Page 565 – GadgetByte Nepal

Samsung Nepal is offering some crazy price cut on Galaxy S20 series

Nikhil Shrestha

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August 2, 2020

Samsung Nepal is offering some crazy price cut on Galaxy S20 series

Samsung Nepal announced it’s premium flagship Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ in Nepal back in March. At launch, the price of these phones was already cheaper than that of the US and they also came with 1-year breakage insurance. However, Samsung really wants you to buy its new flagships and the company is now offering up to Rs. 32,000 cashback on its purchase.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Overview

Design & Display

Nothing less than premium is what Samsung’s bringing to the table as the Galaxy S20 comes with a stunning glass body protected by the latest Gorilla Glass 6. It also comes with IP68 dust/water certification, which is an expected feature in this price range. While I applaud its design, the company has finally killed off the 3.5mm headphone jack on the ‘S’ series. Come on, Samsung! You can surely make space for it, I think?

On to the displays, it’s a 6.2-inches QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED panel with HDR10+ compliance. And making its debut on a Samsung phone is the higher 120Hz refresh rate. Yup! Every phone under the S20 epithet supports it. However, you can turn on 120Hz only in FHD+ resolution. That makes sense, ’cause if you were to activate the superior refresh rate on the vibrant QHD+ resolution, the battery would die out in a mere couple of hours.

Cameras

Cameras, on the other hand, are significantly upgraded compared to the S10 family as well. Galaxy S20 has a triple rear camera setup in a vertical arrangement. It’s got a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 64MP telephoto lens, with both primary & telephoto lens supporting OIS. With this, the S20 supports 3X Hybrid Optic Zoom and up to 30X “Super Resolution” digital zoom. It gets even crazier with the S20+ and S20 Ultra, don’t worry.

The bigger image sensor on the phone also makes for a stunning low-light photography machine. Videography has gotten an upgrade as well, as the S20 series smartphones are the first phones to have 8K recording at 24fps. More interestingly, capturing a still frame within an 8K recording also gives off a crisp 33MP image. There’s also the super slow-mo feature to shoot at 960fps in HD resolution. The front camera is a 10MP sensor housed inside the circular punch-hole cutout on top of the display.

Performance & Memory

The latest and greatest chipset is always a given in new flagship phones from Samsung. Here, the S20 is powered by the latest Exynos 990 chipset in the global variant, while the Snapdragon 865-powered versions are available in the US & Canada. Both SoCs are based on the 7nm+ process and despite being a flagship chipset, don’t have an integrated 5G modem. Though all three phones under the S20 lineup inherently support 5G, Samsung is releasing 4G LTE version of Exynos 990 in Nepal.

All three phones run on One UI 2.0 based on Android 10 out of the box and have the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor too. It had been a long time coming, but a new generation of RAM have also debuted in the S20 series. The Samsung LPDDR5 RAM makes its presence on all three variants of the phone. Here, the Galaxy S20 has 8GB RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.0 storage on the 4G variant.

Battery

A standard 4000 mAh cell powers the Galaxy S20, which supports 25W fast charging via a faster Type-C to Type-C connectivity called “USB Power Delivery 3.0”. With the glass back on these phones, they also support 15W wireless and 9W reverse-wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Specifications:

Body: 5.97 x 2.72 x 0.31 inches; 163 gm; IP68 certification
Display: 6.2-inches “Infinity-O” Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel; 120Hz refresh rate; HDR10+; 563 ppi; 89.5% screen-to-body ratio; Gorilla Glass 6 protection
Resolution: QHD+ (3200 x 1440 pixels); 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Exynos 990; 7nm+ Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2×2.60 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU: Mali-G77 MP11
RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128GB (expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card)
Software & UI: Android 10 with One UI 2.0 on top
Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
– 12MP, f/1.8 primary shooter, OIS, DPAF
– 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor
– 64MP, f/2.0 telephoto lens, PDAF, 3X hybrid optical zoom
– LED flash
Front Camera: 10MP, f/2.2 aperture; Dual Pixel AF
Camera features Tracking AF, 8K video@24fps, up to 960fps slow-mo, Super Steady stabilization, etc.
Security: Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner
Audio: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital/Plus
Connectivity: Hybrid SIM (two Nano or one Nano-SIM + one MicroSD card), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, sub-6GHz 5G spectrum, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BDS, NFC, USB Type-C
Battery: 4000 mAh; 25W fast charging; 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0; 9W reverse Wireless PowerShare
Colors: Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud Pink

Samsung Galaxy S20 Price in Nepal

The new price of the Samsung Galaxy S20 in Nepal is Rs. 94,999. This means Samsung is offering a huge Rs. 19,000 discount on the purchase of Galaxy S20 in the Nepali market.

Model Name	Old Price	New Price in Nepal
Samsung Galaxy S20 (8GB RAM, 128GB ROM)	Rs. 1,13,999	Rs. 94,999

Samsung Galaxy S20+ Overview

Design & Display

Unsurprisingly, the S20+ and the S20 Ultra that follows the same design choice. But being an expensive option, it does come with a bigger display among other upgrades.

Here, the S20+ has a taller 6.7-inches “Infinity-O” QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which like the regular S20 is only supported in FHD+ resolution.

