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Qualcomm is struggling to meet the demand of smartphone chips

Qualcomm

GadgetByte

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March 13, 2021

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

0

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

1

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

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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

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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

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March 10, 2021

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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.

Nokia G10 could be the company’s first gaming smartphone

Nokia
Rumor

Nikhil Shrestha

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March 9, 2021

0

Nokia G10 could be the company’s first gaming smartphone

Nokia N-Gage from almost 2 decades ago was a radical gaming phone. With its extreme design language combining a full-fledged feature phone and a handheld gaming device, it sure was a head-turner. After re-entering the smartphone business under HMD Global, Nokia has been continuously pushing out budget to flagship Android phones. And now, it looks like the company is venturing into the gaming market if the new rumors are to be believed. Here, the upcoming Nokia G10 could be the company’s first gaming-oriented smartphone.

Nokia G10 Rumors:

This news comes from NokiaPowerUser who first spotted a device with the model number “TA-1334” in the TÜV certification. While this phone was previously speculated to be Nokia 6.3/6.4 (even appearing in Thai certification), the latest development suggests that it’s likely going to be the new G10 instead. It’s also important to note that this will be the introduction of Nokia’s G-series smartphones.

Moreover, the phone also appeared on a Russian retailer’s website. From what it seems, Nokia G10 isn’t going to be your top-of-the-line gaming phone with the latest and greatest hardware. The listing reveals that the device will come with a 4/64GB memory configuration. Additionally, it might have a 6.38-inches HD screen and a quad-camera setup led by a 48MP sensor. It will be followed by an ultrawide, a macro, and a depth sensor. Upfront, the phone is expected to have a 16MP selfie shooter.

Also Read: Nokia 1.4 with Google-powered Night Mode launched in Nepal

Other info about the Nokia G10 includes a 4000mAh battery with Type-C charging, Android 10 OS, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, etc. However, it is entirely possible that all this info is merely a placeholder for the actual product description. This is a pretty common practice among e-commerce websites so it’s all hearsay for now.

Is it really a gaming phone?

Even if the present info indeed turns out to be true, then we’re looking at a pretty underwhelming gaming phone. Maybe Nokia wants to kick things off with a budget-oriented gaming device instead. As a result, we expect the Nokia G10 to equip MediaTek’s Helio G-series chipset. Here, the speculation of the phone being a gaming-centric device solely comes from the ‘G’ in its naming. In the end, the Nokia G10 might very well turn out to be yet another budget phone from the company.

Nokia H10 to tag along

On top of this, HMD Global is also expected to launch the Nokia H10 smartphone. According to a Finnish leakster Teme, the company is also working on the H10 series of devices. But that’s about everything we know in that regard for now.

Nokia G10 Expected Launch Date

As of now, there’s really not much known about the upcoming Nokia G10. The company could launch this phone in Q2 2021 at best. So, we’re gonna have to wait a while to learn more about its specs, official price, and availability.

In the meanwhile, check out our review of the Nokia 3.4.

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 (UX363) Review: OLED Excellence

Nikhil Shrestha

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March 9, 2021

0

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 (UX363) Review: OLED Excellence

Because of how versatile they are, the popularity of 2-in-1 convertible laptops is on the rise. From portable design to multiple use-cases, these devices so much more than a traditional laptop. And today, we have the new Asus ZenBook Flip 13 UX363 in for review. Featuring a compact body and a vibrant OLED display, this 2-in-1 is a pretty interesting device.

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 Specifications:

Design & Build: Aluminum build, 12.01W x 8.31D x 0.47H-inches, 1.30 kg
Display: 13.3-inches glossy OLED panel, Multi-touch, 100% DCI-P3, 300 nits brightness, stylus support, TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light
Resolution: FHD (1920×1080) resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio
Keyboard: Backlit Chiclet (single color – white), 1.35mm key-travel
Processor: Intel Tiger Lake CPU (Core i7-1165G7), 4C/8T, 4.7GHz Max Turbo Frequency, 12MB Intel Smart Cache, 10nm SuperFin
RAM: 16GB LPDDR4X RAM
Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (integrated)
Audio: 2x2W speakers, Harman/Kardon tuned, Built-in array microphone
Battery: 4-cell 67 Watt-hours 4S1P Li-Ion battery
Power Supply: 65W AC adapter
Webcam: 720p HD camera, IR webcam with Windows Hello
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 ax (2×2), Bluetooth 5.0
I/O ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB Type-C (Thuderbolt 4, DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x HDMI 1.4
Price in Nepal: Rs. 176,000
What’s inside the box: Laptop, power adapter, USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter, Asus Pen (AAAA battery included)

