Page 641 – GadgetByte Nepal

Colors Mobiles Price in Nepal

GadgetByte

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November 25, 2019

There are only a handful of Nepali smartphone companies. Although these manufacturers manufacture their devices in other countries, their sales have been faring well. One of those companies that have been doing ever so well is Colors. Launched in 2009 by Teletalk, Colors is the first smartphone company to sell over 100,000 units here in Nepal. These days, the company specializes in budget smartphones, and budget smartphones only. So, what are the officially available Colors mobiles in Nepal? Let’s find out.

Colors Pride P20

The Colors Pride P20 is an upgrade over the Pride P5+ Champ smartphone. It has a taller 4.0-inch WVGA display, and a 1,400 mAh battery. Other than these specifications, both smartphones are basically the same. The Colors Pride P20 carries a price tag of Rs. 4,345.

Display: 4.0-inch WVGA display (400 x 800 pixels)
CPU: 1.3 GHz Quad-core Spreadtrum SC7731C
OS: Android v6.0 Marshmallow
RAM: 512 MB
GPU: Mali400
Storage: 4 GB, expandable up to 32 GB
Rear Camera: 3.2 MP with LED flash
Front Camera: 0.3 MP
SIM: Dual SIM (2G + 3G)
Battery: 1400 mAh
Price: Rs. 4,345

Colors Pride 1A

Colors Pride 1A is the latest handset in Colors Smartphones’ lineup. And this handset is by far the most affordable smartphone in Nepal to come with a dual-camera setup at the back. The dual-camera setup on this device comprises of a 5MP primary shooter backed by a VGA sensor for depth sensing. On the front, the handset boasts a 2MP selfie shooter which comes with an LED flash alongside.

The smartphone was brought by Colors to lure the domestic customers into an entry-level smartphone rather than on a bar phone. And for that, Colors has included a decent 5-inch display. Since the display on the handset comes with an 18:9 aspect ratio, the screen here looks trendy by today’s standard. There is also an appreciable 2200mAh battery to keep the device running.

Display: 4.95-inch FWVGA+ display with 2.5D Panda Glass
CPU: 1.3 GHz Quad-Core CPU
OS: Android Oreo (v8.1); Android Go edition
RAM: 512MB
Internal Storage: 8GB; Expandable up to 64GB
Rear Camera: Dual Camera: 5MP + VGA, LED flash
Front Camera: 2MP, LED Flash
Connectivity: Dual SIM (2G + 3G), Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/A-GPS
Battery: 2,200mAh removable battery
Price: 5,585

Colors Pride 1E

Budget-oriented buyers always eye for cheap phones. And they usually end up getting feature phones, which lack all the modern features. To lure such customers towards entry-level smartphones, Colors brought the Pride 1E.

The handset packs modest specs for the price. It’s got a 5.45-inch display with HD+ resolution. The display comes in 18:9 aspect ratio, which gives some modern looks to the device. Powering the device is a Quad-core processor aided with 1GB of RAM. Although the hardware doesn’t sound as powerful, with Android GO Edition on the board, you can expect a decent fluency while performing day-to-day tasks.

As for the cameras, Colors Pride 1E has a 5MP camera on the back. Similarly, on the front, there is a 2MP shooter to handle the selfies. The phone is fueled by a 2500mAh battery and boasts 8GB of onboard memory.

Display: 5.45-inch IPS LCD display; HD+ (720 x 1440 pixels) resolution @ 18:9 aspect ratio
Processor: 1.3GHz Quad-core processor
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 8GB; expandable with Micro SD Card
Rear Camera: 5MP rear camera with LED flash
Front Camera: 2MP front camera with LED flash
Software: Android Oreo (v8.1); Android Go edition
SIM: Dual-SIM (4G + 3G)
Battery: 2500mAh battery
Price: Rs. 6,999 (Free Safety Case included)

Colors Pride 1X

The Pride 1X is the recent addition in Colors smartphones’ lineup. The handset comes with a decent-sized 5.45-inch display in an 18:9 aspect ratio. The phone lacks any kind of notches on its display. You get some bezels on the forehead and the chin. The top bezel also houses a 5MP camera, an LED flash, and the other necessary sensors. On the back, Colors has included an 8MP camera module.

On the performance side, the handset gets a Quad-Core processor from MediaTek. To complement the performance, Colors has also included 2GB of RAM. As for the storage, you get 16GB of onboard memory, which can be expanded further via Micro SD Card. Talking about the battery, a 3000mAh unit fuels the device.

Display: 5.45″ IPS LCD display with HD resolution @18:9 aspect ratio
Processor: 1.3 GHz MTK Quad-core processor
RAM: 2 GB
Storage: 16 GB, expandable via microSD
Software: Android 9.0 Pie
SIM: Dual SIM (4G + 4G)
Rear camera: 8 MP with LED Flash
Front Camera: 5 MP with LED Flash
Battery: 3000 mAh
Price: Rs. 8,495

Colors Pride 5X

The Colors Pride 5X is the first smartphone in Colors’ smartphone lineup to feature a dual-camera setup at the back. The camera pair on the back comprises of the 8MP main shooter backed by a 0.3MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 5MP selfie shooter accompanied by an LED flash.

