China has announced the completion of its homegrown navigation system. President Xi Jinping confirmed the completion of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, nearly three decades since its initiation. The new system will compete against the US’s GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, and the EU’s Galileo. Keep reading to learn more about the BeiDou Navigation System.
BeiDou’s Timeline
China initially launched the BeiDou project back in 1994. In the first phase, otherwise known as BeiDou-1, China launched four Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) satellite in the space. China initially launched two satellites in 2000. It added two more satellites in the years – 2003 and 2007. Back then, only China could use these services.
The year 2004 marked the start of the second phase of the project. China launched the first satellite of the BeiDou-2 in 2004. The phase was completed in 2012. It broadened the coverage of the system to include the Asia Pacific region. Thus, China decommissioned BeiDou-1 in 2013.
The third phase started in 2009 and it finally concluded in 2020. The system was operational since 2018, two years before its completion. The BeiDou-3 has a total of 30 satellites and has been operational since 2018.
More about BeiDou Navigation System
Not only does BeiDou provide an accurate reading, but it also supports the transmission of messages and images. It can transit up to 1,200 Chinese characters. While the system can operate independently, it is compatible with three other navigation systems, namely GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), and Galileo (European Union).
The latest BeiDou-3 consists of 30 satellites. Out of the thirty, three are GEO satellites, three are Inclined Geosynchronous Orbie (IGSO) satellites, and twenty-four of them are Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites. The latest satellites offer higher bandwidth for better communication and more accurate atomic clocks. The rubidium clock is fully manufactured inside China and loses only a second per 300 million years.
“No country can stop the historical pace of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” – Xinhua
Thus, the new navigation system is proof that China is working to cut down reliability on foreign help. In recent times, the US government has heavily targetted China and China-based companies. Amidst that, the Chinese navigation system is a subliminal message that China can survive on its own technology. The country makes 500 different parts that are part of the system. It includes the rubidium atomic clocks, which the Chinese team completes in eight months.
Watch: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and Apple iPad 10.2 (2019)
The rumors had been swirling around for a while. And now it’s finally here. The follow-up to the affordable Pixel 3a was launched today. Aptly named the Google Pixel 4a, the phone ultimately quenches the thirst of many enthusiasts who’d been waiting for this year’s inexpensive Pixel. The device had been speculated for a long time and many are glad to see it finally launch. It brings in a significant upgrade from its predecessor and will look to compete against the likes of the iPhone SE 2 and OnePlus Nord. So, let’s find out what Google Pixel 4a is all about including its expected price in Nepal.
Google Pixel 4a Overview
The phone is basically a toned-down version of the Google Pixel 4 that launched last year. It has a rather small 5.81-inch OLED panel with FHD+ resolution. It comes with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and 443ppi pixel density. Furthermore, it has an Always-on Display (AoD) option, plus HDR support. Also, it has a punch-hole cutout that features a single selfie camera.
Cameras have always been the main attraction of the Pixel devices and it is the same for the Pixel 4a too. However, unlike most smartphones these days it is not packed in multiple sensors. Rather, the rear features just a single 12.2MP camera. The camera comes with Dual Pixel Tech, HDR support, OIS, and EIS. Furthermore, other features include portrait mode, top shot, night sight with astrophotography, and fused video stabilization. Upfront, the selfie camera is an 8MP wide-angle lens.
A major upgrade from the Pixel 3a can be found under the hood. Snapdragon 730G replaces the Snapdragon 670 SoC in terms of the processor. And the RAM and storage have been bumped to 6GB and 128GB respectively. These are some significant upgrades right there. However, right now, these specs are the bare minimums that a mid-range device should be offering.
Also, the device features a slightly larger 3140mAh battery as compared with its predecessor’s 3080mAh unit. And it supports 18W fast charging.
Google Pixel 4a Specifications:
Design: Glass body front, plastic back, plastic frame
Display: 5.81″ OLED display with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels)
Rear Camera: 12.2MP Sony IMX363 with f/1.7 aperture
Now, Google did mention something about the 5G variant of the Pixel 4a too. However, details about the phone were not revealed, except for the price which is $499. It is expected to pack in a different processor, most likely the Snapdragon 765G. And the rest of the specs is up for speculation. This variant will be launched only in selected countries such as UK, US, Canada, Germany, and some other European countries.
