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Apple’s AirPods Max is up for pre-order in Nepal but you should probably skip it

GadgetByte

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January 20, 2021

Apple’s AirPods Max is up for pre-order in Nepal but you should probably skip it

Apple has received massive success with its lineup of wireless AirPods. The company recently decided to step into the over-the-ear headphone market as well and announced the AirPods Max back in December 2020. And it is now up for pre-order in Nepal. Let’s check out the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Apple AirPods Max in Nepal.

Apple AirPods Max Overview:

Design

AirPods Max is the first over-ear headphones in Apple’s AirPods lineup. The company claims that each part of the AirPods Max has been carefully designed for a good music experience. The frame of the headband is made from stainless steel for strength and flexibility. It can also be adjusted to different head shapes and sizes. Another part that plays role in providing the perfect fit is the telescoping headband arm.

Each ear cushion comes equipped with a special mechanism that allows them to pivot and rotate so as to fit the unique contours of each head. The memory foams on the ear cushions help create a seal. The cushion is also wrapped by an Apple-designed knit textile.

The headphone features a Digital Crown, like the one you get in the Apple Watch series. Users can use it to play/pause music, skip tracks, receive/end calls, and activate Siri.

Also Read: Sony WH-1000XM4 Review – Refining Sublimity

Sound Experience

AirPods Max comes equipped with 40mm dynamic drivers. Apple has used a dual neodymium ring magnet motor which it claims can limit harmonic distortion to just 1% over the human edible range. The headphones come with a deca-core H1 chip on each cup for computational audio. The chips allow the AirPods Max to have the following features:

Adaptive EQ: AirPods Max can adjust sound based on the fit and seal of the cushions. For this, the H1 chip can measure the signal delivered to the users and thus adjust low and mid-frequencies accordingly.
Active Noise Cancellation: For ANC, Apple has included four microphones in each ear cup. Three of them face outward to detect external noise. On the other hand, the single internal microphone evaluates the signal delivered to the user. The H1 chip then adjusts continuously based on the data provided by the microphones.
Transparency Mode: This mode allows the user to listen to the outer world while still listening to music. One can enter this mode by using the noise control button.
Spatial Audio: AirPods Max supports spatial audio using a gyroscope and accelerometer in the headphone itself and your device (iPhone or iPad). These sensors track the user’s motion and the headphone compares the accumulated data with motion data to remap the sound filed based on the user’s head motion.

Rest of the features

Apple has included the much-loved features of the AirPods in the lineup to the AirPods Max as well. This includes the one-tap setup and automatic pairing with devices signed to the iCloud. The new headphones come with optical and position sensors for wear detection. The headphones will pause music even one of the ear cup is lifted. One can also make voice calls and activate Siri using the AirPods Max. Other feature includes automatic switching and audio sharing.

Meanwhile, check out all the prices and availability of Apple AirPods here

Apple AirPods Max boasts a battery life of up to 20 hours. This is with the ANC and spatial audio enabled. The company will ship it with a Smart Case that preserves the battery charge when it is not in use.

Apple AirPods Max Specifications:

Dimension: 168.6 x 187.3 x 3.28mm; 348.8 grams
Weight (Smart Case): 134.5 grams
Headphone Type: Over-ear
Driver Unit: 40mm dynamic driver
Chip: Apple H1 Chip (each ear cup)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
Controls: Digital Crown, Noise Control Button
Sensors: Optical, Position, Case-detect, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Microphones: 9 (8x ANC microphones)
Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
Battery Life:
- ANC / Transparency mode: 20 hrs
- Spatial Audio: 20 hrs
- TalkTime: 20 hrs
Charging Interface: Lightning port
Charging: 5 minutes = 1.5 hours
Features: ANC, Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Wear Detection, Case Detection
In The Box: Headphone, Smart Case, Lightning to USB-C Cable, Documentation
Color Options: Space Grey, Silver, Sky Blue, Pink, Green

Apple AirPods Max Price in Nepal and Availability

Apple AirPods Max is now available for pre-order in Nepal at Oliz Store although the price hasn’t been specified. Considering the price of other Apple accessories like the AirPods Pro in Nepal, we expect the price of AirPods Max to be around NPR 85,000.

