Page 581 – GadgetByte Nepal

Samsung Galaxy M31 with 64MP camera, 6000mAh battery launched in Nepal

Nikhil Shrestha

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June 4, 2020

Samsung Galaxy M31 with 64MP camera, 6000mAh battery launched in Nepal

After the tremendous success of last year’s battery beast – M30s, Samsung had unveiled the Galaxy M31 in India back in February. However, its launch here in Nepal had to be postponed because of the Corona Virus outbreak and the nation-wide lockdown that followed. However, Samsung has finally unveiled the Galaxy M31 in Nepal for a competitive price tag. It is set to compete against Redmi Note 9 Pro, which just launched today as well.

Samsung Galaxy M31 Overview

Following the naming scheme of suffixing ‘1’ like in the new phones under the ‘A’ series, the Samsung Galaxy M31 shares multiple similarities with its predecessor and offers some improvements in key areas.

Design & Display

There really is no difference in design between the Galaxy M31 and the M30s. Both phones have a plastic frame and a polycarbonate back. The vertically oval fingerprint scanner is also present on the M31, though I hope Samsung’s done some homework in making it a tad bit faster compared to the M30s.

Moreover, the only major differentiating thing between the two is that the new M31 has a wider camera module to cram in an extra sensor. Besides that, Samsung has gone on a dark route in terms of color options on the Galaxy M31.

Similarly, there’s no evolution in terms of the display either. It’s a 6.4-inches FHD+ Super AMOLED panel with the same Infinity ‘U’ cutout for the front camera. This glass panel is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and has a peak brightness of 420nits. Since it’s an AMOLED display, its vibrant, colorful and has a great contrast ratio.

Cameras

Thank god, there’s some significant upgrade on the M31, ’cause I was already bored of saying how it’s identical to the M30s. Giving in to the quad-camera trend, Samsung has slapped in an additional macro lens this time around.

The primary shooter has been upgraded to a 64MP unit, which uses Samsung’s Tetracell pixel binning to give out 16MP photos. Besides that, there’s an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, a 5MP depth sensor, and finally a 5MP macro lens. The cameras are arranged inside an upside-down ‘L’ shaped arrangement.

Coming to the front, there’s a single selfie camera, which has been upgraded to a 32MP lens that can also shoot 4K and slow-mo videos.

Performance & Memory

In terms of performance, the Galaxy M31’s got the same old Exynos 9611 chipset as its older brother. Why am I surprised? Expecting a decent SoC in a budget/mid-range phone from Samsung is basically like expecting Mercury to go in retrograde; it’s very rare. While brands like Realme & Xiaomi are pumping out budget and mid-range devices with extremely powerful chipsets, Samsung is still sticking to the strategy of:

pretty design + underpowered chipset.

In terms of memory, it’s been realized that 3/4GB of RAM is no longer sufficient for a 2020 phone. Recognizing that, Samsung has gone with 6 or 8GB of RAM on the Galaxy M31. Moreover, in Nepal, there’s only the 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage variant available, which can be expanded using a microSD card. The phone runs on One UI 2.0 based on Android 10 out-of-the-box.

Moreover, the Galaxy M31 is also Widevine L1 certified for playing HD content on the web. Adding to an immersive entertainment experience is the Dolby Atmos 360º surround-sound speaker.

Battery

Well, they don’t call it the “#MegaMonster” for nothing, now do they? Like how the M30s absolutely swiped the floor with its tremendous 6000mAh battery, the legacy continues with the Galaxy M31. I sure am happy to see the same caliber battery here, but can’t help but wish there was some improvement in terms of its charging.

In our review of the M30s, the phone already proved to be a two-day phone, which is great; no complaints there. But it took almost 2 and a half hours to take it to full charge from nil. That’s too long, ain’t it? Well, Samsung clearly doesn’t think so, as the M31 comes bearing the same 15W charging capability. That’s entirely an SoC-constraint because the Exynos 9611 only supports Adaptive Fast Charging (15W).

Samsung Galaxy M31 Specifications:

Body: 6.26 x 2.96 x 0.35 inches; 191 gm
Display: 6.4-inches Super AMOLED panel
Resolution: FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels); 19.5:9 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
Storage: 128GB UFS 2.1 (expandable using SD card)
Software & UI: Samsung’s One UI 2.0 on top of Android 10
Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
– 64MP, f/1.7 primary shooter
– 8MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide lens with 123º FOV
– 5MP, f/2.2 depth sensor
– 5MP, f/2.2 macro sensor
– Single LED flash
Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.0 lens
Security: Physical capacitative fingerprint scanner
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, Dolby Atmos
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BDS, USB Type-C
Battery: 6000 mAh with 15W fast charging
Colors: Ocean Blue, Space Black, Red

Samsung Galaxy M31 Price in Nepal & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy M31 price in Nepal for the 6/128GB variant is Rs. 29,999. The higher-end 8/128GB is priced at Rs. 34,999.

Model	Old Price	New Price
Samsung Galaxy M31 (6GB,128GB)	NPR. 30,999	NPR. 29,999
Samsung Galaxy M31 (8GB,128GB)	NPR. 35,699	NPR. 34,999

There is a slight price difference between the Galaxy M31 in Nepal and India. This is because the phone will be released in offline stores in Nepal, whereas M31 is available exclusively online in India.

Redmi Note 9 Pro with 5020mAh battery, SD 720G Launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

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June 4, 2020

0

Redmi Note 9 Pro with 5020mAh battery, SD 720G Launched in Nepal

Redmi is the go-to name in the mid-range smartphone segment and it has been the case for quite a time. Redmi’s Note series has been a massive success in the South Asian market including Nepal. The brand has recently launched Redmi Note 9 Pro through an event in India. However, today, Xiaomi Nepal has officially unveiled the Redmi Note 9 Pro in the Nepali market for an aggressive price. As for now, let’s look at what the device has to offer in terms of hardware. [Note: Redmi Note 9 Pro is also called Redmi Note 9S in Nepal]

Redmi Note 9 Pro Overview

Design and Display

Redmi Note 9 Pro comes with a 6.67-inch Dot display with FullHD+ resolution. The company is calling it a cinematic screen because of the 20:9 aspect ratio. The circular cut-out for the front camera is located at the top center of the screen.

