biometric security, it features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Moreover, the device has a thickness of 9.7mm and weighs 221gm.
Samsung Galaxy F12 Specifications:
Dimension: 164 x 75.9 x 9.7mm; 221gm
Display: 6.5-inches 90Hz PLS IPS with 1600 x 720-pixel resolution
Samsung Galaxy F12 Price in Nepal and Availability
Samsung Galaxy F12 will be available in India starting April 12 at an introductory price of INR 9,999 for the 4+64GB variant whose actual cost is INR 10,999. Galaxy ‘F’ series is India-exclusive but if Samsung Nepal decides to launch it here, we expect its starting price to be around NPR 18,499.
nIn a sea of bulky mid-range phones, the Realme X7 sure is a breath of fresh air. After using the literal heavyweights like the Xiaomi Mi 10i and the Samsung Galaxy F62, the Realme X7 feels so much more comfortable with its smaller and ergonomic design. Let’s learn more about the Realme X7 in this review.
Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Light, Magnetic Induction, Gyro
Battery: 4300mAh with 50W SuperDart Charge (65W charger inside the box)
Color options: Space Silver, Nebula
Price in Nepal: N/A (not launched yet)
Realme X7 Review:
Initially, I was a little skeptical about this phone because it is eerily similar to the Realme 7 Pro, which was launched in India about 6 months ago. But after using it for 3 weeks or so, I have grown to like it.
Design & Build
Glass front, plastic back/frame
Lightweight, ergonomic design
First off, the design of this phone is really good. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s one of the lightest phones on the market. At just 8.1mm, it is also quite thin as opposed to the Mi 10i and the F62.
Buttons, Ports
1 of 3
Ports
Power button
Volume rockers
The back panel is however made up of plastic. So, over time, you will see scratches and spots as we did with our Realme 7 Pro unit. So, I do recommend you put a skin instead of a case here.
Display
6.4-inches FHD+ Super AMOLED screen
60Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate
On the front, Realme X7 has the same 6.4-inch display as that of the 7 Pro. The company has installed a really good AMOLED panel here. The colors are nice to look at, and the touch sensitivity is great as well. Brightness-wise, I wished it was a little brighter especially when using outdoors, but it’s nothing unsettling.
Yet, seeing how the recently announced Redmi Note 10 Pro series comes with a 120Hz AMOLED panel, this one now feels like a compromise with its regular 60Hz refresh rate. If not 120Hz, I think Realme should have at least given a 90Hz panel here.
But allow me to re-iterate, Realme X7’s display is still top-quality. And you also get a super-fast in-display fingerprint sensor. So, the unlocking experience, especially because of its small form factor, has been great. Comparing it side-by-side against the recently launched Galaxy A32, the fingerprint sensor is really fast here, which in my opinion adds to the premium experience.
Likewise, I’ve also liked the overall performance of this device. The Dimensity 800U chipset inside is on par with the Snapdragon 750G in terms of benchmarks, and it’s finally great to see a tough competition between MediaTek and Qualcomm in the midrange segment.
As for real-life performance, I am very satisfied with its performance so far. The UI feels optimized, apps load fast, and multitasking with recently opened apps is pretty swift.
Realme occasionally puts unused apps to sleep for enhanced battery endurance. So when you try to re-launch an app after some time, it will reload. Other than that, the performance is good for the price, and yeah it’s definitely better than the Snapdragon 720G or 732G-powered phones for sure.
Gaming experience
Moving on to the gaming performance, it’s quite identical to that on the Xiaomi Mi 10i. In PUBG mobile, you will get a stable 40fps in smooth graphics and ultra-frame rates with 100% stability. MediaTek chipsets are infamous for having a relatively poor thermal performance but I didn’t face such an issue here. Plus, the battery drain after the gameplay wasn’t that significant either.
I also played a lot of Call of Duty on this phone. And although its highest setting is slightly lower at medium graphics and high frame rates compared to what the Mi 10i and Galaxy F62 can hit, the gameplay didn’t lag or stutter. Similarly, I didn’t encounter any such while playing Asphalt 9 or the Critical Ops either.