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 Review:

You can find two configurations of this laptop: one with Intel Tiger Lake Core i5 processor and the other with i7 CPU. Our review unit is the high-end i7 variant that is coupled with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. While this configuration retails for $1200 in the US, here in Nepal is costs around NPR 176,000. Okay, let’s get on with the review of the Asus ZenBook Flip 13.

Design

Lightweight, portable design
2-in-1 convertible, sturdy hinge
No headphone jack, RJ45 (LAN) port

As usual, allow me to kick things off with the design. The ZenBook lineup from Asus has been a staple of the company’s premium design while retaining lightweight build quality well. Thankfully, this tradition has been passed on here as well. ZenBook Flip 13’s lid has been molded into the classic spun-metal architecture whereas the rest of the body gets a brushed aluminum finish.

Here, the lid also features an off-centric Asus branding and unfortunately is quite prone to smudges. But more importantly, it doesn’t budge to even some of the most vigorous attempts which is pretty impressive. The 360-degree hinge feels plenty sturdy too and Asus says you’re good for at least 20,000 cycles of opening and closing this hinge.

To maintain the rigidity under different modes you might end up using the laptop, Asus has been clever enough to engineer a sort-of obstacle in-between so that the hinge doesn’t easily slide away at every go. This implementation is pretty common in 2-in-1 laptops which ultimately lets you enjoy the device in multiple form-factors.

Besides the regular laptop configuration, you can transform it into a tent, stand, or tablet mode. We’re all pretty familiar with the latter and the rest aren’t anything radical either. These are productivity-oriented orientations and are geared towards content-sharing intention. Asus has also included 4 rubber nubbins on all four edges of the keyboard chassis that absorb the pressure every time you close the lid to prevent any damage.

MIL-STD 810G certified

ZenBook Flip 13’s air-intake vents are situated at the bottom while the exhaust vents reside on the hinge. Just like on the HP Envy x360 that we recently reviewed, only one-half of the vent is designed to blow out hot air. In terms of durability, Asus has also managed to nab MIL-STD 810G certification for this machine.

This basically ensures all-weather usability and even some level of protection against accidental drops. Fortunately enough, I haven’t so much as bumped it to a rough surface so everything’s absolutely A-OK here.

Ports

1 of 2

Moving on, at just 1.3 kg, my back is incredibly thankful for this lightweight build as well. The protective sleeve that comes inside the box is some of the most premium looking out there too. Getting to I/O connectivity, you’ll find two USB Type-C and a full-sized HDMI port on the left frame. Here, either USB-C connection accepts power input and is also Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery compliant. Similarly, the other is home to a solitary USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port and a minimalistic power button.

No headphone jack

Notice the sorry lack of a headphone jack? Yeah, it’s a shame. I’d extensively complained about this exclusion in our review of ZenBook 14 UM425 so I’m not gonna beat the dead horse here. Asus does provide a USB-C to 3.5mm jack dongle inside the box so that’s something. All in all, the ZenBook Flip UX363 is a tough cookie. It is built well and is quite lightweight too. The blaring omission of a headphone jack might not sit well with many but giving in to the dongle life isn’t the worst thing in the world, I guess.

Display

13.3″ glossy touchscreen OLED panel
100% DCI-P3 color gamut, stylus support
TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certified

Apart from the excellent design, this one’s an absolute winner on the display front as well. Featuring a 13.3” Full HD OLED panel, there’s hardly any alternative that matches the sheer grandeur of this screen—at least in this part of the world. OLED displays are renowned for their near-perfect contrast level and you can probably already tell that I had a great time looking at this beautiful machine. Covering 100% of DCI-P3 color space, ZenBook Flip’s display is pleasantly vibrant to look at too.

I didn’t have to manually color-calibrate this display either. It is Pantone validated as well, meaning that this screen has passed the color standards of the Pantone Matching System (PMS). Without going into any elaborate detail, it is a standardization that helps identify and match colors. What this ultimately means is that the ZenBook Flip is a viable machine for photo/video editors as well.

