Today’s premium TWS market is dominated by Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM3. However, new launches are stirring up the market. First, Huawei announced FreeBuds Pro with the world’s first dynamic noise cancelation and now Bose has announced QuietComfort Earbuds, which it claims is the world’s most effective canceling earbuds. It was announced alongside the cheaper Sport Earbuds. They are now available in Nepal as well. Let’s check out the specs, features of Bose QuietComfort, and Sport Earbuds, along with the official price of Bose QuietComfort and Sports Earbuds in Nepal.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Overview:
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is the premium of the two and will go head to head against Apple’s and Sony’s best. The highlight of the earbuds is the noise cancellation technology that Bose claims are the most effective in the world. It makes use of both passive and active noise cancellation. The internal and external microphones detect sound from surrounding and cancel it with the opposite noise. Also, the ear nozzle has been designed to comfortably fit into the contours of the human ear; thus providing a better air seal and passive noise cancellation. Users can toggle between 11 different levels of noise cancellation.
The actual earbuds are made up of plastic with gold plated and polymer coating here and there. The charging case is completely made up of plastic. In its official press release, Bose has clarified that it has opted for faithful reproduction of sound instead of boosts in select frequencies. As a result, the company claims will not notice any difference when they change the volume. For clearer calls, Bose has included a dedicated microphone on the right earbud that picks up your voice, filtering out the surrounding noise.
On a single charge, the earbuds can last up to 6 hours. The charging case provides an additional 12 hours of playback time. It takes around 2 hours to charge the earbuds completely. However, a quick 15 minutes charge can add up to 2 hours of playback duration. The charging case can be charged in 3 hours using a Type-C cable. Additionally, the case supports Qi-certified wireless charging.
Here, Bose Sport Earbuds are designed to be used during workout exercises. It is smaller and more compact than the QuietComfort Earbuds. Being a cheaper alternative, it does not have the new noise reduction technology. Other than that, the specs remain similar. Like the QuietComfort, it supports Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless transmission. With it, it can connect to devices within a radius of 30ft. It also has the Active EQ for faithful sound reproduction. The battery endurance remains the same and so is the IPX4 Rating. It is also compatible with the Bose Music App.
Bose QuietComfort, Sport Earbuds Specifications:
Dimension: 1.54 x 1.02 x 1.06-inch / 0.74 x 1.05 x 0.83-inch
Charging case: 3.5 x 2 x 1.25-inch / 3.5 x 2 x 1.25-inch
Extra Features on QuietComfort: 11-level Noise Cancellation
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Price in Nepal | Bose Sport Earbuds Price in Nepal
Bose QuietComfort and Sport Earbuds are now available in Nepal for the price of NPR 42,500 and NPR 31,500 respectively. You can buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Sport Earbuds at EvoStore in Nepal.
Bose TWS Model
Price in Nepal (Official)
Availability
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
NPR 42,500
EvoStore
Bose Sport Earbuds
NPR 31,500
Watch: Top 5 Best Wireless Earbuds (By Mobile Brands)
Realme Watch S is the latest addition to the company’s ecosystem of AIoT products that debuted in Pakistan about a month ago. It is the company’s second smartwatch after the original Realme Watch, which is now available in Nepal. Let’s learn more about the new Realme Watch S including its specs, features, official price, and availability in Nepal.
Realme Watch S Overview
Design and Build
The first-gen Realme Watch looked like an Apple Watch because of its square display. But, the new Realme Watch S looks nothing like it as it features a circular display instead. It is a 1.3-inch display with a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. This equates to a pixel density of around 278PPI. Unfortunately, the company is still sticking with an LCD panel instead of AMOLED. But then again, very few smartwatches in this price range offer an AMOLED panel.
The watch now has a photosensitive sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness level. Also, it is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, although the exact version hasn’t been specified. But our guess is Gorilla Glass 3 since that’s the most common standard in budget smartwatches. Moreover, the display is housed inside an Aluminium alloy case. There are two physical buttons on the right side of the case. The strap is made up of liquid silicone and it is available in four different colors – Orange, Blue, Green, and Black.
Sensors and Connectivity
Inside the Watch S, Realme has included a 3-axis accelerometer, an optical heart rate sensor, and a wearing monitoring sensor. There is also the photosensitive sensor that I mentioned earlier.
