Huawei’s 5nm based Kirin 9000 SoC made its debut with the new Mate 40 series. Samsung has also confirmed that it will be unveiling the upper mid-range Exynos 1080 (5nm) next week. And now, popular tipster, Digital Chat Station, has leaked the Master Lu Benchmark result of the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 875. Let’s learn more about the Snapdragon 875, along with its rumors and leaked benchmark results.
Leaked Master Lu Benchmark Result
Digital Chat Station, who is widely known for Xiaomi-related leaks, leaked the Master Lu Benchmark result of Snapdragon 875 via a post on Weibo. The upcoming flagship chipset from Qualcomm is codenamed “Lahaina”, which is a place in Hawaii. For those unaware, the company will unveil SD 875 via an event in Hawaii.
The result reveals that the prime core on the chipset will be clocked at 2.84GHz, which is the same as the frequency of the prime core on its predecessor. To compare, the Snapdragon 865+ has already surpassed the 3GHz barrier.
Snapdragon 875 vs Kirin 9000 vs Snapdragon 865
Snapdragon 875 Master LU Benchmark Score Breakdown
1 of 4
Coming back to the benchmark result, SD 875 managed to achieve a total score of 899,401, which is higher than both Kirin 9000 and Snapdragon 865. The last two chipsets managed to score 875,308 and 820,220, respectively in the same test. In the CPU test, Snapdragon 875’s score of 333,269 outscored Kirin 9000’s score of 275,862 by quite a margin. However, things were more competitive in the GPU department where Kirin 9000’s Mali-678 MP24 still reign at the top with a score of 344,334. Snapdragon 875’s Adreno 660 is not that far behind with a score of 342,225. Both 5nm based chipsets have better scores than Snapdragon 865 that is used in most of the flagship devices of 2020.
Since the test has been conducted on a prototype device, the figures will change slightly when the SD 875 starts appearing on retail units. Similarly, benchmark results are also affected by factors like RAM size and type of memory used. Here, the prototype device had 12GB of RAM compared to Mate 40 Pro’s 8GB. Similarly, Mate 40 Pro used a faster memory as evident by the score of the memory test (180,521 > 125,135).
Snapdragon 875 Rumors
Snapdragon 875 will be based on a 5nm process node. Like its predecessor, it will sport a 1+3+4 octa-core architecture with the prime core clocked at 2.84GHz. Thus, the boost in the performance will be due to the change in the core architecture. Qualcomm will be using a single Cortex X1 core as the prime core. The rest of the setup will include three Cortex A78 cores and Cortex A55 cores.
Snapdragon 875 Launch and Availability
Several reports suggest Qualcomm launch the Snapdragon 875 on December 1 via an event in Hawaii. According to Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi Mi 11 will be the first device to come equipped with the new chipset in China. Also, the chipset will be exclusive to Xiaomi for a predetermined period of time in the country. Outside of China, Samsung will be the first company to use the chipset for its S21 lineup.
Mobile Chipset
Launch Date
Devices
Snapdragon 875
December 1
Xiaomi Mi 11 lineup (China)
Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup (Outside of China)
Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.
Since there are a lot of TV operators in Nepal, it can get quite confusing when deciding which one is the best for you. To help you with that, we have tested and compared the most popular TV operators in Nepal against each other in an effort to name the best.
In this post, we are going to talk about our experience of using Clear TV, Dish Home, Max TV, Prabhu TV, and Via TV. To come to a conclusion, we have considered pricing, image quality, and availability of service of the aforementioned TV operators.
1. Pricing
Note: All the pricing details have been collected from the official resources as of Kartik 2077 B.S. As price is subject to change in the future, we’ll periodically update the article on their latest pricing policies as well.
Let’s start with pricing. If we only consider the Set-Top Box (STB), Max TV offers it at the least amount. On the other hand, Dish Home charges the heftiest One Time STB fee. And the high price is due to the fact that Dish Home users need to install a separate antenna to get their DTTH service running.
And if you are considering paying for a year in advance, Max TV will not take any charge for the STB. Similarly, Vianet offers a 50% discount if one opts for a yearly subscription to Via TV. While it wasn’t the case in the past, a house with multiple TVs is not rare these days. So each of the cable operators discussed in this support up to four TVs. Needless to say, multi-connection requires users to pay for each Set-Top Box and a monthly fee for each additional TV. However, in the case of Dish Home, you don’t need a separate antenna for every TV in your home.
Set-Top Box/Antenna cost (one time only):
S. N
Cable Operators
Cost
Offer on a yearly contract
1
Max TV
Rs. 565
Free
2
Prabhu TV
Rs. 2,000
No offer
3
ViaTV
Rs. 3,890
Rs. 2,195
4
Clear TV
Rs. 2,500
No offer
5
Dish Home
Rs. 4,000
No offer
*Installation charge: Rs. 500 (on Max, Prabhu, Dish home)
*Refund of Rs. 500 deposit on Via TV, Clear TV
Users can not choose from multiple subscription plans with Via TV and Prabhu TV. Thus, we have only considered Premium plans for this post. Even here, Max TV turns out to be the most affordable option. As evident from the table below, the cost of Prabhu TV is almost half of what Dish Home and Subisu’s Clear TV are charging for their premium users. Similarly, Via TV also ranks among the affordable ones.
Monthly cost (premium packages)
S. N
Cable Operators
Price (Monthly)
Offer on yearly subscription
1
Max TV
Rs. 500
1 month free (new user)
3 months free (existing user)
2
Prabhu TV
Rs. 350
Rs. 3,500 + 4 months free
3
ViaTV
Rs. 395
Rs. 3,842
4
Clear TV
Rs. 700
Rs. 5,492
2 months free (existing user)
5
Dish Home
Rs. 700
Rs. 6,300
However, when it comes to the monthly fee for additional TV(s), each operator charges almost the same amount. Also, ViaTV offers the best offer for yearly subscribers.
Cost for each extra TV (monthly)
Cable Operators
Price (Monthly)
Max TV
Rs. 226
Prabhu TV
Rs. 250
ViaTV
Rs. 226
Clear TV
Rs. 250
Dish Home
Rs. 200
To sum things up, Max TV looks to be the most affordable option if you are not ready for a long time commitment. However, in the long-term, Prabhu TV can also be a decent option.
2. Coverage
When it comes to coverage, no other operators can match Dish Home as it is the only operator in the nation that offers Direct-To-Home DTH technology. Since the STB directly communicates with the satellite via the antenna, one can have an active Dish Home connection even in the remotest regions. In the past, people used to experience issues related to signal interference with Dish Home because of bad weather and such. However, the situation has now been improved to some extent.
Coverage
1 of 6
Dish Home
Max TV
Prabhu TV
Subisu Clear TV
ViaTV
Worldlink NetTV
After Dish Home, we found Clear TV to have the best coverage among the cable TV operators in Nepal. In addition to its Kathmandu Head office, Clear TV has at least one branch in each five of the federal states. Max TV that uses a unique two-way technology also has similar coverage.