Headphones	Price (US)	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Apple AirPods Max	$549	NPR 85,000

Also, check out our unboxing and initial impressions of the iPhone 12 Pro.

Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 870 5G with a mild upgrade over the 865+

5G
Qualcomm

GadgetByte

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January 20, 2021

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Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 870 5G with a mild upgrade over the 865+

After the announcement of the Snapdragon 888 last month, Qualcomm has unveiled yet another chipset for premium smartphones. The introduction of the new Snapdragon 875 seems a bit weird as the chipset is based on the Snapdragon 865 of last year. That being said, let’s take a look at the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G and the improvements it brings over the regular Snapdragon 865 and the SD 865+.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G Overview:

Prime Cortex-A77 @ 3.2 GHz

As mentioned earlier, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G based on last year’s SD 865 and it is not even the first refresh of the premium chipset. We saw Snapdragon release the Snapdragon 865+ with an overclocked prime core. With its Cortex-A77 core reaching up to 3.1GHz, it was the first smartphone chipset to go cross the 3GHz barrier. Qualcomm has taken a step further with the Snapdragon 870 in which the Prime Cortex-A77 core has a maximum clock speed of up to 3.2GHz.

Rest of the specs

And that is all the difference between the Snapdragon 865+ and 870. The moniker Snapdragon 870 may give an initial impression of substantial upgrades over the 865+ but that is not the case here. Both feature the same Adreno 650 clocked at 670MHz. The GPU here has a slightly higher clock speed compared to the regular Snapdragon 865.

Other than that, all three chipsets are based on TSMC’s 7nm process node. They feature 8 CPU cores arranged in a 1+3+4 configuration. Besides the Prime Cortex-A77 core, the other three Cores-A77 (Performance core) and the four Cortex-A55 (Efficiency cores) are clocked at 2.42GHz and 1.80GHz, respectively. These chipsets don’t have an integrated 5G modem and are bundled with the Snapdragon X55 modems for 5G connectivity.

Snapdragon 865 Vs 865+ Vs 870: Specifications

	865	865+	870
Process	7nm FinFet (TSMC)
CPU Cores	1x Cortex A77 @ 2.84 GHz 3x Cortex A77 @ 2.42 GHz 4x Cortex A55 @ 1.80 GHz	1x Cortex A77 @ 3.1 GHz 3x Cortex A77 @ 2.42 GHz 4x Cortex A55 @ 1.80 GHz	1x Cortex A77 @ 3.2 GHz 3x Cortex A77 @ 2.42 GHz 4x Cortex A55 @ 1.80 GHz
GPU	Adreno 650 (587 Mhz)	Adreno 650 (670 MHz)
DSP	Hexagon 698
ISP	Dual 14-bit Spectra ISP
5G Modem	Bundled with Snapdragon X55 (no integrated modem)

Also Read: Samsung unveils Exynos 2100 taking on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888.

Initial performance tests

Qualcomm has not disclosed the performance improvements of the Snapdragon 870 over the 865 and 865+. However, popular tipster Digital Chat Station had shared the Geekbench scores of the Snapdragon 870, days before the chipset was officially announced. Vivo V2045 with the Snapdragon 870 was able to achieve a 1034 single-core score and a 3,513 multi-core score. When compared with the OnePlus 8 Pro, the Vivo V2045 (most probably an iQOO device) had 18.04% and 15.07% better performance in single-core and multi-core performance.

When compared to Vivo V2049A (assumed to be the iQOO 7), the V2045 was behind by 8.98% in the single-core score and 5.05% in the multi-core score. This initial test shows that the Snapdragon 870 is closer to the Snapdragon 888 than it is to the SD 865 in terms of performance.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G Availability

Qualcomm has confirmed that Snapdragon 870 5G will be powering some of the flagship devices in 2021. Brands like Motorola, iQOO, OnePlus, Oppo and Xiaomi have already confirmed to use the device in their premium smartphones. Rumors suggest that Xiaomi will be unveiling a variant of the Redmi K40 with the Snapdragon 870 that will be cheaper than the regular K40 with Snapdragon 888.

