Page 603 – GadgetByte Nepal

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

GadgetByte

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May 30, 2020

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

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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.

Nepal Budget 2077/78: A look into what’s in store for the ICT sector!

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Nikhil Shrestha

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May 29, 2020

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Nepal Budget 2077/78: A look into what’s in store for the ICT sector!

Like clockwork, Nepal Government announced the budget for the fiscal year 2077/78 (2020-21 A.D) yesterday. With an improbably ambitious goal of 7% economic growth in mind, Finance Minister Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada unveiled the financial plan of Rs. 1.474 trillion. Surprisingly, this year’s budget is actually about 4% smaller compared to last year’s budget of Rs. 1.53 trillion.

Anyway, this includes Rs. 948 billion for recurrent expenditure, Rs. 352 billion for capital expenditure, and Rs. 172 billion for financing provisions. Keeping the ongoing pandemic in mind, the budget mainly emphasizes on health and employment sector. However, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has something to look out for from the budget too. Let’s take a look.

Nepal Budget 2077/78: ICT Sector

The highlight of this year’s budget regarding the ICT sector has been the increment in the total amount. While last year’s budget allocated Rs. 6.35 billion in this division, the Nepal government’s 2077/78 budget separates Rs. 7.13 billion instead.

A National Payment Gateway

This is actually very old news, dating back to January 2018. We have been hearing about Nepal Rastra Bank working on a national-level payment gateway for monitoring and regulating the digital payment system. While eSewa (a private-owned company) has been facing heavy criticism for its apparent monopoly in government tenders, a centrally controlled payment system will be the next step in Nepal’s digital revolution. The system will allow for payments of VAT, income tax, excise duty, etc. digitally.

Digitization and Cashless Economy

Nepal government has also promised that it will be promoting digitalization and a cashless economy. With a pretty strong lineup of digital wallets and similar mobile or internet banking infrastructure available, the government’s push towards the digital platform should provide some sort of a much-needed boost. Some steps into digitalization include the promotion of home delivery of certain categories of goods, a mobile application for farmers, acquiring vehicle licenses, passports online, etc., especially in remote areas.

More importantly, the government has also vouched to make NEPSE completely digital. This is quite an exciting development seeing how it opens up a whole new avenue in terms of live trading.

Biometric Identification & Online Complaint System

Here, biometric identification refers to discerning a person’s identity based on his/her biological traits like face, voice, or fingerprint. Nepal government had already filed a tender for the project, which was met with a lot of criticism from many private sectors, concerned individuals, and industry experts. Apparently, the government didn’t bother to conduct any sort of security test or other necessary steps.

Regardless, around 10 million Nepali citizens will have their own biometric identification ID in the coming year. And bringing the citizens’ ever-evident frustration against the government, you will be able to do that all at the tip of your fingerprints now. That’s not going to be instantaneous though. The online complaint system is expected to be implemented within 3 years.

FTTH Broadband Internet Accessibility

The internet is a big part of our modern life and its accessibility has been recognized as a human right by the UN. While mobile internet is accessible to many regions of Nepal, the more reliable Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) broadband internet remains out of reach to many; especially in the rural areas. Nepal government hopes to extend FTTH internet service to the entirety of the country within 2 years.

Reduced Maintenance Charge to ISPs

On top of the internet accessibility, its affordability also became a big headache as the government decided to levy an additional 13% Telecommunications Service Charge (TSC) charge last year. It was met with wild criticisms, with people citing how the move would trample the internet usage growth in the country.

And now, the government has announced that it would discount the maintenance charge on broadband ISPs by up to 50%, levied as a TSC charge. As a result, the final taxes on such ISPs now sum up to 13% VAT, 6.5% TSC, and 4% royalty fees.

Also Read: Best ISPs in Nepal [Updated]

Ownership Tax on Prepaid SIM & Recharge Card

While the government eased off on ISPs to some extent, it has introduced an ownership tax of 2% on prepaid SIM cards and recharge cards. In the past, this tax was exclusive to postpaid SIM and landline phones. Though the country hopes to expand the reach of mobile networks (including 4G) to as many corners of the country as possible, this step feels like an exact contradiction. Even just by a little, this has minimized the affordability of telecom services in the country.

Increased Excise Duty on Mobile Accessories

The smartphone industry in Nepal is growing every year. And the government had introduced an additional 5% excise duty on smartphone imports in the past, which has since been halved to 2.5%. While that remains constant this year as well, the government has introduced excise duty on various smartphone accessories.

