We’ve moved on from big bezel housed cameras (except Google!) to the punch-hole ones, but does that mean the end of innovation for smartphone makers? Certainly not. Because as per the recent reports, Samsung is all set to bring out a smartphone with an under-display camera. We’ve already seen fingerprint sensors and front-facing speakers incorporated into the display. So, the under-display camera is probably the future for smartphone makers.
Like many others, Samsung has also invested in developing a technology to house the front cameras under the display. However, as the reports suggest, Samsung seems to be leading the race for it. Speculation is that if everything goes well, the rumored smartphone will be given a green light for production. And we’ll probably get to see it sometime next year.
However, there remain some lingering issues regarding the technology in the rumored device. Previously, we had seen a similar concept in a prototype from OPPO. And the main issue it had was the photo quality. A yellowish tinge along with a significant level of blurriness was seen in the photo taken from OPPO’s prototype device. So, a lot of AI optimization work is needed to remove the tinge and reduce blur. And same seems to be the issue for Samsung as well.
It is nice that smartphone makers want to bring a device with no compromise in the screen size. But what would be the point of having an under-display front camera that struggles to capture good selfies? Thus, Samsung has to find a way around this technological obstacle. And quickly too. Otherwise, they’ll find themselves behind in innovation as compared to their competitors.
Another question that many had after the reports surfaced online was that which line of the device would get this under-display camera first. Will it be the S11, the next-gen Galaxy Fold to or a completely new pricey flagship? Or as the recent trend, we’ll get to see the latest innovation on a mid-range handset. Well, the latter does not seem a viable option to me, so it’ll probably be either the S11 or the Galaxy Fold 2.
The Galaxy Fold has a total of six cameras including two selfie shooters. The inclusion of all this camera means that the device seems a bit bulky. Thus, a proper way to reduce all that bulkiness would be to slide those front cameras under the display. It makes sense, doesn’t it? But whatever it may be, all these are just speculations for now. And if the rumors do have some truth to it, we should probably get to hear more about this in the coming days.
Just over a month ago, Vianethad introduced a similar festive offer in its internet package to rival the competition – Worldlink’s scheme. At the time, Vianet bundled up its services with a 32-inch or a 40-inch Skyworth LED TV alongside a year’s NETTV subscription. And now, Vianet has upped its game by introducing an even more rewarding offer with Palsonic LED TVs ranging from 32-inch to 55-inch and the usual NETTV subscription with its different internet packages.
Vianet Dashain Tihar Offer with 40Mbps & 60Mbps Internet Package
Subscription duration
NETTV (All Channels)
UltraBoost
Palsonic 32” LED TV
Palsonic 40” LED TV
Palsonic 43” Android Smart LED TV
Palsonic 55” Android Smart LED TV
1 month (40 Mbps)
Free
1 GB
Rs. 15,359
Rs. 25,359
Rs. 33,359
Rs. 56,359
3 months (50Mbps)
Free
3 GB
Rs. 18,634
Rs. 28,634
Rs. 36,634
Rs. 59,634
6 months (50Mbps)
Free
6 GB
Rs. 21,884
Rs, 31,884
Rs. 39,884
Rs. 62,884
12 months (50Mbps)
Free
15 GB
Rs. 26,999
Rs. 36,999
Rs. 44,999
Rs. 67,999
Vianet Dashain Tihar Offer with 60Mbps Internet Package
Subscription duration
NETTV (All Channels)
UltraBoost
Palsonic 32” LED TV
Palsonic 40” LED TV
Palsonic 43” Android Smart LED TV
Palsonic 55” Android Smart LED TV
1 month
Free
1 GB
Rs. 15,809
Rs. 25,809
Rs. 33,809
Rs. 56,809
3 months
Free
3 GB
Rs. 19,984
Rs. 29,984
Rs. 37,984
Rs. 60,984
6 months
Free
6 GB
Rs. 24,084
Rs, 34,084
Rs. 42,084
Rs. 65,084
12 months
Free
15 GB
Rs. 30,839
Rs. 40,839
Rs. 48,839
Rs. 71,839
Though it seems that Vianet has updated its website with information about the specifications of the TVs, we weren’t able to see them as the hyperlink redirected to the same page.