In terms of connectivity, Realme Watch S supports Bluetooth 5.0. One can connect it to any smartphones running Android 5.0 or later using the Realme Link app. Like the Realme Watch, it is not compatible with Apple’s iOS devices.
Moreover, the watch supports real-time heart monitoring too. It can alert users about resting and exercise heart rate. Similarly, it can also calculate your Blood Oxygen (SpO2) level. Watch S supports a total of 16 Sports modes including football, outdoor/indoor cycle, and strength training. Still, there is no swim tracking. Other health features include sleep tracking, meditation, steps counter, idle alert, and activity tracker.
Realme Watch S can remind you of incoming calls, messages, and alarms. Similarly, users can control the music playback in their connected device using the watch. There is also a remote shutter feature to take pictures. Other features include Find My Phone, Weather Forecast, Shake Adjustment, and No Disturb Mode.
Battery and rest of the specs
The 390mAh battery in the Realme Watch S is rated to last 15 days of normal usage. Users can charge the device using the magnetic charging base of the watch. The watch is IP68 rated against damage against dust and water.
Battery Endurance: 15 days (hear rate function enabled)
Charging Type: Magnetic Charging Base
Realme Watch S Price in Nepal and Availability
Realme Watch S is now available in Nepal for the price of NPR 9,999. At this price range, it goes head-to-head against the Mobvoi TicWatch GTX. Currently, you can buy Realme Watch S in Nepal from different Realme authorized retail stores throughout the country.
eSewa has collaborated with Viber to allow users to make instant topup and send money from within the popular messaging platform. In this post, we will talk in detail about the new eSewa Viber services. We will also show you how to link your eSewa account to Viber and use this service to send money or topup your mobile phone.
eSewa and Viber Partnership
Both apps are really popular among Nepalese users. eSewa has been leading the digital payment sector in Nepal since its introduction in 2008. Viber, on the other hand, is a popular platform to connect with friends, families, and even colleagues. The collaboration allows users to make instant eSewa transactions from within the Viber app. As of now, users can use this feature to topup mobile balance and send money to family and friends. With the integration of eSewa transactions in Viber, users won’t have to switch between the two apps for any transaction. Similarly, users will be able to enjoy eSewa services while keeping the conversation alive in Viber.
Linking eSewa Account to Viber
LInking eSewa Account to Viber
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But first, you need to link your eSewa account to Viber. You can do this by following these simple steps:
Head over to the GIF option in the Viber chat window and select eSewa.
Select Register for eSewa Viber service. You will be prompted to share your number. Click on Share number and then on the Link Account option.
It will open the eSewa login window. Input your ID and MPIN correctly and hit Login.
Check the Terms and Conditions box. You will then receive an OTP on your eSewa account registered mobile number. Verify the OTP and click on Confirm.
After you have successfully linked your eSewa account to Viber, you can now enjoy topup and money transfer services from within Viber. You can topup your mobile balance or send money from Viber by following the given steps.
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Head over to the GIF option in the Viber chat window and select eSewa.
If you have successfully linked your eSewa account to Viber, you will be provided with three options – Topup, Send Money, and Unlink. Select the transaction that you want to carry out.
You will be asked to insert the mobile number that you want to topup. In the case of Send Money, you will have to insert the eSewa ID of the recipient.
Insert the amount to be recharged or transferred. In the case of Send Money, you will have to disclose the purpose of the transaction.
Upon clicking on the Proceed option you will be shown the details of the transaction with the total paying amount. Click Proceed after verification.
You will receive an OTP on your number. Insert it into the blank field and click on Confirm.
But wait…
As you can see, upon completion of the transaction, a message will be sent to the conversation that you accessed the eSewa menu from. It’s no problem if you are sending money to the same person. But it becomes troublesome when you have to topup your own phone or send money to someone else. Since this system relies on opening up a conversation to carry on a transaction, a third user gets unnecessarily notified in the aforementioned scenario. Maybe they could’ve integrated this feature in some other section than the chat window.
The last word
This integration of eSewa within the Viber app does help in carrying out eSewa transaction is actually helpful, especially if you use the app extensively for topups and transfers. However, we still think that integration can get better. You only need to have one app installed and that’s about it. You are still using the eSewa app. It’s just that it’s a tone version with limited features. It resides within the messaging platform but doesn’t utilize any of its features. For instance, if I’m using Viber I would the fund transfer to be as easy as selecting the recipient from the contact list and hitting the send button. Instead, I have to open a chat, open an extension, input recipient, and then hit send.
