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Infinix Smart 5 launched in Nepal as the cheapest phone with 64GB storage

GadgetByte

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November 22, 2020

Infinix Smart 5 launched in Nepal as the cheapest phone with 64GB storage

Infinix has quietly launched a new budget smartphone in Nepal exclusively via Daraz. The new Infinix Smart 5 is the successor to the Smart 4 that was launched in Nepal earlier this year. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, price, and availability of the Infinix Smart 5 in Nepal.

Infinix Smart 5 Overview

Infinix Smart 5 is a budget device targeted towards first-time smartphone users. The highlight of the phone is its 5,000mAh battery. Similarly, it runs on Android 10 Go Edition and features DTS Audio Processing.

Design and Display

Infinix Smart 5 features a 6.6-inch IPS display with an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. The panel features a waterdrop style notch that houses the front camera. The bottom chin looks really thin for a budget device. Its thickness measures 8.75mm.

The rear panel on Infinix Smart 5 showcases a gem-cut design, which the company has used in many of its devices. The panel produces different patterns and color variations based on the angle that it is placed.

Also Read: Infinix Note 7 with Helio G70 SoC launched in Nepal

Performance and Memory

The Smart 5 is powered by a quad-core Mediatek Helio A20 chipset clocked at 1.8 GHz. So, if you prefer performance over other specs, it may not be the device for you. Talking about memory, the device is available in a 3/64GB memory configuration in Nepal. Being a budget device with underpowered specs, the device runs on Go Edition of Android 10.

Camera

The device flaunts a triple camera setup at the back led by a 13MP primary sensor. The primary camera supports autofocus. It is accompanied by two QVGA lenses. Infinix has not disclosed what these pair of lenses will be used for. It makes us believe that these QVGA lenses are marketing gimmicks. It is accompanied by a triple flash.

On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera. It is accompanied by a dual front flash. The camera uses AI algorithms for automatic retouching and background blur effects.

Rest of the specs

The main selling point of the Infinix Smart 5 is its 5,000mAh battery. The company is claiming up to 3 days of battery backup. Additionally, the device offers up to 33 hours of talk time and 35 days of standby time. It can be charged using a 10W micro USB charger. For biometrics, Infinix has included a capacitive fingerprint sensor and face unlock. The Smart 5 comes with DTS audio processing.

Infinix Smart 5 Specifications:

Dimensions: 165.4×73.4×8.75mm
Design: Gem Cut Finish
Display: 6.6″ IPS TFT panel
Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels)
Rear Camera: Triple,
– 13MP primary lens with AF
– 2 x QVGA sensors
– Triple flash
Front Camera: 8MP with dual flash
Chipset: Mediatek Helio A20 (Quad-core Cortex A53)
RAM: 2/3GB
Storage: 32/64GB, expandable
Battery: 5000 mAh, 10W (5V, 2A)
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted, g-sensor, proximity, light sensor
Connectivity: 4G, WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth (version unspecified), micro USB

Infinix Smart 5 Price in Nepal and Availability

Infinix Smart 5 is available in Nepal for a price of Rs. 14,490. This price is for the 3GB RAM and 64GB storage. Likewise, the lower end 2/32GB variant costs Rs. 12,990.

Infinix Smart 5 Variant	Price in Nepal
2GB RAM / 32GB ROM	NPR 12,990
3GB RAM / 64GB ROM	NPR 14,490

Check out our review of the Nokia C2.

Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 Review: Workout Beats!

GadgetByte

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November 21, 2020

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Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 Review: Workout Beats!

By churning out some great value for bucks earphones over the past couple of years, Anker is no longer just associated with power banks and chargers. Their wireless earphones such as the Liberty Air 2, Spirit Dot 2 impressed many. And they hope that Spirit X2 will follow along in the same path.

The Spirit-lineup is catered towards fitness-focused customers. The Spirit X2 is designed to be your audio partner for your next exercise session. However, to be that it has to tick a few boxes such as battery life, comfort, and obviously the sound quality. So, let’s find out how well these earphones fare in our review of the Soundcore Spirit X2.

Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 Specifications:

Dimension: 96 x 35 x 66 mm
Weight: 430g
Driver: 12mm composite, BassTurbo acoustic design
Connectivity: Wireless (Bluetooth v5.0, 33 meters range)
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Audio codecs: AAC, SBC, aptX
Sound Impedance: 85dB
Sound Mode: Stereo
Battery Life: 9 hours, 36 hours (with charging case)
Battery Capacity: 545mAh
Calls: 2 mics with cVc 8.0 uplink noise reduction
Charging time: 1.5 hours
IP rating: IP68, SweatGaurd Technology
Power case charger: Type-C
Color: Black
Additional Accessories: Ear-tips kit, charging case, USB-C charging cable
Price: NPR. 10,699

Soundcore Spirit X2 Review

DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY

The market is dominated by tiny, aesthetically pleasing, basically AirPods like wireless earphones. So, if you are accustomed to such earphones then the Soundcore Spirit X2 might come across as a bulky or even an ugly device for you.

The Spirit X2 sports large earhooks which helps to increase the stabilization. You’ll have to twist the earphone around your ear to get the hooks in place. And for the most part, they are pretty comfortable. Initially, that is. After using it for about 3 and a half hours or so, I started feeling a slight discomfort on the back of my ear. Furthermore, they also left a lingering sensation for about 5-6 minutes after I removed them. And if you wear glasses then, you’ll probably have a hard time using the Spirit X2.

Other than the slight discomfort, however, the earphones did not trouble me while exercising. Never once did I feel the need to adjust the earphones while cardio, jogging, or any other workout. And that’s what you should expect from an earphone catered towards fitness conscious customers. You wouldn’t want to have to keep adjusting the earpiece every once in a while.

Furthermore, the IP68 rating, a great feature to have in this price range, means that it is dust, water, and sweat resistant. So, you can go for a long run without any concern about the earpieces coming loose due to sweat.

The Spirit X2 is waterproof in up to 2 meters. However, the company has stated that these earphones are not designed for swimming. That’s probably cause the Bluetooth signal starts to get a bit iffy underwater. So, what’s the point of wearing the earphones underwater if you can’t listen to music, right?

CONTROLS

On each, earpiece you’ll find the control strips. It will take some time to get used to the placement and to memorize the control options that the buttons provide. Thankfully, the “long” user manual explains everything in detail.

The buttons can be used to skip tracks, increase/decrease volume, activate voice assistant, switch between normal and EQ mode, and finally, to accept/reject the incoming calls.
On the right, the upper button helps to increase the volume and the lower one can be used to play/pause the tracks. The left upper one can be used to decrease the volume and the lower one to play/pause the tracks.

