Page 593 – GadgetByte Nepal

Best Digital Wallets in Nepal – 2020 Edition

Nikhil Shrestha

-

April 29, 2020

Best Digital Wallets in Nepal – 2020 Edition

When was the last time you were late for something because you had to wait in that boring queue for, say, paying your electricity bill? I hope the answer isn’t anytime recent. With all the strides made in the world of digital payment, it’d be foolish not to use it to one’s advantage. Why bother your purse with hard cash, debit/credit cards when you could have them at your fingertips, at all times, on a smartphone you most probably already own. Making and receiving payments has gotten so childishly simple that I wonder if it’s making us lazier than ever? But that’s an absurd way to look at this glorious feat of technology; it’s made all our lives simpler, fair and square. And today I’ll be discussing the best digital wallets (online payment gateways) in Nepal.

Disclaimer: I won’t be including apps like CellPay and ConnectIPS in this list since they’re technically not a digital wallet but rather function as an online debit card.

What are Digital Wallets?

Before going in any further, let’s briefly discuss what a “digital wallet” is. Also known as a “mobile wallet” or an “e-wallet”, it is an online service or system that stores one’s payment information, which can then be used at times of making an electronic transaction. You can make such transactions via the internet, SMS, or a mobile app, after following simple steps for registration. Among the options available, I’m sure the unanimous vote for the most convenient method goes to the mobile app.

And while international online payment platforms like Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Facebook Pay, etc. are non-existent in Nepal (also whatever happened to AliPay officially operating in the country?), their absence has been more than sufficiently supplemented by multiple digital wallets or other similar recourses from local fintech companies. Let me go through some of them:

Best Digital Wallets in Nepal – 2020 Edition

1. eSewa

There should have been zero doubt about eSewa topping this list of best digital wallets in Nepal. With over a million downloads on the Google Play Store and an equally impressive number of downloads on Apple’s App Store (there’s a web version as well don’t worry), eSewa is the frontrunner in the Nepalese digital wallet race. As the first online payment gateway of the country, it has been operational since 2009 and is licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank as well. The platform’s ubiquitous popularity is merely the result of its age, but rather the multitude of services it offers.

Services

Where do I begin? eSewa has so many, oh-so-many services under its grasp. This product of F1Soft arguably is the magnum opus of Nepalese fintech. New services are added almost every day into the app. It can thus fulfill almost all of your domestic payment needs. And that is accompanied by cashback and discounts in a few of them too. Besides the cashback, you also earn reward point(s) upon each successful transaction which can be redeemed for various gifts from eSewa. Starting with the basics, you can make utility payments like recharging your phone, paying for electricity, drinking water, etc. Apart from that, paying for your internet/TV/newspaper subscriptions, insurance premiums, and even your schools or colleges can be done from the palm of your hand via eSewa.

And with its redesigned UI/UX, the eSewa app is more beautiful and easier to use than ever. Everything is just, there. So organized and so easy on the eyes too. Wait, let’s get back to payment services on the platform. You can also book movie tickets from all the major multiplexes like QFX Cinemas, FCUBE Cinemas, One Cinemas, BSR Movies, Central Multiplex, Gopi Krishna Movies, etc. Additionally, eSewa can be a great help for your traveling needs as well, be it airways or roadways.

eSewa App - UI

1 of 4

Flights & E-commerce

Talking about airways, you can easily book domestic flights from all the prime airlines in Nepal like Nepal Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Buddha Air, Simrik Airlines, and more. In the case of international flights however, you can’t directly book tickets using eSewa. But what you can do is make payments for them when buying them from other platforms like Sasto Tickets, Meroflight.com, Nepal Airlines, and Megabyte Travels. Moreover, this digital wallet has also partnered up with a bunch of top e-commerce sites in Nepal which includes brands like Sastodeal, redDoko, OlizStore, Muncha, Smart Doko, and much more, though Daraz doesn’t appear on this list. And with hundreds of stores, restaurants, and other assorted merchants accepting Fonepay’s “scan to pay” feature, eSewa users need can basically wave goodbye to the days of carrying a bulk of cash whenever going out.

Funds

Transferring funds from and to your eSewa account is super easy as well, with dozens of banks and finances under the ecosystem. Though loading balance to your eSewa account is free of charge, users did have to pay a certain amount as service charge for each bank transfer made. But rejoice, since you can now set one free account for bank withdrawals which will not be subject to any surplus tariffs. Yay! Furthermore, using eSewa, users can enjoy City Express Remittance service and transfer money to any of its branches, while the web version of eSewa has Western Union remittance as well.

Offline Mode

What’s more impressive is the fact that you can use eSewa even when you’re not connected to the internet. This feature is not exclusive to eSewa though. Of course, the services are limited under the SMS Mode, but you can still perform basic transactions like mobile top-up, sending money to other eSewa users, and more. And for enhanced security, eSewa has also incorporated biometric verification via the user’s fingerprint apart from MPIN and password. Because of all this, eSewa takes the top spot in our list of best digital wallets in Nepal.

Download eSewa: Android | iOS

2. Khalti

And in the consistently growing catalog of digital wallets in Nepal, Khalti is another one to look out for. Launched in January 2017, Khalti has managed to garner a heap of an audience in a short amount of time. Developed by Sparrow Pay Pvt. Ltd., Khalti has over half a million downloads on the Google Play Store and a vast number of users on the iOS platform as well. Though the company only recently acquired the Payment Service Provider (PSP) license from Nepal Rastra Bank in the second quarter of 2019, people have been pouring into the platform for their payment solutions from the day of its launch. Also, the name “Khalti” just sounds perfect for a Nepalese digital wallet, don’t you think?

App Design

Let’s start with the Khalti app’s UI. It’s efficiently unique, to say the least. All the popular services and one you’d require most frequently are placed on the home screen, which includes top-up, electricity bills, newspaper subscriptions, and more. Similarly, Khalti’s recent association with new events or merchants can be discovered with a downward slide. The web version of Khalti has also been designed similar to that of its mobile app counterpart, which further adds to the simplicity of usage.

Cashbacks

Another thing I like about Khalti is the number of cashback it offers. While eSewa doesn’t provide any sort of cashback upon services like movie tickets, TV subscriptions, and internet subscriptions, Khalti users can save up to 1, 2, and 3 percent on those services respectively. This alone makes Khalti all the more attractive and profitable than eSewa. Besides the cashback, you also get what’s called “Khalti Points” upon each successful transaction which can be exchanged for Khalti balance, movie tickets, and whatnots.

Even after making payments worth over Rs. 20,000 on eSewa, I’ve only managed to gather reward points in the ballpark of 300 while I immediately got around Rs. 100 cashback and 550 Khalti points on a single payment for SIMTV. Had I known of this; I’d have made my earlier SIMTV payments from Khalti instead of eSewa. So, yeah, I’ll take instant cashback to have to wait for amassing reward points any day of the week.

Furthermore, there are three types of “currency” under Khalti. The first being the Khalti balance which you would load from a bank or request from a friend/family. And the second is the bonus balance you get while the last one is the aforementioned Khalti points.