Cameras
Triple cameras at the back
(64MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
16MP selfie camera inside the punch-hole cutout
Cameras
1 of 2
Back
Front
Anyways, let’s talk about the cameras. And for the most part, they don’t disappoint.
Normal Images
It’s not extra-ordinary, but still on par with the Mi 10i. As you can see from these images, they both look quite similar and the color science is similar in many scenarios too.
Normal
1 of 10
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
However, Realme X7 processes the HDR better than the competition.
Wideangle
1 of 8
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
The 108MP primary lens of the Mi 10i also struggles with the closeup shots and often comes out less sharp, whereas that’s not the problem with the Realme X7’s images.
Portrait Images
Similarly, portrait shots are also livelier and sharper on the X7.
Portrait
1 of 6
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Likewise, here too, Realme’s HDR is slightly better, but edge detection could use some work.
Selfie Images
Another area where Realme performs better is in the selfie department.
Selfie
1 of 8
Realme X7 - Selfie
Mi 10i - Selfie
Realme X7 - Selfie
Mi 10i - Selfie
Realme X7 - Portrait Selfie
Mi 10i - Portrait Selfie
Realme X7 - Portrait Selfie
Mi 10i - Portrait Selfie
Once again, the HDR is better on the X7, and portrait selfies look livelier than what you get on the Mi 10i.
Nighttime Images
However, like with any other mid-range phone, Realme X7 doesn’t do a very good job during videos or low-light photos either.
Nighttime
1 of 4
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Indoor images usually don’t come out sharp if your hands are not steady, and nighttime images are quite noisy.
Night Mode
1 of 6
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Realme X7
Mi 10i
Unlike what we see on flagship phones, the night mode shots aren’t that great either.
Videography
Like I mentioned earlier, its video-shooting capabilities are strictly average too. There’s no stabilization in 4K/30fps videos. And although the 1080p/60fps and 30fps recording options do improve the stabilization, it’s still not quite as good as 2-3 years old flagships from Samsung and Apple.
Audio
Loudspeaker, no 3.5mm headphone jack
What’s also average here are the mono speaker and the vibration motor. It doesn’t get a dual speaker like the Realme 7 Pro or the Note 10 Pro. As a result, you don’t get that immersive sound experience. However, the audio quality isn’t that bad and it doesn’t distort at the highest of volumes like we noticed with the 7 Pro.
And as you might’ve already known, you don’t get a microSD card slot and the headphone jack with this phone. As for microSD, well, I haven’t used it on a smartphone for years now. But the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack could be a letdown for gamers because they now have to live the dongle life or have to buy a low latency headphone, which doesn’t come cheap.
But since I am not an avid mobile gamer, I personally don’t mind getting myself a Realme Buds Air 2, which looks like a good value-oriented TWS.
Battery
4300mAh battery with 50W SuperDart Charge
Anyways, this brings us to the battery life. With its 4300mAh cell, which btw isn’t considered a big battery by today’s standard, I still managed to get a full day of endurance almost every day. And you know that I tend to use my phones rigorously. So, considering its smaller battery capacity, I am pretty surprised with its endurance.
Realme also ships the phone with a 65W fast charger, which takes the phone from 0 to 100% in around 50 minutes. However, the actual charging speed here is limited to 50W only, so it’s not as fast as the Realme X7 Pro which utilizes the full potential of the 65W charger and charges its 4500mAh battery in some 35 minutes.
Conclusion
To conclude this review, despite its shortcomings like the lack of a 120Hz screen, or the 3.5mm headphone jack, I really like the Realme X7. It’s quite the underrated phone, in a world of big, heavy, and specs-centric smartphone industry. It nails the basics… the five pillars of a great smartphone – the design check.. the display check.. performance check, camera check.. battery life check.
But, since the Note 10 Pro Max and the Realme 8 Pro will be available pretty soon, it is only plausible to wait and get that instead, or see if the company drops the price of the Realme X7 which will make it an even better value.
