Page 627 – GadgetByte Nepal

Apple agrees to a fine of $500 million for slowing down older iPhones!

GadgetByte

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March 3, 2020

Apple agrees to a fine of $500 million for slowing down older iPhones!

Earlier, we expected the iPhone 9 (or iPhone SE 2) to drop in March but it could be delayed as the production centers on Guangdong and Henan provinces of China have been affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. In a time where we expected the rumors about the device to cover headlines, it’s Apple that is making headlines; that too for the wrong reason. Apple has agreed to a fine of $500 million for slowing down its older iPhones.

Story of slowed down iPhones

It all began at the end of 2017 – a lot of people started facing issues with the performance of their older iPhone models. They reported that the slowdowns were part of the iOS update that they received. A lot of users believed that it was an attempt by the company to make people upgrade to the latest models.

When people started coming up with evidence, Apple confessed to slowing down older devices with low battery capacity to prevent them from shutting down. The feature first shipped silently with the iOS 10.2.1 for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and it was again added to iOS 11.2.0 for iPhone 7. Apple further clarified that their motive was to prevent phones with deteriorated batteries from shutting down during peak current demands. It tried to compensate for the issue by offering a $50 discount on battery replacement in 2018. Tim Cook later admitted that the discount affected Apple revenue for that year. iOS 11.3 included an option to disable the feature that slowed down the iPhones

The lawsuits

However, Apple’s move didn’t convince all the users. And many of them decided to take the matter to the court. From 2017 to 2018, a total of 66 lawsuits had been filed against Apple in the US, which were later combined together.

The latest report claims that Apple has agreed to pay up to $500 million dollars to settle the lawsuit. As per the agreement, Apple will pay about $25 to any user affected by the slowed-down device. This includes people who are using or have used iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus or iPhone SE. However, the amount is subject to change depending upon the number of claims. Officials in France also slapped Apple with a fine of 25 million Euros a month earlier in the country on the same grounds.

Also, check out our review of Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20+

Alibaba’s AI-powered diagnostic system can detect coronavirus infection in just 20 seconds!

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GadgetByte

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March 3, 2020

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Alibaba’s AI-powered diagnostic system can detect coronavirus infection in just 20 seconds!

One of the most alarming threats to humanity currently is the spread of the coronavirus. The infection that started off from the Wuhan, China has spread to more than 70 countries. The death count has crossed the 3,000. And these numbers are still on the rise. Still, there is mass confusion surrounding the infection, its symptoms, and its transmission. The places outside of China are having problems diagnosing the infection; look at our condition for example. But that might soon be solved as Alibaba has reportedly developed an AI diagnostic system that can diagnose the coronavirus infection.

AI diagnostic system for coronavirus

A report from China-based tech media Sina Tech News has claimed that Alibaba has already developed a system that deploys AI algorithms to diagnose the coronavirus infection. The system can diagnose the infection within 20 seconds with 96% accuracy. The time involved here is significantly better than a diagnosis by a human and it could be instrumental for doctors that are fighting the disease.

The AI system is developed by researchers of the Damo Institute – it is a research institute that was established by Alibaba in 2017. The institute earlier developed a health service tool to answer queries about the infection which is now in use in the Zhejiang province. The system uses the data of over 5,000 confirmed coronavirus infected individuals and uses it in the diagnosis process. It scans the CT scan report of individual and compares it to the data available to determine the infection. Developers claim that the results from the system are 96% accurate.

Also, read how tech companies are suffering from the COVID-19 outbreak!

How does it compare to human diagnosis?

Identifying a coronavirus infection is not an easy task as doctors have to carefully evaluate CT scans of each potential victim. Sometimes they have to go through more than 300 images to finally come to a conclusion and it can take up to 20 minutes. The new system will be vital has it doctors can now focus more on the treatment of the disease.

Alibaba plans to implement the system in about 100 hospitals across the heavily infected provinces. It hopes to deploy it in hospitals in provinces of Hubei, Anhui, and Guangdong.

The AI diagnostic system from Alibaba isn’t the complete solution to the problem of the coronavirus outbreak. However, it certainly is a good start. And it is always good to see major companies pitting in an effort to solve the prevalent problems of society.