The selfie camera on the device also doubles as an authentication tool while unlocking the device via the Face unlock feature. There is also a fingerprint sensor, which serves as an added layer of security.

On the display front, there is a 5.45-inch HD+ panel shielded with Dragontrail glass to withstand the cracks and scratches during the falls. A 3000mAh removable battery keeps the device running. And since the resolution of the handset is merely HD+, the battery provides a decent backup.

Display: 5.45-inch HD+ Full View display with Dragontrail glass protection
CPU: 1.3 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6737
OS: Android Oreo (v8.1)
RAM: 2 GB
GPU: Mali-T720 MP1
Storage: 16 GB, expandable up to 128 GB
Rear Camera: 8MP + 0.3MP, LED flash
Front Camera: 5MP, LED Flash
Rear Mounted Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock Feature
SIM: Dual SIM (3G + 4G); Micro SIM
Battery: 3,000mAh removable battery
Price: Rs. 9,999

Colors Authorized distributor of its products

Teletalk Pvt. Ltd.
Address: 2nd Floor, Lucky Tower, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu
Tel: 01-4254546
Email: [email protected]

Authorized Showroom:

Colors World, UWTC, Tripureshwor

Colors Regional Service Centre List in Nepal

LOCATION	CONTACT NO.
NARAYANGHAT	056-572375
POKHARA	061-537633
ITAHARI	025-587104
BIRJUNG	051-521728
BANEPA	9802051134

Colors Area Service Centre List in Nepal

ASC NAME	LOCATION	CONTACT NO.
A TO Z MARMAT	GHAIGHAT	9801517703
KALANKI MOBILE	KALANKI	9841213744
BHERI MOBILE	NEPAL JUNG	9804545985
GANESH PCO	TRISULI	9803005200/010-561100
NEW PARTNERS SOLUTION	HETAUDA	9845400110
ILAM CABLE	ILAM	9804980268
KAYASTA MOBILE	DUMRE	065580054/9845317582
M ELECTRONICS	BHAKTAPUR	9803548239/9841332995
MANAKAMANA MOBILE	RAMMECHHAP	048-540542/9860577777
UNIVERSAL MOBILE CARE	DAMAK	9814957357/9842764954
MOBILE HOSPITAL	BUTWAL	9802280016/9857026469
NEW BULBULE COMMUNICATION	SURKHET	9803582062/9848066304
BHANJA MOBILE	DHARAN	9802060355
NEW NAMASTE ELECTRONIC	CHANDRAPUR	9811122666/9845059510
NEW SHYAM WATCH	CHARIKOT	9817840010/049-421299/9844175829
PARIMAL MULTI PRAPOSE CO	PATAN	9851015210
RIJALCO SUPPLIERS	CHAHABIL	9849707713/01-4497777
RUNDEV MOBILE	LAHAN	9803923346
S.R. MOBILE	DANG	9809835685/9847810195
SHAKTI DEVI ENTERPRIZES	DHADING	9841564465/10520950
STYLISH MOBILE	JANAKPUR	9814874555/041-520120/9844021120
SAKIRA MOBILE	LALBANDI	9800822461/9860442671
SAMEER MOBILE	BALAJU	9802963711/9841413279
TAPASYA MOBILE	BARDIBAS	9819683230
HITECH MOBILE	DHANKUTTA	9816395639/9852050700
BHAGAT MOBILE	BIRATNAGAR	9804343043
SUMAN MOBILE	MIRCHAYA	9801540436
ARJUN MOBILE AND ELECTRIC CENTER	MALANGWA	9844061955/9800886620
S.S. TECHNICAL	SINDHULI	9844027061
NEW MAHA LAXMI MOBILE CARE	GAUR	9845058860
B.R. MOBILE CENTER	BIRTAMODE	9807900620
SABA MOBILE	NEPAL JUNG	9858042333
ADARSHA MOBILE	DHANGADI	980176206

Colors Mobiles Price in Nepal

Model	Price (MRP)
Colors Pride P20	Rs. 4,345
Colors Pride 1A	Rs. 5,585
Colors Pride 1E	Rs. 6,999
Colors Pride 1X	Rs. 8,495
Colors Price 5X	Rs. 9,999

Vivo U20 is the Redmi Note 8 & Realme 5 Killer, but it wont launch in Nepal

Vivo

GadgetByte

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November 24, 2019

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Vivo U20 is the Redmi Note 8 & Realme 5 Killer, but it wont launch in Nepal

Another day another smartphone. The rate at which smartphones these days are being launched is just mindboggling. However, at the end of the day, smartphone companies are there to make a profit. And if their competitor has brought something new, they might as well follow the suit.

