Oculus has announced the successor to the original Quest. The new Oculus Quest 2 features a brand new design, new controllers, and improved display. The best part is that it retails for even less than that of the original Quest. Let’s learn more about Oculus Quest 2, including its specs, features, expected price, and availability in Nepal.
Oculus Quest 2 Overview
New Design
Compared to the original quest, its successor is both slimmer, lighter, and thus, more portable. Oculus has managed to reduce the weight of the VR headset by up to 10%. The new headset is also said to be more comfortable. It features two built-in IPD (Inter-Pupillary Distance) mechanism that allows the user to choose from three settings. Users can adjust the IPD for their comfort.
Improved AI and Graphics
Oculus Quest 2 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XPR2 platform. It comes with 6GB of RAM. Thus, it offers better processing and AI capabilities compared to the Oculus Quest. Oculus has also improved the graphic processing prowess. The new AR headset can handle 90Hz contents. As of now, the feature is limited to select system applications. The supported app includes Home Environment, Explore, Store, Browser, and Oculus TV.
To enjoy the feature, the user must activate it from the Experimental features. Oculus will be making the feature available to third-party developers in the near future. Oculus has bumped the resolution on the new VR headset. We are talking about 1832 x 1920 pixels for each eye. That is about 50% more pixels than that on the first-gen Oculus.
Ergonomic Touch Controllers
Oculus has introduced new touch controllers to improve comfort. The new design is based on the original touch controllers but is said to be more comfortable. Oculus says that with the added comfort of the new ergonomics users will be able to perform better in games. The new touch controllers are also more power-efficient than their predecessors. They are optimized to offer up to four times better battery endurance than the original Quest Touch controllers. Other than this, the controls remain the same.
Supported Games and Library
Quest 2 will support all the existing Quest library contents. It will also be compatible with upcoming gaming titles such as the Star Treks: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Myst, Jurassic World Aftermath, Warhammer 40,000, Battle Sister, Pistol Whip: 2089, The Climb 2, and others. It also supports Oculus Link, which allows users to play Rift games by connecting the VR headset to a gaming PC. Thus, the Quest 2 will also support PC titles such as Asgard’s Wrath, Stormland and Lone Echo. Quest 2 will also support Lone Echo II and Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond when the two are launched.
Oculus Quest 2 Price in Nepal and Availability
Oculus Quest 2 (64GB) is available for pre-order in select markets including the US, UK, and Japan for a price of $299. The 256GB variant is not available as of now. We might not see the Oculus Quest 2 launch officially in Nepal but one can expect to get hands-on it through unofficial channels for an expected price of NPR 45,000.
Sony has everyone talking with the announcement of its latest flagship smartphones – Xperia 5 II. It is a compact flagship phone designed for gamers and photographers. Read along to know more about the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Sony Xperia 5 II in Nepal.
Sony Xperia 5 II Overview
Design and Display
Sony’s flagship smartphones can be easily distinguished from devices by other brands as they still feature top and bottom bezels. This allows the company to insert front-facing stereo speakers that the company claims will sound better than other mainstream smartphones. The Xperia 5 II features a 6.1-inch AMOLED screen. The display in itself isn’t a big one but it comes with a tall aspect ratio of 21:9. It is actually wider than many of the phones out in the market today. Xperia 5 II is officially the first phone from Sony to feature a higher refresh rate. The panel supports a 120 refresh rate and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. Earlier, Sony claimed that its display on the Xperia 1 II with its “Motion Blur Reduction” feature was comparable to mainstream 90Hz panels. On top of the higher refresh rate, Xperia has included 240Hz Motion Blur Reduction technology for a blur-free experience.
Performance and Memory
Sony Xperia 5 II is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 SoC, which is a popular choice for 2020’s flagships. But looking at the price and the gaming features that the company has packed in the phone, we are left to wonder what stopped Sony from including the more powerful SD 865+. You can manually set the parameters like refresh rate, touch sampling rate, and motion blur for the game you wish to play. Compared to the Xperia 1 II, the 5 II comes with an improved cooling arrangement that consists of a graphite heat sink. Another useful feature in the Xperia 5 II is the HS Power Control feature, which lets the charger power the phone directly without first routing power through the battery. This feature is said to stop the device from heating during longer gaming sessions.
Other gaming-centric feature includes support for PS4 Remote Play and Dual-Shock Controller compatibility.