Don’t forget to check our impression of the latest Samsung S20 and S20+

Realme 3 gets price cut in Nepal amidst Realme 6 launch

Pratima Adhikari

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March 3, 2020

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Realme 3 gets price cut in Nepal amidst Realme 6 launch

Pashupati Tradelink, the sole authorized distributor of Realme Mobiles in Nepal, has yet again slashed the price of its aging budget phone – the Realme 3. It’s the second time Realme 3 has seen a price cut in Nepal. The Realme 3 (3+32GB) is now available for a price of Rs. 16,590, whereas the 4+64GB costs Rs. 19,990.

Realme 3 Overview

Realme 3 brings a lot to the table, especially for one priced under Rs 20,000! It comes with a powerful Helio P60 chipset and good design. The only drawback might be the fact that the display is an HD+ panel, whereas its competitor Redmi Note 8 has a FullHD+ panel.

The Realme 3 is available in two memory configurations: 3/32GB and 4/64GB. Likewise, it has a dedicated MicroSD slot for expandable storage and dual SIM support.

In terms of aesthetics, it features a 6.22-inch IPS LCD display with a waterdrop notch and a sizeable chin. It comes with a trendier 19:9 aspect ratio. However, because of its HD+ resolution, the pixel density peaks out at just 270ppi. Moreover, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

The camera is also nothing to write home about. A 13MP f/1.8 lens acts as the primary sensor alongside a 2MP depth sensor. The phone is capable of recording 1080 videos @30fps, which is pretty standard. Also, it has the usual Nightscape and Chroma Boost alongside an AI-powered scene recognition and Slo-motion video.

Upfront, a 13MP f/2.0 sensor sits right in the middle of its waterdrop notch for selfies. Realme claims that it also has AI enhancements and something called the DIY beautification. The same also serves for Face Recognition on the phone.

Then there is the battery, a large 4230 mAh unit to power the HD display. Sadly, there is no VOOC fast charging here, just a plain 10W charger in the box. The Realme 6 that is expected to be unveiled on 6th March will have a 30W fast charging. But the large battery of the Realme 3 does makes up for it. In addition, it also gets a battery optimization mode, but nothing so spectacular (about 10% improvement according to the Realme).

Furthermore, it runs on Android 9.0 Pie with ColorOS 6 on top. All this packed inside a plastic unibody design with a gradient finish.

Realme 3 Specifications:

Display: 6.2-inch (1520 x 720 pixels) 19:9 HD+ IPS display, Gorilla Glass 3 protection
Chipset: Octa-Core MediaTek Helio P60
Memory: 3GB RAM with 32GB storage / 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD
SIM Type: Dual SIM (nano + nano + microSD)
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie) based on ColorOS 6.0
Back Camera: 13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, 2MP secondary camera with f/2.4 aperture
Front Camera: 13MP front-facing camera, f/2.0 aperture
Splash and dust-proof
Connectivity: 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio, Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
Dimensions: 156.1 x 75.6 x 8.3 mm; Weight: 175g
Battery: 4230mAh, 10W charging

Realme 3 Price in Nepal [Updated 2020]

After the price drop, the 3/32GB variant of the Realme 3 price is set at Rs 16,590 in Nepal while the 4/64GB now comes in at Rs. 19,990.

Realme 3 Variants	Old Price	New Price in Nepal
3GB RAM, 32GB storage	Rs. 19,290	Rs. 16,590
4GB RAM, 64GB storage	Rs. 23,090	Rs. 19,990

Going for a hatrick? Samsung drops the price of Galaxy A50s in Nepal yet again!

Nikhil Shrestha

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March 3, 2020

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Going for a hatrick? Samsung drops the price of Galaxy A50s in Nepal yet again!

Samsung found monumental success with its revamped mid-range ‘A’ series of smartphones around the world with its appealing design and smooth performance at a compelling price. Galaxy A50 was launched a while back at an exciting price and it was an instant hit among the Nepalese crowd. And just before the Dashain, Samsung Galaxy A50s was launched that comes with improved cameras, more RAM and bigger storage at the helm. Samsung had already slashed the price of Galaxy A50s within less than a month of its launch. And now, celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary, the A50s have received yet another price drop.

