Page 538 – GadgetByte Nepal

RedmiBook Pro 14/15 are a couple of ultraportable laptops with the latest Intel CPUs

Gaming
Redmi

Nikhil Shrestha

-

February 28, 2021

RedmiBook Pro 14/15 are a couple of ultraportable laptops with the latest Intel CPUs

RedmiBook is Xiaomi’s lineup of portable laptops that draw a major comparison to Apple’s MacBooks. And now, the company has added two new devices to this series. Here, the RedmiBook Pro 14 and Pro 15 emphasize on lightweight build quality, while being powered by the latest Intel Tiger Lake-U and Tiger Lake H35 processors. Let’s learn more about the RedmiBook Pro 14, 15 including their specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability.

RedmiBook Pro 14, 15 Overview:

Design

Let’s start with the design. Both these laptops have been engineered using aviation-grade aluminum alloy material. Besides adding to the lightweight build, the company also claims that it is 1.4 times stronger than 5-series aluminum alloy. Its hinge is benchmarked to last 30,000 flips with one hand too. Furthermore, the lid of RedmiBook Pro 14 and Pro 15 have been treated with ceramic sandblasted texture for that premium visual, tactile aesthetics. While Pro 14 measures 16mm in width, Pro 15 is slightly wider at 16.4mm. Similarly, these laptops weigh 1.46 and 1.79 kg respectively.

Display

On the display front, as the name implies, one’s got a 14” screen whereas the other has a 15” display. But the difference goes beyond the size of the panel. Here, RedmiBook Pro 14 features a 2.5K Super Retina screen contrary to the Pro 15’s 3.2K resolution display. Moreover, Xiaomi has restricted the 90Hz refresh rate on Pro 15 only. That makes it a more capable ultraportable gaming machine, which is further aided by its high-TDP processor. Let me get back to that in just a minute.

Other variations between these two screens can be seen in the form of contrast and screen-to-body ratio. RedmiBook Pro 14 comes with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 88.2% screen-to-body ratio. On the contrary, the Pro 15 bumps the former to 1500:1, and the latter to 89.1%. Apart from all this, things are common between them. You get to enjoy a tall 16:10 aspect ratio on a screen that is TÜV Rheinland certified for low blue light emission. Plus, they also support DC dimming.

Performance

Okay, let’s talk about the performance now. And this is where the differences matter most when choosing between the two laptops. Even though both of them are powered by Intel’s 11th-gen CPUs, their actual power and possibilities vary a lot. First of all, the RedmiBook Pro 14 makes do with the Tiger Lake-U series of processors. As we know, these include relatively low-TDP silicons and are more suitable for low-end computing needs only. On the other hand, RedmiBook Pro 15 is powered by the newer Tiger Lake H35 CPUs.

Also Read:
- Redmi K40 launched: SD 870, 120Hz AMOLED, and a $310 price-tag
- Redmi K40 Pro, Pro+ with Snapdragon 888, 120Hz AMOLED launched

This is Intel’s new standard of processors for ultraportable gaming laptops. Remember how I said Pro 15 is the better choice for gaming besides its smoother display? This is why. Compared to 12W/28W cTDP up/down in Tiger Lake-U CPUs, the H35 series’ configurable TDP ranges between 28W and 35W. Likewise, the H35 processors come with a new Iris Xe-LP integrated GPU whereas Tiger Lake-U pack in standard Iris Xe graphics. While both of them are excellent integrated graphics, you can also opt for a dedicated GPU on the RedmiBook Pro 14 and 15.

But since these are thin-and-light laptops, don’t expect high-end GTX or RTX series of graphics solutions. Here, Xiaomi has gone with NVIDIA’s entry-level MX450 graphics on both options but it’s optional. The company has included an active cooling system with a single fan and dual heatpipe solution. Users can choose from three performance modes including quiet, balanced, and speed. In terms of memory, you get 16GB of dual-channel DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200MHz and 512GB of M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD. On the connectivity front, it supports Wi-Fi 6 (ax) and Bluetooth 5.1.

Battery

Getting to the battery, RedmiBook Pro 14 is fueled by a 56 Watt-hour battery that supports 65W charging via the included USB-C power adapter. On the other hand, the Pro 15 gets a bigger 70 Watt-hour battery which enjoys 100W fast charging. Xiaomi says both these laptops are good for 12 hours of local video playback and you can get up to 50% juice with just 35 minutes of charge.

Keyboard

RedmiBook Pro 14 and 15 come with a full-sized keyboard. These are also backlit and you can choose from two levels altogether.

The Pro 14 gets a narrower 1.3mm key travel whereas Pro 15 gets a 1.5mm key travel distance. There’s also a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the device which has been integrated into the power key.