Samsung has launched the Galaxy F02s in India as the latest entrant in the Galaxy F series. The device is actually a rebrand of the Samsung Galaxy M02s which is already available in Nepal. In this post, we will be taking a look at the full specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability of Samsung Galaxy F02s.
Samsung Galaxy F02s Overview:
Display and Design:
Galaxy F02s is the latest entry-level smartphone in the F series. It comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ panel with an Infinity-V notch. The device has a resolution of 720×1600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9.
At the back, it has a haze-and-matte design which is available on three different color configurations. In addition, the rear panel houses a rectangular camera cutout for a triple camera setup.
The phone is powered by the entry-level Snapdragon 450 chipset. It’s an octa-core chipset with a clock speed of up to 1.8GHz. Fueling the device is a massive 5,000mAh battery. Booting the device is Samsung’s own One UI on top of Android 10 which lets you navigate through every task effectively. Galaxy F02s is available on two memory configurations: 4+64GB and 3+32GB.
Camera
Similarly, the phone has a triple camera setup at the back with a 13MP primary sensor which is followed by two 2MP sensors for portrait and macro shots. The main camera can shoot video in 1080p at 30fps. The front display houses a 5MP lens in a waterdrop-style notch for selfies.
Rest of the specs
Moreover, the device utilizes Bluetooth 4.2 for connectivity. Plus, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack too. The device of built on a thickness of 9.1mm and weighs 196gm. A 5000mAh battery with 15W charging fuels the phone via a Type-C USB port.
Samsung Galaxy F02s Specifications:
Display: 6.5-inches IPS panel
Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels); 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Snapdragon 450 (12nm)
Memory: 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable)
Software& UI: One UI 3 on top of Android 10
Rear Camera: 13MP primary lens, 2MP depth lens, 2MP macro lens, and a LED flash
Front Camera: 5MP sensor (notch)
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 5000mAh with 15W charging
Colors: Diamond Blue, Diamond Black, Diamond White
Samsung Galaxy F02s Price in Nepal and Availability
Samsung Galaxy F02s will be available in India starting April 9 at a starting price of INR 8,999. The higher 4/64GB configuration costs INR 9,999. Galaxy F02s is an India-exclusive device but if Samsung Nepal decides to launch it here, we expect its starting price to be around NPR 14,999.
Samsung Galaxy F02s
Price in India
Price in Nepal (Expected)
3/32GB
INR 8,999
NPR 14,999
4/64GB
INR 9,999
NPR 15,999
Meanwhile, check out our review on Samsung Galaxy M02s.
Elon Musk’s Starlink has not rolled out commercially yet but it already has a rival in the form of OneWeb. The latter is working on its own constellation of internet satellites to provide a fast and reliable internet connection to average consumers. The company recently deployed 36 new satellites into space for the same. In this post, we will be taking a look at OneWeb’s approach to space internet and how it differs from that of Starlink.
OneWeb Overview:
Back from the bankruptcy
OneWeb is being developed as a European alternative to Starlink which is based in the USA. While the latter is backed by Elon Musk, the former was revived by the British government last year. The joint investment of the UK government and the Bharti Global Group saved the company from bankruptcy. Since then, it has managed to secure additional investment from companies like SoftBank Group and Hughes Network System. In January, the company reported its total funding to be at $1.4 billion.
OneWeb Internet Satellite Constellation
OneWeb plans to deploy a total of 648 satellites into the lower orbit of the Earth for its internet service. However, only 146 of them are currently in space.
The number is significantly less than the 1,200 active Starlink satellites and there’s a reason for that. The OneWeb satellites operate at a higher altitude (1,200km > 550km) and thus can cover a larger area.
On the other hand, it also means that the signal will take longer to travel between the satellite and the user terminal. As a result, the 50 – 100 ms theoretical latency of OneWeb falls short compared to Starlink’s 25 – 35ms latency.
Still, the company believes that its gradualist approach is a more responsible way forward than what Starlink is doing.
We’re beginning to think less is more.