So what do you think? Will it finally persuade you to shift to Vianet provided that you’re subscribed to a different ISP? Honestly, we think Vianet is really up to something here since its schemes are really exciting, especially if you’re in need of TV as well.
Google’s newest Chromebook – the Pixelbook Go is now official. The company unveiled the device on its “Made by Google ’19” event alongside other products. The Pixelbook Go is an affordable iteration to the original Pixelbook from 2017. But does the affordability justify its worth and will it hold out against the competition? Let’s find out!
Google Pixelbook Go
Thin, light, and fast – for a price.
Credit where credit is due; the Pixelbook Go is a welcome upgrade to its predecessor. Sporting a bigger 13.3-inch touchscreen display with a 15% larger battery, while simultaneously weighing less than the original Pixelbook is an amazing feat achieved by the company. The Pixelbook Go now comes in a magnesium chassis to Pixelbook’s aluminum with Grippable finish on the bottom making it easier to hold and carry. On a related note, it ditches the 360° hinge mechanism of the former Pixelbook and feels more like a premium laptop rather than a convertible.
Affordability is another hurdle that Google hopes to kinda-sorta pass through with the Pixelbook Go. The base model starts at $649 which is less than the asking price for the base model of Pixelbook but admittedly, is still expensive than Chromebooks by other manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Samsung. You get to choose between 4 models of the Pixelbook Go with varying processors, display quality, and memory configurations.
Okay, so what’s the catch here?
Performance level, of course. The cheapest variant is equipped with an 8th Gen Intel Core m3, 8GB of RAM, and a meager 64GB of SSD storage which cannot be further expanded using a microSD card. Bummer! Google really skimped on storage options this year. The Core m3 is a fairly powerful chip considering it’s a Chromebook, but I’d rather have an i5 or an i7. For $200 more, you can get the Pixelbook Go with 8th Gen Intel Core i5 and an upgraded 128GB storage.
Furthermore, $999 gets you the same Pixelbook Go with the i5 processor with 16GB of RAM. The top-tier variant has 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB storage, and a 4K UHD display. Unlike the predecessor, there’s no NVMe SSD storage option.
Similarly, the Pixelbook Go’s Chrome OS hasn’t nearly been around as long as Microsoft’s Windows OS has. From the familiar UI to app support, the superiority of the latter is astounding. However, Chromebooks have come a long way since the days of supporting only web applications. Chromebooks support Packaged Apps (Chrome Apps), a select arsenal of Android apps and since 2018, Linux apps too.
Google Pixelbook Go Specifications
Google Pixelbook Go
Body
12.2 x 8.1 x 0.5-inch; 1.061 kg
Display
13.3-inch LCD touchscreen panel
Resolution
Full-HD Display (1920 x 1080) / 4K Ultra-HD Molecular Display (3840 x 2160); 16:9 aspect ratio
Battery
47-Watt hour (FHD panel) / 56-Watt hour (4K UHD panel); Up to 12 hours of usage in a single charge
Processor
8th Gen Intel Core m3 / i5 / i7
RAM
8 / 16GB
Storage
64 / 128 / 256GB SSD
Audio
Dual front-firing speakers; 2mics for noise cancellation
Security
Titan C security chip; Built-in FIDO authenticator
Camera
Duo Cam; 2MP f/2.0 aperture
Keyboard
Full size with 19mm pitch; Hush Keys, Google Assistant Key; Backlit
Ports
2 USB-C charging and display output; 3.5mm headphone jack
On an obvious note, the Google Pixelbook Go isn’t for the most hardcore users who need to run the most intricate of software or play AAA title games. Chances are, Pixelbook Go doesn’t even support those high-end softwares and AAA games.
The Pixelbook Go is perfect for those looking for simple low-end computing, web browsing, and media consumption on an ultra-thin, beautiful, lightweight, and power-efficient build. If you’re embedded into Google’s ecosystem and its products, the Pixelbook Go is the way to go.
Google Pixelbook Go vs the options
A quid pro quo!