Anyway, let’s get back to the topic. So, the smartphone that was launched recently in the Indian market is the Vivo U20. It basically is a rebranded version of VIVO U3 that we saw a while back in China.

The Vivo U20 offers a 6.53-inch Full HD+ display and has a waterdrop notch upfront. The notch houses a 16MP selfie shooter. On the rear, you get a triple camera array. Its primary sensor is a 16MP lens. An 8MP “super-wide” lens and a 2MP macro lens complete the rear camera setup.

Under the hood, this device features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset. The RAM option you get is of either 4GB or 6GB. They both come with a 64GB storage onboard. However, users do have an option to expand the storage. There’s a dedicated microSD slot. It allows storage expansion up to 256GB.

As for the software side of the things, the U20 runs on Android Pie with Funtouch OS 9.2 on top. Furthermore, the device comes with a Widevine L1 certification. That means users can stream their favorite online content in HD.

The phone is powered by a huge 5000mAh battery. Moreover, it also supports 18W Dual-Engine Fast Charging support. So, battery-wise, users probably shouldn’t face any problem with this device.

Vivo U20 Specifications:

Display: 6.53″ IPS LCD display with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels)
Rear Camera: Triple, 16 MP primary lens with f/1.8 aperture & PDAF + 8 MP super-wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture + 2MP macro camera with f/2.4
Front Camera: 16MP with f/2.0 aperture
Processor: Octa-core 11 nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 675
GPU: Adreno 612
RAM: 4 GB, 6GB
Storage: 64GB onboard, expandable up to 256GB
Battery: 5000 mAh, 18W Fast Charging
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Vivo U20 Price and Availability

The phone will be available for sale from November 28 via Vivo’s official site in India. As for the prices, the base variant with 4GB RAM will cost INR 10,990 ($155) and the 6GB one will cost INR 11,990($169).

Since the VIVO U and Z-series are exclusive to India and are manufactured in India, Vivo has no plans for it to launch elsewhere. Furthermore, these are VIVO online series where VIVO makes a very minimum profit through partnering with an e-commerce platform. And since VIVO Nepal only sells through offline retails and has a huge retail chain, going online for VIVO in Nepal is a risk too.

So, like the Vivo Z1, Z1X, and Vivo U20, VIVO Nepal will not launch the U20 here in Nepal. However, you should be available to get it through grey channels. The price of Vivo U20 in Nepal for 4+64GB would be around Rs. 21,000. To find the shops selling the U20 in Nepal, you can head over to hamrobazaar.com.

Mi Band 3i launched with AMOLED display, 20 days battery life at just INR 1,299!

GadgetByte

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November 22, 2019

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Mi Band 3i launched with AMOLED display, 20 days battery life at just INR 1,299!

After a lot of teasing, today we finally got to see what Xiaomi had up its sleeve. Basically, over the past few weeks, multiple rumors about a fitness product from Xiaomi were making rounds. And surprise surprise, the fitness device, that was launched today in India, is none other than the Mi Band 3i.

From what I can make out, the Mi Band 3i is simply a bit toned-down version of the Mi Band 3. It just lacks the heart rate tracker to be specific. Other than that, the device is pretty much the same.

You still get a 0.78-inch AMOLED B&W display. The offered resolution of the screen is 128 x 80 pixels. Right below the screen, there’s a capacitive button. It allows the users an alternative way to navigate the UI. And as there is no heart rate tracker on this on, the rear of the device only has pogo pins for charging.

App wise, you get features such as sleep tracking, calorie tracker, idle alert, phone locking and unlocking, app notification, and many more. The device comes with Bluetooth 4.2. Thus, it can easily connect to your device and show you various notifications.

The device is powered by a 110mAh battery. It will take around two and a half hours to fully charge the device. And once fully-charged, the claim is that the fitness band should give you a solid 20 days of usage.

Xiaomi Miband 3i Price, Availability

This feature-packed fitness tracker is priced at an insane INR. 1,299. It is available for purchase in India on Mi.com. However, users still have the option to buy Mi Band 3 via the same website at INR. 1,799. Now, it’s up to the users to decide whether they think that a heart rate tracker is an absolute necessity for them or not.

Having said that, the previous experiences with Mi Band and the price at which the 3i is available, this new fitness band will probably give you proper value for money.

For those wanting to buy Miband 3i in Nepal, you should be able to get in from grey stores in 2-3 weeks’ time for around NRs. 2000-NRs. 2500.