Samsung Galaxy A50s Overview

Camera

Just looking at A50 and A50s, one wouldn’t be able to tell which is which since they look identical to each other. However, the most significant difference is in the camera section. The A50s boasts triple main camera setup like the A50, but with some major upgrade. Here, you can find a 48MP primary camera with f/2.0 using the Sony IMX582 sensor with a 123-degrees field of view. The A50s also have an 8MP lens for ultra-wide-angle shots and a 5MP depth sensor for portrait images.

A50s sees improvement on the front camera department too, now with a 32MP f/2.0 lens. The main camera is now capable of capturing 4K videos at 30fps which is another significant upgrade from A50, which was limited to 1080p at 30fps.

Performance

There’s not much of an upgrade in the chipset between the two phones. Though A50s houses Exynos 9611 octa-core chipset (10nm) compared to Exynos 9610 of the A50, they are clocked at the same frequency. However, Samsung says users can expect comparatively better gaming performance as a result of GPU overclocking.

Display

Samsung has always been coming out with devices that look great and feel great on the hand too. The design aesthetics of Samsung smartphones are one of the main reasons for their success I’d say. The A50s is no exception to that rule. It has a 6.4″ FHD+ super AMOLED Infinity-U display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. There’s a slight chin on the bottom of the display, though it doesn’t conflict with the overall feel of the device.

Memory and Storage

The phone comes in two memory configurations – 4GB and 6GB, both of which have internal storage of 128GB (UFS 2.1) with an option to expand it up to 512GB. However, Samsung has launched only the 6/128GB variant here in Nepal.

Battery and Audio

A50s is powered by a non-removable Li-Pro 4000 mAh battery that supports 15W fast-charging through USB Type C. Graciously enough, the evanescent 3.5mm headphone jack is still present. So there’s that.

Miscellaneous

Like the high-end Samsung devices, the Galaxy A50s have an in-display optical fingerprint scanner. It is not blazingly fast to the likes of OnePlus 7 Pro but does the job nevertheless. It runs on Android Pie with Samsung’s very own One UI on top.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A51 Launched in Nepal

Samsung Galaxy A50s Specifications

Body: 6.24 x 2.93 x 0.30 inches; 169 gm (5.96 oz)
Display: 6.4 inches Super AMOLED Infinity-U
Resolution: Full-HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels), 19.5:9 ratio
Chipset: Exynos 9611, 10nm process
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU: Mali-G72 MP3
RAM: 4GB/6GB
Storage: 128GB UFS 2.1 (expandable up to 512GB)
Rear Camera: (48MP, f/2.0, 1/2″ Sony IMX 582 sensor) + (8MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide lens) + (5MP, f/2.2 depth sensor), LED Flash
Front Camera: Single – 32MP, f/2.0
OS & UI: Android Pie with Samsung One UI on top
Battery: Non-removable 4000 mAh; USB Type C
Colors: Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Violet

Samsung Galaxy A50s Price in Nepal and Availability

Samsung officially launched the 6/128GB variant of A50s in Nepal for Rs. 42,190. However, the new discounted price of the Samsung Galaxy A50s in Nepal is Rs. 33,599.

Model Name	Price in Nepal	Availability
Samsung Galaxy A50s (6/128GB)	NPR. 33,599	Mobile Retail Shops

And with the new asking price, we think the A50s is worth the money. It has a decent camera setup, design & builds quality, and the performance isn’t all bad as well. Is this new price compelling enough? Let us know in the comments.

Watch our Review of Samsung Galaxy A50s here:

Samsung’s Cheapest Android Smartphone, Galaxy A2 Core, gets a price cut

Pratima Adhikari

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March 3, 2020

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Samsung’s Cheapest Android Smartphone, Galaxy A2 Core, gets a price cut

Samsung’s mid-range and budget lineup have been immensely confusing with almost a dozen of A-series and M-series devices. With the wide variety of products in their lineup, it is really hard to keep track of all the devices these days. But among the bunch, Samsung Galaxy A2 Core is easily cognizable. It’s the least expensive device in its lineup and the only device in A-series to come with a light Android Go OS. The Galaxy A2 core was launched in May of 2019 and now, Samsung Nepal is offering a discount on it as a part of Samsung “Holi Rangostav”.