Google Pixel 4a Price in Nepal and Availability
The Google Pixel 4a is priced at $349 and it is available for pre-order in the US. It will, however, go on sale only on August 20. The device will arrive in India in October. Similarly, the 5G variant will cost $499. However, there is no confirmation about its availability just yet.
Model Name
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Google Pixel 4a (6/128GB)
NPR. 45,000
Google Pixel 4a 5G (6/128GB)
NPR. 65,000
Watch: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite vs Apple iPad 10.2 (2019)
Xiaomi is better-known for its value-oriented Redmi and Poco brands. Despite this, they have also been launching the premium Mi series since its establishment. Remember the Mi 3 that was launched back in 2013? Yes, that was Xiaomi’s flagship phone of 2013. But since then, I haven’t seen Xiaomi launching its flagship Mi lineup here in South Asia, although they were quite active in their homeland China and a few European markets. This year, they announced the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro and have launched these phones in many parts of the world. And here, I’ll be discussing the Xiaomi Mi 10 in this long-term review.
Connectivity: Single Nano-SIM, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.1, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/Beidou, USB Type-C
Battery: 4780mAh with 30W fast charging; 30W Wireless Charging
Colors: Coral Green, Twilight Grey, Peach Gold
Price in Nepal: Rs. 89,999 (8/256GB)
Xiaomi Mi 10 Long-Term Review:
Unlike its previous iterations, this year’s Mi flagships are quite expensive and are no longer flagship killers. Maybe that’s reserved for its Redmi K30 Pro and Poco F2 Pro phones from now on. In Nepal, only the Mi 10 has been launched. And I have been using it for almost a month now and have been comparing it with my primary phone, the Galaxy S20+. So, let’s find out if this new Xiaomi flagship is actually worth choosing over the Galaxy flagships.
Also, a little disclaimer. Xiaomi actually messed up with Mi 10’s pricing in India which is why you will see its many bad reviews. Mi 10 is like $100 more expensive than the OnePlus 8 in the country. So, if you are living in India, this Xiaomi flagship phone doesn’t make any sense. With that out of the way, let’s get on with the review of Xiaomi Mi 10.
Design
Glass front, glass back, and metallic frame
Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection all-around
Curved front and back delivers a comfortable grip
As you’d expect, Mi 10 is one premium-looking flagship smartphone. Both the front & the back of the phone are curved and made of glass while the frames are metallic, further adding to the premium-ness. Unfortunately, the glass front & back are protected by a generation older Gorilla Glass 5 which I feel is a compromise for a device of this stature.
I mean, Xiaomi provides it in its cheapest phones like the Redmi 8 as well. Furthermore, the Mi 10 lacks any sort of IP rating and the company has opted for a simpler P2i coating; which can also be found in much… much cheaper phones from Xiaomi.
In terms of weight, it is slightly heavier than the S20+ though the weight distribution is very good and the phone is ergonomically pleasing to hold. However, because of the camera bump at the back, I’d feel unsafe using it without a case. So, I slapped in the transparent case to the phone, that comes within the box itself.
What’s inside the box?
Talking about what’s inside the box, I was quite disappointed to see how Xiaomi didn’t include a pair of earphones. I don’t think I’m asking for a lot here since I paid flagship price for this, unlike other inexpensive Redmi phones. Even Apple includes a pair of wired earpods in its cheapest iPhone!
Design
1 of 2
Power Menu, Volume Rockers
SIM Tray, Type-C, Speaker
Additionally, the Mi 10 suffers from a slight flaw in design too. You see, the fourth lens from the top, in a separate module is a wide-angle lens. But its placement is so low that when you are shooting wide-angle images in portrait orientation, your fingers may get in the way.
Display
6.67-inches FHD+ curved E3 AMOLED panel
90Hz refresh rate; 180Hz touch sampling rate
Excellent colors & contrast, thanks to 100% DCI-P3, HDR10+
Getting to the display, Mi 10 features a stunning 6.6-inch FullHD+ Super AMOLED panel from TCL and has a tiny punch hole cutout on the top left side. Xiaomi has also pre-installed a thin film screen protector, which is nice. Talking more about the quality of the panel itself, it has excellent color reproduction, deep blacks, and an ample amount of brightness thus rooting out any concern for visibility even in sunny outdoors.