To sum it up, it’s exciting to see eSewa collaborate with a platform as big as Viber. Many will find the new feature useful in its present state. However, if eSewa and Viber still need to work to make the integration seamless. As of now, it feels like Viber has allocated has a small portion of its real state for eSewa to carry out its business. If the two companies improved the current platform to allow one to leverage the capability of the other it could change the game altogether.
This is what we think of the story. You may have a different opinion about this new feature. Let us know what you think of this feature in the comments section below.
Most of us know Xiaomi for its aggressively priced smartphones. However, a major chunk of the company’s profit comes with its IoT products. Last year, it announced the Mi Reader for e-book readers. And now the company has succeeded it with a Pro model. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Xiaomi Mi Reader Pro in Nepal.
Mi Reader Pro Overview
Design and Display
The Mi Reader Pro features a massive screen with a diagonal length of 7.8-inch. Similarly, it packs a resolution of 1872 x 1404 pixels with a 300ppi pixel density. Instead of regular color panels, it has an e-paper panel developed by E Ink. Such displays are great for e-book readers since they reduce the strain that one may experience from prolonged exposure to normal displays. Users can also adjust the color tone of the display. Likewise, the Mi Reader Pro comes with 24 user-adjustable brightness levels.
Thus e-book reader looks massive because of the thick bezels surrounding the screen. The chin is even thicker as it accommodates a button. Mi Reader Pro weighs around 245 grams and has a thickness of 7mm.
Internal specs
Moving on, this e-reader is powered by an unspecified quad-core CPU. It comes with 2GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The device ships with a custom UI based on Android 8.1. It is backed by a 3,200mAh battery which supports 10W charging. Xiaomi claims a standby time of up to 70 days on the Mi Reader Pro. Connectivity-wise, it comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.
Xiaomi has packed some cool features in the new Mi Reader Pro. For instance, the company has integrated its Xiao Ai voice assistant into the device. Thus, the Reader Pro supports voice reading. Also, users can use the smart assistant to locate automatic keyboards and to make searching faster and easier.
Other features include support for Baidu Cloud and WeChat Reading. It supports multiple file formats such as pdf, epub, txt, excel, ppt, and doc. The e-book reader has an EPDC controller for smooth page-turning.
Users can also transfer books from an external device to the Mi Reader Pro if they both connected to the same WLAN network. There are four more ways to transfer e-book that includes transfer via Bluetooth and USB connection to PC.
Mi Reader Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
Mi Reader Pro is available for pre-order in China for 1,099 Yuan. It will compete against Amazon Kindle Oasis provided that it launches globally. If it launches here, we can expect the price of the Mi Reader Pro in Nepal to be around NPR 22,000.
E-book Reader
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Mi Reader Pro
1,099 Yuan
NPR 22,000
Check out our long term review of the Asus ZenBook 14 UM425.
Earlier this month, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 888 chipset which will power the Android flagships in 2021. And now, the company has announced another smartphone processor. The new Snapdragon 678 is the latest mid-range chipset from Qualcomm.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 SoC Overview
Architecture
Snapdragon 678 SoC is the successor to the Snapdragon 675 which was launched back in 2018. However, it’s more of a refresh than a successor. For starters, both the chipset are based on the 11nm process technology. They also feature the same Kyro 460 CPU architecture but the one on the SD 678 is clocked higher at 2.2GHz. That is 200MHz faster than that on the Snapdragon 675. Similarly, Qualcomm is promising a performance increase in the GPU as well. However, it didn’t mention how it was achieved since both the SoC have Adreno 612 GPU.
ISP
Other than the higher clock speed, there is hardly anything that distinguishes the SD 678 from its predecessor. It features the same Spectra 205L ISP that supports a single-camera setup of up to 48MP. The inclusion of Qualcomm 3rd gen AI engine allows Bokeh effect, Low-light capture, and laser autofocus. One can also record 4K videos and slow-mo videos.