Overview:

Going by the specs, the major highlight of the phone is its processor. The phone comes with the Exynos 7870 chipset, which is absolutely the best for its price. Samsung has used this device on some popular devices like Galaxy J7 Pro in the past. In 2019, the company used the device in the budget-oriented Galaxy M10. So needless to say that the processor is quite capable for any entry-level device.

The processor is mated with 1GB of RAM. On the storage front, the phone boasts 16GB of onboard memory, which is more than what most of the entry-level devices offer at a similar price. In addition, the phone comes with a dedicated SD card slot with which the users can expand the storage up to whopping 512GB without pulling out the SIM2 from the slot.

Software wise, the phone gets Android Go Edition of the Android Oreo. With the light and optimized version of the software on the board, the phone performs well even with the scanty 1GB of RAM.

Talking about the display, the phone comes aboard with a 5-inch display featuring qHD resolution. The display on this device comes in a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio with sizable bezels on the forehead and the chin. On the optics department, the phone comes with a 5MP camera both on the front and on the back. Samsung Galaxy A2 Core is powered by a 2600mAh battery and comes with 4G LTE support.

Samsung Galaxy A2 Core Specifications:

Display: 5-inch IPS LCD display
Resolution: Quarter-HD (540 x 960 pixels) @ 16:9 aspect ratio, 220PPI
Chipset: Exynos 7870
CPU: Octa-Core 1.6 GHz Cortex A-53
GPU: Mali-T830 MP1
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 16GB of onboard storage: Expandable up to 512GB via dedicated SD card slot
Rear Camera: 5MP, f/1.9, AF
Front Camera: 5MP, f/2.2
OS: Android Oreo; Android Go Edition
Connectivity: Dual SIM (Dual-4G), Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, A-GPS, Micro USB 2.0
Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity
Battery: 2600mAh non-removable battery
Colors: Black, Blue

Samsung Galaxy A2 Core Price in Nepal [Updated]

The Samsung Galaxy A2 core was launched in Nepal for Rs. 9,390. However, Samsung has slashed the price of the Galaxy A2 core to Rs. 8,499. At this price, it remains one of the best performing budget Android smartphones in Nepal.

As compared to the Redmi Go, the A2 Core comes with a more powerful processor and hence the A2 Core looks more lucrative. However, while comparing it with the Redmi Go, the A2 Core comes with lower display resolution and smaller battery, which might be a deal-breaker for some. So what do you think about the Galaxy A2 Core latest price cut? Is it the best entry-level smartphone? Let us know in the comments.

Samsung Galaxy A11 leaks land online: Punch-hole display on a budget phone?

GadgetByte

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March 3, 2020

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In 2019, Samsung gained some momentum in the lower end of the smartphone market by revamping its A-series and introducing the new M-series. The strategy that Samsung adopted was so successful that one of the phones under the A-series became the most-selling Android phone of 2019. According to a report by Canalys, Samsung Galaxy A10 was the most selling android phone of 2020 and it fell short of Apple’s iPhone XR and iPhone 11 in the overall ranking. Samsung will look to replicate the same with its successor – Samsung Galaxy A11. Let us look at what we can expect from the device.

Samsung Galaxy A11

Renders by Android Headlines

Android Headlines has revealed leaked renders of Samsung Galaxy A11. What really catches the attention here is that the phone has a punch-hole on the top left edge of the screen for the front-facing camera. I don’t know if any other budget device has that. The display here is a 6.2-inch display with HD+ resolution.

On the back, there is a triple camera setup. The 13MP primary sensor which will be accompanied by a 5MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The LED flash is on the right side of the camera arrangement. There is an 8MP sensor on the front for selfies. We can also see the fingerprint sensor mounted on the back.