Smartphone Chipset	Availability
Qualcomm Snapdragon 870	2021

Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy M02s.

NetTV Cine+ adds 3000+ movies and other contents to its Prime package

GadgetByte

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January 19, 2021

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NetTV Cine+ adds 3000+ movies and other contents to its Prime package

NetTV is one of the most popular IPTV platforms in Nepal. It is also the first to receive a license from the Government of Nepal for the operation of IPTV in the country. It is a product of NITV Streamz Pvt. Ltd. that has its main office in Lalitpur. The company has now announced a NetTV Cine+ plan which gives its subscribers access to 3000+ movies, web series, and short movies. In this post, we will be taking a look at NetTV’s latest plan, its features, availability, and pricing.

NetTV Cine+ Plan Overview:

Prior to the new Cine+ Plan, NetTV had been providing movies, TV shows, and series to its customers under the NetTV Prime Package. Back in August 2020, the company even imported content from another popular OTT platform called “Hungama” to its offering. And now, users can unlock 3000+ additional contents by subscribing to the NetTV Cine+. With this, users can now enjoy 4000+ content. For Prime subscribers, the Cine+ is on the Home Screen just below the Live TV section.

In addition to the NetTV set-top box, users can enjoy NetTV Cine+ from the smartphone app as well. NetTV also provides an app for Android and iOS platforms. OTT subscribers can find the Cine+ option beside the top menu bar on the App or the web-application.

Also Read:
- Everything you need to know about Nepal Telecom’s new NTTV service

Availability

NetTV Prime subscribers can enjoy the contents of the Cine Plus package on their set-top box with no additional fee. That is, the Cine+ is included in the monthly subscription of Prime Package that costs NPR 99. Those who have subscribed to the Prime package on their set box will be able to access Cine+ contents from two other OTT platforms (app/web).

Others will have to pay a nominal monthly subscription fee of NPR 69 (exclusive of VAT) to access the NetTV Cine+ from the NetTV app or web platform. All you need to have is an account on Google or Facebook. Such subscribers won’t be able to access Cine+ from the set-top box.

Payment

Payments for the NetTV Cine+ can be done using NetTV Wallet or other popular e-payment platforms like e-Sewa, Khalti, IME Pay, and Fone Pay. You can top up NetTV wallet from within the setup of the box and Android app. This feature is not available for iOS users for now. Each purchase will be valid one month from the time of purchase.

So what do you think of NetTV’s Cine+ package? Are you willing to give it a shot? Let us know in the comment section.

Also, check out our comparison between major cable TV operators in Nepal.

Explained: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology in smartphones

Featured

GadgetByte

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January 19, 2021

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Explained: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology in smartphones

If you are into smartphones, you would probably be familiar with different multiple short-range communication technologies like Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC. The latter is an especially short-range protocol, operating at just 13.56MHz. As a result, NFC also makes cashless payments more convenient. And now, smartphone brands have started new technology called the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) into their phones. But, what actually is this UWB technology and how will people benefit from its inclusion into their smartphones.

Ultra-Wideband (UWB): An introduction

Like Bluetooth and WiFi, Ultra-Wideband is a short-range communication technology that uses high-frequency radio waves ranging from 3.1GHz to 10.6GHz. Thus, it operates outside of the 2.4GHz band on which most WiFi and Bluetooth devices are based. This cancels out the possibility of UWB signals interfering with nearby WiFi and Bluetooth.

It also has an additional Physical layer specified in the IEEE 802.15.4z which allows it to utilize security measures against attackers.

Ultra-Wideband technology uses a wider channel bandwidth of at least 500MHz (up to 7.5GHz) with short pulses of just 2 seconds. This makes it more precise and accurate than WiFi, Bluetooth, and even NFC.

Advantages of UWB Ultra-WideBand — Source: Kinexon

UWB allows for faster transfer rates while still being energy-efficient and reliable. The accuracy and precision of the technology make it ideal for localization. It can help you track/locate lost devices with great accuracy. The technology is so effective that you can even track objects in real-time while they are still in motion.

