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Asus ZenBook Flip 13 with OLED display, Asus Pen now available in Nepal

Asus Nepal has updated its lineup of ZenBook products with the latest Ultrabooks powered by 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processors. Among the new laptops released is the Asus ZenBook Flip 13. It is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop with an OLED touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge. Let’s learn more about the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 (UX363EA) including its specs, features, official price, and availability in Nepal.

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 (UX363EA) Overview:

Design and Display

Among the new launches in Nepal, the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 is the most expensive of them all. With a thickness of just 13.9mm, the company is claiming it to the world’s thinnest convertible. ZenBook Flip 13 weighs only 1.3kg and is therefore super portable. It comes with a 360-degree ErgoLift hinge, allowing you to use the device in different modes – laptop, tablet, stand, or tent. Not to forget, the hinge also offers a comfortable typing experience and an improved cooling system.

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 UX363

The laptop sports a 13.3-inch FHD NanoEdge touchscreen with a 0.2ms response time. It’s an OLED screen that covers 100% of the DCI P3 color gamut. It also has the TÜV Rheinland certification for low blue light emission. You can even buy an Asus Pen or Windows Ink-compatible stylus to work on the touchscreen.

Rest of the specs

Moving on, the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 features an edge-to-edge keyboard. Because this design doesn’t allow for dedicated Numpad keys, Asus ingeniously substitutes that with NumPad 2.0. It’s basically a touchpad that switches to an Integrated LED-illuminated numeric keypad with a push of a button.

Asus Numpad 2

In terms of raw performance, the laptop is equipped with the latest 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processors. You can choose between Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs. Both variants feature 512GB of SSD storage but the former only has 8GB of RAM compared to the latter’s 16GB.

The laptop is part of the Intel Evo program and thus has both Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. You actually get two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports (up to 40Gbps), one Type-A port, and a standard HDMI port. Users also get to enjoy the best Wi-Fi experience with the Asus WiFi Master Premium technologies. A 4-celled 67 Whr lithium battery fuels the laptop. Asus also ships the laptop with a 65W charger but you can also use other Power Delivery compatible chargers as well.

Asus Flip 13 UX363EA Ports

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 (UX363) Specifications:

CPU
  • Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor
  • Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor
Display 13.3” LED-backlit FHD OLED (1920 x 1080) 16:9 slim-bezel NanoEdge touchscreen, 300 nits, 100% sRGB
Operating system Windows 10 Home
Graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Main memory
  • 8 GB 4266 MHz LPDDR4x (i5)
  • 16 GB 4266 MHz LPDDR4x (i7)
Storage 512 GB PCIe NVMe 3.0 x2 M.2 SSD
Connectivity
  • Intel WiFi 6 with Gig+ performance (802.11ax)
  • Bluetooth 5.0
Camera IR webcam with Windows Hello support
I/O ports
  • 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C (up to 40Gbps)
  • USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (up to 5Gbps)
  • Standard HDMI
Audio
  • Dual-speaker Harman Kardon-certified audio system
  • ASUS SonicMaster stereo audio system with surround-sound; smart amplifier for maximum audio performance
  • Array microphone with Cortana voice-recognition support
  • 1 x USB-C to 3.5 mm audio jack adapter
Battery 67 Wh 4-cell lithium-polymer battery
AC adapter Plug Type: USB-C
Dimensions 1.39 x 30.5 x 21.1 cm
Weight Approx. 1.3 kg with standard display

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 (UX363EA) Price In Nepal

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 bears price tags of Rs. 176,667 and Rs. 146,667 for the Core i7 and Core i5 variants, respectively. You can buy Asus ZenBook Flip 13 in Nepal from Nagmani International or any other authorized stores.

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 (UX363EA) Variant Price in Nepal Availability
Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Rs. 146,667
Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Rs. 176,667
  • Check out our review of the Asus ZenBook 14 UM425 (2020).

JBL Tuner 2 Review: Great FM Radio, Not So Good Speaker

JBL is a big name when it comes to audio accessories, especially in the portable Bluetooth segment market. Back in 2018, the company tried to do something new by incorporating FM radio into its portable speaker. The result was the JBL Tuner FM. While it did not make it into the Nepali market, the second-generation Tuner 2 has. And I was able to get one for myself for the review. So let’s get into our review of the JBL Tuner 2.