Camera
Another area where the Xperia 5 II excels is the camera department. The camera setup is almost similar to that of the Xperia 1 II, except that the latter includes an additional ToF sensor. There are three 12MP Zeiss powered sensors arranged vertically inside a pill-shaped camera module. The primary lens uses a 1/1.7” Exmor RS (mobile) sensor with an 82-degree Field of View. Similarly, the ultra-wide-angle camera extends the Field of View up to 124-degree. The third sensor comes with a 3x zoom capability.
Sony claims that the device is capable of recording slow-mo videos at 120fps and 4K HDR videos up to 60fps. They could also be used for zooming in and zooming out. The primary camera supports OIS while the zoom lens can make us of both OIS and EIS. Under the Steady shot, the primary camera also supports 5-axis stabilization.
The 8MP front-facing camera uses a 1/4″ sensor with an aperture of f/2.0. It comes with support for HDR, Steady Shot, display flash, hand, and smile shutter.
Rest of the specs
The whole setup is backed by a 4,000mAh battery with support 21W USB PD charging. It can charge the device up to 50% inside 30 minutes. The traditional design of the phone means that Sony can fit in the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a rare feature in the premium market segment.
There is a dual-stereo speaker on the front of the device. The device supports Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio (TIDAL and other compatible services). Thanks to DSEE Ultimate, users can enjoy Hi-Res like audio by connecting to the device to their favorite earphones, whether wired or wireless.
Battery: 4000 mAh battery with 21W USB PD fast charging
Sony Xperia 5 II Price in Nepal and Availability
Sony Xperia 5 II bears a price tag of $949 and it will go on sale from December 4 with pre-order starting from September 29. If it launches here, we expect the price of Sony Xperia 5 II in Nepal to be around NPR 120,000.
Smartphone model
International Pricing
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Sony Xperia 5 II
$949
NPR 120,000
Check out our review of Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
A smartwatch is an excellent gadget to have on you; especially if you’re an aspiring, amateur, or even a professional athlete. While the ones from the most popular manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei don’t fully give-in to the performance-monitoring roots, there are a few who do. Here, Garmin has always been one of the frontrunners in this market. And now, the company has launched Forerunner 745 with blood oxygen monitoring and other exciting upgrades. Let’s discover more about the Garmin Forerunner 745 including its features, expected price in Nepal, and availability.
Garmin Forerunner 745 Overview
Fitness Tracking
The Forerunner 745 is the successor to 2016’s 735XT and comparatively under-powerful than Garmin’s premium Forerunner 945. It is designed with pro-athletes in mind and has got a feature-set to back its professional heritage. It has a pulse oximeter that monitors the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) level in your body which can deliver a more thorough insight on your sleep habits and more. Moving on, the Garmin Forerunner 745 also provides training guidance and daily recommendations depending on your training pattern.
And after every workout, you can get see how effective it was (with aerobic and anaerobic feedback), and how long it’s going to take before you’re ready for the next round of workout by counting in factors like stress, sleep level, daily activity, etc. The watch comes with different sports apps for a bike ride, track run, cycling, triathlon, swimming (open water, pool), etc.
Brick Workouts
Under different races or brick sessions (a workout that combines multiple disciplines like a bike ride, run, and a swim), although the watch can’t automatically switch between those, it does have a button that you can press to toggle different sports mode. There’s VO2 Max monitoring as well for determining your expected level of performance under any workout. Complementing this is how the Forerunner 745 takes account of your pace, heart rate (and its variability) when you’re running to indicate your ability to perform – in real-time.
Forerunner 745 also has a built-in GPS system (with GLONASS and Galileo) for accurate location tracking. It features something called “Body Battery Energy Monitoring”. This tracks your body’s energy levels to determine the best time for you to exercise and rest. Also, the “Trendline” routing feature gives you the best possible route between any two points; be it a road or trails by using the user data of other Garmin smartwatch users.
Rest of the specs
Garmin has packaged all this into a fairly lightweight body weighing 47 grams. It has a 1.2-inches transflective Memory-In-Pixel (MIP) color display with 240 x 240 pixels. Protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass DX, it also supports Always-on Display (AoD). Forerunner 745 has a silicone strap while its bezels are made from fiber-reinforced polymer. It is 5ATM water-resistant and can record up to 200 hours of activity data.