Similarly, the IPTV services by Wordlink and Vianet is limited to places under the area covered by each ISP, respectively. Prabhu TV’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) signal based on Digital Video Broadcasting technology is available on Kathmandu Valley, Kaski, Chitwan, Dhankuta, Sunsari, and Morang. What we like about Prabhu TV is that it can even work with just a simple indoor antenna. However, the signal strength varies according to the region. So, in most cases, it becomes mandatory to install an outdoor antenna. Yet, the installation process is not complicated and one can do it without technical assistance.
3. Picture quality
To test the picture quality, we set up two LG 55UM73 4K UHD TV side-by-side with the picture settings left untouched at the default factory setting. The difference in the picture quality is insignificant if you are using a TV that is 40-inch or smaller. Still, if you have a TV that is 43-inch or bigger, it will be better to go with either Dish Home or Clear TV because they have superior picture quality. Also, we found Prabhu TV to have the best picture quality among the remaining three contenders.
Picture quality
1 of 3
Dish Home, Clear TV
Dish Home, Prabhu TV
Max TV, ViaTV
However, the saturation and brightness level on the Prabhu TV is higher so at times the picture ends up looking unnatural. Also, Max TV’s picture quality is among the poorest between the five.
Another important thing to know is that one can notice significant delays (up to 30 seconds) on IPTV services like Via TV and Net TV compared to cable TV, which is a major disadvantage if you are into live sports. For instance, say you’re watching EPL with your buddies and are live-chatting alongside as well. So, in your friends’ non-IPTV broadcast, they’ll have celebrated a goal and texted you about the game, while your TV still lags seconds behind—ruining the viewing experience altogether.
4. Number of channels
Talking about channels, Clear TV and Max TV offer over 300 different channels. Similarly, Via TV has 251 channels. But Via TV does not offer additional SD channels for which it already has the HD channel. Prabhu TV only has around 150 channels and still misses out on many sports channels including the likes of Ten 3 HD. But it can be forgiven given the age of the company and its pricing. Dish Home also boasts up to 200 channels with plenty of HD and SD channels to choose from.
Talking about the extra features, Max TV offers a lot of it, more than any other TV operator on this list. Because of its two-way technology, Max TV is able to provide services like YouTube and Videos On Demand, without a dedicated internet connection. Under the “Max Education” feature, there are subject-wise videos for students of all levels from Nursery to Diploma. Similarly, users can watch content that they originally missed via Catchup TV. Max TV also supports multi-language support using which users can watch channels like Discovery, and National Geography in more than one language.
However, Max TV still needs to revamp its UI and make it a bit faster than what it is now. It doesn’t offer an option to choose picture quality which was a bummer as the picture quality got unwatchably pixelated on our 55″ 4K TV. However, we still commend Max TV for offering so much while still remaining the cheapest TV operator.
Max TV – Extra Features
Moving on, Dish Home offers exclusive channels that include Action Sports, Ramailo TV, Comedy Plus, and more. Also, at a time when cinema halls remain closed due to COVID-19, it has been airing new Bollywood and Nepali movies like “Khali Peeli”, “Shirful”, respectively on a Pay-Per-View (PPV) basis. Here, the PPV system is where a user has to pay extra cash on top of their TV subscription to watch certain exclusive content. Also, users can connect Wi-Fi dongle at the back of Dish Home’s new Setup Box to stream YouTube videos.
Similarly, ViaTV offers both YouTube and PPV services as well. Additionally, users can even turn to the MOMO TV app for Nepali videos, movies, songs, and music videos. These extra features are not available on either Prabhu TV and Clear TV.
Best TV Operators in Nepal: Conclusion
So, if you are looking for the best picture quality we recommend you go with either Subisu’s Clear TV or Dish Home. However, they are also among the most expensive ones. If Prabhu TV is available in your region, it is the best value for money among all the cable TV operators in Nepal in this list.
Yet, if you are currently subscribed to Vianet or Wordlink’s internet connection, it only makes sense for you to go for their respective IPTV services that come bundled with it—only if you’re not that into watching live events and the 30-second delay is not a deal-breaker to you. Finally, Max TV offers services like YouTube, Multi-language support, Max Education, and more, all without a working internet connection which may be of use to you.
Watch: Best TV Operators in Nepal [Nepali language]
Daraz is all set to launch its third iteration of the annual 11.11 sale in Nepal. The world’s biggest sales festival is back. And as usual, it will offer customers a chance to save big on their purchase and participate in various challenges. Initially started as Single’s Day in China, the event has gone on to become the biggest sales festival in the world. As a matter of fact, the annual 11.11 sales last year, surpassed the combined sales volume of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Year-End campaigns.
When is Daraz 11.11 Sales Day?
Well, as you might have guessed from the title itself, this sales bonanza commences on November 11, 2020 (Kartik 26) at midnight. The event will last exactly 24 hours. And during this period, buyers can enjoy a host of deals, flash sales, bundle offers, and more. Furthermore, you’ll also be able to take advantage of the prepayment discount of 20%, (up to Rs. 3000) if you pay via one of the 11 partner banks.
As per Daraz, this year’s 11.11 Sales in Nepal will host over 6 thousand sellers, 160+ global and domestic brands, and more than 5 lakh products. Therefore, this sales day also provides an opportunity for sellers to boost their business which might have taken a hit due to the pandemic.
Play and Win
The Daraz app contains multiple games through which users can win a host of prizes. Similar, play and win opportunities will be available during the annual 11.11 sales day too. For instance, the Daraz 1 Rupee Game has made a comeback. In this game, you get to buy a specified product for just Re. 1. All you have to do is make the payment via eSewa or bank card. And the winner will be announced by the company. Also if you don’t win, the paid amount will be refunded.
Similarly, other engaging games include Add to Cart and Win, Mission 11.11, and DFG Ludo Tournament. Through the Add to Cart and Win, you just have to add your desired items to your cart before the 11.11 commences. And through the win giveaway tab on the app, you can find out if you’ve won the item or not. Furthermore, adding items to your cart ensures that you do not miss out on deals during the sales day itself.
Mission 11.11 refers to a series of challenges that customers must complete in order to win exciting prizes. Finally, the Ludo Tournament offers a chance to win a Daraz voucher worth Rs. 15000. The tournament will be held between 11 to 13 November and the registration period is between 1 to 8 November. It will include participants from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Not to forget one lucky winner, who has purchased during the 11.11 sales day, will get to win the TVS Apache RR 310.
Safety Issues
I’m sure most of us have heightened concern about sanitization due to COVID-19. And thus we might be unwilling to order stuff online because we don’t know what hygiene protocols the delivery riders follow. However, Daraz has maintained that its 900 delivery riders and customer care agents follow very strict safety and hygiene rules. It includes regular temperature checks, regular deep cleaning, and strict shift planning. Furthermore, all the delivery riders will come equipped with protective masks, gloves, and sanitizers.
