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Redmi 9 Power Review: Great Value, Terrific Battery

Nikhil Shrestha
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Redmi 9 Power Review: Great Value, Terrific Battery

Xiaomi recently launched Redmi 9 Power in Nepal as the direct successor of the Redmi 9 and Poco M2. It brings a Snapdragon chipset, a bigger 6000mAh battery, and a 48MP camera, which looks like a great deal for the asking price of Rs. 18,999. Anyway, is it any better than its predecessors? Is it the best smartphone under Rs. 20,000 in Nepal? Let’s find out in our review of the Redmi 9 Power.

Redmi 9 Power Specifications:

  • Body: 6.39 x 3.04 x 0.38 inches, 198 gm
  • Display: 6.53-inches IPS LCD, 395PPI, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification
  • Resolution: FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm Mobile Platform)
  • CPU: Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
  • Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB UFS 2.1/128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
  • Software & UI: MIUI 12 on top of Android 10
  • Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
    – 48MP, f/1.79 primary lens
    – 8MP, f/2.2 wideangle lens
    – 2MP, f/2.4 depth sensor
    – 2MP, f/2.4 macro sensor
    – LED flash
  • Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0 lens (notch)
  • Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speaker, Hi-Res audio
  • Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Proximity, Vibration Motor, IR Blaster, Proximity
  • Battery: 6000mAh with 18W charging (22.5W brick inside the box)
  • Color options: Mighty Black, Blazing Blue, Electric Green, Fiery Red
  • Price in Nepal: Rs. 18,999 (4/64GB) | Rs. 20,999 (4/128GB) | Rs. 21,999 (6/128GB)

Redmi 9 Power Review:

Before moving forward with the review, you might know that Redmi 9 Power and POCO M3 that we recently reviewed are basically the same phones. So, I will be keeping this review short and will be referring to the POCO M3 on multiple occasions. And as you’d expect, things are eerily similar between these devices.

Here, the only differentiating factor among these devices is their design and how Redmi 9 Power comes with a wide-angle sensor that the POCO M3 lacks. Also, the latter is available in either 4/6GB RAM whereas Redmi’s alternative doesn’t get the 6GB option.

Design & Build

  • Glass front, polycarbonate back, plastic frame

Starting with the design, the phone has a big “Redmi” branding on the rear panel. To me, it looks kinda off-putting, to be honest. Its traditional textured layout does feel nice on the hand though. Besides this, the port selection gets a decent overhaul compared to other entries in the Redmi 9 series. Specifically, it gets a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

And yeah, although it’s a more ergonomic implementation, I have always been fond of the traditional fingerprint sensor placement. Thankfully, you can switch between how to actually trigger the sensor—simply by touching it or with the click of the button. If its speed doesn’t float your boat, you can go for face unlock too. In terms of design, this phone also has a water-repellent coating.

Display

  • 6.53-inches FHD+ IPS LCD screen
  • Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection

Moving on to the display, you get a 6.53-inches IPS screen with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 protection. As expected from Xiaomi, it’s an FHD screen, and being the budget phone that it is—you’re greeted with a teardrop notch for the front-facing camera.

Redmi 9 Power - Display [1]

The display itself is pretty good though. There’s no visible pixelation and things look adequately sharp. And a piece of good news if you stream videos from different streaming platforms, the Redmi 9 Power is Widevine L1 certified and can therefore play HD videos. Like always, Xiaomi opts for a slight boost in colors but you can easily make up for the fact under the display settings. Besides this, it has a decent viewing angle and brightness is decent for a budget phone as well.

Performance

  • Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC (11nm)
  • 4GB LPDDR4X RAM with up to 128GB storage (expandable)

Let’s move on to performance. Like the POCO M3, Redmi 9 Power is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 662 as well. There’s no Redmi 8 Power to compare it against so we can’t go down the “upgrade” route. This 11nm silicon is pretty power-efficient compared to the Helio G80 found in Xiaomi’s similarly price smartphones. Here, the Snapdragon 662 has been paired with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage.

Redmi 9 Power - Design [1]

And depending on the memory variant, they feature different storage protocols. The 64GB option gets UFS 2.1 storage whereas the 128GB variant enjoys the newer UFS 2.2 protocol. Our review unit of the Redmi 9 Power features 64GB storage.