As mentioned earlier, there are tons of other Chromebooks or Windows laptops you could go for instead of the Pixelbook Go. Consequently, there will be some trade-offs in either of the options. The Pixelbook Go will give you a clean UI, advance security through its Titan C chip, a quieter “Hush” keyboard, and an all-day battery. On the contrary, other Chromebooks can give you 360° flip for tablet mode, a better value for your investment, so on and so forth. Similarly, a Windows machine will give you more power and versatility at a similar cost.
For instance, you could get the Asus Chromebook Flip (C302CA) which has similar specs at a lower price than the base model of the Pixelbook Go. Comparatively, the Dell XPS 13 or the recently launched Surface Laptop 3 proves to be a better and more powerful machine, though unescorted by the Pixelbook Go’s battery performance.
As soon as I hear Huawei, I remember the US-Huawei ban controversy and I guess it’s the same for most people. It was a huge setback for the company followed by all the havoc for customers. But now that the uncertainties are somewhat lower, Huawei has brought out some interesting phones in the South Asian market, like the budget Y9 Prime with pop-up camera and the upper mid-range Nova 5T with flagship Kirin 980 chipset. It’s been launched for some $400 in the international market and seems to have good specs on paper. But does the performance follow suit? Let’s find out in this Huawei Nova 5T review.
Huawei Nova 5T Specifications:
Display: 6.26-inch IPS LCD display with a punch-hole cutout
Resolution: Full HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio @ 412 PPI
First off let’s get done with performance. As mentioned earlier, the phone has Huawei’s own Kirin 980 chipset. It’s actually the same chipset used on the much expensive P30 Pro, so needless to say it’s a great performer.
But, it’s 2019, and you do get a fair share of competition. The Redmi K20 pro, for example, for a similar price is a direct competition to the Nova 5T. For everyday tasks, there is no huge difference between the two. But with higher benchmarks and better gaming performance, the SD855 does prove its slight edge over the Kirin 980.
Don’t get it wrong, both chipsets can handle everything you throw at it. However, SD855 just does the gaming part a little better. For instance, while you play PUBG, you have the option for going to extreme settings with the K20 pro whereas the Nova 5T lacks that. However, for the settings the phone offers, games have run smoothly in the Nova 5T.
There is also something called performance mode here that optimizes your device settings to deliver maximum performance, meaning the gameplay will be a little smoother and background processes are not limited. The downside to this is that you will experience battery drainage and also some heating.
Normal day to day performance is smooth and multitasking has never been a problem thanks to 8GB RAM. You get 128 GB storage but no MicroSD expansion, which could be a bummer for some.
In conclusion, the Nova 5T, along with the K20 Pro, is the best value for money smartphones in terms of performance.
Software
The performance is also complemented by Huawei’s EMUI. This phone runs on EMUI 9.1 based on Android 9 Pie. And because the latest Mate series also came with Android 10, there are chances that this phone will get it.
Now Talking about the EMUI 9, you do get some unwanted apps pre-installed here. You can delete 90% of them, so that’s not going to be trouble at all. However, I am not really a fan of the icons on EMUI. But the good thing about EMUI is that it’s not heavy like MIUI, so, transitions around the phone are smooth.
You also have dark mode here dubbed as color inversion feature. This feature is for people who are in love with dark mode.
The phone’s UI also does limit background processes properly, so you won’t notice lags while app opening or switching between the apps.
Design
Okay now, moving on to the design, one thing that’s consistent with Huawei phones is that they have good design. The Nova 5T follows the same story! With metal frames and a glass body, the phone looks good and feels even better on the hands. What I like about this phone is how snuggly it fits on the hands. You get a fingerprint sensor on the right which is also your power button. It’s just like what we saw on the Galaxy S10e but the only difference being the fact that the sensor here is blazing fast.
The back has many things going on. I have this Blue one which looks very shiny, thanks to its glass back. The Nova branding has been revamped to something like this. The purple variant has “Nova” written all over the back, which seems to me, a little bit crazy.
The left-top of the phone has a triple camera setup with an LED flash right below it. Down below, you see a USB-C port and a single firing speaker. The phone does not miss out on an IR Blaster which is good to know. But, sadly, you don’t have a headphone jack here. You get headphones inside the box, which have a type-C outlet.
I haven’t yet shifted to earbuds so, this is sort of a bummer for me. The single firing bottom speaker is however average to my liking.