Khalti App - UI

1 of 4

Services

Getting back to the services offered, booking, and paying for movie tickets using Khalti is easy and available across all the big multiplexes of the country, with a 1% cashback if you make it on Big Movies. And simplifying your travels is the option to book flight and hotel tickets using Khalti. Talking about travel, one can also make appointments and pay for “Pathao” and “Tootle” rides, the latter of which is also eligible for a 5% cashback. Great!

Security

Now let’s talk security. There’s this neat feature (though some may call it an unwarranted nuisance) where the user must enter the first 4 characters of his/her Khalti account password every time upon entering the app. I think it’s handy and I have turned it on because, well, this is a sensitive application. You can now also find the biometric security option (fingerprint) like in eSewa or other digital wallets in Nepal. Therefore, Khalti is our number two pick for our list of best digital wallets in Nepal.

Download Khalti: Android | iOS

3. IME Pay

Next on the list, we have the IME Pay. As the name implies, it is a subsidiary product of IME Remittance, which is one of the leading remittance companies in Nepal. And though it is a fairly new player in the Nepalese fintech market, IME Pay has managed to woo in a huge userbase thanks to its aggressive marketing campaigns. From sponsoring one of the biggest reality TV shows in the country (Nepal Lok Star) to just blasting the cities’ advertisement boards with its promotion, IME Pay hastily managed to climb up the ladder.

Remittance

As I’ve mentioned before, this is a product from IME Remittance and therefore has incorporated its functionalities. I’d go as far as to say that IME Pay is a mobile remittance platform first and a digital wallet second. With this, IME Pay stands out as the optimal choice for those who constantly find themselves using its parent company’s services.

There are other notable features besides remittance as well. However, I must say they’re not as extensive as in the ones above. But that shouldn’t be a problem to users who’ll do just fine from the ones available and don’t indulge in a vast selection of online transactions. Starting off, you can make the basic utility payments for mobile/landline top-ups, electricity bills, tv subscriptions, internet subscriptions, EMI, etc. And akin to the competition, you’ll also be getting a certain percentage of cash back on some of them.

Booking Domestic Flight

In addition to this, you can also book tickets for movies, events, flights, and the Chandragiri Cable Car. What I found interesting is that IME Pay offers the highest amount of cashback on flight booking. For instance, a one-way ticket from Kathmandu to Pokhara from Buddha Airlines costs NPR 1800 on all three: eSewa, Khalti, and IME Pay. But while the first two only offer Rs. 80 cashback, IME Pay gives you Rs. 20 more. PrabhuPay is miserable in this case with the least amount of cashback offered.

Cashbacks on booking flight

1 of 4

And such disparity is actualized in practically all other flight bookings as well. Cashbacks aside, you also get rewards points for each transaction which can be redeemed for an assorted selection of prizes. So you know where to go for your flight booking needs.

Other Services

What’s also interesting here, is that you can pay for your vehicle’s fuel in select petrol pumps using IME Pay, upon which you’ll be getting Rs. 2 cashback per liter. It ain’t much, but it’s honest work. Apart from this, there’s not a whole lot to do in IME Pay. The number of banks or other financial institutions from which you can load the balance is very few and so are the services.

App Design

Now let’s get to the app, shall we? Available both in the Play Store and App Store, the IME Pay app’s design is pretty simple and straightforward, which I believe should be the point of such productivity apps. It also has fingerprint support for added security. However, I feel the design is a little uneven throughout the app and hence the experience could be off-putting to some, including me. It’s a small issue but I’ll address it regardless.

IME Pay App - UI

1 of 4

The app is essentially divided into 5 sections, including the “Scan QR Code” area. And while the 4 of them share a similar visual experience, the “Profile” section on the far right implements a noticeably different design decision. The font is erratically and unnecessarily different and large. Which is just… careless? Also, the app either crashes completely or doesn’t behave well when using it in the “Split Screen” mode. So if anyone from the development team is reading this, please have a look at it.

Anyway, with constant updates & improvements, IMEPay deserves the third spot in our list of best digital wallets in Nepal.

Download IME Pay: Android | iOS

4. PrabhuPay

Making its way to the 4^th spot in this list is PrabhuPay. And like IME Pay, this one’s a product of pre-established financial conglomerate as well. A digital wallet from Prabhu Group, which is one of the most well-established corporations in Nepal! Man, that’s got to ruffle the feathers of the competing services. In a little over a year of its release, PrabhuPay has managed to get over a hundred thousand downloads on the Google Play Store and an equally admirable userbase on the iOS platform as well.

Growing Popularity

Having to tussle against other successful alternatives is no joke. Therefore, PrabhuPay has been critical in its marketing campaigns, starting with the hyperbolic scheme for its user to be eligible for accidental insurance worth up to Rs. 1 million. That alone must have resulted in its tremendous success this early on. Besides this, PrabhuPay was also the official voting and payment partner for season 2 of “The Voice of Nepal” thus adding to its popularity.

Services

Time to talk about its services. Like every other digital wallet in this list, you can make utility payments using PrabhuPay and will get a certain amount of cashback upon successful transactions on some of them as well. These include mobile top-ups, electricity bills, insurance premiums, internet, TV, newspaper subscriptions, etc. And how IME Pay had its “IME remittance” at the helm, PrabhuPay boasts support for its subsidiary “Prabhu Money Transfer”, as well as “Prabhu Insurance” services with a hefty 3% cashback on the insurance.

Services

Using PrabhuPay, you can also book tickets for your domestic flights, movies, bus, and other events. More interestingly, its hospital appointment booking and bill payment come in handy. However, it is limited to 3 hospitals only at the moment; Civil Service Hospital, Biratnagar Aspataal, Siddhi Memorial Hospital. More and more digital platforms in the country should embed such crucial platforms, and I bow my head to PrabhuPay for integrating it.

Moving on, since it’s a seemingly new digital wallet in Nepal, it lags behind in terms of the number of services available on the platform. But don’t scratch your head too much because PrabhuPay is plenty productive at its current state as well. Similar to the competing services, it also rewards your transactions in terms of “Bonus Points” and “Topup Points.” Here, the bonus point is earned upon making successful payments while the topup point is accumulated for loading balance via its range of terminals. Both these points can be redeemed for PrabhuPay’s “Offers”.

App Design

Finally, let’s get into its app. Sharing a kinda-sorta familiar design to that of eSewa, PrabhuPay is easy to get used to as well. All the basic services are placed upfront including loading/sending money, remittance, and utility payments.

PrabhuPay App - UI

1 of 4

Additionally, a user’s transaction history and ticket purchase history are chronologically arranged on their separate tabs. Apart from PIN, PrabhuPay also supports fingerprint verification for any and all transactions to be made. Overall, for what it’s worth, I must say the app is well designed and simple to use. Thus, securing the number four spot in our list of best digital wallets in Nepal.

Download PrabhuPay: Android | iOS

5. QPay Nepal

And last but obviously not the least on the list is QPay Nepal. Developed with an alliance between UnionPay International (a subsidiary of China UnionPay) and Nepal’s own SCT, QPay Nepal is a force to be reckoned with! While the other digital wallets on this list focus on providing a wider selection of services, QPay has focused on something else – a nationwide acceptance. With UnionPay at its side, QPay Nepal looks to become the digital wallet when it comes to making payments in stores around the country.

