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Huawei Mate 30 Pro launched in Nepal: The King Without A Crown!

Featured
Huawei

Nikhil Shrestha

December 16, 2019

Huawei Mate 30 Pro launched in Nepal: The King Without A Crown!

Huawei has officially launched the Mate 30 Pro in the Nepali market. It is one of the latest Huawei smartphones that you can buy in Nepal right now. For the hardware it packs, Huawei Mate 30 Pro doesn’t come loaded with GMS (google services) which may be a major turn-off for many, especially in a price-conscious market like Nepal.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro Overview

When Huawei Mate 30 Pro was announced back in September, rather than its camera capabilities and awesome hardware, people were more invested in the US-Huawei battle. And well, this Chinese tech giant took a bold move and launched the Huawei Mate 30 series with no Google mobile services (GMS) in them, though the company did choose to keep Android for now. Since then, Huawei has managed to sell over 7 million units of Mate 30 Pro in China and some Asia Pacific markets, which is a staggering figure amidst the drama. Now, Huawei has launched the Mate 30 Pro in the Nepali market during a Press Meet held in Kathmandu. The company also shared plans for its expansion of Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) – Huawei’s alternative to GMS.

By this time, it’s safe to assume that many of us are already familiar with almost all there is to know about the Mate 30 Pro. But let’s quickly go over them anyway.

Design & Display

It’s gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. The Mate 30 Pro has arguably set the benchmark for what a flagship smartphone should be like. Featuring a stunning glass design and aluminum frame, the phone just oozes premium build quality. With its camera arranged inside a stunning “Halo Ring“, Mate 30 Pro boasts a pleasing visual aesthetics as well. Moreover, Huawei is kinda-sorta greenlighting the button-less design as this flagship smartphone is void of volume rockers and rather replaces them with virtual ones. You also get two virtual buttons on the edge of the screen making the Mate 30 Pro, a quad-finger control smartphone.

Let’s talk about the display now which is equally gorgeous and complements the phone’s design. With a distinct 88º curvature, the Mate 30 Pro’s display just melts on the side for an immersive viewing experience. Huawei calls it, the “Huawei Horizon Display“. And unlike the traditional flagships from other manufacturers, Huawei isn’t opting towards a tinier notch or no-notch display. The Mate 30 Pro has a slim, yet wide notch up top which holds the front camera and other sensors. Despite this, it achieves a tremendous 94.1% screen-to-body ratio. Adding to the beauty of this scintillating 6.53-inches OLED display is the full DCI-P3 color gamut and HDR10 support.

Camera

Objectively speaking, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro’s magnum opus is its camera. Arranged inside a circular halo ring is the phone’s quad-camera setup which includes the 3D ToF sensor. Boasting the Leica optics, while the primary sensor is a 40MP unit with the RYYB algorithm, the phone also has another 40MP sensor for wide-angle shots. Additionally, the 8MP telephoto lens supports 3x Optical Zoom, 5x Hybrid Zoom, and up to a whopping 30x Digital Zoom. All of this is complemented by the new ISP 5.0 that enables Block-Matching and 3D Filtering (BM3D), professional-grade hardware noise reduction (NR), and temporal and spatial NR (dual-domain NR) on videos. The front camera, on the other hand, is a 32MP f/2.0 lens. Moreover, both front and rear camera supports HDR and panorama shots.

The videography on the Mate 30 Pro is breathtaking too. The 40MP Cine-Camera lets you take great videos even in a low-light environment, thanks to the large 1/1.54″ sensor. Additionally, you can shoot “Ultra Slow-Motion” videos in a ridiculous 7680fps! Mate 30 Pro also allows you to shoot ultra wide-angle timelapse videos. Here, the 3D ToF sensor analyzes the video’s subject to add dynamic bokeh effects in real-time as well.

Performance & Memory

Huawei Mate 30 Pro’s performance is no joke either. It sports the Kirin 990 chipset manufactured under the 7nm FinFET process. Scoring well over 400K on AnTuTu, the Mate 30 Pro has a slight edge over the flagship Snapdragon 855 and even the 855+ in terms of CPU performance. However, it still lags behind the 855+ when it comes to GPU. Nevertheless, the Mate 30 Pro is a damn fast phone that goes head-to-head against any other flagship smartphone in the market. Also, the phone implements an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for faster handling of AI-related tasks.

You also get a big 4500 mAh battery on the Mate 30 Pro. And good news, the phone supports 40W Huawei SuperCharge and a fast 27W Wireless Huawei SuperCharge. It also supports reverse wireless charging. So, yeah, the battery really shouldn’t be a problem for this beast.

On to the memory, the Mate 30 Pro comes in a single 8/256GB configuration. There’s also the option to expand the storage by an additional 256GB using Huawei’s NM (Nano Memory) card. So, yeah, the company is gearing up for a self-sufficient future.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro Specifications

Body: 6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35-inches; 198gm
Display: 6.53-inch OLED “Huawei Horizon” Display
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2400 x 1176 pixels); 18.5:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: HUAWEI Kirin 990; 7nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (2 x Cortex-A76 Based 2.86 GHz + 2 x Cortex-A76 Based 2.09 GHz + 4 x Cortex-A55 1.86 GHz)
GPU: Mali-G76MP16
NPU: 1 Big Core + 1 Tiny Core; DaVinci Architecture
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4x
Storage: 256GB storage, expandable up to 256GB with Nano Memory card
Operating System: Android 10 with EMUI 10
SIM(s): Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / NM card)
Rear Camera: Quad-camera
– Primary 40MP RYYB Cine Camera f/1.8 aperture
– 40 MP RYYB SuperSensing Ultra-Wide angle lens, f/1.6 aperture
– 8 MP RGB Telephoto Camera, f/2.4 aperture
– Tof 3D Depth Sensing Camera
Selfie Camera: 32MP, f/2.0 aperture with 3D Depth Sensing Camera for 3D Face unlock
Others: In-display fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor, Water and Dust Resistance (IP68), USB 3.0, NFC
Battery: 4500mAh battery with 40W SuperCharge and 27W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge

… The Conflict! (Huawei Vs US)

Well, ever since Huawei faced the trade ban from the US, it has been in the headlines of many news outlets including ours. To those unfamiliar, here’s a short summary “Trump Administration placed Huawei under the Entity List, which effectively bans any US-owned company from doing business with the Chinese telecommunications manufacturer”.

This means, most essentially, there’s no Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Mate 30 Pro despite running the latest Android 10. No PlayStore, no YouTube, nothing. After all these years of leeching into Google Mobile Suite and its services, is the general audience ready for a Google-less phone?

A Possible Workaround for Huawei Mate 30 Pro?