For instance, excise duty of 15% on smartwatches, 10% on earphones, headphones, power banks, and 5% on digital, TV, and other types of cameras will be applicable from now on. It’s almost like the government is trying to make up for the reduced excise duty on smartphones.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry Sees A Massive Setback

In a surprising move, the Nepal government has increased tax on the import of EVs during the budget announcement of 2077/78. This goes directly against PM K P Oli’s own testimonial of how Nepal’s roads will have about 20% public electric vehicles by 2020.

Now, there’s a custom duty of 30% on a three-wheeler, and up to 80% on other types of EV. However, the latter does have a provision for a 50% discount. Previously, custom duty on EVs was just 10%. Additionally, there’s a varying level of excise duty on electric vehicles based on their peak power as well:

EV Peak Power	Excise Duty
50–100kW	40%
100–150kW	50%
150–200kW	60%
200–300kW	70%
>300kW	80%

Mind you, this was non-existent. So you can understand the backlash this decision has received online. Similarly, the government has also increased the road toll on the import of EVs from 1% to 5%.

Nepal Television to go International

The government-owned and Nepal’s oldest television channel: Nepal Television (NTV) will now be broadcasted on an international level. While NTV started its HD broadcasting just last year, it’s exciting to see the next step in NTV’s future. For international broadcasts, NTV needs to strengthen its infrastructure and the investments will be made accordingly.

Nepal’s Own Satellite System

The government also hopes to establish its own satellite system in space. We already know how a team at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) launched the first satellite named “NepaliSat-1”. And now, the government looks to take it a step further. Having one’s own satellite system will aid different domestic scientific institutions in their various research.

Virtual Education Through Internet & Television

COVID-19 has stuck us to our homes and thus, many industries have closed shop as well. And one of the crucial sectors is education. New educational sessions haven’t been able to start and classes are at a halt. Not exactly, though.

While many modern schools and colleges have started online learning sessions, that’s not possible in the context of educational institutions in rural areas, or it’s a matter of accessibility from a student’s point of view. Here, the Nepal government is now encouraging virtual education. Not only through the internet, but also through TV; which is the more accessible platform of the two for now.

Online Media Encouragement

People have been pouring into digital platforms for the latest news, to topics of their interest. And this has directly helped minimize the penetration of more traditional mediums like television, or radio. Nepal government has realized that as well and says that it will be encouraging online media for communication with the public. “Encouraging” is the keyword here.

So, the aforementioned conventional methods aren’t going anywhere. Similarly, the government will also be promoting insurance to journalists, while it also hopes to make insurance more affordable to the general public.

Others

Besides all these, some other notable announcements from Nepal government’s budget plan for 2077/78 include the following:

Establishment of a separate Cybersecurity Forensic Lab
Establishment of a “National Knowledge Park” in Lalitpur
Tax Rebate for Micro and Cottage Industry

Annual Turnover (Rs.) Tax Rebate

0–2,000,000 30%

2,000,000–5,000,000 40%

5,000,000–10,000,000 50%
Electricity Rebate for industries and households

Consumption Units Rebate

Industries (during lockdown) 50%

Up to 10 units 100%

Up to 150 units 25%

Up to 250 units 5%

Samsung’s upcoming Exynos 992 SoC based on 5nm EUV process in works

GadgetByte

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May 29, 2020

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Samsung’s upcoming Exynos 992 SoC based on 5nm EUV process in works

Lately, Samsung has been facing a lot of criticism for the performance difference between the two variants of its flagship device. Snapdragon 865 and Exynos 990 power the two options, respectively. However, it looks like the company is not going to give up on its in-house chipset anytime soon. According to a recent report, Samsung is working on its next flagship chip –Exynos 992, and it looks like the company is finally changing a lot of things.

Samsung Exynos 992: All the rumors

New 5nm Process

Samsung will be continuing its partnership with TSMC for the next-generation SoCs. Reportedly, the Exynos 992 will be the first Exynos chipset to use the 5nm EUV manufacturing process. Most of the current flagship processors such as Snapdragon 865 and Samsung’s Exynos 990 are based on the 7nm process. The shift in the manufacturing process is expected to bring improvement in both raw power and efficiency.

Latest Cortex Cores

Exynos 992 will make use of the latest Cortex A78 cores and Mali G78 GPU by ARM. The Cortex A78 is 15% smaller than the Cortex A77 cores but still manages to offer a 20% surge in the performance. Similarly, you can expect up to 25% boost in the performance in Mali 78 compared to Mali G77.