Despite all the problems that the company is facing because of the Entity list, Huawei unveiled its latest flagship lineup last month. The Mate 40 Pro lineup consisted of three smartphones all powered by Kirin 9000 SoC based on TSMC’s 5nm process. While the whole lineup will not be available here, Huawei Nepal is looking to launch the Mate 40 Pro in Nepal. Let’s check out the specifications, features, expected price, and availability of Huawei Mate 40 Pro in Nepal.
Huawei Mate 40 Pro Overview
Design and Display
Huawei Mate 40 Pro features a 6.76-inches AMOLED panel with an FHD+ resolution of 2772 x 1344 pixels. The Horizon display is curved 88-degree on both sides of the phone. There is a pill-shaped cutout for the front-facing camera. The device supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and a touch sampling rate of up to 240Hz. Mate 40 Pro also marks the return of the physical volume rocker but users can still opt to use the virtual buttons.
The main talking point of the device is the camera arrangements on the back of the device. The quad-camera setup is now on the circumference of the circular camera module which the company addresses as Space Ring. The device is available in four color options – Mystic Silver, White, Black, and Olive Green.
Performance
The Huawei Mate 40 Pro packs Kirin 9000 under its hood. This makes the Mate 40 series the first Android devices to switch to a more efficient 5nm process node. Huawei has managed to pack 15 billion transistors into the new chipset. It sports a three-tier architecture with the Cortex A77 core (@3.13GHz) as the prime core. It is accompanied by three other Cortex A77 (@2.54 GHz) and four Cortex A55 cores (@2.05GHz). The graphics department is handled by Mali G78 MP24 that has 24 cores. Even the NPU unit in the Kirin 9000 comes with two Big core and a tiny core.
Mate 40 Pro now has a 50MP primary camera which is bigger than the 40MP camera in its predecessor. The primary camera has an aperture of f/1.9. The 1/1.28-inch sensor has a pixel size of 1.22 micron. The camera makes use of an RYYB color filter and Octa PD Autofocus. It is accompanied by a 20MP ultra-wide lens with an aperture of f/1.8. Completing the camera setup is the 12MP telephoto lens that supports up to 5x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom. On the Space Ring, the three cameras are joined by a laser sensor that results in faster and accurate focus.
On the front, there is a 13MP wide-angle selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.4. It is accompanied by a 3D depth-sensing camera.
Rest of the specs
The whole setup is backed by a battery of 4400mAh. It supports 66W Huawei SuperCharge and 50W wireless Huawei SuperCharge. The device ships with EMUI 11.0 based on Android 10. However, with the ongoing restriction by US authority, there is no GMS. It is replaced by Huawei’s own mobile service. There is a speaker each on the top and bottom for the stereo effect. The setup is backed by Huawei Histen. In terms of connectivity, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro is Wifi 6+ ready and supports Bluetooth 5.2.
Sensors: Gesture, 3D Face Recognition, Gravity, Infrared, Fingerprint, Barometric Pressure, Gyroscope, Compass, Ambient Light, Proximity, Laser, Color Temperature
Huawei Mate 40 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
The price of Huawei Mate 40 Pro in the European market is 1,199 Euros for the 8/256GB memory configuration. We expect the price of Huawei Mate 40 Pro in Nepal to be around NPR 1,70,000 when it launches later on.
Smartphone model
Price in Europe
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
1,199 Euros
NPR 1,70,000
Check out our long-term review of the OnePlus 8 Pro.
Huawei Watch Fit is the latest fitness-centered wearable from the Chinese tech giant. In this post, we will be taking a look at the official specs, features of Huawei Watch Fit along with its price and availability in Nepal.
Huawei Watch Fit Overview
Design and Display
Huawei Watch Fit features a rectangular screen with a diagonal length of 1.64-inch. Here, the company has used 2.5D curved glass. The screen packs in a total of 280 x 456 resolution that equates to 326 PPI. The screen to body ratio on the Watch Fit is around 70%. Huawei claims that the display supports a total of 16.7 Million colors.
There is a physical button on the right side of the watch. The frame, although made up of polymer fiber, feels premium because of the textured matte finish. The watch is available in four color options – Graphite Black, Mint Green, Cantaloupe Orange, and Sakura Pink.
Internal Hardware
While Huawei has not specifically mentioned the chipset used here, it is more likely to be the Kirin A1. On the software side, Huawei has included Lite OS. The watch comes with 4GB of memory onboard. Sensors in the Watch Fit include a 6-axis IMU sensor, optical heart rate sensor, capacitive sensor, and ambient light sensor. It is compatible with devices running Android 5.0 or later and iOS 9.0 or later. In terms of connectivity, it does not have Wi-Fi connectivity but comes with Bluetooth 5.0 + LE. The watch has a GPU integrated into it as well.
Huawei Watch Fit provides 12 different animated video demonstrations for quick workouts along with 44 standard movement demonstrations. The watch supports 96 different workout modes, out of which 11 are professional sports. These modes keep track of the real-time heart rate, calories, and duration of each session. It can also detect workout on its own and remind users to track it. As with other fitness trackers, it provides 24-hour heart monitoring, SpO2 detection, sleep monitoring, stress tracker, and menstruation cycle tracker.
Huawei Watch Fit can notify you of incoming calls, SMS, calendar events, reminders, and major notifications from social media platforms. Users can also control the music playback, take photos via remote shutter using the Watch Fit.
Battery
On typical usage, the battery should last for 10 days. This is with Huawei TruSleep and heart rate monitoring enabled, screen checked 200 times per day, and 30 minutes of workout per week. When the screen is checked around 500 times per day, and workout duration increased to 60 minutes per week, the endurance is reduced to 7 days. When GPS is turned out, one can expect the device to last around 12 hours on a single charge.
Huawei Watch Fit Price in Nepal and Availability
Huawei Watch Fit is available in Nepal for a price of Rs. 15,400. It is available from select mobile retail shops all over Nepal.
Huawei is a very well-established smartphone brand in Nepal and has been in operation since 2014. Since then, the company has launched numerous smartphones in the country and is primarily focused on selling their phones via offline stores. Hence, the price of Huawei mobile in Nepal keeps on changing due to the occasional deals and special offers. In this article, we have listed out all the latest Huawei smartphones in Nepal that are currently available in 2020.
Back in 2019, Huawei was the second-largest smartphone brand in Nepal in terms of sales volume. However, due to the company’s enlistment in the “Entity List” by Trump Administration. And since then, Huawei has dipped greatly in markets outside of China. The trade ban has had its effect in our country too, as Huawei now has less than 5% market share in Nepal.
After the US ban, Huawei is now focusing on its in-house HMS, which is an alternative to Google’s GMS. As the ban effectively restricts the company from incorporating any US-owned product into its smartphones, the Chinese giant has had a difficult time persuading app developers and general customers into its ecosystem of products. Huawei also launched its own Harmony OS as retaliation against Android. But as of now, that’s limited to Smart TVs only with the company openly admitting that Harmony OS is just not ready for the market yet. Hence, the majority of Huawei phones launched in 2020 don’t have Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, etc.