On the back, there is a round-cornered square module that houses the quad-camera setup. An LED flash resides just outside the camera module. This time around, Redmi has moved the fingerprint sensor from back to the side. Yes – the capacitative fingerprint sensor is now on the right side. The device comes with rounded corners so as to avoid damage by accidental drops. There is a triple Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the device that covers the front, back, and the camera sensors.

Chipset

Redmi Note 8 Pro came with MediaTek’s Helio G90T under the hood and many speculated that the Note 9 Pro will come equipped with MediaTek’s Dimensity 800 chipset. However, Redmi included Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 720G in the device. This has left many people confused as many don’t consider it an upgrade over the G90T. But the company is backing the 720G to perform better. You can choose between 4GB and 6GB of RAM. The former comes with 64GB of storage while the latter comes with a bigger 128GB storage onboard.

Camera

The device comes with a quad-camera setup at the back. The primary sensor here is a 48MP sensor. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The ultrawide sensor provides up to 109-degree FOV. It comes with super stabilization alongside the primary sensor. You can take macro shots up to 2cm focal distance.

On the front, there is a 16MP selfie camera housed inside a circular cut-out at the top center of the display.

Others

Redmi Note 9 Pro comes with a 5,020mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Thankfully, the 22.W fast charger is included in the box. The device comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Type-C port. There is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the right side of the device. The display comes with a P2i rating to protect it against splashes. The device is available in three color options – Aurora Black, Glacier White, and Interstellar Black.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobile Price in Nepal [Updated]

Redmi Note 9 Pro Specifications

Display	6.67-inch IPS LCD Dot Display
Resolution	FHD+(2400 x 1080 pixels)
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G
CPU	Octa-core (2x 2.3Ghz Cortex-A76 + 6x 1.8Ghz Cortex-A55 )
GPU	Adreno 618
RAM	4/6GB LPDDR4x
Memory Configuration	4/64GB 6/128GB UFS 2.1 flash storage
Software & UI	MIUI 11 on top of Android 10
Rear Camera	48MP Samsung GM2, 1/2.25-inch, f/1.79 8MP Ultra-wide (119-degree), f/2.2 5MP macro lens, 2cm focal distance 2MP depth sensor, 1.75-micron
Front camera	16M sensor, 1-micron
Security	Fingerprint (side-mounted)
Audio	Single bottom speaker 3.5mm headphone jack 2 Mic for Noise cancellation
Connectivity	Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, Type-C, 2×2 WiFi MIMO
Battery	5020mAh with 18W Flash Charge
Sensors	accelerometer, ambient light, proximity, gyro, e compass
Color Options	Aurora Blue, Interstellar Black, Glacier Black

Redmi Note 9 Pro Price in Nepal & Availability

The price of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro in Nepal for the 6/128GB variant is Rs. 29,999. Similarly, the 4/128GB variant costs Rs.26,999.

Model Name	Price in Nepal
Redmi Note 9 Pro (4/128GB)	NPR. 26,999
Redmi Note 9 Pro (6/128GB)	NPR. 29,999

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Samsung announces second-gen Security Element S3FV9RR security chip

GadgetByte

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June 2, 2020

0

Samsung announces second-gen Security Element S3FV9RR security chip

Smartphones have become an integral part of our life, which we use for many aspects of our life. And in the process, we trust our smartphones with personal information and financial transactions. So, our smartphones must be well protected. In a bid to achieve this, Samsung has announced the second-gen S3FV9RR security chip. It is a Security Element chip that will secure your smartphones and tablets.

Samsung Security Element (SE) S3FV9RR Overview

Security Level

Samsung introduced its first SE Chip in February in the form of S3FK250AF. It had CC EAL 5+ certification and it was used in this year’s S20 lineup. CC EAL stands for Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level. It is a standard to evaluate security layers in a product. The certification categorizes products from EAL 0 to EAL 7, with the latter being the most secure system. With an EAL 6+ system, Samsung claims that the S3FV9RR is the most secure mobile security chip in the world.

Features

The new chip works independently of the central processor. It secures booting, isolated storage, mobile payment and has twice the storage of its predecessor. Other feature includes hardware-based RoT (Root of Trust), secure boot, and device authentication. The RoT ensures the booting process is well protected. It prevents external attacks and malicious upgrades.

Samsung has also claimed that it meets requirements for cryptographic operations outlined by an upcoming mobile OS. We believe it is Android 11.

Application

Samsung is advertising the new SE as a standalone turnkey security solutions. What it means, is that any manufacturer can use it in their products.

The chip won’t be for everyone. We will most likely see it in flagship-grade smartphones. Also, it won’t be exclusive to smartphones and tablets. Manufacturers can use it int e-passports and hardware wallets.

Samsung S3FV9RR Launch & Availability

Samsung S3FV9RR will be available in the third quarter (Q3) of 2020. We might see flagship devices with the new chip at the end of the year. Samsung might even use it in the upcoming Note 20 series.

Vivo TWS Neo earphone with aptX Adaptive codec & Bluetooth 5.2 launched

GadgetByte

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June 2, 2020

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Vivo TWS Neo earphone with aptX Adaptive codec & Bluetooth 5.2 launched

In a recent online event, Vivo unveiled the new TWS Neo alongside the X50 series. It is an upgrade to Vivo TWS Earphone, that was launched last year. Let’s take a closer look at the complete specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability of Vivo TWS Neo.

Vivo TWS Neo Overview

Design

Vivo TWS Neo offers nothing new to the table in terms of design. It features the same stem design that we have seen in a lot of TWS earphones since the original Airpods Pro. The earbuds are light at 4.78 grams each. Vivo has gone with “G3 continuous curves” to avoid any discomfort in the ear.

In terms of colors, the Vivo TWS Earphone Neo is available in two options – Interstellar Blue and Moonlight White.

Sound Driver and Connectivity

Vivo has included a 4th Generation chip from Qualcomm for the new TWS Neo. It comes with the same 14.2mm large drivers as its predecessor. It supports dual transmission 2.0 over Bluetooth 5.2 technology. Vivo claims that the new aptX audio codec can provide near-CD-quality and up to 1.5 times more information than the standard TWS earphones. You can toggle between three DeepX stereo sound effects for the best personal experience: Strong Bass, Clear Vocal, and Clear Treble.

For better call quality, Vivo TWS Neo has a dual microphone setup. On top of that, the company has also implemented intelligent noise reduction technology. Vivo also claims that the aerodynamic design can reduce wind noise interferences while you are running or riding.