The long-press of volume up will skip one track, and the long press of volume down takes you back one track.

Similarly, a long press of the play/pause button on either side will help you activate your voice assistant. For calls, the press of the play/pause button of the right earpiece will answer the call, and pressing the one on the left will decline the call.

As I said, a lot to take into. I mean I’ve been using this earphone for over 3 weeks now and I still get confused every once in a while.

Talking about the charging case, it pretty much goes along with the aesthetics of the earphones themselves. That is, it too is a bulky thing to carry around. I did not find it comfortable to carry the charging case in my pockets. A backpack is probably the best place for the case.

But size aside, the case is fairly minimalistic. It has a plain design with the soundcore label on the top, 3 LEDs in the front that indicate the charge of the case. And on the back, you’ll find the product details and a flap that covers the charging port. Oh, there’s also a small button right beside the flap, that you can use for Bluetooth re-pairing and for reset.

CONNECTIVITY

The very first thing about these earphones that left me in awe was the connection strength. I left my phone in my room on the first floor, went down right to the other end of the house, listening to music and I noticed no connectivity issue at all.

I even used it while playing PUBG and other than the latency problem due to the internet, there was no noticeable lag in the audio.

The connectivity strength is the courtesy of Bluetooth 5.

One minor issue here for users might be the lack of multipoint connectivity. This means there’s no seamless connection switch between devices. However, connecting to a device requires you to just pair the earphones through the Bluetooth settings. Thus, it shouldn’t be much of an issue for most.

I wasn’t able to test AAC compatibility, but the device does support AAC, aptX, and SBC codecs. So, I am sure everything works fine with iPhones too.

PERFORMANCE

The Spirit X2 does not come cheap, however, they don’t cost as high as the AirPods and earbuds. So, it falls in the middle. And honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into with these.

However, I listened to a few songs, and that was enough for me. Spirit X2 definitely punches up.

The earphones are equipped with 12mm drivers and they deliver a frequency range of 20Hz to 20KHz. Furthermore, there are acoustic chambers behind the 12mm driver for low-end resonance.

Most sub-NPR 10K wireless earphones lack in Bass. So, it made sense for me to try bassy heavy songs on the Spirit X2. Also, I wanted to see the difference between the Normal mode and the Bass Up mode.

While listening to songs like On My Level, I found the normal mode itself delivering enough thunder. Using the Bass Up mode in those scenarios will certainly be an overkill.

The lower frequency range might sound a bit dull, but the reproduction of the lower-mids is just perfect. Furthermore, you won’t face bass distortion even at high volumes.

Obviously, I had to try out songs with a low bass range in order to fully see the effect of the Bass Up mode. While it does beef up the bass and provides stable levels, I did not prefer it too much. That’s because it just sounds a bit too spongy for my liking. So, I would probably suggest you stick to the Normal mode.

These earphones will not satisfy true audiophiles. However, by sticking to the normal mode you can listen to your favorite bass-heavy tracks or a much subtle track for a gymming session, and feel the audio hit just the right spots.

CALLS

There’s no auto-pause and active noise cancellation. But there is cVc active cancellation for phone calls. Furthermore, there’s the aptX support and dual-microphone system to aid you during calls. Microphones on this device are quite good. However, most of my calls were marred by sound interference, so, I did not find the device suitable for calls. Maybe it was due to the poor network connectivity in my area. So, I am not completely sure about that.

There are a few compromises, but you won’t have many complaints regarding the quality of audio or the microphones of the Spirit X2, Especially, considering the price range.

BATTERY

Another area where the soundcore Spirit X2 excels-in is the battery life. The company claims that the earphones have 9 hours of battery in them at 50% volume, all thanks to the huge battery inside the giant earloops. Furthermore, the charging case packs in a further 27 hours in it. These are great and accurate numbers.

I tested the earphones at a lower volume – around 40% and was able to get an hour and a half more than the claimed one. Moreover, if you find the earphones out of juice for a quick workout session, the quick charge feature will come in handy. The quick charge gives the earphones about 2 hours of playback time in just 10 minutes. However, you will have to keep in mind the volume. Higher volume will result in quick draining of the battery.

CONCLUSION

Yes, the Soundcore Spirit X2 has a few drawbacks. The earphones are bulky and the audio reproduction is not the same as that of the high-end TWS earphones.

However, it provides big bass, the audio will please everyday listeners, it has a huge battery life and the IP68 rating renders this device to be robust. Thus, I can safely say that, if you are looking for a TWS earphone in under 10K then the Soundcore Spirit X2 is the one that you can consider.

Soundcore Spirit X2 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

Earhook design great while doing exercises
Tight fit
Sturdy build
Great wireless range
Punchy Bass
Great battery life

Cons:

Bulky charging case
No ANC
Controls difficult to remember

Uptrendly launches its platform to connect brands and influencers of Nepal

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GadgetByte

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November 21, 2020

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Uptrendly launches its platform to connect brands and influencers of Nepal

Social media influencers allow brands to build a relationship with consumers on social media platforms. Influencers not only drive audiences to your page by advertising to their following, but they also create word-of-mouth communication of your brand in comparison to direct advertising. They also have a unique perspective and aesthetic that sets each influencer apart.

The art of marketing has always been about building trust. The target audience believes that what you’re selling to them can solve their problem. With so much competition out there, the brands with the most trust win. Because of the tremendous shifts in the media landscape caused by social media specifically, we’ve seen a new class of influencers pop up.

The continued growth of influencer marketing is inevitable. The question is how companies will manage to find and collaborate with the relevant influencers. With tons of brands targeting the same audience, influencer marketing has now become extremely competitive. To address this concern, various platforms have been developed to connect brands with the right influencers. In similar attempts, Uptrendly has launched its platform to connect influencers/creators and brands.

How Uptrendly Platform Works

This platform is one of a kind in Nepal. Any influencer that meets the criteria of 5000 followers on Instagram can register for an influencer account. After getting verified, they get entered into Uptrendly’s searchable database and are, in turn, able to see any proposals from brands.

Similarly, brands too can register for an account on Uptrendly. It helps brands to promote their product through social media channels and run campaigns. Brands can also use it to gain detailed insights into an influencer that suits their product.

Their website has a pretty straight forward navigation system. Right on the home page, you’ll find what you’re looking for. The signup page link for both brands and influencers is right at the top. And as you visit the link, you’ll be guided through the process. Finally, once your account gets verified, you can start collaborating.