Different Approach

The platform is really emphasizing on establishing a three-tier hierarchy (customer – merchant – service provider) rather than a two-tier one (customer – service provider). And this does come with its own minuses. First, it kind of goes against the fundamental of a digital wallet itself. The customer app is restricted in what it can do. But the number of services available on the merchant version of the app is much more. It thus makes a user dependent on a QPay merchant for a broader range of payments to be made. You can see how that’s a problem.

Now let’s look at the other side of the coin; why it stands out among the rest. Well, the UnionPay alliance has got to come up handy somewhere, right? QPay users can make payments to all the SCT or UnionPay accepting merchants across the country, which rounds out to about 20 thousand. Now you be the judge whether the pros outweigh the cons or not.

From this point forward, whenever I’ll be mentioning QPay, please understand that I’m referring to the customer version of the service and not the merchant.

Services

As I’ve said before, QPay is very limited in what it can do. It only has the most basic of the utility payments. This includes mobile top-ups, internet/TV subscriptions, flight booking, electricity bills, water bills and that’s about it. There is also a sizeable percentage of cashback on most of them. Getting into funding, while every other digital wallet on this list has the option to load funds via card as well, QPay also accepts funds from UnionPay cards. Aside from this, you can also choose from the regular e-banking, mobile banking, ConnectIPS, or merchant top-up option. Like Khalti, as of now, this one doesn’t have fingerprint verification support as well.

… huh?

Now I found a little something weird about QPay. So, hold on to your hats, folks. The thing that bugged me is that the app doesn’t work as advertised. It doesn’t look quite the way it’s advertised either. The company advertises the “Nearby Taxi” feature to be “live” but the option just didn’t show up on my app. And neither did a few other features which are highlighted on the app’s page on the Play Store.

QPay App - UI

1 of 5

I had received a toast message warning me to turn on GPS for a glitch-less performance. And I did so that means the app is working just fine. Additionally, my “KYC Status” reads accepted which means it’s not a thing about restricting features to non-verified users. So… what the hell? Is QPay straight-up lying about its services (which I want to believe is it’s not)? Or is the app just broken to the point of disappointing incompetence?

Download QPay Nepal: Android | iOS

Conclusion

That was it, our list of the best digital wallets in Nepal. Every one of them has its own perks and maybe a little pitfall as well. But ultimately every single one aims to make our lives easier and simpler. I don’t mean to say I support monopoly or even am referring to it when I say; the number of such services is growing rapidly in Nepal. So, do you think maybe there are just “too many remotes for one TV”?

Best Digital Wallets in Nepal – Summary 2020

Rank	Digital Wallet
1	eSewa
2	Khalti
3	IME Pay
4	PrabhuPay
5	QPay Nepal

Pixel Buds 2 launched: First truly wireless earbuds from Google!

GadgetByte

-

April 28, 2020

0

Pixel Buds 2 launched: First truly wireless earbuds from Google!

It took almost six months, but the Google Pixel Buds 2 is finally here. It was first announced during the #MadeByGoogle event last October alongside the Google Pixel 4. A lot of buzzes surrounded the device as many expected these new ones to be much better than the clunky first-gen Pixel Buds. Well, the second-generation is out now, so let’s dive into what Pixel Buds 2 is all about along with its price and availability in Nepal.

Google Pixel Buds 2 Overview

Google had a lot to improve in the second generation of Pixel Buds. That’s because the first one was not popular among the customers. First of all, it was not a True WIreless headphone. It had a wire joining the two buds. And at the time when AirPods was taking off as a truly wireless headphone, it was certainly a stubborn move from Google. As a result, the first generation of the Pixel Buds became a sort of hassle for customers.

However, with these new Pixel Buds, Google has tried to redeem itself. Firstly, it is now a fully wireless headphone. Thus, they can be used independently from one another. The design of the buds, however, is still similar to its predecessor. With the wires now completely out of the picture, these new earbuds are more lightweight and fit seamlessly in ears. Moreover, they are the first truly wireless earbuds that offer hand-free Google Assistant access.

The sad part, however, is that they don’t have any noise-canceling technology. Therefore, they will certainly have a hard time competing against the likes of AirPods Pro. However, the fact is that the AirPods Pro costs a lot more than these Pixel Buds, so that’s quite understandable.

Now, one buys headphones for the sound quality that it offers. And these new Pixel Buds certainly delivers. For instance, there’s the Adaptive Sound mode that will adjust the volume of whatever you are listening to as per your surrounding. Moreover, its custom-designed 12mm drivers promise superior sound quality.

There have been mixed reviews about the bass quality of the Google Pixel Buds. Some have claimed that there is a significant weight in the bass. However, some have pointed out the bass as the weakness of these earbuds.

The charging case, for the most part, seems similar to the other TWS earbuds. It offers the Fast Pair feature that helps the device to quickly connect to a nearby Android device. Moreover, it has enough power to offer 24 hours of battery life for the earbuds. Sticking to battery life, this device provides five hours of continuous listening. Now, that’s on par with the AirPods. However, it’s miles off of the eleven hours that the Galaxy Buds Plus offers.

Specifications

Dimension (Pixel Buds 2): 20.5 x 19.5 x 18.2mm(H x W x D); 5.3 grams;
Dimension (Charging Case): 63 x 47 x 25mm (H x W x D): 56.1 grams
Sensors: Capacitive touch. Google Assistant, Dual IR proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, hall effect sensor (charging case)
Audio: 12mm dynamic speaker driver, passive noise reduction, spatial vent, dual beamforming microphones, voice detecting accelerometer
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
IP Rating: Splash and water-resistant (IPX4)
Battery: 5 hours of listening time, 2.5 hours of talk time, 24 hours listening time and 12 hours talk time (with charging case)
Charging: USB Type-C, Qi-Certified, Wireless charging case; 10 minutes charging = 2 hours listening time and 1 hour talk time
Colors: Clearly White, Almost Black, Quite Mint, Oh So Orange

Google Pixel Buds 2 Price & Availability

The Google Pixel Buds 2 is currently available for purchase in the US at a price of $179. Considering the US price, the Google Pixel Buds 2 should arrive in Nepal for an expected price of Rs. 25,000.

Product Name	Price in Nepal [Converted]	Availability
Google Pixel Buds 2	$179 (~Rs. 22,000)	Available through Google Store, Best Buy, Walmart, Target (in the US)

Daraz brings Seller Sahayatri Program to help small and medium enterprises

Pratima Adhikari

-

April 28, 2020

0

Daraz brings Seller Sahayatri Program to help small and medium enterprises

It is of no surprise that the ongoing pandemic has hit all sectors of the economy hard. It’s more pronounced for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who mostly function on a day to day basis are suffering miserably. With this in mind, Daraz is offering a helping hand to the SMEs by launching the Daraz Seller Sahayatri Program. This initiative might help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on businesses in Nepal.

Overview

Realizing how crucial it is to reinvigorate the SME sector, the Daraz Seller Sahayatri Program seeks to invite retailers and businesses across Nepal to set up their digital ventures on Daraz.

The SME sector contributes to around 22% of the GDP and generates around 17 lakh employment, so it is very important that the sector gets more attention, especially at times of these crises.

This program further aims to help SMEs in all the 5 countries Daraz is operating in by providing a subsidy of nearly half a million US dollars with dedicated one-on-one support and access to free business consultation to all.