In terms of battery life, the Garmin Forerunner 745 can last up to 7 days in Smartwatch Mode. Similarly, it is rated at up to 21 hours in UltraTrac, 16 hours in GPS, and 6 hours in GPS with music mode. You can also store up to 500 songs and sync music, playlists from different streaming platforms like Amazon Music and Spotify. It has Garmin Pay integrated as well, meaning you can make payments using this watch. A handy feature here is that if it senses you’re in some sort of danger or something worse has occurred, the watch automatically sends your current location to emergency contacts.
Garmin Forerunner 745 Specifications:
Body: 1.72 x 1.72 x 0.52-inches; 47 grams
Display: 1.2-inches transflective Memory-In-Pixel (MIP) color panel; Corning Gorilla Glass DX; 240 x 240 pixels
Strap: Silicone straps
Storage: Up to 500 songs
Water Rating: 5 ATM (up to 50 meters in depth for 10 minutes)
Battery Life: Up to 7 days (Smartwatch mode), 21 hours (UltraTrac mode), 16 hours (GPS without music), 6 hours (GPS with music)
Garmin Forerunner 745 Price in Nepal and Availability
The Garmin Forerunner 745 is available for purchase in the US & UK for $499.99 and £449.99, respectively. We can expect the price of Garmin Forerunner 745 to be around NPR 65,000 if and when it launches in Nepal.
Smartwatch model
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Garmin Forerunner 745
NPR 65,000
Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.
Microsoft and Samsung have had a tight bond over the years. From shipping a large percentage of Samsung smartphones with Microsoft’s Office Suite applications to other assorted integrations, one could even say that in some intricately contrived way, Microsoft never actually left the smartphone scenario. And with the latest release of the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra, these two companies cemented their relationship even further. From bundling the Project xCloud to allowing Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series owners to run their phone’s app on a PC via the Microsoft Your Phone app, it’s clear that their collaboration isn’t ending anytime soon.
Microsoft Your Phone x Samsung
And now, as promised, Microsoft has expanded the availability of this service to much more Samsung Galaxy smartphones. In a post by Microsoft Your Phone’s official Twitter handle, the company confirmed that the feature will be widely available to a bunch of different Samsung Galaxy devices; starting September 18th.
We are excited to announce that the Apps feature is now rolled out to everyone with supported devices (It may take up to 48hrs. to show up). It allows you to instantly access your Android phone’s mobile apps directly from your Windows 10 PC. Learn more: https://t.co/vASs8SCCVWpic.twitter.com/xUOaMmfALU
With the availability window of 48 hours since the day of the announcement, it’s likely that some users have already had their hands on it. Here, without using cables of any sort, you can connect your Samsung phone to your Windows 10 PC (provided that they are connected to the same network). After this, using the “Your Phone” app, you can simply access your phone’s applications on the computer itself.
Besides the luxury of using phone apps, one can also mirror the phone screen or get notifications on the PC. Moreover, it also lets your pin the Android apps onto the Start menu or taskbar. But as of now, it doesn’t support running two apps simultaneously at once although you can use one alongside one/more Windows applications. Similarly, you can’t resize the app window size on the computer.
Availability
Like I said in the beginning, this feature was initially exclusive to the Note 20 series. But now, it is available in a bunch of Galaxy devices including Samsung’s foldables, S-series, and few devices under the A-series. Here’s the complete list:
The Oppo Reno4 series debuted in China back in June and then went global in August. And now, the company is planning to expand the lineup with Reno4 SE. Like the first two smartphones, it will also land in China before making the global debut. Let’s check out the preliminary specs, features, and the official launch date of Oppo Reno4 SE.
Overview
Though Oppo has not revealed the complete specs sheet of the upcoming Reno4 SE, the listing of the device in Oppo’s official site and other Chinese online retailers have plenty of information to dwell on. The render in the official listing reveals a phone with a circular cutout on the top left corner of the screen. If the rumors are true, the Reno4 SE will sport a 6.43-inch AMOLED screen with an FHD+ display. The fingerprint scanner will be placed under the display.
Similarly, the rear panel of the Reno4 SE sports a flashy gradient design. There is a triple-camera setup enclosed inside a square camera module. A line goes that divides the module in half also gives a dual-tone design.
Unlike the Reno4 and Reno4 Pro, the Reno4 SE will be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 720 which supports 5G connectivity. The phone was spotted in China Telecom’s product listing in two memory configurations – 8/128GB and 8/256GB.