Controls

The TWS Neo features touch control that is customizable as per your preference. At default, a single tap will pause or play music. Ending or rejecting a call will require a long tap. Slide through the stem to adjust the sound levels. You can even summon Jovi using the earphone; it is Vivo’s own digital assistant meant to compete against the likes of Google Assistant, Siri, and more.

Features

The Vivo TWS Neo comes with a low latency mode for gamers. It can limit the latency to just 88ms, thus providing a better gaming experience. The earbuds also come with capacitive sensors that can pause the music automatically when you remove it from the ear. With the “Find Headphones” feature, you can quickly locate your headphones if you misplace it. Smart Upgrade lets the setup download the updates automatically via WiFi when it is in idle mode.

Battery and Durability

There is a 30mAh battery (minimum 25mAh) on both the earbuds. Vivo promises 5.5 hours of playback time with AAC codec and 4.2 hours backup with aptX adaptive. The charging features a 415mAh (minimum 400mAh) that can extend it up to 27 hours. The case uses a USB-Type C interface for charging.

Vivo TWS Neo Specifications:

Sound Driver: 14.2mm driver
Chipset: Qualcomm 4th Gen chip
Weight: 4.7g (each earphone)
Connectivity: Wireless (Bluetooth)
Frequency Range: 20Hz – 20kHz
Music Time: 5.5 hours (AAC) / 4.2 hours (aptX) (up to 27 hours with charging case)
Bluetooth Version: v5.21
Audio Codec: AAC/SBC/aptX Adaptive
Control: Touch (Customizable)
Extra features: Low Latency Mode (88ms), Find My Earphones
Charging Interface: USB Type-C port
Water Resistant: IP54 rating
Battery capacity: 30mAh (each earbud); 415mAh (charging case)
Color Options: Interstellar Blue, Moonlight White

Vivo TWS Neo Price and Availability

Vivo TWS Neo is available in China, where its price is 499 Yuan. There is no information about the global launch. But we expect the price to be around NPR 10,000 when Vivo launches TWS Neo in Nepal.

TWS Earphone	Expected Price in Nepal
Vivo TWS Neo	~ Rs. 10,000

Vivo’s X50 series is official with a big gimbal-like camera lens!

GadgetByte

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June 1, 2020

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Vivo’s X50 series is official with a big gimbal-like camera lens!

Vivo has a history of introducing some cool features in a concept device first; and then replicating it into its regular, ready-to-launch smartphones. Its “APEX” lineup of concept phones have been doing so for the past couple of years. And just a couple of months ago, the Vivo APEX 2020 showcased some amazing innovations like an in-display selfie camera, a primary lens with gimbal-like stabilization, and more. Not every one of them will be ported anytime soon. But, Vivo has unveiled the new X50 series (X50, X50 Pro, and X50 Pro+) of smartphones with gimbal-like stabilization. Check out the specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability of Vivo X50 series (X50, X50 Pro, and X50 Pro Plus).

Vivo X50 Series Gimbal Stabilization Overview

A gimbal is basically a device which uses motors & other sensors to support a camera lens, and thus result in a smooth video recording. While most expensive smartphones come with OIS & EIS for video stabilization, in their current state, they simply cannot outperform a separate gimbal. So you bet your bottom dollar when we say this feature is absolutely going to revolutionize smartphone videography.

Vivo says that this lens has been inspired by a chameleon’s eyes. And that is reflected in the way it moves. It rotates inside the module and is handled by a robotic gimbal. This improves the stabilization angle by up to 200% compared to phones with OIS.

Vivo X50, X50 Pro Overview

Camera

The X50 and X50 Pro come with Sony IMX598, which is an improvement over IMX586. The former is a 48MP sensor with an aperture of f/1.6. It supports 4-in1 pixel-binning and has added filters. X50 Pro has a periscope telephoto lens that supports 5x optical zoom and 60x hybrid superzoom. It is replaced with a macro lens on the X50. The 8MP wide-angle camera on the X50 series has a Field of View of 120-degree. It can also take macro shots of objects as close as 2.5cm. The fourth camera is a 13MP portrait lens.

Vivo claims that the setup allows 39% better photosensitive property compared to the Vivo X30 series. It is because of the application of a new sensor along with the anti-shake property. Vivo has also utilized the AI noise reduction algorithm to make night shots clearer and less noisy. The feature doesn’t end here. The X50 series comes with a new feature such as 3D SoundTracking and Zoom, Motion AF tracking, Video Bokeh, Video Filters, Instant Filters, Photo Restoration, Passerby Removal, and Shadow Removal.

Design and Display

Both Vivo X50 and X50 Pro come with a 6.56-inch AMOLED screen. It has a circular cutout of 3.96mm that houses the front camera. Thanks to the punch-hole display and the 3D curved screen panel, it has a screen to body ratio of 92.6%. The X50 and X50 Pro also support a 90Hz refresh rate and a touch sampling rate of 180Hz. The brightness level peaks at 1300nit. Vivo claims that the E3 AMOLED on the X50 series reduces harmful rays by about 61%.

Performance and Memory

Both X50 and X50 Pro are powered by Snapdragon 765G. The chipset has an integrated 5G chipset that supports both SA and NSA 5G bands. For a stable connection, Vivo has included a 3D Antenna system that distributes the antenna among different parts of the smartphone. The two devices are available in two memory configurations – 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB.

Battery and Others

The only major difference between the X50 and X50 Pro lies in the battery capacity. The Pro model has a larger 4315mAh battery while the vanilla edition has a 4200mAh battery. Both the device supports Vivo’s 33W flash charge technology. On top of that, you get Vivo Energy Guardian that will keep your phone’s battery on the check. Other notable feature includes NFC support, Hi-Res Audio, and an under-display fingerprint sensor.