Having said that, ARM had also announced Cortex-X1 alongside A78, which is supposed to be the most powerful ARM CPU to date. The increase in performance does come with a sacrifice of power and size. Sadly, Cortex-X1 won’t be making a debut with Exynos 992. It would have been exciting to see such powerful CPU cores in action on flagship smartphones from Samsung. I mean, that would certainly have helped put the “Exynos-inferiority” debate to rest by some level.

And seeing how next year’s Snapdragon 875 is rumored to pack in the Cortex-X1 CPU cores, we can all but conclude that the Exynos 992 is most likely a glimpse of the next flagship-level Samsung chipset. It’s also in the name, after all. The true successor to Exynos 990 – Exynos 1000 (or whatever Samsung ends up naming it) is the one to look out for, whose most exciting feature is believed to be AMD’s RDNA-based GPU. However, this SoC will only be powering Samsung’s 2021 flagship devices.

Early reports suggest that Exynos 992 will outperform Snapdragon 865 by 1-3%. But performance isn’t the only thing that users are concerned with. It has been evident that the Snapdragon processors are more efficient than their competitors. With the upcoming Qualcomm flagship processor (SD 865+) being delayed due to ongoing pandemic, we might even see other manufacturers incorporating it in their devices.

Production

The mass production of the new Exynos chipset will start in August. So, there is a slight probability that Samsung might use it in the upcoming Galaxy Note 20 series. According to TSMC, all the preparation for the production of the latest chips are complete, and it is up to Samsung to decide to include it into the Note 20 series. To be honest, expecting a new chipset on Note 20 could be a little too much. First, it will be a hurried decision. Second, it will make the Note 20 more powerful than the S20 series. And I don’t think Samsung will let it happen.

Samsung Exynos 992 Launch and Availability

Samsung Exynos 992 will head into production starting from the second half of August. We can expect Exynos 992 to power the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series and the company’s other flagships after it.

Check out our review of Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+.

Redmi enters the PC Monitor business with the new “Redmi Display 1A”

GadgetByte

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May 29, 2020

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Redmi enters the PC Monitor business with the new “Redmi Display 1A”

For a brand that is generally known for its potent yet affordable smartphones, Redmi already has a broad portfolio of other products for its consumers. But, like every other company, it is always looking to expand. This time, Redmi has entered the PC monitor industry with the Display 1A. Let’s learn more Redmi Display 1A in detail, including its specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability.

Redmi Display 1A Overview

Design and Screen

Redmi Display 1A sports a 23.8-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Here, the contrast ratio is 1000:1, and the brightest level peaks at 250 nits. The screen has a 60Hz refresh rate and a Gray To Gray (GTG) response time of 6ms. The slimmest part of the monitor is just 7.3mm thick.

Features

The monitor has a 178-degree field of view, and has TUV Rheinland certification for low blue light emission. It has a significant bezel on the bottom of the screen, but the bezels on the three sides are very slim and barely noticeable. Thanks to the narrow side bezels or the “three micro sides immersive design” as Redmi likes to call it, you can use the monitor in a multi-monitor setup.

Also Read: Samsung Monitors Price in Nepal

Ports and Connectivity

You can connect the Display 1A to your PC via an HDMI cable. In case you have an older system that doesn’t support HDMI, there is also a VGA port on the monitor.

Redmi Display 1A Specifications:

Dimension: 539.2 L x 181.2 Wx 419.5 H-mm
Weight: 2.7Kg
Screen size: 23.8″ IPS LCD panel
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Brightness Level: 250cd/m^{2 (TYP)}
Response Time: 6ms (GTG)
Refresh Rate: 144Hz
Color Support: 16.7 million
Computer Interface: 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA port
Viewing Angles: 178- degree
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Rated Power: 24W (12V / 2A)

Redmi Display 1A Price in Nepal & Availability (Expected)

Redmi Display 1A is available for orders in China through Xiaomi’s official site, and its price is 599 Yuan. We can expect the price of Redmi Display 1A to be around NPR 13,500 if it launches in Nepal.

Redmi Monitor Name	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Redmi Display 1A	599 Yuan ~ Rs. 13,500

RedmiBook 13 2020 ultrabook unveiled with the new Ryzen 4000 processor

GadgetByte

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May 28, 2020

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RedmiBook 13 2020 ultrabook unveiled with the new Ryzen 4000 processor

In an online event held on May 26, Redmi has refreshed its RedmiBook lineup of an ultrabook. Accompanying the RedmiBook 14 and RedmiBook 16, is the new RedmiBook 13. It is the cheapest among the three and is powered by the Ryzen Renoir processor. Read along to know more about the RedmiBook 13 2020, including the specs, features, expected price in Nepal, and availability.