Also Read:
- Redmi AirDots 3 brings aptX Adaptive audio, Bluetooth 5.2 for just $30
- Redmi MAX is the world’s cheapest 86″ TV, but it’s exclusive to China

Rest of the specs

Moving on, both these laptops have a dual stereo speaker setup. The two 2W speakers feature DTS Audio processing for a richer sound profile. For video calls, you get a standard 720p webcam void of any privacy shutter. In terms of port selection, you get 1x 3.5mm mic/headphone jack, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB Type-C (one with Thunderbolt 4), 1x HDMI, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A.

RedmiBook Pro 14, 15 Specifications:

Body:
- Pro 14: 12.43W x 8.68D x 0.68H-inches, 1.46 kg
- Pro 15: 13.78W x 9.54D x 0.70H-inches, 1.79 kg
Display:
- Pro 14: 14-inches 2.5K (2560 x 1600) Super Retina screen, 60Hz
- Pro 15: 15.6-inches 3.2K (3200 x 2000) Super Retina screen, 90Hz
Display properties: 16:10 aspect ratio, TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light
Keyboard: Full-sized backlit keyboard (1.3 / 1.5mm key travel)
Touchpad: Multi-touch supported PTP touchpad
Processor:
- Pro 14: Intel Tiger Lake-U Core i5-1135G7 / i7-1165G7
- Pro 15: Intel Tiger Lake H35 Core i5-11300H / i7-11370H
RAM: 16GB DDR4 (dual-channel) RAM @3200MHz
Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD
Graphics:
- Integrated: Intel Iris Xe / Iris Xe-LP
- Discrete: NVIDIA GeForce MX450 (2GB GDDR5)
Audio: 2x2W stereo speaker setup, DTS Audio
Battery:
- Pro 14: 56 Whr, 65W USB-C power adapter
- Pro 15: 70 Whr, 100W USB-C power adapter
Webcam: 720p HD camera
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 6 (ax), Bluetooth 5.1
I/O ports: 1x 3.5mm mic/headphone jack, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB Type-C (one with Thunderbolt 4), 1x HDMI, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A

RedmiBook Pro 14, 15 Price in Nepal & Availability

RedmiBook Pro 14 and 15 are available for pre-order in China at a starting price of CNY 4,499 and CNY 4,999 respectively. These will be available starting March 4th. If Xiaomi was to launch them in Nepal, we expect the price of RedmiBook Pro 14 and 15 to start at NPR 90,000 and NPR 100,000 respectively.

Laptop configuration	Price in China	Price in Nepal (Expected)
RedmiBook Pro 14 (i5-1135G7, Iris Xe)	CNY 4,499	NPR 90,000
RedmiBook Pro 14 (i5-1135G7, MX450)	CNY 5,299	NPR 105,000
RedmiBook Pro 14 (i7-1165G7, MX450)	CNY 5,999	NPR 120,000
RedmiBook Pro 15 (i5-11300H, Iris Xe)	CNY 4,999	NPR 100,000
RedmiBook Pro 15 (i5-11300H, MX450)	CNY 5,499	NPR 110,000
RedmiBook Pro 15 (i7-11370H, MX450)	CNY 6,299	NPR 125,000

Check out our review of the Alienware M15 R3.

Redmi AirDots 3 brings aptX Adaptive audio, Bluetooth 5.2 for just $30

Redmi
TWS

Nikhil Shrestha

-

February 28, 2021

1

Redmi AirDots 3 brings aptX Adaptive audio, Bluetooth 5.2 for just $30

Xiaomi recently held an event to unveil the Redmi K40 series in China. While these are killer smartphones for the price, the company unveiled a couple of other affordable products too. We now have a successor to last year’s super-affordable AirDots 2 TWS earbuds. Let’s take a look at what the new Redmi AirDots 3 is packing including its specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability.

Redmi AirDots 3 Overview:

Design & Build

Starting with the design itself, there’s nothing of a radical upgrade here. It follows the same minimalistic build quality with an in-ear fit as its predecessors. Now weighing 4.6 grams per earbud, this is slightly heavier than the AirDots 2. But more importantly, it is now IPX4 certified, meaning unlike the ones before it, splashes of water will do no harm to the Redmi AirDots 3.

Similarly, the case doesn’t see any design overhaul either. It is still as compact as ever, but the charging port has been upgraded from Micro USB to USB Type-C. There’s also a battery indicator LED up front, and a button on the inside for quick connection/reset. You can choose from 3 color options, which include starry blue, magnolia white, and pink.

Audio

In terms of audio, Redmi AirDots 3 is powered by Qualcomm’s QCC3040 chipset and supports aptX Adaptive audio codec. Now, this isn’t a high bit-rate streaming codec, but instead is a dynamic (or better yet, an adaptive) one. What this means is that the bit-rate is automatically adjusted depending upon the audio quality. This promises a glitch-free and premium listening experience.

Moving on, this codec also embeds a low-latency mode for improved gaming. And while Xiaomi does mention reduced latency on the product page, it doesn’t specify the actual latency period. So, I’m betting that it’s still far from ideal for competitive gaming. Anyway, Redmi AirDots 3 uses dual ring-iron sound units for producing high and low-frequency audio. Thanks to the built-in infrared sensor, it also supports wear detection.