Vivo X50, X50 Pro Specifications:

Display: 6.56-inch E3 AMOLED with DCI-P3 color gamut, 1300 nit, HDR10+, 90Hz refresh rate
Chipset: Snapdragon 765G
RAM: 8GB RAM
ROM: 128GB / 256GB storage
Back Cameras:
– 48MP primary camera with f/1.6 aperture, Sony IMX598 sensor,
– 8MP 120° ultra-wide sensor with 2.5cm Super Macro
– 13MP Telephoto lens for 5X optical zoom, 60X digital zoom (Pro) / 13MP depth sensor (Vanilla)
– 13MP Portrait sensor
Front Cameras:
– 32MP wide-angle front-facing camera
Sensors: Fingerprint (under-display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery: 4315 (X50 Pro) / 4200mAh (X50) with 33W Vivo Flash Charge

Vivo X50 Pro Plus Overview

There is a special edition of Vivo X50 Pro Plus with a leather-like texture stitched on its back, while other parts of the design remain the same. Its display also remains of the same size, but it now supports a smoother 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz response rate.

Performance and Memory

Vivo X50 Pro Plus is a flagship device within the X50 series. As with almost every flagship of 2020, it has Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor under the hood. You can choose between 8GB and 12GB of RAM. If you want the former, you have to choose between 128GB and 256GB of internal storage. The 12GB variant doesn’t provide such privilege and is available only with 256GB storage.

Camera

Another difference is in the camera setup. The X50 Pro Plus comes with the new 50MP Samsung ISOCELL GN1 image sensor that the company just announced. With this, Vivo is claiming the phone will have exceptional low-light performance. This sensor has a large 1/1.3″ optical format with Tetracell technology, which is actually bigger than the one on Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra. It also has a 32MP portrait lens, 13MP wide-angle lens, and 13MP periscope telephoto lens.

Battery

X50 Pro Plus’s battery is slightly bigger at 4350mah, but Vivo has coupled it with faster 44W flash charging technology.

Vivo X50 Pro Plus Specifications:

Display: 6.56-inch E3 AMOLED with DCI-P3 color gamut, 1300 nit, HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rate
Chipset: Snapdragon 865
RAM: 8GB / 12GB RAM
ROM: 128GB / 256GB storage
Back Cameras:
– 50MP primary sensor, Samsung ISOCELL GN1,
– 8MP 120° ultra-wide sensor with 2.5cm Super Macro
– 13MP Telephoto lens for 5X optical zoom, 60X digital zoom (Pro)
– 32MP Portrait sensor
Front Cameras:
– 32MP wide-angle front-facing camera
Sensors: Fingerprint (under-display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery: 4350 with 44W Vivo Flash Charge

Vivo X50, Pro, Plus Price in Nepal & Availability

Vivo X50 series is now available for pre-order in China where the starting price is ¥3498, ¥4298, and ¥4998 respectively for X50, X50 Pro, and X50 Pro Plus. We expect them to launch in Nepal with a starting price of NPR 65,000 for Vivo X50, NPR 75,000 for Pro, and NPR 90,000 for Pro Plus.

Smartphone Model	Price in China	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Vivo X50 (8/128GB)	¥3498	Rs. 65,000
Vivo X50 (8/256GB)	¥3898	Rs. 70,000
Vivo X50 Pro (8/128GB)	¥4298	Rs. 75,000
Vivo X50 Pro (8/256GB)	¥4698	Rs. 85,000
Vivo X50 Pro Plus (8/128GB)	¥4998	Rs. 90,000
Vivo X50 Pro Plus (8/256GB)	¥5498	Rs. 100,000
Vivo X50 Pro Plus (12/256GB)	¥5998	Rs. 105,000

Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020: Intel Lakefield CPU makes a debut

GadgetByte

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May 31, 2020

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Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020: Intel Lakefield CPU makes a debut

Samsung Galaxy Book S was debuted last year. It was the company’s take on lightweight ultrabooks with great battery life. The highlight of the laptop was the Snapdragon 8cx processor. This year, Samsung has refreshed the device with an Intel chipset. Let’s take a look at specs, features, and availability of Samaung Galaxy Book S 2020.

Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020 Overview

Design and Display

Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020 features the same chassis as its predecessor. It features a light clamshell design with a metal build. Samsung has incorporated a fanless design to make it both light and quiet. The device weighs just 950 grams and is 11.8mm at the thickness point. The numbers reveal that the fresh iteration has made the Galaxy Book S, even more light and portable.

The display remains the same – 13.3-inch TFT LCD panel. The FHD display also supports touch input. Samsung has included an Outdoor Mode, that lets you scale the brightness level up to 600 nits using a two-key shortcut.

Read: Redmibook 16 unveiled with AMD Ryzen 4000 CPU

Performance

With the new Galaxy Book S 2020, Samsung is looking to overcome some of the shortcomings of the Snapdragon processor that was used in its predecessor.

The new Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020 comes with an Intel Lakefield processor. It is the first laptop to come with this new processor that we know very little about except for its hybrid design. Intel has tried to replicate the big.LITTLE design of ARM chipsets by combining Atom and Core CPU. The chip is based on Intel’s Foveros Technology, which is a fancy way of saying Intel has used chip-stacking to combine dies of different process nodes to come with a smaller design.

The result is expected to be more efficient than Intel’s Atom processor, but we will have to wait to see if it fares against its Snapdragon counterpart. What we are certain of is that the inclusion of the Intel processor will overcome the compatibility issue of its Snapdragon counterpart. The latter faced problems running some Windows 10 applications. With Intel’s processor, users don’t need to worry about that again.

Memory

The new Samsung Galaxy Book S will come with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM. For storage, the company is offering two variants of the device – one with 256GB and another with 512GB of internal storage. The availability of the latter will vary with regions. The storage is based on eUFS technology.

Battery, Ports, and Others

For connectivity, it comes with support Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), Bluetooth 5.0, and LTE (Cat 16). The latter will only be available in a specific region. Users get two USB-C ports, one headphone-mic combo jack, and a MicroSD card slot. It comes with a fingerprint sensor for biometrics and an ambient light sensor for the Keybaord Backlit feature. Samsung is also providing quad-stereo speakers tuned by AKG with support for Dolby Atmos.

The battery size has remained unchanged at 42 Watt-hour. But with the change in the processor, we don’t know how long the new Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020 can last in a single full charge.

Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020 Specifications:

Dimension: 305.2 x 2.03.2 x 6.2 ~ 11.8mm
Weight: 950 grams
Display: 13.3″ TFT Display with Touch Screen Panel display
Resolution: Full HD
Processor: Intel Core Processor with Intel Hybrid Technology
Keyboard: Backlit
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
OS: Windows 10 Home / Pro
RAM: 8 LPDDR4x RAM
Storage: 256 / 512 GB euFS (MicroSD card slot for up to 1TB storage)
Camera: 1MP
Audio: Quad-stereo speakers by AKG, support for Dolby Atmos Technology
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) 802.11 ax 2×2, LTE (Cat 16), Bluetooth v5.0
Sensors: Fingerprint sensor, Ambient Light Sensor (Keyboard Backlit on/off), Hall sensor
Ports: 2 x USB Type-C ports, 1 x 3.5mm headphone out / mic-in combo jack, MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader
Battery: 42 Watt-hour

Samsung Galaxy Book S Launch and Availability

Samsung hasn’t given an official launch date, but the Galaxy Book S 2020 (Intel) will first launch in Korea. We need to wait for official confirmation information regarding pricing and availability.

Best Budget Gaming Laptops in India Under INR 60000 [2020 Edition]

Buy Guides India

Nikhil Shrestha

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May 30, 2020

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Best Budget Gaming Laptops in India Under INR 60000 [2020 Edition]

With the wave of Intel 10th-gen Comet Lake-H and AMD Ryzen 4000 series mobile processor-powered laptops hitting the market, now is the optimal time to swoop into the hits of last year. So, in this article, we’ll be listing out the best budget gaming laptops you can buy right now, which will cost somewhere under INR 60000 in India or Rs. 1 lakh in Nepal. In the process of making this list, we’ve also considered upgradeability in case you want to further strengthen your system with more RAM or storage in the future. With that out of the way, let’s begin.

Summary List of Best Budget Gaming Laptops Under INR 60000 in India

S. No.	Best Budget Gaming Laptops Under 60000	Price in India
5	MSI GF63	INR 59,990
4	HP Pavilion 15 Power	INR 60,990
3	Lenovo Ideapad L340	INR 59,990
2	ASUS TUF FX505GT	INR 67,300
1	Acer Nitro 5 (2019)	INR 59,990

5. MSI GF63

At number 5 on our list is the MSI GF63. What we like about this laptop is its thin-and-light build. It also has a stark black-and-red accent going all around the body of the device. The keyboard has single-color red keys with full-sized arrow keys, giving off an aggressive gaming vibe.

Although the build material used here is plastic, MSI has brushed off the lid and keyboard with aluminum, therefore it looks more premium than what it is. Its display also has substantially thin bezels on the side, though the quality of the panel is just about average; it only covers about 50% of the sRGB color gamut.

But, that’s the limitation with almost all the budget gaming laptop. So, if you are also a content creator, my suggestion is, invest a little bit more and get midrange gaming laptops like the MSI GL63, Acer Helios 300, or the HP Omen 15 which offers around 100% of sRGB color gamut.

Getting to the performance, you get a standard i5-9300H quad-core processor with 45W TDP and a max turbo frequency of 4.1GHz. The reason it is at the bottom of our list is that you get a slightly inferior NVIDIA’s GTX 1650 Max-Q, and not the regular GTX 1650 we usually see in this price range.

Possible thermal throttling

Moreover, it has only 3 heat pipes and a single fan, which is a major red flag for gamers since this can result in thermal throttling over longer gaming sessions. Though the comparatively underclocked 1650 Max-Q helps a bit, we can’t help but feel let down by the design choice. In terms of memory, the MSI GF63 ships with 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD.

But the good thing is there is a vacant RAM slot as well as a 2.5-inch bay for HDD for future upgrades. Battery life is another area of concern since this laptop has a small 51Whr cell and on my test, it lasts for around 3-4 hours if you are using chrome.

MSI GF63 Key Specifications:
Display	15.6″ diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080); 60Hz Refresh Rate
CPU	9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H
GPU	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Max-Q (4GB GDDR5)
RAM	8GB DDR4 @2666MHz
Storage	512GB SSD
Battery	3-cell 51Whr
Weight	1.86kg
Dimensions	14.13 x 10 x 0.85-inches
Price	INR 59,990

4. HP Pavilion 15 Power

With the Pavilion 15, HP has literally gone green in terms of the color scheme of the device. Though it costs slightly over 60000, it’s overall build quality persuaded us to include it in our list of best budget gaming laptops in India. From its rubber feet to the logo at the back, to the keyboard lighting, the HP Pavilion 15 Power with its “Acid Green” theme is one unique-looking device. The lid opens up, revealing an uneven square at the bottom, thus giving off a little high-end gaming aesthetics to it. You also get a full-sized keyboard with green backlighting, which has an added depth of accent to it.

But like the MSI GF63, the color accuracy and brightness levels on this one is also pretty average. On the CPU end, you can either have Intel Core i5 9th–gen 9300H or the AMD’s Ryzen 5 3000 series. However, we would advise you to go with Intel counterpart as it outclasses the 3rd–gen AMD CPU by quite a margin.

Decent gaming performance

On the gaming front, you get a GTX 1650 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory. Hence, the HP Pavilion 15 Power can smoothly run most graphically-intensive games in medium settings at playable fps but you’ll have to play around with the settings a little more to get higher fps in resource-hungry games like Battlefield V, Apex legends, etc.

It shares a similar configuration and upgradability in terms of memory to the MSI GF63 we talked about before – and an ever-so-slightly larger 52Whr battery. Another thing that’s a little exciting about this laptop is the audio. Tuned by Bang & Olufsen, its dual stereo speakers give a clean and immersive listening experience.

HP Pavilion 15 Power Key Specifications:
Display	15.6″ diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080); 60Hz Refresh Rate
CPU	9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H
GPU	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 (4GB GDDR5)
RAM	8GB DDR4
Storage	512GB SSD
Battery	52Whr
Weight	2.17kg
Dimensions	14.4 x 10.1 x 1.0-inches
Price	INR 60,990

3. Lenovo Ideapad L340

Number third in our list is the Lenovo Ideapad L340. To begin with, this one doesn’t look like a gaming laptop and has a clean design. And Like how two laptops above in the list had a red and green accent to them, the Lenovo Ideapad L340 has a subtle blue accent in the keyboard and looks much cleaner. Hence, this is a laptop you could technically take to meetings or presentations, without feeling awkward.

The Lenovo Ideapad L340’s display also has slightly better colors with around 65% sRGB color coverage. The viewing experience is quite nice as well, thanks to its minimal side bezels. There is a webcam on top with privacy in mind. It has a physical shutter for turning it off anytime you like.