Ultra-Wideband in smartphones

Apple was the first smartphone manufacturer to incorporate the Ultra-Wideband in its smartphones. The U1 chip was first used in the iPhone 11 series for AirDrop. Since then, it has also been used in the iPhone 12 lineup and even in the Apple Watch Series 6 and HomePod Mini. The company has not opened about its plan for UWB in its other products but rumors suggest that it will be significant for the upcoming AirTags (similar to Samsung’s SmartTag).

Samsung too has incorporated UWB in its flagship starting from the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It has now made its way into devices like Z Fold 2, Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. The company has been very open about its plans for the technology. Samsung has been working on UWB technology and its application since 2018. It has also been a member of the FIRA Consortium that was formed in 2019 for the development and promotion of UWB technology. There are now over 45 organizations in the consortium including Samsung, NXP, Qualcomm, and HID Global.

Application of UWB in Samsung Galaxy Phones

Since its introduction in the Note 20 Ultra, the Ultra-Wideband chip in the Galaxy devices has been used for Google’s Nearby Share feature among others. It allows the phones to connect to other Android devices and share files and photos. Samsung has also improved its SmartThing Find feature and announced SmartThing+ to make the most of it. With the UWB-enabled SmartTag+, users will be able to locate lost items to the exact location by using the AR Finder.

Samsung is also working on a new feature Digital Key which will replace physical keys with UWB-enabled smartphones. According to the company, users will soon be able to unlock car doors by just approaching them with UWB-enabled phones (which for now, are the S21 Plus and the S21 Ultra). You don’t even need to pull out your phone and tap it against the door. Samsung has announced partnerships with major car manufacturers like Audi, Genesis, Ford, and BMW to use this feature to unlock card doors. But the South Korean tech giant isn’t the first to introduce this possibility as Apple beat Samsung to the punch by announcing a similar feature on the iPhone 12 series.

Other possible use cases

Ultra-Wideband technology has implications far beyond sharing files or unlocking your car door. It can be useful in maintaining social distancing in schools, workplaces, and other public places. The idea here is that when two people get too close to each other, the UWB sensor on their phone will alert the user. Similarly, it can be very useful in inventory and warehouses as the products can be recorded while they are still in motion. Also, it can prove useful in contactless payment, navigation, managing Smart Home, etc.

Also, check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G with Dimensity 1000+ launched in India

GadgetByte

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January 19, 2021

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Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G with Dimensity 1000+ launched in India

Oppo initially launched the Reno5 series in China a few months back. And now, the company is making the devices available in the global market. The company has launched the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G in India alongside the Oppo Enco X. This comes after the launch of the Reno5 4G in Vietnam. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G in Nepal.

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G Overview

Design and Display

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G flaunts the same RenoGlow design at the back as the Reno4 series. For this, the device undergoes a special etching process to make the panel both smooth and resistant to fingerprint at the same time. Reno5 Pro is 7.6mm thick and weighs around 173 grams. the device is available in two color options – Astral Blue and Starry Black.

On the front, there is a 6.5-inch AMOLED screen with a left-aligned punch-hole cutout. It has an FHD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 that contributes to the 402PPI pixel density. The bezels around the screen are minimal and result in a 92.10% screen ratio. Users can choose between 60Hz and 90Hz refresh rate. Similarly, the touch sampling rate can go up to 180Hz.

Performance and Memory

Oppo has chosen MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ to power the Reno5 Pro, making it the first phone with this chipset to launch in South Asia. It’s a flagship-level SoC from MediaTek based on the 7nm process node. It features four Cortex A77 cores @ 2.6GHz and four Cortex A55 cores @ 2.0 GHz. Graphics are handled by ARM G77 GPU.

The phone is available in a single memory configuration of 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. It ships with ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11.

Camera

This smartphone flaunts a quad-camera setup on the back which consists of a 64MP main camera. It has an aperture of f/1.7 and comes with a closed-loop focus motor. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide shooter. Completing the setup are two 2MP sensors for macro and monochrome portrait shots. There is a 32MP selfie camera on the front of the device.

