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Blitzwolf BW-VP1 review: The best projector under $100?

GadgetByte

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November 13, 2019

Blitzwolf BW-VP1 review: The best projector under $100?

Call a bunch of friends, grab some snacks, sit somewhere comfortably and watch your favorite show or a movie on a big screen of a projector. Who doesn’t want that? But since projectors are usually expensive, this dream does not come true for everyone. So we went through the internet, browse through a couple of websites and got Blitzwolf BW-VP1 on our RADAR. The projector was available at Banggood.com for just $86. And at that price, the projector is offering quite a lot. But how good are its features? Well, let’s find out in this Blitzwolf BW-VP1 review.

Blitzwolf BW-VP1 Specifications:

Projection System: Display technology LCD, light source LED
Native Resolution: HD (720 x 1080 pixels); supports up to Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
Brightness: 1800 lumens
Contrast Ratio: 2000:1
Aspect Ratio: 4:3(native); Supports 16:9
Throw Type: Long-throw projector; Throw ratio: 1.33:1
Image Size (Diagonal): 28-inch to 100-inch
Projection Distance: 1m to 3m
Weight: 1.1Kgs; Dimensions: 19.78 x 15.2 x 7.45 cm
Speaker System: 4-watt inbuilt speaker
3D Support and Compatibility: Yes
Ports: HDMI x1, USB Type-A x1, VGA (PC) x1, Composite AV x1, 3.5mm headphone jack x1
Lamp Life: 50,000 hours
Price: ~~$139.99~~ $85.99

Buy Blitzwolf BW-VP1 Projector here

Design

When it comes to design, this one doesn’t have anything out of ordinary. It looks similar to most of the projectors in the market. But where it differs is, in terms of portability. The projector is just 7cm thick and merely weighs 1.1Kgs. So, it easily fits in your bags and traveling with it is quite hassle-free.

The projector has a lens on the front, which comes covered with a lens cap. The front face of the projector also includes an IR receiver and Blitzwolf branding right beneath it.

A small part on the top features mirror-finished surface, which comes with control buttons on it. But since you also get a remote control with it, you may not use those control buttons that often.

There are also two knobs on the top of the lens: one of them lets the user adjust the keystone whereas the other one is to adjust the focus. Similarly, you get all the connectivity ports on the right. There’s also a grill alongside, which provides active cooling for the projector.

Just if you are wondering, there is a power jack, speaker, and another IR receiver on the back.

Since it’s a light projector, you can also mount it on a tripod. And for that, you get a dedicated hole on the bottom. Alongside that, you get another hole for adjusting screw with which you can adjust angles on the projector screen.

Connectivity

As for the connectivity, there is a VGA port, an HDMI port, a USB port, an AV port, and 3.5mm audio output. Making use of the VGA or HDMI port, you can connect this projector with your PC and use it as a big monitor. Using HDMI cable, you can also connect the gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox and Play games on it.

This projector can also be used as a TV alternative. Just connect your set-top box to the projector with an HDMI cable and voila, you can watch TV contents on it.

In addition to that, there is a USB-Type-A port. So plugging in your Thumb Drive or even your smartphone with an OTG cable, you can showcase your media contents on-the-go.

However, the projector only reads text files and not the Microsoft word and powerpoint files. So you still need to carry your laptop for the presentations, which is a bummer.

But on the side note, you can still play songs, movies and photos, which I guess is a feature to cherish.

Picture quality

Now let’s talk about the technical features. The Blitzwolf BW-VP1 is a long-throw projector, whose projection size can be varied from 28-inch to 100-inch by varying the projection distance from 1m-3m. So it can be handy in a wide variety of situations.

The projector uses an LCD panel with an LED lamp of 75-watts. So unlike most of the DLP projectors, it won’t have a color ghosting effect. Lamps on DLP projectors also don’t last so long as they usually have a lamp life of 2000-5000 hours.

However, this projector has a lamp life of 50,000 hours. So even if you regularly use this projector for 10 hours on a daily basis, it would still last for over 13 years. Pretty impressive, right?

But what got be quite unsatisfied was its resolution. It has a native resolution of 720p with support for Full-HD content. Since most of the projectors these days usually come with Full-HD and 4K resolution, it cannot match them in terms of sharpness. And while casting big images on the screen, you might even find some pixelation.

But as it’s a budget projector, such tradeoffs are usually inevitable. However, what can you do is, maintain a proper distance while watching content on it.

If the viewing distance is equal or more than the Retina distance, you won’t notice any sort of pixelation and the picture looks seamless.

When it comes to colors, I found the projector rather impressive. Although the projector isn’t HDR enabled, colors were close to natural. But you need to use it in dark rooms to notice it since the brightness of the lamp is just 1800 lumens. So make sure you pull the curtains before watching the movies or starting a presentation. But since it has a low contrast ratio, it may not help always. Sometimes, dark contents still get subdued. So there is that!

Audio

As for the audio, you get a 4-watt speaker system inbuilt inside the projector. Running it on full volume, the audio output is usually sufficient for a small group of people. However, at higher volumes, the audio usually distorts.

The cooling fans also make some noise, which is highly noticeable while playing content on low volumes. So, if you want to subdue the noise level and enhance the audio quality, you should get a separate speaker system, which produces loud and rich audio output.

Also Read: Projector Buying Guide 101: All the things to consider while buying a projector

Conclusion

The Blitzwolf BW-VP1 projector surely isn’t the best projector you can get in the market. It comes with low resolution, doesn’t have much brightness and contrast ratio, and audio quality is also nothing great to talk about. But even with those tradeoffs, I find it value-packed.

Because of such tradeoffs, it may not be usable in the home theatre system. But for casual use and for school and office presentations, it would still be sufficient for most. So weighing the features on the device and its cost, I still consider it to be one of the best projectors under $100.

Blitzwolf BW-VP1 Pros and Cons

Pros:

Portrays good colors
Fairly portable
Offers the best value for money

Cons:

Low resolution
Dim and low contrast ratio
Audio quality could have been better

Google, Fitbit and the dustbin: A strange but plausible relationship?

GadgetByte

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November 12, 2019

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Google, Fitbit and the dustbin: A strange but plausible relationship?

Google and user data privacy doesn’t really go hand to hand. Most of us are aware of what Google is capable of doing with our data. How it keeps a tab on us. Tracks our every move. And keeps making money off of it.

Currently, Google gains our data via our daily activity on the internet. But what if they were able to gain more personal data. For instance, our sleep routine, heart rate and more. How would they use it and what would be its implications? No one knows. And that’s what Fitbit users are concerned about.

On November 1, Google purchased the wearable tech giants Fitbit for $2.1 billion. And from that very moment of Google’s Fitbit acquisition, Fitbit users went on an alert mode. Rightly so, as previously mentioned, it already makes a lot of money through our data. Furthermore, with the amount of data that they have and will potentially collect by monitoring Fitbit, a simple lapse in security can amount to a huge disaster.

So, what was the mode of action for Fitbit users? Apparently, most of them are straight away ditching the fitness tracker. Moreover, users are already threatening to switch to rival smartwatches from Apple, Garmin, and others.

The amount of backlash definitely didn’t go unnoticed. As a matter of fact, both Fitbit and Google were quick to respond.