Reports suggest that the triple camera setup will consist of a 48MP camera accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide sensor. They will be joined by a 2MP sensor. On the front, there will be a 32MP selfie camera sensor inside the punch-hole.
Oppo Reno4 SE will rely on a 4,300mAh battery for the juice. It will actually contain two 2,150 cells combined together. The device will support 65W fast charging. The device will ship with ColorOS 7 based on Android 7.
Honor deals in a wide range of products including smartphones, tablets, and even ultrabooks. And now the subbrand of Huawei is stepping into the gaming laptop business. The company has announced its first-ever gaming laptop under the new Hunter series. Let’s check out the specs, features, expected price in Nepal and availability of the Honor Hunter V700 gaming laptop.
Honor Hunter V700 Overview
Design and Display
For a gaming laptop, Honor V700 is compact and quite portable too. Huawei has managed to fit the massive 16.1-inch screen in a body that measures 369.7 x 253 x 19.99-mm. The body is made using an aluminum alloy and Honor has added a customizable lighting shoulder line for the gaming aesthetics.
The screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and supports a 144Hz refresh rate. The bezels are slim at just 4.7mm. This panel covers 100% of the Wide Color Gamut (P3). Similarly, the contrast ratio and brightness level are listed at 100:1 and 300 nits, respectively.
Performance
Interestingly, the Honor V700 gaming laptop features 10th-generation Intel processors in a time where the US is stopping even non-US silicon manufacturers to supply chips for Huawei and Honor smartphones. Users can choose between i7-10750H and i5-10300H. Both the processors are based on Intel’s 14nm++ process but the Core i7 has better core/thread count (6/12) and faster clock speed (up to 5.0 GHz). The Core i5 features 4 cores/8 threads and can only attain a clock speed of up to 4.5GHz. Handling the graphics in the Core i7 model is NVIDIA’s RTX 2060 while it is replaced by GTX 1660 Ti in the Core i5 model. Both variants come with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. There is also a 1TB SSD option for the Core i7 variant.
For thermal management, Honor is relying on its Wind Valley design that closes the air vents when the laptop is closed and opens them when it’s opened. The new design allows the laptop to remain slim when it’s closed. The laptop features a dual 12V pressure fan and a heat sink that makes use of surrounding surfaces to dissipate heat.
The whole setup is backed by a 56 Watt-Hr battery. Taking about the I/O options, the laptop has two USB 3.2 ports, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI 2.0 port, an ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone combo jack. It also supports Wi-Fi 6.
Ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x Ethernet port and 1x 5mm headphone combo jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6
Keyboard: Full-Size Keyboard; RGB Lighting
Audio: Nahimic 3D Audio
Battery: 56 Whr Battery
Honor Hunter V700 Price in Nepal and Availability
As of now, the Honor Hunter V700 gaming laptop is exclusive to the Chinese market, where its price starts at 7,499 Yuan. If Honor decides to launch it in Nepal, we expect the price of the Hunter V700 gaming laptop to start at around NPR 135,000.
Honor V700 Model
Price in China
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Core i5, GTX 1660 Ti, 512GB
7,499 Yuan
NPR 135,000
Core i7, RTX 2060, 512GB
8,499 Yuan
NPR 155,000
Core i7, RTX 2060, 1TB
9,999 Yuan
NPR 180,000
Check out our review of the Asus TUF A15 gaming laptop.
This year has been a little bit interesting for the smartphone world as we finally got to see Apple and OnePlus launching phones in the mid-range category after a long while. And today we have the iPhone SE 2020 and the OnePlus Nord up for comparison. These are probably the best non-flagship phones you can buy right now in the majority of the countries. Yes, I have not included Pixel 4a or the Redmi K30 Ultra…well because they aren’t as widely available as the two phones I have with me.
And while the OnePlus Nord and the iPhone SE 2020 are priced similarly in the European market, the price difference between these phones is quite high in the Asian market. But you know what? iPhones have always been pricier than its Android counterparts in this part of the world and frankly, I don’t know why. Regardless, which one should you pick, and which one would I recommend? Let’s do a detailed comparison in this video and find out.
iPhone SE 2020, OnePlus Nord Specs:
Specifications
iPhone SE 2020
OnePlus Nord
Body
5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29-inches; 148gm; IP67 dust/water resistance
Design-wise, these are completely different devices. OnePlus Nord has a more modern approach to its looks while the iPhone SE 2 is basically your old school iPhone 8, with different internals, of course. So, if you are someone who is into compact devices, the iPhone SE is a breath of fresh air in this world filled with large phones. It’s handy, comfortable for one-hand usage, and it fits snugly inside your pocket.