In its earliest days of launch, you could surpass the trade ban and install GMS on the Mate 30 Pro through the infamous LZPlay. However, from a month or so, the service no longer works after a server-side change made by Google (or Huawei, or both). Since LZPlay isn’t in any way a part of Huawei, the service was entirely unofficial and was susceptible to vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the Mate 30 Pro fails the Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) verification which forbids the phone to side-load APK files for Google’s services.

VMOS App Demo Huawei Mate 30 Pro — VMOS App Demo

Now, don’t get your hopes down just yet. There’s another workaround! It’s called VMOS, which is an app-based Virtual Machine (VM). Like, you know, in the PCs. When installed, it’ll be as if your Mate 30 Pro is running two different OS at once. So far, this is the only viable and easy workaround. If you are getting confused as to what the hell it is, just think of it this way:

While an app like, say, the calculator opens into an interface with what you’d expect from a calculator, vmos opens into a “fully” functioning android system.

With this, you can use the Mate 30 Pro like any other regular Android smartphone and use Google’s services. However, it has its drawbacks as well. Firstly, VMOS is not endorsed by Huawei or Google so there goes your “official”-ness. But more importantly, the overall experience is slow and restricted, since running “an additional OS” on a phone takes a toll on the chipset despite being a world-class chipset. Similarly, the Mate 30 Pro also fails the “SafetyNet” verification which is the linchpin to performing any financial tasks on a phone. That means no Google Pay or other similar apps.

Huawei Mobile Services (HMS)

Despite all the “workarounds”, Huawei knows they’re not substantial enough for the company if the trade ban isn’t lifted. Reports of the company working on its own OS had been around for a while and Huawei finally unveiled the Harmony/Hongmeng OS, albeit only in its TV. While the Harmony OS may take a while to replace Android in Huawei smartphones, the company is investing heavily in streamlining its Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), which is the company’s version of GMS.

And I agree. Coming up with an entirely new OS is an uphill battle, though not an impossible one. Since Huawei is legally allowed to use the open-source version of Android (AOSP), it makes more sense that the company focuses on developing an alternative to GMS which it can’t use. This was also one of the keynotes of the press meet held by Huawei Nepal as well.

Essentially, HMS is a collection of applications and services to facilitate Huawei’s ecosystem. It includes apps and services like AppGallery, Browser, Themes, Music, Assistant, etc. each with the company’s name prefixed to each of them. And it’s taking off rapidly, especially and obviously in China, while other markets are a little hesitant.

Why launch the Huawei Mate 30 Pro in Nepal?

Now this question may be boggling the minds of many tech-enthusiasts in Nepal including myself. A herculean phone with the asking price of over 1 lakh which most importantly doesn’t include any Google apps launching in a market like Nepal doesn’t quite make sense. But I may have cracked the code.

There’s no arguing that the company is going through a tough time right now. But Huawei isn’t the one to give up and sit quietly. The company is working harder than ever to spread the message that the trade ban WILL NOT be the end of the company. We also heard the news a couple of months ago about how the company rewarded its thousands of employees for their hard work in these trying times. The mindset is clear:

huawei is confident that it can overcome the trade ban and eventually turn its business back to the way it was.

Ergo, the company doesn’t want its consumers to look down upon it. Launching its flagship device and most definitely the best smartphone of 2019 (discounting the absence of GMS) in Nepal is another testimonial to the company’s ideals. Huawei is establishing just how much it values its customers, no matter the country or the size of the market. Of course, it knows the Mate 30 Pro is gonna sell terribly in Nepal! I personally don’t think the launch of this phone has any sort of profit-making motive in mind. Rather, it symbolizes the sheer confidence of Huawei on its product and its gratitude towards the Nepalese customers. One of the best performing and the objectively best camera-phone in the entire damn world is officially available in Nepal, how cool is that?

Huawei Mate 30 Pro Price in Nepal & Availability

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro was launched in Europe for €1099. Huawei has kept the pricing very competitive and launched the Mate 30 Pro in Nepal for a price of Rs. 129,900.

Model Name	Price in Nepal	Availability
Huawei Mate 30 Pro 4G	NPR. 129,900	Available via official retail shops

However, without the Google Mobile Services suite, buying a Mate 30 Pro makes very little sense. Despite boasting excellent hardware, design, and build, the phone is void of GMS which is crucial to run apps and services like PlayStore and YouTube. I kinda want to say the price is worth just for its cameras, but I’d only be fooling myself. At the end of the day, it’s a smartphone, with multiple compromises. Huawei’s continuous efforts and investment towards HMS will not succeed overnight. There’s a difficult road ahead.

Nevertheless, I’d like to applaud Huawei Nepal for bringing the forbidden fruit to our market.

Vivo Y19 Launched in Nepal: Falling behind the competitors

Featured
Vivo

Nikhil Shrestha

December 15, 2019

Vivo Y19 Launched in Nepal: Falling behind the competitors

Vivo’s Y-series usually falls behind its competitors in the south Asian market. Vivo’s latest smartphone, the Vivo Y19 builds on its predecessor Y17 by offering a big battery and FullHD display. Let’s check out the complete specs, price, and availability of Vivo Y19 in Nepal.

Vivo Y19 Overview

Design & Display

Talking about the design, it is nothing to go bonkers over. The Vivo Y19 comes on a “3D Micro Arc Curvature Design” which is just verbose for a curved build. You get Vivo’s signature gradient reflective design on the back. The phone comes in two color schemes: Magnetic Black, and Spring White. Similarly, there’s a traditional fingerprint scanner next to the cameras.

The predecessor Y17 came with an underwhelming HD+ resolution for a decently big display and we complained about it dearly. Well, Vivo has upped the display game here, as the Y19 packs a taller 6.53-inch “Halo FullView” LCD panel with Full-HD+ (2340 x 1080) resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and 395ppi. Similarly, the company has managed to minimize the bezels. As a result, the phone achieves an impressive 90.3% screen-to-body ratio.

Camera

The cameras on the Vivo Y19 are nothing to write home about either. It features an almost identical triple rear-camera setup like the older Y17. The only upgrade is the bigger 16MP main shooter, while you get the same old 8MP super wide-angle camera. However, Vivo has swapped the depth sensor with a 2MP macro sensor on the Y19. You’d think a traditional Vivo customer would care more about portrait shots than close-ups, but hey, the company must have had its reasons.

Making our way to the front, we can find the 16MP selfie camera under a tiny waterdrop notch on top. Now, Vivo phones have always packed tons of features regarding photography and the Y19 is no exception. “AI Face Beauty” enhances and smoothens your selfies, while “AI Makeup” in the photo album lets you change the makeup post taking the shot. “Pose Master” is another interesting feature where the camera app will guide you through setting the pose for your pictures.