The rear camera now supports AI Highlight Video that utilizes Ultra Nigh Video and Live HDR for clear and vibrant videos in dark. Other notable camera features include Dual-view video, AI Color portrait, Monochrome video.

Rest of the specs

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G features a 4350mAh battery in a two-cell configuration and therefore supports 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging. Oppo claims that the device can be completely refilled within half an hour. Similarly, a quick charging session of 5 minutes will offer 4 hours of video playback.

It is also compatible with PD and QC standards and offers charging speeds of up to 18W. The phone comes with support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. The fingerprint sensor is placed underneath the screen. The Indian variant misses out on NFC.

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G Specifications:

Weight: 177g
Display: 6.5-inch AMOLED panel; 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz sampling rate, 100% DCI P3
Resolution: FHD (2400 x 1080); 402 PPI
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 1000+; 7nm mobile platform
GPU: ARM G77 MC9 (836MHz)
Rear Camera: Quad;
– 64MP primary sensor; 6P lens, AF
– 8MP ultra-wide-angle
– 2MP macro sensor
– 2MP monochrome sensor
Front Camera: 32MP primary lens
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 128GB (non-expandable)
Software: Android 11 with ColorOS 11.1 on top
Audio: Dolby Audio, 3.5mm headphone jack
Security: Fingerprint (in-display), FaceUnlock
Battery: 4350mAh with 65W SuperVOOC 2.0; PD (9V,2A), QC (9V, 2A)

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G Price in Nepal & Availability

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G is now available for pre-order in India with a price tag of INR 35,990 for the 8/128GB variant. While there is no news about Oppo launching the device here, we expect the price of Oppo Reno5 Pro in Nepal to be around NPR 60,000 if Oppo Nepal decides to do so.

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G	Price in India	Price in Nepal (Expected)
8/128GB	INR 35,990	NPR 60,000

Check out our review of the Oppo F17 Pro.

Vivo Y51 with 48MP Triple Camera, 8GB RAM, SD 665 Launched in Nepal

Vivo

GadgetByte

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January 19, 2021

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Vivo Y51 with 48MP Triple Camera, 8GB RAM, SD 665 Launched in Nepal

Vivo Nepal has officially launched the successor of the Vivo S1 Pro in the Nepali market – Vivo Y51. Priced below Rs. 35,000, the Vivo Y51 brings 48MP triple rear cameras, 8GB RAM, and a big 5000mAh battery. It will go head-to-head against the Poco X3 and Galaxy M51 in the midrange segment.

Vivo Y51 Overview:

This new device comes with a 6.58-inch LCD panel with FHD+ resolution. In contrast, the Y51 that was launched in September had a 6.38-inch AMOLED panel. Furthermore, there is no in-display fingerprint sensor on this one. Rather, it has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The selfie camera is the same 16MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. And it is housed in the waterdrop notch.

Under the hood, the device runs on Snapdragon 665 SoC. 8GB RAM and 128GB storage complement the chipset. Moreover, the latest Vivo Y51 comes with a 5000mAh battery as compared to the 4500mAh of the September model. The battery supports 18W fast charging through the USB Type-C port.

The camera department features some changes too. The latest Y51 has a triple camera setup similar to that of the Vivo X50 series. This camera module includes 48MP primary lens, 8MP ultra-wide lens, and 2MP macro lens. However, the previous one had a quad-camera setup with an additional 2MP depth sensor.

Finally, the latest Y51 comes with Funtouch OS 11 on top of Android 11—rather than the Android 10 based Funtouch OS 10.

Vivo Y51 (December 2020) Specifications:

Body: 163.86 x 75.32 x 8.38-mm;
Display: 6.58-inch IPS LCD
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB (expandable up to 1TB)
Software & UI: Funtouch OS 11 based on Android 11
Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
– 48MP primary shooter with f/1.79
– 8MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.2
– 2MP macro lens with f/2.4
Front Camera: 16MP
Security: Fingerprint Scanner (side-mounted)
Sensors: Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, E-Compass
Battery: 5000mAh with 18W (9V/2A) charging
Color: Titanium Sapphire, Crystal Symphony

Vivo Y51 Price in Nepal and Availability

The new Vivo Y51 has been launched in Nepal for a price of Rs. 33,499. It is available from Daraz as well as mobile retail shops all over Nepal from the 19th of Jan, 2021

Model Name	Price in Nepal
Vivo Y51 (8/128GB)	NPR 33,499

Check out our review of Vivo V20.