Also Read:
- Redmi K40 launched: SD 870, 120Hz AMOLED, and a $310 price-tag
- Redmi K40 Pro, Pro+ with Snapdragon 888, 120Hz AMOLED launched

When it comes to voice assistants, this pair of TWS earbuds supports three of them. There’s Xiaomi’s own Xiao AI on top of Apple’s Siri and the Google Assistant. Its MIUI integration means that supported phones will also support pop-up window connection. On the connectivity front, the company has bumped to Bluetooth 5.2 standard for better stability and high-bandwidth data transfer. Likewise, both earbuds feature touch controls using which you can control playback, summon the voice assistant, or accept/reject incoming calls.

Battery

The battery department sees somewhat of an upgrade too. While the Redmi AirDots 2 promised up to 4 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, Xiaomi is claiming up to 7 hours of music playback on the AirDots 3.

Each earbud comes with a 43mAh battery while the charging case hosts a 600mAh cell. And with this combo, you can enjoy up to 30 hours of playback from AirDots 3. Charging up the earbuds takes 1.5 hours while twice as much with the case.

Redmi AirDots 3 Specifications:

Body: 28 x 16 x 21mm (earbud) | 65 x 42 x 32mm (case)
Weight: 4.6 grams (per earbud) | 51 grams (including case)
Water resistance: Yes, IPX4 splash-proof
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (10 meters effective range)
Bluetooth profile: HFP / A2DP / HSP / AVRCP / BLE
Audio: Dual ring-iron sound units, aptX Adaptive codec
Features: Wear detection, Xiao AI, Siri, Google Assistant
Battery: 43mAh (per earbuds) | 600mAh (charging case)
Battery life: 7 hours continuous music playback, 5 hours continuous phone call (earbuds), 30 hours (with case)
Charging: USB Type-C (1.5 hours earbuds, 3 hours case)
Color options: Starry Blue, Magnolia White, Pink

Redmi AirDots 3 Price in Nepal & Availability

Redmi AirDots 3 is available for pre-booking in China for the price of CNY 199 (~ USD 30.72). The actual sales will begin on March 4. We expect the price of Redmi AirDots 3 TWS earbuds in Nepal to be around NPR 4,500 when it launches later on.

TWS Earbuds	Price in China	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Redmi AirDots 3	CNY 199	NPR 4,500

Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

Redmi MAX is the world’s cheapest 86” TV, but it’s exclusive to China

Nikhil Shrestha

-

February 28, 2021

0

Redmi MAX is the world’s cheapest 86” TV, but it’s exclusive to China

Xiaomi’s Redmi division has become almost synonymous with ridiculously affordable smartphones and other assorted electronic accessories. And just a couple of days ago, the company launched the world’s cheapest 86” TV. Beyond being budget-friendly, it also packs a lot of premium features you’d expect from a high-end TV. Let’s learn more about the Redmi MAX 86” TV including its specs, features, expected price, and availability in Nepal.

Redmi MAX 86″ 4K TV Overview:

Design & Build

Starting with the design, Xiaomi has opted for a full-metal build here. From the TV’s base to the frame, it offers a premium look-and-feel. Well, if you’d want to install it table-top style, the two leg stands on the side might irradiate opposing aesthetics. And personally, I would’ve preferred a centered stand instead, just like on the Mi TV Q1. Anyway, for an even cleaner installation, one can choose to wall-mount the Redmi MAX 86” too.

Moving on, this TV brings a healthy selection of I/O ports as well. From the latest HDMI 2.1 standard to eARC, it’s all here. HDMI 2.1, if you didn’t already know, is a relatively new HDMI standard that brings a much larger bandwidth carrying capacity compared to HDMI 2.0. Technically, it was announced all the way back in 2017 but the consumer-grade hardware capable of making its use is only recently going mainstream. For instance, HDMI 2.1 can hit up to 10K videos at 120Hz. Insane!

Yet, its full potential remains unutilized here since the Redmi MAX 86″ maxes out at 4K/120fps. This particularly matters the most for those with the new consoles or the latest graphics cards. Both Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 can reach 4K/120fps, while NVIDIA’s top-of-the-line RTX 3090 is capable of the monstrous 8K gaming! Besides this, Redmi MAX 86” has 2x USB Type-A, 1x Antenna (in), 1x LAN (RJ45), and 1x S/PDIF optical audio (out) port.

Display

Let’s now talk about the display. This is an 86” 4K LED-backlit LCD TV. In terms of HDR content, it features the premium Dolby Vision standard, on top of HDR10 and HDR10+. As a result, Redmi is promising clear images with excellent colors, contrast, and saturation. Likewise, this panel covers 92% of the DCI-P3 Wide color gamut and boasts an impressive ∆E~2. This combined with Dolby Vision HDR that works with dynamic metadata, the Redmi MAX 86” adjusts pictures on a scene-by-scene basis.