A major reason influencer marketing works is because influencers provide a human touch to the brand and can connect to their audience on a personal level. Consumers today are different. We skip ads. We ignore blatant promotions that come from large, faceless corporations. Instead, we want to hear from people.

People want to see influencer content, that’s why they’re following them. They value their recommendations. As a result, influencers have been able to monetize those audiences and provide a brand-new channel for marketers to generate leads. I think this goes on to show that the Uptrendly platform can be the next big thing for influencer marketing in Nepal. Nevertheless, it does boil down to the product itself and how it is being promoted.

Visit Uptrendly.com here

Watch our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 Review: Disruptingly Good

Nikhil Shrestha

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November 20, 2020

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Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 Review: Disruptingly Good

Xiaomi is one of those companies that has built its entire fanbase thanks to its aggressive pricing strategies. And just a couple of months ago, Xiaomi entered the TV market here in Nepal by launching two TVs. While saying this move blew the competitors out of the water is a blatant exaggeration, I can say that Xiaomi’s presence in the domestic TV industry was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. We were quite eager to test, review the Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 in particular, so we got one for ourselves.

Retailing at Rs. 65,000, it is an intriguing offering (to say the least). After having used it for about 2 months now, I can safely say that this is a banger of a TV, at least considering other options in the local market. So, allow me to discuss the Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 at length in this review.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 Specifications:

Display: 55-inches LED-backlit LCD display
Resolution: 4K Ultra-HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Dimensions: 48.9W x 28.35H” (w/o stand) | 48.9W x 30.3H” (w/ stand)
Weight: 12.70 kg (w/o stand); 13 kg (w/ stand)
Sound: 2x Speakers with 20W Output (6ohm)
Audio Decoder: Dolby Audio, DTS-HD
OS: Android TV 9.0 (Pie), PatchWall
Processor: Amlogic quad-core CPU (Cortex-A53), Mali-450 MP3 GPU
Memory: 2GB RAM, 8GB eMMC storage
HDR: Yes (HDR10)
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Viewing Angle: 178-degree
Response Time: 6.5ms (typ)
Power: AC100-240V 50/60Hz (140W)
Wireless Connectivity: WiFi (dual-band), Bluetooth 4.2
I/O Ports: 3x HDMI (including one HDMI ARC), 2x USB 2.0, 1x Ethernet (LAN), 1x Antenna, 1x S/PDIF, 1x AV input
Remote: Mi Remote (battery not included inside the box)
Warranty: 1 year brand + 1 year on the panel
Price in Nepal: Rs. 64,999 74,999

Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 Review:

Design & Build

A plastic back panel, minimal bezels upfront
Can be wall-mounted or installed using a stand

As always, let’s start with the design & build quality. Like it is with every other TVs these days, the Mi TV 4X bears a striking resemblance to any one of them out there—with its minimal bezels and the standard black color finish. The back panel has been made from some sort of plastic material while Xiaomi has given a coarse touch to the entirety of the panel too.

Similarly, the bezels on the front have this sort-of matte finish to them, while the chin houses a small “Mi” branding. And just below it, you’ll find the LED power indicator. Underneath it, there’s a dedicated power button as well, which is self-explanatory. The Mi TV 4X 55 can be either wall-mounted or installed using a stand. We went the second route as it offers a greater level of flexibility for our inconsistent office layout.

Weighing just 13 kg, the TV is relatively easy to carry around from one room to another. There is a little bit of wobble to it, but nothing to be alarmed by. Looking at the back of the TV, one can find a separate module that houses the I/O ports. Unlike the supposedly premium TVs from other manufacturers like LG, Samsung, Sony, etc. this one does not have a cable management mechanism. So, installing a bunch of wired components may disturb the room’s aesthetics if not handled well.

Display

55″ 4K UHD LED-backlit LCD display
HDR content compatible
60Hz refresh rate, 178º viewing angle

Moving on, as I mentioned earlier, this is a 55” 4K UHD TV which has an LED-backlit LCD display. Unfortunately, Xiaomi hasn’t specified the type/grading of the panel used and I couldn’t find any binding detail about it on the web either. Android Authority does mention that the TV comes with an IPS panel but hasn’t provided any source to the claim, nor has it elaborated on it in any way. Furthermore, during the review, the display of Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 seemed to reveal characteristics that side with a VA panel instead.

For instance, its viewing angle isn’t that good—a trait common in VA panels. Although the official product page specifies a 178-degree viewing angle, the reality is far worse. Unless you’re sitting straight ahead of the TV, there’s a noticeable drop in brightness and saturation level. It’s almost bizarrely bad. Like, I would move a couple of changes to the side and the viewing angle would suffer.

So, if you’re planning on installing this TV in your living room where you’d want to enjoy it alongside your friends & family, disappointment awaits. Likewise, the display is quite glossy and reflective too. To counter this, I had to put on opaque drapes so that it would stop reflecting light all that well. This could easily be prevented by setting the TV in a fairly dark room. But it’s reasonable to say that that’s not possible in every household.

Anyway, talking about the quality of the core panel itself, it’s pretty good—although I’m slightly leaning towards the one on CG55A1 that I reviewed a while back. The colors, contrast are excellent and it supports HDR format as well.

HDR, overdone?

The spec-sheet of the Mi TV 4X 55 further specifies 10-bit color depth and Vivid Picture Engine for enhanced color reproduction and a boosted brightness level. All sounds good till now but at times, I felt like this algorithm along with other internal image processing is a little too aggressive to my liking.

I watched the second episode of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy’s season 2 and dear heavens—the contrast level is almost an overkill on this TV. In the scene where Allison goes to the police station (timestamp – 18:03), I almost couldn’t make what’s happening on the screen. It is a fairly well-lit scene but still, the HDR algorithm just—spikes up the black levels too much, and subjects sometimes tend to look over-sharpened as well.

Everything looked perfectly fine when playing a few HDR test videos from YouTube, though. I mean, it has a rich contrast and the black uniformity is pretty impressive. But on other dynamic content, the story was a little different. I also tried playing the hallway fight scene from Daredevil season 1 and here, although things weren’t as bad as the previous instance, the overall experience was slightly underwhelming. The yellow and red levels are slightly off the charts but still enjoyable.

Moreover, the Mi TV 4X 55 is equipped with the standard 60Hz refresh rate and Xiaomi hasn’t bothered with any form of motion smoothing feature. While this is an inherently unnecessary thing to have in regular content, it does have some significant uses. In fast-paced programs like live-action sports, events, etc. this feature elevates the TV-viewing experience to new heights. But, this “soap opera effect” is dreaded to have activated on standard TV programs, movies, etc. Maybe that’s where Xiaomi’s priorities were—I don’t know.