Say hello to ColorOS 7! OPPO has finally revealed the latest version of its Android skin

Nikhil Shrestha

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November 21, 2019

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Say hello to ColorOS 7! OPPO has finally revealed the latest version of its Android skin

Do you like stock Android? Well, I do! But some don’t and that’s fine as well. Different smartphone manufacturers have their own little (or in some cases pretty darn heavy) tweak to the Android OS UI. OPPO, a Chinese manufacturer has its own Android skin which it calls “ColorOS“. At an event held in Beijing, China, the company unveiled ColorOS 7 (based on Android 10) alongside details about which phones will be getting it and when.

ColorOS 7 Features

OPPO is emphasizing on eased viewing experience with the ColorOS 7. With the new rounded icon design and lighter color shades, the UI feels a little more homely, if that makes sense. This may seem like a minute thing, but evidently, it has been where the industry is headed. Google also rebranded the “Android” logo with a little more curved design. Additionally, you can now also customize the app icons, size, and font.

Also making its entry is the much-demanded “System-Wide Dark Mode“. This will surely help in reducing eye-strain while simultaneously improving the battery life as well. Wallpapers are getting an overhaul too with new “Art+ Wallpapers“, which reacts and animates based on user touches.

Furthermore, OPPO has partnered up with the Danish company “Episound” to redesign the sound effects in its devices, for a natural aural experience. This is similar to what we saw in Xiaomi’s MIUI 11.

“Camera” has always been one of the highlight features of any OPPO phone. With ColorOS 7, the company is adding features like “Video Blur“, “Portrait Mode 2.0“, “Night View“, “Super Stabilization“, “Beauty 2.0“, all on an improved camera app UI. Moreover, the company is also embedding the “Soloop Video Editing app” with ColorOS 7.

On the performance end, the company says ColorOS 7 can provide up to 25% faster app startup while the RAM utilization has been improved by a massive 40%. Moving to games, it will also deliver better touch response and game frame rates with “Hyperboost” technology.

The company’s in-house virtual assistant “Breeno” also sees improvement. You can now interact with Breeno hands-free, use “driving mode”, and also schedule tasks. On a different note, the company also claims up to a 10% increase in battery life and the new “Smart Sleep” feature optimizes standby usage and reduces power usage by 35%.

ColorOS 7 Release | When will my Phone get Color OS 7?

The forthcoming Reno3 will be the first OPPO smartphone to ship with ColorOS 7. More devices scheduled for the release are as follows:

OPPO Phones

Phase 1 (Nov 25, 2019) – Reno, Reno 10x Zoom, Reno Ace
Phase 2 (Dec 2019) – Reno 2
Phase 3 (Q1 2020) – Reno 2 Z, Reno Z, Find X, R17, R17 Pro, K5
Phase 4 (Q2 2020) – R15, K3, A9, A9x, A11, A9 (2020)

Realme Phones

Phase 1 (Feb 2020) – X, 3 Pro
Phase 2 (Mar 2020) – Q, 5 Pro
Phase 3 (Apr 2020) – X2, X2 Pro

[Source: GSMArena]

90Hz? Nope! The upcoming Redmi K30 may have a 120Hz display & a side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Nikhil Shrestha

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November 21, 2019

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90Hz? Nope! The upcoming Redmi K30 may have a 120Hz display & a side-mounted fingerprint scanner

The Redmi K20 Pro was a huge hit for Xiaomi as it embraced flagship-level performance at about half the cost of one. Deemed the “Alpha Flagship” or the “Flagship Killer“, the phone was received well in the Nepalese market too.

But last month, Realme real-ly shook the smartphone industry with the Realme X2 Pro with every possible feature you could ask for in a flagship device, at a compelling price. Thus, it overthrew the Redmi K20 Pro to take the flagship killer crown for itself. Man, Xiaomi must’ve been pissed off!

Well now, the company is all ready to introduce the next phone(s) in its ‘K’ series. Xiaomi has already revealed that the Redmi K30 will have a dual punch-hole cutout for the front camera and dual-mode 5G support. Now, a new report from XDA Developers suggests that the forthcoming phone will also feature a 120 Hz display and a fingerprint scanner on the side.

Redmi K30 Overview

Scheduled to launch this December, the Redmi K30 (possibly codenamed “Phoenix“) will not feature a pop-up selfie camera like the predecessor. Instead, Xiaomi has opted for a dual punch-hole cutout like the Samsung Galaxy S10+. While the cleaner design was definitely one of the major factors for the K20 series’ success, it’ll be interesting to see how the market reacts to K30 and the K30 Pro, which will separately launch later in 2020.

The battle of higher refresh rates!

2019’s been the year of 90Hz smartphone displays. While OnePlus 7 Pro and Google Pixel 4 were some of the mainstream smartphones with the feature, manufacturers like Samsung and Apple are still in line to incorporate a higher refresh rate display.

Now, it looks like Xiaomi is gunning for an even higher 120Hz smartphone display on the Redmi K30. However, it’ll not be an industry-first since we’ve already seen one in the Razer Phone 2 and the Asus ROG Phone II. This was first spotted by the XDA team under a hidden setting to change the refresh rate from 60 to 120Hz. Since no Xiaomi phone as of now has such capability, it is being speculated that the Redmi K30 will have the 120Hz display.