Market coverage
Also, the lower number of satellites means OneWeb’s services will not be readily available as Starlink. While Starlink has already expanded its service to six countries, the company is currently targeting a smaller market that includes Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia, and northern Europe. It will be available in rest of the Europe by mid-2022. Still, OneWeb plans to make it available to select African regions around the same time although nothing has been said about the Asian market.
Another difference between the two companies is their target customers. OneWeb is targeting governments, marine, and airforces while Starlink focuses more on the consumer market. Also, Starlink has already encompassed 10,000 users in the beta-phase from six countries while OneWeb is expected to start its service in UK and Alaska later this year.
Satellites and Equipment
The satellites for the project are developed by OneWeb Satellites which is a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus. The washing machine-sized satellites are manufactured in a factory at Exploration Park. OneWeb has struck a deal with Arianespace for the launch of its satellites. Along with the antennas to connect to terminals at the ground station, these satellites feature Xenon-fed ion thrusters which take them to their ultimate destination once they are in space.
According to the company, the user terminal on the consumer’s end will be a lot less complicated to install and use.
We are not going down the “send you a box and tell you to install it’”route.
Business-to-Business model
Unlike Starlink, OneWeb won’t directly deal with the customers. It is going for the business-to-business model where it will provide services to existing telecom companies which will then deliver it to the end customers. The telecom companies will also have the privilege to fix the pricing of their respective consumers. As a result, the pricing may not be uniform in all the markets. To put it into context, Starlink users are currently paying $99 monthly on top of the $499 one-time initial payment.
Watch: Free Wi-Fi all over Nepal with Worldlink Mobility (Nepali)
As you might’ve heard by now, LG has closed its loss-making smartphone business worldwide. The company is exiting the phone manufacturing market to concentrate on expansion in other areas such as EVs, IoT, and B2B solutions.
Why LG closed its smartphone business?
For those who are unaware, LG has been losing money in its smartphone business for quite some time. As previously reported, the company lost KRW 841.20 billion in the fourth quarter of last year. To summarize the company’s overall performance in the smartphone industry, LG has been losing money in its smartphone business for the past 23 quarters.
LG, which had long held third place in the US smartphone industry, has eventually closed its smartphone business. It has launched a number of smartphones aimed at various customers over the years. In reality, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G is a decent piece of hardware that should have clashed with Samsung’s flagship S20 or S20 Plus.
So, let us dive deeper to discover why LG decide to close its smartphone business and what are the reasons that it was unable to create a trademark in the smartphone industry.
Why LG as a smartphone brand is failure?
LG is better known as a “content creator” brand. This is due to the phones’ high-quality microphone audio recorder and advanced manual control video recorder. The company was among the first to include an ultra-wide-angle camera in smartphones, which was a resounding hit and is now a popular feature in modern smartphones. Furthermore, its Quad DAC has one of the greatest audio listening experiences ever.
Aside from that, there are lots of stuff that LG undervalued.
Identity Crisis
The first and most important reason is an identity crisis. Yes, you read that correctly. LG as a brand has a strong presence in the TV, IoT, and B2B markets around the world. However, they have not put in the same amount of commitment in the mobile industry.
We can’t argue that LG has evolved into a brand with some truly revolutionary concepts. However, they lag behind in terms of selling their own products. Apart from the fact that LG manufactures good smartphones, most people are unaware of the company’s most recent launches.
Service
LG’s customer service is also among the worst in the mobile industry. The device has a slew of software problems, and even after the upgrade, your handset remains unchanged. And if your mobile is damaged or needs maintenance, you might not be able to locate an official LG support center.
Pricing
Prices fluctuate over time with the release of a new LG handset. It may feel as if the brand has made a cut off in the price after a year of launch. However, this is not the case here. As an example, consider the LG Velvet. The phone is now available for $350, down from $600 when it was first launched less than a year ago. This has been the case for almost all LG smartphones launched in recent years.
Many of these aspects contribute to generating the lowest degree of customer satisfaction. According to a CIRP, Apple (on iOS) and Samsung (on Android) dominate the list by a wide margin in terms of brand loyalty. In addition, LG has a low level of loyalty (45%) and has seen a drop in loyalty from quarter to quarter.