JBL Tuner 2 Specifications:

  • Dimension: 180 x 70 x 72mm
  • Weight: 543g
  • Transducer: 1 x 1.75”
  • Rated Output Power: 5W RMS
  • Frequency Response: 80Hz – 20KHz
  • Signal to noise ratio: >80dB
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2, Aux-in
  • Water Resistant: IPX7 certification
  • Battery: 9.075 Wh Lithium-ion
  • Charging port: Type-C (5V, 1.2A)
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 14,500

JBL Tuner 2 Review:

Design

  • Cylindrical body with rubber padding
  • Antenna for tuning radio signals
  • IPX7 waterproof build

Let’s start with the design. The JBL Tuner 2 FM has a cylindrical body that is to be placed horizontally on a flat surface. On the bottom, we have rubber padding on either side that provides some height to the speaker. However, these paddings are slim and thus, won’t make that much of a difference unless it’s placed on a completely flat surface.

JBL Tuner 2 Design

JBL Tuner 2’s body is made up of plastic that feels smooth when touched but has been given a rubberized look. It’s prone to smudges though. The speaker comes with an IPX7 rating and should survive light water splashes.

Sides are more like “glastic”. The left side also houses the power button that has a tiny red decal. The button is tiny and non-glowing but I had no problem finding it as it is pressed into the surface. On the opposite side, the JBL logo has been carved out of the smooth surface.

JBL Tuner 2 Power Button

On the front, there is a massive grill covering most of the space available. The grill looks to be made up of metal and thus looks sturdy. It has the JBL logo in the middle.

Screen

  • LCD screen for viewing station details

Alongside the grill, JBL has included a greyscale screen at the front of the device. The reason that it’s here is that the Tuner 2 supports Digital Audio Broadcasting (more on that later). On the top right corner, the screen displays the mode (DAB/FM/Bluetooth) that it’s in. Similarly, there is the battery indicator on the top left, which unfortunately does not show the battery in percentage. And this one of the problems I had with JBL Tuner 2.

You cannot know the exact remaining juice at any given point even with a smartphone. I tried using third-party apps like BatON but that was in vain. It may not sound like a big issue but I would have liked it if the battery level would have been indicated by series of bars just like the volume.

JBL Tuner 2 Display

While using the FM, you can see the exact frequency that you are on and if it’s an FM that you personally saved, then you can see the preset number as well. When on Bluetooth mode, the screen tells you if the device is in pairing mode or has been connected to a device. Press the Bluetooth button on the top and the speaker will re-establish connection with the last connected device. If you want to connect it to a different device, just press the button again and the speaker will enter into pairing mode.

Controls

  • Volume, FM assign, Scan buttons

Talking about buttons you have plenty of them on the top surface. You get two big buttons on either side for volume up and down. Between them are the two rows of tiny buttons. The ones on the top row are numbered from 1 to 5. A long press on any of them when under FM mode will assign the button for the given frequency. And you can get back to that frequency at any time just by pressing the corresponding button.

Similarly, the scan button on the bottom row will return the next strong frequency. But you can manually tune the FM by using the two arrow buttons. There is also the DAB/FM button to switch between the two modes. Except for the volume buttons, others don’t serve any purpose in the Bluetooth mode. Also, it would have been better if the buttons were more clickable.

JBL Tuner 2 FM Buttons

Also, if you happen to push the volume up button with the volume turned all the way up, it will pause the contents for some seconds. You will usually experience this while turning up the volume in a hurry and it is quite annoying.

DAB/FM in JBL Tuner 2

  • Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), FM Radio
  • 76MHz – 108MHz tuning range (varies by countries)

One of the highlights of the JBL Tuner 2 is that it supports Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). Unlike FM and AM, frequencies in DAB are transmitted using digital signals. This usually results in better audio quality when compared to the traditional FMs. Similarly, it also allows the multiplexing of multiple stations in one frequency. So if you live in an area where this is supported you will be able to make use of it. Unfortunately, we do not have DAB here in Nepal and thus I was unable to test it.

As far as the regular stations go, you will have no problem as long as the signals from the stations are strong. You can certainly use the antenna to try to get the best signal. When not in use you can close it and hide it in the groove on the backside of the device.

JBL Tuner 2 As A Bluetooth Speaker

  • Bluetooth 4.2 connection
  • 1.75-inches transducer, 5W output
  • 80Hz – 20kHz frequency response

As a Bluetooth speaker, the JBL Tuner 2 isn’t anything extraordinary. As I’ve discussed throughout this review, JBL has prioritized the FM side of things over the Bluetooth speaker in Tuner 2. Still, the experience is not downright awful. Vocals are loud and clear but you notice some distortion at the highest volume. I found the audio to be on the warmer side. The bass on the other hand is just okay. You won’t have any complaints if you happen to listen to pop music. If you are more into rap and hip-hop, you will notice the lack of punchiness in the bass.

The speaker comes with Bluetooth v4.2 which is quite outdated when there are speakers that have Bluetooth 5.0 and above. I did not have much problem with the connectivity except for the few times when I had to deal with interference. It’s nothing of a deal breaker but the situation would have been much better if JBL had opted for a newer version instead of the Bluetooth. After all, it’s not that hard to get speakers with the newer Bluetooth protocol in this price range. Still, the Tuner 2 has an Aux-in port at the back for wired input as well.