Also read: Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro in Nepal

A fingerprint scanner on the side?

The smartphone industry is heading towards an in-display/on-screen fingerprint scanners and a physical one is slowly fading out. Though there are still many phones (especially budget and mid-range) with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, one on the side is something of a rarity these days. The Samsung Galaxy S10e had it and few Sony smartphones have it as well.

According to the report, a piece of code extracted from MIUI 11 has a method called “isBroadSideFingerprint” which returns true to devices with codename “Phoenix” or “Picasso”. Since we already suspect that the K30 is codenamed Phoenix, the rumor of the phone having a side-mounted fingerprint scanner gets a certain level of validity.

Possible render of Redmi K30 with side-mounted fingerprint scanner [Credit: XDA Developers]

Additionally, a graphic render titled “core_scan_gesture_broadside” illustrates a smartphone with dual punch-hole cutout and a fingerprint sensor on the right.

Furthermore, there are also rumors that it will be powered by a flagship-level MediaTek chipset with onboard 5G capability. However, Xiaomi may just go for one from Qualcomm. Also, the Redmi K30 may have Sony’s next-gen IMX686 image sensor.

Note: This article is entirely based around rumors and leaks from a couple of acclaimed tech-websites. Many of their leaks have proven to be accurate in the past. Nonetheless, it is entirely possible that they may be wrong this time.

Realme 5s unveiled. Comes with a 48MP camera, but what else?

Realme

GadgetByte

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November 20, 2019

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Realme 5s unveiled. Comes with a 48MP camera, but what else?

It seems that smartphone users worldwide are always on the lookout for the added pro/s ( or a similar suffix) version of the phone once it launches. And smartphone makers ultimately feed on this craze from the user-side and give them what they want.

These “suffix” – added devices are usually a minor upgrade on the base offering at a slightly higher cost. One such device with an added s that’s was recently launched was the Realme 5s. So, what does this upgraded version offer?

The major upgrade in the Realme 5s is the new primary camera sensor. With 5s users get a 48MP Samsung GM1 as their primary rear camera. Now, this can truly be said as a major upgrade. That’s because the Realme 5 only had a mere 12MP primary sensor. However, the rest of the quad-camera array pretty much remains the same. It uses the same 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro lens and finally a 2MP depth sensor.

The other slight tweak in the Realme 5s is that it will be available in one new color. It is labeled as Crystal Red. And that makes it a total of 3 variants in terms of color as the other options available are Purple and Blue.

Furthermore, with 5s you won’t have an option to choose from 3GB and 4GB RAM variants as it was with Realme 5. It will be available only in a 4GB variant. However, you do have the option to choose the storage option – either 64GB or 128 GB. There’s still a dedicated microSD slot which allows memory expansion up to 256GB for anyone interested.

The remaining specs, however, is similar to the Realme 5. It offers the same 6.5-inch HD resolution screen. And also runs on the Snapdragon 665 chipset. (Check below for detailed specs)

Realme 5s Specifications

Display: 6.5″ IPS LCD display with HD resolution (720 x 1600 pixels)
Rear Camera: 48MP f/1.8 aperture + 8MP (ultrawide), f/2.2 aperture + 2MP (macro), f/2.4 aperture + 2MP (depth sensor), f/2.4 aperture
Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0 aperture
Processor: Octa-core 11 nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
GPU: Adreno 610
RAM: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB, 128 GB , expandable up to 256 GB (dedicated microSD slot)
Battery: 5000 mAh
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

As far as the price is concerned, the devices’ base variant i.e 4GB/64GB will be available at $139 and the higher-end variant will cost $153. Currently, we only know about the date of the sale in India only – November 29. News about its availability in Nepal will still have to wait for a while.

So, what can we make of the Realme 5s? Camera-wise its specs resemble the Realme 5 Pro and the rest is similar to Realme 5. So, sort of a mix between both the models. The pro model’s base variant currently costs around $195. And it has a better processor than the 5s. Will users pay extra bucks for a better processor or take the trade-off between processor and camera setup with the 5s. That only time can tell. I guess we’ll have to wait a few more months to see how this one rolls out.

Xiaomi launches the Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro in Nepal

GadgetByte

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November 20, 2019

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Xiaomi launches the Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro in Nepal

It’s been a while that Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi launched its Note 8 series in China and India. And finally, Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro in Nepal for an aggressive price. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro are the successors to the highly successful mid-ranger the Note 7 Series.

Redmi Note 8 Overview

The Note 8 has a 6.3” LCD screen with 1080P resolution. There is a small notch on the top as well. The bezels are quite thin as phones of 2019 goes.