Fast-paced content

Regardless, watching sports channels was a bag of mixed feelings. In certain cases, the gameplay looks all right with no image retention, or other issues of any kind. Perhaps the signal broadcaster itself is applying some sort of frame interpolation algorithm—I’m not sure. But in most cases, the content looks choppy and jittery. And when watching a couple of boxing games, I could even notice the ghosting effect.

Besides these, I didn’t face any problem regarding brightness, sharpness, and other factors with Mi TV 4X 55’s display. When viewing the TV from approximately 2 meters away, I couldn’t notice pixelation and the content on the display looks crystal clear. There is not much to mess around with the display settings.

You can play around with the color temperature, backlight level, picture mode, etc. but, the default settings worked just fine for my eyes. One interesting feature I noticed is called “Dynamic Backlighting”. What it basically does is adjust the panel’s backlight level depending on the content playing. I did find that turning this on enhanced the viewing experience when watching comparatively under-lit content.

Audio

2x10W speakers (bottom-firing)
Dolby Audio, DTS-HD compatible

In terms of the audio, the Mi TV 4X 55 has two speakers with 10W output each. These down-firing speakers also support Dolby Audio and DTS-HD. The speaker gets plenty loud and can rock an average-sized room of about 200-300 square feet without breaking a sweat. Vocals sound crisp and clear whereas there are a fair bit of details in the high frequency as well. However, its low-frequency reproduction like the bass is almost dismissable and is rather overblown by the mids most of the time.

This one doesn’t have 360-degree audio either so immersive sound quality is out of the question. But, that’s a perfectly excusable exclusion considering the price of the thing. The audio gets slightly distorted when cranking up the volume to the max so be advised against that as well. Overall, the audio on this TV is not that bad. But if you have a trained set of ears and want immersive sound quality, you’re better off installing an external soundbar or a home theater system.

Connectivity

A healthy selection of I/O ports
Dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2

Getting to the connectivity front, the Mi TV 4X 55 has a healthy selection of ports. You get 3x HDMI, 2x USB 2.0, and an antenna socket on the right edge. Similarly, there’s 1x ethernet (RJ45), 1x S/PDIF, and an AV input connection on the side. Among the available 3 HDMI ports, 1 of them also supports ARC (Audio Return Channel) protocol. Using this, you can connect the TV with your ARC-compatible AV receiver or soundbar.

Ports

1 of 2

Similarly, the wireless options on the TV include Bluetooth 4.2 and dual-band WiFi. Here, you’ll definitely want to use a LAN cable for a relatively buffer-free 4K streaming. During the test, I found that even when connected to a 5GHz network, the TV would buffer significantly more sometimes—a problem almost eliminated with a stable wired connection. In addition, you can also connect your thumb drive to view pictures, play audio files, or watch movies.

Software

Android TV 9.0 with PatchWall
Google Assistant-enabled
Chromecast built-in

On the software side of things, Mi TV 4X 55 is an Android TV running on version 9.0 (Pie). With this, you can easily download all your favorite apps from the Play Store. The interface is clean and extremely user friendly. But, we’ve received news that this TV won’t be getting any software update. Now that’s a major bummer because I really think the Mi TV 4X 55 could use some software optimization for better performance.

Powering the device is a quad-core Amlogic processor, with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. First off, the entire UI feels slightly off, laggy sometimes. Moreover, its cold boot can take up to 30 seconds. This TV also supports Google Assistant voice control, but that too is far from ideal. I don’t understand why but it just gets unresponsive sometimes while working fine the other times. It’s weird to say that occasionally, even the speech recognition takes a hit. You’re requesting one thing, and the assistant processes something different altogether.

You get a “Try Saying” suggestion prompt on the TV as soon as you press the assistant button on the remote. Still, it doesn’t take your requests just then and there but rather proceeds to process the end portions of your command. The apparent trick is to wait a couple of seconds before the UI layout of the TV gets subdued indicating that the assistant can now take your requests. You can also open the TV’s settings, open apps by requesting Google Assistant. Yet, this is hit-or-miss as well.

PatchWall

Further disappointment comes from Xiaomi’s content-recommendation system PatchWall—in that it doesn’t work in Nepal. I tried changing the TV’s region to India. With this, the Mi TV 4X 55 would load up the PatchWall UI in its entirety but would refuse to play most of the content. At first, most of the recommended movies, shows, documentaries belonged either to Disney+ Hotstar, or Amazon Prime Video—while still holding a separate tab for Netflix, YouTube, and such. Videos from Netflix, YouTube played fine (as it directed to their respective app) but on other streaming services, I would get an error message.

So, to rid of this half-baked experience, I switched the TV’s region back to “Other”. Once again, I checked to see if something would be different this time around when setting the region to India. Surprisingly, it did. Now, it wouldn’t even load up the PatchWall UI that it did before.

Chromecast

Besides all these, the Mi TV 4X 55 also has Chromecast built-in. With this, you can easily stream content from your phone to the TV. This feature worked perfectly without any hiccup. If you are on a metered connection (volume-based internet plan), the Data Saver feature is something you’d really want as well. Turning this on intelligently adjusts the streaming quality to use as little data as possible. Xiaomi claims a 3x drop in bandwidth consumption but it was hard to test it out; given how vague of an assertion that is.

Likewise, Mi Nepal’s product page for the TV 4X 55 mentions that it supports H.264 (AVC) video decoder, and not H.265 (HEVC). This could very easily be a typo on their end when looking at other sources like Mi India. And, disabling a video decoder feels based on region sounds like an implausible thing to do. Now, the reason I’m talking about it is that H.265 offers better bandwidth saving compared to H.264. All the popular streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc. already support this codec. Therefore, you can stream high-quality content from such sources with minimum data.

Remote

Mi Remote’s design is pretty sleek
Could’ve used a couple more buttons

On to the remote, the Mi TV 4X 55 gets a small, minimalistic Mi Remote. With a subtle matte finish, this remote is incredibly lightweight and easy to use. The buttons feel plasticky, but I got used to it in a matter of days. While the design, build quality are praiseworthy, the button choice could’ve been a little more extensive. The lack of dedicated settings, mute, YouTube button resulted in quite a bit of hassle during my usage. Going through a bunch of hoops to activate such seemingly simple features is an uninspiring journey.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Mi TV 4X 55 is a great value-for-money TV in Nepal. Getting a 55” 4K HDR TV of this quality for under 70K is a significant achievement for the domestic TV market. With its 1 year of product and an additional 1 year of warranty on panel, this TV is a superb TV for the average Nepali household.