No dual-channel RAM

And as far as performance goes, it features the same 9^th-gen Intel Core i5-9300H processor and NVIDIA’s GTX 1650 with 4GB of GDDR5 video memory. Thermals are well-handled by its two heat pipes and two fans. The only thing to dislike about the L340 is, it only has a single RAM slot which means you cannot upgrade RAM sticks to make it dual-channel. More disappointingly, in some regions, the laptop ships with soldered memory.

However, it does have a dual-drive configuration with 128GB SSD and 1TB SDD and hence you can upgrade both of them. You’d also want to keep the power adapter by you all the time as the laptop has a pretty small 3 cell 45Whr battery.

Lenovo Ideapad L340 Key Specifications:
Display	15.6″ diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080); 60Hz Refresh Rate
CPU	9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H
GPU	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 (4GB GDDR5)
RAM	8GB DDR4 2666mHz
Storage	1TB HDD, 128GB SSD
Battery	3 cell 57Whr
Weight	2.2kg
Dimensions	14.29 x 10 x 0.94-inches
Price	INR 59,990

2. ASUS TUF FX505GT

Short for “The Ultimate Force”, the TUF series of gaming laptops from ASUS is its budget lineup, contrary to the expensive “ROG” series. The Asus TUF FX505 series has a lot of variants, but the one you should get is the FX505GT. It comes with the Intel Core i5 9300H processor, alongside GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM. Admittedly, it is a little more than INR 60000 compared to ones with a Ryzen CPU & similar specs. But we believe the extra buck is absolutely worth it.

You’d think the FX505GT would perform similarly to other laptops in this list with similar specs, but you’d be surprised. The thing is, it has a far better cooling & anti-dust system compared to them. And unlike other laptops in this list, you get a dedicated button to toggle between the three modes of performance: silent, balanced, and turbo. Here, the latter yields maximum performance at the expense of fan noise.

A great scope for memory upgradeability

Upgradability is also pretty good here as it comes with 2 SO-DIMM socket for RAM and has a dual-storage config with a SATA drive and an M.2 slot. But generally, you will find the device with 8GB RAM in single-channel and a 512GB SSD. Design-wise, it has an all-plastic body with an ‘X’ design lid from the edges giving the device a bold look.

It is also “MIL-STD-810G” certified, meaning that the laptop has been tested against environmental extremities like high altitude, solar radiation, etc. The display is equally immersive with a 15.6” FHD IPS panel having minimal side bezels, although my unit only has 45% NTSC color coverage. Similarly, the FX505GT has a full-size keyboard with all-zone lighting instead of per-key, with the highlighted WASD keys. The 48Whr battery is pretty small as the others in the list, and we were able to get about 4 to 5 hours of usage under “silent” mode.

ASUS TUF FX505GT Key Specifications:
Display	15.6″ diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080); 60Hz Refresh Rate
CPU	9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H or Ryzen 5 3550H
GPU	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 (4GB GDDR5)
RAM	8GB DDR4 @2666mHz
Storage	512GB SSD
Battery	3-cell 48Whr
Weight	2.2kg
Dimensions	14.17 x 10.31 x 1.02-inches
Price	INR 67,300 \| INR 54,990

1. Acer Nitro 5 2019

Finally, our top pick for the best budget gaming laptops under INR 60000 in India goes to the Acer Nitro 5 (2019). While its previous 2018 version suffered from heating troubles, the 2019 Acer Nitro 5 has presented itself as a capable gaming machine on a budget. The first thing to like about this device is its sturdy build quality and simplistically effective design.

It gives off a gaming aesthetic with a black-and-red accent imbued throughout the laptop along with the red backlit keyboard. Talking about the display, it’s pretty standard as the previous laptops in this list. It has a 15.6-inch FHD IPS panel with a regular 60Hz refresh rate and a pretty average 60% sRGB color gamut coverage. The keyboard is a full-sized one, with a special highlight on WASD and arrow keys.

Comparatively big battery

The processor on this laptop is the Intel Core i5-9300H, paired with 8GB of RAM and NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU. While it is a pretty competent setup, you can further manipulate it into your liking using Acer’s “Nitro Sense” software. The Nitro 5 also comes with a fairly large 57Whr battery, which can give you anywhere between 5 and 6 hours of endurance on normal usage.

Storage is where it gets interesting as this laptop features a SATA hard drive, alongside two M.2 NVMe slots. On purchase, you get 256GB of SSD along with 1TB HDD, but in the future, you can always upgrade the storage via its unused M.2 slot.

Acer Nitro 5 (2019) Key Specifications:
Display	15.6″ diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080); 60Hz Refresh Rate
CPU	9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H
GPU	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 (4GB GDDR5)
RAM	8GB DDR4
Storage	1TB HDD, 256GB SSD
Battery	4-cell 57Whr
Weight	2.3kg
Dimensions	14.30 x 10.04 x 1.02-inches
Price	INR 59,990

Xiaomi launches Mi Note 10 Lite in Nepal: A much affordable Mi 10

GadgetByte

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May 30, 2020

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Xiaomi launches Mi Note 10 Lite in Nepal: A much affordable Mi 10

Along with the flagship Mi 10, Xiaomi has officially launched the Mi Note 10 Lite in Nepal. This latest device is an exact copy of last year’s Mi Note 10 Pro; bar the 108MP primary camera. After all, it was obvious that there would be some cutbacks in the lite edition. So, without further ado, let’s find out about the specifications, availability, and the official price in Nepal.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite Overview

As mentioned earlier, the Mi Note 10 Lite is similar to the Mi Note 10 Pro. It has the same 6.47-inch curved AMOLED screen with an FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. The screen, as well as the back of the device, is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Furthermore, the screen has a waterdrop notch to house the 16MP selfie shooter.

Moving on, the rear camera features a 64MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor instead of the 108MP sensor of the Pro variant. The quad-cam setup is completed by an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 5MP depth sensor. You might have noticed that it does not sport two telephoto lenses as seen in the vanilla and the Pro Mi Note 10 models. That’s probably an economical change that will help lower down the price of the Mi Note 10 Lite.

Under the hood, it runs on the Snapdragon 730G. That means it will not support 5G. It is the same chipset used on the Realme X2 and Poco X2. Hence, the performance is going to be stellar for a midrange phone.