Furthermore, under the “Color Scheme” option inside the settings, you can change the color profile from warm to cool and even choose the RGB color space. There’s a dark mode as well, which works flawlessly on this Super AMOLED screen.
Mi 10 also comes with a customizable Always-on-Display function, although it’s a bit limited. On the contrary, Samsung’s Galaxy Store boasts a much wider array of options. For this, the company can always reach out to the developers’ community; which is abundant, especially in India.
A well-implemented curved display
Like I said earlier, Mi 10’s display has curved edges that are comparatively excessive to the ones found in Samsung’s Galaxy S20 lineup. With this, you’d think there would be a lot of accidental touches but I hardly experienced any. And like Mi Note 10 Lite which we reviewed a while back, there’s also a setting to block the registry of touch around the edges.
All in all, I really like the display on the Mi 10. Having said that, it’s most definitely is not an A+ panel compared to some other premium phones like Galaxy S20, OPPO Find X2 Pro, etc. as it lacks a smoother 120Hz refresh rate and a sharper QHD+ resolution.
Instead, Xiaomi has settled with a regular FHD+ display, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. Though that’s smooth enough to some extent, I feel like it’s a valid argument against the phone’s premium price.
Performance
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC (7nm)
8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.0 storage (non-expandable)
However, where the company hasn’t left any room for complaints is performance. Powered by the latest Snapdragon 865 which has been paired with 8GB of DDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage, this is one of the fastest phones you can buy right now in Nepal.
To reiterate, shifting from my Exynos 990 powered S20+ to the Mi 10 was a wild experience as I could instantly notice a marginal improvement in performance. So, yeah; installing and opening apps, or multitasking between the heaviest of them is buttery smooth on this phone. I also have praise for MIUI’s memory optimization.
But, in terms of core UI/UX experience, it is just about average as we’ve discovered time and again. There are plenty of bloatware apps and you can’t even uninstall some of them. Thankfully, unlike Xiaomi’s inexpensive phones, the Mi 10 is completely ad-free.
Gaming
In terms of gaming, the Mi 10 has a major upper hand over the S20. For instance, you can play PUBG at HDR graphics with Extreme frame rates without any lags or stutters. On the other hand, the max you can go with the S20+ is HDR graphics and Ultra frame rates. As a result, the gameplay is significantly better on the Mi 10. Other FPS games like CoD: Mobile run fantastic as well.
However, I was bummed to find out that some of the games like Fruit Ninja and Fortnite still run at 30fps in Xiaomi Mi 10 during my review. And I think the company should partner with developers and optimize all the popular games to run at 90fps. On the contrary, OnePlus 8 has fully utilized its faster display as it can now run Fortnite at 90fps.
The company has also given attention to detail on some minor things like the vibration motor by which you get great haptic feedback when you unlock the phone using the fingerprint sensor, use navigation buttons, type something, etc. Now, briefly getting into the optical fingerprint scanner, in my experience, it is noticeably faster and more accurate than the one found on Galaxy S20+.
What about the audio?
Even the audio performance from its stereo speaker is great with decent dynamic range and low distortion even at high volumes. Despite this, it’s not quite on par with the iPhone 11 or S20+.
Talking more on the audio, Mi 10 lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack and neither does it come with Dolby Atmos support. Therefore, I noticed a lack of depth and immersive-ness when listening to music using a pair of wireless earbuds as compared to my S20+. You can tweak the sound optimization but it must’ve had Dolby Atmos for a phone of this price.
20MP front-facing camera inside a punch-hole cutout
Cameras
1 of 3
Front Camera
Back Camera
Rear Camera Bump
Okay, now let’s talk about cameras. And frankly, I’m a little disappointed with it. First off, its camera arrangement is not versatile enough for a flagship phone as its depth sensor and macro lens are plain stupid. These days, you see a telephoto zoom lens even in phones 1/3rd the price of Mi 10.
The primary lens here is a 108MP Samsung Bright ISOCELL HMX sensor which is slightly different from S20 Ultra’s HM1 sensor. Yet, the Mi 10 is the first phone in Nepal with a 108MP sensor. With this, the phone does quad-pixel binning with 4 pixels instead of nona-binning with 9 pixels to one in the S20 Ultra. Besides this, there’s a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and finally a 2MP macro lens.
Macro Images
Let’s start with the macro lens and I’ll be blunt here.