Admittedly, it is far from perfect and doesn’t compare to similar offerings from other established brands. If you already have a taste for premium TVs, this one is not for you. But for those specifically looking for a premium TV experience on a budget, it is an excellent contender for your money. Some might even argue that a couple of complaints I made about the Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 throughout the review are negligible considering the overall value offered by the TV.

Xiaomi Mi TV 4X 55 Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

Terrific value for money
Nice design, build quality
Decent display quality for the price
Dolby Audio, DTS-HD audio output
Port selection is excellent
Intuitive Android TV interface
Data saver feature is a big deal

Cons:

HDR videos look overdone at times
The viewing angle could’ve been better
Fast-paced content can look choppy
Time & again, UI can get quite laggy
Google Assistant doesn’t work well
Mi Remote lacks some basic buttons

TCL 75P715 (75″) and 43P615 (43″) 4K TVs launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

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November 20, 2020

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TCL 75P715 (75″) and 43P615 (43″) 4K TVs launched in Nepal

CG Digital has launched two new TCL Android TV in the Nepali market. Let’s check out the specs, features, expected price, and availability of TCL 75P715 (75″) and 43P615 (43″) Android TV in Nepal.

TCL 75P715 (75″) 4K QUHD TV Overview

TCL P715 is a QUHD Android TV with multiple screen size options. However, only the 75-inch model is available in Nepal. Without a stand, the TV measures 1670 x 971 x 91-mm. With the stand, the height and depth bump to 10321mm and 403mm respectively. It is a QUHD TV with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels.

Here, QUHD is TCL’s marketing term for use of Quantum Dots in the display. It supports HDR 10 and Digital Vision contents. The TV boasts a brightness level of up to 330 nits and a contrast ratio of 5000:1. For enhanced contrast, it comes with micro dimming with 1296 separate zones. In case you don’t know, micro dimming is an image enhancement technology where the algorithm analyzes each frame and dynamically adjusts brightness and darkness.

TCL P715 75″ is an Android TV and thus comes with Google Play Store, Chromecast, and Google Assistant. For a change, one can also use it with Alexa. It comes with Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime built-in. The TV is also Freeview Plus certified. TCL has also included support for hands-free control.

In terms of connectivity, it supports wireless connection through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Other options include two HDMI ports, two USB 2.0 ports, an AV In, an Ethernet port, an optical S/PDIF port, and a headphone output. The P715 features two speakers, each rated for 15W output.

Also Read:

TCL 43P615 (43″) 4K UHD TV Overview

TCL P615 is the cheaper one of the two TVs launched in Nepal today. Of all the models under the P615 series, only the 43-inch variant is now available in Nepal. It is a 4K UHD TV with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. TCL P615 can upscale FHD and 2K contents to 4K, thanks to TCL’s proprietary algorithm. The typical brightness level and contrast ratio have been listed at 280 nits and 5000:1 respectively. It supports HDR 10 contents.

It is powered by a quad-core processor with four Cortex A55 cores. The graphics are handled by Mali 470. It ships with Android P. The two speakers are integrated at the bottom and together they account for 24W audio output. The setup also supports Dolby Audio.

TCL 75P715, 43P615 4K TV Price in Nepal and Availability

The official price of 75-inch TCL 75P715 and 43-inch TCL 43P615 in Nepal is NPR 246,000 and NPR 59,300, respectively. CG Digital is the authorized distributor for TCL TVs in Nepal. Thus, you can buy TCL 75P715 and 43P615 4K UHD TV from CG’s showroom.

TCL TV Model	Price in Nepal	Availability
75P715 (75-inch)	NPR 246,000	CG Showrooms
43P615 (43-inch)	NPR 59,300	CG Showrooms

Check out our review of LG 55UM7300 4K LED TV [Nepali]

Wacom tablets are now available in Nepal: Check out their prices & availability

Tablet
Wacom

GadgetByte

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November 20, 2020

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Wacom tablets are now available in Nepal: Check out their prices & availability

If you are into digital art, you must be familiar with Wacom. The Japanese brand is popular for drawing tablets and other digital stationery. Wacom products are now available in Nepal. In this post, we will talk about specs, features, price, and availability of Wacom tablets in Nepal.

Wacom: Brand Overview

Wacom was founded in the year 1983 in Japan. The company has its headquarter in Saitama, Japan. It released its first cordless pen tablet in 1984. Wacom Europe was established in 1988. It now has subsidiaries in countries like the US, China, Australia, and India.

The brand is popular among digital artists for its pen tablets, pen displays, and mobile pen devices. However, digital ink products are for both regular consumers and businesses. The brand also offers its technology to OEMs. It is also a part of the Universal Pen Framework (UPF). Through UPF, Wacom is improving digital stationery.

Wacom Tablets Price in Nepal [Summary]

Wacom Tablets Model	Price in Nepal
One by Wacom Creative Pen Tablet (Small)	NPR 7,000
One by Wacom Creative Pen Tablet (Medium)	NPR 11,000
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Creative Pen Tablet (Small)	NPR 13,500
Wacom Intuos Bluetooth Creative Pen Tablet (Medium)	NPR 26,500
Wacom Intuos Pro Creative Pen Tablet (Small)	NPR 33,000
Wacom Intuos Pro Creative Pen Tablet (Medium)	NPR 46,300
Wacom One Creative Display	NPR 55,000
Wacom Cintiq 16 Creative Pen Display	NPR 105,000

One By Wacom

One by Wacom offers the best value for money in the company’s portfolio. This tablet comes with a pressure-sensitive pen that can be used for sketching, painting, and editing photos. The pen is lightweight and doesn’t require any battery. The tablet is available in two sizes – Small and Medium.

One by Wacom Specs:

Active Area:
Small: 152.0 x 95.0mm
Medium: 216.0 x 135.0mm
Pen Technology: EMR
Type: Pressure-sensitive, cordless, battery-free
Pressure levels: 2048
Express Keys: No
Multi-touch: No
Connection: USB Type-A port
Price (Small): Rs. 7,000
Price (Medium): Rs. 11,000

Wacom Intuos

It comes with a 4K pressure-sensitive pen. It also has a low 7mm reading height, linearity, and weight-balance calibration. The tablet has an integrated pen tray. Unlike the One by Wacom, it has four customizable ExpressKeys and wireless Bluetooth connectivity.