What about the existing devices?
The South Korean firm, in a statement, said that LG will continue to provide service support and software updates for existing mobile products for a period of time which will vary by region. And, the existing inventory will remain on sale.
As per LG, we can expect the closure of the smartphone business by July 31, although the inventory of some phones may be available after that.
Meanwhile, check out our review of the Redmi Note 10.
After the announcement of the Hot 10 last year, Infinix has now launched its Play edition. The new Hot 10 Play features a less powerful Helio G35 chipset and makes use of Android Go. The phone is now exclusively available via Daraz in Nepal. Let’s learn more about the Infinix Hot Play 10 along with its specifications, features, official price, and availability in Nepal.
Infinix Hot 10 Play Overview:
Design and Display
Interestingly, Infinix Hot 10 Play features a 6.82-inch LCD screen which is slightly bigger than that on the Hot 10. However, the resolution has remained unchanged at 720 x 1640 pixels. It results in a 20.5:9 aspect ratio which the company claims is better for single-hand operation. It has a waterdrop notch upfront that houses the front-facing camera. Infinix is claiming a screen-to-body ratio of 90.66%.
At the back, you get a stylish reflective panel that has been part of Infinix’s design language. The rear panel also houses the rectangular camera bump and the physical fingerprint scanner.
Performance and Memory
Unlike the regular Hot 10, the Infinix Hot 10 Play is powered by the Helio G35 chipset. It is still a budget gaming-focused chipset from MediaTek but is nowhere near the Helio G70 on the Hot 10. But again, it is definitely an upgrade from the Helio A22 / A25 on the Hot 9 Play. The phone comes with only 2 or 4GB of RAM and 32/64GB of internal storage. The latter can be expanded up to 512GB with an external microSD card.
Camera
Talking about cameras, there are two at the back and one on the front. The rear camera setup consists of a 13MP primary camera accompanied by an AI lens. This setup is similar to what Infinix Hot 9 Play has. Like the Hot 9 Play, Infinix has tried to make it look like a triple camera setup while in reality there are only two. The 8MP sensor on the front has remained unchanged too. Infinix has added flash both at the back and the front of the device.
Rest of the specs
The phone is powered by a massive 6,000mAh battery which should offer pretty good battery backup. There is Infinix Power Marathon mode that makes the most out of the battery whenever required. Sadly, there is no fast charging tech and it charges via a 10W micro USB port.
Infinix Hot 10 Play Specifications:
Display: 6.82-inches TFT IPS LCD panel; 90% screen-to-body ratio
Resolution: HD+ (1640 x 720 pixels); 20.5:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G35 (12nm)
Memory: 2/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable)
Software& UI: XOS 7.0 on top of Android 10
Rear Camera: 13MP primary lens, AI sensor; Quad-LED flash
Infinix Hot 10 Play Price in Nepal and Availability
Infinix Hot 10 Play is now available in Nepal where its price is NPR 17,140 for the 4/64GB variant. You can buy Infinix Hot 10 Play in Nepal from mobile retail shops.
Despite the underwhelming performance, LG gave its Mobile Communication (MC) division one more shot in 2020. It first released LG Velvet that came with a unique design and dual-screen accessories. Then, the company dared to experiment with LG Wing that came with a unique T-shaped form factor. And 2021 was supposed to be the year the company launched a rollable phone. However, we may never see it as LG has finally shut down its Mobile Communication division.
LG shuts down its Mobile Communication Division
LG had been trying to revive its smartphone business for some while now. However, nothing worked in its favor. Once a prominent player in the market, LG’s smartphone division has been operating in losses for some time now. The company reported a loss of KRW 841.20 billion in just the fourth quarter of last quarter. To put it into context, the company has been suffering losses in the smartphone market for 23 consecutive quarters.
Earlier this year, South Korean media outlet The Elec reported that LG will be exiting the smartphone market which the head of Global Corporate Communications, Kenneth Hong claimed to be false. But, The Elec was right all along.