Performance & Memory

Now, Vivo phones have never been equipped with decent chipsets making them an undesirable choice for people looking for a fast phone. The Y19 houses the new octa-core MediaTek Helio P65 chipset (12nm). It features dual-core 2.0GHz Cortex-A75 and hexa-core 1.7GHz Cortex-A55 CPU, which is not a massive boost compared to the Helio P35 in the Y17. GPU sees a commendable improvement with the Mali-G52 MC2 clocked at 820 MHz.

Vivo Y19 comes in a single memory configuration with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. You’re pretty much stuck on the memory front since the storage isn’t expandable via a microSD card.

Battery

We’ve seen a lot of budget and mid-range phones from Vivo with a sizeable battery. Thankfully, the Vivo Y19 packs a large 5000 mAh cell as well. It supports 18W “Dual Engine Fast Charge” via MicroUSB 2.0 out of the box. Yep, still with the MicroUSB crap! Man, I would cuss so hard if I cared but I don’t so I won’t. Moving on, you can transfer the juice of the Y19 to other phones as well as it supports 5W reverse charging via an OTG cable.

Miscellaneous

Vivo has incorporated “Ultra Game Mode“, which prevents any disturbances from popping-up in your gaming sessions. Additionally, you can change your voice when chatting with your teammates when playing games with the “Voice Changer” feature. You get the option to change your voice to an Artificial Intelligence, a Commander, a War Correspondent, a Cowboy, or a Child. Which is just… why? Talking about UI, the Y19 runs on Vivo’s homegrown Funtouch OS 9.2 on top of Android 9 (Pie).

Vivo Y19 Specifications

Body: 6.38 x 3.01 x 0.35 inches; 193 gm
Display: 6.53-inches “Halo FullView” IPS LCD panel
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels); 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P65; 12nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (2x 2.0GHz Cortex-A75, 6x 1.7GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU: Mali-G52 MC2 @820 MHz
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB (non-expandable)
Software & UI: Android 9.0 (Pie) with Vivo’s Funtouch OS 9.2 on top
Rear Camera: Triple-camera; 16MP f/1.8 primary lens, 8MP f/2.2 super wide-angle lens, 2MP f/2.4 macro camera
Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.0 aperture
Fingerprint sensor: Physical (rear-mounted)
Audio: 3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Bluetooth 5.0, A-GPS/GLONASS/GALILEO, Micro-USB, etc.
Battery: 5000 mAh battery with 18W Charging; 5W Reverse Charging via an OTG cable
Colors: Magnetic Black, Spring White

Also read: Vivo S5 launching on November 15th

Vivo Y19 Price in Nepal & Availability

The Vivo Y19 has been launched in Nepal for a price of Rs. 27,990. However, you can get it for a price of Rs. 26,990. It is available through both offline and online shops.

Model Name	Price in MRP	Price in MOP
Vivo Y19 (6/128GB)	NPR 27,990	NPR 26,990

Vivo Y19 brings nothing new to the table. At this price, it goes head to head against Redmi Note 8 Pro and Galaxy M30s.

Check out our review of the Vivo Y17 as well.

OPPO to invest $7 billion on R&D for the new era of intelligent connectivity

OPPO

GadgetByte

December 15, 2019

OPPO to invest $7 billion on R&D for the new era of intelligent connectivity

We live in an intelligent world. From smartphones to smart-houses, everything these days is smart. Moreover, the rapid development in 5G has further expanded the horizon for the development of a smarter world. Thus, it is no brainer that major tech companies are all geared up and ready to lead us into this smarter world.

This very topic was the main theme for this year’s OPPO INNO DAY. The Chinese tech giant revealed its latest developments as well as plans for the era of intelligent connectivity. Various new products that included the likes of smartwatches, smart headphones, 5G CPE, AR glasses and many more were the highlights of the event.

During the event, Tony Chen, the CEO of OPPO, further focused on how the world is shaping up and the major advances happening in the field of connectivity and AI. He focused on how things are likely to shape up in the future with major smartphone makers shifting their focus from smartphones to something much more. And that is the reflection of how things are shaping up. One can see how other major tech companies are focusing on other smart devices rather than just smartphones.

Moving on, the question may arise regarding how OPPO plans on seizing this opportunity. For starter, they have planned on investing $7 billion on R&D. Now that’s huge. Through this investment, the company plans on committing itself to develop core technologies in hardware and software. Furthermore, they plan on building an intelligent ecosystem of OPPO products with their smartphones taking the center stage. This hopefully will allow them to optimize their content and service offerings.

With 5G and AI serving as the core competency of the company, OPPO plans on building an integrated technology model. The company has a clear technological roadmap planned for its future development. As a part of its plan of becoming the leader in the era of intelligent connectivity, the company plans on launching smartwatches, smart headphones, and 5G CPE. And all of them in the first quarter of 2020!

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Long Term Review: Power Ranger!

Long-Term Review
Redmi
Reviews
Xiaomi

Pratima Adhikari

December 12, 2019

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Long Term Review: Power Ranger!

The Redmi Note 7 Pro was an excellent mid-range device and now, Xiaomi has recently launched the much-anticipated successor, the Redmi Note 8 Pro in the Nepali market. The Note 8 Pro offers a newer design, a much powerful chipset, and a 64MP quad-camera setup at the back. The base 6+64GB variant price starts at Rs. 27,000 in Nepal, which is very close to the Indian pricing. So, is the Redmi Note 8 Pro value champion like its predecessor? Find out in our Redmi Note 8 Pro review.

Redmi Note 8 Pro Specifications

Display: 6.53-inch IPS LCD screen, Full HD+ (2340×1080 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Rear Camera: Quad camera – (64 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF) + (8 MP, f/2.2 (wide-angle) + (2 MP, f/2.4, macro lens) + (2MP, f/2.4, portrait lens)
Front Camera: 20 MP, f/2.2
CPU: Helio G90T (2 x 2.27GHz Cortex A76 + 6 x 1.7GHz Cortex A55)
GPU:Mali G76
RAM: 6GB, 8 GB
Storage: 64 GB, 128GB; Expandable
OS & UI: Android 9.0 (Pie) with MIUI 10 on top
Sensors: Fingerprint, Gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 4500 mAh; USB Type-C port
Price: Rs. 26,999 (6/64GB) | Rs. 29,999 (6/128GB) | Rs. 32,999 (8/128GB)

Design

The Note 8 Pro is the best design Xiaomi has ever made in its Redmi Note series. This is truly a break from Xiaomi’s boxy designs on smartphones and its utterly gorgeous. You get curvier back this time and it feels comfortable on the hands too.

It is a big phone though and it’s thicker than the Note 7 pro as well. It’s a glass design with the frames made out of metal. The back and front are both protected by Gorilla Glass 5. Although I admit that it’s slippery, I used it with the clear case on which helps a lot.