Wacom Intuous Specs:

Active Area:
Small: 152.0 x 95.0mm
Medium: 216.0 x 135.0mm
Pen Technology: EMR
Pressure levels: 4096
Express Keys: 4
Multi-touch: No
Connection: USB / Bluetooth
Price (Small): Rs. 13,500
Price (Medium): Rs. 26,500

Wacom Intuos Pro

The Wacom Pro Pen 2 on Intuos Pro has better accuracy, pressure-sensitivity, tilt-response, and virtually lag-free tracking. It can be a decent option for designers, artists, and educators. Other features include customizable ExpressKeys, Redial Menus, Touch Ring, and multi-touch support.

Wacom Intuous Pro Specs:

Active Area:
Small: 160.0 x 100.0mm
Medium: 224.0 x 148.0mm
Pen Technology: EMR
Pressure levels: 8192
Express Keys: 6 (Small)/ 8 (Medium)
Tilt Recognition: ± 60 levels
Multi-touch: Yes
Touch Ring: 4 (only in Medium)
Connection: USB / Bluetooth
Price (Small): Rs. 33,000
Price (Medium): Rs. 46,300

Wacom One Creative Display

There is a 13.3-inch AHVA display on the One Creative. It has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. The pen is based on EMR technology and it doesn’t require batteries. The display comes with an HDMI port and a USB Type-A port. It is compatible with Windows, Android, and Mac devices.

Wacom One Creative Display Specs:

Display: 13.3-inch AHVA panel, 1920 x 1080 pixels; 72% NTSC
Active Area: 294.0 x 166.0mm
Pen Technology: EMR
Pressure levels: 4096
Tilt Recognition: ± 60 levels
Connection: USB, HDMI
Price: Rs. 55,000

Wacom Cintiq Pro 16

Cintiq Pro 16 offers the best creative experience on a Wacom tablet. It comes with a 15.6-inch IPS UHD high brightness panel with an aspect ratio of 16:9. The display supports up to 16.7 million colors. The Wacom Pro Pen 2 that comes with it supports 8192 pressure levels and a tilt range of 60 degrees. It also comes with an eraser.

Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 Specs:

Display: 15.6-inch IPS panel, 3840 x 1260 pixels; 72% NTSC
Active Area: 294.0 x 166.0mm
Pen Technology: EMR
Pressure levels: 8192
Tilt Recognition: ± 60 levels
Multi-touch: Yes
Input: USB-C, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI
Price: Rs. 105,000

Where to buy Wacom graphic tablets in Nepal?

You can buy Wacom Graphics Tablets in Nepal via OlizStore for the above-mentioned prices. Wacom tablets are available in OlizStore’s outlets across Nepal, or you can also buy them from their website too.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070: Which one is for you?

GadgetByte

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November 20, 2020

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AMD Radeon RX 6800 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070: Which one is for you?

For the longest time, NVIDIA was the only choice for gamers for the top-end graphics cards as its premium offerings hardly faced any competition. However, this time around, buyers now have a choice, thanks to the introduction of the RDNA 2 based graphics card by AMD. In this post, we are going to compare AMD Radeon RX 6800 against NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3070 and help you decide to choose one between the two.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 vs GeForce RTX 3070

Architecture

Let’s first talk about the architecture and raw specs of the two graphics cards in this comparison. The RTX 3700 is based on NVIDIA’s third-generation Ampere architecture whereas the Radeon RX 6800 is based on AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture. While the former is based on Samsung’s 8nm custom process, the latter is based on a smaller 7nm process. Talking about the interface, both are PCIe 4.0 ready.

Moving on, RTX 3070 features 5,880 CUDA cores along with a base clock of 1,500MHz. Similarly, the boost clock speed can reach up to 1,725MHz. For Ray Tracing, it has 49 Gen 2 RT cores. On the other hand, RX 6800 features 3,840 Stream Processors with a game clock (AMD’s fancy name for base clock) of 1,815MHz, while its boost clock speed can reach up to 2,105MHz. For the first time, AMD has included support for Ray Tracing in its graphics card.

AMD Radeon RX 6800 Graphics Card — AMD Radeon RX 6800

As far as memory goes, RX 6800 has a maximum size of 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, while it’s half as much in the RTX 3070 Founder’s Edition. Both cards have a 256-bit memory interface width although the 3070 lags behind in terms of memory bandwidth (448GB/s < 512GB/s). The Radeon RX 6800 also has something called “Infinity Cache” of 128MB. It’s an on-die Zen L3 cache which “minimizes DRAM bottleneck, latencies, and power consumption”, thus resulting in almost twice bandwidth at low power.

Extra Features

When it comes to extra features, AMD still has some catching up to do. With the RDNA 2, the company has included support for the Ray Tracing. However, being a first-gen product, we can not expect much from the Ray Accelerators compared to NVIDIA’s RT cores. NVIDIA also has DLSS (Deep Learning Super Samling) technology that allows the graphics card to upscale low resolution renders to higher resolution using tensor cores. AMD is also working on a similar feature called Super Resolution, although there is no news about when it will be available.

AMD also announced Smart Access Memory that allows the Ryzen 5000 series CPU to utilize RDNA 2 based GPU’s whole memory instead of small blocks of them. It has already been confirmed that the Smart Access Memory technology makes use of support for resizable Base Address Register. While it’s only available in AMD’s card, for now, NVIDIA is coming up with a version of its own.

On the other hand, NVIDIA offers a lot more than just raw power with its latest graphics card. For instance, it has partnered with select games for a low latency mode. Similarly, they will also support latency evaluation tool with upcoming 360Hz NVIDIA G-Sync Esport displays. For streamers, there is NVIDIA Broadcast that supports audio noise removal, virtual background effect, and webcam auto frame.

Performance

Talking about the actual performance, recent third-party benchmark results have shown that the AMD Radeon RX 6800 outperforms the NVIDIA RTX 3070. The difference is even more evident in 4K gaming because of double VRAM in the RX 6800. The Smart Memory Access also uplifts the performance to some extent however the improvement is subject to the game you play.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Founders Edition Graphics Card — NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Founder’s Edition

Still, this is without Ray Tracing turned on. In the game that supports Ray Tracing, the RX 6800 performs miserably and the RTX 3070 has the upper hand. Like I mentioned earlier, unfortunately, AMD has no technology that is equivalent to NVIDIA’s DLSS for now.

Price

AMD Radeon RX 6800 is priced at $579, which is only $70 cheaper than the RX 6800 XT. On the other hand, the Founder’s Edition of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 has a cheaper price tag of just $499.