Also Read: Fitbit smartwatches Price in Nepal

The first to respond was James Park, the co-founder, and CEO of Fitbit. He pointed out that privacy and security guidelines have always been of the utmost importance to Fitbit. And in no circumstance would they ever compromise user data. Through his word, he tried to assure users that their personal data would never be sold and will not be used for Google ads.

Later on, we also heard an official statement from a Google executive. He wrote in a blog that Google will be transparent about what data they will collect and why. Furthermore, he too fixated on the point that the wellness data will not be sold for Google ads.

Also Read: Fitbit users, Beware! Your privacy is at risk

But can we really trust Google? Users of Fitbit have a legit reason for concern. However, were they too quick to throw their wearables to the bin? They should have probably waited for an official user license agreement. But at the end of the day, it is their Fitbit and all we can do is simply give suggestions.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus and Note 10 Launched in Nepal

Pratima Adhikari

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November 12, 2019

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus and Note 10 Launched in Nepal

After a long pool of anticipations and hype, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 devices are finally here in Nepal. And just hearing the names, you will know that Samsung is attempting something different this year. There are two Note devices, the standard Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus. There is a lot that sets these apart from each other, one of which is the screen size of course. Both the Note 10 and Note 10+ are now available for purchase in Nepal and is currently enjoying some discounts on its official price.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus & Note 10 Overview

The display too sets this year’s Note 10 devices from lat year. There is a punch-hole display like the Galaxy S- series. However, the punch hole is positioned at the center and surprisingly, Samsung has not tried to hide it this time with clever wallpapers!

Display & Battery

The 6.8 inches screen makes the Note 10 Plus a phone cum phablet while the Note 10 comes bearing a smaller 6.3 inches display. The latter is a Full-HD display, which is unusual for Note device might fit well with its 3,500 mAh battery. The Note 10 Plus, however, comes with a much larger 4,300 mAh battery.

Check out our video review of Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ here:

RAM & Storage

While we are still talking about differences, Note 10 does not come with an SD card slot. Similarly, the max you get is 256 GB storage on the Note 10, while the Note 10 Plus does come with an SD card slot that can be expanded up to 512 GB. There is a difference in the RAM offering too. You get a total of 12 GB RAM in the higher end variant and 8 GB in the Note 10.

Furthermore, there is a tiny difference in the camera arrangement of those devices where the Note 10 misses out on The ToF depth vision sensor.

S-pen

This year’s S-pen’s abilities have also been heightened a bit. It still operates as your remote for triggering the camera and advancing powerpoint slides. But this time, it also has gyroscope and accelerometer included in it giving it some magic- wand kinda capabilities. You don’t have to swipe touching the display. Just swirl it in front of the screen does the job.

The power button on the Note devices also doubles as the Bixby button on pressing it long. And if you are wondering how to shut off or on the device, you can do it through the dedicated button on the quick toggle menu.

Performance

Both devices have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor (Exynos 9825 here in Nepal), ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, dynamic AMOLED screens, and metal and glass designs. However the Note 10 Plus shops with an extra color option, called Aura Blue which is said to be only for US customers buying the phone from Samsung.com and Best Buy.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Specifications

Display: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED
Resolution: 3040 x 1440 pixels @ 498 PPI, 90.9% screen to body ratio
OS: Android 9 Pie with Samsung One UI on top
Chipset: Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9825
RAM: 12 GB
Storage: 256/512 GB internal storage, Expandable up to 1TB
Rear Camera: 12 MP primary lens, 12 MP Telephoto lens, 16 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and ToF Depth Vision sensor
Video: 2160p at 60 fps, 1080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps
Front Camera: 10 MP
Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac/ ax, Bluetooth 5.0, A-GPS, 3G, 4G LTE, USB Type C 3.1 reversible connector
Sensors: Fingerprint (under-display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, SpO2
Battery: 4,300 mAh Li-Ion non-removable battery
Other Features: Samsung Dex, ANT+, Bixby Natural language commands and detection, IP68 Dust and water resistance (up to 1.5m for 30 mins), Fast charging 45W, Dolby Atmos/ AKG sound, stereo speakers
Color Variants: Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black, Aura Blue

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Specifications

Display: 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED
Resolution: 2280x 1080 pixels @ 401 PPI , 90.9% screen to body ratio
OS: Android 9 Pie with Samsung One UI on top
Chipset: Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9825
RAM: 8 GB
Storage: 256 GB internal storage, no expansion available
Rear Camera: 12 MP primary lens, 12 MP Telephoto lens, 16 MP ultra-wide-angle lens
Video: 1440p at 30 fps, 1080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps
Front Camera: 10 MP
Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac/ ax, Bluetooth 5.0, A-GPS, 3G, 4G LTE, USB Type C 3.1 reversible connector
Sensors: Fingerprint (under-display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, SpO2
Battery: 3,500 mAh Li-Ion non-removable battery
Other Features: Samsung Dex, ANT+, Bixby Natural language commands and detection, IP68 Dust and water resistance (up to 1.5m for 30 mins), Fast charging 25W, Dolby Atmos/ AKG sound, stereo speakers
Color Variants: Aura Glow, Aura White, Aura Black

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus Price in Nepal [2020]

Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus is enjoying price drop in Nepal. The Note 10 Plus Price in Nepal for the 12GB RAM, 256GB storage variant is Rs. 129,599 whereas the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 carries a price tag of Rs. 111,399 in the Nepal market.

Model	Old Price	New Price
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus (12/256GB)	Rs. 135,000	Rs. 1,29,599
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 (8/256GB)	Rs. 116,000	Rs.1,11,399

Upload selfie to verify! Facebook’s new user authentication system

Facebook

GadgetByte

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November 12, 2019

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Upload selfie to verify! Facebook’s new user authentication system

Well well, it seems Facebook has been secretly trying out a new user verification system. The test users apparently have to upload their selfies in order to verify that they are real. This new feature, however, is currently on limited testing only.

Basically, the app asks users to place their phone at eye level. Then similar to the facial unlock system, a circular frame appears on the screen. Users have to fit their face in the frame and record a selfie as directed. A series of prompts pop up on the screen which the users have to follow. The prompts too are similar one would find during the face scan for the face-unlock system. It asks you to look straight, right, left, and straight again.

Now a sane person would obviously question the privacy of their biometrics. For this, the Facebook app does provide a sort of explanation. However, it is pretty vague.

Firstly, it states that this authentication helps Facebook to confirm that the user is, in fact, a real person. Then it goes on to state that “no one else” will see the video and it will be deleted 30 days after confirmation of identity. Herein lies the problem! It assures users that no one else will see the video but there it doesn’t specify who actually will see the video.

This is not the first time however that Facebook has used a facial recognition system. Previously we’d come across a feature that after an automatic scan of uploaded photos, suggested who the people in the picture were. This feature actually drew a lot of criticism. It, in fact, was the subject of a class-action lawsuit in 2015.

The accusation was that Facebook stored biometric information of users without their consent. However, Facebook did appeal the decision. It argued that there was no proof that Facebook’s facial recognition system had done any harm. And that the plaintiffs had no basis for damage. Nevertheless, their appeal was rebutted by the court and the case is set to move forward.

Also Read: Google, Fitbit, and the dustbin: A strange but plausible relationship?