Huawei Mobile Price in Nepal (Summary)
Huawei Mobiles Model
Price in Nepal (in MRP)
Huawei Y5p
Rs.10,090
Huawei Y6s
Rs.16,790
Huawei Y6p
Rs.16,790
Huawei Y7p
Rs.17,490
Huawei Y8p
Rs.26,990
Huawei Y9s
Rs.33,900
Huawei P40 Pro
Rs.129,990
1. Huawei Y5p
Huawei Y5p is the cheapest phone on this list. It features a 5.45-inch TFT LCD panel with a resolution of 1440 x 720. Not to forget, the traditional bezels around the screen. It houses the 5MP selfie camera. The device is powered by the Helio P22 chipset. It comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
The device has a single camera setup on the back that consists of an 8MP camera. It is placed inside a square camera bump along with an LED flash. The device features a decent 3020mAh battery. It does not support GMS and hence features Huawei Mobile Services instead.
Huawei Y5p Specifications:
Body: 146.5 x 70.94 x 8.35 inches; 144 gm
Display: 5.45-inches TFT LCD panel
Resolution: HD+ (1440 x 720 pixels); 18:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek MT6762R Helio P22; 12nm Mobile Platform
GPU:IMG PowerVR GE8320
RAM:2GB
Storage:32GB (expandable up to 512GB)
Software & UI: Android 10 (Pie) with EMUI 10.1 on top
Rear Camera:
– 8 MP primary shooter
– Single LED flash
The Huawei Y6s is the latest budget phone and the successor of the Huawei Y6 Pro. As compared to its predecessor, it comes with a better chipset and double the storage. You also get a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor in here. Other specs are identical to the Y6 Pro.
Huawei Y6s Specifications:
Display: 6.09 inches HD+ IPS LCD
Chipset: MediaTek MT676 Helio P35
RAM: 3GB
ROM: 64GB; expandable up to 512GB
OS: Android 9.0 with EMUI 9.1 on top
Rear camera: 13MP, f/1.8 with LED flash
Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0 with LED flash
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), Accelerometer, Gravity, and proximity
Battery: 3,020 mAh
Price: Rs. 16,790
3. Huawei Y6p
Huawei Y6p sports a 6.3-inch IPS LCD panel with an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. The dewdrop notch houses the 8MP selfie camera. The device is powered by the Helio P22 chipset. Users get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage on the Y6p. The device ships with EMUI 10.1 based on Android 10. Unfortunately, it does not support Google Mobile Services.
The triple camera setup on the rear panel consists of a 13MP primary camera paired with a 5MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2MP depths sensor. There is a 5,00mAh with support for 10W charging. However, the port used here is a micro USB port. Other notable features of the device include wireless FM and Party Mode.
Huawei Y6p Specifications:
Body:1 x 74.1 x 9 mm, 185g
Display:3 inches IPS LCD panel
Resolution:HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P22; 12nm
GPU:IMG PowerVR GE8320
RAM:4GB
Storage:64GB eMMC 5.1
Software & UI: Android 10 (Pie) with EMUI 10.1 on top
The Huawei Y7p is the midrange phone from Huawei in 2020 and is considered the successor of the Y7 Pro. Priced just below Rs. 25,000 in Nepal, the Y7p is rather overpriced and underpowered for the features it offers. First, you get an HD+ IPS display, whereas its competitors are offering FullHD+ IPS and even AMOLED panel.
Similarly, the performance is just average. It’s running an outdated Kirin 710F chipset along with a modest of 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. There’s a triple 48MP rear camera alongside an 8MP front camera. It does feature a sizeable 4000mAh battery, but it lacks any kind of fast charging and uses a micro-USB port. So, if you are thinking of buying a good mobile phone under Rs. 25,000 in Nepal, you should skip the Huawei Y7P.
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, AGPS/GPS/GLONASS, MicroUSB, 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 4000 mAh battery with 10W charging
Colors: Midnight Black, Aurora Blue
Price: Rs. 23,990
5. Huawei Y8p
Huawei Y8p is the latest mid-range device from the company. It sports a 6.3-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. The dewdrop notch encloses the 16MP front camera. Huawei claims screen to body ratio of 90.17%. The fingerprint sensor also sits under the screen. The device is powered by Kirin 710F, which we saw in the Honor 9X (International Edition). The device features 4GB of RAM paired with 128GB of internal storage.
On the back, Y8p flaunts 48MP primary camera with a SuperSpectrum sensor and an aperture of f/1.87. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The device has a 4,00mAH and supports 10W charging. The phone does not support Google Mobile Services, which the company has replaced with Huawei Mobile Services.
Huawei Y8p Specifications:
Display: 6.3-inches Full-HD+ OLED panel
Chipset: HiSilicon Kirin 710F; 12nm Mobile Platform
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz / 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, AGPS/GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Battery: 4000 mAh battery with 10W Charging
Colors: Midnight Black, Breathing Crystal
Price in Nepal: 26,990
6. Huawei Y9s
The Huawei Y9s is the successor of the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019. Compared to its predecessor, the Y9s looks and feels premium. It comes with a full view display, thanks to its pop-up selfie camera and thinner bezels. Powering the device is a Kirin 710F and 6GB of RAM. You get a sizeable 4000mAh battery, however, you can’t fast charge the phone.
The Huawei Y9s also has a 48MP triple camera setup, which is an upgrade over the Y9 Prime. For selfies, you get a 16MP shooter. Similarly, you get a stylish gradient design along with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Like Y9 Prime, the Y9s is also a mixed-bag. With cut through competition in the mid-range segment in Nepal, the Y9s feels little overpriced for the features it offers.
Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.2 aperture; motorized pop-up
Security: Side-mounted Fingerprint-Scanner
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Hybrid Dual Sim (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), MicroSD card, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BDS, USB Type-C
Battery: 4000 mAh with 10W charging
Colors: Midnight Black, Breathing Crystal
Price: Rs. 33,900
7. Huawei P40 Pro
The P40 Pro is Huawei’s latest smartphone in Nepal. After the US ban, the Chinese tech giant was put on an entity list by the US government amidst a national security threat. The P40 Pro is one of the latest flagships with top of the line specs. It features a 6.5-inch AMOLED display, a 7nm Kirin 990 chipset, and a big 4200mAh battery.
It also among the top chart in DXoMark smartphone camera ratings with its 50MP Quad camera setup. Although it runs on Android 10 with EMUI, you cannot run Google services like YouTube, Gmail, and Maps. Hence, buying a P40 Pro in Nepal makes very little sense, especially for the flagship price.
Last time I had reviewed the Acer Predator Triton 500. And I was pretty impressed by that. This time around, I have the MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK. This too falls in a similar category. As a matter of fact, both share most of the specifications. Now, as I said, the Triton 500 was impressive, but what about this one? So, without any delay let’s get into our review of the MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK and see where it ranks among its competitors.