It didn’t need to end like this
As per the financial report of Q4 2020, the company was looking for some new direction for its smartphone division. Selling the division altogether was an option but LG could not come to an agreement with any of the potential buyers. According to the reports, Bean Group, Google, Facebook, and Volkswagen were all in line but none of them made a compelling offer to LG.
The company even reportedly declined to license its name for ODMs (Original Design Manufacturer) to roll out products under the “LG” branding. Nokia is a prime example of this method. HDM Global, Flipkart, and RichGo use the Nokia brand name for smartphones, TV, and the Asian TWS market, respectively.
Existing phones will still receive support
LG has now shut down its Mobile Communication business and the company made the announcement via an official press release.
As per the press release, LG will now shift its focus to electronics and batteries. Similarly, it also says that the company will be shifting over 4,000 employees from the MC to its home appliance. However, these future plans are yet to be confirmed by the company.
While the company won’t release any phones in the future, it has promised to provide after-sales services and repair parts for the existing phones. Availability of these services will depend on the life span of the individual product.
The company is also continuing software support for the existing phones. It will eventually roll out Android 11 OS updates for selected models. These phones may also receive Android 12 updates in the future.
Realme found great success by capitalizing on the needs of the young audience. Its “Narzo” lineup of smartphones caters to the very same demographics. Complemented by a plethora of hip marketing campaigns while the products themselves share a significant bit of similarity with the company’s number series, Narzo-branded smartphones are quite the standout. Adding to the lineup, Realme recently unveiled the Narzo 30 series which includes a budget and a 5G-ready mid-range phone. And today, I bring you our full review of the Realme Narzo 30A.
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Light, Magnetic Induction
Battery: 6000mAh with 18W charging (reverse charging)
Color options: Laser Black, Laser Blue
Price in Nepal: N/A (not launched yet)
Realme Narzo 30A Review:
Here, the Narzo 30A that I have with me is the affordable one of the two. Retailing at just INR 9,000, it packs a pretty capable gaming chipset and an exciting design. But with Xiaomi’s latest Redmi Note 10 series into the mix, one might be wondering if it makes sense to invest a little more for a far superior smartphone. Well, let’s discover more in this review of the Realme Narzo 30A.
Design & Build
Glass front, plastic back/frame
A striking diagonal stripe design
To set itself apart from the competition, Realme has historically leaned on offering a distinct design, and that tradition follows suit with the Narzo 30A. Looking at the phone’s promotional materials, its striped layout at the back almost had me fooled for a grippy cover. That would’ve been pretty dope, actually. However, it’s nothing more than a painted texture that still looks quite unique.
Buttons, Ports
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Buttons
Ports
Additionally, while the phone is fairly immune to fingerprints and smudges, this design choice is prone to moisture from your hand. As a result, I often found myself having to wipe the sweat off the back of Narzo 30A. Although the phone sits quite well in the hand, it is a considerably heavy phone. Weighing 207 grams, it is definitely not for those who prefer something lightweight.
For biometrics, there’s a traditional fingerprint scanner at the back. It is pretty fast and therefore never had me going for the face unlock alternative. Unfortunately, Realme doesn’t let you access the notification tray by swiping down the scanner. All things considered, the Narzo 30A gets a point in terms of its design. The buttons click nice and even though it’s by no means a compact phone, I find it sitting snuggly in my hand.
Display
6.5-inches HD+ IPS LCD screen
570 nits brightness (Sunlight mode)
While I am at peace with the phone’s design, the display is where it has let me down. At a time when its arch-enemy Xiaomi is stepping up the game by providing a Full HD screen at a similar price-point, Realme’s dumbfounded ignorance is only hurting itself. Consequently, watching videos on the Narzo 30A is an underwhelming experience.
Now, Realme would’ve easily gotten a pass on this regard about a year ago but things have changed. And I simply can’t recommend this phone to those with content consumption in mind. That’s further backed up by the fact that Narzo 30A is just Widevine L3 certified, restricting you to sub-HD (540p) content streaming only.
Furthermore, even though YouTube force-enables 1080p resolution on this 720p screen, there’s little improvement in the picture quality itself—with the content looking slightly over-sharpened.