Battery and Charging

  • 9.075Wh battery, Up to 12 hours (radio playback)
  • 5V/1.2A charging via USB-C port (Up to 3.5 hours)

With the Tuner 2, JBL is claiming battery endurance of up to 12 hours. In my experience, I was able to get around 8 hours of playback time in Bluetooth mode. This was with the volume set at maximum the whole time. For charging, this speaker supports 5V, 1.2A charging via the Type-C port.

However, you will have to buy an adapter yourself as it doesn’t come included in the box. I charged the speaker using my 10W Samsung charger and it took around 4 hours for the charging to complete. If you use a lower wattage charger, it will take even longer.

Conclusion

To wrap up this review, JBL Tuner 2 should make a good companion if you are looking for an FM radio on a Bluetooth speaker. Here, the Bluetooth speaker side of things isn’t that bad either. The screen and the design set it apart from most of the options in the market. It also has the DAB radio feature in case that’s available in your region. However, if you don’t want FM radio features and are looking for a Bluetooth speaker, you should get a better option in the market like the JBL Flip 5.

JBL Tuner 2 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros: 

  • Portable and unique design
  • IPX7 waterproof rating
  • Comes with a screen
  • Operates as FM Radio, Bluetooth speaker
  • Supports DAB
  • Great battery life

Cons:

  • Prone to smudges
  • Buttons feel stiff
  • Takes hours to charge fully
  • Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity
  • Focuses more on FM Radio than Bluetooth speaker side of things

Asus ZenBook Ultrabooks with 11th-gen Tiger Lake CPU launched in Nepal

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Nagmani International, the authorized distributor of ASUS products in Nepal, organized an event to announce the arrival of the new Zenbook series Ultrabooks in Nepal. Alongside the Flip 13, the three ultrabooks presented at the event were – ZenBook 14 (UX435EG), Zenbook 13 (UX325), and Zenbook 14 (UX425). Let’s take a look at the specs, features, price, and availability of the latest Asus ZenBook Ultrabooks powered by Intel 11th Gen processors in Nepal.

Asus ZenBook 14 (UX435EG) Overview:

Design and Display

Here, Asus ZenBook 14 (UX435EG) is just 16.9mm thick and weighs just 1.19kg. It has the iconic ZenBook spun-metal finish and is available in two colors – Pine Grey and Lilac Mist. This laptop comes also has the Ergolift hinge that slightly raises the display for better typing angle and improved cooling.

Asus ZenBook 14 UX435

It features a 14.0-inch IPS LCD panel. The four-sided NanoEdge design has resulted in a 92% screen to body ratio. The FHD panel has a 16:9 aspect ratio and the viewing angle here is 178-degree. It covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut so color accuracy is not going to a problem.

ScreenPad 2.0

The highlight of this device is that it features a secondary 5.65-inch touchscreen in the form of Screenpad 2.0. It is a small interface where your usual touchpad is located. Powered by the new ScreenXpert software, the Screenpad lets uses manage tasks and facilitate seamless multitasking. It provides a collection of Asus utility tools. Then there are other features like Quick Key (automation of keyboard sequence) and Handwriting. You can even launch video, chatbox, music player, and other compatible third-party apps onto the ScreenPad for better utilization of the available space.

Asus ScreenPad 2

As expected, it can also double as a standard glass-covered precision touchpad. As a touchpad, it supports four-finger smart gestures and intelligent palm rejection.

Rest of the specs

Powering the Asus Zenbook 14 (UX435EG) are the 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processors. Users can choose between Core i5 and Core i7 models. With both variants, you’re also getting NVIDIA’s GeForce MX450 discrete graphics on top of the Intel Iris Xe integrated GPU. There is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity. Asus has also included an IR webcam that supports Windows Hello.

ASUS ZenBook 14 (UX435EG) Specifications:

CPU
  • Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor
  • Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor
Display 14.0-inch IPS Touchscreen, FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9, 300nits, sRGB: 100%
Operating system Windows 10 Home
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX450 with 2GB GDDR6 VRAM
Main memory
  • 8 GB 4266 MHz LPDDR4x (i5)
  • 16 GB 4266 MHz LPDDR4x (i7)
Storage 512 GB PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 M.2 SSD
Connectivity
  • Intel WiFi 6 with Gig+ performance (802.11ax)
  • Bluetooth 5.0
Camera IR webcam with Windows Hello support
I/O ports
  • 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C with ASUS USB-C Easy Charge
  • USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
  • Standard HDMI 2.0
  • MicroSD card reader
  • Audio Jack
Touchpad ASUS ScreenPad 2.0
Audio
  • Certified by Harman Kardon
  • Array microphone with Cortana and Alexa voice-recognition support
Battery 63 Wh 3-cell lithium-polymer battery
AC adapter 65-watt power adapter
Dimensions 319 X 199 X 16.9~17.9mm
Weight Approx. 1.19  ~ 1.29 kg