Cameras

Apart from the sheer size, the S20+ also comes bearing an additional ToF 3D “DepthVision” sensor, alongside the identical 12MP primary, a 12MP ultra-wide angle, and a 64MP telephoto lens. This one also comes with a 3X hybrid optical zoom and 30X digital zoom. The front camera is the same 10MP lens as well.

Performance & Memory

Moving to the performance, it is also powered by the Exynos 990 chipset. Here as well, you get 8GB LPDDR5 RAM & 128GB of storage.

Battery

A bigger phone needs a bigger battery, that’s true. In the case of S20+, there’s a bigger 4500mAh cell with the charging configuration similar to that of the S20.

Samsung Galaxy S20+ Specifications (Global)

Body: 6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 inches; 186 gm; IP68 certification
Display: 6.7-inches “Infinity-O” Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel; 120Hz refresh rate; HDR10+; 525 ppi; 90.5% screen-to-body ratio; Gorilla Glass 6 protection
Resolution: QHD+ (3200 x 1440 pixels); 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Exynos 990; 7nm+ Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2×2.60 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU: Mali-G77 MP11
RAM: 8GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128GB (expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card)
Software & UI: Android 10 with One UI 2.0 on top
Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
– 12 MP, f/1.8 primary shooter, OIS, DPAF
– 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor
– 64MP, f/2.0 telephoto lens, PDAF, 3X hybrid optical zoom
– 0.3MP ToF 3D DepthVision sensor
– LED flash
Front Camera: 10MP, f/2.2 aperture
Camera Features: Tracking AF, 8K video@24fps, up to 960fps slow-mo, Super Steady stabilization, etc.
Security: Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner
Audio: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital/Plus
Connectivity: Hybrid SIM (two Nano or one Nano-SIM + one MicroSD card), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, sub-6GHz & mmWave 5G spectrum, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BDS, NFC, USB Type-C
Battery: 4500 mAh; 25W fast charging; 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0; 9W reverse Wireless PowerShare
Colors: Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cosmic Black

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus price in Nepal

The new price of Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus in Nepal is Rs. 94,999. This means Samsung is providing a huge Rs. 32,000 discount on the purchase of Galaxy S20 Plus in the Nepali market.

Model Name	Old Price	New Price in Nepal
Samsung Galaxy S20+ (8GB RAM, 128GB ROM)	Rs. 1,26,999	Rs. 94,999

So what do you think about the Samsung Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ price and the latest offer in Nepal? Are you thinking of getting one? Comment down below!

Huawei TalkBand B6 is a new fitness band that also doubles as a Bluetooth headset

GadgetByte

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July 31, 2020

0

Huawei TalkBand B6 is a new fitness band that also doubles as a Bluetooth headset

Huawei has announced the successor to TalkBand B5. The TalkBand B5 was launched in Nepal so we can be optimistic about its successor as well. Check out the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Huawei TalkBand B6 in Nepal.

Huawei TalkBand B6 Overview

Design and Display

Huawei TalkBand 6 comes with a 1.53-inch AMOLED panel and packs in a total of 460 x 188 pixels. The display maintains a pixel density of 326 PPI. Like its predecessor, the screen on the Huawei TalkBand 6 is flexible. What it means is that it can be popped out. The display comes with a silicone ear tip & Bluetooth headset. Thus, it can be used as a Bluetooth headset when detached from the main body.

This 2-in-one band measures 56.9 x 22.6 x 12.5mm without the strap. Including the headphone (2.6g), the TalkBand 6 weighs 28.9g. It is IP57 rated against dust and splash damage.

Internal Specs and Connectivity

TalkBand 6 features Huawei’s in-house Kirin A1 chipset. What’s impressive is that it supports the latest Bluetooth v5.2 for connectivity. The band can be connected to smartphones with Android 4.4 or above. Similarly, it is compatible with iPhones running iOS 9.0 or above. Some of the features of the band are compromised when connected to iPhones.

Fitness and Health Monitoring

The Huawei TalkBand B6 features a PPG sensor for heartbeat monitoring and blood oxygen saturation. Huawei’s intelligent monitoring algorithm will warn users if the heart rate is too high or low. The new atrial fibrillation detection system will reduce the risk of abnormalities such as stroke. The band can also monitor your sleeping habit. Huawei claims it can identify six major sleep-related problems and provide over 200 personalized suggestions to improve sleep. It also comes with menstrual cycle management features for female users.

Similarly, it can count your steps, keep records of your exercise, and evaluate recovery time accordingly. It comes with nine different sport modes, which include running, cycling, and rowing machine.

Battery and rest of the features

TalkBand B6 can provide smart reminders for incoming texts, calls, and alarm. The band will vibrate during an incoming call. Users can receive a call by simpling popping out the display/headset. Similarly, the headset also supports voice assistant that users can use to make calls. Other features include remote camera shutter and control music playback.

The band has a 120mAh battery that the company claims can last up to 3 days of normal usage. Similarly, it provides talk time of up to 8 hours when used as a headset. TalkBand B6 has a Type-C port for charging.