At this moment, nothing can be said with certainty about the implications of this feature. I for one would surely move away from Facebook if they eventually decide to roll out this feature. Without knowing who has access to my records and what it will be used for explicitly, I certainly not upload my selfie. And Facebook’s own history suggests that user data safety cannot be guaranteed. After all, privacy on the internet is a myth. For sure this might reduce the DoS attacks but nope this is not a cherry that I would want to bite. What do you think?

Best 11 Tech Deals at Daraz 11.11 you may not wanna miss

Daraz online Shopping

Nikhil Shrestha

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November 11, 2019

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Best 11 Tech Deals at Daraz 11.11 you may not wanna miss

The day is here! The Daraz 11.11 Sales Day is live, ladies and gentlemen…and it offers some sweet deals on various items. You better hurry up and grab them, because, apparently, the best of the deals are disappearing pretty quick. I was looking at a watch, and I added it to my cart, but it had already been sold out while I was reading the description. Things are being sold like hot cakes in there!

For those of you who are looking for deals on tech stuff, you won’t be disappointed either. But here are the Top 11 Daraz 11.11 Tech Deals you can find. These deals consist of phones, laptops, TVs and headphones. Some of these, you may know, some, maybe not. But here they are.

OnePlus 7 (8/256GB)

Kicking off the list is the OnePlus 7. A washed-down yet powerful brother of the OnePlus 7 Pro, this is a competitive device despite some major cutoffs. It features a smaller 6.41-inch FHD+ display with the regular 60Hz refresh rate. Talking about tradeoffs, the camera department has taken a hit as well. Here, you are offered a 48MP Sony IMX586 lens alongside a 5MP depth sensor.

Now let’s talk about how the OnePlus 7 is a champ when it comes to performance. It doesn’t skimp on the chipset as it features the powerful Snapdragon 855 SoC and the Adreno 640 GPU. Pair this with OnePlus’ Oxygen OS and the company’s commitment towards a faster device, the OnePlus knocks every task you throw at it out of the park.

As a part of Daraz’s 11.11 exclusive deal, the OnePlus 7 is now an excellent choice for people looking for a great phone.

MRP: Rs. 66,999 59,999
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 54,499

Huawei Nova 3 & Nova 4

Admittedly, the Huawei Nova 3 & Nova 4 are year-old phones. Nevertheless, they were some of the best premium mid-rangers devices of their time and the massive price drop as a part of the 11.11 deal makes them more attractive than ever.

Nova 3

The Nova 3 features a dual-camera setup on both front and back. You get a 24MP lens alongside a 2MP depth sensor for your selfies, while the back holds the 16MP main shooter and a 24MP monochrome sensor. It has a 6.3-inch LCD display and is powered by Kirin 710 chipset. Memory wise, you get 6GB of RAM with 128GB of expandable internal storage.

MRP: Rs. 59,900 37,450
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 33,450

Nova 4

It is the successor to the Nova 3, with a bigger screen and a triple rear-camera setup. It features a 6.4-inch LCD panel and is powered by the Kirin 970 chipset. Talking about cameras, you get a 20MP main lens, a 16MP wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor on the back. Coming to the front of the device, there’s a single 25MP selfie camera inside a punch-hole cutout on the top-left of the display. You get a single 8/128GB memory configuration which sadly isn’t expandable.

MRP: Rs. 64,900 45,100
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 39,600

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro (6/128GB)

Probably one of the best mid-range phones in the Nepalese market, the Redmi Note 7 Pro is now more appealing than ever because of the 11.11 deal. Equipped with a decent chipset and a compelling design, the phone has been a hit among the Nepalese audience.

The phone comes in a premium-y design with a glass back and some stunning colors. You get a dual-rear camera with a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor and a 5MP depth sensor. Coming to the front, the Redmi Note 7 Pro has a 6.3-inch FHD+ LCD panel with a small teardrop notch for the 13MP selfie camera. Performance-wise, the phone is powered by Snapdragon 675 chipset with Adreno 612 GPU.

MRP: Rs. 28,999 27,199
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 23,699

Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro

Also making an entry on our list is the former flagship killer, the Redmi K20 Pro. The phone managed to garner a lot of hype around the smartphone industry for its amazing design and performance ability.

Starting off, the Redmi K20 Pro has a vibrant 6.39-inch Super AMOLED bezel-less display. It is really something to look at and provides a clean viewing experience. To achieve this, Xiaomi has implemented a pop-up camera technology, which houses the 20MP selfie camera. The back of the device houses the triple camera with a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor, an 8MP telephoto lens, and a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens. However, their implementation feels underwhelming.

The headline feature of the K20 Pro is obviously the Snapdragon 855 chipset with Adreno 640 GPU. This is complemented by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage. Unlocking the phone is bliss with its under-display fingerprint scanner.

MRP: Rs. 49,999
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 44,499

Canon EOS 4000D

Camera enthusiasts rejoice as the Canon EOS 4000D has received a massive price-cut as a part of the 11.11 deal. Alongside the price-cut, you are also eligible for a 16GB SD Card, a backpack, and a tripod for free.

The EOS 4000D has an 18MP APS-C sensor with 9 point autofocus. The monitor is a 2.7-inch or 6.8cm LCD screen. It can be an excellent DSLR option for people looking to start their photography journey. The camera weighs around 436 grams including battery and memory card. For wireless connectivity, the camera features WiFi but there’s no NFC here.

MRP: Rs. 75,000 41,500
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 36,000

Vianet Installation Offer

Vianet is also joining in on the 11.11 action and is offering a discounted price on its internet packages, both for new and existing users. All the offers below are eligible for the banking discount, which will vary according to the package. Thus, the final price has been marked with an ‘*‘.

For new users: 20 Mbps/12 months

People looking to install Vianet’s internet on their homes are in for a treat as the company is offering an exciting deal. The price below is inclusive of device deposit, wire, installation, other package charges, and 13% VAT. However, you don’t get free NETTV in this package.

MRP: Rs. 16,433 12,700
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 11,999*

For new users: 30 Mbps/12 months

The higher 30Mbps package comes with free NETTV as well. Like the previous one, the price below is inclusive of device deposit, wire, installation, package charge alongside NETTV activation, Set-Top-Box charge and the 13% VAT.

MRP: Rs. 18,515 16,500
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 16,500*

For existing users: 20 Mbps/12 months

Existing Vianet customers with 20 Mbps package can renew their package for a new and low price inclusive of the 13% VAT. However, akin to new customers for 20 Mbps package, you don’t get free NETTV with this.

MRP: Rs. 14,238 11,111
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 11,111*

For existing users: 30 Mbps/12 months

Unlike the previous offer, customers with 30 Mbps subscription looking to renew their service also get a year’s NETTV service free as well. The price below is inclusive of the 13% VAT. However, if you don’t already have the NETTV subscription, an additional Rs. 1065 is applicable if you wish to make one.

MRP: Rs. 15,255 13,800
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 13,800*

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

Looking to get a new TV this time around, well you’re in luck. Daraz 11.11 deal has brought the Videocon 43DN5-S 43″ LED TV for an attractive price tag.

It has a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution so content consumption will be desirable. Additionally, it is a smart TV that runs on Android 8 (Oreo) and is equipped with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. There’s 2x HDMI port, 1x USB port, and 1x VGA port. Also, you get a 1-year warranty with it.