All the buttons are on the right with the SIM tray on the left and below a type C port, a headphone jack and the speakers. The SIM tray has been sealed with rubber stuff that may protect against some accidental spills. That is a good feature to have and something, I think all phones should implement.

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As much as I love the design, I would point out that the fingerprint sensor is in a very awkward position. But, with time, you get used to, at least I did.

Display

The Redmi Note 8 Pro features a 6.53-inch FullHD+ IPS LCD display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The display is one of the best looking IPS displays, it’s lively, it’s colorful and fairly bright. So, I have to say that this one definitely has a better display than the Note 7 pro.

The bezels are pretty minimal and you get a U-shaped notch up top, which I don’t mind at all. Additionally, you get a gesture feature in case you want a full-screen experience. I like to go traditional with the buttons, but that’s totally your choice.

The display is bright even outdoors, so you are not going to face any problem on that part. However, we hope Xiaomi uses AMOLED panels in their future iterations as AMOLED display has a better contrast ratio and punchier colors than the IPS ones.

Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro sports the latest MediaTek Helio G90T chipset. It’s a gaming-centric midtier chipset and a big upgrade from the Snapdragon 675 found in the Note 7 Pro. I have been playing demanding games like PuBG, Fortnight, and Asphalt. All of these games run smoothly in the highest settings without any lags and stutters.

I did a heating test of the phone and played games for around two hours and continuously measured the temperature while doing so. And I had expected the phone to heat to alarming levels, but it did not. Actually the temperature did not go beyond 40 degrees even after 5 sessions of PUBG back to back followed by 3 sessions of Asphalt 9. Needless to say, the Redmi Note 8 Pro is, as of now, the best gaming performer at this price.

Also, the day to day usage has been great. I never felt any stuttering while doing my daily activities. It feels smooth as I expected it to be. Whether it be heavy multitasking or opening big apps, the phone handles it all nicely.

Software

For the software experience, it’s currently running on the MIUI 10 (in the unit we have). However, Xiaomi should roll out the MIUI 11 update before the end of 2019. From transitions to app loading, everything is fast and buttery. And although MIUI is repetitively heavy as compared to others, you won’t feel any sluggishness when navigating through it, all thanks to 6GB RAM and Helio G90T chipset. And we haven’t had the problems of advertisement flowing through certain parts of the UI too, so it seems like Xiaomi has taken care of it.

Cameras

The Redmi Note 8 Pro has a quad-camera setup at the back. There’s a primary 64MP f/1.8 Samsung GW1 lens, an 8MP Ultra-wide angle lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens.

And first of all, what I did was checked what are the improvements on the Note 8 pro’s cameras compared to the Note 7 pro. And to my surprise, I got most of the images to be better on the Note 7 pro. Note 7 Pro has a better dynamic range and balance of exposure and sometimes even better colors.

Note 7 Pro Vs Note 8 Pro

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I even compared the Note 8 pro against the Realme 5 pro and got no clear winner. Sometimes the Realme 5 Pro does well with colors and details and sometimes the Note 8 Pro does well. But the dynamic range is certainly better in the 5 Pro. Detail-wise, there is no clear difference for me to pick a side.

Then I moved on to 64 MP images. At first, I thought there was going to be a huge notable difference between normal and 64 MP images, but well, the 64 MP images are a little bit, just a little bit sharper than the 16 MP ones when zoomed in, but other than that, nothing.

16MP Vs 64MP

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The normal 16MP images from the Note 8 pro look good. Although they struggle in terms of dynamic range in certain scenarios. The colors look good, but flower images tend to lose details. However, human subjects have a good skin tone to them so that’s nice to see. So overall I would categorize the images as not bad to say at the least. You also get 2X digital zoom with this one and the images are okay.

Back Camera Daylight Sample

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The 2MP depth sensor does a decent job when it comes to Portraits. They have better edge detection than the Note 7 pro actually. The subject looks good and so does the background. You can even change the blur amount in portraits which is a nice feature to have.

Back Camera Portrait Sample

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Wide-angle images have a slight color shift from the normal ones. Normal images come out a little darker than wide-angle ones but the difference is not so overwhelming so it’s fine.

Normal Image Vs Wide-Angle Image

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Now macro images from the 2MP sensor are a pure gimmick like what I said with recent Realme devices. It lets you go a little closer to the subject than the normal camera but the quality is just bad. However, they seem a little bit, just a little bit better than what we got on the Realme 5 Pro.

Redmi Note 8 Pro Macro images

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Selfies from the 20MP front camera are great. You will surely get a note of natural skin tone and good details. There is a reddish tint going on in the images which some might not like, but it’s purely a matter of personal choice.

Redmi Note 8 Pro Selfie Camera Samples

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Portrait selfies look good too. You cannot change the blur in portraits like the rear cameras here. But the blur looks good. Since it’s software doing things here there’s very little to complain.

Redmi Note 8 Pro Selfie Portraits

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Night time shots, however, are miserable. When put in comparison with the Note 7 Pro, the normal night time images look darker and void of details.

Night Time - Note 8 Pro Vs Note 7 Pro

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With the Night mode on, things improved a little bit but again, it works better on the Note 7 pro.

Night Mode - Note 7 Pro Vs Note 8 Pro

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Video- wise, it’s the standard you get here. The best stabilization you get in 1080p 30 fps and in 4K, the videos are very shaky. And interestingly, videos can also be recorded via the macro lens which may be good news to some people but the quality is so bad, you would not want to record with it.

Battery:

Now this time, Xiaomi has upscaled a little bit in the battery department. There is a 4,500mAh on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, which I think makes up for the chipset is a bit less energy efficient (Helio G90T is based on 12nm Vs Snapdragon 675 is based on 11nm). Once fully charged, the battery lasted me for a day on my usage.

The day I gamed a lot, the battery endurance was a little less, I had to put it on charge in the evenings. But that’s only when you game a lot. Otherwise on normal usage, the battery pretty gives you a day. You get the 18-watt fast charger inside the box which takes the juice from 0- 100% in slightly over two hours.

Extras:

Now, you have the fingerprint sensor at the back as I already mentioned. And though I feel like it’s in an awkward position, it unlocks the device pretty fast. You have face unlock option too, which is fast enough but I preferred to keep it off and use the fingerprint sensor.

There’s an IR blaster as well, so if you happen to lose your TV remote, the Note 8 Pro can serve the purpose for you. And this is something almost all the companies are getting rid of which is kind of sad because it does come in handy.

Xiaomi also did not get rid of the LED notification light. Well, it only glows in one color, like it always has with other Xiaomi phones but just the inclusion makes me happy for some reason.