Macro
1 of 2
For a lack of a better word, it’s pretty useless and unnecessary.
Normal Images
But that’s obviously not the case with the primary 108MP sensor. I compared it with the S20+ and S20 Ultra, and the results are quite competitive. The images have excellent colors, contrast, and details.
Primary
1 of 6
Mi 10
Galaxy S20+
Mi 10
Galaxy S20+
Mi 10
Galaxy S20+
The dynamic range is quite good as well. All in all, the primary camera is well-deserving of the flagship title.
Wideangle Images
However, the 16MP wide-angle images are not flagship-grade, to put it nicely. Under lighting, it produces nice images but comparatively, the S20+ has way better details and dynamic range.
Wideangle
1 of 4
Mi 10
Galaxy S20+
Mi 10
Galaxy S20+
Also, wide-angle shots in night mode are equally bad and you don’t get a dedicated night mode feature under this lens as well.
Nighttime Images
Moving to the nighttime images, the physically big 108MP sensor captures great images. But one thing that didn’t sit nicely with me is how when clicking photos is low-light in normal mode, it takes about 4 to 5 seconds to optimize the shot.
Normal Nighttime, Night Mode
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Mi 10 - 108MP Night Mode
Mi 10 Night Mode
Galaxy S20+ Night Mode
Mi 10 Night Mode
Galaxy S20+ Night Mode
Mi 10 - Normal Nighttime
Mi 10 Night Mode
Isn’t this why night mode exists? As a result, if you compare the low light shots in normal and night time mode, there isn’t much of a difference.
Wideangle Night Mode
1 of 3
Mi 10 Normal Nighttime
Mi 10 No Dedicated Wideangle Night Mode
Galaxy S20+ Wideangle Night Mode
Also, the software optimization for night time images is much better on the S20+ as you see in these sample shots; which goes on to show Xiaomi’s lack of a better image processing algorithm.
Portrait Images
Getting to the portrait images, Mi 10 uses its 2MP depth sensor for producing those bokeh effects. Resulting images are good, though it smoothens the subject’s skin by quite a bit and the background isn’t as lively as you’d expect.
Portrait
1 of 4
Mi 10
Galaxy S20+
Mi 10
Mi 10
Comparing it to the one taken from the telephoto lens on the S20+, you can see a more natural blur and better edge detection.
Selfie Images
In the selfie department, Xiaomi has done a commendable job. The details are excellent with good sharpness and an accurate color tone.
Selfie & Portrait Selfie
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Selfie
Selfie
Portrait Selfie
Portrait Selfie
The software-based portrait shots from the front-facing camera are nice as well, although edge detection could use some work.
Videography
Jumping to the videos, the 108MP sensor combined with Snapdragon 865 can process 8K videos. But at this point, it’s almost entirely a gimmick as you get no stabilization at all. However, for still-shooting purposes, the recordings are admirable.
You’ll get the best stabilization with OIS under 4K/30fps or 1080p/30fps recordings, with nice color reproduction as well. Weirdly enough, it doesn’t work well when bumping the frame rate to 60fps. In comparison, the S20 series gives way better stabilization even in 60fps videos at both 4K and 1080p resolution.
You can also shoot up to 4K/30fps videos using the wide-angle lens, with stabilization. But its result is quite mediocre with subpar colors and dynamic range. Here, the S20+ shoots better videos from its wide-angle sensor.
The front-facing camera is capable of shooting 1080p/30fps videos though this one too is lacking in stabilization, with worse color reproduction; thus, making it a not-so-optimal option for vlogging purposes. Here too, the S20+ outperforms the Mi 10.
Decent microphones
Surprisingly, its microphone is great with decent cancellation of background noise. But overall, I believe Xiaomi should’ve worked better in the video department. After all, Mi 10 is a flagship phone and as the evidence has it, its competing devices are way ahead.
All in all, the 108MP sensor on the phone is a great start. But to able to compete against the best, the Xiaomi still has a lot to do.
Battery
4780mAh battery with 30W fast wired charging
Plus 30W wireless charging
Now, let’s get into the battery. You get a decent 4780mAh cell which gives off a better endurance than the S20+. Even with turning on the 90Hz refresh rate and Always on Display, the phone lasted me a full day with around 15-20% charge still remaining.