Connectivity
Here, the 678 comes with a Snapdragon X12 LTE Modem which is a 4G modem. Theoretically, it can attain download and upload speed up to 600Mbps and 150Mbps, respectively. It also supports aggregation and Licensed Assisted Access.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 Specifications:
Process: 11nm
Core Architecture: Octa-core Kryo 460 CPU (up to 2.2GHz)
GPU: Adreno 612
Memory Support: 2 x 16-bit LPDDR4/4x (up to 8GB)
ISP: Spectra 250L
Modem: Snapdragon X12 LTE
Display Support: FHD+, 90Hz
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 SoC Availability
We could see some lower midrange smartphones make use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 SoC in 2021. However, Qualcomm has not announced if any smartphone brand is working on it. Given the recent trend of 5G, we expect smartphone manufacturers to incline more towards the Snapdragon 690.
In the meanwhile, watch our review of Asus ZenBook 14 UM425.
Nokia has released quite a few smartphones this year, especially under the budget category. The company has now added another device in the budget C-series. The new Nokia C1 Plus is the company’s cheapest 4G Android smartphone and is now officially available in Nepal for a reasonable price.
Nokia C1 Plus Overview
Design and Display
From the design perspective, there is hardly anything that differentiates the Nokia C1 Plus from other C-series devices. Both the C1 and C2 featured a similar design and the same is the case with the Nokia C1 Plus. It sports a 5.45-inch HD+ screen. The forehead is home to the front camera, earpiece, and LED flash. Unlike the previous two devices in the series, Nokia has included the company logo on the chin.
At the back, we get to see the same pill-shaped camera module. However, this time around, it has been placed further away from the top.
C1 Plus is powered by an unspecified chipset with a maximum clock speed of 1.4GHz. This could be the same Unisoc chipset that was used in the C2 but we can’t confirm it right now. The phone comes with just 1GB of DDR3 RAM. Thus, the company has gone with the Go Edition of Android 10. The on-board storage of 16GB can be expanded using an external microSD card.
Rest of the specs
The pill-shaped module on the back encloses the 5MP camera together with an LED flash. On the front, there is another 5MP camera with a flash. The device is backed by a 2500mAh removable battery. The main selling point of the device is the 4G capability. It also has Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, and an FM receiver.
Nokia C1 Plus Specifications:
Body: 149.1 x 71.2 x 8.75 mm; 146 gm
Display: 5.45-inches in-cell panel; 282PPI
Resolution: HD+ (1440 x 720 pixels); 18:9 aspect ratio
CPU: Quad-core @1.4GHz
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 16GB (expandable using a micro SD card)
Software & UI: Android 10 (Go edition)
Rear Camera: 5MP lens; LED flash
Front Camera: 5MP lens; LED flash
Security: Face-unlock
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Dual-SIM, 4G, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/AGPS, Micro USB 2.0
Battery: 2500mAh with 5W charging
Nokia C1 Plus Price in Nepal and Availability
The 1GB+16GB storage variant of the Nokia C1 Plus has been launched in Nepal for the price of Rs. 8,399. It will be available in Blue & Red colors variants.
After the Oppo X 2021, the Chinese smartphone maker has showcased another concept phone. This time around it’s a tri-folding phone that the company calls “slide-phone”. Along with the Oppo slide phone, it also unveiled “music-link” which is a bunch of devices centered at a TWS earphone.
Oppo x nendo Design Concepts
The two concept devices were showcased at the 4th China International Design Expo (CIIDE). These two new concepts of smart devices were created in partnership with nendo which is an industrial designing studio based in China.
Oppo Slide Phone
The whole point of the “slide-phone” is to offer a feature-rich smartphone experience with a phone that is more comfortable to hold and use. In an attempt to pack more features smartphone these days are getting bigger than ever. Oppo notes that this has become a growing concern for users.
Oppo Slide Phone
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Folded
Unfolded
The slide phone has three foldable screens that fold over in the same direction. There is a separate hinge for each screen. When it’s completely folded, the Oppo slide phone becomes the size of a credit card. Thanks to the three hinges, users will have the flexibility of changing the form factor as per their convenience. Similarly, the phone can also accommodate a stylus pen which will boost the productivity of the phone.
Oppo Music Link
Music Link includes a smartwatch, AI speaker, portable charger, and a wireless charger that have been designed to work around a TWS. For instance, when the TWS together with its charging case placed on the AI speaker, the music will transit from TWS to the speaker. Similarly, all the devices under the music link will have a symbiotic relationship with each other. Similarly, they are also designed with portability and convenience in mind.