Anyway, this display is pretty reflective so you’d most likely want to work in a room with little light sources. And I recently learned that glossy panels are almost a necessity for vibrant displays. A soul for a soul, eh? It wasn’t much of a dealbreaker for me but if you’re someone who prefers something less reflective, you can always apply an anti-glare screen protector.

Low blue light emission

Besides this, the ZenBook Flip has great viewing angles and it can get bright enough to be easily visible outdoors too. Asus has also managed to obtain TÜV Rheinland certification against low blue light emission on this laptop. The company calls it “Eye Care” and you can access it from the MyASUS app. You can choose from 5 different levels of blue light reduction to best suit your need.

However, this feature on the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 didn’t work well during the early days of the review. Whenever I accessed Windows menus like the notification center or the start menu, it would automatically turn off, only to turn back on shortly after. Thankfully, I recently received a graphics driver update that solved this issue.

What about screen burn-in?

Because OLED screens use organic molecules instead of a dedicated backlight, each pixel can generate its own light and can therefore be turned on/off for the perfect contrast level. Yet, burn-in has always been a concern on such screens where continuous and prolonged exposure to a more-or-less static content results in image retention. But with our diverse usage pattern, it isn’t as severe as it might be painted out to be.

Still, Asus also pushed an update on the ZenBook Flip that included a screensaver file which would activate after you leave the laptop static for a while (usually 30 minutes). Moreover, this laptop features the classic NanoEdge design from Asus with minimal bezels on the side, although the same can’t be said for the top and bottom. If only the company had decided to trim the chin, we could’ve easily gotten a 16:10 display like Dell’s 2020 XPS lineup. Nonetheless, the touch-screen experience has been excellent too.

It supports multi-touch input too and I have no complaint regarding the touch response either. Asus has also generously thrown in a stylus for free in the box. It takes an AAAA battery and has 4096 pressure levels. You can make sketches or take notes with it, although a glossy surface wouldn’t be an artist’s ideal canvas. Regardless, the inclusion of a free stylus is a welcome move.

Keyboard

Backlit chiclet-style keyboard (single-color)

When it comes to the keyboard, Asus has done an outstanding job too. This edge-to-edge island-style keyboard is wonderful to type on. The keys are adequately spaced out and are incredibly responsive too. Likewise, the keys don’t rattle much either and I find its 1.35mm travel distance comfortable as well. Here, the keyboard deck is pretty solid and doesn’t give in to the toughest attempts at trying to push it down.

It is also backlit with 3 levels of illumination to choose from. However, when you’re using the ZenBook Flip on a table with the laptop matching your eye-level, the backlight bleed from the top row keys is too distracting. Asus certainly could’ve done a better job here. As a result, I would mostly depend on ambient lighting for the keyboard’s visibility.

ErgoLift hinge, subdued

Moving on, this laptop also embeds the ErgoLift hinge design. Contrary to a traditional flat layout, it lifts the bottom chassis to a certain degree to facilitate a more comfortable typing experience while also aiding in effective air-flow. But unlike other Asus laptops with a similar design choice, the ZenBook Flip doesn’t lift as much to the point where it’s almost dismissable. You can witness the hinge in its anticipated level by pushing the lid to an uncomfortable degree, but that’s far from ideal.

At any rate, I am thankful that you can lock the Function key on this keyboard. As someone who frequently uses function key shortcuts, having to complement that with an additional button is a nuisance to me. Besides Fn, Asus hasn’t included an LED indicator on other keys like the camera and microphone. Coming from the HP Envy x360, this feels a little less reassuring. Furthermore, the power button on the side is fine but I feel like one with a fingerprint sensor integration would’ve been even better.

Trackpad

Glass trackpad with integrated left/right keys
Asus Numberpad 2.0 compatible

Asus also takes pride in its trackpad on the ZenBook Flip 13. Because of the compact form-factor, it’s impossible to integrate Numpad keys on a 2-in-1 of this size. As compensation, it has one built inside the trackpad itself. You can activate the NumberPad 2.0 by long-pressing the top-right edge of the trackpad. Similarly, it lets you choose from two levels of brightness by pressing the top-left edge.