Huawei TalkBand B6 Specifications:

Dimension: 56.9 x 22.6 x 12.5-mm, 28.9g
Display: 1.53″ AMOLED flexible screen, 460 x 188 RGB resolution, 326PPI
Wrist Band: Silicone / Leather / Metal
Chipset: Kirin A1
Sensors: PPG, accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, Hall sensor
Features: Sleep tracker, heart rate tracker, music playback controls, smart remainder,
IP Rating: Yes, IP57
Compatibility: Android 4.4+ or iOS 9.0+
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
Battery: 120mAh LiPo, USB Type-C Charging
Battery backup: up to 3 days

Huawei Talkband B6 Price in Nepal and Availability

Huawei TalkBand B6 is available for pre-order in China where its price is 999 Yuan for Sport, 1,199 Yuan for Fashion, and 1,499 Yuan for the Exclusive variant. We expect the starting price of Huawei TalkBand B6 in Nepal to be around NPR 20,000.

Smart Band Models	Expected Price in Nepal
Huawei TalkBand B6 (Sport)	Rs. 20,000
Huawei TalkBand B6 (Fashion)	Rs. 25,000
Huawei TalkBand B6 (Exclusive)	Rs. 30,000

Check out our review of Honor MagicWatch 2

Huawei MatePad 10.8 and Enjoy Tablet 2 unveiled in China

GadgetByte

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July 31, 2020

0

Huawei MatePad 10.8 and Enjoy Tablet 2 unveiled in China

We don’t see new Android tablets hit the market that very often. However, there are few companies that still release a few of them every year. One such brand is Huawei, which has launched two new Android tablets in its home country of China. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Huawei MatePad 10.8 and Enjoy Tablet 2 in Nepal.

Huawei MatePad 10.8 Overview

Huawei MatePad 10.8 features a 10.8-inch IPS LCD screen with a 2K resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels. The pixel density on this one is 280ppi. This screen supports a ten-point touch. Likewise, the tablet weighs around 500 grams.

The tablet is powered by Huawei Kirin 990. It has an octa-core processor and is based on the 7nm EUV process. It is the non-5G variant of the Kirin 990 that we are talking about. In fact, the tablet only supports Wi-Fi 6+ in terms of connectivity. In terms of memory, Huawei is providing 6GB of RAM and 64GB / 128GB of internal storage. The tablet ships with EMUI 10.1 based on Android 10. The rear camera uses a 13MP sensor with an aperture of f/1.8. It comes with autofocus support. There is an 8MP camera on the front. The tablet has Histen 6.1 based quad-speaker setup, which is further tuned by Harman Kardon. It gets its juice from a 7,500mAh battery and features a USB-C port. The tablet supports M-Pencil and users can even attach a keyboard

Also Read: Huawei tops the global smartphone shipments chart in Q2 2020

Huawei MatePad 10.8 Specifications:

Dimension: 257 x 170 x 7.2-mm, 500g
Display: 10.8-inch IPS display; capacitive ten touch
Resolution: 2K (2560 x 1600 pixels)
Rear Camera: 13MP Primary with f/1.8 aperture
Front Camera: 8MP with f/2.0 aperture
Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 990; 7nm node
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64GB / 128GB
OS: EMUI 10.1 on top of Android 10
Security: Fingerprint sensor
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6+ (2.4GHz, 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1
Battery: 7,500 mAh

Huawei Enjoy Tablet 2 Overview

Huawei Enjoy Tablet 2 has a smaller 10.1-inch IPS LCD panel. It sports a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, resulting in 224PPI pixel density. The device supports up to ten touches and has an additional coating on top to avoid fingerprints.

Under the hood, it packs Huawei’s Kirin 710A, which is paired with Mali G51 GPU. The RAM is reduced to just 4GB while the internal storage is at 64GB. Users can expand the storage up to 512GB with the help of a microSD card. It runs on Android 10 with Huawei’s EMUI v10.1 on top.

There is a 5MP camera with autofocus on the back. The front camera only has a 2MP sensor. There is no sim-slot so users will have to depend on the dual Wi-Fi band for connectivity. Similarly, it also supports Bluetooth 5.1 for file transfer. It has two Harman Kardon Tuned speakers with Huawei’s Histen 6.1 Sound. The device features a 5,100mAh battery that supports 10W charging.

Huawei Enjoy Tablet 2 Specifications:

Dimension: 257 x 170 x 7.2-mm, 500g
Display: 10.1-inch IPS display; capacitive ten-point touch, anti-fingerprint coating
Resolution: 2K (2560 x 1600 pixels)
Rear Camera: 2MP Primary with f/2.0 aperture
Front Camera: 2MP with f/2.4 aperture
Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 710A
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/128GB
OS: EMUI 10.1 on top of Android 10
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz, 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1
Battery: 5,100 mAh, 10W charging

Huawei MatePad 10.8 and Enjoy Tablet 2 Price and Availability

Huawei MatePad 10.8 and Enjoy Tablet 2 are available for pre-order in China where the starting price is 2400 Yuan and 1600 Yuan, respectively. We expect the starting price of Huawei MatePad 10.8 and Enjoy Tablet 2 in Nepal to be around NPR 43,000 and NPR 30,000 respectively.

Android Tablet Models	Price in China	Expected Price in Nepal
Huawei MatePad 10.8 (64GB)	¥2400	NPR 43,000
Huawei MatePad 10.8 (128GB)	¥2800	NPR 52,000
Huawei Enjoy Tablet 2 (64GB)	¥1600	NPR 30,000
Huawei Enjoy Tablet 2 (128GB)	¥1800	NPR 33,000

Check out our review of Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Redmi 9A launched in Nepal with Helio G25 chipset & 5,000mAh battery

GadgetByte

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July 31, 2020

1

Redmi 9A launched in Nepal with Helio G25 chipset & 5,000mAh battery

Xiaomi Nepal has finally launched a successor to last year’s Redmi 8A. Redmi 9A is the latest entry-level Android device from the company and comes with a budget-friendly price tag. Let’s learn more about the Redmi 9A along with the price and availability in Nepal.