MRP: Rs. 50,500 33,990
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 29,990

Samsung UA43N5300 43″ FHD LED Smart TV

Samsung TV has always been one of the best in the market though they’re not as affordable as the competitions. It features PQI (Picture Quality Index) of 500 alongside the HDR-enabled display panel.

Unlike TVs from other brands, this one is feature-packed. It supports Dolby Digital Plus audio, Film mode, Contrast Enhancer, etc. It runs on Samsung’s own Tizen OS rather than Android. Talking about connection, you get one USB port and 2x HDMI port.

MRP: Rs. 86,990 55,250
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 49,750

Samsung RT28K3022SE 253L 2 Star Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator

In the market to buy a new refrigerator, well Daraz has got you covered on that as well. It is offering a big discount on Samsung RT28K3022SE refrigerator.

It features a double-door design with a capacity of 253 liters. The shelf is made of toughened glass. Similarly, its other features include recess handle, twist ice maker, easy-slide shelf, moist fresh zone, big bottle guard, digital inverter technology, and smart connect inverter (automatic). Additionally, the refrigerator comes with one year of warranty.

MRP: Rs. 47,990 35,299
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 31,299

Homeglory HG-007 Fusion Room Gas Heater

Stay warm this winter with Homeglory’s HG-007 room heater. Additionally, Daraz is kicking in a Homeglory HGI-110 Stella Dry Iron worth Rs. 1,200 for free with its purchase.

It has a Piezo Spark Ignition suitable for LPG and ceramic infrared burner. Also, it comes with a 1-year warranty as well.

MRP: Rs. 11,000 8,590
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 8,090 (excluding bank discount)

Black And Decker HM3000 900W Air Humidifier

Add moisture to the air this season with the Black And Decker HM3000 900 humidifier. You can grab one for yourself with up to 20% discount.

Air humidifier has many health benefits like preventing flu, reducing snoring, keeping the skin and hair moist, etc. The HM3000 has adjustable mist intensity with ultrasonic vibration and filter system. Furthermore, it doesn’t generate loud noise while running so it should be a perfect choice for your household or office environment.

MRP: Rs. 6,690 5,352
Final Price after card discount and voucher: Rs. 4,852 (excluding bank discount)

Super Affordable Redmi 8A Smartphone Launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

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November 11, 2019

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Super Affordable Redmi 8A Smartphone Launched in Nepal

Alongside the Redmi 8, Xiaomi has also launched the Redmi 8A in Nepal for a budget-friendly price. The Redmi 8A is a toned-down version of the Redmi 8 (Rs. 14,999). It is available for purchase from the 12th of November via 900+ Mi Stores and online e-commerce platforms like Daraz and Sastodeal.

Redmi 8A Overview:

Design & display

The most noticeable thing about the phone is its design. Unlike the Redmi 7A, there is no bezel on the top. You get a tiny waterdrop style notch on the display. And talking about the display, the Redmi 8A flaunts a 6.2-inch IPS panel, which is a decent upgrade over its predecessor. But in terms of resolution, it’s the same story. You get the same HD+ display. Despite that similarity, what’s genuinely impressive on the phone is the inclusion of Gorilla Glass 5. With this toughened glass atop the display, the phone is quite resistant to cracks and scratches.

Performance & Memory

On the performance front, there is Snapdragon 439 chipset, which was also used on the Redmi 7A. In terms of memory, there are 2/32GB and 3/32GB options. Both these variants are available in Nepal. Nonetheless, you get a dedicated SD card slot on the board, which lets you expand the memory up to 256GB.

Camera

Talking about cameras, the rear camera module uses a 12MP sensor. Since the rear camera uses the Sony IMX363 sensor with Dual phase-detection feature, Xiaomi is promising “flagship-level camera performance”, but we will see that on our review. The rear camera supports features such as digital zoom, auto flash, face detection and touch to focus.

Similarly, on the front, you get an 8MP selfie shooter. Since the phone lacks a fingerprint scanner, you will have to make use of the Face Unlock feature, which uses the selfie cam.

Software

When it comes to software, the phone boots on Android Pie out of the box with MIUI 10 on the top. But it’s will be only a matter of time that the phone will receive the recently announced MIUI 11 update. [Update: It has received the MiUI 11]

Battery

But the major highlight of this device is its massive battery. The phone houses a massive 5000mAh battery with 18-watt fast charging support. However, the phone comes with a 10-watt charger inside the box. And another impressive thing about the charging port is that there is a USB Type-C port thing time around. And it’s really impressive, especially, for a budget phone.

Further, the Xiaomi Redmi 8A is a splash-proof device with a P2i rating. The phone is also equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack and dual SIM support.

Xiaomi Redmi 8A Specifications:

Display: 6.2-inch IPS LCD with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Resolution: HD+ resolution (720 x 1520 pixels), 19:9 aspect ratio @ 271 PPI
Rear Camera: Single, 12 MP Sony IMX363 sensor with f/1.9 aperture
Front Camera: 8MP
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 439
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 6×1.45 GHz Cortex A53)
GPU: Adreno 505
RAM: 2/3 GB
Storage: 32 GB, expandable up to 256GB via microSD card (dedicated slot)
OS: Android 9.0 Pie, MIUI 11
Features: 3.55 headphone jack, splash resistant (P2i Rating)
Battery: 5000 mAh; 18-watt fast charging support; USB Type-C Port
Color Options: Sunset Red, Ocean Blue, and Midnight Black

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobiles Price in Nepal

Xiaomi Redmi 8A Price in Nepal & Availability (2020)

The price of the base variant (2/32GB) of Redmi 8A in Nepal is Rs. 11,999. Similarly, the 3/32GB variant will set you back Rs. 12,999. The phone comes in Sunset Red, Ocean Blue, and Midnight Black colors.

Model Name

Price in Nepal

Xiaomi Redmi 8A

(2GB/32GB)

Rs. 11,999

Xiaomi Redmi 8A

(3GB/32GB)

Rs. 12,999

Watch our review of Xiaomi Redmi 8A here:

Redmi 8 Launched in Nepal: Best Budget Phone for the Price?

Pratima Adhikari

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November 11, 2019

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Redmi 8 Launched in Nepal: Best Budget Phone for the Price?

Xiaomi Nepal has officially launched the affordable budget-oriented Redmi 8 in the Nepali market. It is now available for purchase across 900+ Mi offline stores. Is this the best budget smartphone in Nepal? Let’s learn more about the phone along with its official price.

Redmi 8 Overview

The Redmi 8 offers some good upgrades over its predecessor the Redmi 7. It now offers a bigger 5000mAh battery as opposed to 4000mAh battery of the Redmi 7. There’s also USB Type C and 18W fast charging support, which is great to see on a budget phone. The screen size of 6.26-inches remains the same and there’s the same HD resolution at disposal. The design looks more refined and refreshing as compared to Redmi 7.

Camera-wise, there’s a dual rear camera on the back, the primary camera being the Sony IMX 363 with 12MP f/1.8 lens. The second lens is a 2MP depth sensor for portraits. In terms of selfies, you get an 8MP sensor residing on the notch. The Sony IMX 363 is the same sensor used on the Pixel 3, but don’t expect any Pixel like performance on the Redmi 8 as Google’s software processing, its dedicated Visual Core chip, and the ISP/DSP of the Snapdragon 845 makes Pixel camera outstanding.