According to the same report, the device will come with an Exynos processor and 3GB of RAM. It will carry a 5,000mAh battery for better backup.

Leaks by Ishan Agarwal

91mobiles has also revealed a specification sheet of Samsung Galaxy A11 in partnership with Ishan Agarwal. It provides some details that the earlier source missed.

According to the tipster, the phone will debut with an SM-A115 model number. A 6.4-inch LCD panel will be used for the screen. The phone will come with a 13MP triple camera setup. The front camera is said to be an 8MP sensor. It will house a 4,000mAh battery which can be charged through a Type-C port. Though nothing has been said about processor and RAM, it is said to feature a 128GB internal storage.

Check out our review of Rode Videomic NTG!

Samsung Galaxy A41 could be dropped anytime soon

GadgetByte

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March 3, 2020

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The revamping of the A-series in 2019 was a sort of a statement from Samsung that it is not giving up on the budget and mid-range market segment. With the rise of Chinese smartphone brands, Samsung seemed to be losing its ground in the lower end of the market. However, the A-series and the all-new M series showed that Samsung is not done yet. The A-series became so successful that Samsung has allegedly trademarked upcoming A-series smartphone for 2021 when we haven’t even seen all of the products for 2020. Samsung Galaxy A71 and Samsung Galaxy A51 are already official and it looks like Samsung can drop Samsung Galaxy A41 anytime soon.

Samsung Galaxy A41

Leaked Renders

Leakster OnLeaks has partnered with Pricebaba to reveal the looks of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A41. If you haven’t heard of him before – he is quite popular among the smartphone enthusiasts as most of the time his renders come out to be true.

If we look at the renders provided by OnLeaks, the front of the device looks similar to last year’s Samsung Galaxy A40 and Samsung Galaxy A40s. All of the devices come with an Infinity-U display with a tiny U-shaped waterdrop-style notch. However, this design doesn’t match with the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71; both of which are already official. The two have Infinity-O display with punch hole cut out at the top center of the display. The size of the screen hasn’t been specified but it is expected to be around 6-inches in diagonal length.

Check out our impression of Samsung Galaxy A51

On the back, the Galaxy A41 does look like the latest release by the company. It has the rectangular camera module to house the triple camera setup and a LED flash. The renders reveal the primary camera to be a 48MP sensor. Rumors suggest one of the other sensors will be a 2MP macro sensor. We don’t see any fingerprint sensor on the back which makes us believe it will come with an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Other elements are pretty basic. The power button and volume rocker are placed on the right side. The sim card tray is placed on the other side. On the bottom, we can see the Type-C port in between the 3.5mm headphone jack and a speaker grill.

Rumored Specification

The information on the Samsung Galaxy A41 is scarce. But recent Geekbench listing of the alleged device with model number SM-A415F reveal it might be powered by MediaTek’s Helio P35 processor. There will be multiple options for RAM – one of them being 4GB of RAM. The phone will ship with Samsung’s One UI 2.0 on top of Android 10. The triple camera setup is likely to include a macro sensor and ultra-wide sensor alongside the 48MP camera sensor. The device will get its juice from a 3,500mAh battery which comes with support for 15W fast charging.

Also, check out the preview of the upcoming Android 11

Samsung Galaxy A41 Expected Launch

Give the release date of last year’s Galaxy A40, Samsung could announce the Samsung Galaxy A41 anytime soon. Even the leaks suggest the same thing. We expect Samsung to come with an “s” variant of the phone later this year.

So what do you think of the recent leaks? Do you think Samsung can build on last year’s success or will Chinese brands leap ahead of it? Let us know with your comments.

Also, check out our review of Rode Videomic NTG!

Samsung Galaxy A20s gets a price cut in Nepal, yet again

Pratima Adhikari

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March 3, 2020

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Samsung Galaxy A20s gets a price cut in Nepal, yet again

Samsung has been slashing the price of its older models in recent days. They dropped the price of A10s, A30s, A50s, and A70s. Now, its time for Galaxy A20s as Samsung has revealed the new price of A20s in the Nepal market.