RedmiBook 13 2020 Overview

RedmiBook 13 2020 features the same body and build quality as the other RedmiBooks 2020 lineup. With the dimension of 307.3 x 195 x 17.8-mm, it is the smallest of them all. It features a 60Hz FHD panel with 100% sRGB color gamut coverage. The bezels are slim except for the bottom of the screen, which also features a “RedmiBook” branding. The screen to body ratio here is 89%.

The screen is enclosed inside an all-metal body with a textured finish on top. It weighs right around 1.23 kg.

Performance and Memory

Like the other two devices in the lineup, RedmiBook 13 2020 is available in two different processors – Ryzen 5 4500U and Ryzen 7 4700U. Both are 7nm AMD chips based on Zen 2 microarchitecture, but the Ryzen 7 4700U packs in more cores and threads (8 cores and eight threads) compared to 6 cores and six threads in Ryzen 5 4500U. Talking about graphics, 4700U has seven graphics cores clocked at 1,600 MHz, while 4500U only has six cores clocked at 1,500 MHz.

It has three different performance modes that the users can choose using the Function (Fn) and K key. For cooling, the laptop has 8mm heat pipes and larger fans.

Battery, Ports, and Others

RedmiBook 13 features two USB Type-A ports, two Type-C ports, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The 40 Watt-hour battery promises a battery life of about 12 hours. Redmi has included a 65W mini power adapter in the box.

RedmiBook 13 Key Specifications:

Design and Build: All-metal body with a toy-textured finish
Weight: 1.23kg
Display: 13-inch Anti-Glare Display, 89% screen to body ratio
Resolution: Full HD panel (1920 x 1080)
CPU: Ryzen 5 4500U / Ryzen 7 4700U
GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
RAM: 8 GB / 16 GB
Storage: 512 GB (SATA) / 1 TB SSD (PCIe)
Battery: 40 Watt-hour
Ports: 2 x USB C, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.1 , 1 x HDMI, 1 x 3.5mm jack

RedmiBook 13 2020 Price & Availability

RedmiBook 13 is available for order in China, where its starting price is 3799 Yuan. If it launches in Nepal, we expect the starting price of RedmiBook 13 2020 to be around Rs. 67,000.

Laptop Model	Price in Nepal (~Expected)
RedmiBook 13 2020 (R5, 8GB, 512GB SSD)	3,799 Yuan ~ Rs.67,000
RedmiBook 13 2020 (R5, 16 GB, 512GB SSD)	3,999 Yuan ~ Rs.73,000
RedmiBook 13 2020 (R7, 16GB, 1TB PCIe SSD)	4,499 Yuan ~ Rs.77,000

Vivo Y70s 5G is the world’s first phone to be powered by the Exynos 880 SoC

Nikhil Shrestha

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May 27, 2020

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Vivo Y70s 5G is the world’s first phone to be powered by the Exynos 880 SoC

5G smartphones have been all the rage in 2020, with manufacturers trying to make them more accessible than ever. It is absolutely praiseworthy seeing how chipmakers are bringing 5G connectivity to cheaper smartphones. For instance: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765/G, MediaTek Dimensity 820, Huawei Kirin 820, and now, Samsung Exynos 880. All of these come with an integrated 5G modem while being a mid-range SoC. And now, Vivo has jumped in the “affordable 5G-capable phone” with its new Y70s 5G, which is powered by the Exynos 880. Let’s find out more about the Vivo Y70s 5G, including its specs, launch date, and expected price in Nepal.

Vivo Y70s 5G Overview

Performance & Memory

First and foremost, let’s talk about that SoC. It’s not surprising to see an Exynos-powered Vivo smartphone as we’ve seen a couple of them hit the market already. For instance, the Vivo X30 series and S6 5G both came with Samsung’s Exynos 980. Here, the new Exynos 880 is kinda like its underclocked brother.

While the core arrangement remains the same with 2x high-performance Cortex-A77 and 6x low-performance Cortex-A55 cores, Exynos 880’s A77 cores have an underclocked 2.0GHz frequency compared to 2.2GHz on the 980. Also, both SoCs are manufactured using the same 8nm lithography process. Handling graphics is the Mali-G76 MP5. Other differences between Exynos 980 and 880 can be seen in terms of display resolution, camera sensor support, etc. Yet, that shouldn’t really be of any concern in a mid-range device.