In terms of call quality and network reception, I have had no issues whatsoever. There’s also 5GHZ WiFi support, an aspect many phones still neglect, so that’s nice. Moving to the speakers, the single firing bottom speaker is pretty good. It is moderately loud and does not distort in high volumes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Redmi Note 8 Pro is a well-balanced midrange phone with excellent performance, great design, and good cameras. It lacks AMOLED display and in-display fingerprint sensor, which phones from VIVO and Samsung is offering at this price point. However, I think they are not an absolute need as its IPS panel and the rear-mounted capacitive fingerprint sensor are good enough.

Pros:

Excellent Performance
Great Design
Good Cameras
Good Battery Life

Cons

No AMOLED display
No in-display fingerprint sensor

Here are the Top Tech Deals on today’s Daraz 12.12 Sales Day!

Daraz online Shopping

Nikhil Shrestha

December 12, 2019

Here are the Top Tech Deals on today’s Daraz 12.12 Sales Day!

Admittedly, Daraz’s 11.11 event has been a raving hit year-after-year. The company is enjoying bigger traffic in each rendition of the extravaganza. But of course, an e-commerce site cannot live off on the performance of a single day. Every day’s a new challenge and Daraz knows it fairly well too. And now, no month is sacred anymore as it is hammering down the 12.12 sales day upon us which includes discounts, vouchers, card discounts, and many other attractions across its enormous library of products. In this article, we’ve compiled some of the most exciting deals on tech products on today’s Daraz 12.12 Sales Day, which will last until 18th December 2019.

SMARTPHONES

Of course, you’re gonna get some sweet deals on various smartphones. Here are our top Daraz 12.12 deals on mobile phones.

OnePlus 7

Featuring a powerful Snapdragon 855 processor that complements OnePlus’ commitment to fast-performance, the OnePlus 7 is one hell of a smartphone. While it lacks the 90Hz display and a couple of camera lenses, it still holds its ground as a top-notch device. Daraz had also offered mega-deals on the regular OnePlus 7 (8/256GB) back in 11.11. This time around, it’d have been nice to get a decent deal on the OnePlus 7 Pro but what we’re getting isn’t any bad either.

MRP: Rs. 66,999 57,475
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 55,975

Huawei Nova 3 & 4

Like the OnePlus 7, Daraz is also offering deals on the Huawei Nova 3 & 4 on 12.12 like it did a month before. Though you may turn away on this since they’re a couple of dated smartphones, the price-drop makes them compelling, to say the least.

The older Nova 3 features a dual-camera setup and a 6.3-inch LCD display. You get plenty of memory on the Nova 3 since it comes with a 6/128GB configuration.

MRP: Rs. 59,900 37,450
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 35,950

However, the newer Nova 4 packs a bigger 6.41-inch LCD panel with a punch-hole cutout and a powerful Kirin 970 chipset. Moreover, it boasts a triple-rear camera and a bigger 8GB of RAM coupled with 128GB of storage.

MRP: Rs. 64,900 45,100
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 43,600

Redmi K20 Pro

The supposed “flagship-killer” of 2019 still enjoys an offer on the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day. It has a 6.39-inch Super AMOLED display with no bezel and rather adopts a pop-up selfie camera mechanism. The most significant feature of the Redmi K20 Pro is still its Snapdragon 855 chipset and the 8/256GB memory configuration. While there is no flat discount on this phone, you can enjoy up to Rs. 1500 off through card payment from select partner banks’ cards.

MRP: Rs. 49,999
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 46,999

OPPO A5s

Daraz 12.12 Sales Day has something for the budget smartphone enthusiasts as well. The OPPO A5s has a 6.2-inch HD+ LCD display with either 2 or 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Moreover, there’s a dual-camera setup and a big 4,230 mAh battery on a stylish design.

MRP: Rs. 15,990 15,390 | 2/32GB
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 13,890*

TELEVISIONS

Daraz 12.12 Sales Day brings some great discounts and offers on TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Videocon.

Samsung UA43N5300 43″ FHD LED TV

Samsung is offering great discounts across its TV lineup. The UA43N5300 is a 43-inch Full-HD (1920 x 1080) TV from Samsung. It features minimal bezels, HDR support, Dolby Digital Plus, and a powerful 4CH (40W) speaker. With the price-drop, the N5300 is a great choice for the Nepalese buyers.

MRP: Rs. 86,990 55,250
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 53,750

Sony Bravia KLV-40W652D 40″ LED Smart TV

Sony is another famous household name in Nepal when it comes to home electronics. Known for its superior quality, Sony’s Bravia series of TV is beloved worldwide. Upon Daraz 12.12 Sales Day, the company is offering discounts on all TVs under the Bravia series with free shipping as well.

Bravia KLV-40W652D is one of them. Launched in 2016, this is a 40″ Full-HD Smart LED TV. It produces vivid colors but lacks HDR support. Despite the price drop, it is still a little expensive compared to what you can get for the same price from Samsung.

MRP: Rs. 77,000 55,440
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 53,840.

LG 43UK6320 43″ 4K UHD Smart LED TV

LG isn’t laying low on the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day either. It is providing discounts on almost every LG TV. The 43UK6320 is a 43″ 4K LED TV with a wide viewing angle. It boasts SDR to HDR conversion as well as 4K Active HDR and has a moderate 2CH (20W) speaker. This is a Smart TV that runs on “webOS” and not Android, which is a major advantage.

MRP: Rs. 96,290 77,032
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 75,532

Videocon 43DN5-S 43″ Android Smart FHD LED TV

Videocon is another brand that is successful in the TV market in Nepal. The company brings quality TVs at a very low cost. The 43DN5-S is Videocon’s 43″ Android Smart Full-HD LED TV. It runs on Android 8 (Oreo) and has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage.

MRP: Rs. 50,500 33,950
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 32,450

LAPTOPS

There are not a whole lot of schemes or offers on laptops during the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day. However, HP is offering exclusive pricing on its 14-series of laptops.

HP 14 DF0020NR i3 8th Gen 14″ Laptop

The HP 14DF0020NR has a 14″ FHD WLED-backlit display and an Intel Core i3 8th-gen processor with 2.2GHz base frequency. It comes with a single 4GB DDR4 RAM with 128GB of M.2 SSD storage. On the graphics end, you get the Intel UHD Graphics 620. The battery is a 3-cell unit with 41 watt-hour capacity.

MRP: Rs. 54,990 41,990
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 40,490

LARGE APPLIANCES

Large appliances include machines like refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc. There are some exciting deals with benefits on the event.

Samsung WW80J5410GX/TL Front Loading Washing Machine (8kg)

Samsung is also providing a discount on its select home appliances. The WW80J5410GX/TL has an 8kg washing capacity with a spin speed of 1400RPM. It features an LED display panel and includes features like child lock, eco-bubble, etc.