RX 6800 vs RTX 3070: Conclusion

If you are more concerned about raw performance but can’t afford the Radeon RX 6800 XT, the standard 6800 could be a decent option. It offers better raw performance compared to the NVIDIA RTX 3070 for an additional $80.

On the other hand, if Ray Tracing and DLSS are of high significance to your use case, the RTX 3070 is an obvious choice between the two—considering both performance and price. Furthermore, if you are into live streaming, The 3070 makes more sense because of the NVIDIA Broadcast which is absent in the AMD counterpart.

Watch our review of the MSI GE66 Raider gaming laptop.

Samsung is ditching LCD in favor of QNED display technology

GadgetByte

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November 19, 2020

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Samsung is ditching LCD in favor of QNED display technology

Today, LCD is regarded as the most dominant display technology in the world and it has been the case for a while. Thus, different companies have invested in next-gen display technologies – a term that has been used to refer to a successor to LCD technology. Samsung has been pushing its QLED technology while on the other hand, LG is promoting its OLED standard. And if the latest rumors are to be believed, Samsung will introduce the QNED display technology next year. In this post, we will be taking a look at these display technologies and what makes them stand out in comparison to others.

LCD technology

Let’s start with the LCD. It consists of tiny liquid crystals placed in front of the backlight system. The light from the backlight separates into red, green, and blue lights as it passes through a color filter. The liquid crystals then use these lights to produce the desired color on the screen. In the early days, LCD displays used CCFL as a backlight. However, they have now been replaced by a more efficient LED system. Thus, LED displays are actually LCD panels with LED light sources illuminating them.

QLED Technology

A different version of this technology exists in the form of QLED which Samsung has been using in its high-end TVs. Here, the company uses Quantum Dot Enhancement Film. Quantum Dots are tiny particles that emit photons (light) when they are excited by an external source of energy. The light produced here differs according to the size of the dots.

Quantum Dot Enhancement Film — Source: Nanosys

OLED Technology

But wait, why is Samsung still using LED displays when apparently they manufacture the best quality OLED panels for smartphones. The problem here is scalability. The OLED panels in smartphones use Red, Blue, and Green sub-pixels that are self-emissive. That is, they don’t need any external light source. They offer a better contrast ratio compared to conventional displays as they can produce true black by turning off all the sub-pixels. They don’t even suffer from light bleed which is a major problem in LED displays.

However, as I mentioned earlier, scalability is an issue. OLED with RGB subpixels are hard to implement on large displays. On the other hand, OLED panels are prone to screen burn-in issues in the long-run, and they also cannot get bright enough compared to QLED either. Thus, Samsung still promotes QLED in its TVs.

While Samsung avoids OLED in its TV, LG and other brands have used it in their flagships offering. These TVs use what LG calls WOLED (White OLED). As the name implies, it uses White pixels based on blue and yellow substrates which are then converted into four sub-pixels (red, green, blue, and white) by an RGBW filter.

Also Read:

QD-OLED Technology

Now that we have learned about the unique characteristics of QLED and OLED, you may ask if there is a way we could enjoy the best of both worlds. It is here where Samsung’s QD-OLED technology comes in. The idea here is to place a Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF) place instead of an RGBW color filter in front of a blue OLED.

Samsung QNED Display Technology

And now, Samsung is even taking things further with the new QNED technology. It’s an acronym for Quantum Nano Emitting Diode. It won’t require a separate QDEF since the Quantum Dots will be printed into the pixel area using inkjet printing technology. Instead of blocking unwanted light and allowing only desired light to pass through, the Quantum Dot panel in QNED will convert all of the light falling on it into the desired color. This process is referred to as Quantum Dot Color Conversion and it results in higher efficiency.

Quantum Dot Color Conversion — Source: Nanosys

Also, the light source (OLED) will be replaced by a blue-emitting Nanorod LED, hence the name QNED. The Nanorod LED is based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) which is an organic substance and thus should last longer than the organic substance (Phosphor) used in OLED panels. Other advantages of QNED over QD-OLED are better efficiency and improved brightness. It will also be free from screen burn-in issues. And to achieve this, Samsung won’t have to overhaul their current QD-OLED manufacturing plants. Similarly, it is also expected to cost less than a QD-OLED panel.

Samsung QNED Launch and Availability

According to a recent report by UBI Research, Samsung Display will start manufacturing QNED panels starting from Q2 of next year. It also mentions that the company is capable of producing around 30,000 QNED panels per month. Earlier, Samsung Display had announced that it will stop producing LCD panels by the end of 2020.

TV Display Technology	Availability
Samsung QNED	Q2, 2021

Watch our review of the Samsung RU7100 55″ 4K TV.

Vivo officially unveils its new Android skin: OriginOS

Vivo

GadgetByte

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November 19, 2020

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Vivo officially unveils its new Android skin: OriginOS

In the hopes of providing a stock Android experience to its users, Vivo has finally unveiled its new UI – the OriginOS. It replaces the highly polarizing FuntouchOS that previously donned Vivo smartphones. OriginOS brings in a complete revamp in terms of optimizations, gestures, and visuals. Vivo claims that the OriginOS will bring in a smooth and secure user experience.

Vivo OriginOS Overview

Visual Flair

The first visual overhaul can be seen on the home screen itself. The desktop grid system is now the preferred widget arrangement style. It is based on the Klotski Grid. Now, users will be able to arrange multiple widgets even if their sizes don’t match.

Moreover, the widgets can also change their looks to relay the required information. For instance, the inbuilt weather app intuitively displays the temperature information. The temperature color card has 90 color values. Thus, you can perceive the difference between warm and cold temperatures.

Furthermore, the message notification system has also received an improvement. The nano alerts show smart notifications in an elegant way. They extract key information from the widgets and then present it in a way that does not disturb you.

Behavioral wallpapers have been introduced by Vivo in OriginOS. However, performance wallpaper is its official name. For instance, you can use the sky background that mimics various weather effects. And then there’s the blooming flower background that showcases complex motions such as the swaying of each individual petals.

Additionally, the wallpapers can also mimic the time of the day. That is, brightest at midday and darkest at night.

Navigation

For navigation, Vivo has added 26 new navigation gestures. And they cover the mainstream operation methods. You can also create your own gesture controls for multitasking and more.

Another nifty addition is the atomic component library. It summarizes atomic components and provides an easy way to retrieve them. Moreover, when icons are dragged from the navigation library into the application interface, it generates small windows for multitasking.

Then there’s the super card pack. A single swipe lets you call the pack no matter what screen you are on. The payment types to be displayed can be customized in the pack. This could come in real handy for quick and easy mobile payments.