Moreover, there’s also the 120Hz refresh rate to appeal to the gaming community. To make sure traditional videos shot under 24/30 fps don’t look choppy, Xiaomi has included a MEMC chip that adds frames throughout the content using an interpolation algorithm for smoother playback. But just adding frames isn’t optimal for high-end gaming. If the game fails to render at the same FPS as the TV’s refresh rate, one might notice screen-tearing. To prevent this, this TV incorporates VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology that dynamically syncs the refresh between the game and the TV.

Also Read:
- Redmi K40 launched: SD 870, 120Hz AMOLED, and a $310 price-tag
- Redmi K40 Pro, Pro+ with Snapdragon 888, 120Hz AMOLED launched

But a TV should serve a purpose beyond gaming, right? While Xiaomi hasn’t explicitly mentioned if there’s a way to disable this, I seriously hope there is. Because watching regular shows, movies at an unnaturally high refresh rate will result in the infamous “soap opera effect”.

Performance, Audio

Powering the TV is a quad-core Cortex-A73 processor. This is complemented by 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. On the software side of things, Redmi MAX 86” runs on Xiaomi’s own MIUI for TV 3.0 and has presets like office mode. Similarly, the company’s own AI assistant—Xiao AI also makes its presence here using which you can control the TV settings using your voice.

On the audio front, Xiaomi has included a dual bottom-firing stereo speaker setup. Each rated at 12.5W of power, this audio system is also fortified with Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD processing.

Redmi MAX 86″ 4K TV Specifications:

Display: 86-inches LED-backlit LCD panel, 92% DCI-P3
HDR: Yes, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+
Refresh Rate: 120Hz with MEMC
Viewing Angle: 178-degree
Resolution: 4K Ultra-HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Sound: 2x 12.5W Speakers
Audio Decoder: Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD
OS: MIUI for TV 3.0
Processor: Quad-core Cortex-A73 CPU, Mali-G52 MC1 GPU
Memory: 2GB RAM, 32GB storage
Power: 220V ~ 50/60Hz (450W)
Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0
I/O Ports: 3x HDMI (1x 4K/120Hz, 1x eARC), 2x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x AV (in), 1x LAN (RJ45), 1x ATV/DTMB, 1x S/PDIF optical audio (out)

Redmi MAX 86″ 4K TV Price in Nepal & Availability

Redmi MAX 86″ 4K TV is now available for pre-order in China where its price is just CNY 7,999 (~ USD 1,235). This TV is exclusive to China for now but if Xiaomi were to launch it here in Nepal, we expect the price of the Redmi MAX 86″ 4K TV to be around NPR 200,000.

TV Model	Price in China	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Redmi MAX 86” 4K TV	CNY 7,999	NPR 200,000

In the meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme X7 Pro.

Sting operation at Nepal’s biggest mobile hub uncovers the truth of grey market

Featured

Nikhil Shrestha

-

February 27, 2021

0

Sting operation at Nepal’s biggest mobile hub uncovers the truth of grey market

The smartphone industry in Nepal is continually on the rise. The pandemic rattled the rise but it’s back to normal now. But there’s something interesting (or rather incriminating) that’s been going on in the domestic smartphone market. Because of the open border with India and other loopholes, for years, the Nepali market has been absolutely flooded with illegal imports. And just a couple of days back, the team at Avenues Khabar in collaboration with Nepal Police ran a sting operation in multiple mobile shops at New Road, Kathmandu.

Avenues Khabar sting operation:

Based on information from a reliable source, the team conducted the undercover operation in more than 20 mobile shops in New Road’s Tamrakar House. Some of them include shop number 4, 13, 24, and 33. First posing as regular buyers, the shopkeepers were surprisingly open about the illegal imports. Including why they couldn’t provide an authentic VAT bill to the customers when buying such an item. But after the curtains came a-falling, the same sellers start recanting their earlier statement.

Also Read: The severity of the smartphone grey market in Nepal

With this raid, Nepal Police managed to seize 43 iPhones and 140 smartphones from different brands like Samsung, OPPO, Xiaomi, Vivo, etc. Alongside this, the authorities also took control of 8 people involved in selling illegally imported smartphones. According to the existing provision, importers need to pay 13% VAT and 2.5% excise duty.

Department of Customs Nepal — Image credit: Khabar Express

However, smartphone smugglers have been bringing in volumes of phones through the open border. What’s even more horrifying is that a certain percentage of them are straight-up stolen units. Similarly, people returning to Nepal from abroad can bring in a couple of phones for personal usage. But ultimately, even this facility is being exploited to contribute to the grey market.

Import numbers

Let’s talk numbers. According to the Department of Customs, a total of 4.3 million 68 thousand mobile phones worth Rs. 24 billion, 68.43 million, and 68 thousand have been imported in Nepal until Magh of 2077 B.S. Last year under the same time period, phones worth only Rs. 13 billion, 3.3 million, and 35 thousand entered the country. This massive gap is more than likely filled by smartphone smugglers.