Asus ZenBook 14 (UX435EG) Price In Nepal 

Asus ZenBook 14 (UX435EG) is available in Nepal in 2 variants. The i5 model has a price of Rs. 153,333, whereas the i7 variant costs Rs. 176,667. You can buy them from Nagmani International or any other authorized stores in Nepal.

ASUS ZenBook 14 (UX435EG) Price in Nepal Availability
Core i7, MX450, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Rs. 176,667
  • Hukut Store
  • Authorized Stores
Core i5, MX450, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Rs. 153,333

Asus ZenBook 13 (UX325EA) / ZenBook 14 (UX425EA)

Moving on, Asus ZenBook 13 (UX325EA) and ZenBook 14 (UX325EA) are the latest iterations in the ZenBook Classic series. Just like the UX435EG above, these come with 11th-gen Intel processors but lack features like dedicated graphics and a secondary screen.

The two laptops come in an all-metal chassis and are both thinner and lighter than their immediate predecessors. Both the 13 and 14-inch models are 13.9mm thick but the latter is slightly heavier. Users can choose between Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Tiger Lake 11th gen processors. As there is no dedicated graphics card, you’ll have to rely on the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. But it is a really powerful integrated graphics solution as we discovered in our test.

Asus ZenBook 13 UX325

Also, you don’t get the ScreenPad 2.0 secondary screen. Instead, Asus has included NumberPad 2.0. It’s a dual-function touchpad with an integrated LED-illuminated Numpad. You can activate the Numpad with the press of the key.

Talking about ports, you get two Thunderbolt 4 USB C ports, one Type-A port, a standard HDMI port, and a MicroSD card reader. You have Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity. There is an IR webcam with support for Windows Hello. Both laptops are powered by a 67 Wh battery.

Asus ZenBook 13 (UX325), ZenBook 14 (UX425) Specifications:

   ZenBook 13 (UX325) ZenBook 14 (UX425)
CPU
  • Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor
  • Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor
Display 13.3” LED-backlit FHD (1920 x 1080) 14” LED-backlit FHD (1920 x 1080)
Operating system Windows 10 Home
Graphics Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Main memory
  • 8 GB 4266 MHz LPDDR4X onboard (i5)
  • 16 GB 4266 MHz LPDDR4X onboard (i7)
Storage 512 GB PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe SSD
Connectivity
  • WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Bluetooth 5.0
Camera HD  (IR) webcam (supports Windows Hello)
I/O ports
  • 2 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C with ASUS USB-C Easy Charge
  •  USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
  •  Standard HDMI 2.0
  •  MicroSD card reader
Touchpad ASUS NumberPad 2.0
Audio
  • Certified by Harman Kardon
  • ASUS SonicMaster stereo audio system with surround-sound; smart amplifier for maximum audio performance
  • Array microphone with Cortana and Alexa voice-recognition support
Battery 67 Wh lithium-polymer battery
AC adapter 65-watt power adapter
Dimensions 304 x 203 x 13.9 mm 319 x 208 x 13.9 mm
Weight Approx. 1.07~1.11 kg Approx. 1.13~1.17 kg

Asus Zenbook 13, Zenbook 14 (11th Gen) Price In Nepal  

There is no difference in pricing between the ZenBook 13 (UX325EA) and ZenBook 14 (UX425EA). The Core i7 model of both models will cost you Rs. 133,444 whereas the Core i5 model has a price tag of Asus ZenBook 14 (UX425) in Nepal is Rs. 154,444.

Asus ZenBook Variant Configuration Price in Nepal
ZenBook 13 (UX325EA) Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Rs. 154,444
Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Rs. 133,333
ZenBook 14 (UX425EA) Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD Rs. 154,444
Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Rs. 133,333
  • Check out our review of the Asus ZenBook 14 UM425 (2020).

OnePlus Nord N100 with 90Hz HD+ display, SD 460 chipset launched in Nepal

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After several years, OnePlus returned to the mid-range and budget smartphone segment with the launch of the OnePlus Nord N10 5G and Nord N100. The Oneplus Nord N10 5G is a mid-range phone that was launched last month in Nepal for Rs. 39,490 and today the company has launched the Nord N100, a lower mid-range smartphone. Judging by the international reviews and the cut-through competition, it should also make our list for phones not to buy in 2021. Anyway, let’s learn more about the Oneplus Nord 100 along with its full specifications and price in Nepal.