Also Read: Vivo Mobile Price in Nepal [Updated]

OriginOS for Optimized Performance

OriginOS brings Multi-Turbo 5.0. This helps in the core system optimization. Multi-Turbo introduces three technologies – memory fusion, process optimization, and application preloading.

Here, memory fusion allows the allocation of idle ROM space to perform the function of RAM. This leads to a better experience while multitasking since your smartphone will now freeze less often. You can think of memory fusion as a way in which your phone with 8 gigs of RAM will behave as if it has a memory capacity equivalent to 11GB.

Additionally, in-depth control and system resident process optimization help in the overall process optimization. It contributes towards reducing concurrency conflicts and increases concurrency capacity by 20%.

Finally, preloading technology speeds up the app startup time. It intelligently guesses which app you’ll run next and preloads the necessary data. With this, Vivo says the app load time is reduced by up to 40%.

Vivo OriginOS Availability, Eligible Phones

In a Weibo post, the official account for OriginOS has detailed the update schedule for different Vivo and iQOO phones. The company plans to roll out the update in three distinct phases:

A. The first batch of public beta plans (Open beta before Jan 31, 2021)

Vivo phones	iQOO phones
Vivo NEX 3S	iQOO, iQOO Pro
Vivo X50, X50 Pro, X50 Pro+	iQOO 3
Vivo S7	iQOO 5, 5 Pro
	iQOO Neo3

B. The second batch of public beta plans (Open beta before Chinese New Year 2021)

Vivo phones	iQOO phones
Vivo NEX 3, NEX 3 5G	iQOO Neo
Vivo X30, X30 Pro	iQOO Neo 855 version

C. The third batch of public beta plans (Open beta in Q2 2021)

Vivo phones	iQOO phones
Vivo NEX (dual-screen), NEX (in-display fingerprint), NEX S	iQOO Z1
Vivo X27, X27 Pro	iQOO Z1x
Vivo S5, S6, S1, S1 Pro
Vivo Z5, Z5i, Z5x, Z6

In the meanwhile, you can watch our review of the Vivo V20:

What does Huawei selling Honor mean for both brands?

Honor
Huawei

GadgetByte

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November 18, 2020

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What does Huawei selling Honor mean for both brands?

You may have heard about the latest decision of Huawei to sell Honor. The news hit the internet even before Huawei officially announced the deal via a press release. In this post, we will be taking a look at the deal, its motive, and what it means for the three parties involved in the deal in the longer run.

Huawei sells Honor

Let’s start with the new acquisition itself. On November 17, Huawei released an official statement confirming the news which was already circulating on the internet. The statement also shed light on the buyer. Huawei has sold its sub-brand Honor to Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology. Shenzhen Smart City Technology Development Group created the company for the sole purpose of purchasing Honor. It consists of over 30 different agents and dealers of Honor.

Still, the sale price has not been disclosed. Huxiu, a China-based new site, reported that the deal was worth US$40 billion while a different report from Reuters estimated it to be around US$ 15.1 billion.

Huawei’s motive

According to Huawei, the decision to sell Honor was made under “tremendous pressure” that the company is facing. It has been suffering ever since the US government included it in its Entity list. This led to restrictions on how the company carried out business with US-based companies. Earlier the US government tightened the restriction. This time around, Huawei was restricted from using any product or technology made using US technology.

As a result, the company was stockpiling many components, especially the Kirin chipsets, before the new restrictions were implemented. Huawei has acknowledged this situation as well. The company has stated that persistent unavailability of technical elements needed for mobile phone business is the reason they have sold Honor.

Some reports even claim that Huawei will be using the cash coming from Honor’s sales to strengthen its stand against the ban. It has also been reported that Huawei might invest the cash to manufacture smartphone components on its own. If true, it will decrease the company’s dependence on foreign technology. Even if false, Huawei can forget about Honor and fully concentrate on its premium offerings with whatever resources it has left.

Honor’s sale will impact Huawei’s global ranking

While it may seem Huawei is getting rid of a burden, that too for good, there is more to the story. Before the US-imposed restriction, Huawei was the second biggest smartphone brand in the world and was aiming for the first place. However, the US ban has impacted the company’s ambition and the sale of Honor is not doing anything good to the cause.

Different reports suggest that over the last two years, Honor has contributed to around 25 to 29% (IDC) and 20 to 40% (Canalys) of Huawei’s total sales. Even Huawei has stated that Honor ships 70 million smartphones annually. That is around 29% of what Counterpoint reported Huawei’s total shipment for 2019. Also, Honor’s sales were instrumental for Huawei’s short reign as the world’s biggest smartphone brand during Q2, 2020. According to reports, Honor’s 15 million shipments contributed to around 25% of the total Huawei shipment during the period.

Without Honor, Huawei is expected to take a dunk in the global ranking of smartphone brands. In addition to Samsung and Apple, it also faces competition from fellow Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, which have capitalized on Huawei’s declining appeal outside of China.

Future without Huawei for Honor

As per the deal, Huawei will not hold any share in Honor and thus won’t be involved in any business management or decision-making activities in the new company. On the other hand, the deal won’t be impacting the stability of the current executive and talent team.

We will have to wait to see how Honor will bring out new products without the assistance of Huawei. One might even argue that the association with Huawei was doing more damage than help in recent times. Last month, Kuo Ming-chi, a popular analyst mostly known for his Apple prediction, suggested that Honor can bypass US trade sanctions if it went independent. It would be key to ensure Honor’s survival and growth in the long run. After all, the whole point of separating Honor from Huawei was to save Honor’s industry chain and ensure its survival.

On the other hand, the company will have to start investing in R&D. Similarly, it won’t get to use Huawei’s supply chain either. Honor is a huge company, especially in its domestic market. According to Counterpoint, in the third quarter of 2020, the company contributed to 15% of overall smartphone sales in China. It will look to strengthen its position in China and slowly focus on overseas markets.

Will it affect existing Employees and Customers?

As mentioned earlier, the company won’t be changing its human resource. According to reports, Zhao Ming will continue to lead Honor, this time as the company’s CEO. Similarly, other top officials will also be making the switch from Huawei to Honor. Honor will retain more than 7,000 employees. The company will move away from Huawei’s headquarter to a new location.

As for the existing customers, they won’t have to face any issue because of the change in ownership. They will still be eligible to use all the services that they could when Honor was under Huawei. However, all the services for future releases will be provided through a separate service system.

Watch: How Huawei is preparing for its Google-less future