Having said that, the chipset’s efficiency can be a little worrisome, considering how all of its direct competitors are based on a comparatively efficient 7nm process. Still, no other mid-range 5G chipset boasts the flagship-grade Cortex-A77 cores and thus settle for slightly less competent Cortex-A76 cores instead. Also, all can be put to rest if Exynos 880-powered smartphones come with a cheaper price tag. The Vivo Y70s 5G comes with a memory configuration of either 6 or 8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage. Sadly, it doesn’t support storage expansion using SD cards.

Also Read: 5G, Conspiracy Theories, & The Truth

Design & Display

Vivo Y70s 5G has a pretty basic design for a 2020 smartphone. Its back has been built with a “double-grain stitching process”, with a combo of matte and glossy bright surface throughout the panel. The phone also glows differently depending on how light bounces off the surface. It is available in three color options: Starlight Blue, Fog Mirror, and Moon Shadow Black.

Getting to the display, you get a neat 6.53-inches FHD+ IPS LCD panel with a regular 60Hz refresh rate. Therefore, the Y70s 5G won’t be on any gaming enthusiasts’ radar. Well… a high refresh rate alone shouldn’t determine that either. Here, this phone does have 90mm liquid-cooled heat dissipation heat pipes which the company claims can cool down its temperature by 10ºC. Also, the Y70s 5G packs in Vivo’s Multi-Turbo 3.0 engine for efficient gaming.

It does have a commendable 1500:1 contrast ratio and a punch-hole cutout for the front camera, thus giving a 90.72% screen-to-body ratio. The bezels are pretty slim all-around, except for the bottom of the phone, which aids in a pleasant viewing experience.

Also Read: Vivo mobiles Price in Nepal [Updated]

Cameras

Getting to the cameras, the Vivo Y70s 5G has a triple camera setup at the back. Arranged vertically, you get a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The phone also has EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) for shooting stable videos on top of rear eye AF (AutoFocus) which helps to follow subjects quickly and accurately. Finally, the 16MP front camera has been housed inside the aforementioned punch-hole cutout on the top-left corner of the phone’s display.

Battery & Others

Vivo Y70s 5G has a decent 4500mAh battery, which supports 18W fast charging. But we all know that’s no longer considered “fast” in the present context of the industry. In terms of security, it features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, while also supporting face-unlock. Furthermore, the phone has loud dual stereo speakers. Vivo Y70s 5G runs on Android 10 with FunTouch OS 10.0 on top, with Vivo’s own digital assistant “Jovi” making its presence known as well.

Vivo Y70s 5G Specifications:

Body: 6.38 x 3.02 x 0.33 inches; 190 gm
Display: 6.53-inches IPS LCD panel; 60Hz refresh rate; 90.72% screen-to-body ratio; 1500:1 contrast ratio
Resolution: FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels); 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Samsung Exynos 880; 8nm mobile platform
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A76)
GPU: Mali-G76 MP5
RAM: 6 / 8GB LPDDR4x
Storage: 128GB UFS 2.1 (non-expandable)
Software & UI: Android 10 with Vivo’s FunTouch OS 10.0 on top
Rear Camera: Triple-camera;
– 40MP, f/1.8 primary shooter, PDAF, EIS
– 8MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens
– 2MP, f/2.4 macro sensor
– Single LED flash
Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.0 aperture
Security: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, Stereo speakers
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BDS, USB Type-C
Battery: 4500 mAh battery, 18W fast charging
Colors: Starlight Blue, Fog Mirror, Moon Shadow Black

Vivo Y70s 5G Price in Nepal and Availability

Vivo Y70s 5G is already up for pre-order in China and the actual sale will begin from June 1st, 2020. As for its price, the base 6/128GB variant of Vivo Y70s 5G goes for ¥1,998 while the and 8/128GB costs ¥2,198. We expect the price of Vivo Y70s 5G to be around Rs 35,000 for the base model when it launches later in Nepal.

Model	Price in Nepal (Expected)	Availability (Expected)
Vivo Y70s 5G (6/128GB)	Rs. 35,000	June – July 2020
Vivo Y70s 5G (8/128GB)	Rs. 40,000	June – July 2020

Sony’s new ZV-1 compact camera is a godsend for vloggers!

Nikhil Shrestha

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May 27, 2020

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Sony’s new ZV-1 compact camera is a godsend for vloggers!