The GP65 is a 15.6-inch mid-tier gaming laptop. If you want a bigger screen, you can opt for the GP75. It has the same specs and comes with a 17.3-inch screen.
Anyway, getting back to the designs, you find that it’s pretty much similar to that of the 2019 model. It has got an aluminum lid that sports raised lines with an MSI logo in the middle. The design is not spectacular per se, but hey it’s classic MSI. And I’ve got no problem with that.
The lid catches fingerprint smudge quite often, so be careful with that. The MSI logo in the middle gets lit up by the backlight of the screen, so no customization options for it. The rear contains air exhaust fans on the left and the right side with the leopard text in the middle. Similarly, the front has a few led status lights.
The sides contain a good spread of I/O’s and air exhaust vents. On the left you get a Kensington lock slot, RJ45, HDMI 2.0, mini DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, USB3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port Sadly, it is not a Thunderbolt 3 port. I’ve felt that the lack of Thunderbolt 3 in a gaming laptop is a concern for many. And with the competition high in this segment, I don’t know how much the exclusion of Thunderbolt 3 might come back to bite MSI. Other than that there’s a 3.5mm headphone and a microphone jack on the right side.
Left
Right
On the left, you get 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, SD card reader, and power input. I always prefer fewer wires on the left-hand side, and this laptop provides me just that. Underneath, there are air intake vents right above the intake fans.
Now, the inside in contrast to the lid is made up of plastic rather than metal. Seems cheap but trust me the build quality is great. And the fingerprints don’t show up in on the silver finish. Neither the keyboard nor the palm rest flexed when applied pressure. However, the lid, despite being a metal build has got quite a flex to it. But it’s not that much of a concern. So, you probably won’t have to worry about it too much.
The laptop falls on the heavier side of the gaming laptop spectrum. It weighs around 2.3 kilos, add the weight of a hug charging brick on top and you get is a daily calorie burner. So, that’s something you should consider before buying this laptop. You really wouldn’t want to give your back a problem over a laptop.
On the whole, however, despite being a heavy laptop with an outdated design, the device is undoubtedly a robust piece that you can rely upon
Keyboard and Trackpad
It has a full-sized keyboard by SteelSeries. MSI ships in laptops with great keyboards and this one is no different. It has got great key travel, the keys are tactile, and typing, in general, has been great. There are a couple of hotkeys alongside the power button right above the Numpad. One of those keys will help you cycle through the awesome RGB animations and the other one boosts up the fan speed to the maximum. And that’s always handy, right?
The keys have per-key RGB lighting and it can be customized through the SteelSeries engine app. The four levels of key brightness can be controlled through the app itself or you can use the function key and the shortcuts on the Numpad too. Another thing that I quite liked about the keyboard is that once you press the function key, only the shortcut keys remain lit up and it is really helpful.
The plastic trackpad is a tad bit more on the left-hand side than what I would have preferred. It might get in the way while you are playing games. However, the trackpad itself is superb. It comes with windows precision meaning you get a smooth experience and virtually no issue at all. However, it is not a clickpad and you have actual buttons. It boils down to personal preference in these sorts of things and because my laptop has got a buttoned trackpad, I don’t really have any problem with it.
MSI Dragon Center
The laptop ships in with the MSI Dragon Center, from which you can control your system. You swap between the user profiles, customize fan speed, battery master, and so on. The battery master feature is pretty handy. It helps you customize the charging options based upon your habits to prolong the battery life.
Under the user profiles, you can switch between extreme performance mode, balanced mode, silent mode, super battery, and a customized user mode. Under the customized mode, you can set the performance to Turbo, high medium, and low. Similarly, the fan speeds can be manually adjusted or set to either Auto, Advance, or Cooler Boost. You can toggle between them from this same app depending upon the task you are doing.
So, great features and all in the Dragon Center, but the app itself is quite buggy. First off, I had to install the app twice just to get it started, and even then, some of the features kept disappearing occasionally. For instance, it only shows the system info and ambient link and nothing else. You’ll have to restart the system to get it working properly. Also, it’s quite astonishing that the control center does not give you the option to customize the keyboard lightings. So, my user experience with the in-house Dragon Center app was not that great.
Display
The GP65 comes with a 15.6” 1080p 144Hz non-touch matte IPS display. It is a panel from LG and its display beats that of the Triton 500. The display looks sharp, the contrast is great and you’ll notice vibrant colors in whatever you are viewing.
It covers the full sRGB color gamut, about 76% Adobe RGB, 77% DCI-P3, and the brightness peaks out at about 410nits. The panel is good for your everyday content viewing, and gaming is a treat for the eyes and you won’t notice any tearing at all. The brightness especially is great, and you should have no problem at all while using it outdoors.
The color coverage is good for content creation too. 100%sRGB means that your digital content will be pretty color accurate and 76% Adobe RGB somewhat suffices for print media. However, if you are much more serious about your content you’d want to look elsewhere.
There seemed to be a bit of a backlight bleeding while viewing dark contents, however, it was very very minimal. And I would be nitpicking if I were to dismiss this display over this topic.
Hardware and Performance
Let’s move on to performance and hardware. My review unit packs in the 10th Gen Intel i7-10875H CPU. It is based on the comet lake architecture and clocks between 2.3-5.1GHz. This 45W CPU delivers almost 15% improvement over the 9th Gen that was used in last year’s model.
It is thankfully it coupled with the Nvidia RTX 2070 GPU. I really liked that it has the standard one and not the under-powered Max-Q version. Generally, laptops in this segment go for the latter and it does affect the performance of the device to some extent. This standard RTX 2070 very efficient and will help you achieve high fps in most of the games. More on this a bit later.
Other hardware specs include 16GB DDR4-266MHz dual-channel RAM. And that’s a bit unfortunate as this is a bit slower and maybe they could have gone with the 2933MHz that the 10th Gen CPU supports. There are two RAM slots inside, meaning you can easily upgrade it to up to 64GB. Storage-wise it has a 512GB M.2 NVME SSD and 1TB HDD.
You can always upgrade the internals yourself, and it’s quite easy. Simply open the bottom and bam you have easy access to the internals. Under the hood, you’ll be able to see the heat pipes, the chunky 6-Cell 51Whr battery. While we are on the topic of battery, let me just say that this aspect of the device is quite underwhelming.
Gaming & Regular Tasks
Talking about games, it’s simply a joy to play in this rig. AAA titles easily hit high fps on medium to low settings and even in high settings, the games have minimal lags. That means, for less demanding games, the laptop works like a breeze. On Battlefield V, I managed around 108-110 fps on ultra-settings. Now, comparing that with the Triton 500’s, there’s not much difference here. However, the GP65 Leopard holds its own even with Ray Tracing on. With DXR on and in ultra-settings, I managed around 65fps. And on Triton 500, it was around the lower 50’s. So, there’s a big difference here.