Redmi Note 8 runs on the Snapdragon 665 processor with an octa-core chipset that is based on the 11nm process. It comprises of eight Kryo 260 cores. Moreover, it is also the same chipset that’s used on the vanilla Mi A3.

Now moving on to the camera, the rear one has a quad-cam setup. The primary camera has a 48MP module with a Samsung ISOCELL GM2 sensor. In addition, there’s an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The display up front still has a notch. And it houses the 13MP selfie shooter. Furthermore, the device is powered by a 4000mAh battery with 18W quick charge support.

Specifications:

Display: 6.3-inch IPS LCD screen (2340×1080 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Rear Camera: Quad camera – (48 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: 13 MP, f/2.2
CPU: Octa-core Snapdragon 665 (4 x 2.0GHz Kryo 260 + 4 x 1.8GHz Kryo 260)
GPU: Adreno 610
RAM: 4 GB, 6GB
Storage: 64 GB, 128GB; Expandable
OS & UI: Android 9.0 (Pie) with MIUI 10 on top
Sensors: Fingerprint, Gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 4000 mAh; USB Type-C port

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Price in Nepal [updated 2020]

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 price in Nepal starts from Rs. 20,999 for the base 4+64GB variant. Similarly, the 6+128GB version costs Rs. 23,999.

Xiaomi Model Variant	Price in Nepal
Redmi Note 8 (4/64GB)	~~Rs. 18,999~~ Rs. 20,999
Redmi Note 8 (6/128GB)	Rs. 23,999

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Overview

The device features a 6.53” IPS LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution. The display has the in-trend waterdrop notch. It comes with Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both front and the rear. This device costs a bit more than the Note 8 Pro.

The camera on Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of its prime features. Similar to the Redmi Note 8, this device too has a quad-cam setup. However, the primary lens is of 64MP. This lens uses the Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 sensor. It is complemented by an 8MP ultra-wide lens a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro camera. The selfie shooter too is better than that of the Note 8. The selfie cam is of 20MP. And it comes with multiple AI features and scene recognition options.

In the performance department, there’s a new MediaTek Helio G90T processor. This SoC is the first gaming processor from MediaTek. Furthermore, this is also the first device from Redmi to have integrated a liquid cooling chamber. Thus, the Note 8 Pro will probably provide a very good mobile gaming experience. Also, it is powered by a huge 4500mAh battery with 18W quick charging.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobiles Price in Nepal

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

Check out our Video Review of Redmi Note 8 Pro here:

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Price in Nepal [updated 2020]

The official price of Redmi Note 8 Pro in Nepal is Rs. 26,999. This price is for the base 6/64GB memory variant. Similarly, the higher-end 6/128GB version price in Nepal is Rs. 29,999. There’s also an 8GB RAM variant that carries a price tag of Rs. 32,999.

Xiaomi Model Variant	Price in Nepal
Redmi Note 8 Pro (6/64GB)	Rs. 26,999
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (6/128GB)	Rs. 29,999
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (8/128GB)	Rs. 32,999

Lava launches benco V8 in Nepal. Does it have what it takes to usurp the leaders?

Benco
Lava

GadgetByte

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November 18, 2019

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Lava launches benco V8 in Nepal. Does it have what it takes to usurp the leaders?

With brands like Xiaomi and Samsung currently ruling the lower to the mid-range smartphone market, it’s easy to forget that brands such as Lava even exist. Their dominance in the budget smartphone segment seems long gone. But are they going to make a comeback? Well, with the introduction of their Benco series, Lava does seem to have brought a product that put froth’s a strong competition.

So, what does their new range of smartphone offer? Basically, this Benco series from Lava is designed to cater to young users. They are cost-effective and have a stylish design which they hope will attract youngsters. With the mission to connect the young with an intelligent world, Lava’s Benco series was launched in five South Asian countries including Nepal.

But is it only the outside of a device that attracts the youth? Obviously not! And thus, the devices in the benco do pack some competitive specs. Because come on no one would simply buy a device just to marvel at its design. So, what are their specs? Or rather what are the available smartphones in the benco series.

For now, a sole model labeled as the benco V8 is available in Nepal and other regions. It was launched by INONE Technology in Nepal on 4^th November 2019.

Lava Benco V8 Specifications Overview

The Lava benco V8 has a big 6.53-inch screen with an HD+ resolution of 1560 x 720 pixels. The front screen has a waterdrop notch that houses the 8 MP front camera. And on the back, you get a triple camera setup along with a fingerprint sensor.

It runs on the MediaTek Helio P23 chipset. An octa-core processor, the MediaTek Helio P23 offers 8 ARM Cortex A53 cores. Those cores are divided into two clusters and are clocked up to 2.0 GHz. Furthermore, the benco V8 has 2GB of RAM and 32 GB storage on board. However, there is a dedicated microSD slot that allows you to expand storage up to 256GB.