Mi 10’s charging is equally fantastic as the phone supports 30W wired as well as wireless charging. During my review period, the Xiaomi Mi 10 went from 0 to 100% in a little over 1 hour using the wired charger and slightly longer using a wireless one. However, Xiaomi could’ve gone with a more versatile & faster 65W PD/PPS charger, using which you can even charge your laptop.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Xiaomi’s flagships have come a long way which is a good thing; not just in Xiaomi’s account but from the perspective of the entire smartphone industry. For years, there have been very few players in the premium market but the Mi 10 challenges that norm. Yet, as I said in the beginning, Xiaomi should’ve come with much more aggressive pricing in big markets like India to compete against its direct rival OnePlus.
Having said that, in a market like Nepal, I strongly believe the Xiaomi Mi 10’s pricing is to some extent justified, making it a good option in the flagship market. The phone does have its limitations though; it is not IP certified, you don’t get a telephoto lens, and a few more. Provided that the phone had these features as well, the new Xiaomi Mi 10 would’ve almost been a perfect flagship.
Watch our video review of the Xiaomi Mi 10!
Xiaomi Mi 10 Long-Term Review: Pros & Cons
Pros:
Fantastic design with curves all-around for a better grip
Excellent & fluid AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate
108MP camera is an absolute show-stealer
Top-notch performance thanks to the flagship Snapdragon 865 SoC
Terrific battery endurance & a fast wired or wireless charging support
Cons:
Leaving the primary sensor, the rest of the cameras are mediocre
No IP rating of any sort in a flagship phone is a bummer
Falls behind to other flagship phones in areas like higher refresh rate, sharper resolution, and a decent audio system
Realme has now officially launched the first phone in it’s V- series, the Realme V5. Furthermore, it is currently the cheapest 5G phone out there too. It comes bearing the new MediaTek Dimensity 720 SoC as we previously know from the teasers. Similarly, the device comes with a 5,000 mAh battery with 30- watt VOOC Flash charging support.
Design and Display
Realme V5 has similar display specifications as that of the Realme 6. It features a 6.5-inches IPS LCD display with a 20:9 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and a touch sampling rate of 180Hz. The phone sports a punch- hole on the top left corner while the fingerprint sensor resides at the side.
Realme has its logo stamped on the rear panel of the phone. Thanks to its size, it’s very hard to go unnoticed. We previously saw Realme do a similar thing in the Narzo 10A. The back is the house for a quad-camera setup that is arranged in an L- shaped rectangular module.
Camera
As mentioned earlier, the Realme V5 has four cameras at the rear, consisting of a 48MP primary lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens with 119- degree FoV, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth-sensing lens. The punch hole on the front houses the 16MP selfie camera.
Performance and Memory
In accordance with the rumors, the Realme V5 comes with MediaTek’s new lineup of the chipset, the Dimensity 720. About its architecture, it has two powerful Cortex A76 cores and six efficiency Cortex A55 units, all clocked at 2GHz. The V5 has bee launched in two configurations, one with 6GB and the other with 8GB of RAM while you get 128GB internal storage with optional expansion via a microSD slot. The phone will ship with Realme UI based on Android 10.
With the new Dimensity 720 at work, the phone will also have 5G capabilities that include support for the sub-6 GHz standard. It works on both SA and NSA networks. The company has also provided a feature called Smart 5G that switches between 5G and LTE for a seamless online experience and to save battery power.
Battery
The V5 will get its juice from a massive 5,000mAh battery with support for 30-Watt VOOC flash charging technology via Type-C outlet. The company claims that the device can get to 100% from 0 in just 65 minutes.
Realme V5 Price in Nepal and Availability (expected)
Realme V5 has launched in China and is already available for pre-orders through its Chinese website. We can expect the Realme V5 to launch in Nepal for a price of Rs. 30,000 for the base variant.
Smartphone Model
Price in china
Price in Nepal
Realme V5 (6+128GB)
CNY1,499
Rs. 30,000
Realme V5 (8+128GB)
CNY1,899
Rs. 37,500
Check out our impressions video of the new OnePlus Nord!
TikTok, the ultra-famous short video sharing platform, is once again making headlines. Trump’s government in the US has suggested that it would ban Tiktok in the country. Read along to learn more about the story.