Stats of other games are somewhat similar with the GP65 pipping the Triton by a few margins. However, if you still want some extra fps on games, you can do so by upgrading the system to DDR4-2933 memory.
FPS stat in various games
High/Ultra
Medium
Low
CS:Go
228
256
285
Warframe
130
140
145
Paladins
166
172
175
Wither 3: Wild Hunt
80
110
134
Valorant
275
282
289
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
60 (in all settings)
Battlefield 5 (DXR off)
106
135
144
Battlefield 5 (DXR on)
63
86
94
Apex Legends
138
140
144
If it can handle AAA titles without much issue, everyday tasks should be a breeze. And that’s exactly it. 186cb single core on Cinebench R15 shows that the system is very much capable. Thus, no worries in regards to the performance. However, the upper part heats up on sort of normal usage after an hour or so. I had opened 20 tabs on Google Chrome and a couple of word files, and after about 1 hour 20 minutes, the space above the keyboard started heating. Nothing uncomfortable, yet noticeable. Furthermore, the fan noise was obtrusive too. So, maybe it’s a good idea to toggle the cooler boost every once in a while. Though let me remind you, the cooler boost will drown MSI’s “giant speakers”.
Battery & Speaker
In balanced mode, I got about one hour and ten minutes while doing normal stuff such as web browsing and so. Switch to the extreme performance mode and the battery backup time decreases. You can opt to tweak around the user profiles a bit, but it really does not help that much.
Underneath the hood, you’ll also find the two 2W speakers. Now, MSI advertises it as “Giant Speakers”, but all I can say is that the simply decent. A bit louder than other gaming laptops but lacks bass. You can customize the audio options from the Nahimic audio software. So, nothing spectacular. Furthermore, the fan noise will easily drown the speaker. And thus, you’ll need a good pair of headphones while playing games.
Thermals
Heating, for the most part, is not an issue either. The fan noise will bug you a lot though. I played the games in extreme mode with a cooler boost on for the best result. And it handled the thermals pretty well. After a while though, the area above the keyboard deck and the central part of the keyboard do heat up. However, the WASD keys are relatively cooler. Warm but not exactly uncomfortable. And the palm rest remains cool too. On longer gaming sessions, the heating of WASD keys might become an issue though.
Verdict
Perfect for both gaming and daily use. That pretty much sums up the GP65 Leopard. With 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and RTX 2070 graphics, this laptop can handle anything you throw at it with ease.
However, having said that, the battery life is not up to par, and the speakers are just above average. Some may even feel that the design of this laptop is a bit outdated. Furthermore, this laptop will be a difficult one to carry around.
Issues aside, this is one of the best performing laptops in this price segment. If you are looking for a performance master, then this one would be a good choice. But, if portability is what you are after, then you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
Spicy snacks, drinks all around, loud talks, laughs, and unending fun with a floor spread out with playing cards… Have you been feeling blue about how the Lockdown and social-distancing will put a brake on our annual fun fest and family entertainment? Well, Easygames.io, a team of young developers from Butwal are here to rescue.
Callbreak, Ludo, Rummy, Kitti, Solitaire Card Games
“Callbreak, Ludo, Rummy, Kitti, Solitaire Card Games” is an intuitive and clean app. As the name of the app suggests, it is a collection of seven different card and board games in one and has a smooth-flowing user interface. The app has been developed with your convenience in mind, so there are no confusing settings or options. You essentially open the app, choose your game, and start playing. The app supports offline playing modes for now.
With 5000 coins starting balance for each player as a Dashain offer, which can be used to play the games, and daily rewards which increase with each consecutive day you log on to the app, you won’t need to spend even one (real) paisa to play the game.
Each game has a “How to Play?” option with all the rules you need to know so you can strategize well. Therefore, even if you are new to any of the games, it’ll barely take you a couple of minutes to get familiar. For the players who love all these card games, but are used to playing it with friends in real-life and prefer the local lingo over English, you can change the language to Nepali or Hindi.
With decent graphics, various themes and background choices, smooth flowing gameplay, and a number of fun games to choose from, Callbreak, Ludo, Rummy, Kitti, Solitaire Card Games is sure to keep you entertained for hours.
Callbreak, Ludo, Rummy & 9 Card Game can now be downloaded on Google Play Store on Android smartphones.
Realme launched the Realme 7 and 7 Pro recently replacing their older 6 series and in this review, I will be talking about the cheaper Realme 7. Since the two series launched only 6 months apart, there does not seem to be that much of an upgrade really. But, is the Realme 7 a good value for the price it’s asking? Allow me to discuss the Realme 7 in this detailed review.
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / A-GPS / Glonass / BDS, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass
Battery: 5000mAh with 30W fast charging
Colors: Mist Blue, Mist White
Price in Nepal: Rs. 35,990 (8/128GB)
Realme 7 Review:
Design
New and improved design
Plastic build with a matte finish at the back
If nothing else, the company has definitely improved the design on the Realme 7 compared to its predecessor. I like this new design language and the camera module. Although the back of the phone has a matte finish, it still attracts a lot of smudges so make sure to use the silicone cover that comes inside the box.
Getting to the ergonomics, Realme 7’s plastic build is not heavy and the phone is comfortable to hold as well – so everything is good on that part! On the right side, you get a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that works flawlessly as long as your finger is not wet or greasy. Then again, that’s a problem with every physical sensor, I guess.
But even though the phone looks good and everything, I don’t think that it is particularly well built because there is a little creaking on this side of the design. I don’t know if this is a manufacturing defect on my unit only, but it’s there and it cannot go unnoticed. If I remember correctly, we had the same problem with the Realme 5 series too.
Buttons, Ports
1 of 3
Volume Buttons, SIM slot
Headphone Jack, USB-C, Speaker Grille
Power Button (Fingerprint Scanner)
Additionally, what I have noticed is such quality control issues mostly occur with units that we buy from India. So, if you are someone watching from India, be sure to check for these things before you buy this phone or any other Realme phones for that matter.
Display
6.5-inch FHD+ IPS LCD panel
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
90Hz refresh rate, minimal punch-hole cutout
Anyway, let’s get to the display. And it’s no secret that one of the best things about Realme 7 is most definitely its smooth 90Hz screen. Apart from that, this 6.5-inches IPS LCD FHD+ panel has good colors, sufficient brightness, and good viewing angles. Again, the colors are not as vibrant as AMOLED screens, but this is one good-looking LCD panel.
Other than that, the phone only has Gorilla Glass 3 protecting it, so be sure not to drop it or better yet, use a good screen protector.
Also, I am slightly disappointed with the fact that I have faced occasional screen flickering issue on this display. At first, I once again thought that this was specific to my unit only but then I read the community forums to find out that others are facing the same problem. I think this can be fixed with an update so I’m hoping Realme pushes one quite soon. Then again, this has hindered my experience with the device and I thought you guys should know about this!
While the company hadn’t yet pushed an update to the Realme 7 regarding its ghost-touch and screen flickering issue at the time of writing this review, fortunately, the phone received an update regarding the problem on October 7.