Read: List of Online platforms for essential goods delivery during the lockdown

0% commission from Daraz

The subsidy is a promise to charge 0% marketplace fees to SMEs for May and June on the sales made by them via the platform (Daraz) during these months. This way, the total local package includes subsidies of more than half a million dollars. Through this program, Daraz tires to motivate as many SMEs to start and grow their ventures online.

For ease of the users wanting to enroll in this program, Daraz has brought forward services such as,

Swift store setup, so that it’s easier for new businesses across the country to start with sales as early on.
SMEs will also be allowed access to analytical tools, free-of-cost education, and training on e-commerce operations through Daraz University for better optimization.

Daraz has also outlined other support initiatives in relation to this program such as,

Weekly payouts to all Daraz sellers until 30th June 2020.
Assurance of dedicated campaigns and visibility on the Daraz app for all SME sellers.
Free access to analytical tools to improve performance.
One-on-one support to help new sellers set up their online shops.

“Daraz is confident that the Sahayatri program will help thousands of SMEs get back on their feet by leveraging the increased e-commerce activity and reaching millions of Daraz customers across the country,” -Daraz spokesperson .

Conclusion

This move by Daraz gives hope to a lot of small and medium scale enterprises to start what had been on halt because of the COVID-19 outbreak. And with this, current norms like social distancing can be abided better through digital means.

So, Daraz is encouraging all the SMEs that wish to transition online to reach to the company. This can be done by directly contacting the company (Daraz) or simply register on the platform’s sign up page .

Daraz Seller Sahayatri Program (Summary)

It is an initiative for SME businesses to set up their online shops on Daraz (a e-commerce marketplace).
Daraz will help new sellers set up their stores online with dedicated support and access to free business consultation.
They will also provide 0% marketplace fee for Sellers.

Qualcomm Quick Charge 3+ brings faster charging for inexpensive SoCs

GadgetByte

-

April 28, 2020

0

Qualcomm has now announced a new version of Quick Charge – Quick Charge 3+. It is the first time since the announcement of QC 4+ that the company has brought something new to the technology. Unlike Quick Charge 4, the Quick Charge 3 Plus is for mid-range devices for better-charging solution than the older Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0.

Quick Charge 3+

Quick Charge 3+ is the latest addition to Qualcomm’s Quick Charge family and fits right between QC 3.0 and QC 4. Qualcomm believes that a lot of the upcoming devices will support the new charging technology.

Feature

The Quick Charge 3+ will be able to charge the device from 0 to 50% in just 15 minutes. The charging speed is 35% faster than QC 3.0, and the whole charging process is 9-degree Celcius cooler than its predecessor. It feeds scalable voltage to the system with a step size of 20mV and supports the standard Type-A to Type-C charging cables. It is also backward compatible, meaning that QC 3+ charging accessories can also be used to charge devices with QC 3.0 and older. Safety features of the Qualcomm Quick Charge 3 Plus includes integrated cable power capability/identification among others.

Learn more about the What is Quick Charge here.

Support for New PMICs

Quick Charge 3 Plus supports two new PMICs (Power Management Integrated Circuits) – SMB1395 and SMB1396, both of which are products of Qualcomm. The two do not require any external protective chip or sensor such as the Over Voltage Protection Chip to implement the QC 3+. The SMD1396 also supports both wired and wireless charging.

Compatible SoCs

As of now, only two of Qualcomm’s SoC support the QC 3 Plus – Snapdragon 765 and Snapdragon 765G. Both of them are premium mid-range SoCs, so Qualcomm’s slogan of faster and affordable charging for the masses isn’t actually true as of now. However, the company has also said that the upcoming SoCs will be compatible with the new charging solution.

Check out: OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless Charging

Quick Charge 3+ Availability

Quick Charge 3 Plus is already available in Xioami’s Mi 10 Lite Zoom, which is otherwise referred to as Mi 10 Youth Edition. As brands are now starting to use the SD 765G, a lot of upcoming devices will make use of this technology.

Check out our review of Samsung Galaxy M31!

Here are the best alternatives to the new iPhone SE (2020)

Nikhil Shrestha

-

April 28, 2020

0

Here are the best alternatives to the new iPhone SE (2020)

The new iPhone SE (2020) is a power move of sorts from Apple. One of the most powerful mobile processors that currently exists, in an iPhone that starts at $399; who’d have thought? Not me. Though multiple reports have it that the A13 Bionic on the iPhone SE is slightly underclocked compared to the ones on the 11 series, it is still able to hold its ground against some of the most expensive Android phones. Yes, it doesn’t conform to the design choices of modern days and neither does the iPhone SE 2 come with one of those fancy smooth displays or a multi-lens camera system. As a result, the primary selling point of this phone is its chipset and the eventual system updates that’ll follow. And frankly, that makes sense – for the American buyers. For people elsewhere, there are many great alternatives to the new iPhone SE.

Uneven prices!

You see, the second-gen iPhone SE (like every other iPhone) is comparatively more expensive in other regions of the world. For instance, the base 64GB iPhone SE 2020 goes for $399 in the US. While in India, the starting price is INR 42,500 which is about $550. See how that changes its appeal altogether? Let’s take a look at the official price of the new iPhone SE (64GB) in some other countries.

Country	Price (local currency)	Price (USD equivalent)
US	$399	–
Canada	C$599	$425
Brazil	R$3,699	$661
UK	£419	$518
China	¥3,299	$465
India	₹42,500	$557
Australia	A$749	$478

Reviewer-ship bias?

So, while you may have come across rave reviews of the phone from many established reviewers, you gotta put the price factor into consideration. With such a big cost difference, are you better off with a similarly priced Android phone instead? If you’re open to choices, we actually think so.

Therefore, in this article, we’re taking a look at the 7 best alternatives to the new iPhone SE. But mind you, the devices in this list come bearing different prices in different countries and some are even a little costlier than the iPhone SE. Moreover, they may or may not be officially available in certain regions of the world and we’ve considered the Asian (especially South Asian) market in terms of their accessibility. With that out of the way, let’s take a look at our pick of the best alternatives to the iPhone SE (2020).

Best iPhone SE (2020) alternatives

#7. Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite

Kicking off the list at the number 7 position, we have Samsung’s Galaxy Note10 Lite. Now, I know it is nowhere near as powerful as the iPhone SE or any other phones in this list for that matter, but it does have one uniquely redeeming quality. The S-pen, which has been one of the most captivating features of the company’s ultra-premium “Note” lineup of smartphones, finally made its debut on an inexpensive Samsung phone.

While most of the regular flagship phones have a similar user experience despite the variations in their designs or some other aspects, the S-pen brings something new to the table. You can take notes, create doodles, launch apps, and more with the help of the sleek S-pen. It really does extend the phone’s productivity with its array of possibilities, and you can quote me on that. Though the S-pen on the Note10 Lite doesn’t have a gyro sensor in contrast to the one on the standard Note10/10+, the mere presence of one is a plus point.

Beyond the S-Pen!

Besides the S-pen, it has an equally impressive camera setup similar to that of the Note10 series. The trio of 12MP lenses on the Note10 Lite gives out impressive results, despite not giving in to the megapixel game. The vibrant 6.7-inches AMOLED display is another highlight of the phone. Well, it’s a standard 60Hz panel, but I’m certain this phone won’t be on the gaming enthusiasts’ radar anyway. Moreover, Samsung has opted for an optical in-display fingerprint scanner instead of ultrasonic found in the company’s high-end smartphones.