I also noticed its color science leaning on the cool side of things. Thankfully, you can adjust the screen color temperature, yet Realme’s implementation isn’t as extensive as Xiaomi. Moving on, the phone has a minimal teardrop notch and rounded edges on all four sides, with no visible discoloration. Barring Narzo 30A’s significant chin, the bezels on the remaining edges are fairly minimal. Similarly, this 6.5” IPS screen can get plenty bright although it will struggle outdoors.
Likewise, I find its viewing angles to be a tad bit sub-par as well. Looking at this display from the side, you’ll likely notice a drop in saturation level. Apart from this, for casual web browsing and similar use cases, Narzo 30A’s screen won’t disappoint.
Performance
Octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 SoC (12nm)
3/4GB LPDDR4X RAM, 32/64GB storage (expandable)
Now, jumping into the performance, Realme has paired this phone with MediaTek’s Helio G85. This is a pretty competent gaming-first chipset that was used in the company’s Narzo 20 from last year as well. We’re naturally led to believe that G85 brings some significant upgrades over the Helio G80, but the reality couldn’t be farther from the truth. Apart from a mere 50MHz boost in GPU frequency, both silicons are one and the same.
What I’m trying to say here is that we, as consumers, shouldn’t be playing into the manufacturer’s number game. And this is not exclusive to Realme, by the way. Companies use this (sadly) effective technique to gain bragging rights to highlight their product’s superiority.
But I digress. Here, Narzo 30A gets either 3/4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 32/64GB of internal storage. Our review unit is of 3/32GB configuration and with this, I got to relive something I’d moved away from a long time ago. Because it’s a budget gaming phone, I wanted to test out a couple of titles to reach a verdict. However, the puny 32GB memory couldn’t hold as many games as I’d want to—thereby making me uninstall a game or two every now and then.
Insufficient internal storage
And the cherry on top is the fact that the system itself occupies an unacceptable 13.7GB, resulting in the effective available storage to just 18.3GB. Like I mentioned earlier, there is a 64GB variant as well but I guess we can all agree that 32GB shouldn’t be the default storage space in a 2021 smartphone. Let’s now take a look at some benchmark scores.
Realme Narzo 30A
Redmi 9 Power
Androbench
Seq. Read
307.58 MB/s
513.27 MB/s
Seq. Write
84.57 MB/s
202.95 MB/s
AnTuTu V8
Total
186914
183351
CPU
72238
70713
GPU
33912
34880
Memory
36628
41178
UX
44136
36580
Geekbench 5
CPU (Single Core)
312
315
CPU (Multi-Core)
1263
1362
Compute (OpenCL)
1174
373
PCMark (Work 2.0 Performance)
8599
6097
3DMark (Wild Life)
700
371
Moving on to gaming, I played a few games and got a respectable performance.
Gaming experience
You can crank the settings to HD graphics and High frame rate in PUBG Mobile, and this results in fairly smooth gameplay. The rare instances of slight stutters under these settings are absolutely excusable.
But if you want the best PUBG Mobile experience, you’d want to set the graphics to Smooth and frame rate to Ultra. After about 20 minutes of gaming, the phone got to 42C (CPU) and 38C (battery) which feels warm to touch, but not scorchingly hot.
Additionally, COD Mobile maxes out at Medium graphics and High frame rate and it’s smooth sailing here. Zero stutters or lags. Similarly, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is equally playable at High graphics with shadow, damage text, and other visual enhancements turned on. After around 30 minutes of gameplay, Narzo 30A delivered a comparable thermal performance too.
Lackluster state of software update
While the gaming side of things is commendable, Realme has “dared to leap” in the exact opposite direction by shipping this phone with the now-outdated Android 10-based Realme UI 1.0.
What’s worse is that the company’s recent blog post revealed that Narzo 30A will get Realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) only in Q3, 2021. By that time, we may already see Google unveil Android 12. Once again, this is simply not an admissible offense and Realme deserves harsh criticism for this behavior.