Performance
Octa-core MediaTek Helio G95 SoC (12nm)
6/8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 128GB UFS 2.1 storage (expandable)
Alright, moving to the performance, Realme 7 comes bearing the newest MediaTek’s Helio G95 chipset which is built on a 12nm architecture just like its predecessor, the G90T. In fact, it’s the first phone to feature this gaming-centric silicon. Moreover, the Realme 7 bears a lot of similarities with the Narzo 20 Pro, in terms of the design, perfomance, and more.
Left: Narzo 20 Pro | Right: Realme 7
Here, both the Helio G90T and G95 are basically the same except for a few improvements on the latter. The G95 has a 5% better GPU performance than that of the G90T. As a result, you will get better AnTuTu scores and other GPU centric benchmarks. In real life usage though, the 5% GPU performance is barely noticeable. But, what I can say is that the phone performs really well.
During the entirety of my time with the phone, I haven’t faced any major problem with how it performed. Multitasking and app opening is considerably fast and normal tasks run like a breeze. So, the performance aspect of the Realme 7 is a thumbs up from me.
Gaming
When it comes to gaming, you can get a considerably smooth 40-45 fps in PUBGm with settings set to Smooth graphics and ultra frame rates. With balanced frame rates, you would probably want to scale down the graphics to HD for smoother gameplay. Similarly, games like Asphalt 9, Call of Duty, etc. have no problems running smoothly whatsoever.
In terms of thermals, well, with around 5 continuous games of PUBG, the phone reaches around 40 degrees. So, I’d say that the phone definitely heats up a little when pushing it to its edge. On the other hand, light gaming is not going to affect Realme 7’s temperature at all. By the way, the unit I have with me is of the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. You can also go with the 6/64GB option if 64GB storage is fine for you.
Software and UI
Realme UI 1.0 on top of Android 10
Software-wise, here, you are greeted with Realme UI 1.0 on top of Android 10. And as much as some aspects of the Realme UI look different over Oppo’s ColorOS, you can’t help but notice that it’s just another repackaged version of ColorOS. Talking about the experience, well it’s basically the same as Realme 6. But sadly, Realme has started pushing ads in its UI just like Xiaomi and I have had a couple of instances of ad encounters while downloading apps from the Play Store.
Other than that, I haven’t come across with other ads on the Realme 7, at least for now. So as things stand, the situation is not as bad as some non-flagship Xiaomi phones. Thankfully, if you don’t want to face any ads on your Realme smartphone (as you should), you do have an option to turn it off altogether.
In terms of updates, my unit of Realme 7 has received the August security patch while writing this review and we’re already well into October. So, I just wish these updates could be a little bit faster as a delayed update on such a recent release is quite disappointing.
16MP front-facing camera inside the punch-hole cutout
Cameras
1 of 2
Back Cameras
Front Camera
Now, let’s talk about the cameras! With the Realme 7’s camera setup, what I was eager to check were, number 1, how much of an upgrade is there from the Realme 6 and number 2, how do Realme 7’s cameras fare against the 7 Pro considering they both use the same Sony IMX682 sensor.
And after my time with all three phones, I have accumulated quite the findings. But first of all, let’s check out some images from Realme 7!
Normal Images
Normal (16MP)
1 of 3
As evident from these pictures, the primary 16MP pixel binned images have pleasing colors, good details, and an acceptable dynamic range.
Wideangle Images
Wideangle
1 of 6
Normal
Wideangle
Normal
Wideangle
Normal
Wideangle
On the other hand, the 8MP ultra-wide images struggle with the dynamic range with average details and look dark overall.
Macro Images
Macro
1 of 3
The macro lens, as usual, is of very little use considering its quality.
Portrait Images
Portrait
1 of 3
Getting to the portrait images, they are average, especially, in terms of edge detection and background colors.
Nighttime Images
Likewise, nighttime images, in instances of very less ambient light, are subpar with grains and muddiness here and there.
Nighttime
1 of 6
Normal Nighttime
Night Mode
Normal Nighttime
Night Mode
Normal Nighttime
Night Mode
The night mode feature rectifies the lack of detail and exposure management by a great bit, but you know the drill – it takes around 5 seconds to process the shot.
Videos
Videos on the Realme 7 are good enough for casual recording. Cranking up the resolution to 4k 30 fps, you do get good visuals but the stabilization is a big swing-and-a-miss. The same is the case with 1080p 60 fps videos. As a result, you can get decent stabilization only in 1080p 30 fps videos. So, if you are not using a gimbal, I would suggest you shoot in this resolution for stable footages!
vs Realme 6
Now, let’s get into how much improvement there is from Realme 6 to Realme 7. After testing these phones extensively, I found very few differences among them, which came as a surprise to me considering the Realme 7 has a much superior camera sensor on paper.
Normal Images
The only difference I found was that Realme 7’s images are a little warmer with slightly better sharpness and that’s about it.
Realme 6 vs 7 - Normal
1 of 6
R6
R7
R6
R7
R6
R7
Selfie Images
Realme 6 vs 7 - Selfie
1 of 4
R6: Selfie
R7: Selfie
R6: Portrait Selfie
R7: Portrait Selfie
Selfies, including portrait selfies, share the same fate. There is a slightly prominent red tint in the Realme 7 selfies but other aspects look exactly alike.
Portrait Images
Realme 6 vs 7 - Portrait
1 of 4
R6
R7
R6
R7
For the rear portraits, Realme 7 has better subject details as Realme 6 makes the subject smoother. Otherwise, it’s hard to differentiate between the images.
Nighttime Images
Realme 6 vs 7 - Nighttime
1 of 6
R6
R7
R6
R7
R6
R7
Similarly, nighttime images from the Realme 7 have ever so slightly better detail, but nothing that would make any of them stand out.
vs Realme 7 Pro
Likewise, as I mentioned earlier, I also compared the Realme 7 against the more expensive 7 Pro and found that the latter has a better dynamic range in its images because of which it is able to produce better colors in many instances.
Normal Images
Realme 7 vs 7 Pro - Normal
1 of 6
R7
7 Pro
R7
7 Pro
R7
7 Pro
And even while focusing, Realme 7 sometimes struggles to lock focus in small objects while the Realme 7 Pro does it much faster.
Selfie Images
Realme 7 vs 7 Pro - Selfie
1 of 4
R7
7 Pro
R7
7 Pro
Apart from that, selfies of the Realme 7 Pro have better HDR and color reproduction.
Nighttime Images
Realme 7 vs 7 Pro - Nighttime
1 of 4
R7
7 Pro
R7
7 Pro
even night time images look slightly superior with better colors, but details and everything looks similar.
Overall, I am slightly disappointed with what I’d expected from Realme 7’s cameras because it does not offer a significant improvement over the last-gen Realme 6 – which would mean that the Realme 7 will not be able to compete with the likes of Galaxy M31 as it had better camera performance than the Realme 6.