There’s also a nifty shortcut baked in where you can launch the default calculator app simply by sliding down or left from the brightness control area. Apart from this, this glass-covered trackpad also integrated intelligent palm-rejection technology. But for the most part that has been a disappointment during my usage.

I prefer placing my wrist on the keyboard chassis itself even while I’m simply scrolling through. Here, this trackpad would time-and-again misread my two-finger input as a three-finger gesture instead. On certain occasions, I would accidentally trigger NumberPad 2.0 too. So much for “intelligent”. At times, this trackpad would freeze and abruptly disable the scrolling function altogether. I’m yet to receive an update addressing this issue.

Webcam

720p HD IR webcam with Windows Hello support

A good webcam is almost a rarity in laptops and this one’s no exception either. Its 720p camera is fine for general video-calling purposes, but don’t expect to be blown away by the quality. Subjects look pinkish and the video turns out quite grainy too. This IR-infused camera also supports Windows Hello login. It works perfectly fine in a well-lit environment but will struggle under dark ambiance.

Audio

2x2W stereo speaker setup
Harman/Kardon certified

The audio system on this laptop is fortified by a dual-speaker system which is Harman/Kardon certified. Its speaker grille is located on the bottom edges of the chassis and is pretty easy to block out. Initially, I noticed the audio quality to be quite muffled but the performance drastically improved after a BIOS update. And now, it sounds pretty well balanced, can get loud enough, and is a decent partner for content consumption. But you might recall that the ZenBook Flip skips a headphone jack.

Performance

Intel Tiger Lake core i7-1165G7 (28W TDP)
Iris Xe integrated graphics, No discrete GPU
16GB LPDDR4X RAM, 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

Okay, let us now jump into the performance section of the review. Like I mentioned earlier, our unit of the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 is powered by Intel Tiger lake Core i7-1165G7 CPU. This processor falls under Intel’s Evo platform that prioritizes aspects like increased battery life, faster boot time, high-bandwidth connectivity, etc. Unfortunately, there’s no discrete GPU on this machine—not even the entry-level MX-series solution from NVIDIA.

As a result, you will have to depend on the integrated Iris Xe graphics for your GPU needs. Still and all, Intel has made great strides on this generation of integrated graphics as the Iris Xe is almost 50% faster than last-gen Intel UHD graphics. While it will fumble if you take it through intensive video editing, 3D rendering projects, Iris Xe is more than capable of handling lightweight projects and even some eSports gaming.

Gaming experience

Talking about gaming, for this review, I tried playing a couple of titles on the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 to see how well it performs. CS: GO gave a stable 70-74 fps under medium video settings with MSAA 2x. Similarly, Valorant was equally playable on this machine as I was able to get around 54-60fps at medium quality with MSAA 2x.

However, because of its compact chassis and non-gaming heritage, there’s not an effective cooling mechanism. Consequently, the laptop heats mere minutes after gaming. By the way, I tested its gameplay under the Performance mode which cranks up the fan speed to the max to keep up with the CPU loads.

Even with this, the CPU temperature quickly rose to 63-degree while the upper left area of the keyboard chassis would feel warm to touch. Still, after around half-an-hour or so of continuous gaming, the temperature settled to ~68-degree. Because the loud fan noise isn’t suitable for a workplace setting, you can opt for the Standard or Whisper fan mode instead.

Performance modes

Here, the former dynamically switches between fan speeds depending on requirement while the whisper mode keeps things extra-quiet—but this will limit CPU performance significantly. Also, performance mode isn’t supported when you’re using it under tablet mode.

Multitasking is quite efficient on the ZenBook Flip 13. With 16GB of onboard LPDDR4X RAM clocked at 4266MHz, I could simultaneously open multiple tabs on Chrome while also working on a word processing application and Adobe Photoshop. Unlike the HP Envy x360, I didn’t notice any issue with memory management issues here. I didn’t have to reload a tab on Chrome after letting it sit idle for quite some time. In terms of storage, Asus ships this laptop with 512GB of M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. And right off the bat, this is not its strongest suit.