Redmi 9A Overview

Design and Display

Redmi 9A comes with equipped with a 6.53-inch IPS LCD display. The display has an HD+ resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. It is bigger and has a better resolution compared to its predecessor. However, the Redmi 8’s display was protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. But there is no mention of any protective glass on the Redmi 9A.

On the back, Redmi has moved the camera more to the top left corner. One can notice the strip starting from the camera module and running along the length of the device. The rest of the rear panel looks clean as there is no fingerprint sensor.

Performance and Memory

Redmi 8 featured Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 439 chipset. This time around, Redmi has decided to go with Helio G25 chipset. It’s a brand new chipset under MediaTek’s gaming-focused G-series. Helio G25 is an octa-core processor based on the 12nm process. It consists of eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz. Imagination PowerVR GE8320 handles the graphics.

Redmi 9A comes with 2 or 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It also features a microSD card slot in case the internal storage isn’t enough for you.

Check out our review of the Redmi 8

Camera

Talking about the camera, there is a 12MP camera on the back. It is enclosed inside a pill-shaped module alongside an LED flash. With that being said, we did see Redmi release Redmi 8A dual with the dual-camera setup. So we can still be hopeful about Redmi 9A Dual. For selfies, there is a 5MP camera enclosed inside the waterdrop style notch.

Battery and Others

The Redmi 9A sports a 5,000mAh battery. There is a micro USB port for charging and comes with a 10W charging instead. To recall, last year’s Redmi 8A had a Type C port with 18W fast charging support. The phone runs on Android 10 with MIUI 12 on top.

Redmi 9A Specifications:

Display: 6.53-inch (1600 × 720 pixels) HD+ 20:9
Chipset: Mediatek Helio G25
CPU: Octa-Core (8 X 2.0GHz Cortex A53)
GPU: Imagination PowerVR GE8320
RAM: 2/3GB RAM with 32GB storage, expandable with SD card (dedicated)
OS: Android 10 with MIUI 12 on top
Rear Camera: 13MP rear camera with LED flash
Front Camera: 5MP front-facing camera
Battery: 5000mAh, 10W charging (microUSB)

Redmi 9A Price in Nepal and Availability

The official price of Redmi 9A in Nepal is Rs. 12,999. This price is for the 2GB RAM, 32GB storage variant. Similarly, the 3/32GB variant costs Rs. 13,999

Redmi 9A Variants	Price in Nepal
2/32GB	Rs. 12,999
3/32GB	Rs. 13,999

Check out our video review of Redmi 9A:

Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Prime) launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

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July 31, 2020

0

Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Prime) launched in Nepal

A couple of months ago, Redmi launched the Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 in the Nepali market. And finally, it has announced Redmi 9 for budget-oriented users. The device is will be available across 1800+ Mi offline stores and Sastodeal from 2nd August. Read along to know more about the Redmi 9, along with its specs, features, official price, and availability in Nepal.

[Note: Redmi 9 is also called Redmi 9 Prime]

Redmi 9 (Prime) Overview

From the front, it is hard to distinguish it from other budget devices that are available in the market. However, it features a 6.53-inch FHD+ screen. It has a waterdrop style notch on the top. Redmi has got rid of the branding that was there on the bottom chin of Redmi 8. The screen is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

The rear panel of the device is something to look at. While it has the linear camera placement as its predecessor, the setup is now enclosed inside a circular module that is reminiscent of Redmi K30. The fingerprint sensor has been placed below the cameras.

Performance and Memory

Under the hood, the Redmi 9 packs in gaming-focused Helio G80 chipset. It features two Cortex-A75 (@2.0 GHz) power cores paired with six cortex-A55 (@1.8 GHz) energy-efficient cores. The chipset supports MediaTek HyperEngine that enhances the gaming experience of the device. Thanks to the combination of Helio G80 and Mali-G52 MC2 GPU, Redmi 9 boasts an impressive 107% performance boost compared to Redmi 8. It is available in two memory configurations: 3GB + 32GB and 4GB + 64GB. The RAM and internal storage are based on LPDDR4x and eMMC 5.1 technology respectively.

Camera

Compared to Redmi 8, its successor now has two additional cameras. The 13MP primary camera has an aperture of f/2.2 aperture. The 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera has 118-degree Field of View. Similarly, you have a dedicated sensor for macro shots (5MP) and portrait shots (2MP). The macro camera can shoot objects that are as close as 4cm.

On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.0. It supports Palm Shutter, a feature that lets you take selfies by holding your palm to the camera.

Battery and Others

Redmi 9 comes with a big 5,020mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. However, Redmi will only be providing a 10W charger (5V, 2A) inside the box. You get a USB-Type C charging interface. There is a capacitive fingerprint sensor on the back of the device. Users can also use the software-based Face Unlock feature to unlock their devices. It is also equipped with an IR blaster that lets you use your device as a remote to control other household appliances.

