Page 545 – GadgetByte Nepal

Realme Watch S Review: A Much-Needed Upgrade!

Pratima Adhikari

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January 21, 2021

Realme Watch S Review: A Much-Needed Upgrade!

Realme recently launched two smartwatches, the Watch S and Watch S Pro. And today, I have the Watch S which is the cheaper of the two. Looking at the specs, it is definitely an upgrade from the first-gen Realme Watch, both in terms of looks and functionalities. Here, I’ll be sharing my entire experience with the Realme Watch S in this full review.

Realme Watch S Specifications:

Dimension: 259 x 47.0 x 12.0mm (with wrist strap)
Weight: 48g (with wrist strap)
Design: Aluminum alloy case, Silicone Wrist band
Display: 1.3-inches LCD panel; Gorilla Glass, Auto-Brightness adjustment
Resolution: 360 x 360 pixels; 278PPI
Water-resistance level: IP68 rating
Connectivity: Android 5.0+ (No iOS support)
Companion app: Realme Link
Sensors: 3-axis Accelerometer, Optical Heart sensor, Photosensitive sensor, Wearing monitoring sensors
Sports Mode: 16 different modes
Battery: 390mAh
Battery Endurance: 15 days (hear rate function enabled)
Charging Type: Magnetic Charging Base
Price in Nepal: Rs. 9,999

Realme Watch S Review:

Design & Build

Aluminum alloy finish, TPU strap
IP69 dust/water resistance

Okay, coming from the Realme Watch, the new Watch S sees a big upgrade in terms of design. You get a circular form factor with a watch dial at the top that does not rotate (obviously). But unlike the plastic material on the Realme Watch, this one has an aluminum alloy finish, which does not feel cheap.

The TPU strap is soft and comfortable and it’s available in a couple of color options. Sadly for me, I have this Black one and there aren’t other varieties available in Nepal. But in markets like Europe and India, other colorful straps will be available shortly as well.

Anyway, you get two buttons on the right frame of the Realme Watch S. The top one functions as a home/back button and also launches the menu screen, while the one at the bottom is a shortcut to the exercise menu. And I like the fact that these buttons have fairly good feedback especially coming from the Realme Watch.

Display

1.3-inches LCD panel, 278 PPI
Corning Gorilla Glass protection
360 x 360 pixels, Auto brightness

Similarly, compared to the measly 320 x 320 pixels of its predecessor, the Watch S has a 1.3” LCD screen with a 360 x 360-pixel count, making for a sharper and more pleasant display to look at. The content does not look pixelated here and the colors look really good too.

It’s not as good as the AMOLED screen on the Watch S Pro, but good enough for the price, to say the least. The company has also improved on the brightness aspect and added an auto-brightness feature which is great. Likewise, the number of available built-in watch faces has increased and I have to say that some options are really appealing. You also have the option to customize your own watch face if you’d like!

But one thing that still bugs me is how the screen response is still a bit slow. Not annoyingly slow, but it takes some time to register your touch. Maybe it’s because of the entry-level chipset it has or it’s a software thing, but I hope the company can overcome that in the future.

Now, functionality-wise, the Watch S is still a simple and basic smartwatch like its predecessor, so operating it is really easy. Swiping down from the home screen takes you to the notifications while swiping up from the bottom opens up the shortcut for all functions. Likewise, swiping left or right from the home screen takes you to the quick toggle menu and health stats.

Health, Fitness Tracking

Real-time heart rate monitoring
Blood oxygen level (SpO2) monitor
16 sport modes (including yoga, cricket)

Alright, general information aside, this time, Realme has added a few more options for exercise and now there are 16 in total. I am not that big of a fitness freak, so I only have tested a few of the exercises like walking, running, skipping, which I do on a daily basis. But other than that, you can track quite a lot of things including, basketball, football, aerobics, meditation, breathing, etc. By the way, just like it was with the Realme Watch, all your exercise stats can be viewed on your Realme Link app.

The app is basically the same as before. And I am a little disappointed that this generation of Realme Watch still doesn’t have iOS compatibility. Thus, I had to pair it with my Samsung phone which I’ve been using as my secondary device. But seeing how the premium Watch S Pro supports the iOS platform, I’m hopeful that the standard Watch S will see Apple compatibility in the coming days.

Talking about the app itself, it’s a basic one with nothing outstanding. You can view all your health stats on the home page itself, while all the settings like reminders, notifications, watch faces, etc. can be accessed by going to the settings option that is available on the top right of the app!

No built-in GPS

To adequately difference the Watch S and Watch S Pro, Realme hasn’t included a built-in GPS on this one. So, if you wish to track your trails on your exercises, you’re gonna have to use your phone’s GPS.