Sony has announced the ZV-1, which is a pocket-sized compact camera designed specifically with vloggers in mind. It basically is a variation to the company’s more expensive RX100 series of point-and-shoot cameras, plus some really useful modes and optimizations in terms of video recording; especially of oneself. That’s the approach to Sony ZV-1 right there – take the niceties of the RX100 and fashion it into something for those who prioritize in recording themselves. So, let’s take a look at the features, specs, and expected price of Sony ZV-1 in Nepal.

Sony ZV-1 Overview

Here, the Sony ZV-1 features the same sensor and processing power as the RX100 VII. It has a 20.1MP 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor with a DRAM chip and a faster 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* large aperture-lens. There is the same BIONZ X image processor with front-end LSI for high-res/low-noise image quality.

Sony ZV-1 also marks the debut of a side-opening tiltable display and there is no electronic viewfinder. It is a 3.0-inch touch-supported LCD panel. This is something vloggers would definitely admire as it gives a much more comfortable recording experience. Also, this design eliminates any chance of obstruction with microphone accessories that go on the top of the camera.

Sony ZV-1 Vlog Camera

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In terms of recording, Sony ZV-1 is capable of shooting 4K videos with full pixel readout and no pixel binning in high bit-rate XAVC S codec. Its “Super Slow Motion” facilitates recording up to 960fps, while there is also an “Interval Shooting” feature for shooting time-lapse videos. These support Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) HDR, S-Gamut3.Cine, S-Log3, S-Gamut3 color space. And though it doesn’t have a headphone port, the ZV-1 does come with a 3.5mm microphone input.

Improved & Easy Bokeh effects

While one can always turn on the bokeh effect (background blur on out-of-focus objects) manually, the ZV-1 makes it easier with a dedicated button. The Background Defocus function lets users instantaneously toggle between two levels of bokeh effect while recording.

Enhanced Subject Focus

Sony ZV-1 is also introducing what the company calls the “Product Showcase Setting“. In the past, the camera would lock focus on the subject’s face and the user would have a hard time shifting focus to something s/he is showcasing instead.

And with this feature, the ZV-1 is capable of quickly and accurately shifting focus to the product and back to the person as required. That’s thanks to its real-time Eye AutoFocus (AF) and real-time tracking AF for video. However, it doesn’t have Animal Eye AF.

Balanced Exposure

Most regular cameras fail horribly when having to deal with a sudden and extreme change in lighting conditions. They just blow up the subject’s face when moving into a bright location, thus overexposing the subject. However, Sony ZV-1 has a dedicated Face Priority AutoExposure (AE) function which detects and prioritizes the subject’s face to automatically adjust exposure to give a natural skin tone in any brightness condition. Moreover, it also addresses and adjusts exposure on the subject’s face when they quickly shift away from the video’s frame.

Clear Audio

With the video aspect of things covered, Sony ZV-1 promises an equally impressive audio quality. It features a forward-directional 3-capsule mic which is best suited for capturing audio directly from the speaker in front of the camera; while disregarding noises from the side or background.

You can also connect an external mic into its 3.5mm mic jack or the Multi Interface Shoe (MI Shoe) mount. The camera also ships with a dead cat windscreen to reduce noises when shooting in a windy location.

Also Read: Sony Cameras Price in Nepal [Updated]

Others

Sony is also bundling (optional) the ZV-1 with a Vlogger Kit (ACCVC1) that includes a GP-VPT2BT Shooting Grip with Wireless Remote Commander, plus a 64GB Ultra High-Speed Media Card. And as the name implies, it’s just a grip and not an external stabilizer. For that, the camera relies on its own optical and electronic stabilization methods in HD recordings (Active mode) and Optical SteadyShot in 4K videos (Active mode). You can also connect it to an external screen through the micro HDMI connection. Unfortunately, it still uses a micro USB connection for charging purposes while supporting in-camera charging.

Sony ZV-1 Specifications:

Body: 4.15 x 2.36 x 1.71-inches; 294gm
Camera type: Compact
Sensor: 20.1MP 1-inch type (13.2mm x 8.8mm) Exmor RS CMOS
Lens: ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 9.4-25.7mmm (24-70mm equivalent) f/1.8-2.8 aperture
Autofocus: 315 focal-plane phase-detection AF points
Video: 4K in-body movie recording with full pixel readout and no binning, Log & Gamma options, slow-mo at up to 960fps
Viewfinder: No
Screen: Vari-angle 3-inch touchscreen
Hotshoe: Multi-interface (can connect an XLR mic via an adapter)
Storage: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Battery: NP-BX1 lithium-ion (260 shots per charge, 75 minutes continuous video recording; CIPA-rated)
Ports & Connectivity: 1x 3.5mm microphone input, 1x micro HDMI (Type D), 1x micro USB 2.0, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth

Sony ZV-1 Price in Nepal and Availability

The Sony ZV-1 is available for pre-order at an introductory price of $749.99 and will start shipping from June 11. However, the price will jump back to $799.99 from June 28th. Similarly, the Vlogger Accessory Kit is priced at $99.99, or $149.99 after the end of the promotional period. We expect the price of the Sony ZV-1 compact camera to be available at Rs 120,000 when it launches later in Nepal.