2021 lineup of iMac, Mac Pro to feature a new design and Apple Silicon

GadgetByte

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January 18, 2021

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2021 lineup of iMac, Mac Pro to feature a new design and Apple Silicon

Last year, Apple announced its plan to transition from Intel chips to its own Apple Silicon for its Macs. Later the company launched two new MacBooks and a Mac mini powered by the new M1 chip. And now, Apple is working on a new lineup of the iMac and Mac desktop computers. Not only will these new Macs be powered by Apple’s own chip, but they are also tipped to sport a new design. Let’s take a look at all the rumors and leaks surrounding the 2021 lineup of Apple iMac and Mac Pro desktop computers.

Apple 2021 iMac Lineup Rumors

As stated earlier, Apple is going to change the design of the upcoming iMac computers. It will be the first major design overhaul for the iMac lineup since 2012. According to a report by Bloomberg, the design of the upcoming iMacs will be very similar to that of Apple Pro Display XDR.

Pro Display XDR-like Design

This means the upcoming iMac will not have curved backs like its predecessor. It will instead have a flat rear.

Apple Pro Display XDR

The Pro Display XDR-inspired design will be visible on the front as well. Apple is reportedly getting rid of the metal chin on the front of its iMac lineup. Similarly, the new iMac computers will also have slimmer bezels around the screen.

Rumored Specs

There will be two new models with codenames J456 and J457. They will replace the existing 21.5 and 27-inch models. However, it is not clear if the new models have different screen sizes.

Inside, the two new iMacs will be powered by Apple’s own silicon. It’s unlikely that the new iMacs will be powered by the M1 chip. The rumors point towards a second Apple Silicon chip which will also power the upcoming MacBook Pros.

Apple 2021 Mac Pro Lineup Rumors

The report also suggests that Apple is working on two new Mac Pro desktop computers. The first of the two will be very similar to that of the 2019 model both in terms of design and the use of Intel chip.

Apple Mac Pro 2019

The other one will be less than the size of the current model. It will come with an aluminum exterior and will be powered by an Apple Silicon chip.

Apple is also working on a new external monitor that it plans to sell at a cheaper price than the Pro Display XDR.

Apple iMac, Mac Pro 2021 Expected Launch Date

As of now, there is no concrete information about the launch date of the upcoming Apple iMac and Mac Pro. However, it is expected that Apple will launch all of them in 2021.

Apple iMac, Mac Pro	Launch Date
iMacs (J456 and J457)	2021
Mac Pro (Intel and Apple Silicon)	2021

In the meanwhile, check out our review of the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Konka launches two Linux-powered smart LED TVs in Nepal

GadgetByte

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January 18, 2021

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Konka launches two Linux-powered smart LED TVs in Nepal

Well, there is no shortage of smart TVs in Nepal and we have covered some of the most popular ones. And now, Konka is claiming the first company to launch smart TVs running Linux operating system to launch in Nepal. Konka Nepal, an extension of the Hong Kong-based Konka group, has launched two smart TVs based on the Linux operating system in the country. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, price, and availability of Konka Smart Linux TV in Nepal.

Konka: Brand Overview

Konka Group Co. Ltd was established back in May 1980. The brand is affiliated with OCT Enterprise which is among the key state-owned enterprise. In addition to TVs, it manufactures and sells TVs, household appliances, laptops, mobile phones among other products.

Saurabh Photo International is the sole authorized distributor of Konka TVs and home appliances in Nepal. Currently, the company sells Konka-branded TVs, air-conditioners, washing machines, and other home appliances in Nepal.

Konka Smart Linux TV

The elephant in the room is the 50-inch LED TV with a 4K UHD resolution. But there is also a smaller and much cheaper 32-inch model with HD resolution.