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Music Link
TWS
Smartwatch
Oppo Slide Phone, Music Link Availability
As of now, the Oppo Slide Phone and Music Link are both nothing but a design concept. There is not even a working prototype as of yet. Thus, even if Oppo plans to turn them into real products, don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.
In the meanwhile, check out our review of the Oppo F17 Pro.
The Vivo X60 series has been a subject for discussion for a while ever since it was rumored to be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1080 SoC. However, an official poster of the X60 series has revealed that the smartphone company is also partnering with Zeiss for the cameras. In this post, we will take a look at all the rumors, leaks, specifications, and official launch date of the Vivo X60 series.
Vivo X60 Series Rumor Roundup
Like the Vivo X50 series, the X60 series will feature three devices – X60, X60 Pro, and X60 Pro Plus. The poster released by Vivo’s official Weibo account reveals a design similar to its predecessor. The devices on the poster look to have an AG Matte glass panel at the back.
Cameras
The left-aligned camera module is also similar to what we saw in the X50 series. Now, the X60 series will feature an ultra-stable micro-head camera sensor. Two additional camera sensors are just below it. The Pro and the Pro Plus model will have a periscope telephoto sensor which the vanilla model will miss out on.
In addition to the Zeiss lenses, the X60 series will also make use of micro-panel technology. This new technology is said to improve the night-time performance of the camera. The X50 series made headlines because of the gimbal-like camera feature, while the X60 series will improve the existing 5-axis stabilization system.
Partnership with Zeiss
The camera setup on the X60 series has been developed in collaboration with Zeiss. It is a German company that specializes in optical systems. It has been developing a camera system and even software for Nokia smartphones for a while. The first Nokia phone to come with a Zeiss camera system was the Nokia N90. There was a short break in between but Zeiss is still working with HMD Global. The company has also worked with Sony for the triple camera setup on the Xperia 1 II. Vivo will disclose more about the Zeiss partnership on 17th December.
Rest of the specs
The series will mark the debut of Samsung’s Exynos 1080 chipset. It is the latest premium mid-range chipset from Samsung. According to Digital Chat Station, the Pro Plus model will feature the more premium Snapdragon 888 SoC. He also claimed that the vanilla Vivo X60 will be the new thinnest 5G smartphone in the world. Right now, this title goes to Apple’s iPhone 12 mini.
Similarly, the Pro Plus model will feature a curved AMOLED panel while the other two will have flat displays. The circular punch-hole cutout is positioned in the middle of the screen. At the very least, the Vivo X60 Pro is set to support a 120Hz refresh rate. It is most likely to be a panel from Samsung. All three devices will ship with Vivo’s latest OriginOS. The X60 series will come with a 4,300mAh battery and 33W fast charging support.
Vivo X60 Series Official Launch Date
Vivo will launch the X60 series in China on 29th December. As with the X50 series, it will take some time for the X60 series to launch globally.
The 15.6-inch gaming laptop segment is ultra-competitive. It includes the likes of MSI GE66, Acer Predator Series, and the Dell Alienware series. So, where does the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 2020 lie among all these competitors? Well, we will find out just that in our review of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15.
Strix Scar 15 G532 is the update to last year’s G531, and there are expected upgrades in terms of the CPU, GPU, and aesthetics. Our review unit is the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 G532LV. It is the base configuration that comes with Intel’s Core i7-10875H CPU, RTX 2060 graphics, and a 240Hz 1080p screen and costs NPR 244,000.
If you want more power and can afford to fork up a significant amount, you can even get one with a 10th-gen i9 processor, RTX 2070 Super graphics, and a 300Hz refresh rate screen. However, this variant is not available in Nepal at the time of the writing. Hopefully, it will be in the future. So, with all that out of the way, let’s start our review of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 G532.
Design & Build
Premium build quality with a matte finish
Mesmerizing lightbar mechanism
This is a bulky laptop. The extended rear panel to accommodate exhaust vents, and another extension on the bottom panel for the LED bar makes this laptop look large. Furthermore, weighing around 2.5 kg, Scar 15 is much heavier than its competitors. So, if you plan on carrying this laptop around every day, then be prepared to do some heavy lifting.