The main highlight of this device, however, is undoubtedly its triple camera setup. The camera array includes a 16MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro lens and a 2 MP depth sensor. Having a macro lens in the camera setup can drastically improve the details and clarity of your close up photos. Take a look at the photo samples from the benco V8 that makes use of the macro lens.

Obviously, these photographs are for advertisement purposes so it makes sense that they look great. However, I do hope the camera performance, in reality, is similar to what they claim.

Moreover, the primary lens also has a large f/1.7 aperture, a 1.4μmpixel sensor, and a 6P lens. So, it should allow you to capture good quality photos. The large aperture also helps to capture more light. Thus, taking photos during the low-light condition should not be much of a problem for this device.

For its power, the device is powered by a huge 4000mAh battery. And all this setup will cost you NRs. 12, 999. So, basically this device is targeted as the lower price segment. However, as mentioned before, the market already has plenty of players competing on that front. But with all these features on offer and indeed a stylish look, let’s see how the journey of the Lava benco series pans out in Nepal.

Vivo S5 goes official with a punch-hole cutout and an in-display fingerprint scanner

Nikhil Shrestha

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November 15, 2019

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Vivo S5 goes official with a punch-hole cutout and an in-display fingerprint scanner

Vivo has officially unveiled the Vivo S5 at an event held in Beijing, China yesterday. The headlining feature of the phone is obviously its unique diamond-shaped cutout housing the cameras on the back. Though other phones in the ‘S’ series, namely the Vivo S1 (China) and S1 Pro implemented motorized selfie camera, the Vivo S5 features a minimal punch-hole cutout on the top right corner of the phone for the front camera.

Vivo S5 Overview

Design & Display

Credit where credit’s due; Vivo’s phones are quite impressive when it comes to the design. The S5 is another testament to the tradition with its gorgeous design and is focused on younger audiences. Vivo is calling the phone’s back design as “3D Surface Grip“, which according to the company assures a comfortable grip. Similarly, the company has let itself loose in the sea of creativity with naming the colors of the Vivo S5; Icelandic Love Song, Phantom Blue, and Star Black.

The display is another area where the S5 earns a point. It has a tall 6.44-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED screen, with a punch-hole cutout, making it a first of its kind from a Chinese manufacturer. Additionally, the camera cutout is smaller than that of Samsung’s Galaxy S10e at a mere 2.98mm diameter. With this, the S5 achieves an impressive 91.38% screen-to-body ratio. Thus, the viewing experience on the device should be bliss. For security purposes, the phone implements an in-display fingerprint technology so a physical scanner isn’t present here.

Also read: Vivo Mobiles Price in Nepal

Camera

Like with most Vivo phones, this one puts an emphasis on camera performance as well and necessarily so. The back of the Vivo S5 has a unique diamond-shaped cutout, housing the phone’s rear camera. 3 of the 4 lenses can be found inside the cutout alongside the LED flash, while the remaining protrudes just below the module.

Here, you get a 48MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP depth sensor, and a 2MP dedicated macro lens. For selfies, Vivo has gone with a 32MP lens placed inside a punch-hole cutout on the top right of the phone. Though definitely not a cleaner design choice than a motorized camera, Vivo S5’s display looks exquisite nonetheless.

Expectedly, Vivo has packed a ton of photography and beautifying features in the Vivo S5. There are options to adjust skin color and tone according to the shooting environment, retain natural skin texture, apply light makeup, make your eyebrows more delicate, and pose guidance as well. Hot damn! Beauty studios and salons may very well close shops then. Here’s something funny, Vivo says the “AI sculpts the face to make the face more natural”, thus redefining the word “natural” in the process.

On a related note, streaming is a big thing in China and the Vivo S5 looks to make a mark in the industry as well. Similarly, it’s a little disturbing how the mainstream Chinese culture emphasizes on a perfectly clear skin sans melanin. The Vivo S5 directly promotes this culture as its “Face Adaptation” feature adjusts people’s fat, long, or thin faces to something more “natural”. Pshaw!

Performance & Memory

Talking about performance, the Vivo S5 packs a decent Snapdragon 712 chipset manufactured with a 10nm fabrication process. This is the same chipset found in Vivo Z1 Pro and the Z1X. It has a dual-core CPU clocked at 2.3GHz and a hexa-core CPU clocked at 1.7GHz. On the GPU end, there’s Adreno 616. Obviously, Vivo could’ve gone with a better SoC for the S5 considering it’s a mid-range device. But unfortunately, that’s not where the company’s head’s at.

Complementing the chipset is an adequate 8GB of RAM, alongside 128GB of internal storage. Rumors had it that the Vivo S5 would also have a 256GB storage variant, but that isn’t the case. An option to expand the storage would’ve been nice, but whatever. At this point, it’s like beating a dead horse.