Now, about other health-related features, well, it’s the same as before. You get a heart rate monitor, a step and calorie counter, a sleep tracker, and a SpO2 monitor. Now, like always, I compared these functions with the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and found that the sleep tracking and step counting to be pretty accurate while I got slight variations in the Blood Oxygen data and heart rate stats. The difference isn’t that huge, so it should not be that big of a deal I guess.

Moving on, matching its predecessor, you don’t get a microphone here either. Still, the most you can do is dismiss calls from the watch. Likewise, the notifications are non-actionable too. But that is to be expected, I guess. Also, the Watch S does not support automatic detection of exercises like you find on high-end smartwatches, so you will have to do it manually which is always a bit less convenient.

Battery Life

390mAh (up to 15 days’ endurance)

Okay, among everything else, this watch certainly impresses with its battery life. Its 390mAh cell is very very promising. The company advertises saying that it can last for full 15 days with the heart rate sensor enabled. In my usage, it provided me with 12 days of usage with all my workout-tracking, which is still fantastic.

By the way, I have enabled the heart rate monitoring option to run every 5 minutes and I always use the watch in the 4th level of brightness. Charging the Realme Watch S is possible with this magnetic 2-pin circular charger and it takes more than 2 hours to juice up fully!

Conclusion

All in all, I have to say that the Realme Watch S is a very good budget fitness tracking option and definitely an upgrade over the Realme Watch. Though the upgrades are not of big magnitude, my complaint regarding the display’s pixelation and design have been addressed. As a result, I am happy with what we’ve got here.

Having said that, I still wish that the app be available on iOS devices; all the while being a little more feature-packed as well. Also, maybe Realme could focus a little more on core fitness tracking, for instance, by providing an automatic workout detection option or such.

Check out our video review of the Realme Watch S.

Realme Watch S Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

Great 2nd-gen product
The circular dial looks classy
IP68 dust/water resistance
Decent display quality
Multiple health tracking options
Excellent battery life

Cons:

iOS support is still non-existent
Non-actionable notifications
No built-in location tracking
UI/UX is relatively slow

MediaTek announces Dimensity 1100 & 1200 for cost-effective premium smartphones

5G
MediaTek

GadgetByte

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January 21, 2021

0

MediaTek announces Dimensity 1100 & 1200 for cost-effective premium smartphones

MediaTek has announced two new chipsets under the Dimensity series. As we know, this lineup is home to the company’s flagship 5G chipsets. Here, the new Dimensity 1100 and 1200 are based on a new 6nm process node and come with improved AI, camera, and multimedia features. Let’s learn more about the specs, features, and availability of MediaTek Dimensity 1100 and 1200.

MediaTek Dimensity 1100, 1200 Overview:

With the announcement of the new Dimensity chipsets, MediaTek has switched from the 7nm process node to a newer 6nm process. They are also the first in the lineup to use Arm’s Cortex-A78 cores. These chipsets are quite similar to each other but differ in terms of their core architecture.

Dimensity 1200 CPU Architecture

Dimensity 1200 is the more premium of the two and features a 1+3+4 tri-cluster as other flagship Android chipsets from Qualcomm and Samsung. However, unlike its rivals, this chipset doesn’t make the use of the Cortex-X1 core. Instead, it relies on Cortex-A78 cores both for the prime and performance cores. The Prime Cortex-A78 core is clocked up to 3.0GHz whereas the performance A78 cores are clocked at 2.6GHz. Additionally, there are four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores clocked at 2.0GHz.

According to MediaTek, the new Dimensity 1200 has 22% better performance and 25% better efficiency compared to Dimensity 1000+.

Dimensity 1100 CPU Architecture

On the other hand, the Dimensity 1100 doesn’t have any prime cores. It is sticking to the dual-cluster arrangement as in the 1000 Plus. The difference being the inclusion of Cortex-A78 in place of A77. The efficiency cores have remained the same. MediaTek is relying on the new Cortex-A78 cores and new architectural advantage as the clock speed for the performance (2.6GHz) and efficiency cores (2GHz) have also remained unchanged.

GPU

Neither Dimensity 1100 nor 1200 is offering anything new in the GPU department. In fact, MediaTek is using the same old Mali-G77 MC9 GPU that is used in the 1000 Plus. Even core count has not been changed from 9. It’s quite odd that MediaTek did not use the latest Mali-G78 GPU that chipsets like the Exynos 1080 and 2100 are using. Furthermore, the two chipsets do not have support for LPPDR5 RAM either although they are UFS 3.1 storage compatible.

APU

Moving on, Dimensity 1100 and 1200 come with hexa-core MediaTek APU 3.0. It now comes with an upgraded multi-scheduler for enhanced multi-tasking and reduced latency. With this, MediaTek is claiming a 12.5% performance boost. The APU can handle FP16 calculations by using ten times less power than GPU. The use of API for FP16 tasks also means that the GPU is free for other operations.