As for RAM, you have the option to choose either 6GB or 8GB. And the storage option is 64GB and 128GB. The variant that’s launched in Nepal comes with 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Battery-wise, it sports a huge 5260mAh battery that supports 30W fast wired charging.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite Specifications:

Display: 6.47-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2340×1080 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6×1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)
GPU: Adreno 618
RAM: 6GB, 8GB
Storage: 64GB, 128GB; No SD Card slot for memory expansion
OS & UI: Android 10; MIUI 11
Rear Camera: 64MP wide-angle camera with f/1.9 aperture + 8MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.4 aperture + 5MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture + 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture
Front Camera: 16MP lens with f/2.48 aperture
Battery: 5260mAh battery with 30-watt fast charging support (30W cable charger packed with the device)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n, WiFi Direct, Hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C
Sensors: Fingerprint (under-display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Color Options: Nebula Purple, Glacier White, Midnight Black

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite Price in Nepal, Availability

The official price of Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite in Nepal is Rs. 44,999. This price is for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variants.

Model Name	Price in Nepal	Availability
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite (6GB/128GB)	Rs. 44,999	June 2nd week, 2020
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite (8GB/128GB)	Rs. 49,999	June 4th week, 2020

Xiaomi Mi 10 with 108MP camera, SD 865 Launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

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May 30, 2020

0

Xiaomi Mi 10 with 108MP camera, SD 865 Launched in Nepal

Because of the chaos caused by the coronavirus and the subsequent nationwide lockdown, Xiaomi today held an online event in Nepal to launch its price-friendly flagship — Xiaomi Mi 10. It becomes the first smartphone in Nepal with 5G connectivity, 108MP camera, and the Snapdragon 865 chipset.

Mi 10 price is expensive in India and here in Nepal as compared to the official China price. It is because, unlike the Redmi series, the Mi 10 series is not manufactured in India. Hence, all the units have to be imported which in turn will affect the cost. Also, there is 18% GST in India right now, which has increased its cost by even more.

However, making such a device requires state of the art facilities, which are not available in India.

We will have to import 100% of units if we launch the #Mi10 in India. Hence, it will have a different pricing model than usual.

RT? with #Mi10 if you want to see it in India. https://t.co/FbRGe4tvjL

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) February 13, 2020

Xiaomi Mi 10 Overview

As mentioned earlier, the Mi 10 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor- Snapdragon 865. Thanks to the discrete X55 modem, Mi 10 is the first 5G phone to launch in the Nepali market. Also, it will come with support for dual 5G connectivity for both SA and NSA. The chipset is supported by 8GB of RAM based on the latest LPDDR5 Technology along with 256GB of internal storage. The internal memory is based on the latest UFS3.0 technology.

Likewise, Mi 10 sports 6.67-inches AMOLED curved display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz response rate. It packs a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and supports HDR10+. The display features a tiny 4.08mm punch-hole at the top left corner to house the front camera. The device features a fingerprint sensor mounted under the display panel. On the right side, there are a volume rocker and power button.

Similarly, the back of the device is made up of glass. On the back, we can notice the quad-camera setup. Three sensors are arranged in a vertical module whereas the fourth one is placed separately between the camera module and the LED flash.

The device comes with a quad-camera setup with 108MP primary camera. It is accompanied by a depth sensor and macro sensor-both of 2MP. A 13MP ultra-wide sensor is further below the camera module.

The phone will feature a 4,780mAh battery with support for 30W flash charging. It also comes with support for 30W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging, and NFC.

Also Read: Best Phones under Rs. 50,000 in Nepal

Xiaomi Mi 10 Key Specifications

Display: 6.67″ AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate, resolution 2340x 1080 pixels
Protection: Gorilla Glass 5
OS: Android 10 with MiUI 11
Rear Camera: Quad-camera, 108MP primary lens + 2MP macro lens + 2MP depth sensor + 13MP ultra-wide sensor
Front Camera: 20MP
Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
GPU: Adreno 650
RAM: 8GB
Storage:256GB
Battery: 4780 mAh, 30W Wired Fast Charging, 30W Wireless Fast Charging and 10W reverse wireless charging
Sensors: Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity
Colors: Coral Green, Twilight Grey

Xiaomi Mi 10 Price in Nepal & Availability

The official price of the Xiaomi Mi 10 in Nepal is Rs. 89,999. This price is for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variants.

Variant	Price in Nepal	Availability
Xiaomi Mi 10 (8/256GB)	NPR 89,999	Soon

Mi 10 Pro Overview

Mi 10 Pro comes with some upgrades in the Mi 10. It comes with the same design, display and rest of the specs. The difference lies in the camera setup. While Mi 10 Pro also features a quad-camera setup with 108MP primary camera, it doesn’t feature both macro senor and depth sensor. It rather comes with two telephoto sensors offering 10X magnification and 2X magnification respectively. The ultra-wide sensor is also a high res 20MP. The camera in Mi 10 Pro comes with OIS and EIS and is able to shoot videos up to 8K.

The Mi 10 Pro comes in three memory configurations- 8/256GB, 12/256GB and 12/512GB. However, the battery is reduced to just 4,500mAh. It comes with support for 50W flash charging, 30W wireless charging, and 10W reverse charging.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Specifications

Display: 6.67″ AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate, resolution 2340x 1080 pixels
Protection: Gorilla Glass 5
OS: Android 10 with MiUI 11
Rear Camera: Quad-camera, 108MP primary lens + 8MP long telephoto lens (10X hybrid zoom) + 12MP short telephoto lens (2X optical zoom) + 20MP ultra-wide sensor
Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
GPU: Adreno 652
RAM: 8GB/12GB
Storage: 8/256GB, 12/256GB,12/512GB
Battery: 4500 mAh, 50W Wired Fast Charging, 30W Wireless Fast Charging and 10W reverse wireless charging (65W charger inside the box)
Sensors: Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity
Colors: Alpine White, Solstice Grey

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Plus Launched in Nepal

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Price in Nepal & Availability

We can expect the Mi 10 Pro to launch in Nepal in only an 8/256GB variant. The price for the Mi 10 Pro (8/256GB) is expected to be around Rs. 99,999.