RGB lighting has become a major part of gaming laptops. We had seen how the Aurora lightbar in the MSI GE66 raider added an extra element in its aesthetics. A similar lightbar exists on the Scar 15 too. However, the LED bar on this one stretches throughout the bottom panel. Its light syncs with that of the keyboard and can be controlled from the Armoury Crate. In my opinion, the bottom panel is just the perfect area to place such a lightbar. The lighting is not thrown directly into your eyes, yet the illumination it provides to your work desk is mesmerizing.
Lightbar
The lightbar may seem too extravagant for offices. However, worry not as you have the option to completely switch them off. Take the lighting away, and what you get is a very premium looking and powerful laptop with a matte finish. A straight line runs almost diagonally across the lid which has an RGB ROG logo towards the side. The matte finish does look good, but it attracts fingerprint smudges, so be prepared for that.
On the inside, just above the keyboard deck, you’ll find the LED status lights. And they are visible with the lids closed, which I’ve always found to be quite a nifty addition. On the right side of the keyboard, you’ll find some ribbed lines, which honestly I did see the need for. A Republic of Gamers (ROG) design is printed on top of those lines and it extends into the keyboard deck too.
The palm rest has a slightly rubbery feel to it and overall, inside out, this laptop reeks class. Everything is solidly built, it has a strong base and even the hinges feel sturdy. However, the screen does have a bit of flex, but it is not something that will bother you.
Ports and Networking
A healthy selection of ports
Unique Keystone II fob
Barring a Thunderbolt 3 port, the ROG Strix Scar has an extensive selection of I/O. The ports go all the way from the left to right. On the left, there are 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. And on the right, you’ll find the AC adapter, RJ-45, HDMI 2.0, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with DisplayPort support. Finally, on the right, there’s the Keystone II port as well. More on that later.
Ports
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Left
Rear
For communications, it has the Intel 802.11ax with WiFi 6 and Rangeboost technology, and Bluetooth 5.0. They do not give any reason for complaints as I found no connectivity issues.
Keyboard, Touchpad, and Accessories
RGB backlit keyboard (customizable)
Glass trackpad with NumberPad
The appropriately sized and well-spaced keys on the chiclet-style keyboard is pretty good. They have got a nice spring to them and offer medium travel. Typing on the keyboard feels great and you’ll get used to it in no time.
Some of the keys such as the home, PgUp/PgDown button are slightly separated from the main deck, and it is a design that I prefer. Furthermore, dedicated keys for volume control, fan control, and armoury crate are also a bit separated from the main deck, but they are positioned towards the upper part.
Two keys for fan control – a dedicated one and one integrated into the F5 key was something that surprised me. I really don’t know what went through the creator’s mind while placing those. But hey, what can you do, right?
As mentioned before, the keys have RGB lighting to them. You can switch between the various effects using the FN key coupled with either the left or the right arrow key. Or you can make changes from the armoury crate, wherein you can create your own aura effects too.
Touchpad with NumPad integration
The touchpad is decently sized and well responsive. Furthermore, it acts as a Numpad too. You just have to press on the NumLK tag on the upper right corner of the touchpad for an instance and bam you get a digital touchpad.
However, it lacks any sort of haptic feedback. And that proved to be troublesome for me. Oftentimes when I was engrossed in tasks, I inadvertently activated the Numpad. This results in disabling the touchpad’s mouse functionality. That was quite frustrating. So, digital Numpad is a cool feature to have, but one that I am not a fan of when implemented sans perfection.
Thankfully, you do get a mouse with this laptop. So, maybe you can keep the Numpad activated all the time and make use of the mouse instead.
Other than that, there’s the Keystone II. It is a shareable NFC-enabled fob on which you can bind your settings such as lighting effects, quick-launch apps, shadow drive, and other customized settings. Once again, a nifty feature to have, but won’t come in handy because not many ROG laptops have the keystone port. So, it might not be much of use unless your friends too have a ROG laptop with keystone support. And lastly, you get a rubber carabiner keystone holder on which you can carry it around.
Audio
2x 4.2W speakers
Getting to audio, there are two 4.2W speakers placed sideways towards the front of the laptop. They are a decent pair of speakers. Even when the fans are blasting at full speed, you will be able to hear them clearly.