The problem with TikTok
Since its initial release in 2016, TikTok has gathered around 800 million active global users. In a recent anti-trust hearing, Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook, CEO) recognized the app as the “fastest-growing app”. The platform remains very popular with its users. However, policymakers from different countries have viewed the app as a security threat.
ByteDance, a Chinese startup company, owns TikTok. The Chinese background is enough to cause suspicions among policymakers. The problem, here, is the Chinese National Intelligence Law. All the China-based companies are required by the law to help the Chinese government in its intelligence gathering. The app is accused of collecting users’ data unethically and supplying it to the Chinese Communist Party illegally.
Around a month ago, the Indian government banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps showing security concerns. It came as a major blow to the company as India, at that time, was the app’s biggest market.
Trump, China, and TikTok Ban
Last year, Trump’s government included Huawei in the Entity list. FCC has also banned Huawei and ZTE from the US networks. Senators in the US were calling for investigations on the app.
The US first hinted at banning the app at the start of July. However, things have escalated quickly since the Tulsa incident. Trump announced a rally on June 19 in Tulsa. Around a million people made reservations for the event. However, the actual attendance in the event was far underwhelming. It was reported that TikTok users deliberately signed up for the event only to not show up in the event.
Trump’s Tulsa Rally Attendance [Image Credit: LA Times]There are two options to address the situation surrounding the controversial app – let US-based companies acquire the operations in the US or ban the app completely in the country. Trump’s latest statement suggests a ban is underway. Trump suggested he will use emergency economic powers or an executive order to impose a ban.
TikTok’s Defense
TikTok has around 80 million users in the US. As a result, the US is among its biggest audiences. Policymakers have accused the app of supplying user data to the Chinese Communist Party. TikTok says that the user data of its US audience is stored on American servers. The data are further backed by Singapore-based servers. It argues that these data don’t fall under Chinese law.
The company has also expressed its desire to be a global company. It looks forward to working in the US following all the relevant laws. TikTok has announced a $200 million Creator Fund to help American creators. The company also plans to increase it to over a billion-dollar in the span of three years. It is also working on creating over 10,000 new jobs in the US.
What does it mean to the competitors?
TikTok is the only app that can potentially threaten the likes of Facebook, Instagram, and even YouTube. Thus, these companies are already working on TikTok replacements. In its press release, TikTok acknowledges Facebook is working on another copycat product (referring to Reel) after the failure of Lasso. YouTube is also working on TikTok like a short-video feature. TikTok has accused Facebook of using patriotism for malignly attacking the company. These companies will benefit the most following ban of TikTok on US soil.
Microsoft’s Latest Statement
Microsoft has confirmed that it is still working on acquiring the operational rights of TikTok in the US and a few other regions, following discussions between the company’s CEO Satya Neadella and the US President.
Microsoft is planning to own and operate TikTok services in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It could even include other minor American investors. Eventually, Microsoft will make necessary amendments in the structure of the Tiktok focusing on security and privacy. The company plans to transfer data of American users inside the country. Microsoft and ByteDance are looking to wrap up everything by September 15.
So, what do you think about the story? Is TikTok really a treat? Let us know in the comment section below.
Watch: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite vs Apple iPad 10.2 (2019)
The last few weeks have been great for the Android gaming community. First, Qualcomm announced the SD 865+ with a clock speed of over 3.0GHz. Then we witnessed the launch of some really cool gaming smartphones. Giving continuity to this trend, Xiaomi’s gaming lineup, Black Shark has added a new device. The new Black Shark 3S isn’t an entirely new phone and is a minor upgrade to the Black Shark 3 instead. Check out the specs, features, expected price, and availability of Black Shark 3S in Nepal.
Xiaomi Black Shark 3S Overview
Design and Display
The Black Shark 3S features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display. This screen size is the same as found in the Black Shark 3. While the latter came with a 90Hz screen, its successor now has a higher 120Hz panel. The touch sampling rate is 270Hz. Its MEMC 3.0 technology on the phone can upscale slower content to a higher refresh rate. While it isn’t the fastest screen available, it does come with an HDR10+ certification and better color accuracy.
The device comes with Screen Pressure 4.0. What it means is that the display has two specialized zones which the user can assign to different in-game function.