Battery
5000mAh battery with 30W fast wired charging
For the battery, you get a sizable upgrade on the Realme 7 with its 5,000mAh cell as compared to the 4,300 on the Realme 6. And I have to applaud the endurance as well as it took me a full day to drain the battery entirely on normal to medium usage.
In terms of charging, yes, you don’t get super fast 65-watt support like the Realme 7 Pro, but I think its 30-watt fast charging is sufficiently fast-enough for many. It is capable of taking your phone from 0-100% in about an hour. So, for me, the battery side of things on Realme 7 looks good.
Audio
3.5mm headphone jack, Single speaker
When it comes to speakers, you don’t get a stereo speaker setup on Realme 7 like the Realme 7 Pro. So, its audio quality is just strictly average.
Conclusion
All in all, the Realme 7 is a good device, there’s no doubt about that! But it’s also true that it is just an incremental upgrade over its predecessor. Actually, its cameras could have really been a standout feature especially with the new Sony sensor, but sadly, that’s not the case. Still, it is a pretty good contender for the price it comes for!
Having said that, there are some things I wish Realme definitely improves in the next generation, like the build quality, which was questionable in Realme 5 and now even in Realme 7. Proper quality control would ensure that people don’t suffer from display flickering issues like I have been facing in my unit.
Among the portable Bluetooth speaker from Anker that is officially available in Nepal, the Soundcore Motion Q has the heftiest price tag. But should you be spending your money that is already two years old? Check out our review of Anker Soundcore Motion Q before making the decision.
Anker Soundcore Motion Q Specifications:
Size: 3.5 x 3.5 x 4.3-inches
Weight: 416 grams
Power Input: 5V / 1A
Audio Output: 8W x 2, Stereo Speakers, 360-degree sound
Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 4.2 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
Wireless Range: 20m (66 ft)
Charging time: 3.5 hours
Play Time: 10 hours
Water-resistant: Yes, IPX7 certified
Price in Nepal: Rs. 6,399
Anker Soundcore Motion Q Review:
Design and Build
IPX7 rating against water splashes
Cylindrical form factor with hand strap mount
Anker Soundcore Motion Q sports a cylindrical form factor. The top and base of the device are made up of plastic. On the other hand, the curved surface of the speaker is covered with fabric-like material. However, the fabric layer is not that deep and one can feel the solid surface underneath it. The size of the speaker along with the cylindrical shape doesn’t make it ideal to carry around in a pocket.
And the Motion Q is therefore meant to be hooked to some surface or something like a bag, bike, etc. Anker has included a hand mount on the speaker which you can use to mount the lace that is provided in the box. If there is no space in the bag, you can use it to hang the speaker on the bag.
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.2 with a range of 20m
Here, Motion Q supports Bluetooth 4.2 with a theoretical range of 20m. For the initial connection, turn on the Motion Q, enter the pairing mode by pressing the Bluetooth button. Once done, the LED will start flashing Blue and the speaker will appear on all nearby devices where you can connect it with your device. Once the process is completed, the LED will turn steady blue.
From next time, the speaker automatically connects to the last connected device. However, I found the connection to be slow. You will be left wondering why is your device still playing the music even when it has already been connected with the Motion Q. You can avoid it by connecting the speaker with the help of a headphone jack. Unfortunately, it does not ship with the speaker itself.
Controls
Circular control panel on the top of the device
Power button the middle with other four buttons on four side
Talking about the controls, they are included on the top of the speaker. The power button is positioned in the middle with one button in each direction. The play/pause button jumps to the next song in the queue during a double-tap. Similarly, on triple tapping the button, the speaker plays the previous track. Additionally, taping and holding the button will summon the default voice assistant of the connected device.
While the multi-function button that does almost everything does sound good, the execution on the Soundcore Motion Q is far from perfect. For anything other than a single tap, you will notice the travel distance is not enough. The buttons feel stiff during multiple taps and tap and hold. Try to skip songs too often and you will end up hurting your fingertip.
The speaker has dedicated buttons for volume up and volume down as well. However, it is the only way one can toggle the volume level. Trying to do so with the connected device only brought disappointment for me during the whole review time of the Anker Soundcore Motion Q; as it was not possible at all.
Sound
2 x 8W speaker output
360-degree coverage
Talking about the sound, the Motion Q is exceptionally loud. In addition to that, it offers 360-degree sound. Thus, we can enjoy the music to the same extent, no matter how you are positioned relative to the speaker. This makes it a perfect companion for a gathering such as a picnic. Though the speaker can get loud, you would want to enjoy it with the volume set around 50% when alone.
During the duration of this review of Anker Soundcore Motion Q, I found the speaker offered the best experience with the volume at around 50%. At higher volume, you can notice the sound creak. While I did not notice it quite as often as I did on the Icon Mini, I can’t deny that it is not there.
Even with the BassUp technology, the bass on the Motion Q is not something extraordinary. The bass hardly feels as if it’s boosted. If you listen to hip-hop and rap music a lot, you will wish that the kick drum packed in more punch. Other than that, the vocals sounded decent. I listened to “She Couldn’t” by Linkin Park, Chester’s vocal was distinct and clear. It was not overpowered by instruments, which is the case with most of the audio accessories I have used.
Battery
Difficult-to-access Micro USB port
Clumsy covering
The speaker sports a micro USB port which is quite outdated these days. Similarly, the positioning of the port makes it difficult to access it. You will scratch the area around the port trying to fit in the charger. Although there is a flap that covers the charging port and the AUX-in, the way it closes made me believe it was a last-minute addition other than a thought-out inclusion.
With volume between 50 and 70%, I was able to get around 9 hours of playback on a single great, which is actually great for a portable speaker. On the other hand, however, it takes around 3.5 hours to get the speaker from 0 to 100%.
Conclusion
While I had some minor problems with the controls and connectivity, the Motion Q compensates it with its performance and solid build quality. The vocals are clear and the 360 sound ensures you get the same experience no matter your position. It would have been a perfect portable speaker if it weren’t for the bass and the charging time.
Anker Soundcore Motion Q Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
Compact body with an IPX7 rating
Hand Strap Mount with lace included in the box
Exceptionally loud for the size
Clear, distinct vocals with 360º sound
Great battery life
Cons:
Dated Bluetooth 4.2 protocol
Buttons feel stiff during multiple taps and tap and hold
![Huawei Mobile Price in Nepal [Updated]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/huawei-mobile-price-nepal-2020.jpg "Huawei Mobile Price in Nepal [Updated]")
![Realme 7 - Display [1]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Realme-7-Display-1.jpg)
![Realme 7 - Display [2]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Realme-7-Display-2.jpg)
![Anker Soundcore Motion Q - Design [1]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Anker-Soundcore-Motion-Q-Design-1.jpg)
![Anker Soundcore Motion Q - Design [2]](https://cdn.gadgetbytenepal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Anker-Soundcore-Motion-Q-Design-2.jpg)