As for the performance, the Redmi 8 is actually inferior when compared to the Redmi 7. The Redmi 7 featured a much powerful Snapdragon 632 chipset, and the Redmi 8 sports a Snapdragon 439. It is very strange to see Xiaomi take this move, as the company is usually known for providing “best performance for the price”.

Memory wise, Only the 4GB RAM with 64GB storage is available in Nepal. There’s a dedicated microSD card slot for memory expansion.

Also Read: Xiaomi mobiles price in Nepal [Latest]

Redmi 8 Specifications

Display: 6.22-inch (1520 × 720 pixels) HD+ 19:9 with Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Chipset: Snapdragon 439
CPU: Octa-Core (4 X 1.95GHz Cortex A53 + 4X 1.45GHz Cortex A53)
GPU: Adreno 505 GPU
RAM: 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, expandable up to 512GB with microSD (dedicated)
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie) with MIUI 10
SIM: Dual SIM (nano + nano)
Rear Camera: 12MP rear camera with LED flash, Sony IMX363 sensor, 1.4μm pixel size, f/1.8 aperture, 6P lens, Dual PD autofocus, secondary 2MP depth camera
Front Camera: 8MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, 1.12μm pixel size
Security: Fingerprint sensor, Face unlock
Dimensions: 156.48×75.41×9.4mm; Weight: 188g
Connectivity: Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging (10W charger inside the box)
Colors: Sapphire Blue, Ruby Red, Onyx Black

Xiaomi Redmi 8 Price in Nepal & Availability

The new price of Xiaomi Redmi 8 in Nepal is Rs. 15,999. This price is for the 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM variant.

Model Name	Old Price	New Price in Nepal
Xiaomi Redmi 8 (4GB/64GB)	Rs. 14,999	Rs. 15,999

The Redmi 8 is without a doubt the new budget king. It comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, which is a new benchmark for budget phones in Nepal. You get a good design, 19:9 display, Gorilla Glass 5 protection, Type C port, Dual Cameras, and a big 5000mAh battery — All these add up to make the Redmi 8 a compelling budget phone.

Daraz 11.11 Sales Day 2019: All the deals & discounts we know so Far

Nikhil Shrestha

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November 10, 2019

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Daraz 11.11 Sales Day 2019: All the deals & discounts we know so Far

So, by now, you must have seen ads and banners regarding the Daraz 11.11 Sales Day all around. It’s appearing on the streets, your Facebook walls, and YouTube too! Yes, the hype is real, people. After all, the world’s biggest sales festival is coming to Nepal!

Now, if you’re a regular online shopper, then, this will be all too familiar. But if you’re not, then read on further to know what this Sales Day is all about.

Now Daraz is Nepal’s number 1 online marketplace connecting sellers and buyers. We know Daraz to be providing discounts and offers – small and big, regularly too. Two years ago, it brought Black Friday to Nepal, which was a huge success too. And after its acquisition by Alibaba – the world’s largest online marketplace, the world’s largest consumer festival saw its debut in Nepal as well.

How was 11.11 Sales Day Originated?

The Daraz 11.11 Sales Day as of now, is in its second stage here in Nepal, but it has a history. Started 10 years ago in China by Alibaba, it is known as “World’s Singles Day“, or “Anti-Valentines Day“. Since its initiation, it was China’s most significant consumer festival, and now it is the World’s biggest, taking over Black Friday too! Last year’s Singles Day achieved a record sale of $30.8 billion!

When is Daraz 11.11 Sales Day in Nepal?

The Daraz 11.11 Sales Day will kick-off at 12 A.M. on November 11 (Kartik 25) and last for 24 hours, i.e. 12 A.M. November 12. It will be a full day of exclusive product launches, flash sales, mystery boxes, brand vouchers and unbelievable deals with up to 80% discounts. Last year, Daraz exclusively launched the Pocophone F1 on the 11.11 sales day. Customers will be able to choose from over 1000 local and international sellers, and so, you’ll have access to an assortment of deals, never seen before in Nepal.

This will be Nepal’s own “Virtual Haat Bazaar”, and it will be accessible via the Daraz App. The app also offers a truly personal AI-driven experience and will show you the best of deals too. Truly, it might just introduce a new era of shopping.

This sales day will bring you the best in the industry. You will be able to get access to products from top international brands like MI, OnePlus, Samsung, Anker, Titan, Adidas, Nike, Reebok, etc. and top local brands like Goldstar as well as Holiday packages too. There will also be mind-blowing deals and additional vouchers. And the sales day covers every single category from smartphones to accessories, fashion, health, living, and all that you can imagine.

Daraz 11.11 Sales Day 2019: Bigger than ever?

The first edition of the 11.11 Sales Day was a huge hit for the company. According to the company, there was an 80% increase in sales on 11.11 compared to any other regular business day. More than 2 lakh people visited the Daraz mobile app and accessed a catalog of over 1000 sellers and brands.

Following suit to last year’s success, Daraz is all geared up to welcome an even larger pool of visitors onto its platform. This year, the company is expecting to garner 3.5 lakh potential buyers and is offering exciting deals on over 3 lakh products with up to 80% discount. This time around, Daraz has managed to cap the number of sellers to 3000, thus resulting in an even wider selection of products.

What’s new in Daraz 11.11 in 2019 for Nepal?

A company’s expansion is never an easy task. Additionally, Daraz hasn’t been free from controversies since the day it started operation in Nepal either. People have complained about its delivery schedules, inefficiency in handling customer orders, etc. to name a few. The overwhelming response from the first rendition of the 11.11 Sales Day was a wake-up call for the company to work on itself. And we’re happy to report that Daraz has incorporated multiple exciting tactics to counter the problems realized in last year’s event, and thus provide the customers with a satisfactory online shopping experience.

An increased number of delivery agents
- You might have heard of this. To ensure that the sheer volume of customer orders on the day is effectively fulfilled, Daraz has hired 400 additional Delivery Heroes. Therefore, getting your order delivered at the scheduled time should not be that big of an issue.
Partnership with different banks
- Daraz is now associated with 6 banks in total as “Payment Partners”. Customers of Nabil Bank, Nepal Investment Bank, Sanima Bank, NIC Asia, Mega Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank are compatible to grab up to 20% discount or NRs. 3,500 off on various items using their respective debit or credit cards. Similarly, Daraz is also introducing the feature to make digital pre-payment on customer orders.
Product collection points
- As discussed before, delivering a customer’s order in time has always been a significant challenge for Daraz. Thus, the company has come up with “Package Collection Points” in various cities. Such points facilitate the severance of interaction between customers and delivery agents. Customers can themselves pick up their package(s) from such points, and simultaneously save up on shipping costs while doing so.
Bigger warehouse for handling orders
- Another major complaint Daraz receives is that people’s orders are mismatched and they end up getting something they didn’t order. I personally have been a victim of this, twice! Thus, Daraz is implementing a bigger warehouse complemented by a bigger number of warehouse personnel to handle customer orders more efficiently.
Better review system
- Reviews are crucial when it comes to online shopping. It’s a common practice to check what other buyers have had to say about the product before buying one for yourself. Daraz now allows the users to attach product images in their reviews, facilitating a detailed exchange. Additionally, you can now directly chat with the seller to know more about the product.
Training to the sellers
- The sellers are one of the key players in online shopping and there has to be an understanding relationship between the sellers and Daraz. This is more important than ever since the company is the gateway to over 3000 different vendors. Therefore, Daraz has been continuously working to provide adequate training to its sellers to drive up online sales.