ISP

Talking about the ISP, the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 can now support a sensor of up to 200MP in a single-camera configuration. On the other hand, the Dimensity 1100 supports a single-camera configuration of up to 108MP. Both chipsets support a dual-camera setup of 32MP+16MP.

Then there is “MediaTek Imagiq Camera” technology for recording and video streaming. It comes with support for multi-frame 4K HDR video that stitches frames at different exposures into a single video in real-time for better results. Similarly, the chipset can also add AI enhancements to the video in real-time.

Rest of the features

Dimensity 1200 can now support up to a 168Hz display at FHD+ resolution. On the other hand, the Dimensity 1100 supports 144Hz at the same resolution. Both chipsets support 90Hz at QHD+ resolution as well. The MiraVision display technology now includes AI SDR to HDR upscaling and enhanced HDR10+ video playback. Similarly, MediaTek has added hardware-accelerated AV1 video decoding as well. The Hyper Engine 3.0 now has support for Ray Tracing Mobile Games and AR. However, we will have to wait to see if any games will make use of it. MediaTek has not updated the integrated 5G modem thus there is no support for mmWave networks.

Comparison: Dimensity 1000 Plus vs 1100 vs 1200

	1000 Plus	1100	1200
Process node	TSMC 7nm	TSMC 6nm
CPU	Dual-cluster 4x 2.6GHz Cortex-A77 4x 2.0GHz Cortex-A55	Cortex-A78 @ 2.6GHz (4x) Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz (4x)	1x Cortex-A78 @ 3.0 GHz 3x Cortex-A78 @ 2.6GHz 4x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz
GPU	Mali G77 MC9
APU	MediaTek APU 3.0
Modem	Helio M70 (sub-6Ghz 5G)
Camera	Single: 80MP Dual: 32 + 16MP	Single: 108MP Dual: 32 + 16MP	Single: 200MP Dual: 32 + 16MP
Display	144Hz at FHD+ 90Hz at QHD+	144Hz at FHD+ 90Hz at QHD+	168Hz at FHD+ 90Hz at QHD+
Wireless connectivity	5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1	5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2

MediaTek Dimensity 1100 and 1200 Availability

Chinese smartphone makers including Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo have confirmed to use the new Dimensity 1100 and 1200 chipsets in their upcoming smartphones. We can expect phones powered by these silicons to be available in the market starting Q2 of 2021.

Here, Dimensity 1100 and 1200 are not that great of upgrades to the 1000+ and thus, are not feature-rich like its competition. Therefore, these chipsets are likely to power cheaper alternatives to flagship devices.

Flagship 5G Chipsets	Availability
MediaTek Dimensity 1100, 1200	Q2 2021

Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy M02s.

Vivo Y20G goes official with Helio G80 and a 5,000mAh battery

Vivo

GadgetByte

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January 20, 2021

0

Vivo Y20G goes official with Helio G80 and a 5,000mAh battery

Vivo launched the Y20 in Nepal in September 2020 and now the company has launched another device under the Y20 lineup. The new Vivo Y20G is powered by MediaTek Helio G80 and is now available in India. But we expect Vivo to launch the device in Nepal as well. Until that happens, let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Vivo Y20G in Nepal.

Vivo Y20G Overview:

Design and Display

Like the regular Y20, the Y20G sports a 6.51-inch Halo Full View display. It’s an HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 20:9. The screen has a waterdrop notch that houses the front camera. It comes with an Eye Protection Mode which when turned on blocks the harmful blue rays. The bezels around the screen are quite noticeable, especially the bottom chin.

Vivo has not changed the design much except for the new Purist Blue color option. It also retains the Obsidian Black color from the regular Y20. At the back, we get to see the rectangular camera module along with the Vivo branding.

Performance and Memory

Here, Vivo Y20G packs in MediaTek’s Helio G80 chipset. Thus, it should perform much better than the Snapdragon 460 in the Vivo Y20. Vivo claims that the Y20G is 20% better optimized than the regular Y20. The device is available in a single memory configuration of 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. There is a dedicated microSD card slot that you can use to expand the memory further.

Camera

The camera setup has remained unchanged. Y20G has a 13MP primary camera accompanied by two 2MP sensors for portrait and macro shots. It’s sad to see that Vivo still could not make room for an ultra-wide sensor. The three cameras are arranged vertically inside a left-aligned camera module.

Rest of the specs

The device is fueled by a massive battery of 5000mAh battery. Vivo has included support for 18W fast charging too. Unfortunately, Vivo is still sticking to a micro USB charging port. For biometrics, there is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Vivo claims that it can unlock the device in just 0.17 seconds. The phone ships with Funtouch OS based on Android 11.