Product	Price in Nepal (Expected)	Availability (Expected)
Sony ZV-1 Compact Camera	Rs. 120,000	July – August 2020
Vlogger Accessory Kit	Rs. 30,000	July – August 2020

Redmi 10X and 10X Pro 5G launched with Dimensity 820 SoC, AMOLED display

Pratima Adhikari

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May 26, 2020

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Redmi 10X and 10X Pro 5G launched with Dimensity 820 SoC, AMOLED display

The internet has been swirling with rumors about Redmi 10X series and its finally here. As expected, both these phones become the first one to be powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 820 SoC. And it will support dual standby functionality on 5G. That means if you have two 5G SIM cards, then both if then can remain connected at the same time. Let’s learn more about the Redmi 10X series along with its price and expected availability in Nepal here.

Redmi 10X 5G Series Overview

The Redmi 10X and 10X pro are mid-range offerings from the company. The highlight of these devices is the latest MediaTek Dimensity 820 SoC that supports dual 5G connectivity. Now, you might be wondering why you might need two active 5G connection. After all, even a single 5G connection offers great transmission speed and lower latency. So, why two active 5G connections? Well, apparently Redmi has countered this question with “why not?”.

I mean the benefits are obvious. With two active 5G connections and the power of the Dimensity 820, users will be able to switch between two extremely fast connections simultaneously. However, the dual 5G will be available only in July after the OTA update.

The Redmi 10X and 10X Pro are more or less similar. Both of them come with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with fullHD+ resolution and HDR10+ support. It comes with an always-on feature. and is highly customizable with various text, patterns, and images.

They also feature the same camera setup of 48MP primary lens and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens. However, the Pro version has an 8MP 3X optical zoom lens and a 5MP macro lens, whereas the vanilla 10X has a 2MP depth sensor. The front houses a tiny teardrop notch. Considering cheaper Redmi phones have a punch-hole cutout, the design from the front on the Redmi 10X looks quite boring. The 10X Pro has a 20MP selfie module, opposed to the 10X’s 16MP.

Backing up the phone is a 4520mAh battery with a fast charger out of the box. It runs on Android 10 with the latest MIUI 12 out of the box. Design-wise, it looks very similar to the Redmi Note 9 series except for the fingerprint sensor as the Redmi 10X series comes with an in-display sensor.

Key Specifications:

Display: 6.57-inch (2400 ×1080 pixels) Full HD+ AMOLED display with 600 nits brightness HDR 10+, DC dimming
SoC: MediaTek Dimensity 820 processor (7nm)
CPU: Octa Core (4 X 2.6GHz Cortex A76 + 4 X 2Ghz Cortex A55)
GPU: Mali-G57 MC5 GPU
RAM: 8GB (10X 5G) | 6 or 8GB (10X 5G) DDR4X
ROM: 128/256GB (10X 5G Pro) | 64/128/256 (10X 5G) UFS 2.1
Back Camera:
– 48MP primary with PDAF, EIS, 0.8μm pixel size, LED flash
– 8MP 119° ultra-wide angle lens
– 8MP telephoto lens with OIS, 3x optical zoom, 30x digital zoom + 5MP 2cm macro lens (only on the 10X Pro 5G)
– 2MP depth sensor (only on the 10X 5G)
Front Camera: 20MP (10X 5G Pro) | 16MP (10X 5G)
Sensor: In-display fingerprint sensor, IR sensor
Connectivity: Dual SIM (Sub 6Ghz 5G SA / NSA), Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS, NFC (10X Pro 5G), USB Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack,
Dimensions: 164.16× 75.75×8.99mm
Weight: 205g (10X 5G) / 208g (10X Pro 5G)
Water resistant: Yes, IP53
Battery: 4520mAh with 33W (10X Pro 5G ) / 22.5W (10X 5G)

Redmi 10X 5G Series Price & Availability in Nepal

The Redmi 10X comes with a base variant of 6GB RAM/64GB of storage and carries a price tag of 1599 yuan (US$ 224 / Rs. 27,121 in Nepal). This makes the Redmi 10X 5G the cheapest 5G smartphone of till date. Similarly, the Redmi 10X Pro comes with a base variant of 8GB RAM/128GB of storage and is priced at 2299 yuan (US$ 322 / Rs. 38,995 in Nepal). We don’t expect the Redmi 10X 5G series to launch in Nepal as we don’t have 5G in Nepal yet. Hence, Xiaomi might launch the 4G variant of 10X, which is actually the rebranded Redmi Note 9.