If I recall correctly, the company had compromised on this front in the ZenBook 14 UM425 that I reviewed earlier. This is especially reflected in boot-up time as the ZenBook Flip takes around 13 seconds on average. Similarly, apps like Adobe Photoshop and LibreOffice Writer took roughly 11 and 1.3 seconds to load, respectively. Let’s take a look at some benchmarks:

CrystalDiskMark

	Read (MB/s)	Write (MB/s)
SEQ1M Q8T1	1951.63	969.39
SEQ1M Q1T1	1108.15	966.10
RND4K Q32T1	272.48	363.97
RNK4K Q1T1	41.58	135.47

Cinebench R23

CPU: Multi-Core	4011
CPU: Single Core	1361
MP Ratio	2.95x

Geekbench 5

CPU: Single Core	1491
CPU: Multi-Core	2455
Compute (OpenCL)	18621

Unigine Heaven

(FPS: 27.5, Score: 694, Min FPS: 7.1, Max FPS: 61.3)

API: OpenGL	Multi-monitor: Disabled
Quality: High	Anti-aliasing: x2
Tessellation: Extreme	Fullscreen: Yes
Stereo 3D: Disabled	Resolution: System

GFXBench

1440p Aztec Ruins OpenGL (High Tier) Offscreen	42.5226 fps
1080p Car Chase (Offscreen)	100.65 fps
1080p Manhattan 3.1 (Offscreen)	134.099 fps
1080p ALU 2 (Offscreen)	539.989 fps
1080p Driver Overhead 2 (Offscreen)	135.378 fps
1080p Texturing (Offscreen)	99.5768 fps

The MyASUS app is pretty useful too. Besides playing around with different fan modes, you can also download device drivers, perform hardware diagnostic, and solve other probable issues BSOD. Moreover, the Link to MyASUS feature lets you wirelessly transfer photos, videos, and other files to and from your phone. Contrary to HP’s QuickDrop, you’ll need to have both devices connected to the same network here. But even after doing so, the actual transfer speed is pretty slow and it would abruptly disconnect more often than not.

Battery

4-cell 67 Watt-hour Li-Ion battery
65W AC adapter inside the box

Moving on to the battery side of things, the ZenBook Flip 13 is fueled by a 67 Watt-hour 4-cell Li-Po battery. Asus claims that you can get up to 14 hours of screen-on-time with this setup but my usage derived a little less. With brightness set at around 55% and fan profile set to performance mode, I was able to get around 9 hours of battery life.

That’s still really impressive. Like, not having to worry about running out of juice throughout the day is a pretty big feat. Charging up the battery can take somewhere from 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours. As I mentioned earlier, you can connect the charging cable to either USB-C port on the left.

Since it also supports USB Power Delivery, you can also use a 65W PD-compliant smartphone charger for an even sleeker computing setup. In order to improve battery health, Asus has also introduced 3 different charging modes. Under the full capacity option, it lets you juice up the battery to 100%.

Additionally, the balanced and maximum lifespan mode restricts the charging capacity once it hits 80 and 60% respectively. This is ideal for scenarios where you wouldn’t want the laptop to run out of power, but also don’t want to deal with the risk of overcharging. Ultimately, this will extend the charge cycle of the battery meaning you won’t have to replace the battery anytime soon.

Conclusion

To conclude this review, the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 is a great 2-in-1 laptop. From its build quality, display, battery life, and even performance—it is pretty impressive. With the versatility of use case that it brings, this laptop caters to the needs of different demographics. The free stylus that comes inside the box is a sweet gesture as well. If I really had to nitpick, it’s the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack and the unoptimized trackpad.

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

Lightweight, portable design
Excellent OLED display
Free stylus inside the box
Comfortable keyboard
Numpad integrated touchpad
Decent performance level
Terrific battery life

Cons:

No 3.5mm headphone jack
Average webcam quality
Trackpad prone to mistouches

OnePlus officially confirms Hasselblad collaboration on the upcoming 9 series

OnePlus

GadgetByte

-

March 8, 2021

1

OnePlus officially confirms Hasselblad collaboration on the upcoming 9 series

OnePlus is on the verge of releasing the OnePlus 9 series. While there have been numerous leaks and rumors regarding the upcoming OnePlus flagships, the one that has caught the most attention is the Hasselblad-branded cameras. The company hosted an online event today to discuss its collaboration with Hasselblad for the camera setup on the 9 Pro. In this post, we will be taking a look at the OnePlus-Hasselblad collaboration in more detail.