So, summing up, the design aspect has been well covered by Huawei on the Nova 5T, except for the absence of a headphone jack. The phone is light yet feels premium on the hands and I love the design.
Display
I am not known to Huawei having AMOLED displays ever in it’s mid-range or even upper mid-range phones. So, yes, the 5T has an IPS LCD screen. It’s 6.26 inches in measurement and flaunts a punch-hole display on the top left corner. Now, this reminds me of the S10e again!
Now coming back to the Nova 5T, the display looks clean with minimal bezels. The punch hole is not obtrusive at all, so viewing content in it is a pleasure.
The display looks quite good, it has good viewing angles, sufficient brightness in outdoor conditions and nice color and contrast levels. For those who want to get more battery life, you have an option to downscale the display resolution to 720p. I really liked this feature and I think other phones too should implement this.
Side by side with the K20 Pro’s display, the Nova 5T is slightly less bright, just slightly so. Of course, the 5T’s blacks are not as good as the K20 pro’s OLED but the difference is not so huge to make a fuss about.
There is a tiny LED notification light in the speaker grills up top which is always a welcome addition.
Cameras
The Huawei Nova 5T has a quad-camera setup at the back like a lot of smartphones these days. We get a primary 48MP sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens, then a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro lens.
The extra macro lens is a gimmick if you ask me. The images are void of details. It’s only that the lens lets you get really close to the subjects, otherwise, it’s hardly any good.
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For portraits, the Nova 5T uses the primary camera and when put in comparison with the K20 Pro’s portraits from the Telephoto lens, subjects do not seem to be distinguished well. But you can click portraits from the 2X zoom option as well if you wish to go closer to the subjects.
Huawei Nova 5T Vs Redmi K20 Pro Portraits
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Huawei Nova 5T
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Side by side, K20 pro’s portraits look better in terms of color and background blur.
If you are satisfied with the portrait mode, there’s also this aperture mode, which is basically a portrait mode that lets you change the amount of blur and focus on the subject before and after taking portraits, which is nice to have.
Now normal images are pleasing to look at. Previously, photos from Huawei phones looked heavy on contrast but this time, the colors look almost natural. While I compared its images with the K20 Pro, the K20 pro’s looked to have slightly more saturation in them. When you look at the samples on the phone screen, K20 pro’s normal images look better, but in reality, both the phones give more or less similar outcomes.
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Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Huawei Nova 5T
Redmi K20 Pro
Having said that, in terms of dynamic range, Nova5T does better than the K 20 pro. Wide-angle images look similar in terms of quality. But K20’s wide-angle images are a little wider than Nova 5T’s.
Huawei Nova 5T Normal VS Wide-angle Mode
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Normal Mode
Wide-angle Mode
Normal Mode
Wide-angle Mode
Normal Mode
Wide-angle Mode
Normal Mode
Wide-angle Mode
Normal Mode
Wide-angle Mode
Normal Mode
Wide-angle Mode
Normal Mode
Wide-angle Mode
Normal Mode
Wide-angle Mode
For selfies, we have a 32 MP shooter. And this is the aspect that I have liked a lot about the cameras. The selfies are very good.
There is no in-built beautification here and the skin tone looks natural. Portrait selfies too look nice and pleasing. Again, comparing the selfies of the K20 pro with the Nova 5T, we can see that Nova 5T’s certainly looks better.
Huawei Nova 5T Vs Redmi K20 Pro Selfies
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Nova 5T Normal Selfie
K20 Pro Normal Selfie
Nova 5T Normal Selfie
K20 Pro Normal Selfie
Nova 5T portrait Selfie
K20 Pro Normal Selfie
Nova 5T Portrait Selfie
K20 Pro Portrait Selfie
Nova 5T Normal Selfie
K20 Pro Normal Selfie
Nova 5T portrait Selfie
K20 Pro Portrait Selfie
Nova 5T portrait Selfie
K20 Pro Portrait Selfie
The phone does, however, struggle at night time photography as all the midrange phones do. There is Night mode to compensate for that. Details and exposure improve a lot with Night mode on. I compared the Night mode of K20 Pro with Nova 5T and both do good. There is not much difference, to be honest.