Anyway, Realme UI 1.0 isn’t half bad, to be honest. It is quite well optimized and is pretty responsive too. By default, swiping down on the home screen triggers the search menu but you can customize it to launch the notification drawer instead. I also like the “Game Space” that optimizes the system resources, blocks notifications, and such automatically on compatible games.
Cameras
Dual-camera setup at the back
(13MP primary, 2MP portrait sensor)
8MP selfie camera inside the notch
Cameras
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Back
Front
Let’s get into the cameras now. Realme has gone with a classic camera layout on the Narzo 30A. While you may mistake it for a triple-camera arrangement, the phone only has two lenses at the back—a 13MP primary, and a 2MP portrait sensor. I tried comparing it with the Redmi 9 Power and here are the results.
Normal Images
Compared to the 48MP primary camera on the competition, the normal daytime images from the Narzo 30A lag behind in terms of details.
Normal
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Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
While I personally don’t prefer the high saturation on Redmi 9 Power’s photos, it does generate more popping colors. You can turn on “Chroma Boost” for the same on Narzo 30A though. In some instances, the phone also over-sharpens the images.
Portrait Images
Portrait images share a similar story in terms of color reproduction as well. But, the ones from Redmi 9 Power underexposes the subjects by a bit, making them look a little dark.
Portrait
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Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
On the other hand, Narzo 30A has a relatively cool color temperature and a more digestible result. In terms of edge detection, both phones are on par with each other.
Nighttime Images
Here, the Redmi 9 Power wins out in terms of regular nighttime and night mode shots.
Nighttime
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Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Its photos retain better details, dynamic range while Narzo 30A’s pictures tend to look soft and hazy.
Night Mode
1 of 12
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
More importantly, if you’re shooting in an environment with direct light sources, the images from the 30A will fall victim to rabid lens flare.
Selfie, Portrait Selfie Images
Likewise, the selfie images share a similar story.
Selfie
1 of 8
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Redmi 9 Power’s 8MP selfie shooter manages to deliver better dynamic range and details compared to the 8MP sensor on the Narzo 30A. While the former has a yellowish hue, Realme’s alternative has this soft pinkish tint.
Selfie
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Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Narzo 30A
9 Power
Redmi 9 Power overpowers the portrait selfie shots with high contrast as well.
Videography
In terms of videos, both phones max out at 1080p/30fps recordings from front/back cameras. I found that Narzo 30A can capture relatively superior footage. In both instances, the Redmi 9 Power has worse dynamic range and exposure control.
Battery
6000mAh battery with 18W fast charging
When it comes to battery life, Narzo 30A is a champ. Thanks to a big 6000mAh cell, I was consistently able to get 7-7.5 hours of screen-on-time on this phone. And that’s including multiple sessions of continuous gaming as well. Realme even says you can achieve up to 10 hours of gaming but that claim seems questionable. And if you’re someone who doesn’t game a lot, it will easily last you a couple of days.
Charging the phone is quite slow though. The 18W fast charger included inside the box takes almost 3 hours and 10 minutes to take Narzo 30A from 2% to 100%. It also supports reverse charging, so you can transfer power from the phone to other devices including smartphones, wearables, etc.
Audio
Single bottom-firing speaker
Likewise, its audio quality isn’t that bad either. Now, you don’t get a stereo speaker setup like on the Redmi 9 Power but the sound output is pretty good. It gets loud enough and is most suitable for listening to podcasts or similar acoustic content. Just don’t expect it to fare well under dynamic audio/video files.
Conclusion
To finish up this review, I feel like the Realme Narzo 30A is an underachieving phone on many fronts. It has a compromised 720p screen, a dual-camera setup, and an under-powerful 3/32GB starting model. At a time when most other manufacturers are starting to standardize the 4/64GB base variant, it’s a direct step backward.
Plus, the phone still runs on last-gen Android 10, with the Android 11 update scheduled so late. Yet, it does have a few redeeming qualities like its gaming capabilities and battery life. But at the end of the day, you get so much more by cashing in a couple of thousand rupees more for the Redmi Note 10.