Smartphone-camera manufacturer collaboration

This is not the first time that a smartphone brand has teamed up with a camera manufacturer for smartphone cameras. One of the most famous partnerships is that of Nokia and Carl Zeiss. The two companies first shook hands for the Nokia N95 which was a capable Symbian smartphone back then. The partnership didn’t end when Nokia entered the Windows era. Similarly, HMD Global also revived the partnership after it took the responsibility of manufacturing Nokia-branded phones.

Carl Zeiss has also partnered with other smartphone manufacturers over the years. Last year, it provided its T* anti-reflective lens coating for the Sony Xperia 1 II. Later, Vivo announced that it had struck a partnership deal with Zeiss for developing innovative mobile photography solutions. The deal includes the Vivo ZEISS Master Photography campaign starting with the X60 series.

The most effective partnership in recent times has to be that of Huawei and Leica. Instead of licensing its name, Leica is quite involved in the overall selection and development of camera setup in Huawei’s flagship phones.

Hasselblad: Brand Overiew

When it comes to cameras, Hasselblad is not just another manufacturer. The Swedish camera maker has a rich history that traces back to 1841. Hasselblad cameras have even captured some of the memorable images in human history. For instance, it had provided cameras for the Apollo 7 and Apollo 8 space missions. Also, the iconic images of Edwin Aldrin on the moon were captured by Neil Armstrong using Hasselblad EDC camera.

Hasselblad’s connection with space is the reason behind OnePlus’s “Over the Horizon” teaser campaign.

OnePlus and Hasselblad mobile camera partnership

While OnePlus has rarely disappointed in the performance segment with its main number series, the camera experience has not been that top-notch. It has always lagged behind companies like Samsung, Huawei, and Google when it comes to camera experience. Still, that was not much of a deal-breaker as OnePlus devices came at a relatively less asking price compared to the mainstream flagship devices.

However, with the company finally entering the flagship pricing territory with last year’s 8 series, the camera weakness has been highlighted more than ever. It’s the reason OnePlus has decided to associate a name as big as Hasselblad in its upcoming flagship phones.

As per the press release, OnePlus and Hasselblad have agreed on a partnership that will span over the next three years. Initially, the two companies will be working on the software side of things like color tuning and sensor calibration. They are also keen on developing innovative imaging technologies for Hasselblad Camera for Mobile. They plan to spend over $150 million over the partnership for research and development. A part of the fund will be used to set up four research and development labs in the US and Japan.

OnePlus 9 Series Early Information

The first major product as part of the OnePlus Hasselblad partnership will be the Hasselblad Camera for Mobile in the OnePlus 9 series. The series will be official on March 23. OnePlus claims that these phones will feature a revamped camera setup with the Sony IMX789 sensor. It will be the largest and the most advanced camera sensor ever in an OnePlus phone. The company is also claiming it to be 64 times more colorful than its predecessor. The camera will facilitate 4k 120fps recording and 8K 30fps recording.

Talking about the features, it will equip Natural Color Calibration with Hasselblad technology for accurate and natural colors. Similarly, there will also be a Hasselblad Pro Mode. In addition to the change in the image processing, OnePlus is also updating its UI for a Hasselblad-like experience. The Hasselblad Pro mode will allow the users to adjust different settings such as ISO, white balance, and exposure time. On top of that, users will have an option to record in a 12-bit RAW format as well.

Future plans include a panoramic camera, T-lens for the front camera, and a freeform lens. The latter will debut with the OnePlus 9 series and the company is confident that it will eliminate edge distortion in ultrawide shots.

Worth the Hype?

In spite of OnePlus releasing a video today to welcome Hasselblad, the 9 series won’t be the first phone with Hasselblad’s name tied to it. In fact, Hasselblad has teamed with smartphone manufacturers at least a couple of times prior to this. One of the earliest examples is the Hasselblad-certified Vertu Signature Touch. The camera experience was nothing extra-ordinary even back in 2014. Two years later, the company worked with Motorola for modular zoom accessories for the Moto Z lineup. Hasselblad did the zoom aspect correct on this one but that was it.

While we wish OnePlus and Hasselblad to succeed in their latest venture, history suggests that all may not go smooth despite all the hype and anticipation. What do you think of the OnePlus-Hasselblad partnership? Will OnePlus be able to compete against the likes of Samsung and Google? Let us know your thoughts with your comments below.

Check out our review of the OnePlus 8 Pro.