OnePlus Nord N100 Overview

The OnePlus Nord N100 features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and a subpar HD+ resolution. There’s a punch-hole display that houses a modest 8MP selfie camera. The display is protected by a Gorilla Glass 3, whereas the back panel looks like a matte polycarbonate.

It is powered by a budget Snapdragon 460 chipset with 4 Cortex A73 performance cores and 4 Cortex A53 energy-efficient cores. This chipset is common on budget phones of 2020 like Oppo A53 and Vivo Y20. For memory, it has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which is upgradeable via a microSD card. This is the first time we have seen a microSD expansion slot in Oneplus phones.

oneplus nord N100 Midnight Frost

In the photography aspects, the Oneplus Nord N100 has a triple camera setup. The primary 13MP camera is accompanied by two 2MP sensors (macro and depth). Similarly, there’s a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. The phone also comes with a stereo speaker, similar to Oppo budget phones. There’s a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, which seems a bit odd as the majority of smartphone manufacturers have moved to a side fingerprint scanner.

The Competition

The Oneplus Nord N100 looks very similar to that of Oppo A53. Its price is very similar to the Oppo A53 at Rs. 23,000. At this price, like the Oppo A53, honestly, it looks a little overpriced. The key selling point of Oneplus N100 is its clean and fast performing Oxygen OS. But apart from that, there’s nothing exciting and competitive about it.

For a similar price, you can get the Galaxy M21, or the Redmi 9 Power which offers a higher-res display, better performance, and superior camera setup.

OnePlus Nord N100 Specifications:

  • Display: 6.52” IPS LCD (1600 x 720 pixels) HD+ panel, 90Hz refresh rate
  • Protection: Gorilla Glass 3
  • Dimensions: 164.9 x 65.1 x 8.49mm; Weight: 188g
  • Software: Android 10 with Oxygen OS 10.5
  • Rear Camera: Triple, 13MP primary lens + 2MP macro lens+ 2MP depth lens
  • Front Camera: 8MP
  • Chipset: Octa-core 11 nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 460
  • CPU: 1.8GHz x 4 Cortex A73 +1.6GHz x 4 Cortex A53
  • GPU: Adreno 610
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB UFS 2.1 internal, expandable via microSD card slot
  • Audio: Stereo Speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Battery: 5000 mAh, 18W Fast Charging (Type C)
  • Color Option: Midnight Frost

OnePlus Nord N100 Price in Nepal [Official]

The Oneplus Nord N100 has been launched in Nepal for a price of Rs. 23,499. It is available for purchase from select mobile retail shops all over Nepal.

Smartphone Model Price in Nepal 
Oneplus Nord N100 NPR 23,499
  • Check out our review of OnePlus Nord.

Snapdragon X65 5G modem announced with up to 10 Gigabit speed

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The majority of the smartphones including the latest iPhone 12 lineup rely on Qualcomm for 5G modems. Specifically, the iPhone 12 series uses the Snapdragon X55 modem. Qualcomm introduced the X60 modem in the Snapdragon 888 SoC last December and it will be used by major flagships of 2021. The company looks all prepared for the future as it has already announced the Snapdragon X65 modem that we are likely to find in next year’s phone or the likely “Plus” variant of the SD 888. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specifications, features, and availability of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 modem.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF: 

While the Snapdragon X60 modem is built on a 5nm process, the X65 is built on an even smaller process of 4nm. Qualcomm says that the architecture of the X65 modem is upgradeable. The feature set can be expanded in the future to meet the demand of then phones. The highlight here is the theoretical speed of up to 10Gbps which is a bump from the 7.5Gbps of current 5G modems.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 10 Gigabit Speed

New Antenna System

Here, the Snapdragon X65 modem is paired with the fourth-generation QTM545 mmWave antenna. This combination allows higher transmit power and has support for the new n259 (41 GHz), n70, and n53 bands. X65 also comes with the world’s first AI antenna tuning technology. The new antenna package has the same size as the previous solution.

5G Phase 2 Compatible

It supports spectrum aggregation across both mmWave and sub-6GHz network using FDD and TDD techniques. Qualcomm is also promising 5G Release 16 standard compatibility which means the new modem is ready for the 5G Phase 2 rollout. Compared to Phase 1, Phase 2 brings improvements in performance, power efficiency along with some changes in the infrastructure and application.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 Architecture

New Technologies

The X65 Modem comes with Qualcomm 5G PowerSave 2.0 and Smart Transmit 2.0. The former is based on the power saving technologies defined in the 3GPP Release 16. On the other hand, the latter makes use of the new modem-to-antenna awareness system for faster speed and expanded coverage.