Nova 5T Normal Vs Night Mode
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Normal Mode
Night Mode
Night Mode
Normal Mode
Normal Mode
Night Mode
Normal Mode
Night Mode
Normal Mode
Night Mode
Normal Mode
Night Mode
Normal Mode
Night Mode
Normal Mode
Night Mode
On a similar note, there is Gyro EIS in Nova 5T’s cameras so the videos are very stable and have good quality in them as well.
Though you don’t have a 4K 60fps option like the K20 Pro, the 4k 30fps option does good too. It’s stabilized and has good colors. You can even switch from normal to wide-angle to 2X zoom option in the same video, which is a feature I have liked a lot and I think this feature can be useful many times too.
So camera wise, you can say the Nova 5T’s camera is more or less similar to Redmi K20 Pro, with Nova 5T offering you better selfies and K20 Pro offering you 4K 60fps videos and 2X telephoto lens.
Battery
With the Huawei Nova 5T, you get a decently sized 3,750 mAh battery that gives a whole day on moderate usage.
And since I am a heavy user, I have to charge the phone at the end of the day, so Battery wise it’s like 8 out of 10 in my opinion. And one thing I noticed is the phone does a good job in idle standby.
If you want to improve your battery life, you can turn on the smart resolution option that automatically adjusts the screen resolution to save battery power.
Charging is done very fast. The phone takes you one hour and 21 minutes to get from 0-100% with its 22.5-watt charger that comes inside the box.
Conclusion
So, overall, I really liked the Nova 5T. The design is good, the cameras are good, and the phone is, well, really fast. The only thing I wished this phone had is an OLED display because it’s the closest competitor, the K20 Pro and Vivo V17 pro have OLED displays. But despite all the shortcomings, I would still recommend the Nova 5T for some 400 dollars.
But, here in Nepal, the price of Noa 5T is Rs.53,900 which translates to some 475 dollars and for the lesser price, you get the 256GB version of the Redmi K20 pro. So, maybe Huawei Nepal could do some price revision to make the Nova 5T a bit more compelling.
Vivo V17 Pro is the successor of the Vivo V15 Pro which was one of the highest-selling smartphones in the mid-range price segment in South Asian markets including Nepal. Vivo aims to repeat similar success with the Vivo V17 Pro. The highlight of the phone is its dual selfie camera with a pop-up mechanism. Let’s find out more about the Vivo V17 Pro along with its price and availability in Nepal.
Vivo V17 Pro Overview
Display
The Vivo V17 Pro has a 6.44-inch FullHD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The Super AMOLED display covers 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. Also, it is also protected by Schott Xensation UP glass. On the back, there’s a Gorilla Glass 6 protection too.
The front is nearly bezel-less and Vivo calls it Ultra FullView Display. There’s a pop-up selfie camera which is twice as wide as other popup cameras. It houses a dual camera of 32MP primary and 8MP ultra-wide. The front camera is also covered by sapphire glass. There’s an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is fast and accurate like the Vivo V15.
Cameras
The back houses quad-camera setup. The first sensor is a 48MP Sony IMX582 lens, the same lens seen on the Redmi K20. The second lens is an 8MP 120° ultra-wide sensor which can also do 2.5cm Super Macro shots. The third lens is a 13MP 2X telephoto zoom lens, and the fourth one is a 2MP depth sensor.
Performance & Battery
Powering the Vivo V17 Pro is an underwhelming Snapdragon 675 SoC which is the same one found in the V15 Pro, so no performance leap. This is one area where Vivo could improve on, maybe include a Snapdragon 730 or Helio G90T. For instance, you can get Snapdragon 855 powered Redmi K20 Pro at a similar price range. In terms of memory, there’s 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Running the show is the Funtouch OS 9.1 based on Android 9.0 Pie.
There’s 4100mAh battery and Vivo has finally included a Type-C port with 18W fast charging. It is available in two color options: Midnight Ocean and Glacier Ice colors.