On the other hand, OnePlus Nord looks much more trendy and modern. Although it does not fit well for one-hand usage, the device does have good ergonomics in its favor. Additionally, the Nord gives you an in-display fingerprint sensor as opposed to the physical Touch ID on the iPhone SE 2020.
Being an iPhone 7 user in the past myself, I know how physical buttons are subject to damage over time. So, OnePlus’ implementation is certainly better among the two. Also, the minimal bezels, the tiny punch hole all add to the niceties of the Nord’s design.
Yes, you do get some perks in the iPhone SE’s design like an IP67 rating as compared to the splash resistance on the OnePlus Nord, but that, in no way covers up for its dated design and not so appealing aesthetics.
OnePlus Nord: 1 | iPhone SE 2020: 0
So, if you ask me to choose between one of these designs, well, it’s the OnePlus Nord!
Display
On the display front too, you’re obviously going to get a lot more on the OnePlus Nord. I mean, it gives you a big AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate meaning you not only get to enjoy deeper blacks and vibrant colors but it offers you a smoother viewing, gameplay experience as well.
iPhone SE on the other hand offers an HD retina display with a much older 16:9 aspect ratio. And although its quality is decent, the display is too small and the bezels are too thick for it to be crowned as the winner in this aspect. So, this round goes to the OnePlus Nord as well.
OnePlus Nord: 2 | iPhone SE 2020: 0
Performance
Well, OnePlus Nord might take the cake for having the better design and display, but where the iPhone SE does holds its ground is unarguably in the performance and software support department.
As we all know by now, the iPhone SE 2020 is powered by Apple’s latest A13 Bionic chipset which is one of the fastest chipsets around – and not just in the Apple ecosystem. OnePlus Nord comes with the Snapdragon 765G & although I have the 12GB RAM variant, it struggles to keep up with the A13 in practically every aspect of performance like app opening, multitasking, gaming, etc. I ran multiple speed tests on these devices with apps that I use regularly and unsurprisingly found the iPhone SE completing it faster every time.
Even when it comes to gaming, the iPhone SE does better. For instance, I can play PUBG Mobile in HDR graphics and Extreme frame rates without much lags, while the OnePlus Nord maxes out at HD graphics and High frame rates. Yes, the 90Hz refresh rate makes the gameplay a little better on the Nord but this, in no way, can compensate for the higher frame rates and better graphics that we can get on the iPhone SE 2020.
So, with its top-of-the-line performance, the iPhone SE 2020 wins this round.
OnePlus Nord: 2 | iPhone SE 2020: 1
Software
Not to forget, this incredible performance is backed by iOS 13 whose app optimizations and back end support is just amazing. All of my most used apps like Instagram, YouTube Studio, Pages Manager, etc. run better on iOS devices.
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Also, you get a well-stocked App Store in iOS with a wide selection of premium apps. Add to that the fact that the iPhone SE is going to receive updates for much longer than the Nord, the second-gen iPhone SE appeals to all those looking for years of software updates. Yes, OxygenOS is one of the best skins for Android but in comparison to iOS, it is still not up there.
So, the iPhone SE is the undisputed winner in the software department as well.
OnePlus Nord: 2 | iPhone SE 2020: 2
Cameras
Since I have been using these devices for a long time now, I have had the opportunity to test them quite extensively. Spec-wise, you get 2 cameras on the iPhone SE 2020, a 12MP back camera, and a 7MP camera at the front while the OnePlus Nord has a total of 6 cameras, a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. There are two cameras up front consisting of a 32MP primary sensor and 8MP ultra-wide- lens.
Quick info, I will divide this comparison between the rear camera, front camera, and videos!
Rear Camera(s)
Normal Images
In terms of the primary camera, both phones do a pretty good job. iPhone SE produces warmer colors while the Nord has a cool tone in its images. The dynamic range works a little better on the iPhone SE though and sometimes its images are little on the saturated side. Despite this, I like the images from both cameras.