The sound is crisp and does not deteriorate at higher volumes, but it does lack bass. While gaming too, I found the speakers to be good enough. Overall, they are good for media consumption and gaming but for an immersive experience, you’d want to get your hands on a good pair of headphones.
Display
15.6-inch FHD IPS display
Up to 300Hz refresh rate
100% sRGB color coverage
The ROG Strix Scar 15 has a gorgeous 15.6-inch 1080p display. The screen is surrounded by thin bezels on the side and the top. However, the chin is considerably thick. The thin top bezel has led to the omission of a webcam on this laptop.
Anyway, the panel covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut, so color reproductions are fairly accurate. The colors felt vivid and punchy while playing games. Gaming is certainly enjoyable on this laptop as you will be able to immerse yourself in the detailed world of any game that you play. You should definitely try playing games in ultra settings to take in all the details of the virtual world, though you might have to trade off a fair bit of fps while doing so.
Furthermore, the 240Hz refresh rate is an added bonus for gamers. And one that’s essential as well. 240Hz should be fine for most gamers as the panel seems perfectly capable enough to keep up with my rapid movements while I played at higher fps. So, unless you are in ultra-competitive esports, the 300Hz, panel variant might be an overkill. This, 240Hz one, is more than sufficient for most gamers.
Media consumption
Moreover, since Scar 15’s display is good enough for gaming, you don’t have to worry about media consumption at all. Netflix or Amazon Prime contents all look great. One minor complaint that I have though is regarding the brightness. It is not the brightest of the screens out there. So, most often I ended up using the laptop at full brightness which led to lower battery life. Maybe Asus will consider improving the brightness next time around.
Performance and Upgradability
Up to Intel 10th-gen Core i9 CPU
With RTX 2060 graphics or higher
16GB DDR4 RAM and 1TB NVMe SSD
Let’s jump into the performance now. You get what you pay for on the ROG Strix Scar 15. The setup that I have has the Intel i7-10875H processor, RTX 2060 graphics, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 1TB NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. And they deliver the goods.
Normal tasks such as web browsing, MS Office, and video playback are handled perfectly by this laptop. Not once did I feel that the laptop slowed down or was struggling to perform these sorts of tasks. Furthermore, on this setup, you can do some content creations too.
Now, as it is a gaming laptop, the review would be incomplete without talking about this laptop’s gaming capabilities. You will be able to run most of the triple-A titles on the ROG Strix Scar 15 without any hiccups.
As you can tell, my setup does not have the most powerful mobile GPU available in the market. If you want a better one, you should opt for the RTX 2070 Super variant. With RTX 2060, I felt that for most triple-A titles, the medium setting is perfect. I got great fps on Battlefield V with DXR off in Ultra settings, so no problem there. However, there was a lot of stuttering when I played Witcher 3 in the highest settings.
ROG Strix Scar 15: FPS stat in various games
Ultra
High
Medium
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
67
83
91
Battlefield 5 (DXR off)
92
108
120
Battlefield 5 (DXR on)
63
70
82
Valorant
172
184
204
Far Cry 5
103
113
121
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
93
106
112
CS: GO
160
165
172
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
60 (in all settings)
Other games such as Far Cry 5 and Shadow Of The Tomb Raider worked out perfectly in all the video presets. Playing first-person shooter on this laptop is also great as you can see the fps count on Valorant and CS: GO are pretty high. So, the gaming capabilities of the ROG Strix Scar 15 is unquestionable. Yes, things don’t run well on the highest settings on all the titles, but medium to low will run smoothly.
You can upgrade this laptop yourself pretty easily. The bottom panel won’t require much of an effort to open. However, be sure that you don’t damage the two connectors connected to the motherboard to power the light bar.
Once you get it open, it’s easy sailing from thereon. There are 2 RAM slots that support up to 32GB DDR4 RAM and two additional M.2 SSD slots. Furthermore, they can also be configured to run at RAID 0.
Thermals
To manage heat, there’s an air-exhaust vent on the right-side and two others at the back. Furthermore, there are air intake vents on the bottom. However, they are pretty small. Thus, once you go for long hours of gaming sessions, the internals is bound to get heated quite a bit.