Back Cameras:
– 48MP primary camera with f/1.78 aperture, Sony IMX582 sensor, 0.8μm pixel size, 6P lens, Dual LED flash
– 8MP 120° ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 aperture with 2.5cm Super Macro
– 13MP Telephoto lens for 2X optical zoom, 10X digital zoom, f/2.5 aperture
– 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Front Cameras:
– 32MP wide-angle front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, LED flash
– 8MP 105° ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 aperture
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
Dimensions: 74.7x159x9.8mm
Weight:201.8gms
Connectivity: Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac dual-band, Bluetooth 5, GPS/GLONASS, USB Type-C port, 3.5 mm audio jack, FM Radio
Battery: 4100mAh with 18W Dual-Engine Fast charging
Vivo V17 Pro was launched in Nepal for a price of Rs. 52,490 for 8/128GB variant. However, the new discounted Vivo V17 Pro price in Nepal is Rs. 49,990. You can redeem the offer through various online retailers in Nepal.
Well well, it’s now official! Redmi has formally announced that they have come up with an agreement with AMD. This agreement facilitates the launch of Redmi’s firs AMD powered laptop. Labeled as the RedmiBook Ryzen edition, the laptop will launch on the 21st of October in China.
This agreement actually marks a big achievement for AMD. Previously, we had seen an AMD powered laptop in Microsoft’s upgraded Surface lineup. And now that it has also secured a deal with Redmi, I’m certain AMD will cause a lot of headaches for Intel in the coming days. Usually seen as an underdog, the chip manufacturer has now made its way into the big league. And with the already existing fabrication advantage over its competitors, hopefully, AMD will not disappoint us.
Now coming back to the RedmiBook Ryzen, the official sources have revealed further details about the device on Weibo. The base variant of sorts will have the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U chipset whereas in the top-end model we will get to see the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U chipset.
Ryzen 5 3500U and Ryzen 7 3700Y overview
Talking about the Ryzen 5 3500U, we can probably say that it is one the best budget solution for gaming laptops. That’s because it comes with Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. Furthermore, it packs in four cores with the maximum clock speed being 3.7GHz. Moreover, it shows no issue while running multiple apps simultaneously.
Moving on to the Ryzen 7 3700U, the processor has four Zen+ cores with 8 threads clocked at 2.3 – 4GHz. Radeon RX Vega 10 graphics clocked at up to 1400MHz come integrated with the processor. So basically speaking, it is a processor designed to deliver top performance for mid-range laptops.
So far the best processor made available by AMD, these chipsets are all manufactured using the 12nm process. With its inclusion in the RedmiBook Ryzen edition, Xiaomi aims to bring balance back to the laptop market. People these days have to pay a ridiculous amount for laptops whose performance does not justify their price. And there’s where Xiaomi aims to strike and try to balance price to performance ratio in laptops.
That’s that right now about the RedmiBook Ryzen edition. Even though we got to hear about the processors on them, no further details about the devices’ specifications have yet been made public. Rumor is that the specifications will not be that different than the recently launched RedmiBook 14. However, as there are still some days left before the launch, we’ll certainly bump upon further details about the device.
Google wrapped up the “Made by Google ’19” event yesterday in New York City. This annual event is where the company showcases its latest hardware ranging from phones, Chromebooks to other household devices. Unarguably, this year’s main highlight was the new Pixel 4 & Pixel 4XL. With Google itself kicking off the leak train, there was little left to imagination since every key prospect of the device had already made its way on to the internet before the official launch.
Google Pixel 4 & 4XL
An expensively helpful phone.
For the past 4 years, Google has embodied the tradition of bringing out smartphones of its own design and build to the consumers. The original Pixel phone saw moderate success in the company’s home market and other regions. However, every iteration of the phone has shared the same success story. A major contributing factor to this could be the imbalance among the overall build of the device. Pixel 1 had a solid build but a dated design, the Pixel 2 on the other hand, had display issues and last year’s Pixel 3 XL had a hideously large top bezel. While the new Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL come with some of the most amazing features you could find on a phone, it still follows suit to the maladies of the past.
In a time where the entire industry is pushing towards a full-screen display and fancy curvatures, Google isn’t kowtowing to the design trends of the present. Both phones from the company have a flat OLED panel with a noticeable bezel on the top and bottom. Personally, I’m not a fan of bezel-less and curved displays since they’re more prone to damages from slightest drops and also comparatively exacting to operate. Looking at a bigger picture, replacing the screen is expensive while also contributing to electronic pollution. So I praise Google for going with the old-school design with the Pixel 4 & 4XL. Kudos!