Normal
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OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
However, something that the iPhone SE does so much better is that its autofocus works wonderfully well and you will notice no shutter lag which of course is a perk of the well-optimized iOS.
Portrait Images
Moving on, software-side portraits on the iPhone SE are on par with those from the 5MP depth sensor on the OnePlus Nord.
Portrait
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OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
It’s just that the subjects appear a little dark on the SE as compared to Nord. Otherwise, both phones do a well enough job in portraits.
Nighttime Images
Talking of nighttime images, OnePlus Nord does slightly better in terms of details. But overall, the normal night time images are similar on both phones.
Nighttime
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OnePlus Nord - Normal Nighttime
iPhone SE 2020 - Nighttime
OnePlus Nord - Normal Nighttime
iPhone SE 2020 - Nighttime
OnePlus Nord - Night Mode
iPhone SE 2020 - No Night Mode
OnePlus Nord - Night Mode
iPhone SE 2020 - No Night Mode
However, the iPhone SE does not have a dedicated night mode while the Nightscape feature on the Nord helps balance exposure and details by a great deal. So, that’s a plus for the Nord!
Wideangle Images
Also, we cannot miss out on the fact that the OnePlus Nord gives an ultra-wide-angle lens and a macro lens too which makes its rear cameras more versatile than the single-camera setup on the iPhone SE.
OnePlus Nord - Wideangle
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So, although both phones’ primary cameras do a similar job, it’s only fair to declare the Nord as the winner of this round.
OnePlus Nord: 3 | iPhone SE 2020: 2
Front Camera(s)
About the front cameras, I prefer the images from the OnePlus Nord in terms of skin color. iPhone SE applies a really unnatural brown-ish tint which makes you look a little weird.
Selfie
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OnePlus Nord
OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
OnePlus Nord
iPhone SE 2020
Plus, the Nord gives you an extra wide-angle lens up front too. So, OnePlus Nord snatches victory in the selfie battle too.
OnePlus Nord: 4 | iPhone SE 2020: 2
Videos
Despite OnePlus’ dominance in the image department, I would give the iPhone SE the crown when it comes to videos. Here, you can get well stabilized and good quality videos in 4k 60 fps while the highest you can go on the Nord is 4k @30 fps.
OnePlus Nord: 4 | iPhone SE 2020: 3
Connectivity
Now, let’s get to connectivity. The iPhone SE supports the newer WiFi 6 while the OnePlus Nord does not have that. Yet, the Nord with its 5G connectivity, Dual-SIM compatibility, Bluetooth 5.1, and support for some high-end audio codec (aptX HD), all of which the iPhone SE 2020 lacks, wins this round.
OnePlus Nord: 5| iPhone SE 2020: 3
Audio quality & Vibration
Audio-wise, in a typical 2020 fashion, you don’t get a headphone jack on both phones. Likewise, iPhone SE has a stereo speaker while the OnePlus Nord only has a single firing speaker at the bottom. Overall, the iPhone SE has better audio clarity and frequency response.
Also, the iPhone SE has a better vibration motor compared to the significantly weaker motors on the OnePlus Nord.
OnePlus Nord: 5| iPhone SE 2020: 4
Battery
Time to talk about the batteries. And like I said in the long term review of the iPhone SE, it has one of the worst endurance among any other upper mid-range phone in 2020. The worst part is that you don’t even get a fast charger inside its box.
On the other hand, OnePlus Nord has a much bigger battery, better endurance and the company provides the 30W fast charger inside the box. You sure don’t get the wireless charging feature on the Nord like the iPhone SE 2, but I am sure one won’t miss such a flagship feature on an upper mid-range phone.
So, without any doubt, OnePlus Nord absolutely thrashes the iPhone SE in the battery department.
OnePlus Nord: 6| iPhone SE 2020: 4
iPhone SE 2020 vs OnePlus Nord: Conclusion
The conclusion here is pretty clear. OnePlus Nord is victorious in more aspects while the iPhone SE sweeps victory mainly in the performance and software department. But then again, it all boils down to the ever-lasting Android-iOS debate.
No Android phone in this price range can provide you iPhone SE-level performance and years of software support. However, it is also true that the unrivaled performance comes at a cost of feature omissions like a better display and bigger battery, etc.