Launches we’re excited about!

At this point, we’ve come to expect some exciting exclusive launches from Daraz on its 11.11 Sales Day, and it looks like we get to put on a happy face this time as well. Here are some of the new launches that have us excited!

Apple iPhone 11 Series Prebooking

New year, new iPhones. Apple launched 3 new iPhones in its 11th generation – iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. All these come with Apple’s all-new A13 Bionic chipset, which is the best in the business. While the cheaper iPhone 11 comes with a dual-camera setup, the “Pro” models are equipped with an additional telephoto lens.

The regular iPhone 11 starts at $699 while the 11 Pro and Pro Max start at $999 and $1,099 respectively in the international market. However, the Nepalese audience has always had to bear an additional 20 to 30% charge when buying an iPhone in the domestic market. So, we’re expecting the iPhone 11 to start at around NRs. 100,000 or maybe a little more.

OnePlus 7T Pro Exclusive Launch

We had previously reported that the OnePlus 7T Pro would be launching before Tihar in Nepal, but it looks like Daraz has snatched that opportunity. The phone will now be a Daraz exclusive and launch on its much anticipated 11.11 Sales Day instead.

OnePlus 7T Pro is an incremental upgrade over its predecessor, the OnePlus 7 Pro. It packs the slightly more powerful Snapdragon 855+ chipset, which features an overclocked GPU as well. Another notable upgrade in the 7T Pro is a slightly bigger 4085 mAh battery capable of charging 23% faster. On the memory front, the phone comes in a single 8/256GB model.

Also read: OnePlus 7T Pro along with McLaren Edition is on its way to Nepal

Redmi Note 7 Pro (6/128GB) Promo Offer

The Redmi Note 7 Pro is the top contender for value-oriented phones in Nepal. However, its launch in Nepal was considerably late than in India. The 6/128GB variant of the phone was launched for NRs. 29,999 which recently received a price drop and is now available for NRs. 28,999. However, Daraz is looking to shake things up with an even better deal on the Redmi Note 7 Pro.

Though there are a lot of things to talk about the device, its highlight feature definitely is the 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor. For your portrait shots, you get a 5MP depth sensor. For a budget smartphone, the Redmi Note 7 Pro has a premium-y feel because of its glass back. On the performance front, the Snapdragon 675 here is a decent chipset for a mid-range device.

Also read: Redmi Note 7 Pro Review: Still the best midranger?

Discount on Semi-Flagships

Semi-flagship phone’s like Oneplus 7, Huawei P30, and Nova 3 will be receiving big discounts in Daraz 11.11 sales day this year. The Oneplus 7 (8+256GB) is expected to be priced at just Rs. 60,000 and the Huawei P30 will only cost Rs. 70,000. A year-old Nova 3 will be available under Rs. 40,000. You can further get an Rs.3500 discount by purchasing from the above-mentioned banks.

Discounts on Canon DSLR

If you are thinking of stepping up your photography game and investing in a budget DSLR, look at the Canon’s entry-level DSLR 4000D. It is expected to get around a 30% discount.

The Extras

Yamaha Ray Zr Street Rally Giveaway

One lucky buyer during 11.11 sales day in Nepal will win a brand new Yamaha Ray Zr street Rally Scooter via a lucky draw.

Game Zone

Game Zone is an in-app mini-game, which is a gateway to gift vouchers from different brands and vendors. There are 3 games here: “Daz The Delivery Boy“, “Candy Poppin!“, and “Fishing Daz“. During its special event which will run from November 10 (00:00) to November 11 (17:00), Daraz has upped the prize pool, which now includes Fantech Products, Huawei Y Max, and Realme C2 smartphone.

Daraz साथी Program

This is a simple referral program from Daraz. Under this, a registered user can win gift vouchers up to Rs. 500 when anyone registers a Daraz account using the aforementioned user’s link.

Daraz Early Birds

The “Early Birds” offer allows a select number of shoppers to be eligible for limited-time offers on various products from 12 pm to 1 am. Early Birds are also eligible for free shipping.

Win Exciting Prizes

Daraz will also be displaying QR codes in various mediums such as banners, standees, and flyers in various places. You will be able to see them at various bank branches, and more than 100 restaurants, and even Human Billboards who will be strolling around at public places. They will also be placed on e-newsletters and Daraz Social Media pages.

All you have to do is scan the QR code and follow the simple instructions after that, which will make you a candidate for receiving exciting Daraz gift hampers!

With all that in tow, it really looks like we will see something that we’ve never seen before via the Daraz 11.11 Sales Day. The campaign is already in motion. Check the Daraz App to grab the latest and the best!

OPPO Reno2 F Review: Stunning Mid-ranger, But Ordinary Performance

Pratima Adhikari

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November 10, 2019

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OPPO Reno2 F Review: Stunning Mid-ranger, But Ordinary Performance

OPPO has some pretty interesting phones in their Reno line-up. In Nepal, OPPO has launched the Reno 2F recently. At first sight, I was particularly intrigued by the looks because it’s one of the very few phones with a seamless no-camera bump design.

But the upper mid-range smartphone segment has a lot for competition. So, can the Reno 2F stand tall among them? Let’s find out in our OPPO Reno 2F review.

OPPO Reno 2F Full Specifications:

Display: 6.53-inch (2340 × 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 19:5:9 aspect ratio AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P70
CPU: Quad 2.1GHz Cortex A73 + Quad 2GHz Cortex A53
GPU: Mali-G72 MP3
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
Storage: 128GB, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie) with ColorOS 6.1
SIM: Dual SIM
Primary Camera:
– 48MP rear camera with LED flash, Samsung ISOCELL GM1 sensor, 0.8um pixel size, f/1.7 aperture, PDAF, CAF
– 8MP 119° Ultra-Wide sensor with f/2.2 aperture
– 2MP Mono Lens
– 2MP depth sensor
Front Camera: 16MP with f/2.0 aperture
Fingerprint scanner: In-display
Dimensions: 162 x 76 x 9mm
Weight:195g
Connectivity: Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS/GLONASS, USB Type-C, 3.5 mm audio jack, Dolby Atmos
Battery: 4000mAh battery with VOOC 3.0 fast charging
Price: Rs. 46,990/-

Design & Build

When it’s about designed, I can hardly remember times when OPPO did it wrong. And I feel like the Reno series, among other things, nails their designs.

I mean, the back is so minimalistic and seamless that the aesthetics look very good. And it feels good on the hands too. The Green color I have looks bold and classy and OPPO also has this distinguished green thing going on in the power button which I like. It’s a glass back with metal frames, so durability won’t be a problem unless you drop it.

The buttons are placed in a reachable position on both sides. Down below is the headphone jack and just beside it, you find the USB-C port and a single firing speaker grill.

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The fingerprint sensor is there on the front, an in-display one which is super-fast. Upwards, you only find a pop-up camera sitting in poise.