Let’s take a look at some benchmark scores:

Test POCO M2 Redmi 9 Power
Androbench Seq. Read 312.58MB/s 513.27MB/s
Seq. Write 255.92MB/s 202.95MB/s
AnTuTu v8 Total 204202 183351
CPU 73222 70713
GPU 43089 34880
Memory 44402 41178
UX 43489 36580
Geekbench 5 CPU (Single Core) 344 315
CPU (Multi-Core) 1348 1362
Compute (OpenCL) 1152 373
PCMark (Work 2.0 Performance) 8846 6097
3DMark (Wild Life) N/A 371

As you could see, the Snapdragon 662 on the Redmi 9 Power lags behind the Helio G80 on the POCO M2/Redmi 9. While you won’t notice the difference upon light usage, bring multitasking, gaming into the mix—and you’re heading towards a slight disappointment. And the resource-heavy MIUI isn’t helping either.

Gaming Experience

Fortunately, Redmi 9 Power is immune to any form of bloatware and Xiaomi even ships certain apps like Google’s Phone, Messages by default. In terms of gaming, non-demanding titles don’t do much to the phone but titles like PUBG Mobile and COD Mobile do take a toll.

Redmi 9 Power - UI

Here, you can play PUBG Mobile at up to Smooth graphics/High frame rate or Balanced graphics/Medium frame rate. The gameplay is fairly smooth on either setting but you’re gonna notice slight stutters every now and then. On the other hand, COD Mobile maxes out at Very High graphics/High frame rate—although I would highly suggest you dial down the graphics settings down to Medium for balanced gameplay.

Cameras

  • Quad camera setup at the back
  • (48MP primary, 8MP wide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
  • 8MP selfie camera inside the teardrop notch

Okay, let’s now talk about the cameras. Redmi 9 Power is a quad-cam device led by a 48MP primary lens, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and two 2MP sensors for depth, macro images. Since the camera performance of Redmi 9 Power and POCO M3 is exactly the same, you can refer to our review of POCO M3 for this.

Wideangle Images

Yet, as I mentioned earlier, Redmi 9 Power also hosts a wideangle sensor. Here, the images from the POCO M2 look slightly washed out whereas the Redmi 9 Power manages to produce more pleasant-looking shots with better dynamic range. Like the primary images, things look much more natural on the Redmi 9 Power as well.

Battery

  • 6000mAh battery with 18W fast charging

Getting into the battery, Redmi 9 Power is fueled by a massive 6000mAh cell. With this, the phone will easily last you through the day—even under a high workload. I consistently managed to get around 7 – 8 hours of screen on time. Moreover, even though you’re getting a big battery, it isn’t as unwieldy or uncomfortable as the POCO X3 with similar battery size.

Redmi 9 Power - Display [2]

In terms of charging, you get a 22.5W power adapter inside the box although the phones only support 18W of maximum power. With this, it takes around 2 hours 48 minutes to completely juice up the phone from 0 to 100%.

Audio

  • Stereo speaker setup, Hi-Res audio certified
Another interesting aspect of the Redmi 9 Power is its stereo speaker with an earpiece acting as a secondary speaker. Although they don’t work as a left and right channel, the audio quality is quite good considering its price.

Conclusion

To conclude it all, as we’ve discovered throughout this review, Redmi 9 Power is an excellent budget phone. It’s got good cameras, a great battery, and an acceptable design. Moreover, the Redmi 9 Power offers a FullHD display which none of the brands at this price are offering in the Nepali market. Because of all this, the Redmi 9 Power is one of the best phones under Rs. 20,000 right now. Yet, it’s priced quite close to the much powerful Redmi Note 9 which offers much better performance overall.

Redmi 9 Power Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Great value—an easy recommendation
  • Crisp, Full-HD resolution display
  • Decent camera quality for the price
  • Nice, power-efficient performance
  • Terrific battery life, 18W fast charging

Cons:

  • The “Redmi” branding looks cartoonish
  • Closely priced against the Redmi Note 9

Hands-on video of Mi 11 Ultra reveals 120x AI camera and a secondary screen

GadgetByte
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Hands-on video of Mi 11 Ultra reveals 120x AI camera and a secondary screen

Back in December 2020, Xiaomi unveiled the Mi 11 in China, which was also the first device to be powered by the flagship-level Snapdragon 888 processor. There were talks of an Ultra model in the Mi 11 lineup which never made it to the launch event. The device has been popping on the internet in the form of leaks. Today, we will be taking a look at all the rumors and leaks surrounding the specs, features, and availability of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Rumors Roundup:

The biggest chunk of information comes from a Youtube channel called Tech Buff PH that is based in the Philippines. In a video that has since been taken down, the YouTuber shared a hands-on video of the upcoming Xiaomi flagship.