And yeah, it’s obviously not the fastest in the market. As I mentioned earlier, the Exynos 9810 is a 2-year old SoC that just can’t keep up with Qualcomm’s latest and greatest. Having said that, though incomparable, the performance on the Note10 Lite is just fine for everyday usage and even a bit of graphics-intensive gaming. The battery on this thing is equally impressive, which charges pretty quickly. Oh, and did I mention? It has a 3.5mm headphone jack as well!

#6. Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

Two Samsung phones in a row; yup. Like the one above, the S10 Lite is the company’s similar take on a cheaper flagship device. In most parts, the S10 Lite even outclasses every other device under the S10 series. So much for the “lite” flagship thing, eh? With its big battery, an immersive display, decent performance, and equally decent camera setup, the phone is a testimonial to Samsung’s emerging competence at coming up with impressive yet low-cost smartphones.

Starting with performance, the S10 Lite is powered by last year’s Snapdragon 855 chipset. And thank god almighty that there is no Exynos variant of the device. Finally, a Qualcomm-powered flagship from Samsung that isn’t specific to the US or China. As a result, the S10 Lite performs incredibly well despite the intensity of the task at hand. Be it launching a heavy app/game or concurrently keeping them in memory for multitasking purposes.

Classic Samsung cameras!

Jumping to the cameras, you get a triple-lens camera setup with a 48MP primary lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and with a disappointing surprise – a 5MP macro lens, all arranged in a squarish module. It seems like an intentional decision from Samsung to kind of disparage the cameras on the S10 Lite. As far as I can recall, no Samsung flagship phone to date has had a macro sensor. More importantly, no flagship should have one. Anyway, the images from the S10 Lite are classic Samsung, including the ones from the 32MP front-facing camera placed inside the small punch-hole cutout. By that I mean, punchy colors, a good amount of details and stuff.

Additionally, the phone also has a large 4500mAh battery which also supports 45W USB-PD charging, though you get a 25W charger inside the box. So, hey, how come Samsung was able to make this phone so cheap? The first thing I can tell is the build material used. Unlike the premium glass material found in actual flagship devices, the S10 Lite has a polycarbonate “glasstic” body, which doesn’t support wireless charging on top of being a relatively inferior material. What’s more? The camera setup could’ve been better and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is replaced with an optical one as well.

#5. OnePlus 7T

Next up, we have the OnePlus 7T. Arguably revered as the best phone under the OnePlus 7 series, the 7T even came top on Android Authority’s recent public poll about which is the better of the three; OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, or 7T. God, I love democracy! Because of the recent price drop following the launch of the new OnePlus 8 series, the 7T is now a more attractive purchase than ever. Besides the more powerful chipset and a few upgrades here and there, the OnePlus 7T is eerily similar to the new & expensive OnePlus 8.

Let’s start with the performance. Snapdragon 855+ on the 7T is the flagship Qualcomm SoC for 2019 with some improvements in the graphics department. Though it expectedly falls behind the 865, the difference between the two is just about 20% if the benchmark scores are to be believed. And just how much of that translates to real-life usage you ask? I’d say not enough; not enough for me to suggest someone with an 855+ phone upgrade to one with 865. The only major upper hand on the new Snapdragon 865 is its dedicated 5G modem. And as it stands, many countries in the world lack a proper 5G infrastructure for people to take advantage of the modem.

The best at almost everything

Moving to the display, the OnePlus 7T has a 6.55-inches AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and a small teardrop notch to house the front-facing camera. I know I have repeatedly argued how non-premium the notch looks for a modern smartphone, but considering just how well built the 7T is, I can let it slide. The color-rich, smooth, visually pleasing, and HDR10+ compliant display on the phone is absolutely mesmerizing.

Getting to the cameras, you get a triple-lens system at the back mashed inside a circular blob with a big bump. But that won’t be a problem since you can easily hide it with a decent case. The photographic prowess of the phone is quite good though it’s still not flagship-level good. You get a 48MP primary lens, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a 16MP ultrawide lens, which also doubles as a macro shooter. With all this, the OnePlus 7T is one of the best value-oriented phones you can buy right now.

#4. iQOO 3

Next on the list is iQOO 3. “iQOO 3? Wait, what noise are you making? What is that?” You might be wondering what an “iQOO” is and I understand because it’s not a household name when it comes to smartphones. It is a sub-brand from Vivo, which recently got an independent status as it was spun off into a separate brand for the Indian market. iQOO is mostly known for its gaming smartphones with high-end specs in the Chinese market and now, it looks to conquer the second-biggest smartphone consumer in the world. Starting its independent venture, the company launched iQOO 3 in India back in February and now has permanently cut its price by 10% making the phone even more alluring.

At heart, the iQOO 3 is still a gaming phone though it may not look like it. It is powered by the latest Snapdragon 865 chipset, and though we know this SoC has a 5G modem, the phone is available in both 4G LTE and 5G versions, each with different memory configurations as well. So, the performance is top-notch as you’d expect. iQOO 3 is also the first phone to be powered by the new UFS 3.1 storage protocol which brings faster write speed and minimized power consumption.

Gaming-first phone

One thing that could be a little disheartening is that its 6.44-inches Super AMOLED display is a regular 60Hz panel instead of a smoother 90Hz, 120Hz, or even 144Hz. However, this issue is partially taken care of with its 180Hz touch sampling rate. And you know it is equally important, especially when you’re gaming. And talking about gaming, iQOO 3 has two “Monster Touch” pressure-sensitive buttons on the right side for a more immersive gaming experience. But despite being a gaming-first phone, it doesn’t skimp on other aspects either.

The cameras, for instance. It has a 48MP quad-camera setup at the back and a 16MP selfie shooter inside a small punch-hole cutout on the top right corner of the display. Adding to the fascinations is its 4400mAh battery that the company claims can juice up to 50% in 15 minutes with its 55W Super FlashCharge technology. Best-in-class processor, decent camera setup, great battery; all for less than what the mainstream flagship phones cost is an absolute steal.

#3. Realme X50 Pro 5G

Like iQOO, Realme is also a sub-brand of another Chinese smartphone manufacturer OPPO, which got its independent license back in 2018. Mostly known for its mid-range phones with trendy designs, Realme really came into the global spotlight with the Realme X2 Pro. Launched in October 2019, the phone was quickly able to grab the “flagship killer” crown. And now, the Realme X50 Pro from the company is another attempt in the flagship arena. It comes with the Snapdragon 865 chipset, a quad-camera setup, an insane 65W charging, and more.

As we’ve discussed multiple times throughout this article, the Snapdragon 865 comes with an external 5G modem. But what’s special about the X50 Pro is that it is India’s first 5G smartphone. That’s a pretty important title to have acquired. Moving on, the phone sports an equally impressive 6.4-inches Super AMOLED display with 100% DCI-P3 coverage & HDR10+ support which equates to a high contrast & color-accurate panel. Furthermore, it also follows the trend of 90Hz refresh and 180Hz touch sampling rate.