Vivo Y20G Specifications:

Display: 6.51-inches “Halo FullView” HD+ panel
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G80
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB; microSD slot (dedicated)
Software & UI: Android 11 with Vivo’s Funtouch OS 11 on top
Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
– 13MP primary lens,
– 2MP depth sensor
– 2MP macro camera
Front Camera: 8MP sensor
Fingerprint sensor: Physical (side-mounted)
Audio: 3.5mm audio jack
Battery: 5000mAh battery with 18W Charging (micro USB port)
Colors: Obsidian Black and Purist Blue

Vivo Y20G Price in Nepal and Availability

Vivo has launched Y20G in India with a price tag of INR 14,990 for the 6/128GB variant. We can expect the price of Vivo Y20G in Nepal to be around NPR 26,000 when it launches here.

Vivo Y20G	Price in India	Price in Nepal (Expected)
6/128GB	INR 14,990	NPR 26,000

Check out our review of the Vivo V20 SE.

Acer enters the TWS earphones market with three new earbuds

Acer
TWS

GadgetByte

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January 20, 2021

0

Acer enters the TWS earphones market with three new earbuds

The market for TWS earphones has expanded a lot in the past few years. Almost all of the major smartphone brands have introduced their own lineup of earphones. And now, Acer, a PC manufacturer, has joined the race too. The company has launched three new TWS earphones in the budget segment in India. In this post, we will be taking a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Acer TWS earphones in Nepal.

Acer, Gateway TWS Lineup:

Among the three new TWS earphones, only two have the Acer branding. The other has Gateway in its moniker. In case you are unaware, Gateway is a computer hardware company that was acquired by Acer back in 2007.

Gateway GAHR012 TWS

Here, the Gateway GAHR012 is the most premium TWS that Acer has in its offering. The design of the TWS is nothing to write home about. It’s another Apple AirPods Pro wannabe. The earbuds sport a stem design and come with silicone ear tips and are IPX4 certified against water damage. Even the charging case is heavily inspired by the Apple counterpart. It has a button on the front with battery indicators just above it.

The earphone features a 9mm driver. It has a frequency response of 20Hz – 20kHz, which covers all the frequencies that are audible to humans. Acer has included touch-based control on the earbud. There is Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity and the earphone is listed with a latency of 220ms. The earphones are said to offer 4 hours of playback time on a single charge. The charging case can charge them in 1.5 hours.

Gateway GAHR012 TWS Specifications:

Sound Driver: 9mm
Connectivity: Wireless (Bluetooth v5.0)
Bluetooth Profiles: HSP, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP
Response Frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz
Latency: 220ms
Music Time: 4 hours
Standby Time: 24 hours (with Case)
Charging Time: 1.5 hours
Control: Touch
Water Resistant: IPX4
Color: White

Acer TWS GAHR010, GAHR011 TWS

Moving on, the Acer TWS GAHR010 and GAHR011 are the same TWS earphones except for the differences in their cases. GAHR011’s case has a battery indicator on the front which is not present in the case of GAHR010. It also has Type-A and Type-C charging cables integrated into its case. The bottom portion can be separated from the rest of the case. The GAHR010 features a Type-A cable and a Type-C port.

Both of them sport a stem-less design and feature smaller drivers of 8mm. Interestingly, they support the newer Bluetooth 5.1 protocol. Acer is claiming battery endurance of up to 4.5 hours on the earbuds on a single charge. With charging cases, the TWS earphones boast a standby time of up to 24 hours. Like the GAHR012, it only takes 1.5 hours for the cases to charge them from 0 to 100.

Also Read: Best Budget TWS Earphones Under NPR 10,000 in Nepal

Acer GAHR010, GAHR011 TWS Specifications:

Sound Driver: 8mm
Connectivity: Wireless (Bluetooth v5.1)
Bluetooth Profiles: HFP, A2DP, AVRCP
Response Frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz
Music Time: 4 hours
Standby Time: 24 hours (with Case)
Charging Time: 1.5 hours
Control: Touch
Color: Black

Acer TWS Earphones Price in Nepal & Availability

Acer TWS Earphones are now available in India at Amazon and Flipkart where the Gateway GAHR012 bears a price tag of INR 3,499 while the other two cost INR 2,499. We can expect the price of the Gateway TWS GAHR012 and Acer TWS GAHR010, GAHR011 earphones in Nepal to be NPR 6,000 and NPR 4,500, respectively if they launch here.

Acer TWS Earphones	Price in India	Price in Nepal (Expected)
GAHR010	INR 2,499	NPR 4,500
GAHR011	INR 2,499	NPR 4,500
GAHR012	INR 3,499	NPR 6,000

Check out our review of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

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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.