So, the design is something that has impressed me a lot. As I said, it’s minimalistic, it’s handy and all I can say is, this is one of the best designs I have seen so far!

Display:

The OPPO Reno2 F sports a 6.5 inches AMOLED screen with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a FullHD resolution. It’s clean because of the pop-up camera. Those thin bezels also add to the niceties. The good thing is that it has an anti-flicker mode to reduce the effects of PWM dimming

Since this is an AMOLED screen, you get an always-on display feature which I like keeping it on even though it chucks my battery a little bit. On to the core of the display, the colors are quite good, the contrast levels match my expectations and because it’s a notch-less screen I have loved playing games and watching my favorite YouTube channels.

One thing though, I have always wished for more brightness in the display while using it outdoors. So, sunlight legibility isn’t that great. Indoors, you will have no problems whatsoever but outdoors, you’d definitely wish for more.

Cameras:

Like other mid-range phones out there, you get 4 cameras at the back. A primary 48MP Quad-Bayer sensor, then there is the 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, third we have a 2MP depth sensor and a final 2 MP mono portrait lens.

Okay first off, what this mono lens does is help the black and white portrait images look good. And if it helps you understand, it’s the same as what was there on the A9 2020 which we reviewed a while back. And though I really don’t understand the purpose of it, it’s there!

oppo reno2 F portrait lens Camera Sample

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Now, the ultra-wide-angle images are good looking and nice. There is a slight color shift in the wide-angle images from that of the normal ones but that should not be a problem considering the images look good anyways.

Normal Image Vs Wide-Angle Image

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The normal images have a good balance of colors and saturation. Most of them have a cooler tone to them but it really depends on the situation. The HDR function works well which is a thing I like and dislike at the same time because it works very properly in the shadow areas whereas it tends to make the colors look slightly unnatural.

OPPO Reno2 F Camera Samples (Primary Camera)

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However, in the end, what matters is how the images come out and it’s not bad at all. Details, on the other hand, are well preserved too. Now, portrait images are not bad, but not very good either. I must say that I have missed a Telephoto lens here as the portraits from the telephoto lens have better subject focus.

OPPO Reno2 F Portrait Sample

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Selfies are also something I have liked a lot about the cameras of the 2F! They look natural and very pleasing. The HDR in selfies works very well too. You get a mixture of good colors and a good skin tone in the images.

OPPO Reno2 F Selfie Camera Samples

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There’s also a portrait mode for selfies and does a decent job. You also get tons of fun stickers like this one so it’s really interesting using this camera when you are bored or something.

Oppo Reno2 F Selfie Portraits

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There’s also a Night mode that adds exposure and details to night time images. The night time images aren’t that great, as you find on a midrange phone.

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Videos are also something the phone could have done better. And it’s not because the phone has a bad video camera or as such. In fact, the company advertises the phone to have ultra-steady videos which is true. You get good stabilized videos from this phone. But only in 1080p at 30 fps! You don’t get a 4K option here neither you can shoot videos in 60 fps!

Overall, the OPPO Reno2 F is a great camera phone for the price.

Performance:

The performance is not one of Reno 2F’s strongest suits. The device gets its power from a mid-tier MediaTek’s Helio P70 chipset. And if you remember, the last generation OPPO’s F- series phones also came with this chipset, so maybe OPPO should have gone with a better one on this one.

With the Helio P70 chipset, you only get an okay-ish performance. Normal everyday tasks like messenger, WhatsApp runs fine. Opening of light Apps is fast, and multitasking 3 to 4 apps won’t be an issue as this one has 8GB of RAM.

However, once you start gaming, you will then see the significant difference between a top-tier chipset and a mid-tier chipset like Helio P70. And Although Low to mid-tier games on the Reno 2F run without any issue, it’s high demanding games like PUBG that has stuttered in high settings with HD graphics. The best PUBG gameplay on the Reno 2F would be in medium settings, which I think is a let-off considering its price.

So, obviously the Reno 2F is not the best “price to performance” midrange phone out there. And this is where its competition has an edge with Snapdragon 855 on the K20 Pro (Read review) and Kirin 980 on the Nova 5T (Read review).

Software and UI:

Talking about the software, the Reno2 F runs on Android 9 pie with Color OS 6.1 on top. And I like how much improvement this UI has got compared to its previous version. The Color OS seems better optimized than before, the transitions have gone through improvements and the overall experience feels better if not the best.

The only thing that’s missing is dark mode here which is weird considering it has an AMOLED display and could have saved some battery.

Battery:

You get a good endurance with its 4,000 mAh battery on the Reno2 F. It might sound as if it’s the usual 4,000 mAh battery but in fact, the battery life has been very good in my usage. It gave me a full day of battery even with all my gaming and social media.

And impressive is the fact that it charges very quickly with its VOOC 3.0 charger. It took about one hour and 20 minutes to get charged form 0-100% which I think is very impressive.

Extras:

The RENO 2f has a facial unlock feature for biometric security done by the pop-up selfie camera and although it is fast enough, I preferred the fingerprint option instead for security reasons.

Coming back to the Reno 2F, the speakers at the bottom do a good enough job although they are not very loud and it’s not stereo. The much cheaper OPPO A9 2020 had a stereo speaker, and this one doesn’t, which is again weird in my opinion.

Conclusion:

To conclude, I would say that the Reno 2F is a very good smartphone. Performance, as I mentioned earlier, is not its strongest suit but the other aspects are very well covered by this phone. The cameras are impressive, the design one of the best I have seen so far, it has a good battery life, so it ticks almost all the boxes. Sure, if you want better gaming performance, you can go for the K20 pro but if that’s not the case, the Reno 2F can be a very good option.

Oppo Reno2 F Pros and Cons

Pros:

Great design
Excellent cameras
Excellent display with a fast in-display fingerprint sensor
Good Battery with 20W fast VOOC charging

Cons:

Average Performance
No Telephoto Zoom camera

HP Omen 15 2019 Review (RTX 2070): The best of their lot!

GadgetByte

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November 9, 2019

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HP Omen 15 2019 Review (RTX 2070): The best of their lot!

With the carbon-fiber-isque converging pentagons, the HP Omen 15 does stand out among the crowd of gaming laptops. However, this one is much more than just design. Under the hood, it packs the latest i7 9^th gen processor, Nvidia’s RTX 2070 max-q design, and much more.

These specs promise a high-end performance capable of satisfying every gamer’s cravings. But does its performance match up to what we see on the paper? So, without any delay let’s jump straight into our review of the HP Omen 15 2019 edition.

HP Omen 15 2019 (RTX 2070) Specifications:

Dimension: 36 x 26.3 x 2.6 cm
Weight: 2.25 Kg
Display: 15.6″ Full-HD IPS display (1920 x 1080 pixels), 93% sRGB & 66% Adobe sRGB, 3000 nits peak brightness, 144 Hz refresh rate
Processor: Hexa-core 9^th gen i7-9750H processor, 2.6GHz base-clock
Graphics: NVidia GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 8GB VRAM
RAM: DDR4 16 GB (Dual channel, upgradeable up to 32 GB)
Storage: 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Ports: 3 x USB 3.0 Type A, 1x USB 3.1 Type C (thunderbolt), 1 x ethernet, 1 x mini-display port, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DTS headphone: X dual audio jack, 1 x microphone jack, 1 x card reader, 1 x power connector
Keyboard: Full-Size, Four zone backlit
Connectivity: Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 Combo
Webcam: 720p Webcam, 88-degree FOV
Battery: 70 Watt-hours Lithium-ions, six cells
Price in Nepal: Rs. 240,000

Design and Ports

The HP Omen 15 2019 does have a decent build quality. It feels sturdier despite most of its parts have a plastic build. Also, it falls on the lighter side, considering the fact that most gaming laptops are beasts when it comes to weight.