A bit let-down by the cameras

While I’m praising the display, I can’t help but be let down with the pill-shaped cutout for the two front cameras. For me, it’s very distracting and looks kinda cheap at this point. Talking about the cameras, this flagship killer bears the age-old issue with a phone of its kind – an unspectacular camera performance. Though the 64MP quad-camera setup sounds excellent on paper, the reality is a little disappointing. The phone does produce reasonable quality images under good lighting conditions but when that’s not the case, you start feeling like the Realme X50 Pro could’ve done just a little more. While there’s certainly room for improvement via future updates, a lack of polished software from a relatively new company doesn’t ring a very confident bell.

Nevertheless, the battery, yes, the battery performance is something that will blow you away. Powering the X50 Pro is a 4200mAh cell that has 65W SuperDart charging at its helm. With this, the phone shares the fastest smartphone charging tech with its parent company OPPO’s Reno Ace that came with 65W SuperVOOC Flash Charge 2.0. So, yeah, the Realme X50 Pro 5G checks most of the boxes for an excellent smartphone. That too at a starting price less than that of the second-gen iPhone SE, in the Indian market at least.

#2. Xiaomi Mi 10

In the second spot on our list is Xiaomi’s new Mi 10. Admittedly, it is a little expensive compared to other phones on the list. However, its incredible build quality and some absolute flagship-worthy features for the price truly makes for a great value smartphone. Featuring an elegantly curved display and a punch-hole cutout display, the Xiaomi Mi 10 exudes confidence in its design choice and is an incredible step up from its predecessor.

Getting to the core performance itself, the phone is powered by Snapdragon 865 and comes with support for dual 5G connectivity; both SA and NSA mode. At a time when 5G is getting so much traction (to a point where it seems almost inefficiently unnecessary), no way was Xiaomi going to sit it out. Xiaomi is quite big in its home country China, which is also en route to having the largest 5G network in the world. It looks like a pretty easy choice to make, honestly. Anyways, the Snapdragon 865 is coupled with either 8 or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage.

An excellent display!

Another thing that’s praiseworthy on the Mi 10 is its display. You get a tall 6.67-inches AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1120 nits of peak brightness. Earlier, I used an adjective “elegant” to describe the phone’s curved edges. As smartphone manufacturers are indirectly being imposed into adopting curvatures on the screen, especially on their flagship devices (thanks, Samsung), accidental touches have become an unwelcome “feature” on such devices. Here, Xiaomi has implemented a software-based function to avoid such hindrances altogether.

A 108MP camera finally makes a cameo on our list with the Mi 10. Accompanying it are macro, depth, and an ultra-wide sensor, though I was a little surprised to see the lack of a telephoto lens. The 108MP lens shoots 27MP images natively, but you can crank it up to the max for those fine details. Finally, the phone has a big 4780mAh battery and supports 30W wired & wireless charging. To note, this is the only phone on this list to bear wireless charging and a damn fast one at that.

#1. OnePlus 8

At last, we’ve reached the end of our list, and sitting atop the throne is the new OnePlus 8. It’s no secret that the company’s phones have been gradually getting more expensive with each iteration. And with the OnePlus 8 series, it’s finally happened; the brand once touted as a flagship killer has come full circle and become a flagship itself. Though the vanilla OnePlus 8 receives the short end of the straw with its questionable camera setup and a punch-hole camera instead of a pop-up one, it is still one of the best phones for its price. Especially with its India-only starting price of ₹41,999 (about $550), the OnePlus 8 is an excellent alternative to the iPhone SE (2020).

Opposed to how the iPhone SE is getting great international reviews, the OnePlus 8 series is being hailed as a betrayal to the fanbase altogether. That’s exclusive to the price. However, since the Indian market is an exception, the story is reciprocated there. The company is synonymous with speed, and OnePlus 8 delivers it. The latest Snapdragon 865 SoC powers the phone. In terms of memory, you get either 8 or 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM. That’s a little surprising as OnePlus could’ve easily gone with the latest LPDDR5 technology instead. It seems like the company had a really hard time rationally differentiating the 8 and 8 Pro.

Conforming to the flagship!

Also, the OnePlus 8 now borrows that slightly extensively curved display. It looks cool but definitely brings some troubles of its own. However, OnePlus says that it’s fixed the issues of accidental touches with the OxygenOS 10.5.5 update; so that’s great news. The 6.55-inches AMOLED panel is glorious to look at and interact with as well, thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate. Don’t believe me? DisplayMate even gave an A+ rating to the display on the OnePlus 8 series; which just goes on to show how magnificent it is.

Heading to the cameras, I found the lens choice, in particular, to be a little odd. That’s because OnePlus skipped telephoto for a dedicated macro lens. It doesn’t make sense to me; but looking past that, the images from the OnePlus 8 are on-par with other flagship devices. Therefore, because of its excellent build quality, performance, display, and more, the OnePlus 8 is one of the best substitutes for the new iPhone SE – in the Indian market, to be precise.

Best iPhone SE (2020) alternatives – Summary

Rank	Smartphone	Best Price	Reason
1	OnePlus 8	₹41,999 (~$554)	Best overall performance
2	Xiaomi Mi 10	¥3,999 (~$565)	Excellent build quality & performance
3	Realme X50 Pro 5G	₹37,999 (~$501)	Great performance & a diverse camera setup
4	iQOO 3	₹34,990 (~$461)	Excellent gaming device among other features
5	OnePlus 7T	₹34,999 (~$461)	Great value for money
6	Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite	₹42,142 (~$555)	Flagship Samsung experience on discounted price
7	Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite	NPR 59,999 (~$492)	Increased productivity with the S-pen

Final words

As you see, there are a lot of great Android alternatives to the iPhone SE (2020). It is certainly a great deal for American buyers, especially those who are into the Apple ecosystem. But even if you think it’s a good deal, I strongly believe shouldn’t make a switch if you already have a good-enough Android phone.

Dark Mode 2.0 and more: Find out when your device will get the new MIUI 12 upgrade!

GadgetByte

-

April 28, 2020

0

Dark Mode 2.0 and more: Find out when your device will get the new MIUI 12 upgrade!

Yesterday, Xiaomi launched the new Mi 10 Youth Edition 5G in its home market. However, that was not the only big announcement. In fact, the smartphone giant also launched the latest edition of its custom skin to Android, MIUI 12. It is the successor of the MIUI 11 and it brings in some major updates in terms of privacy and visuals. Moreover, it also brings some Android 10 features that were missing in the previous version. So, let’s dive right into the major features of the MIUI 12.

Dark Mode 2.0 and Updated Visuals

MIUI 12 introduces the new “Dark Mode 2.0”. It is basically a wallpaper dimming feature. As the surrounding light changes, your wallpaper will gradually dim. Moreover, the contrast & boldness of font will be adjusted accordingly depending upon the ambient light.

Additionally, the inclusion of Super Wallpapers further complements Dark Mode 2.0. It includes 3D models of Earth and Mars. The pictures are based on data science explorations and are highly precise. Additionally, the wallpapers will also enter night mode when the dark mode is turned on.

This new skin brings major visual changes too. You’ll notice that app icon animations now generate real-time feedback. The animations depend on the changes in gesture direction and speed. Furthermore, the weather animations will display real-time weather changes in a time-lapse movie format too. Other improvements include animation changes in screen rotation, app switching, and more.