MRP: Rs. 88,990 72,970
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 71,470

Hisense WFKV9014 Front Loading Washing Machine (9kg)

The Hisense WFKV9014 is another washing machine enjoying discount during the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day. Apart from the Rs. 1500 off on card payment, you also get a 3% flat discount. It has a 9kg washing capacity at 1400RPM and also comes with a digital LED display.

MRP: Rs. 64,000 55,990
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 52,810

Whirlpool 25L Convection Microwave Oven (Black)

Joining in on the action, Whirlpool is offering discounts, vouchers, and free delivery on its select microwave ovens, and other home appliances. The 25L Convection Microwave has a 25-liter gross capacity with 5 power levels and features an LED display.

MRP: Rs. 23,000 19,550
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 17,650

Skyworth SMFH12B-2A2A1NA Air Conditioner (1.0 ton)

Here, Skyworth is providing exclusive prices and slapping in free installation on its air conditioners during the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day. Upon its purchase, you could also win gift hampers worth up to Rs. 4,500. This air conditioner has long-distance airflow with 12,000 BTU capacity. The company also provides 24 months’ comprehensive warranty.

MRP: Rs. 59,500 46,000
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 44,500

Hilltake FAST-6N-18 Gas Geyser (6Ltr)

It’s getting cold out there. So if you’re in the market for a gas geyser, Hilltake is offering discounts on its products. The FAST-6N-18 has a compact design with flameout protection, flame failure device, and overheating safety system. However, the company charges extra for installation.

MRP: Rs. 7,000 5,999
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 4,499*

SMALL APPLIANCES

These include appliances like heaters, fans, humidifiers, etc. The Daraz 12.12 Sales Day offers discounts on such products from multiple brands as well. Here, you can also find cordless kettles starting at Rs. 500 and halogen heaters starting at Rs. 900.

Homeglory HG-007 Fusion Room Gas + Electric Heater

Homeglory is offering a minimum of 20% discount in most of its products ranging from the water dispenser to bottle flasks. The HG-007 is compatible with both gas and electricity which provides better flexibility. Also, the company offers one year warranty on its purchase.

MRP: Rs. 11,000 8,150
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 6,650*

Black & Decker HX340 Vertical Fan Heater (Black)

Black & Decker is also offering discounts of up to 15% throughout its products. The HX340 vertical fan heater has 2 heat settings and cooling functions as well. Moreover, it has an 80º rotating function for better cool/warm air circulation.

MRP: Rs. 10,390 8,832
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 7,332*

PRINTERS

If you’re looking for a printer, the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day has a great offer on the Brother DCP-T310 printer.

Brother DCP-T310 Colour Multifunction Ink Tank Printer

This is a wired printer with Hi-speed USB 2.0 connectivity. It has 150 sheets of paper input and 50 sheets of paper output capacity. You can print a document, make a copy, or scan documents from this printer. It supports both monochrome and color printing and the company is also offering 1 year of warranty upon purchase.

MRP: Rs. 30,000 18,500
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 17,000

ACCESSORIES

Accessories include gadgets like headphones, keyboards, power banks, speakers, etc. Daraz 12.12 Sales offers discounts on accessories from many famous brands.

Remax is offering up to a 50% discount on its products like speakers, headphones, and cables during the 12.12 event. The company is known for its high-quality and durable gadgets.
WK Design is providing a flat 50% off on its BD700 Twins Bluetooth headset. Apart from this, the company is also offering discounts on its earphones and power banks.
Fantech is a popular gaming brand, which has officially entered the Nepalese market as well. And right now, you can get its gaming mouse, headsets, keyboards, and other accessories at a discounted price.
Accurate is a new player in the Nepalese electronics accessories market. Right now, the company is providing heavy discounts on all of its products. Additionally, it is also exempting the shipping cost.

Conclusion

All in all, there are some pretty good deals on the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day, but I’ll take them with a grain of salt. I strongly advise that if you’re planning to buy something off of Daraz or any other website, please confirm if the pricing is fair or not. DO NOT be persuaded by the margin of discount offered. Rather, compare the price with other e-commerce sites or maybe even visit some offline stores if possible to get the best deals.

Notches and Pop-Ups begone! OPPO’s under screen camera could soon replace them all

Camera
Featured
OPPO

Nikhil Shrestha

December 11, 2019

Notches and Pop-Ups begone! OPPO’s under screen camera could soon replace them all

“Necessity is the mother of invention”, they say. To stay relevant and successful in the smartphone industry, the manufacturers have got to be innovative. Or else, they’ll just fade away from the market like tears in rain (successful Blade Runner reference! Woo!). And who else to drive the industry forward than the Chinese OEMs. Lately, it feels like they’ve been doing all innovation when it comes to modern-day smartphones. OPPO is adding to the testimonial as it finally unveiled an Under Screen Camera phone sans any port, to the public. Xiaomi, the ball’s on your court now.

OPPO Under Screen Camera

In its first-ever publicized “INNO Day” event, OPPO showcased a couple of its new innovations like the 5G CPE and AR Glasses. Amidst all this, the company also revealed its “Under Screen Camera (USC)” to the public, which has been in the wind for a while now. OPPO had teased the USC back in June 2019 in MWC Shanghai. This time around, the company actually let a bunch of reviewers and testers get hands-on experience with the technology. What we can make of this is that OPPO’s made some improvements to the camera within this time period.

Before jumping to any conclusion, the USC phone is still in the prototype stage. So, it may be a while before OPPO takes the design into mass production.

OPPO USC prototype phone hands-on. [Credit: Pocketnow]

On a quick glance, you won’t be able to notice the front-facing camera’s “cutout”. But upon closer inspection, a square-shaped pixelated distinction on the top center of the display can be noticed, especially when the display serves a bright content. Despite the challenge, OPPO says that it will not compromise on camera or display quality to achieve this feat. The selfie camera incorporates a bigger sensor, as well as a tweaked OLED panel to make the technology practically possible.

Going Portless

Though the sample unit provided to the audience was just a prototype unit, the button-less and port-less design is still worth the discussion. The phone features a glass back and rounded corners like any other OPPO smartphone. Despite not having the company’s “Waterfall Screen” with wide display curvature, the prototype unit came with absolutely zero buttons or ports, not even for charging.

Yeah, the concept of a single slab of hardware looks good on paper but is it practical enough? I mean, taking the getting-used-to part aside, what about other aspects like charging, or repairability? Now OPPO has fortified the charging by embedding a fast 30W wireless VOOC charging. But come on, you’d need to carry around a giant charging dock every time you travel.

Credit: GSMArena

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This type of design also facilitates the culture of unnecessary frequent smartphone purchases, which takes a toll on the global carbon footprint. Moreover, while many of you may be excited about an under-screen camera, I for one am not particularly hyped. It’s just a front-facing camera; how often do you go on about using them, such that anything besides a completely bezel-less display simply won’t suffice? A pop-up mechanism works just fine!