It is still not the thinnest out there as you’ll find the Zephyrus M series we reviewed a while back to be much better in terms of portability.

Meanwhile, check all the prices and specs of HP Omen laptops here

Talking about the design, nothing much has actually changed from its previous iterations. There’s still the dual-hinge support and the plastic-metal mix combined with the carbon fiber finish.

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You’ll find the omen logo on the upper case with its signature red coloring. As a matter of fact, the colored logo is complemented by leading red lines in the pentagonal shapes up top.

And despite having a similar look as of previous years, its looks still manage to stand out among the rest and as a personal preference, I found the laptop to be quite stylish. However, that’s the matter of personal preference.

As there isn’t a major design overhaul, the ports are placed in similar spots as before. On the rear, there are RJ-45 LAN port, a USB 3.1 gen1 Type A, an HDMI port, a mini display port, a USB 3.1 gen1 type C and the Kensington lock slot. Then there is the gen 1 Type-A USB port on either side along with the headphone, microphone, and the SD card reader slot on the left-hand side.

HP Omen 15 2019 Ports

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Overall, I felt that the placements of the ports are well thought as you’ll not face the problem of tangled wires.

On the inside there’s sort of a matte finish which looks neat however is very much smudge susceptible. So, if you have are the sort of person who likes to keep their laptop always shiny, then you’ll probably have a very hard time maintaining it in the Hp Omen 15.

There’s also a full-sized keyboard with 4 zone RGB lighting accompanied by a trackpad. The 15.6” screen is surrounded by thin bezels with the bottom one being the thickest of them all. Up top, there’s the 720p webcam. It is not something that will woo you but still, it serves its purpose.

Display

The 15.6-inch full HD display with a native 144Hz refresh rate is easily one of HP Omen 15 2019’s main attractions. The Panel is fairly color accurate with 93% SRGB color gamut and 60% Adobe RGB. However, the contrast ratio isn’t that great.

So, personally, I wouldn’t recommend this to the graphic designer and video editors. Also, the brightness peaks at around 300 nits, which isn’t great for outdoor.

However, thanks to the IPS panel, the laptop provides stable viewing angles. The color distortion from even acute angles is barely noticeable. Thus, you should not have any difficulty in viewing what’s on your screen from any angle.

Performance

As mentioned earlier, the Hp Omen 15 has the Intel Core i7-9750H processor which is backed up by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q graphics.

I have the 16GB Single channel DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD. It has a Samsung SSD which, trust me, works wonder in terms of speed.

If you want better performance, you should definitely add 16GB RAM in its second vacant slot. Now as expected, the 9^th gen intel processor and RTX graphics are a powerful combo. The high refresh rate display along with the powerful internals means you’ll experience smooth gameplay while playing any triple-A titles.

I played PUBG and Apex legends in it, and gosh it ran smoothly. For instance, while playing Apex Legends on maximum settings, the average framerate was 110fps. As for PUBG, the ultra-settings resulted in up to 140 fps with the average being somewhere around 120fps.

Well, it was able to handle the likes of PUBG and Apex Legends pretty well. But what’s the use of having an RTX graphics and not utilizing it to the fullest. So I went ahead and played the gruesome game that is Battlefield 5. Now, this game does allow users to either enable or disable the RTX. At first, I played without enabling this feature and the laptop provided a reasonable 90 fps on average.

Then after was the turn for enabling RTX. And as expected the magic happened, in terms of the visuals that is. This feature brings forth ray tracing, which improves the reflection of the surrounding in the game. So, no wonder it proved to be a visual treat. However, the downside is that you’ll get a reduced framerate. On average it gave me 50fps with this feature enabled. Now, that is not bad considering you are getting improved visuals. So, I guess the trade-off is quite reasonable.

So, there are Minimal frame drops and no lags. Basically, this setup is just perfect for playing any modern triple-A titles on maximum settings. That too without any compromises.

Well, if it can easily handle AAA games, then it should face any difficulty in performing everyday tasks. And that’s certainly the case. Even while running multiple tasks, the laptop easily blazed past everything. So no complaints whatsoever in terms of its performance.

So, is it the perfect gaming laptop? Well, everything has a catch and what is it in this case you ask? For that, I would have to say the minor heating issue that exists.

After just around half an hour of gaming, I felt the palm-rest, as well as the front section of the laptop, started to heat. It’s certainly not uncommon for laptops to heat while playing high-end games, still, I didn’t find the thermal performance of this device to be best out there.

Add to that, the decent but not up to the notch Bang & Olufsen speakers. Though they provide a decent sound you might just want to use headphones while gaming in order to feet that extra punch in the sound.

Keyboards, Performance Control, and battery life

HP Omen 15 also features a full-sized keyboard that has 4-zone RGB lighting. The keys are of perfect size and it is comfortable to type on. Thankfully the keyboard includes a numpad too.

Now, as far as the backlighting of the keyboard is concerned, it can be easily controlled with the HP Omen Command Center.

The command center can be used for a detail adjustment of the backlight, however, for a simple toggle of the light, you can use the function keys. However, you do not get any option to adjust the brightness of the backlight.

Furthermore, the preloaded Omen Command Center also helps users to optimize and monitor. For performance optimization, you can choose either comfort, default and performance mode. There’s also an added network booster option which you can adjust to reduce latency while playing online games.

The other aspect that I found disappointing in this device is its battery life. The HP Omen has a 6-cell 70Wh lithium-Ion battery. And it comes with a 200W AC power adapter.

Now, the charger on this one is not as heavy as you would find on other gaming laptops but compromising on the charger weight is not an excuse for a meh-sort of battery life.

On standard use, I got around one and a half hours of battery life. Even turning the backlight off didn’t help that much in terms of battery life.

Verdict

HP Omen 15 with its stand out looks and accomplished performance is certainly a great gaming laptop. Now, for the asking price of NRs. 240, 000 might just be a little too much for many out there. However, the specs that this device packs more than justifies its price tag.

I honestly enjoyed using this laptop and if I had to niggle into some minor things that might make give me not want to recommend this laptop would be its battery life and the heating issue.

The standby battery life should have been at least 2 and a half hours. But then again it is a gaming laptop and you would probably use it most often whilst it is plugged in.

Then there’s the thermal issue as mentioned above. So, you probably will have to use an external cooler if you’re planning on playing games all night.

Other than that, the HP Omen 15 is undoubtedly a powerful gaming laptop. And I would certainly recommend this laptop for those users who want to upgrade from their entry-level laptops or even some of the seasoned gamers out there.

Pros:

Fantastic super-smooth display
Great performance
Good gaming frame-rates

Cons:

Poor thermal management
Poor battery life