Redmi 9 (Prime) Specifications:

Dimension: 163.32 x 77.01 x 9.1-mm
Weight: 198g
Display: 6.53-inch FHD+, 19:9, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Chipset: MediaTek Helio G80, 12nm FinFET
CPU: Octa-core ( 2 x 2.0GHz ARM Cortex-A75 cores+ 6 x 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A55 core)
GPU: Mali-G52 MC2, 950 MHz
RAM: 3GB / 4GB LPDDR4x
Storage: 32GB / 64GB / 128GB eMMC 5.1 (dedicated microSD card slot)
Rear Camera: Quad;
– 13MP primary camera, FOV 75.2-degree, f/2.2, AF
– 8MP ultra-wide lens, FOV 118-degree, f/2.2, FF
– 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4
– 5MP macro lens (4cm) with f/2.4
Front camera: 8MP, FOV 77.8-degree, f/2.0
SIM: Dual SIM
Security: Fingerprint sensor (rear,-mounted), Face unlock
Sensors: Vibration, Distance sensor, Ambient Light, Accelerometer, e-compass, IR blaster
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC (limited availability), GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/Beidou
Battery: 5020mAh with 18W fast charging (10W inside the box)

Redmi 9 (Prime) Price in Nepal [Official]

Redmi 9 is available in Nepal in multiple variants. The price of Redmi 9 in Nepal starts at Rs. 16,999.

Xiaomi Model	Price in Nepal
Redmi 9 (3/32GB)	Rs. 16,999
Redmi 9 (4/64GB)	Rs. 17,999
Redmi 9 Prime (4/64GB)	Rs. 17,999
Redmi 9 Prime (4/128GB)	Rs. 18,999

Check out our unboxing and initial impression of Redmi Note 9 Pro!

Samsung may ditch Bixby and Galaxy Store as a part of a deal with Google

GadgetByte

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July 30, 2020

0

Samsung may ditch Bixby and Galaxy Store as a part of a deal with Google

Samsung and Google are reportedly working in a deal that could lead to Samsung ditching its service for Google alternatives. Read along to learn more about the ongoing deal between Google and Samsung.

The ongoing deal between Samsung & Google

Android is an open-source platform, which means any manufacturer can customize the operating system to their liking to include in their device. Smartphone brands use this to promote their own ecosystem. It is the reason they bundle their own apps even tough Google includes almost every basic service that a user needs.

Google and Galaxy Services

Samsung being the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world promotes its own ecosystem of Galaxy products that include the company’s core apps, Bixby, and the Galaxy Store. Compared to the offerings provided by the Google services and Play Store, Samsung’s services are not that popular, even with Galaxy devices.

But it has not stopped Samsung from promoting its services. Back in 2014, Vox reported that Google forced Samsung to scale down the level of customization in TouchWiz UI. However, even the newer One UI devices come with Samsung’s pre-installed apps. The company rolls out updates for these apps via the Galaxy Store.

Problems with Bixby

Samsung launched the Bixby Voice Assistant in 2017 and has since been promoting it in its products. While it performs well in the Galaxy lineup of smartwatches, TVs, and such, it is overshadowed by Google Assistant. The latter comes integrated with Google Search and enjoys a wide range of Google Services, which the former lacks.

Samsung even tried to force users into using by including dedicated Bixby button on some of its smartphones. Because of the criticism from users, Samsung allows users to reassign the function of the button. Samsung’s problem with Bixby is further outlined by the fact that the company announced a Galaxy Home smart speaker with Bixby in 2018 which is yet to see the light of the day.

Also Read: Samsung Nepal’s Mega Exchange Offer on Galaxy S20 series

What’s in it for Google and Samsung in this supposed “deal”?

Samsung is the world’s largest manufacturer of Android devices. Google’s intention is clear – by forcing Samsung users to use its services, Google will have even more data in its inventory that it can use to further furnish its services. The company even pays a hefty sum to Apple to be the default search engine on Safari. Google might even offer a similar offer for Samsung to prioritize its services instead of Galaxy services.

According to a report by Reuters, Samsung might accept the deal to cope with the decline in the demand for smartphones following the outbreak of COVID 19. Another report from Canalys suggests the Samsung smartphone shipment dropped by 30% in Q2 in 2020; compared to the same period last year. The company also fell behind Huawei in shipment. It could only ship 53.7 million units in Q2 compared to 55.8 million shipped by Huawei. The report by Reuter also claims many brands are now looking for alternative sources of income because of the slow smartphone sales.

However, if Samsung accepts the alleged offer, the future of Bixby and Galaxy Store would be in question. The two have been instrumental in Samsung’s popularity in the Chinese market, where Google services are banned. Pouring money in products that can only be marketed in a single market doesn’t sound economical. Shutting down the services, on the other hand, would mean Samsung has to quickly search for alternatives for Tizen powered products including the Galaxy smartwatches.

It could be just a rumor after all.

Both companies have failed to confirm any kind of negotiation is going on. A Google spokesperson has clarified to Bloomberg that Samsung, like all device manufacturers, can design its own app store and voice assistant. However, he also added that Google is actively taking with partners for ways to improve user experience.

Samsung also states that the company is still dedicated to its own ecosystem and services. However, it has also accepted that it is working with Google to offer the best experience to its users.