Processor and Camera
Sadly, there is nothing new in the performance department. Like the Black Shark 3, the 3S relies on the standard Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. It’s unfortunate that the company didn’t consider the faster SD 865+ instead. However, 865 is still capable of delivering serious gaming performance. On the memory front, the device comes with a single 12GB of RAM. Users can choose between 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB of internal storage. However, the latter is not available right now. Unlike the Black Shark 3, all the variants feature LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.
The camera department is also pretty much unchanged. It features a 64MP triple camera setup. The primary camera (f/1.8) is accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide-angle shooter (120-degree FOV), and a dedicated 5MP depth sensor. On the front, a 20MP camera has been housed inside the top bezels.
Battery
Similarly, Black Shark 3S features a 4,729mAh battery that supports fast charging of up to 65W. The 65W charger can charge the device from 0 to 50% inside 5 minutes. Additionally, users can buy separate cooling accessories. The discrete fan connects magnetically on the back of the device that is capable of 18W charging. While it doesn’t provide an upgrade in terms of charging speed, it will allow you to continue your gaming while charging without cables disturbing you.
AdditionalFeatures
The new Black Shark 3S runs on the latest Joy 12 UI based on Android 10. Thanks to the Voice Control 2.0 feature users can now adjust their game setting through voice commands. It will come handy when you are in-game and can’t afford to leave your control. The company has partnered with Tencent for Solarcore. Turning on the hunting mode will result in improved ground visuals.
Users can record their sessions using the Black Shark Moment 3.0. The Black Shark 3S also supports screen mirroring via the USB Type-C port. The games mirrored this way will run at 60Hz refresh rate and with a latency of 40ms.
Connectivity: 5G (NA, NA, NSA), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.5GHz, 5Hz), 4 x 4 MIMO, MU MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0
Audio: aptX, aptX HD
Battery: 4729mAh with 65W fast charging
Black Shark 3S Price in Nepal and Availability
Xiaomi Black Shark 3S is available for pre-order in China, where its price is ¥3,999 for 12/128GB, ¥4,299 for 12/256GB, ¥4,799 for 12/512GB. We expect the starting price of Xiaomi Black Shark 3S in Nepal to be around Rs. 70,000 if it launches.
Xiaomi Black Shark 3S Model
Price in Nepal (Expected)
12GB/128GB
NPR 70,000
12GB/256GB
NPR 75,000
12GB/512GB
NPR 85,000
Watch: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and Apple iPad 10.2 (2019)
Chinese tech giant Oppo has officially unveiled the global variant of the Reno4 Pro. However, it isn’t the same device that was launched in China a couple of months ago. Let’s take a look at the specs, features, expected price, and availability of global variant Oppo Reno4 Pro in Nepal.
Oppo Reno4 Pro Overview
Design and Display
The Oppo Reno4 Pro has a 6.5-inch 3D hyperboloid display that ensures the phone is comfortable to hold. Here, Oppo has included an AMOLED panel. It is TUV Rheinland certified for reduced blue rays emission that harms our eyes. Oppo Reno4 Pro also supports a 90Hz refresh rate but misses out on a dual-camera setup on the front, unlike the regular Reno4. Similarly, the touch sample rate is 180Hz.
The device comes with Netflix HD certification and Amazon Prime Video HDR streaming certification too.
Performance
Powering the phones is the Snapdragon 720G SoC which is actually a downgrade from the 765G in the Chinese variant. Global variant now comes with two Kyro 465 Gold cores clocked at 2.3GHz and 6 Kyro 465 Silver cores clocked at 1.8GHz. Similarly, the 720G doesn’t have an integrated 5G modem, so the device will be void of the feature. In countries where 5G infrastructure is still scarce, the SD 765G would have only bumped the price without adding much to the functionality. Oppo has included a graphite heat-dissipation system to make the device run cool.
The global variant of the Reno4 Pro comes with four cameras compared to three sensors in the Chinese variant. But there is hardly anything to get excited as Oppo removed the telephoto lens and laser autofocus to make room for 2MP macro sensor and 2MP monochrome sensor instead. The 48MP primary sensor comes with EIS, which the company calls Super Anti-Shake 3.0. Finally, there is an 8MP ultra-wide sensor. Then, there is a single 32MP selfie camera on the front.
The device supports some cool features such as Super Anti-Shake 3.0, Night Flare Portrait, Monochrome Video, and AI Color portrait.