Likewise, Nepal Mobile Distributors Association claims that the grey market makes up almost a quarter of the entire smartphone market in Nepal. As a result, imports from official sources are dropping steadily, all-the-while the demand is booming and there’s enough supply to meet it.

Furthermore, Nepal’s telecommunication companies are also recording an increase in the number of their subscribers. So, the math is pretty clear here. The smartphone grey market in Nepal is bleeding money from the government in the form of taxation. Plus, it is also discouraging the official business.

In order to prevent this, Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has been working to bring in the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) for 2 years. Without going into too much detail, this system will effectively prevent an illegally imported phone from functioning in Nepal with the help of IMEI registration and other techniques. Thankfully, the system will soon go live. More specifically, within 3 months.

In the meanwhile, check out our review of the Realme X7 Pro.

Redmi K40 launched: 120Hz AMOLED display, SD 870, and a $310 price tag

Redmi

GadgetByte

-

February 26, 2021

0

Redmi K40 launched: 120Hz AMOLED display, SD 870, and a $310 price tag

Redmi K series is home to the company’s best smartphones. Starting with the K20 series, the lineup has been focused on providing a premium experience at a fraction of the cost. And on 25th Feb, Redmi unveiled its latest K40 series in China. Along with its flagships K40 Pro and K40 Pro+, Redmi has also launched a midranger K40 with a starting price of $310. It brings top-tier performance, 120Hz AMOLED display, and improved design at a mid-range price tag.

Redmi K40 Specs Overview

While the Redmi K40 Pro and K40 Pro+ feature a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 888 chipset, the Redmi K40 settles for the Snapdragon 870 chipset. It is still a flagship chipset and yields better performance than last year’s Snapdragon 865.

However, you still get a smooth 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen with a 360Hz touch sampling rate. The display has the DCI-P3 color gamut with HDR10+ and boasts a peak brightness of up to 1300nits.

As for the camera, the Redmi K40 sports a triple camera setup at the back. The three cameras are enclosed by a pill-shaped protrusion that itself rests on top of a wider base. The base also houses the LED flash and the camera branding. Specs-wise, it has a 48MP f/1.79 Sony IMX582 primary lens, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP telephoto macro lens. The main camera can record in 4K 30fps videos.

Like the K40 Pro, the K40 also packs a 4520mAh battery with a 33W fast charging support. As for memory, it comes with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. Redmi is also preparing a bunch of gaming accessories along with the K40 series. Among the products being launched are add-on shoulder buttons and a cooling fan that attaches to the backside of the phone.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobiles Price in Nepal

Redmi K40 Specifications:

Display: 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED 20:9 HDR10 + display with MEMC, 120Hz refresh rate, 1300nit brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Chipset: Snapdragon 870 (7nm)
RAM: 6GB / 8GB / 12GB LPPDDR5 RAM
Storage: 128GB / 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
OS: MIUI 12 based on Android 11 (MIUI 12.5 coming soon)
Rear Camera: 48MP primary lens, 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 5MP tele macro lens
Selfie Camera: 20MP
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Face-unlock
Others: 5G, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS (L1 + L5), NavIC, NFC, Hi-Res audio, Dual speakers, Dolby Atmos, Infrared sensor
Dimensions: 163.7mm x 76.4mm x 7.8mm
Weight: 196gms
Battery: 4520mAh with 33W wired QC3 +/ PD3.0

Redmi K40 Price in Nepal and Availability [Expected]

The Redmi K40 is available in 4 configurations and the base 6/128GB variant costs just ¥1999 ($310) in China. We can expect the base variant of Redmi K40 to launch in Nepal for a price of Rs. 45,000.

Redmi K40 Variant	Price in China	Price in Nepal
6/128GB	¥1999	Rs. 45,000
8/128GB	¥2199	Rs. 50,000
8/256GB	¥2499	Rs. 55,000
12/256GB	¥2699	Rs. 60,000

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

Redmi K40 Pro & K40 Pro+ with SD 888, 120Hz AMOLED display Launched!

Redmi

GadgetByte

-

February 26, 2021

0

Redmi K40 Pro & K40 Pro+ with SD 888, 120Hz AMOLED display Launched!

The successor to the Redmi K30 series has been launched in China. This follow-up series consists of the K40, K40 Pro and K40 Pro+. All of them come with an updated design. Changes have been made in terms of the design. The camera module has been shifted to the sides. And there’s a small punch-hole in the display. Let’s check out in detail what the Redmi K40 Pro and Pro plus offer including their price in Nepal.

Redmi K40 Pro, K40 Pro+ Overview

Both the devices sport a 6.67-inch E4 AMOLED screen. They offer FHD+ resolution and 1300nits peak brightness. Furthermore, they also sport a 120Hz refresh rate. As mentioned earlier, the display has a tiny punch-hole for the selfie shooter. As a matter of fact, this time all the devices in the K40 series sport this punch-hole. Both of them sport a front-facing camera of 20MP. Not to forget, the bezels are pretty thin on both devices.