Expandability

Other than smartphones, the new Snapdragon X65 5G can be incorporated into other products like tablets, laptops & PCs, etc. Thus, the company believes that its latest product will be instrumental in expanding 5G access to other platforms such as PC, IoT, fixed wireless access, and private networks.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G Modem Availability

We won’t be seeing any smartphone making use of the new Snapdragon X65 modem any time soon. At the latest, the new Snapdragon X65 5G modem from Qualcomm will be used in premium smartphones of 2022.

Smartphone 5G modem Availability
Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G 2022
  • Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

JBL Horizon 2 Bluetooth speaker is also an alarm clock and can play the radio

JBL’s arsenal features a host of brilliant portable speakers. From party rockers to subtle portable speakers, they offer almost everything. And the JBL Horizon 2 is also a part of that arsenal. However, it is much more suited to be placed at your bedside. That’s because this portable Bluetooth speaker doubles down as an alarm clock. Let’s find out in detail about the JBL Horizon 2 and its price in Nepal.

JBL Horizon 2 Overview:

This is a pretty compact device that measures 7.0 x 6.4 x 3.0-inches in dimension while weighing just about 0.81 kg. There’s a rotary control knob on top that acts as a snooze button for the alarm. Moreover, it can also be custom set to radio presets. This offers quick access to your favorite radio station. Furthermore, it can also be used to turn the ambient light on and off.

On the front of the device, there’s an LED display that shows the time, date, alarm settings, and radio information. Embedded into the device is JBL Original Pro Sound. Thus, we can expect the JBL Horizon 2 to deliver deep bass and a good balance between low to high frequencies.

The standout feature of the JBL Horizon 2 is probably the dual alarm capability. Users can easily set up alarms for two different people based on their wake-up times. The alarm can be configured to your favorite radio station, built-in tones, or any music of your choice. Finally, power bank capability is also present in this device as it features two USB-A ports.

Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 7.0 x 6.4 x 3.0-inches
  • Weight: 0.81kg
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth (4.2)
  • Transducer: 2x 1.5”
  • Output Power: 2x 4W (RMS)
  • Frequency Response: 75Hz-20KHz
  • Signal to Noise ratio: ≥80dB
  • Inputs: 1x FM antenna
  • Outputs: 2x USB Type-A

JBL Horizon 2 Price in Nepal and Availability

The price of the JBL Horizon 2 Bluetooth speaker in Nepal is NPR 15,500. You can buy JBL Horizon 2 in Nepal from Hukut Store.

Portable Bluetooth Speaker Price in Nepal Availability
JBL Horizon 2 NPR 15,500 Hukut Store
  • Check out our review of the JBL GO 3.

JBL Xtreme 3 with up to 15 hours of playback time now available in Nepal

The follow up to the rugged JBL Xtreme 2 was launched during the IFA 2020 in the global market. And it is finally available in Nepal. Yes, I am talking about the JBL Xtreme 3. JBL has brought some much-welcomed improvements to this speaker. However, the difference in sound quality won’t be that huge between this one and the previous iterations. Anyway, let’s dive deeper into the specifications of the JBL Xtreme 3 along with its price in Nepal.

JBL Xtreme 3 Overview:

Just like its predecessor, the JBL Xtreme 3 comes with a cylindrical design. It is IP67 water and dust resistant too. There are two loops in the upper part of the speaker. These are there so that one can easily insert a handy carrying strap, and carry the device around.

As per JBL, this speaker includes four improved drivers and two bass radiators. These improvements will help the device deliver better immersive stereo sound. Furthermore, it also has the PartyBoost feature. That means you can easily pair two such speakers for stereo sound. However, if you want, you can actually pair up to hundred such PartyBoost-compatible speakers for big parties.

JBL Xtreme 3 Speaker - Design

For connectivity, the device supports Bluetooth 5.1 and USB-C ports. Battery life is really important in portable speakers. After all, you don’t want to put a pause to your party. Well, the JBL Xtreme 3 will certainly keep the party vibes going all day. That’s because it packs in a massive 10000mAh battery and claims to offer about 15-hours of battery life. Moreover, it has a built-in power bank feature too. So, you can even charge your smartphones via this speaker.

Specifications:

  • Body: 11.75 x 5.35 x 5.28-inches
  • Battery: 10,000 mAh (36.3Wh Li-Ion)
  • IP Rating: IP67 dust/waterproof
  • Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
  • Charging: Within 2.5 hours (20V/3A input)
  • IP Rating: IP67 (Up to 3 feet for 30 minutes)
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 (A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6), USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Signal-to-noise Ratio: > 80 dB
  • Output Power: 2 x 25W RMS woofer (70mm) + 2 x 25W RMS tweeter (20mm) (AC power mode)
  • Frequency Response: 53.5Hz – 20KHz

JBL Xtreme 3 Price in Nepal and Availability

JBL Xtreme 3 portable Bluetooth speaker is now available in Nepal for the price of NPR 39,500. You can buy JBL Xtreme 3 in Nepal from Hukut Store.