Check out our review of Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Huawei surpasses Samsung in global smartphone shipments in Q2 2020

GadgetByte

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July 30, 2020

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According to a report by Canalys, an independent analyst company, Huawei has the biggest smartphone shipments in Q2 of 2020. Read along to learn more about Huawei’s historical triumph over Samsung.

Huawei’s 2019 Stats

If you look at the recent figures that Huawei has been crunching in the global smartphone market, it’s hard to believe that the company is facing a tough time following its inclusion in the Entity list by the government. The company has lost quite a bit of its appeal outside of the Chinese market as it does not ship smartphones with Google services anymore. Despite the circumstances, Huawei managed to achieve its biggest revenue to date in 2019.

The domestic market proved pivotal in Huawei’s success as 60% of the 240 smartphones that the company shipped last year were sold in China. The company regained the number two spot with 17.6% of the overall market share. The 17% annual growth was the highest among the top 5 smartphone brands.

Huawei Q2 2020 Shipments

However, the ending of 2019 was not the best for Huawei. Not only did the company fail to maintain the high shipment in the Q4 of 2019, it even recorded a 7% yearly decline compared to the same period in 2018. Things weren’t looking great for the Chinese tech giant heading into the new year. Who would have thought Huawei would surprise everyone by leading the charts in the Q2 of 2020?

In the second quarter of 2020, Huawei managed to ship 55.8 million devices. This is 5% worse than the last year’s number. However, in the same period, Samsung only managed to ship 53.7 million devices, which is 30% short of Samsung’s Q2 shipment of last year. It is the first time in nearly a decade that a company other than Apple and Samsung has led the quarterly race.

“If it wasn’t for COVID-19, it wouldn’t have happened “

Ben Stanton, the Senior Analyst at Canalys, acknowledges the fact that this was because of the situation caused by the pandemic. While the rest of the world is still struggling with the COVID-19 virus, China, which is Huawei’s biggest market, is already up and running. It’s important to note that Samsung only has a 1% market share in China and its major markets including India, the US, and Brazil are all affected by COVID-19.

Should Huawei Worry?

Huawei needs to worry as the quarterly report also suggests that the company is losing its market outside of China. The company’s global shipment (outside of China) declined by 27% in the second quarter. Huawei now sells over 70% of its smartphone in China. It won’t be enough for the company in the long run, suggests another analyst, Mo Jio.

“It will be hard for Huawei to maintain its lead in the long term.”

Samsung has finally resumed releasing smartphones in South Asia. It will also unveil five more premium devices during the Unpacked event in August. According to Jio, Huawei’s partners in Europe are also losing faith in the company resulting in lower shipments. Thus, it’s unlikely that Huawei will stick to the number one spot after the global economy recovers.

Watch: How Huawei is preparing for its Google-less future

Samsung Galaxy M31s with Infinity-O sAMOLED display & quad-cameras launched

Samsung

Nikhil Shrestha

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July 30, 2020

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Samsung Galaxy M31s with Infinity-O sAMOLED display & quad-cameras launched

Samsung has unveiled the ‘s’ variant of the standard Galaxy M31 today in India. Featuring a new gradient design language and a promising new set of cameras, the Galaxy M31s is an interesting deviation from what we’ve been seeing in the company’s “M” series of smartphones. Let’s look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Samsung Galaxy M31s in Nepal.

Samsung Galaxy M31s Overview

Design and Display

The M31s is the first device in the Galaxy M-series to implement the Infinity-O display in a Super AMOLED panel. Earlier Galaxy M40 featured a punch hole on a PLS TFT panel. The rest of the M-lineup feature either an Infinity-U or an Infinity-V display.

The panel itself is 6.5-inches tall with an FHD+ resolution and the regular 60Hz refresh rate. Protecting the display is a rather dated Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It’s a shame considering how Xiaomi is offering much more secure Gorilla Glass 5 in its comparatively cheaper phones like the Redmi 8.

On the back, the phone has a two-tone gradient design which is unique compared to other M-series phones. Even though it looks fancy and all, it’s not a 100% glass panel but rather is what the company calls “glasstic”. A clever combo of glass and plastic (though the same cannot be said for the name), it has been the go-to build material on Samsung’s most midrange and upper mid-range smartphones.

We get to see the rectangular camera bump that we have been seeing in Samsung releases this year. Interestingly, though M31s features an AMOLED panel, the fingerprint sensor isn’t underneath the display. Rather, you’re getting a side-mounted scanner; another first for the mid-range “M” series.

Performance and Memory

Well, the performance is where Samsung usually disappoints and this tradition has continued on with the Galaxy M31s. The phone ships with the same-old Exynos 9611 that we’ve seen on multiple Samsung smartphones like the Galaxy M30s, M31, A51, and even the Tab S6 Lite. So, we know the M31s won’t be knocking out competing devices like the POCO X2 or Realme 6 Pro. But honestly, it isn’t even trying to do that it seems. Like always, Samsung’s non-flagship devices are not for power users of any kind.

Admittedly, the company has worked on the memory front as this phone comes with an expandable base storage of 128GB (UFS 2.1) and no less, or no more. While Samsung definitely isn’t the first to do so, this move does fill me with hope regarding where the industry is headed. I mean, 32 and even 64GB of storage doesn’t cut it for 2020 considering how the smartphone camera technology has progressed, or how big the mainstream apps and games have gotten. The storage has been coupled with either 6 or 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM.