Battery and Others
The battery capacity on the Reno4 Pro is a moderate 4000mAh cell. It also supports 65W fast charging that can refill the device completely in 36 minutes. Also, 5 minutes of charge can add up to 4 hours to the battery backup. The phone runs on Android 10 with ColorOS 7.2 on top.
Battery: 4,000mAh with 65W (SuperVOOC 2.0) fast charging
Oppo Reno4 Pro Price in Nepal and Availability
Oppo Reno4 Pro is up for pre-order in India, while the actual sale will begin from August 5. The price of Reno4 Pro in India is INR 34,490 for the 8GB/128GB variant. We expect the price of Oppo Reno4 Pro in Nepal to be around NPR 56,000.
Smartphone
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Oppo Reno4 (8/128GB)
Rs. 56,000
Watch: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite vs Apple iPad 10.2 (2019)
Two months after their Chinese launch, the Oppo Reno4 lineup is finally making its way into the global market. However, the Oppo has changed some element in these smartphones to better suit the international market. In this post, we will take a look at the global variant of the Oppo Reno4 along with its specs, features, expected price, and availability in Nepal.
Oppo Reno4 Overview
Design and Display
The global variant of the Oppo Reno4 follows the same design language as its Chinese counterpart. It sports a 6.43-inch screen, with a pixel density of 409P PPI. The Reno4 is TUV Rheinland certified against blue rays emission. It boasts a local peak brightness of 800 nits. While it doesn’t support a higher refresh rate, it enjoys a dual-camera setup on the front. The screen to body ratio on Oppo Reno4 is 90.7%. It also comes with Netflix HD Streaming Certification.
At the back, Reno4 has a gorgeous back panel worth checking out. Oppo has implemented a new design named as Reno Glow design. It boasts an optimized etching process which makes the back of the device smooth and shiny, yet is fingerprint-resistant. Oppo claims they have figured out a way to alter the microstructure of AG glass to consolidate flash drills, making the rear panel more wear-resistant. The camera module is on the top left side. The camera protrudes a bit, making it vulnerable from scratches.
The global variant of the Oppo Reno4 comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 720G compared to the Snapdragon 765G in the Chinese variant. 5G is not available everywhere and including a 5G ready processor can significantly hike the price. The 720G features two Cortex A76 cores clocked @ 2.3Ghz, while the two Cortex A76 cores on the 765G are clocked @ 2.4Ghz and 2.2Ghz respectively. Likewise, both processors feature 6x Cortex A55 cores (@ 1.8GHz). The 720G is based on an older 8nm process node and comes with Adreno 618 GPU.
Camera
Additionally, the global variant of the Reno4 has four cameras at the back. Oppo has replaced the laser autofocus with a dedicated 2MP macro sensor. 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor leads the quad-camera setup. It is joined by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, it has a dual-camera setup with a 32MP primary lens, accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor. It would have been great if Oppo had opted for the ultra-wide selfie snapper instead of a gimmicky depth sensor. The two cameras are enclosed inside a pill-shaped screen cutout.
Battery and Others
Powering the Reno4 is a decent 4,015mAh. While the Chinese variant supported 65W fast charging, the global variant comes with 30W VOOC Flash Charging.
Reno4 comes pre-loaded with the ColorOS v7.2 based on Android 10. The device has an in-display fingerprint sensor for biometrics.
OPPO Reno4 Specifications:
Display: 6.43-inch AMOLED dual-punch hole display
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G
CPU: Octa-Core (2 x 2.3GHz Kyro 465 Gold+ 6 x 1.8GHz Kryo 465 Silver CPUs)
Battery: 4,015mAh with 30W (VOOC 4.0) fast charging
Oppo Reno4 Price in Nepal and Availability
Reno4 is already up for pre-order in Thailand. The price of Reno4 is 11,900 Thai Baht for the sole 8/128GB model. We expect the price of Oppo Reno4 in Nepal to be around Rs. 46,000.
Smartphone
Price in Nepal (Expected)
Oppo Reno4 (8/128GB)
~ Rs. 46,000
Check out our review of Oppo F15 and Samsung Galaxy A51
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
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
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 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 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.
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On the front, it has a dual-camera setup with a 32MP primary lens, accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor. It would have been great if Oppo had opted for the ultra-wide selfie snapper instead of a gimmicky depth sensor. The two cameras are enclosed inside a pill-shaped screen cutout.