Bluetooth Speaker Price in Nepal Availability
JBL Xtreme 3 NPR 39,500 Hukut Store
  • Check out our review of the JBL GO 3.

Redmi 9 Power with 48MP quad cameras finally launched in Nepal

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Redmi 9 Power is a budget-oriented device from the Xiaomi sub-brand that was launched in India towards the end of 2020. And now, it’s found its way to Nepal as well. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, official price, and availability of Redmi 9 Power in Nepal.

Redmi 9 Power Overview:

Design and Display

Starting with the display, Redmi 9 Power features a 6.53-inch IPS panel with an FHD resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. It results in an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The device has a waterdrop notch that houses the front camera and the bezels around the screen are also quite noticeable. Redmi has listed the device with 400 nits of typical brightness. There is Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on the front for added protection.

Redmi 9 Power Design

At the back, the new aura design is something new for Redmi devices. The device has a curved back with an anti-fingerprint texture. The rectangular camera bump has been made to look like it’s giving rise to light rays. Towards the bottom, there is a big Redmi branding slapped onto the panel.

Performance and Memory

The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC which definitely raises some eyebrows as it is said to replace a phone with MediaTek G80—namely, the Redmi 9 Prime. The performance gap between the two chips is negligible on everyday tasks but the G80 performs slightly better at games. On the other hand, the Snapdragon 662 is based on an 11nm process (compared to G80’s 12nm process). Thus, it is more power-efficient.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC

The device comes with 4 or 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM which can be paired with either 64GB of UFS 2.1 storage or 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage.

Camera

On to the cameras, Redmi 9 Power flaunts a quad-camera setup on the back. The headline here is the 48MP primary camera on the back. There is an 8MP ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree Field of View (FOV). Similarly, the setup includes two 2MP camera sensors for macro and portrait shots, respectively. The rear camera setup comes with features such as Movie Frame, Time-Lapse, Night mode, and Color Focus.

Redmi 9 Power Camera Setup

On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera that supports AI beautification. As expected, the selfie camera resides inside a traditional notch up top.

Rest of the specs

The phone is fueled by a massive 6000mAh battery which the company claims is optimized for a lifespan of up to 3 years. It ships with a 22.5W charger even though it only supports charging speed up to 18W. You can also use it as a power bank as it has reverse charge support. The phone has stereo speakers with Hi-Res audio which is very difficult to find on a budget device. Similarly, Redmi is advertising the speakers as auto-cleaning just like the Redmi Note 8.

Redmi 9 Power has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and features an IR blaster too. It comes in four different color options – Mighty Black, Blazing Blue, Fiery Red, and Electric Green. Thankfully, all of these color variants are available in Nepal.

Redmi 9 Power Specifications:

  • Display: 6.53-inch FHD+, 19.5:9, 400 nits, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm)
  • RAM: 4/6GB LPDDR4x
  • Storage: 64GB UFS 2.1 / 128GB UFS 2.2 (dedicated microSD card slot)
  • Rear Camera: Quad;
    – 48MP primary camera
    – 8MP ultrawide camera
    – 2MP depth sensor
    – 2MP macro lens
  • Front camera: 8MP with AI Beautify
  • Audio: Stereo Speakers with Hi-Res audio, auto-cleaning speaker
  • Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted), Face unlock
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/Beidou
  • Durability: Splash-proof nano-coating, rubberized ports, corrosion-proof ports
  • Battery: 6000mAh with 18W fast charging (22.5W charger inbox)
  • Extras: IR Blaster, LED notification

Redmi 9 Power Price in Nepal and Availability

Redmi 9 Power has been launched in Nepal where its price is NPR 18,999 and NPR 20,999 for the 4/64GB and 4/128GB variant respectively. The phone is available throughout the country at all Xiaomi authorized retail stores or the company’s e-commerce partners like Daraz and SastoDeal.

Redmi 9 Power Price in Nepal
4/64GB NPR 18,999
4/128GB NPR 20,999
6/128GB NPR 21,999
  • In the meanwhile, check out our review of the POCO M3.

Airspeeder Mk3 is the world’s 1st fully-functioning electric flying race car

Alauda Aeronautics has announced the world’s first flying race car – Airspeeder MK3. The flying race car will be out on a test later this year and will feature in a racing series next year. Let’s take a closer look at the Airspeeder MK3.