Galaxy A20s Overview

The all-new Samsung Galaxy A20s comes in 2 variants: 3GB RAM with 32GB storage and 4GB RAM with 64GB storage. Although the screen size is bigger just by a bit (6.5 inches), the screen resolution remains the same as the A20 at 720 x 1560 pixels. However, this time the A20s utilizes an IPS LCD panel instead of a Super AMOLED. Despite the use of the IPS panel, the display is very good with great viewing angles, colors, and brightness levels.

Another area where A20s compromises as compared to the Galaxy A20 is the chipset; Snapdragon 450 powers the new phone this time, instead of Exynos 7884. All other features of the phone seem the same.

There is the same 4000 mAh battery with 15W fast charging. The same Android 9 Pie with One UI topping it off, is what you get in the A20s. It also offers a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and also offers face unlock for authentication.

What’s improved over the Galaxy A20?

The only improvement is in the camera setup. The Galaxy A20s comes with the triple rear camera setup. The two cameras out of the three are the same as the A20, 13MP primary camera and an 8MP ultra-wide. But, adding to the setup is a 5MP depth-sensing camera. This might ensure better bokeh and edge detection in the portrait shots.

Despite packing a sizeable battery, the Galaxy A20s has a plastic frame and back, and also offer a comfortable grip. There are notable differences on the back, as the bulkier A20s incorporates the 3D Prism design with a not-so-subtle glows upon reflections.

Additionally, there’s the 3.5mm jack, a Type-C port, a speaker and the speaker grilles on the bottom of both the devices. The speakers will not blow you away but the audio output from the headphone jack is awesome since the phone supports Dolby Atmos. Similarly, SD card support still lives on so that’s nice as well.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A20 Review: Samsung’s New A-lister?

Samsung Galaxy A20s Specifications

Display: 6.5-inch IPS LCD Infinity-V display
Resolution: HD+ (1560 × 720 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio @ 264PPI
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
Processor: Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: Adreno 506
RAM: 3/4GB
Storage: 32/64GB, expandable up to 1TB via micro SD card (Dedicated slot)
OS & UI: Android 9.0 (Pie) with Samsung One UI
Rear Camera: (13MP, f/1.9, wide-angle) + aperture) + (8MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle) + (5MP, f/2.2, depth sensor), LED Flash
Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0 aperture
Others: 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio, fingerprint sensor
Connectivity: Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS
Battery: 4,000mAh battery with 15-watt fast charging

Samsung Galaxy A20s Price in Nepal [Updated]

The official price of the Samsung Galaxy A20s in Nepal (3GB/32GB) is Rs. 18,899. Similarly, 4GB/64GB variant of the Galaxy A20s costs Rs.19,999 in Nepal.

Model Name

New Price in Nepal

Availability

Samsung Galaxy A20s
(3GB/32GB)

Rs. 18,899

(previously Rs. 19,899)

Mobile Retail Shops

Samsung Galaxy A20s
(4GB/64GB)

Rs. 19,999
(previously Rs. 23,099)

Mobile Retail Shops

The Samsung Galaxy A20s, like the Galaxy A30s, offers a minimum upgrade over its predecessor. The competition is really fierce in the sub-20K smartphone segment. For the price of Rs. 19,000, there’s Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 that offers Full HD display, much powerful Snapdragon 665, and a 48MP quad-camera. So, despite the price drop, the Galaxy A20s still is an underpowered phone as compared to its competition.

Also Watch: Samsung Galaxy A20s Review

OPPO Reno3 Pro launched: Grabs the “world’s first” title for its 44MP dual punch-hole camera

Nikhil Shrestha

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March 2, 2020

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OPPO Reno3 Pro launched: Grabs the “world’s first” title for its 44MP dual punch-hole camera

OPPO’s phones have always been about “cameras” first. Their emphasis on mobile photography is made more evident by the taglines they come up with their new products; like “Selfie Expert” on OPPO F1. The company even had the “camera phone” slogan until not very long ago. Well, I’m certainly not leading you guys to reveal that OPPO’s gone rogue now, no. At an event held in New Delhi, India, OPPO has unveiled its latest mid-ranger – the Reno3 Pro. Keeping up to the trend of bringing some “world-first” feature in the company’s Reno lineup of smartphones, the new OPPO Reno3 Pro comes with the first-ever 44MP dual punch-hole camera and the newest MediaTek Helio P95 chipset. Let’s find out more:

OPPO Reno3 Pro Overview

Design & Display

Nothing fancy on the design of the Reno3 Pro, as the phone comes with a regular design you’d expect from a 2020 mid-range smartphone. The phone’s got glass front/back and some reflective color options, while the quad-camera arrangement sits vertically on the back. Similarly, OPPO Reno3 Pro is a light phone as well, weighing just 175 grams.

In terms of display, the phone has got a flat 6.4-inches Super E3 AMOLED display with the regular 60Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 coverage. And thanks to the dual punch-hole cutout on the top left side of the phone, OPPO Reno3 Pro achieves a whopping 91.5% screen-to-body ratio. With a higher 90Hz refresh rate gaining the mainstream momentum every day, I was a little surprised to find out that the Reno3 Pro doesn’t come with it.

Camera

The innovations on the phone begin right here, the cameras. Let’s talk about the rear cameras first. OPPO Reno3 Pro has joined the 64MP quad-camera bandwagon that we’ve seen in so many other mid-range smartphones like the Redmi Note 8 Pro, Poco X2, etc. Apart from the 64MP primary lens, the phone employs a 13MP telephoto lens, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP B&W monochrome sensor.

Apart from the hardware, OPPO’s embedded some nifty photo/videography abilities on the Reno3 Pro as well. The phone is capable of 5x hybrid zoom and up to 20x digital zoom. Video bokeh is another highlight of the phone, and so is the new Ultra Steady Video 2.0.

Reno3 Pro - Camera setup

1 of 2

Well, let’s get to the first “world-first” feature on the OPPO Reno3 Pro; and that’s the 44MP dual punch-hole cutout alongside a 2MP depth sensor.

Performance

Another world-first feature on the phone is the recently announced Helio P95 chipset from MediaTek. This is a 4G device, and there’s also the Reno3 Pro 5G, which is powered by the more powerful Snapdragon 765G with an integrated 5G modem. Here, the Helio P95 offers some minimal upgrades over the P90, which can be found in terms of AI performance and camera capabilities.

It has a single 8GB RAM configuration, though there’s 128 and 256GB internal storage options. And don’t expect the phone to pack a faster UFS storage protocol. The F2FS file storage on the OPPO Reno3 Pro isn’t upgradeable by using a microSD card either.

Moreover, the phone also comes equipped with Hi-Res Dolby Atmos stereo speakers and a cooling mechanism for your intense gaming situations. The phone runs on the latest ColorOS 7 based on Android 10.

Battery

In terms of battery, it’s got a 4025mAh cell and uses the 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0, which the company claims can take from 0 to 50% in 20 minutes.

OPPO Reno3 Pro Specifications

Body: 6.25 x 2.89 x 0.32 inches; 175gm
Display: 6.4-inches Super E3 AMOLED panel; 100% DCI-P3 coverage
Resolution: FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels); 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P95; 12nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (2x Cortex-A75 cores @ up to 2.2GHz, 6x Cortex-A55 cores)
GPU: PowerVR GM 9446
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128 / 256GB F2FS (non-upgradeable)
Software & UI: ColorOS7 based on Android 10
Rear Camera: Quad-camera;
– 64MP, f/1.7 primary shooter, PDAF
– 13MP, f/2.4 telephoto lens
– 8MP, f/2.2 ultrawide lens
– 2MP, f/1.4 B&W monochrome sensor
– Dual-LED flash
Front Camera: Dual-camera;
– 44MP, f/2.4 primary sensor
– 2MP, f/2.4 depth sensor
Security: In-display optical fingerprint scanner
Audio: Hi-Res Dolby Atmos Stereo speakers
Connectivity: Dual SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (dual-band) Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BDS, USB Type-C
Battery: 4025 mAh with 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0
Colors: Midnight Black, Sky White, Auroral Blue

OPPO Reno3 Pro Price in Nepal & Availability

The price of OPPO Reno3 Pro 8/128GB variant is set at INR. 29,990 (~NRs. 47,990 in Nepal), while the pricing for the 8/256GB option is INR. 32,990 (~NRs. 52,790 in Nepal). In terms of its Nepal availability, there’s a slim chance.