The smaller Pixel 4 has a 5.7-inch FHD+ flexible OLED panel while the Pixel 4XL has a larger 6.3-inch QHD+ flexible OLED panel. Apart from this, both devices share the same display properties; a 19:9 aspect ratio, Smooth Display with up to 90Hz refresh rate, HDR support to name a few.
Talking about the similarities, the new phones from Google run on the quasi-neo, yet still a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset and Adreno 640 GPU. This is complemented by 6GB of LPDDR4x RAM. Pixel phones have never been known for a blazing fast performance to the likes of the OnePlus devices and the story continues with the new Pixel 4. It has an older-generation UFS 2.1 storage technology on a disenchanting 64/128GB option. Insult to injury, you now don’t get to back up all of your photos in original quality for free on Google Photos like last year’s Pixel 3. However, you do get the Google One subscription free for 3 months.
Moving on, while other OEMs came up with dual, triple, and quad-camera setups, Pixel phones still hogged the title for the best smartphone camera with its single camera. With the help of machine learning and computational photography, Pixel phones delivered the best photos, especially Selfie Portraits and Night Sight. The Pixel 4 & 4XL hope to take things to new heights with the dual-rear camera; a first on a Pixel phone.
Both phones have a 12.2MP Dual Pixel PDAF f/1.7 sensor and a 16MPf/2.4 telephoto lens with OIS and EIS on the back. Prof. Marc Levoy from Google Research took the time to specifically point out why the company prioritizes telephoto to wide-angle shots. On the front, there’s a single 8MP f/2.0 sensor with a 90° field-of-view. The most standout camera features of the Pixel 4 are as follows:
Live HDR+ with dual exposure controls
Learning-based white balancing
Wider-range portrait mode
Night Sight with astrophotography
On a related note, there’s not much to get excited about the videography capabilities of the Pixel 4. The rear camera can shoot 4K videos at 30fps and slo-mo 240fps videos at 720p. The front camera, on the other hand, is capable of 1080p videos at 30fps.
Now to the exciting part. Google finally managed to strap in a radar sensor on to a Pixel phone, which is also an industry-first. We finally get to see Project Soli embedded into a phone. The Soli Radar Chip facilitates Motion Sense which can detect the user’s proximity around the phone and behave accordingly. For instance, reaching your hands towards Pixel 4 after an alarm goes off will trigger it to reduce the volume. There are other use-cases of this technology as well like skipping music, managing calls, etc with a wave of your hand.
On the topic of sensors, Pixel 4 also features an array of them specifically for face-unlock. There are two face-unlock IR cameras, a Dot Projector and a Flood Illuminator. After setting up, Pixel 4 unlocks in a blink of an eye. The aforementioned Motion Sense using the Soli Radar chip knows when you’re near the phone, unlocking the device post-haste amidst picking it up. All your face unlock data is locally stored and secured by the Titan M security chip. Face unlock replaces the physical fingerprint sensor or an in-display one on Pixel 4, which can be also used to make payments and sign in to different apps.
Google Assistant is now faster than ever with an on-device version of language model (English) embedded into the Pixel 4. The hybrid model of the assistant can fulfill on-device requests locally while requiring an internet connection for other requests.
There’s now an Audio Recorder app made by Google, which can record and transcribe the audio in real-time. Additionally, the saved recording can be searched using metrics like file name, or word(s) recorded. Like the Google Assistant, the Recorder app transcribes audio locally too. Furthermore, the 3.5mm headphone jack is still absent.
You’d think Google would pack a bigger battery to power all those sensors and the 90Hz display. But nope, there’s a measly 2800 mAh battery on the Pixel 4 and a slightly bigger 3700 mAh one on the bigger Pixel 4XL. What was Google thinking, we may never know. Both phones support Qi-wireless charging and 18W fast charging, which is not that great either considering there are phones with 45W, 50W and even 65W charging in the market. Battery life is going to be a major headache for the Pixel 4 users for sure.