Also, check out our review of:
- Samsung Galaxy M11 | Galaxy M21 | Galaxy A21s

Camera

M31s flaunts a quad-camera setup on the back led by a 64MP Sony IMX682 primary sensor. The company is calling it an “Intelli-Cam” because of its embedded features. If you recall the Galaxy S20 series, it brought a cool new feature called “Single Take”. What this does is basically take a variety of stylistic photos and videos like grayscale, boomerang, hyper-lapse, etc. from a single shot. And yeah, Samsung has brought that into the M31s.

The rest of the sensors include a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera with 123° FOV, a 5MP depth sensor, and a 5MP macro camera. All these lenses have been arranged inside a familiar ‘L’-shaped rectangular array on the top left side of the rear panel alongside an LED flash. Coming to the front, you’re getting a 32MP selfie camera inside the aforementioned Infinity-O punch-hole cutout. It is a wide lens too, though the exact FOV hasn’t been specified. Video-wise, both rear and front lenses are maxed out to 4K resolution under 30fps.

Battery

The battery has been a crucial selling point in the recent “M” lineup of smartphones from Samsung, including some devices under the “A” series as well. Galaxy M31s would be no different either as it brings in the same monstrous 6,000mAh battery we first saw in the Galaxy M30s.

But what’s exciting is the fact that it now comes with a faster 25W charging support, while the charger is provided inside the box as well. According to the company, you can fill up the M31s from 0 to 100% in just 97 minutes. Furthermore, the phone also comes with a Type-C to Type-C cable inside the box which can be used for reverse charging.

Samsung Galaxy M31s Specifications:

Display: 6.5-inches “Infinity-O” Super AMOLED panel; 405PPI; 420 nits peak brightness; >91% screen-to-body ratio
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels); 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Exynos 9611; 10nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU: Mali-G72 MP3
RAM: 6/8GB LPDDR4x
Storage: 128GB UFS 2.1 (expandable via a Micro SD card)
Software & UI: One UI 2.0 on top of Android 10
Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
– 64MP, f/1.8 Sony IMX682 primary shooter
– 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide lens; 123˚ FOV
– 5MP, f/2.4 macro lens
– 5MP, f/2.4 depth sensor
– LED flash
Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.0 lens
Security: Fingerprint Scanner (Side-mounted)
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/GALILEO/BDS, USB Type-C
Battery: 6000mAh with 25W fast charging; reverse charging
Colors: Mirage Black, Mirage Blue

Samsung Galaxy M31s Price in Nepal and Availability

Samsung Galaxy M31s will be available starting August 6th via Amazon India. Its price is ₹19,499 and ₹21,499 for the 6/128GB and 8/128GB variants respectively. We expect the Samsung Galaxy M31s to launch in Nepal later this year with a starting price tag of around NPR 33,000.

Samsung Galaxy M31s Model	Expected Price in Nepal	Expected Availability
6/128GB	NPR 33,000	August – September
8/128GB	NPR 36,000	August – September

Check out our review of Samsung Galaxy M31

Nubia Watch and Red Magic TWS released alongside Red Magic 5S

GadgetByte

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July 29, 2020

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Nubia Watch and Red Magic TWS released alongside Red Magic 5S

Nubia launched the Red Magic 5S with improved cooling over the original Red Magic 5G. The company launched a bunch of gaming accessories alongside it as well. In this post, we will be talking about the specs, features, expected price, and availability of newly launched Nubia Watch and Red Magic TWS earphones in Nepal.

Nubia Watch Overview

Design and Display

Nubia Watch features a 4.01-inch OLED display. Like last year’s Nubia Alpha, the display sports flexible panel. However, the company has limited the flexibility aspect to reduce the pressure on the watch. Users can fold the top and bottom of the watch’s display to wrap around their wrists. The strap is made up of silicone and can be replaced. You can also opt for a Napa leather strap.

The body of the watch is made of up 316L stainless steel while the dial is made up of an aluminum alloy. Nubia has also used ceramic coating on certain parts of the watch.

Features

Nubia has paired it 1GB of RAM with 8GB of internal storage. The watch runs on Snapdragon Wear 2100. The highlight of the smartwatch is its eSim connectivity. Thus, users can make and receive calls, SMSs, and use WeChat without a smartphone. As you would expect, the watch also supports fitness tracking and health monitoring. The built-in health module uses advanced algorithms for real-time heart rate monitoring and sleep monitoring. Similarly, the watch can even detect, track, and record exercises. The watch has NFC for contactless payment. Other connectivity options include built-in GPS, Bluetooth v5.0, and Wi-Fi.

The watch is backed by a 420mAh battery that boasts of 6.5 days of standby time. In normal usage, the Nubia says it will last up to 36 hours. It comes with a magnetic charger.

Nubia Watch Specifications:

Dimensions: 125 x 41.5 x 14.5-mm
Weight: 98g
Body: Aluminium and Stainless Steel build
Display: 4.01-inch OLED display; always-on display
Resolution: 960 x 192 pixels, 244 PPI
Battery: 230mAh with wireless-charging
Battery Life: Up to 36 hours of battery life
RAM: 1GB RAM
Memory: 8GB Internal Storage
Chipset: Snapdragon Wear 2100
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, e-sim support
Features: Heart Rate Monitor, Sleep Tracking, Fitness Tracking

Red Magic TWS Overview

Design

The Red Magic TWS stands out among the TWS by other smartphone brands because of the design. The head of the earbud is diamond-shaped. Nubia has also included horn-shaped hooks for a better grip. It believes that this will stop the earbuds from falling. The stem starts from the head of the TWS and it tapers to a rounded end.