Model Name	Price in Nepal [Expected]
Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro (8/256GB)	NPR 99,999

The truth about Xiaomi’s claim to the No. 1 position of the Nepalese smartphone market

Nikhil Shrestha

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May 30, 2020

0

If you follow the Nepalese technology industry (which I’m assuming you do since you’re here), a possibly groundbreaking piece of news has been floating around for the past couple of weeks. Amidst all the misfortunes and inactiveness, the domestic smartphone scenario saw a new leader in Q1 2020: Xiaomi. Having entered the Nepalese market officially in March 2016, it’s a big milestone for a company. According to the latest 2020 Q1 report from International Data Corporation (IDC), Xiaomi managed to become the “Number 1 smartphone brand in Nepal with a 30.9% market share”. It is unarguably a breath of fresh air against the year-after-year dominance of Samsung. Yet, we can’t help but feel a little skeptical of how it came to be.

Xiaomi, Number 1 smartphone brand in Nepal (Q1 2020)

To validate that sentiment, we’ll have to understand exactly on what basis the conclusion has been made. IDC’s Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker Q1 2020 (Jan – March) places Xiaomi in the top spot with almost one-third market share while the former kingpin Samsung comes in second.

S. No.	Smartphone Vendor	Market Share
1	Xiaomi	30.9%
2	Samsung	18.6%
3	Vivo	12.3%
4	OPPO	10.0%
5	Lava	5.3%

This is the first time Xiaomi has topped the chart in Nepal since its inception. And the success can almost entirely be credited to the beloved Redmi 8/8A and Note 8/Note 8 Pro, which offers insane value for the price and has been the common choice of many smartphone enthusiasts in the country in the budget and mid-range segment, respectively. Redmi Note 8, followed by Redmi 8 were the top 2 smartphones in Nepal during the period. In fact, these phones also managed to crack into the list of top 6 best-selling Android phones worldwide for the first quarter of this year.

Few words from Mr. Kothari

Sourabh Kothari (Country General Manager, Xiaomi Nepal) had the following to say regarding the triumph:

“This is an exhilarating moment for us at Xiaomi Nepal, as we become the leader in the smartphone market for the very first time. Driven by our mission to bring innovation for everyone, we shall strive to work even harder for our Mi fans.

We are so grateful for the immense love and support we have received from our Mi Fans, who have believed in us every step of the way. The journey since our start here has been a humbling experience and I truly believe we will become an even bigger part of people’s lives with our commitment to gain our users’ love and trust through best specs, highest quality, and honest pricing.”

Hard work pays off, indeed

Besides a confident product line itself, Xiaomi has gradually expanded its foothold in the offline market as well; seeing its prime importance in the country. To date, the company has set up more than 900 offline partners and 350 Mi Preferred Partner shops in Nepal alongside a strong nationwide distribution network. Xiaomi Nepal relies heavily upon digital platforms to market its products, with frequent offers, sales carnivals, etc. organized frequently.

More importantly, the brand also actively engages with its fanbase, dubbed the “Mi Fans” that has helped build a good rapport between the customers and the company. And the collective compilation of all these efforts has helped Xiaomi achieve the largest market share in terms of overall smartphone shipments in Nepal during Q1 2020.

A matter of technicality

You see, that’s exactly where things sound a little hesitant. According to IDC, the “units shipments” consists of the number of new smartphones shipped by a vendor to all distribution channels or directly to end-consumers. What we can infer from this is that the tracker methodology doesn’t specify whether or not the shipment volume is exclusive to one channel of distribution. The thing is, on a business of this magnitude, sales distribution occurs in three different stages:

Primary: From national distributors (ND) to regional distributors (RD)
Secondary: From regional distributors to mobile shops
Tertiary: From mobile shops to end consumers

So, unlike the aforementioned report from Strategy Analytics, this one solely paints a picture by factoring in only the total volume of smartphones shipped. Not the actual customer-level sales. Having said that, importing phones is a highly crucial part of the business and not just a whimsical decision. Because Redmi 8 and Note 8 series was doing so well since their launch, Xiaomi Nepal must’ve had a pretty good reason and therefore made a calculated decision about the import volume. We contacted IDC India, and they had this to say:

“Yes, the data is for CY 2020Q1 ( Jan- March’20). Samsung struggled with supplies in the Q1’20 which helped Xiaomi to gain share in this quarter. For Xiaomi, the Note 8 series was well-received because of its aggressive pricing and continued retail expansion. Xiaomi has also started promoting its brand aggressively on digital media and expanded the store branding in Nepal.”

How does IDC obtain its data?

In the process of obtaining tracker data, IDC’s methodology involves different sources. Some of them are as follows:

In-country local vendor interviews
Distribution data feeds
Worldwide and regional vendor guidance
ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) data
In-country local channel partner discussions
Import & Export records
Feedback from component suppliers
Vendor briefings and public financial reports

Sadly, IDC didn’t provide us with 2019 data which would’ve helped shine a light to reach an objective verdict. We’ll also have to consider the trend in the Nepalese smartphone market and when we see a surge in sales, and what are the “off” seasons, per se. Thanks to major festivities lined up one after another, the fourth quarter (Q4) of any year is when smartphone sales see a massive boost compared to any other time of the year.

Why Samsung failed in Q1 2020

IDC specifically mentioned how Samsung struggled with supplies during Q1 2020; which was the gateway to Xiaomi becoming the number 1 smartphone brand in Nepal. The company had launched the expensive & flagship Galaxy S20 series and two upper mid-range phones; Galaxy A51 and A71 in March. And during January, February, Samsung was mostly operating with what it had in stock; phones from Q4 2019, by offering discounts, cashback, etc.

We all know those big-budget launches weren’t going to sell as many units as their inexpensive counterparts. And Samsung knows that as well. As a result, the shipment of phones was considerably low-volume for Samsung in Q1 2020. In spite of this, the company did have plans for launching more affordable options like the Galaxy M21 and M31 during the same period. Yet, that was ultimately scrapped as the COVID-19 pandemic began to take shape across the world, including Nepal.

The bigger challenge ahead for Xiaomi

So, despite the actual figure of tertiary sales remaining in the shadows, Xiaomi Nepal does have a benefit of the doubt. Its phones were doing quite well in the country, which ultimately led to the increment in shipment units. However technical, we’re delighted to see Xiaomi rise in the Nepalese smartphone scene in such a short time.

Now, the company has one giant task in its hand: to maintain the market lead. That’s certainly not going to be easy. Nevertheless, if the company sticks to its basics by launching affordable smartphones at competitive prices, it may just work out. After all, the budget and mid-range smartphones are what buyers in a developing country like ours opt for.