Around the back, the camera module has been shifted to the sides. The new camera module is similar to that of the Mi 11. It’s a triple camera setup this time around. K40 Pro’s camera setup consists of a 64MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP tele-macro sensor.

K40 Pro+, however, has the best camera setup of the lot. Its primary lens is the 108MP Samsung HM2 sensor. Other sensors are similar to that of the Redmi K40 Pro.

Major upgrades have been done under the hood too. Both of them are powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 processor. The K40 Pro comes with 8GB or 6GB RAM. And it can be paired with either 128GB or 256GB storage. K40 Pro+, however, comes in a single 12GB/256GB variant.

The devices pack in a huge 4520mAh battery. Moreover, they support 33W fast wired charging too. And this one is true for all the devices in this series. Other notable features include Wi-Fi 6E, stereo speakers, and MEMC.

Redmi K40 Pro & K40 Pro+ Specifications:

	Redmi K40 Pro	Redmi K40 Pro+
Display	6.67″ AMOLED; FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution; 120Hz refresh rate; 360Hz touch sampling rate; 1300nits peak brightness; HDR10+; MEMC
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
GPU	Adreno 660
RAM	6GB, 8GB	12GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB	256GB
Software	MIUI 12 on top of Android 11
Rear Camera	64MP Primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 5MP tele-macro	108MP Primary, 8MP ultra-wide, 5MP tele-macro
Front Camera	20MP selfie shooter
Battery	4520mAh; 33W wired fast charging
Security	Fingerprint (side-mounted)
Colors	Black, White, Aurora

Redmi K40 Pro, K40 Pro+ Price in Nepal [Expected]

The devices have been launched exclusively in China for now. The price of the Redmi K40 Pro is CNY 2,799 (6/128GB), CNY 2,999 (8/128GB), and CNY 3,299 (8/256GB). Similarly, the price of the K40 Pro+ is CNY 3699 (12/256GB). There’s no word about the international availability of these devices yet. However, the speculation is that the devices will be rebranded and launched as POCO phones in the global market.

Thus, if they were to arrive in Nepal, the price of the base variant of Redmi K40 Pro and K40 Pro+ would be around Rs. 55,000 and Rs. 70,000 respectively.

Nubia’s next gaming phone will likely sport a 165Hz screen

Nubia
Rumor

GadgetByte

-

February 25, 2021

0

Nubia’s next gaming phone will likely sport a 165Hz screen

Nubia was the first smartphone brand to launch a phone with a 144Hz screen, which was the Red Magic 5G. However, there have been several devices with similar refresh rates since then. As such, the President of Nubia, Ni Fei has announced the title of the highest refresh rate in a smartphone will once again go to the Nubia. The upcoming Nubia Red Magic 6 will exceed the 144Hz refresh rate.

Nubia Red Magic 6 Rumors Roundup:

Design and Display

Nubia is going to take the recent trend of a higher refresh rate even further with a screen exceeding the 144Hz mark. The company has not given out any exact number but the rumors suggest that the Nubia Red Magic 6 will feature a 165Hz panel. Other than that, we know little to nothing about the other details regarding the display of the device.

As for the design, a Tencent Games Edition of the Red Magic 6 appeared on the news. The phone featured a horizontal camera bump at the back. There is an X-shaped structure at the middle revealing the partnership with Tencent.

Processor and Cooling Setup

As the Red Magic series is the gaming-focused lineup from Nubia, we expect this phone to sport the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset from Qualcomm. It will also sport an equally impressive cooling system. Nubia’s latest cooling setup consists of active fan copper foil, vapor chamber, and graphite heat dissipation layer.

The vapor chamber is connected to the back of the motherboard with the help of thermal paste. At just 0.33mm thick, Nubia claims it to be the world’s thinnest vapor chamber. The active fans take in air from the ducts to keep the temperature down. Likewise, the copper foils cover the battery.

As a result, Red Magic 6 promises a prolonged gaming session lasting 2 hours and more without the device getting uncomfortably hot.

Battery

Fueling the device is a 4,500mAh battery that consists of two cells. The battery is not small by any means but you will have to wonder how much endurance Nubia can squeeze out of it given the 165Hz screen and gaming-hardware. Similarly, the phone will support 66W fast charging.

The Pro model, on the other hand, will feature a 120W GaN charger in the box that will take just 5 minutes to go from 0 to 50%.

Nubia Red Magic 6 Official Launch Date

Nubia will officially unveil the Red Magic 6 in China on March 4. We will have to wait for details about the pricing and international availability.

Gaming Smartphone	Official Launch Date
Nubia Red Magic 6	March 4

Also, check out our gaming review of the Exynos 2100.

LG’s proprietary webOS TV platform is coming to other smart TV makers

LG
TV

GadgetByte

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February 25, 2021

0

LG’s proprietary webOS TV platform is coming to other smart TV makers

Earlier this year, we reported on LG’s major plans for its TV lineup for 2021. This included the news of LG using OLED evo panels, the latest processors, and newer software. What was not announced back then was that the company would be licensing its proprietary webOS TV platform to other manufacturers. LG recently issued a press release stating that it will license its webOS TV to other TV brands.