Overall, I think the OnePlus Nord is a much better value for the money than the iPhone SE 2020, at least in South Asia. If only Apple had made a few changes in the iPhone SE rather than just repackaging the iPhone 8 with A13 Bionic chipset, this comparison would have turned out to be very different. So, unless you strictly want an iPhone, getting the OnePlus Nord, that too for a cheaper price, would be the wiser investment.
Watch our video comparison of the iPhone SE 2020 and OnePlus Nord.
Earlier this year, Vivo launched the Y51s after almost five years since the release of the launch of the original Y51. And now the company has released a new mid-range device under the Y51 moniker. Let’s check out the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Vivo Y51 2020 in Nepal.
Vivo Y51 (2020) Overview
Design and Display
Smartphone designs have come a long way since 2015 and it is well reflected in the Y51 2020. While the Y51 came with the traditional bezels, the 2020 refresh features a notched display with a screen to body ratio of 90%. Vivo has used a Super AMOLED panel for the 6.38-inch display. It sports an FHD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels.
The back of the device is worth looking at because of the gradient design. The device is available in three color options – Mystic Black, Jazzy Blue, and Dreamy White. For the camera module, Vivo has gone for the distinct diamond-shaped camera bump that we have seen in popular mid-rangers like the Vivo S1 Pro.
Performance
Vivo Y51 2020 packs in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665. It is a decent mid-range SoC and certainly an upgrade over the SD 410 in the original Y51. However, we have seen devices featuring better platforms in the mid-range market segment. The device comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The latter can be expanded up to 256GB using an external SD card.
Vivo has included its proprietary Vivo Process Guardian technology in the device. The company claims that this technology is capable of predicting abnormalities triggered by third-party apps. It can repair those problems even before they occur with a success rate of 75%. For certain games, Vivo claims the number reaches up to 80%. It can also pre-load games up to 20% faster using AI. There is also a Voice Changer feature that you can use to mask your true identity while playing any online games.
The diamond-shaped camera bump encloses a quad-camera setup. A 48MP primary camera leads the setup. It has an aperture of f/1.8. The primary camera supports Vivo’s Super Night algorithm and Ultra-Stable Video mode (based on algorithm and motion sensors). Accompanying it is an 8MP ultra-wide camera that offers up to 120-degree of Field of View. The rest of the setup includes a 2MP macro camera (4cm) and a 2MP depth sensor.
On the front, there is a 16MP AI selfie camera. It comes with a beautification mode that you can use to brush up your facial features. Also, it can suggest new selfie poses if you like.
Rest of the Specs
Vivo Y51 2020 features a decent battery of 4500mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging technology. There is an optical fingerprint sensor under the AMOLED screen for biometrics. The device runs on Android 10 with Vivo’s FunTouch OS 10 on top.
Vivo Y51 (2020) will go on sale from September 18 in Pakistan, where its price is PKR 36,999. We can expect the price of Vivo Y51 (2020) in Nepal to be around NPR 28,000 when it launches in Nepal.
When it comes to smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series is as good as one can get. The company announced the latest smartwatch under the lineup during the Time Flies event held on September 15. Let’s take a closer look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Apple Watch Series 6 in Nepal.
Apple Watch Series 6 Overview
Design and Display
Before the actual unveiling, there were rumors that suggested that Apple could be moving on from the iconic square display that the Apple Watches have had over the years. However, Apple has not made the switch, at least for now. The new Apple Watch Series 6 still fancies the same design as its predecessor but the color options are wider than ever. The aluminum body is now available in Blue, Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Product (Red) color. The stainless steel case is available in Yellow Gold and Graphite.
However, there have been some improvements in the display panel. Apple says that the new Apple Watch Series 6 is up to 2.5 times brighter than its predecessor. Apple has also introduced what it calls the “Solo Loop” band. It’s a strap for the new Apple watch but without traditional claps and buckles. It is available in two designs – soft silicone and braided yarn.
Internal Specs
Apple Watch Series 6 is powered by the improved S6 System in Package (SiP). It is a sort of toned-down version of the A13 Bionic chipset found in the iPhone 11. The dual-core processor in the Watch 6 is claimed to be twice as fast as its predecessor. Similarly, the new Apple Watch comes with a U1 chip and Ultra-Wideband antennas which improves the short-range wireless location feature. Other components include a more efficient barometric altimeter, GPS, and Wi-Fi support.