There’s a visual improvement in how one sees the system information as well. Xiaomi has labeled it as the new “Sensory Visual Design”. The core system information, system status are presented in the form of graphs and visual diagrams in the new MIUI 12.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobile Price in Nepal [Updated]

Gesture improvements and AI calling

The new gesture includes how you interact with the notification panel. Now, you won’t have to abandon your work screen when you pull down the notification panel. Moreover, the panel can also expand into a small window. And it can be dragged around the screen.

AI Calling is now integrated into Xiaomi’s custom Xiao AI. The feature is similar to the Call Screening feature of Pixel 3. Reportedly, this AI phone assistant has answered around 4 million calls during the testing phase. This feature allows users to switch between manual and automatic answering and also customize the language in which their calls will be answered.

Privacy Enhancements

The most vital upgrade in this new skin is undoubtedly related to the user’s privacy. Users can choose to grant permissions to the app only once or while being used. And those permissions will be revoked once you close the app. Furthermore, users will get the option to track the app behaviors too. You’ll now see in detail what information a particular app is collecting and more. Also, device details will be removed from the image that you choose to share.

Xiaomi MIUI 12 Availability

Xiaomi launched the MIUI 12 and it is already available in China and its stable version will roll out by the end of June. The devices such as Mi 10 series, Redmi K30 Pro, Mi Mix 3, and more will receive the stable MIUI 12 updates.

Xiaomi and Redmi phones to receive MIUI 12 Upgrade

Mi 10 Youth Edition Launched: Cheapest 5G Xiaomi phone!

GadgetByte

-

April 27, 2020

0

Mi 10 Youth Edition Launched: Cheapest 5G Xiaomi phone!

Xiaomi had launched its Mi 10 series just last month. The series included three devices, namely- Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, and Mi 10 Lite. And today, with the launch of Mi 10 Youth Edition, Xiaomi has expanded the Mi 10 series. Before its launch, speculation was that the Mi 10 Youth Edition will just be a rebranded Mi 10 Lite that is available in Europe. However, there are some differences between this device and the Lite version. Let’s know more about the Xiaomi Mi Youth Edition along with its specs, price, and availability in Nepal.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition 5G Overview

The device has a 6.57-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution. The refresh rate is akin to that of the Mi 10 Lite. That means it too has a 60Hz display. It certainly would have been great had they upped it to 90Hz, but nevertheless, it’s still decent. However, they have a sort of compensated for it by offering a 180Hz touch sampling rate. Moreover, the screen does not have a punch-hole cutout. Rather, it has the more common waterdrop notch. The notch houses a 16MP selfie shooter.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobile Price in Nepal [Updated]

Cameras are the strongest feature of the Mi 10 Youth Edition. The device sports a quad-camera array with a 48MP primary sensor. It is further complemented by an 8MP ultra-wide lens a 2MP macro lens. And an 8MP periscope telephoto lens. This periscope module comes with OIS, 5X optical zoom, 10X hybrid zoom, and 50X digital zoom capabilities.

This device will probably be one of the most affordable 5G smartphones. And to serve its purpose, it uses the Snapdragon 765G under the hood. As for the RAM option, one can choose between either 6GB or 8GB LPDD4X RAM. The storage options are 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Furthermore, the device is powered by a huge 4160mAh battery with Quick Charge 4+ and UDB PD 3.1. Now, we’d hoped that the device will be the first one to launch with the new MIUI 12. Sadly, that isn’t the case as it still uses the MIUI 11 skin. However, users will be able to upgrade it to MIUI 12.

Specifications:

Display: 6.57-inches AMOLED panel; 60Hz refresh rate; FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) resolution; HDR10+
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G; 7nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (1×2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1×2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6×1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
GPU: Adreno 620
Software: Android 10 with MIUI 11 on top
RAM: 6GB, 8GB
Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (UFS 2.1)
Rear Camera: 48MP primary lens with f/1.8 aperture + 8MP ultra-wide lens with f/3.4 aperture + 8MP telephoto (periscope) module with OIS, 5X optical zoom, 10X hybrid zoom, 50X digital zoom, and f/2.2 aperture + 2MP macro lens with f/2.4 aperture
Front Camera: 16MP
Security: Fingerprint sensor(Under-display, optical)
Battery: 4,160mAh; 22.5W Fast charging, USB PD 3.0, Quick Charge 4+
Colors: Black Skill Storm, Blueberry Mint, Four Seasons Spring Milk Green, Peach Grapefruit, White Peach Oolong

Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition Price and Availability

The price of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition starts at CNY 2,099, which is approximately Rs. 36,000 in Nepal. The device is already available for pre-booking and will go be available in stores on April 30 in China. Hence, the expected price of Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth Edition in Nepal for the base 6/64GB is around Rs. 36,000.

Xiaomi Model Variant	Price in China	Price in Nepal [converted]
Mi 10 Youth Edition (6/64GB)	CNY 2,099	Rs. 36,000
Mi 10 Youth Edition (6/128GB)	CNY 2,299	Rs. 40,000
Mi 10 Youth Edition (8/128GB)	CNY 2,499	Rs. 43,000
Mi 10 Youth Edition (12/256GB)	CNY 2,799	Rs. 48,000

Evidence of Snapdragon variant of Samsung Galaxy S20+ outperforming the Exynos emerges

GadgetByte

-

April 27, 2020

0

Evidence of Snapdragon variant of Samsung Galaxy S20+ outperforming the Exynos emerges

Samsung is different in the sense that it is the only smartphone brand that releases its flagship devices with two different SoC. Take a look at the recently released Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. If you buy it in Nepal, you will get a device powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 990. However, there is also the S20 Plus with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865. Recently, Phonebuff conducted a series of tests on the Exynos & Snapdragon variants of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. Let’s check out the result of the test.

Samsung S20 Plus: Exynos vs Snapdragon

The Snapdragon variant of the Samsung S20 Plus is available in select markets such as South Korea, the US, and Canada. Everywhere else, the device is sold with Samsung’s proprietary Exynos 990. The company believes that both SoCs perform similarly, but that sounds too good to be true. Phonebuff made a comparison video to check that claim where robots conducted tests to eliminate any kind of partiality.

Check out the price of Samsung S20+ in Nepal.

Performance Test

To check if both variants performed the same, they were put through a test where both the phones were loaded with a set of popular apps in the course of two laps. The first lap was designed to see which SoC launched the apps faster.

The Snapdragon variant took a small leap over the Exynos from the very first task of launching Facebook. It also took less time to compute calculations in MS-Excel. The difference was more significant in tasks like photo editing (using Snapseed), video rendering (using Adobe Rush), and launching games (Subway Surfer, Flip Dive, Fit the Fat 2, Fortnite). The Snapdragon variant completed the first lap in 2 minutes 1 second while the Exynos completed it in about 2 minutes 10 seconds.

In the second lap, both processors performed the same as both used the same 12GB RAM to re-load apps from memory. To be exact, the Exynos came out the winner in the second lap with a tiny margin of 38ms.

Also Read: Samsung Mobile Price in Nepal [Updated]

Battery Endurance Test

In the battery test, both devices were put through some predetermined task under similar settings. The Snapdragon made a lead from the first task that involved an hour-long call. Though Exynos performed better in the mailing task, it never made a comeback. Snapdragon variant retained the battery better while browsing the internet, scrolling through Instagram, gaming, and in the 16hour standby test. Exynos seemed to perform well in the YouTube streaming test but that it was it. It was clear that the Snapdragon variant had a better battery endurance overall.