Airspeeder Mk3

Alauda’s Airspeeder Mk3 looks like a giant cross between a drone and a high-speed boat. Technically, it is a full-sized electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle. The frame and fuselage are made from carbon fiber. The material ensures strength, maneuverability, and efficiency. As of now, the company is planning to control it remotely from the ground. Airspeeder Mk3 can reach a top speed of up to 120km per hour. However, when it passes through the test, the company will organize a “crewed” racing series in 2022.

Airspeeder Mk3 design

The developers are looking to produce more than 10 Mk3 racing cars for the preparation of the test. These test vehicles are being produced at Airspeeder and Aluada’s technical headquarter in Adelaide, South Australia. Mk3 has been in development for more than three years and is finally looking to be test-ready.

For safety reasons, pilots will be operating the unmanned aircraft remotely from the ground. This will allow them to assess the safety features of the Airspeeder. The Airspeeder’s collision avoidance system makes use of technologies like LiDAR and Radar. The craft features a 96kW electric powertrain that provides thrust to the Speeder to keep in the air. It can result in a thrust-to-weight ratio of above two for a craft that weighs 100kg. Pilots can carry out different three-dimensional maneuver in the sky. The aircraft also features a new slide-and-lock mechanism that will allow the users to replace batteries rapidly. It will facilitate rapid pit stops.

Key Features:

  • Category: Racing eVTOL
  • Layout: October X Formation
  • Material: Carbon Fiber
  • Weight: 100kg (unmanned)
  • Powertrain: 96kW
  • Top Speeds: 120km per hour
  • Safety System: LiDAR and Radar

Airspeeder Mk3 Availability

Developers are readying the Airspeeder Mk3 for a manned racing series that will take place in 2022. For now, the aircraft will be tested with the pilots controlling it remotely from the ground.

Racing eVTOL Test Main Racing Event
Airspeeder Mk3 2021 2022
  • Check out our review of the POCO M3.

iPhone SE 3 to come with significant upgrades over the SE 2020

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Apple’s SE models have not enjoyed the same level of continuity as the regular iPhones. The first iPhone SE came out in 2016 and it took the company around 4 years to come up with its successor. However, recent reports suggest that we may not have to wait that long for the next model. Also, the upcoming iPhone SE 3 is said to feature significant changes over its predecessor.

iPhone SE 3 Rumors Roundup:

iPhone SE 2020 (or the iPhone SE 2) was launched in 2020 but discounting the chipset, everything else screamed old-gen. It was practically the iPhone 8 from 2017 with the Apple A13 Bionic chipset inside. It had thick bezels that made it look outdated for a phone in 2020. Similarly, the screen size was too small and it featured Touch ID instead of the Face ID like in newer iPhones.

Design and Display

However, reports suggest that Apple will be fixing many of these issues on the upcoming iPhone SE 3. To start, it won’t be an older iPhone with the latest processor. The next iPhone SE will feature a new design. According to an analysis by JP Morgan Chase, the iPhone SE 3 will have a 6.1-inch LCD display. It is a significant bump from the 4.7-inch panel on its predecessor.

Not only that, but it will also have a notch instead of the big bezel for a more modern design. Similarly, the Touch ID will be moved from the front to the side of the phone. This way, Apple can get rid of the home button for a better screen-to-body ratio.

Here, the iPhone SE 3 won’t be the only iPhone with Touch ID. Apple is reportedly bringing it to the upcoming iPhone 13 (or the iPhone 12s) lineup as people are forced to face masks because of the COVID 19, which directly compromises the performance of Face ID. It will be placed under the screen as the high-end phone will have OLED panels.

iPhone SE 3 Design Renders

Camera and Processor

In terms of camera, Apple will be using the same setup as in the iPhone 11 lineup. That is, the iPhone SE 3 will have a dual-camera setup with a 12MP wide-angle camera and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera. Similarly, the rear camera will have Optical Image Stabilization (OIS).

The phone will be powered by the Apple A14 Bionic processor. The processor is based on TSMC’s 5nm chipset but doesn’t have an integrated 5G modem. Thus, instead of opting for the Snapdragon X55 modem as it did for the iPhone 12 series, Apple may ditch the idea all along on this inexpensive iPhone.

iPhone SE 3 Expected Launch Date

There are a lot of predictions when it comes to the launch date of the iPhone SE 3. Last year, Ming-Chi Kuo, who is very reliable when it comes to Apple leaks, suggested that we won’t see it in the first half of 2021. According to JP Morgan Chase, the iPhone SE 3 will launch only in 2021.

In contrast to these sources, MacOtakra, a Japanese blog, has said that the iPhone SE 3 will launch in April 2021. It is said to have gotten the information from Chinese sources within the supply chain.

  • Also, check out our long-term review of the iPhone SE 2020.