Battery

We’ve seen many budget and mid-range phones from Vivo with a big 5000 mAh battery. It looks like the company’s taking a break from that as the Vivo S5 packs a smaller 4100 mAh cell. To our delight, it supports 22.5W Flash Charging via USB Type-C. No MicroUSB this time around! Let’s just hope Vivo finally makes Type-C a standard in all of its future smartphones.

Miscellaneous

Vivo is also pushing the S5 towards gamers. Its “Multi-Turbo Acceleration Engine” is said to boost the front-end response speed by up to 30% and improve against frame-rate drops by up to 78%. Additionally, the S5 promises an immersive gaming experience with 4D Smart Feedback shock.

Though there’s a single variant of the S5, Vivo has partnered up with Chinese celebrity “Cai Xukun” to launch “Vivo S5 Cai Xukun Custom Gift Box Edition” which will be China-exclusive.

How many assistants are too much assistant? Well, Vivo is in the virtual assistant game as well, with “Jovi“. Though not as powerful and competent as the Google Assistant, it is capable of your regular requests.

Vivo’s mid-range phones have always had an “oh no!” factor to them. The company has been hell-bent on shipping its cheaper phones with dated MicroUSB technology which we’ve complained about a lot. But it’s nice to see the Vivo S5 with a Type-C port.

Vivo S5 Specifications

Body: 6.22 x 2.91 x 0.34 inches; 188 gm
Display: 6.44-inches Super AMOLED panel
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels); 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 712; 10nm Mobile Platform
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.3 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6×1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver)
GPU: Adreno 616
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Software & UI: Android 9.0 (Pie) with Vivo’s Funtouch OS 9.2 on top
Rear Camera: Quad-camera; (48 MP, f/1.79, PDAF) + (8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultra-wide-angle)) + (5MP f/2.48 Depth Sensor) + (2MP f/2.4 macro camera), LED flash
Front Camera: 32MP, f/2.45 aperture; punch-hole cutout (top-right)
Fingerprint sensor: In-display
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5.1/5.8 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, BDS/GPS/GLONASS, USB Type-C
Battery: 4100 mAh battery with 22.5W Flash Charging
Colors: Icelandic Love Song, Phantom Blue, Star Black

Pricing & Availability

Vivo S5 is now available in China for ¥2,698 which roughly converts to NRs. 44,050. However, whether or not the device will be a China-only is yet to be confirmed. Considering the fact that we saw the Vivo S1 officially in the Nepalese market as well, if the company manages to price it right, we hope to see the S5 here too. Stick with us for further updates!

Facebook Pay now live in the US: Will be available across Facebook’s family of apps!

Nikhil Shrestha

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November 14, 2019

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Facebook Pay now live in the US: Will be available across Facebook’s family of apps!

Amidst all the backlashes and controversies, Facebook is pushing for its own payment platform. While the in-house “Libra” cryptocurrency has seen a boatload of fumbles and is at a crossroads regarding its next step, the company launched “Facebook Pay” yesterday. It is a digital payment solution using which users will be able to make payments on Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. However, it is not associated with the “Calibra” wallet that runs on the aforementioned Libra network.

How does it work?

Facebook Pay has been integrated into the core Facebook apps and thus doesn’t require an additional application. First, you got to connect your PayPal account or add your credit or debit card. After this, the service will be available across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp if you choose to. That means Facebook will not automatically make the service available across the apps unless you specifically choose to.

What to use it for?

Facebook points out 3 main use-cases for Facebook Pay:

Send money to friends and family
Pay for goods and services to businesses, and in the Facebook Marketplace
Donate for different causes (fundraisers)

For verifying payments, you can use PIN or biometrics options available on your device. However, Facebook says it won’t receive or store your biometric data. Similarly, you get a notification instantaneously after making one. Then, you can choose whether to share the transaction on your timeline or not. Additionally, the transaction history can be viewed from all apps on which the user has activated the service.

Is it secure though?

Let’s address the elephant in the room – privacy and security. Now, Facebook evidently doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to users’ data and privacy. So, it is only natural to doubt its any and all products from that angle. From the looks of it, the company is really trying hard to erase or wash-out the bad reputation it has to make Facebook Pay a success. However, only time will tell just how secure it is.

Facebook has implemented “anti-fraud monitoring” technology that scours through the system to detect any unauthorized activity. As for your data, the company says users’ PayPal or card data will be stored separately & won’t be shared with any third party. They’ll remain secure with Facebook’s advanced data storage facilities and encryption methods.

Okay, Mr. Zuckerberg. Okay.

The company is also doubling down on gaining users’ trust by employing customer support for any sort of complications. You can contact them via live chat or email.

Availability

Currently, Facebook Pay is only available in the US on Facebook and Messenger. Facebook is apparently taking it slow by releasing the service to a small set of countries and apps first, with “intention to bring this service to more people over time”. With all the negative press and the growing public awareness about their privacy and data security, Facebook Pay is a tough sell.