As I mentioned earlier, I played most of the games in Turbo mode. That means that the fans were blasting at full speed which is 5000 rpm. So, while doing that, the palm rests and the WASD keys started to get heated after about 2 hours and 40 minutes of gaming. But that didn’t make it difficult to use the laptop though. The middle part of the keyboards do get heated but that too after a very long gaming session. Only the sides and the part above the keyboard will feel warm after an hour or so. Thus, I feel that thermals are managed in a great way in this laptop.
Battery
66 Whr battery
Here, the ROG Strix Scar 15 has a 66 Whr battery inside. On a full charge with brightness at 100%, performance mode, I was using the laptop to watch Netflix and to browse through various webpages time and again. And while doing that I got around 2 hours and 40 mins of battery life. This is a decent battery backup, especially considering the fact that I had set the brightness at 100%. You might be able to squeeze in around 4 hours with the brightness set at a lower percentage.
Verdict
So, we’ve come towards the end of our review of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15. Despite being the base variant, I found that this laptop is quite powerful. It can run your everyday task like a breeze and playing triple-A titles on this one is quite enjoyable due to the fast screen and obviously due to the chipsets inside. Moreover, despite being somewhat of an extravagance, I like the lightbar surrounding the bottom panel of the ROG Strix Scar 15 and the overall build quality feels sturdy and premium.
The drawback here is the somewhat dim-lit panel that forces you to work at 100% brightness most of the time, and that ultimately takes a toll on the battery life. Furthermore, I could have probably done with a Thunderbolt 3 port as well. Also, weight is an issue. Having said that, I have come to terms with the fact that powerful gaming laptops are not going to get thin any time soon. So, the 2.5-kilo weight is manageable for me.
Other than these minor issues, I really did not find any room for complaints. You can get a more powerful variant of the ROG Strix Scar 15 if you don’t want to compromise on fps even in the highest settings. However, for most gamers, this setup is more than enough for any task.
Watch our video review of Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 (G532).
A teaser on Flipkart that was shared earlier this month had garnered a lot of attention. And why wouldn’t it, after all, the teaser hinted at a launch of an Ultrabook from Nokia. That’s right, Nokia is foraying into the laptop market now. Well, yesterday, we found out what all the hype was about. Nokia has finally entered the laptop segment with the launch of the PureBook X14. From what it seems, portability is the biggest asset of this device as other specs are fairly standard ones. Let’s find out more about the Nokia PureBook X14 including its expected price in Nepal.
Nokia PureBook X14 Overview:
The laptop has a magnesium-aluminum alloy body and weighs around 1.1 kg. Furthermore, it is just 16.8mm thick. That makes the Nokia PureBook X14 a very travel-friendly laptop in the 14-inch segment.
Inside, you’ll find a 14-inch IPS LCD screen with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. The side and the upper bezels are thin. However, the bottom one is pretty thick. The keyboard has an adjustable backlight and 1.4mm key travel.
Under the hood, PureBook X14 runs on Intel Core i5-10210U. This is a quad-core CPU with a max boost clock of up to 4.2GHz. 8GB DDR4 @2666MHz RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD complement the processor. Gaming is not its forte as it comes with just the Intel UHD 620 graphics.
Ports include 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack. Its 3-cell battery is rated at 46.7 Whr. Moreover, Nokia claims that it will last up to 8 hours on a single charge.
RAM: 8GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM (upgradeable up to 16GB)
Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
OS: Windows 10 Home Plus
Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x Power-in
Connectivity: WiFi ac, Bluetooth 5.1
Battery: 3-cell 46.7 Whr (65W AC adapter)
Nokia PureBook X14 Price in Nepal & Availability
For now, the Nokia PureBook X14 is a Flipkart exclusive laptop and is priced at INR 59,990. However, it will be available for pre-order only from December 18. There is very little chance but, if the Nokia PureBook X14 makes its way into Nepal, we expect its price to be around NPR 100,000.
Ultrabook Model
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Nokia PureBook X14 (8GB RAM)
NPR 100,000
In the meanwhile, watch our review of Asus ZenBook 14 UM425.
The left-aligned camera module is also similar to what we saw in the X50 series. Now, the X60 series will feature an ultra-stable micro-head camera sensor. Two additional camera sensors are just below it. The Pro and the Pro Plus model will have a periscope telephoto sensor which the vanilla model will miss out on.