The biggest headline of them all is the new SpO2 sensor at the back of the watch. The new sensor sends out different light to your skin and reads the color of the screen to give you a more accurate oxygen saturation level. The watch is capable of reading your SpO2 level on a periodic basis and recording them for reference. That is not all – Apple is teaming up with different researchers and universities to improve the SpO2 senor and figure out ways to deploy it for a wider range of tasks.
watchOS 7 adds some notable features like the low-range VO2 Max, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, and new workout types. It also comes with some new and exciting watch faces that users can choose as per their liking. Also, the new watch supports Family setup using which multiple watches can be connected to a single Apple device. With this users can take better care of their children or older family members who don’t have a smartphone of their own.
Rest of the specs
In spite of the boosted performance, the Apple Watch 6 offers the same battery endurance as its predecessor. That is, it can last up to 18 hours of usage. Similarly, you can fully charge it inside 1.5 hours. In a bid to limit the impact of e-waste on the environment, Apple will not be including a power adapter inside the box.
Apple Watch Series 6 Specifications:
Dimensions: (40mm: 40H x 34W x 10.42D-mm); (44mm: 44H x 38W x 10.42D-mm)
Display: (44mm: 368 x 394 p) / (40mm: 324 x 394) Always-on Retina LTPO OLED Display; 1000 nits
Control: Touch, Swipe, Digital Crown with haptic feedback
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours of battery life
Memory: 32GB Internal Storage
Chipset: Apple S6 with 64-bit dual-core processor; W3 Apple wireless chip; U1 chip
OS: Apple watchOS 7
Water Resistance Level: 50m water-resistant
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Built-in GPS (with GPS/GNSS)
Sensors: Built-in Compass, Barometer Altimeter, SpO2 Sensor, Second-Gen Optical Heart Sensor, Electrical Heart Sensor, Accelerometer up to 32 g-force
Apple Watch Series 6 Price in Nepal and Availability
Apple Watch Series 6 will go on sale from September 18 where its starting price is $399 for the WiFi-only and $499 for the LTE variant. Similarly, prices will vary depending upon the watch band you choose as well. We expect the price of Apple Watch Series 6 in Nepal to start at NPR 55,000.
Apple Watch Model
Starting Price (US)
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, WiFi)
$399
NPR 55,000
Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm, WiFi)
$429
NPR 59,000
Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, WiFi + LTE)
$499
NPR 69,000
Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm, WiFi + LTE)
$529
NPR 73,000
Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.
Oppo has officially launched a new mid-range phone in Nepal. Dubbed as the Oppo A53, this smartphone comes as a successor to Oppo A52, which launched in June here in Nepal. This phone has got a great mix of specs and could be an interesting entrant in the midrange smartphone segment. So, let’s find out more in detail about the specifications and the official price of Oppo A53 in Nepal.
Oppo A53 Overview
The device sports a 6.5-inch IPD LCD screen with HD+ resolution. And a refresh rate of 90Hz. Furthermore, the display has a small punch hole cutout on the top left corner for a single 16MP selfie shooter.
Around the back, there’s a triple camera array lined-up in a rectangular box. The primary lens is a 16MP sensor. And it is coupled with two 2MP sensors. Though it has not been specified, one of the two 2MP sensors might be a depth sensor and the other is probably a macro lens. Also on the rear panel, you will find a fingerprint sensor.
Under the hood, the Oppo A53 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 chipset. As for the GPU, it uses the Adreno 610. There will only be a single RAM variant of the device. And that RAM-storage combination is of 4GB and 64GB. However, users will be able to extend the memory to up to 256GB via a microSD card.
Entry-level phones usually pack in a great battery and the Oppo A53 is no different. It packs in a huge 5000mAh unit that supports 18W fast charging. On the software side of the things, the phone runs on Android 10 OS with ColorOS 7.2 on top.
Oppo A53 Specifications:
Display: 6.5″ IPS LCD panel with HD+ resolution (1600 x 720 pixels); 90Hz refresh rate
Xperia 5 II is officially the first phone from Sony to feature a higher refresh rate. The panel supports a 120 refresh rate and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. Earlier, Sony claimed that its display on the Xperia 1 II with its “Motion Blur Reduction” feature was comparable to mainstream 90Hz panels. On top of the higher refresh rate, Xperia has included 240Hz Motion Blur Reduction technology for a blur-free experience.
Compared to the 
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