Model Name	Price in China	Price in Nepal [Approx]
Redmi 10X 5G (6GB/64GB)	1599 yuan	Rs. 27,000
Redmi 10X 5G (6GB/128GB)	1799 yuan	Rs. 30,500
Redmi 10X 5G (8GB/128GB)	2099 yuan	Rs. 35,500
Redmi 10X 5G (8GB/256GB)	2399 yuan	Rs. 40,500
Redmi 10X Pro 5G (8GB/128GB)	2299 yuan	Rs. 39,000
Redmi 10X Pro 5G (8GB/256GB)	2599 yuan	Rs. 44,000

Realme X3 SuperZoom brings 60x zoom capability, Snapdragon 855+ chipset

Pratima Adhikari

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May 26, 2020

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Realme X3 SuperZoom brings 60x zoom capability, Snapdragon 855+ chipset

2019 was a great year for Realme as it was able to position itself among the biggest smartphone brands in South Asia. 2020 was supposed to be the year to build on that success but things haven’t really gone according to plan because of the ongoing pandemic. Realme X2 Pro was last year’s breakout hit, which also briefly held the title of a “flagship killer.” And now, the company has added the Realme X3 SuperZoom in its lineup. Let’s learn more about Realme X3 Superzoom along with its price and expected availability in Nepal here.

Realme X3 SuperZoom Overview

As the name suggests, the Realme X3 has the primary focus on its 8MP 5x perioscope zoom lens. The sensor with the help of the primary sensor and software can take up to 60X hybrid zoom pictures. The rest of the quad-camera setup consists of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor.

Realme X3 SuperZoom- camera samples

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While we are at cameras, the phone has enhanced its capabilities with the nightscape feature (night mode) equipped with a pro mode where one can adjust various settings like ISO, shutter speed, autofocus, etc. And like the Realme 6 Pro, we get a Tripod mode as well.

Likewise, the selfie side of things is fulfilled by the 32MP Sony IMX616 primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor. Like the back cameras, the Realme X3 SuperZoom packs the nightscape feature for selfies too.

Furthermore, powering the device is the 2019’s flagship Snapdragon 855+ chipset that comes combined with 12GB RAM. Additionally, you get 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage. For keeping the phone cool during gaming sessions, there is a vapor chamber cooling feature.

Coming to the front of the phone, it’s got a 6.57- inch IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. About the aesthetics, it’s got a glass back and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Realme claims that it unlocks in 0.3 seconds.

Key Specifications:

Display: 6.67-inch dual punch-hole IPS display; 120Hz refresh rate
Resolution: FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+; 7nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (1×2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4×1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
GPU: Adreno 640
Memory: 12GB RAM/256GB Storage
Software & UI: Android 10 with Realme UI on top
Rear Camera: Quad;
– 64MP f/1.8 primary camera
– 8MP f/2.3 ultra-wide camera
– 8MP f/3.4 telephoto (5x optical, 60x digital zoom)
– 2MP f/2.4 macro sensor
Front Camera: Dual;
– 32MP Primary camera
– 8MP Ultra-wide camera
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, dual-band A-GPS, Bluetooth 5.0
Battery: 4,200 mAh battery with 30Watt Fast Charging
Colors: Glacier Blue, Arctic White

Realme X3 SuperZoom Price & Availability

The Realme X3 SuperZoom is on pre-order starting 26th May. However, the first sales will starts on June 2 at 10 AM. In terms of pricing, the phone goes for €499/ $500. We can expect it to launch in Nepal later this year for an expected price of Rs. 70,000.

Model Name	Price in Nepal (~Expected)
Realme X3 SuperZoom	€499 ~ Rs. 70,000

Check out our review of the Realme X2!

Annual Turnover (Rs.)	Tax Rebate
0–2,000,000	30%
2,000,000–5,000,000	40%
5,000,000–10,000,000	50%

Consumption Units	Rebate
Industries (during lockdown)	50%
Up to 10 units	100%
Up to 150 units	25%
Up to 250 units	5%