Display Engine

These TVs are powered by XC3 UHD Engine that supports different quality-enhancing features like CrystalView, DeepBlack, and PurePalette. At their core, these technologies help to improve the clarity, contrast, and color of the display for better quality. Similarly, these TVs use Konka’s HiBright Pro Blacklight that offers 25% better illuminance. The ColorWave wide color gamut results in deeper colors.

Features

As mentioned earlier, the TVs ship with the Linux operating system instead of Google’s Android TV platform. Still, you will be able to enjoy most of the popular streaming services. Konka Linux TVs have received approval and certification from platforms like Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, Vudu, Pandora, and more. It also has an open browser for web browsing.

Also Read: TCL launched 43″ and 75″ 4K TVs in Nepal

These TVs support screencast technologies like MiraCast and WiDi for Android and Windows devices, respectively. But there is no support for Airplay in case you are an Apple user.

Warranty-Policy

According to the company, the main selling point of TV is its warranty policy. Konka is offering up to 3 years of service warranty plus 1 year of full parts replacements.

Features of Konka Smart Linux LED TVs:

50-inch 4K UHD / 32-inch HD
Dynamic Mode
True Color HDR
Dolby Digital
3 years of service warranty + 1-year parts replacement

Konka Smart LED TV Price in Nepal & Availability

The price of Konka Smart LED TV in Nepal is NPR 26,880 and NPR 61,600 for the 32-inch and 50-inch models, respectively. You can buy them from your nearest Konka authorized retailer which you can find out by going to this link.

Konka Smart LED TV (Linux)	Price in Nepal	Availability
32-inch FHD (KDL32MO662ANTS)	NPR 26,880	Authorized Retailers
50-inch 4K UHD (UDL50MP667ANTS)	NPR 61,600	Authorized Retailers

Similarly, if you have any service-related issues, you can contact Konka Nepal through landline and social media handles.

Konka Nepal

Website: https://www.konkanepal.com
Facebook: Konka Nepal
Landline: 01-4111630/31/32

Oppo A15 Launched in Nepal with Stylish design and budget price tag

OPPO

GadgetByte

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January 18, 2021

0

Oppo A15 Launched in Nepal with Stylish design and budget price tag

Oppo Nepal has finally launched the Oppo A15 in Nepal as the company’s latest budget-oriented smartphone. The device was launched in India in Oct 2020. It is a minor upgrade to the Oppo A12, which has recently seen a price drop in the Nepali market. Let’s check out the specifications, features, official price, and availability of Oppo A15 in Nepal.

Oppo A15 Overview

Design and Display

Oppo A15 sports a 6.52-inch display with a teardrop notch to house the front camera. The IPS LCD panel sports an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. Oppo says the device can intelligently adjust the brightness level according to the usage pattern of the user. The display is housed inside a polycarbonate body that measures 164 x 75 x 8mm. The corners of the device are rounded.

At the back, a square camera module houses the triple camera setup. The panel also holds the physical fingerprint scanner.

Performance and Camera

Talking about the performance, Oppo A15 packs in the Helio P35 chipset. It’s a budget chipset from MediaTek that is based on TSMC 12mm FinFET Process. It consists of eight Cortex A53 cores with a maximum clock speed of up to 2.3GHz. The phone is available in a single memory configuration – 3GB + 32GB. Oppo has included a microSD card slot. Thus, users can expand the internal storage by slotting in an external card.

The device flaunts a triple camera setup on the back. The primary camera uses a 13MP image sensor. It is accompanied by two 2MP auxiliary camera sensors: for macro and portrait shots, respectively. On the front, there is a 5MP selfie sensor with AI Beauty mode.

Also Read: Oppo Mobiles Price in Nepal [Updated]

Rest of the specs

The whole setup is backed by a 4,230mAh battery. Oppo A15 supports 10W charging via the micro USB 2.0 port. For biometric, Oppo has included a physical fingerprint scanner on the back of the device. The device supports dual-band Wi-Fi ac and Bluetooth 5.