Model	Price in Nepal (Expected)	Availability (Expected)
OPPO Reno3 Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB storage)	Rs.52,990	May 2020
OPPO Reno 3 Pro (8GB RAM, 256GB storage)	Rs. 57,990	May 2020

Vivo Z6 5G launched with dual-mode 5G, liquid-cooling, and more

GadgetByte

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March 1, 2020

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Vivo Z6 5G launched with dual-mode 5G, liquid-cooling, and more

It’s 2020 and 5G technology is hot these days. Almost every other phone announced comes with support for 5G connectivity. It has already become a must-have feature for flagships and the mid-range market is also slowly adapting to the technology. The latest example we have is the Vivo Z6 5G. It is a mid-range offering from Vivo which comes with 5G connectivity, liquid cooling system among many other features.

Vivo Z6 5G Overview

Design and Display

Vivo Z6 5G comes with a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. It has narrow bezels except for the chin where it is more noticeable. The company claims the screen-to-body ratio on this device to be 90.74%. There is a small circular cut out in the top left to accommodate the front camera. On the back, there is a quad-camera setup arranged in L-shape inside a rectangular module. The module also houses the LED flash. A fingerprint sensor has been mounted near the camera module. The power button and volume rockers are placed on the right side of the device.

Chipset

Under the hood, there is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G. You can choose between 6GB and 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, however, with either of them, you get the same 128GB UFS 2.1 storage. The 765G chipset is a gaming-focused mid-range chipset with support for both SA and NSA band of 5G.

Also, read about MediaTek’s latest Helio P95 chipset for mid-range devices

Camera

The Vivo Z6 comes with a 48MP quad-camera setup. Accompanying the main camera is an 8MP ultrawide sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies, there is an 8MP camera on the front. The camera app on the Vivo Z6 5G comes with exciting features such as Super Night 2.0, Hyper HDR and RAW format output and even a feature to guide you with poses.

Software and Gaming

Vivo Z6 will ship with Android 10 with Funtouch OS on top. Vivo has tweaked the software on this device for a better gaming experience. The device comes with features such as Multi-Turbo 3.0, Game Space 3.0 and Game Box. With 4D Game Shock 2.0, you can now feel in-game recoils of guns.

To battle the heat generated while gaming there is a super-liquid cooling system which the company claims to be PC-class. It uses an 85mm cooling pipe with a core temperature of 10-degrees Celsius. Together with a Turbo Cooling Intelligent thermal management system, it will stop your smartphone form heating during intense gaming sessions.

Others…

The device comes with a whopping 5,000 mAh battery with support for 44W fast-charging. The company claims the 44W charger can charge the device from 0 to 100% in just above an hour. The device also comes with dual-Wifi support (2.4GHz and 5GHz), a fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth 5.0, type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Vivo Z6 5G Specifications

Display: 6.57″ IPS LCD display with 2400 x 1080 pixels
Rear Camera: Quad, 48MP primary lens with f/1.8 aperture + 8MP ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 aperture + 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture + 2MP macro lens with f/2.4 aperture
Front Camera: 16MP lens with f/2.48 aperture
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
GPU: Adreno 620
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 128GB
Software: Android 10 with Funtouch 10.0 on top
Battery: 5,000 mAh with 44W fast-charging
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass, gyro
Connectivity: Wifi a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm headphone jack
Color Options: Aurora Black, Interstellar Silver, Ice Age

Also, check out specs of OPPO A31

Vivo Z6 5G Price and Availability

The Vivo Z6 is now available for pre-order in China. The company will start delivering orders from the 8th of March. The 6/128GB variant is priced at 2,298 Yuan (~NPR 38,000) and the 8/128GB variant is priced at 2,598 Yuan (~NPR 43,000).

Check out our review of RØDE VideoMic NTG!