LG to license webOS TV to other brands

webOS has been an integral part of the LG TV experience since 2014. In fact, it is among the defining characteristics of LG TV together with the Magic Remote and its OLED panel.

“The webOS platform is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to access millions of hours of movies and TV shows.” – Park Hyoung-Sei (President of Home Entertainment at LG Electronics)

LG says that the latest decision to license its proprietary webOS TV platform will disrupt the status quo in the TV industry where known brands have been using their own in-house software solutions. The best example would be LG’s rival in the OLED market – Samsung, which uses its own Tizen OS for smart appliances and IoT devices.

And now, LG can take feedbacks from and collaborate with fellow TV manufacturers for the development of webOS. Not only will it help the company have a better grip on the TV industry, but it will also help change the industry as we know it.

Also Read: LG TV Price in Nepal [Updated]

Partner brands for webOS TV

There are already over twenty TV brands that have committed to their partnership with LG for webOS TV. The most notable names in the list are RCA, Ayonz, and Konka. We will soon see webOS-powered smart TVs from these companies. These new partner brands will join the likes of Realtek, Nuance, Gracenote, CEVA, and Universal Electronics that are already working as supporting technology partners for this TV platform. And given the reputation of webOS TV, we can expect more OEMs to join in as well.

What is LG including in the webOS TV license?

“We look forward to bringing these new customers into the incredible world of webOS TV.” – Park Hyoung-Sei

The new partners can now make use of webOS TV’s interface and feature that LG has been working for more than half a decade. They will also be able to integrate cool features like voice control, AI features, and connectivity options from webOS to their respective models. In addition to services like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube, the partners can also integrate sports streaming services like DAZN and LG Channels. And to top it off, LG is also giving its partners access to the beloved Magic Motion remote controller.

Is it too good to be true?

Different media outlets have reported that these new partner brands will only receive webOS 5.0. So, if you want the best of the software platform, it seems like you’ll still have to get an LG TV. In fact, LG TVs in 2021 will ship with the latest webOS 6.0. The latest iteration of the webOS has a new home screen design and a number of performance tweaks. LG will also be adding support for Google’s Stadia gameplay later this year.

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

Realme Narzo 30A goes official with Helio G85 and a 6,000mAh battery

Realme

GadgetByte

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February 24, 2021

0

Realme Narzo 30A goes official with Helio G85 and a 6,000mAh battery

Realme India held an online event today to announce the launch of the Narzo 30 series alongside TWS earbuds and a couple of gaming accessories. As of now, the series comprises of two devices, where Narzo 30A is the cheaper one. Let’s learn more about the specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability of Realme Narzo 30A.

Realme Narzo 30A Overview:

Design and Display

Narzo 30A has a dual-tone finish at the back. Around two-thirds of the rear panel is covered with a diagonal stripe. The remaining portion on the top is home to the square camera bump, Narzo branding, and a physical fingerprint mount. It is available in two color options – Lazer Blue and Lazer Black.

On the front, the phone features a 6.5-inch HD+ display. It has a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera and boasts a peak brightness of 570 nits. The screen-to-body ratio here is 88.7% and the phone comes with an Eye Protection Mode that controls blue right emission.

Performance

Under the hood, the device packs the Helio G85 processor. It is a popular gaming chipset from MediaTek and the company claims that it is the first time it has been included in a phone of this price range. Well, that is true seeing how the Redmi Note 9 powered by the same silicon is expensive than Narzo 30A. The phone is available in two memory configurations – 3/32GB and 4/64GB variant. Unlike the Pro model, this one has a dedicated MicroSD card slot that users can use to expand the internal storage.

The phone ships with Realme UI based on Android 10. However, the company has confirmed that it will get the Realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) update quite soon.

Also Read:
- Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G with Dimensity 800U launched in India
- Realme Buds Air 2 brings ANC, IPX5 water resistance on a budget

Camera

There is a dual-camera setup on the back. Its 13MP primary AI camera has an f/2.2 aperture. It is accompanied by a Black and White portrait sensor. It comes with Super Nightscape mode and three Night filters – Flamingo, Modern Gold, and Cyberpunk. Other camera features include HDR, Panoramic view, Slo-mo, and portrait mode. On the front is an 8MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture. It has support AI beautification, HDR mode, Timelapse, and portrait mode.

Battery

One of the major highlights of the Narzo 30A is its battery. After all, Realme is advertising this phone as the “Battery Hot Hatch”. It is fueled by a 6,000mAh cell compared to the 5000mAh battery in its predecessor. The phone comes with Super Power Saving Mode which includes technologies like App Quick Freeze, Super Power Saving Mode, and Night Charge Protection. It also supports reverse OTG charging. An 18W Quick Charge adapter is included in the box.