Check out the specs of Samsung Galaxy A51 5G.

Is Samsung robbing us?

Samsung wants to believe that both the variant perform the same. But both the benchmark and real-life tests have defied the claim. Based on the region, customers get different devices though they have to pay the same premium amount. It’s high time for Samsung to decide on a single flagship chipset for future releases. Samsung should work harder to get the Exynos processors to perform identically to their Snapdragon counterparts as no customer would want to buy an underperforming device. Selling the illusion of the lack of any sort of performance gap will only harm the company’s goodwill in the long run.

Check out our complete review of Samsung S20 / S20+

Elon Musk’s SpaceX to start public beta testing of “Starlink” in 6 months

GadgetByte

-

April 27, 2020

0

Elon Musk’s SpaceX to start public beta testing of “Starlink” in 6 months

You may have heard about SpaceX‘s mission to put mankind on Mars. That’s the ultimate goal of the company founded by Elon Musk. Right now, the company is on the headlines for another one of its projects – Starlink. Musk says it is an effort to connect every nook and cranny of the globe through a reliable internet connection. Starlink is still in the development phase. However, the project has reached a stage now where the company can start beta testing. Let’s learn about the project in detail alongside the date for the beta testing.

Starlink: Connecting the world

It’s hard to believe but even in 2020, about half of the world population still don’t have any access to the internet. We are at a point in a time where half of the people can’t go on about their days without the internet while the other half is yet to get a taste of it. That is what Elon and SpaceX are trying to change with the Starlink. They believe that the project will provide internet access to people in the most isolated part of the world at reasonable prices.

History

SpaceX first announced the project back in 2015 with the primary motto of providing the world with access to low latency internet at an affordable cost. The vision was to use a constellation of satellites orbiting around the earth to transmit the data at a speed that is not possible on the surface of the planet. The project didn’t have a smooth start, to say the least, as it took time for the company to come with a low-cost transceiver that would communicate with the constellation from the world. Finally, in 2018, SpaceX deployed two prototypes: Tintin A and Tintin B.

Check out SpaceX’s plan to manufacture ventilators during the Covid-19 crisis.

How does it work?

Optic fiber is the preferred choice of public data transition in the world. It uses light for data transmission that makes it faster than other traditional mediums out there. The problem here is that the light has to travel through the glass medium, which limits its speed and hence the latency. But with Starlink’s satellite operating in a vacuum, the transmission is a lot faster. It isn’t free of lag as it will still require uplink and downlink communication between the satellites and the terrestrial transceiver. But it is minimal compared to fiber optics.

The difference in latency will be more significant over the long-distance transmission. In contrast to other communication satellites with orbital radius 36,000km, the Starlink will operate a “little” closer to Earth with an orbital radius of about 580km instead of 1150km as initially planned. The smaller orbital radius helps reduce the latency. On the other hand, it also means that each satellite has a limited coverage radius. That is why thousands of satellites have to be launched into the lower orbit of the earth to make this project a reality. As of now, SpaceX has permission to launch about 12,000 satellites for the project.

Check out Apple’s plan for its satellite constellation.

Starlink Beta Testing

After the recent deployment of 60 satellites, Starlink now has a total of 422 satellites in space. The number is good enough for the company to start testing out the system. According to Elon Musk, Starlink will start private beta testing in 3 months. Similarly, the public beta testing for Starlink will begin in 6 months. The service will first be available in North America before it is rolled out globally. The download speed is expected to go up to 1Gbps with 25 – 35ms latency.

Concerns

There have been a lot of questions surrounding the project from the start. The idea of launching thousands of satellites into space has raised significant concerns about space debris. But SpaceX claims the Krypton ion thruster can direct the satellites back to earth at the end of their life span. And about 95% of the satellite’s composition will burn completely in the atmosphere.

Also, astronomers and space observatory organizations have complained that the Starlink’s satellites have been interfering with their observation of the space. To the solution of this problem, SpaceX is trying to reduce the brightness level of the satellites. All the upcoming satellites will have sunshades made up of dark radio transparent foam.

Check out DishHome’s plans for satellite-based internet service.

Long-term Objectives

Though the motto is to provide everyone with access to the internet, it is still far from the reach. To access the Starlink internet, one must have a transceiver that can communicate with the satellite constellations. Starlink’s transceiver with phased array antenna costs right around $200. With such a price tag, we don’t think it’s affordable at all.

So, the primary consumers for Starlink will be industries that require low-latency internet connection, such as the Stock Market exchange. If the project is successful, it will shoot the revenue of the company by about ten times. The boosted revenue means SpaceX will have more funds for its long-term plan of colonizing Mars.

Check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy M31!

Samsung Galaxy J2 Core 2020 Launched with outdated Specs

Pratima Adhikari

-

April 27, 2020

0

Samsung Galaxy J2 Core 2020 Launched with outdated Specs

Samsung has launched its new budget smartphone of 2020. Dubbed as the Galaxy J2 Core 2020, it features an outdated design along with outdated features. However, it does come with a budget-friendly price and is soon launching in Nepal.

Samsung Galaxy J2 Core 2020 Overview

The Galaxy J2 Core 2020 is strikingly identical to the J2 Core 2018. For starters, it comes with a 5-inch 540 x 960 pixels 16:9 display. I didn’t see the AMOLED tagline mentioned anywhere, so we are not sure just yet. The smartphone comes equipped with an Exynos 7570 SoC, a QuadCore 1.4GHz CPU paired with just 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of expandable storage. To recall, the 2018 version had 8GB of storage.

Even though the specs seem to be underpowered, the use of Android Go should help a lot with better performance. Samsung claims a 15% faster app opening times, but real-life usage may differ. However, it’s still running on the older Oreo 8.1 which is extremely strange.

The camera setup comes with an 8MP f/2.2 at the back with an LED flash and a 5MP f/2.2 at the front. It also comes with a removable back and a removable 2600mAh battery.

If you look at the renders of the smartphone, you might notice that the front does not have the same home button as the other Galaxy smartphones. It comes with a rather J-series like the front but without the extra tall or extra thin bezels. This might be due to the software itself, which might not take full advantage of the home button.

The J2 Core 2020 has 4G LTE and comes with a dual SIM slot. It is available in 3 colors: Gold, Blue, and Black.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal

Specifications:

Display: 5.0-inch 540 x 960 pixel 16:9 aspect ratio display
SIM: Dual SIM with 4G support
SoC: Exynos 7570 CPU
Processor: Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: Mali-T720 GPU
Storage: 8GB Internal expandable up to 256GB with MicroSD
RAM: 16GB
Rear camera: 8 MP, AF, f/2.2
Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.2
Battery: Removable Li-Ion 2600 mAh
Dimensions: 143.4 x 72.1 x 8.9 mm
Colors: Black, Gold, and Blue

Samsung Galaxy J2 Core 2020 Price in Nepal

The Galaxy J2 Core 2020 is priced at INR 6,300 in India. Considering the Indian price, we can expect the Galaxy J2 Core 2020 to launch in Nepal for a price of Rs.9,999.

Model Name	Price in Nepal	Availability (Expected)
Samsung Galaxy J2 Core 2020	Rs. 10,000	June, 2020