The main talking point of the device has been the camera bump that extends across the top portion of the rear panel. It houses the triple camera setup, the triple LED flash and a secondary screen. According to the leak, the camera setup includes a 50MP primary camera, a 48MP ultrawide sensor, and a 48MP periscope lens. You can even see the “120X Ultra Pixel AI Camera” written on the side of the periscope lens.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Camera Leaks

Getting to the secondary display, it looks to be a color screen capable of displaying the contents of the main display. We don’t know its purpose yet but we can assume it will be helpful in taking selfies from the rear camera.

On the front, the device sports a 6.8-inch curved OLED panel with WQHD+ resolution. The panel supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Similarly, there is a left-aligned cutout for the 20MP selfie camera. The phone has IP68 certification against water and dust.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Display Leaks

Like the regular Mi 11, the Ultra also packs the Snapdragon 888 chipset. Fueling the device is a massive 5,000mAh battery. The phone supports a charging speed of up to 67W (wired and wireless). Similarly, it also supports 10W reverse wireless charging.

Specifications (Rumored):

  • Display: 6.81-inches curved OLED panel; 120Hz Refresh Rate
  • Resolution: WQHD+
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 888; 5nm Mobile Platform
  • Software & UI: MIUI 12.5 on top of Android 11
  • Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
    – 50MP primary shooter
    – 48MP digital zoom telephoto lens
    – 48MP ultra-wide sensor
  • Front Camera: 20MP lens; Punch-hole
  • Security: In-display Fingerprint Scanner
  • Audio: Dual Stereo speakers by Harmon Kardon; Hi-Res Audio
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 67W fast charging; 67W Wireless Charging, 10W reverse charging

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Expected Launch Date

While there is no information about the official pricing and the launch date of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, the phone was recently spotted in the EEC and BIS certifications listing suggesting a possible launch in a few months.

  • Also, check out our review of the Xiaomi Mi 10i.

Samsung’s cheapest 5G phone, Galaxy A32 5G goes official in Spain

GadgetByte
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Samsung’s cheapest 5G phone, Galaxy A32 5G goes official in Spain

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A32 5G last month and now the device is now launched in Europe. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G in Nepal.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Overview:

Design and Display

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G sports a 6.5-inch display with a V-shaped notch to house the front camera. As a measure of price-cutting, Samsung has refrained from including an AMOLED panel. Thus, the Galaxy A32 5G makes use of a TFT LCD panel. Also, the resolution has been scaled down to HD+.

Samsung has completely changed the look of the rear panel on the new A32 5G. It has gotten rid of the rectangular camera bump and now the four cameras protrude from the rear panel. The fingerprint scanner has been moved from the back to the side of the phone. Thus, the rear panel looks much cleaner now.

Performance and Memory

Galaxy A32 is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 720 SoC. As a result, it’s the first phone from Samsung to use a MediaTek Dimensity chipset. The device is available in 4GB RAM configuration. Users can get up to 128GB of internal storage. The internal storage is expandable up to 1TB by slotting in a microSD card.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Design

Going from Galaxy A31 to A32 5G, Samsung has hardly made any changes to the camera specifications. Like its predecessor, the Galaxy A32 5G features a quad-camera setup led by a 48MP primary camera. The main camera has a slightly bigger aperture of f/1.8. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera, 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth camera. On the front, you get a 13MP selfie shooter.

Rest of the specs

A massive 5,000mAh battery fuels the Galaxy A32 5G. The phone also supports a fast charging speed of up to 15W. It also supports Dolby Atmos for surround sound. There are four color options to choose from – Black, White, Blue, and Violet.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Specifications:

  • Body: 164.2 x 76.1 x 9.1mm ; 205 gm
  • Display: 6.5-inches HD+ TFT Infinity-V panel
  • Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 720 (7nm)
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB/128GB
  • Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
    – 48MP, f/1.8 primary shooter
    – 8MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide lens
    – 5MP, f/2.4 macro sensor
    – 2MP, f/2.4 depth sensor
  • Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.2 lens
  • Security: side-mounted fingerprint scanner
  • Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, Dolby Atmos
  • Battery: 5000mAh with 15W fast charging
  • Colors: Awesome – Blue, Black, White, Violet

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Price in Nepal and Availability

Galaxy A32 5G is now available in Spain via Samsung Espana online store with a starting price of 279 Euros. Although Samsung has not revealed the price of the 128GB variant, it is expected to cost 299 Euros. We expect the starting price of Samsung Galaxy A32 5G in Nepal to be around NPR 37,000 when it launches here.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Price (Europe) Price in Nepal (Expected)
64GB 279 Euros NPR 37,000
128GB 299 Euros NPR 40,000
  • Check out our long-term review of the Samsung Galaxy M51.

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

GadgetByte
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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

GadgetByte
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GadgetByte
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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

GadgetByte
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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.
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