Anyways, this is where the industry is headed it seems. We’ve already seen teasers from Xiaomi working on a similar technology while there have been rumors that Samsung is coming up with one too. Is the Under Screen Camera from OPPO the next “big thing” in the smartphone market? What do you think?

RedmiBook 13 launched with 10th gen Intel processor and Nvidia graphics

Ultrabook
Xiaomi

GadgetByte

December 11, 2019

RedmiBook 13 launched with 10th gen Intel processor and Nvidia graphics

Super thin and light-weight, that’s what best defines the new RedmiBook 13. Alongside the highly anticipated Redmi K30, Xiaomi also announced this new affordable XPS 13 or Macbook Pro 13 alternative. It has sleek narrow bezels, a compact footprint, and weighs a mere 1.23kg. The RedmiBook 13 also comes as a direct competitor to the Huawei MateBook 13. Feature-wise, the RedmiBook 13 is already one up against the MateBook 13 as it offers an 89 percent screen space as compared to the 88 percent of the MateBook 13. Lets learn more about the Redmibook along with its price and expected availability in Nepal here.

Redmibook 13 Overview

Sticking to the display, the screen is a 13.3-inch IPS panel. It comes with FHD resolution and as mentioned above, has an 89 percent screen-to-body ratio. Its all thanks to the narrow bezels on the top as well as the sides. However, the chin is slightly large.

The RedmiBook comes with the new 10^th gen Cometlake Intel processor under the hood. Buyers will have the option to choose from either Intel i5-10210U or i7-10510U. The standard RAM and the storage on both the models are 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD respectively. Similarly, both the versions will get Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU with 2GB GDDR5 VRAM. However, there’s a base model of the i5 model that comes with integrated graphics.

The device has Xioami’s proprietary thermal management system. In addition to that, it also includes a dual heat pipe which measures 6mm in diameter. Furthermore, this model comes with a built-in fan. The claim is that it increases air volume by 25 percent and reduces the noise level by almost 2 decibels compared to the earlier RedmiBook models.

Similarly, as it was with the previous RedmiBooks, the RedmiBook 13 also has a metal body. There’s a chiclet-style keyboard inside and DTS surround sound is also supported by this ultra-book.

RedmiBook 13 comes with a 40Whr battery. It supports 1C fast charging and is rated to give 11hrs of battery backup. Additionally, Xiaomi also claims that the device will charge up to 50 percent in just 35 minutes.

Xiaomi Redmibook 13 Price and Availability in Nepal

The RedmiBook is available in China from December 12. The base model of the Redmibook 13 with Core i5 CPU price is set at CNY 4,199 ($597). The one with a dedicated GeForce MX250 graphics card will cost CNY 4499 ($640). Similarly, the Core i7 is priced at CNY 5,199 ($739). We can expect the base variant of the Redmibook 13 to launch in Nepal for an expected price of Rs. 72,000.

Xiaomi Laptop Model	Price in Nepal (Expected)
Redmibook 13 (i5)	Rs. 72,000
Redmibook 13 (i5, MX250)	Rs. 77,000
Redmibook 13 (i7,MX250)	Rs. 89,000

Redmi K30 and K30 5G with 120Hz Dual Punch hole screen, 64MP quad camera announced

Featured
Redmi
Xiaomi

Pratima Adhikari

December 10, 2019

Redmi K30 and K30 5G with 120Hz Dual Punch hole screen, 64MP quad camera announced

One mistake Xiaomi did last time with the K20 and K20 Pro is launching them together! The flagship killer K20 pro overshadowed the K20 in many different ways, especially here in Nepal. But this time, we witness a different story. The Redmi K30, the successor to the K20 has been launched in China. There are actually 2 variants of it, a basic 4G variant and the other 5G one! These are the new premium mid-range phones from Xiaomi with flagship killer price.

Redmi K30 Overview

Like it’s predecessor, what you can be assured with the K30 is the fact that it packs performance at a budget. The K30 5G has the Snapdragon 765G which comes bearing 1 Cortex A76 prime core @2.4 GHz, another Cortex A76 performance core @ 2.2GHz and 6 efficiency Cortex A55 based cores @1.8 GHz. The 4G version, on the other hand, has the Snapdragon 730G processor, as seen later on many smartphones.

Both the variants have LPDDR4X RAM with the most basic RAM starting at 6GB and both come with UFS2.1 storage support. Battery size is the same for both, a 4,500 mAh unit but you get different fast charging tech associated with 4G and 5G models. The 5G variant of the K30 comes with 30W fast charging support whereas the 4G variant supports 27 Watt charging.

Camera-wise too it’s basically the same, except for the 5G model supporting a 5MP macro lens whereas the 4G version has a 2MP macro lens. Other specs such as 64 MP primary sensor, an 8MP wide-angle-lens, and a tertiary 2MP depth sensors remain the same. Unlike last time, you can new the new iteration of Sony IMX sensor here on the K30, the Sony IMX686!

Also Read: Redmi K30 (Poco X2) Long Term Review

On the front, the display houses dual cameras, in the punch hole, a 20MP primary sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor! The display here is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and one of the many things to hoot for is the 120Hz screen with HDR10 compliance.

In addition, the 5G variant supports Dual-frequency GPS and SA+NSA 5G network support. And showing off the classic Xiaomi style, the manufacturer has put in the 3.5mm headphone jack and an IR Blaster too!

Redmi K30 Specifications:

Display: 6.67- inches with FHD+ resolution IPS LCD with punch hole and 120Hz refresh rate
Dimensions: 165.3 x 76.6 x 8.79 mm
Weight: 208g
SoC: 4G (Snapdragon 730G) and 5G (Snapdragon 765G)
RAM:6/8GB
Storage: 64/128/256GB
Operating System: MIUI 11 based on Android 10
Battery: 4,500 mAh with 27W fast charging (4G) and 30W fast charging (5G)
Rear Camera: 64MP Sony IMX686 primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens (4G), 5MP macro lens (5G)
Front Camera: 20 MP AI-powered primary lens and a 2MP depth sensor
Video: 4K @ 30fps, 1080p @ 60fps, 1080p @ 30fps (Ultrawide ); 1080p @ 120fps, 720p @ 960fps (Slow motion)
Sensors: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Other features: IR Blaster, 3.5mm headphone jack

Also Watch: Poco X2 (Redmi K30) Review

Redmi K30, Redmi K30 5G Price in Nepal and Availability:

The Redmi K30 (4G and 5G) has been launched in China and some parts of Europe. Since the Redmi K30 will not launch in Nepal, we cannot talk about the price of Redmi K30 in Nepal. Find the price of Redmi K30 (4G and 5G version) in China below:

Variant

Redmi K30 4G Price

Redmi K30 5G Price

6+64 GB

CNY 1599

(~Rs. 27500 in Nepal)

CNY 1999

(~Rs. 34500 in Nepal)

6+128 GB

CNY 1699

(~Rs. 30000 in Nepal)

CNY 2299

(~Rs. 40000 in Nepal)

8+128 GB

CNY 1899

(~Rs. 33000 in Nepal)

CNY 2599

(~Rs. 45000 in Nepal)

8+256 GB

CNY 2199

(~Rs. 38000 in Nepal)

CNY 2899

(~Rs. 5000 in Nepal)

Vivo V17 with quad-cam setup and 100% DCI-P3 display Launched

Vivo

GadgetByte

December 9, 2019

Vivo V17 with quad-cam setup and 100% DCI-P3 display Launched

The Vivo V17 was announced last month in Russia. Spec-wise it was quite similar to the Vivo S1 Pro. However, today a phone with the same name made its way into the Indian market and that too with a revamped design and upgraded specifications. This model has an L-shaped camera, a punch-hole display and a hoard of other upgrades. Furthermore, it also comes with features such as Multi-turbo mode, AR stickers and Voice Changer.

Vivo V17 Overview

The device has a 6.44-inch E3 Super AMOLED iView display (Vivo’s fancy name for punch-hole display). The supported resolution on the device is 1080 x 2400 pixels. A major focus has been given to the display as the panel also has a 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut. Moreover, the panel filters out 42 percent blue light and there’s a low brightness anti-flicker technology. This tech offers added protection in dark.

Vivo V17 has a quad-camera setup on the back. As mentioned above, the cameras are arranged in an L-shape. The primary lens in the rear cam is a 48MP sensor. The setup is completed by an 8MP secondary sensor, a 2MP sensor for bokeh and another 2MP macro lens. On the front, the device has a 32MP selfie shooter housed inside the punch-hole.

There are some preloaded features on the camera too. The inclusion of Super Night Mode, Ultra Stable Video, portrait bokeh, portrait light effects and many more will certainly help users capture magnificent photos.

Under the hood, Vivo V17 runs on the Snapdragon 675 SoC. The RAM option that you get is of 8GB and the onboard storage is of 128GB. Besides that, the smartphone runs on a 4,500mAh battery with 18W fast charging done via Type-C port.

Also Read: Vivo Mobiles Price in Nepal (Updated)

Vivo V17 Specifications:

Display: 6.44″ E3 Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels)
Rear Camera: Quad-cam, 48 MP primary lens with f/1.8 aperture + 8 MP Ultra-wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture + 2MP dedicated macro lens with f/2.4 aperture + 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Front Camera: 32MP with f/2.45 aperture
Processor: Octa-core 11 nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 675
GPU: Adreno 612
RAM: 8 GB
Storage: 128 GB onboard, expandable up to 256GB (uses shared SIM slot)
Battery: 4500 mAh
Sensors: Fingerprint (under display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Pricing and Availability

Vivo V17 will go on sale from the 17^th of December. The device is priced at $324 and will be available in two colors- Midnight Ocean and Glacier Black.

V17 might not launch in Nepal though, as Vivo will be launching similarly priced Vivo S1 Pro in markets like Nepal, Srilanka, and Bangladesh. Vivo V17 might be exclusive to India, as seen with U and Z-series.

Missed out on 11.11? Maybe the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day has got something in store for you!

Daraz online Shopping
Featured

Nikhil Shrestha

December 8, 2019

Missed out on 11.11? Maybe the Daraz 12.12 Sales Day has got something in store for you!

E-commerce has taken the world by storm. Buying stuff at the comfort of your house from a great selection of products has substantially made our lives easier. And in the context of Nepal, Daraz has been the frontrunner for the biggest e-commerce platform in the country. Owned by the Chinese behemoth Alibaba, Daraz has been successful in garnering the local’s attention through its discounts/offers, interactive app & website, exclusive sales day, aggressive promotion, and many more. The company’s annual 11.11 Sales Day successfully concluded its second venture last month. And now, Daraz is gearing up for its end-of-the-year 12.12 sales event. Let’s take a closer look.

Daraz 12.12 Sales Highlights

As with most of Daraz’s events, the 12.12 Sales will bring special offers on a variety of electronic products from smartphones to TVs. Though we haven’t got the word on exactly which products will get special deals, we know that smartphones from OnePlus, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo will be the one to look out for on this event.

Moving on to the household electronics, you’ll also find attractive deals on Samsung’s TVs, washing machines, etc. Of course, there’ll be attractive price drops and schemes on other assorted products as well, but these are the ones we’re psyched about.

Emphasis on Daraz app

After its acquisition by Alibaba, the Daraz app is now far more feature-rich and interactive. You can do a lot of things on the app like play games, that you can’t on the website. Therefore, Daraz is pushing towards app-based users to site-based users. Since it is quite easier to use as well, we too recommend you browse Daraz via the app rather than the website.

Digital Payment

Here, Daraz is also trying to lure its customers to use digital payment instead of the traditional cash-on-delivery approach. This time, the company has collaborated with 5 banks (Siddhartha, Sunrise, Machhapuchchhre, Global IME, and NMB) as its payment partners. Using these banks’ debit/credit card, provided that your card is activated before 12.12, you are eligible to receive an additional discount of up to 15% (max Rs. 1500).

Daraz 12.12 Promotional Activities

As an effort to promote the 12.12 Sales, Daraz is introducing two new fun events inside the Daraz app (what did I tell you about the emphasis on the app). Let’s see what they are:

1 Rupee Game

The first of the lot is conveniently named the “1 Rupee Game”. Under this, Daraz assigns a different prize each day until December 12. Using the voucher code “1RUPEE”, the prize item’s price will drop to Re. 1 and you can make the order to be the potential winner. However, Daraz is further encouraging you to trust you with its PCI-compliant secure payment platform, as you must use the card payment option on your checkout to be eligible to enter the contest.

Mission 12.12

The next promotional activity for the 12.12 Sales is called “Mission 12.12”. Your mission, should you accept it, will include a total of 12 distinct challenges updated every day. After completing these tasks like opening the app, following brands, etc., you can win rewards from multiple brands like Sony, Timberland, Titan, etc. To follow the track of your mission, you’ll be required to enter the email address associated with the Daraz account.

The Extras

Furthermore, Daraz is offering free shipping on select products during the 12.12 Sales day. It’s not much, but still. There is still the “Daraz Saathi” offer where you can earn vouchers for referring other users.

We’ll keep you updated with all the best deals you can get on the Daraz 12.12 Sales day as they unfold. So stay tuned for more details and news regarding the Daraz 12.12 sales day!

Learn More Here

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