OPPO A15 Specifications:

Display: 6.52-inch LCD with HD resolution (720 x 1600 pixels); Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Rear Camera: Triple; 13MP primary lens, 2MP depth sensor, 2MP macro sensors
Front Camera: 5MP sensor
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P35; 12nm mobile platform
GPU: PowerVR GE8320
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB; expandable up to 256GB
Software: Android 10 with ColorOS 7.2 on top
Battery: 4,230mAh, 10W charging (Micro USB)
Security: Fingerprint (rear-mounted)
Colors: Dynamic Black, Mystery Blue

Oppo A15 Price in Nepal and Availability

The Oppo A15 price in Nepal is set at NPR 18,590. This price is for the 3/32GB variant.

Smartphone Model	Price in India	Price in Nepal
Oppo A15	INR 10,990	NPR 18,590

Check out our review of the Realme 7.

CES 2021: Acer unveils the 2021 lineup of Aspire laptops with AMD Ryzen 5000 CPU

GadgetByte

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January 17, 2021

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CES 2021: Acer unveils the 2021 lineup of Aspire laptops with AMD Ryzen 5000 CPU

Acer has refreshed its Aspire lineup of laptops with the latest Ryzen 5000 series mobile processors from Ryzen. The announcement was made on the recently concluded virtual CES 2021. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of the new Acer Aspire 2021 lineup in Nepal.

Acer Aspire Series Overview:

The Acer Aspire series is for consumers with a tight budget. It includes a wide range of laptops with different sizes, specs, and features. The Aspire laptops are not the most premium looking laptops but they are popular for offering a balance between power and price.

And now with the new refresh, Acer has transitioned to the Ryzen 5000 mobile processors, paired with up to GTX 1650. The company has confirmed two laptops as of now – the Aspire 5 and Aspire 7. Let’s take a closer look at their features.

Acer Aspire 7 2021

The new Acer Aspire 7 comes with the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 series mobile processors. However, Acer has not disclosed the exact processors being used. It is to be noted that not all processors under the Ryzen 5000 series are based on the new Zen 3 architecture. Most of them are still based on the older Zen 2 architecture.

Talking about graphics, users can get up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. Thus, it is not just an everyday laptop. The GPU may not be the best on the market but it is most certainly better than the integrated cards during intensive tasks and even lightweight gaming.

Acer Aspire 7 has three different performance modes – Silent, Normal, and Performance. The fan speed will change based on these performance modes. Users can toggle between them by using the “Fn+F” key.

This laptop can be configured with up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. It also features a 2.5-inch drive that can be used to expand the storage.

It sports a 15.6-inch display with an 81.61% screen to body ratio. The bezels are quite thick, especially at the top and bottom. The latter also contains the Acer logo. Acer has included its proprietary technologies such as Acer Color Intelligence and ExaColor to improve the display output. The former adjusts gamma and saturation in real-time to optimize the color and brightness of the screen, while also avoiding clipping and over-saturation.

Acer Aspire 5 2021

Moving on, the Acer Aspire 5 has a cheaper price tag than its bigger sibling. It will also feature the Ryzen 5000 series processors. In terms of graphics, you are only getting up to Radeon RX 640 so don’t have high expectation from this one. Like the Aspire 7, it comes with multiple cooling modes.

You can configure it with up to 24GB of RAM and 1TB SSD storage. You can have up to 2TB of HDD storage alongside or in place of the SSD storage.

This laptop sports a 15.6-inch FHD IPS panel with Acer BlueLightShield technology. The laptop measures 0.70-inch in thickness. Acer has used sandblasted aluminum for the lid and has topped it off with a polished finish. Other features include USB Type-C connectivity and dual-band Wi-Fi support.

Acer Aspire 5, 7 (2021) Price in Nepal & Availability

The 2021 edition of the Acer Aspire 5 and Aspire 7 will be available in North America starting from March with a starting price of $549.99 and $749.99, respectively. We can expect the price of the Acer Aspire 5 and Aspire 7 (2021) in Nepal to start at NPR 80,000, and NPR 105,000, respectively when they launch here.

Laptop models	Price in the US	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Acer Aspire 5 (Base Variant)	$549.99	NPR 80,000
Acer Aspire 7 (Base Variant)	$749.99	NPR 105,000

Also, check out our review of the Acer Swift 3.