Realme Narzo 30A Specifications:

Design: 6.5-inch Display, 88.7% screen-to-body ratio, 570 nits peak brightness
Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels); 269 PPI
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm)
Memory: 3/4GB LPDDR4x RAM | 32/64GB storage (expandable)
UI: Realme UI on top of Android 10 (Realme UI 2.0 confirmed)
Battery: 6,000mAh, 18W Type-C Dart Charge
Rear camera: Dual;
– 13MP primary camera
– 2MP B&W portrait lens
Front camera: 8MP selfie camera
Security: Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted)
Connectivity: Dual Slot (Nano), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz, 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS/ GLONASS / BEIDOU
Colors: Laser Blue, Laser Black

Realme Narzo 30A Price in Nepal and Availability

Realme Narzo 30A will go on sale in India starting March 5. The price of the 3/32GB variant is INR 8,999 while the 4/64GB variant costs INR 9,999. If it launches here, we expect the price of the Realme Narzo 30A in Nepal to start at around NPR 15,500.

Realme Narzo 30A	Price in India	Price in Nepal (Expected)
3/32GB	INR 8,999	NPR 15,500
4/64GB	INR 9,999	NPR 17,000

Check out our review of the Realme Narzo 20 Pro.

Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G with Dimensity 800U launched under INR 20,000

5G
Realme

GadgetByte

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February 24, 2021

0

Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G with Dimensity 800U launched under INR 20,000

Realme has launched the Narzo 30 Pro as the first 5G smartphone in the lineup in India. Here, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G in Nepal.

Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G Overview:

Design and Display

Realme has gone with the AG (Anti-Glare) coating process for the back of the panel for both aesthetics and durability. The AG surface is expected to result in fewer fingerprints and smudges. The phone is available in two color options: Sword Black and Blade Silver.

Narzo 30 Pro is also the first device in the series to feature a 120Hz refresh rate and touch sampling rate of 180Hz. This 6.5-inch FHD panel has a left-aligned camera cutout for the selfie camera. This results in a 90.5 screen-to-body ratio. The sunlight mode can push the peak brightness to up to 600 nits. In addition to this, the phone also has an Eye Protection Mode.

Performance

Realme is hailing Narzo 30 Pro as the 5G democratizer. The phone is powered by Dimensity 800U 5G chipset from MediaTek. As a result, the phone supports dual SIM dual 5G standby and Voice over New Radio (VoNR). Similarly, it also supports MediaTek’s 5G Ultrasave technologies. The dual-channel network acceleration superimposes 5G and Wi-Fi networks for better stability. Realme claims that the chipset can score 340,000 AnTuTu benchmark. The phone runs on Realme UI 1.0 based on Android 10 out-of-the-box.

Camera

Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G has a triple camera setup on the back. The primary camera uses a 48MP primary camera. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide camera with a 119-degree FOV. The phone comes with popular features including Super Nightscape, Chroma Boost, and night filters. Completing the setup is a 2MP macro lens.

The camera can record 4K videos at 30fps and slow-motion videos at 1080p 120fps. It also has UIS Max Video Stabilization for stable pictures. There is a 16MP selfie camera on the front with over 8,00,000 beautification solutions.

Also Read:
- Realme Narzo 30A goes official with Helio G85 and a 6000mAh battery
- Realme Buds Air 2 brings ANC, IPX5 water resistance on a budget

Rest of the specs

Nazro 30 Pro 5G is powered by a massive 5,000mAh battery. Complementing the battery is the 30W Dart Charge. Realme claims that it can fully charge the device in just 65 minutes. Just three minutes of charging add up to 30 hours of standby.

The battery is also protected by five dimension charge protection. As a result, the charging temperature is always in check and kept under 38-degree Celsius. Other battery feature includes the Super Power Saving Mode.

There is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometrics. The device has support for Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio.

Realme Narzo 30 Pro Specifications:

Design: 6.5-inch Display, 120Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate, 600 peak brightness
Resolution: FHD (1080 x 2400 pixels); 450 PPI
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 800U; 7nm process
Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4x RAM | 64/128GB storage (expandable)
Battery: 5,000mAh, 30W Dart Charge (0 to 100% in 65 minutes)
Rear camera: Triple;
– 48MP primary camera
– 8MP Ultrawide camera, 119-degree FOV
– 2MP macro camera (4cm)
Front camera: 16MP selfie camera (punch-hole)
Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
Connectivity: Dual Hybrid Slot (Nano), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz, 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, Dual Sim Dual 5G Standby, GPS / AGPS/ GLONASS / BEIDOU / GALILEO
Colors: Blade Silver, Sword Black

Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G Price in Nepal and Availability

Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G will go on sale in India from March 4 with a starting price of INR 16,999 for the 6/64GB variant. Narzo lineup has been exclusive to India up until now but if the Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G were to launch in Nepal, we expect its starting price to be around NPR 30,000.

Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G	Price in India	Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/64GB	INR 16,999	NPR 30,000
8/128GB	INR 19,999	NPR 35,000

Also, check out our review of the Realme Narzo 20 Pro.