The casing follows the sharp-edged design. It also features LED RGB lighting for that gaming vibe. The LEDs are placed both at the outside and inside of the case.

Features

The TWS comes with one-touch pairing which will work with Nubia smartphones. It will connect to the smartphone as soon as you take it out of the charging case. Nubia hasn’t disclosed the complete specs of the TWS for us to discuss. When paired with certain Nubia gaming smartphones, the latency can go as low as 39ms.

However, if you are using a smartphone from a different brand, it will go up to 60ms. The Red Magic TWS claims up to 20 hours of battery back on a single charge.

Nubia Watch, Red Magic TWS Price in Nepal and Availability

Nubia Watch and Red Magic TWS come with price tags of 1799 Yuan and 299 Yuan, respectively. While the watch will go on sale in China starting from August 5, there is no news about the availability of Red Magic TWS. We expect the Nubia Watch and Red Magic TWS to bear a price tag of around NPR 31,000 and NRP 5,500, respectively if Nubia launches them in Nepal.

Accessories	Expected Price in Nepal
Nubia Watch	~ Rs 31,000
Red Magic TWS	~ Rs 5,500

Check out our review of Nubia Red Magic 3/3s

Nubia Red Magic 5S Gaming Phone launched with upgraded internal cooling

GadgetByte

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July 29, 2020

0

Nubia Red Magic 5S Gaming Phone launched with upgraded internal cooling

When Nubia launched the Red Magic 5G in March, it was the first and only gaming phone to come with a 144Hz screen. Now, there are a handful of devices that have adopted the feature. Nubia has now announced Red Magic 5S to compete against these newly launched gaming-centric smartphones. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Nubia Red Magic 5S in Nepal.

Nubia Red Magic 5S Overview

Design and Display

Nubia has left the design aspect of the phone unchanged. From outside, the Red Magic 5s and its predecessor look exactly the same. The new device comes with a 6.65-inch AMOLED panel. It supports an FHD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. The 144Hz panel has a touch sampling rate of 240Hz.

Performance and Memory

Recently announced gaming smartphones likes Asus Rog Phone 3 and Lenovo Legion Phone Duel feature the latest Snapdragon 865+. However, Nubia has decided to stick to the SD 865. The 865 features a lower clocked Prime core compared to the SD 865+. It may not seem like a significant upgrade but it can make a difference while gaming. However, Nubia claims that it has boosted the GPU functionality, but users will have to buy the Ice Dock to experience the difference. The Ice Dock is a cooling accessory specifically designed for the Red Magic 5s. The smartphone comes with up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

Cooling and Camera

Nubia has revamped the cooling system in the Red Magic 5S. The biggest upgrade is the addition of the ICE 4.0 cooling system with a silver-plated heat sink. It should produce a better result compared to the traditional sinks as silver has better thermal conductivity.

The aluminum alloy centrifugal fan weighs 1 gram and has a speed of 15000 RPM. Similarly, Nubia has adopted the north-south transparent air duct design with up to 43% more ventilation.

Camera-wise, it features a 64MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP macro shooter. There is an 8MP selfie camera at the front.

Battery and Rest of the specs

Red Magic 5S retains the 4,500mAh battery along with the support for 55W fast charging. It runs on Red Magic OS based on Android 10. The in-display fingerprint sensor can be used to unlock the device and for cashless payment. The device also features two capacitive touch triggers that have an even higher response rate of 320Hz.

Nubia Red Magic 5S Specifications:

Body: 168.56H x 78W x 9.75D mm; 220 gm
Display: 6.65-inch AMOLED ESports Display, 144Hz Refresh Rate, 240Hz Touch Sampling Rate
Resolution: FHD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels); 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Snapdragon 865; 7nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 585 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 585)
GPU: Adreno 650
RAM: 8/12/16GB LPDDR5
Storage: 128/256GB UFS 3.1
Software & UI: Android 10 with Red Magic OS on top
Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
– 64MP, f/1.9 primary shooter
– 16MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide lens; 120° FOV
– 2MP macro lens
Front Camera: 8MP
Security: Under-display (optical)
Audio: DTS X Ultra; 3 x mics
Sensors: geomagnetic sensor, gyrocopter accelerometer, optical distance sensor
Battery: 4500mAh with 55W fast charging

Nubia Red Magic 5s Price and Availability

Nubia Red Magic 5s is available for pre-order in China, where its price is 3,799 Yuan for 8/128GB variant, 4,399 Yuan for 12/256GB variant, and 4,999 Yuan for 16/256GB variant. The device will go on sale starting August 1, followed by a global launch in September. If Nubia decides to launch Red Magic 5s in Nepal, we expect the price to be NPR 65,000 for 8/128GB, NPR for 76,000 12/256GB, and NPR 86,000 for 16/256GB.

Variant	Expected price in Nepal
Nubia Red Magic 5s (8/128GB)	~ NPR 65,000
Nubia Red Magic 5s (12/256GB)	~ Rs. 76,000
Nubia Red Magic 5s (16/256GB)	~ Rs. 86,000

Check out our review of Vivo V19.