Pixel 4 runs on the latest Android 10 OS. When it comes to software updates and security patches, Pixel phones have always been the first to get them. Google’s Project Mainline can now deliver the monthly security patches through the Play Store without requiring a hard reboot of the device. It will receive a minimum of 3 years of OS and security updates.
Let’s take a deeper look at the specifications of the Pixel 4 & Pixel 4XL.
Google Pixel 4 and 4XL Specifications
Specifications
Pixel 4
Pixel 4XL
Body
5.7 x 2.7 x 0.3-inches; 162gm
6.3 x 2.9 x 0.3-inches; 193gm
Display
5.7-inch flexible OLED panel; 90Hz Smooth Display
6.3-inch flexible OLED panel; 90Hz Smooth Display
Resolution
Full-HD+ (2280 x 1080); 19:9 aspect ratio
Quad-HD+ (3040 x 1440); 19:9 aspect ratio
Battery
2800 mAh with 18W Quick Charge 2.0; Qi Wireless Charging
3700 mAh with 18W Quick Charge 2.0; Qi Wireless Charging
Just Black, Clearly White, Oh So Orange (Limited Edition)
Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL Pricing & Availability
Google will not be releasing the Pixel 4 & 4XL in India which is a major surprise. Since the Soli Radar Chip operates on the 60GHz spectrum which is prohibited for public use in the country, Google failed to license it with the Indian government. There may be other factors at work too since Pixel 4 & 4 XL is launching in Japan without Motion Sense there. The phones are up for pre-order now while shipping starts from October 24.
Pixel 4: $799 (64GB) / $899 (128GB)
Pixel 4XL: $899 (64GB) / $999 (128GB)
The Public Opinion
People are divided over the latest Pixel phones. Some argue Google could’ve done a better job by pricing it a little lower, using a newer chipset and adding a wide-angle lens, while some think it’s good as is.
It’s important to remember that selling smartphones is not Google’s primary business, nor is it the company’s main source of revenue. Google is a software company and has repeatedly proven how good phones can get when complemented by excellent software.
Google isn’t looking to sell millions of units of the Pixel phones to the likes of Samsung Galaxy S10, nor does it hope to clear the stock minutes after being up for pre-order. It isn’t deliberately trying to lose money either, don’t get me wrong. Pixel phones represent how beautiful, stable, helpful, and productive Android can be while also setting the benchmark for smartphone photography.
Now there’s a swarm of people complaining about the availability and pricing of the phone. One of the main standout features of the phone isn’t compatible in many regions of the world and hence will not be available for purchase. Also, the pricing is fairly on the expensive end when looking at the specs.
For almost half the cost of a Pixel 4XL, you can buy the latest Realme X2 Pro which has an upgraded chipset, a quad-camera setup, and a near bezel-less display. Google knows its production capability, it knows it can’t compete with OEMs like Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, etc. to make its flagship Pixel phone cheaper. Simply, Google isn’t that big of a smartphone manufacturer and you know what, it’s okay. And as I mentioned earlier, it’s not aggressively pushing to become one either.
When purchasing the Pixel 4, you won’t just buy a smartphone, you’d also be directly supporting a cleaner cause. Impressively, Google’s operations have been carbon neutral since 2007 and all of its energy consumption since the past two years have been fulfilled by renewable energy sources. Also, the company uses recycled materials for manufacturing several parts of its devices. I’m a sucker for environmental protection, sue me! Now does that absolutely justify the cost of Pixel phones? Maybe, maybe not! That’s a subjective opinion. For me, I think it’s reasonably priced considering all the factors involved though I’d like to voice my small protest regarding the storage and battery capacity.
But hey, don’t you think it’d be even better for Pixel phones to be easily accessible to the masses at a cost they can afford?
Of course! And for this to come true, I hope Google eventually launches budget-friendly Pixel 4a and 4aXL with the sensors and whatnots compatible everywhere in the world for people looking for the cleanest Android experience and an excellent camera on a budget.
Oppo Reno 2F is among the few devices under the R-series which the company has actually launched here in Nepal. It comes with a gorgeous design and it ticks almost every other boxes. So should you spend your money on the Oppo Reno 2F or are there other options in the Nepalese market that offer greater value for money? Let’s find out.
OPPO Reno 2F Overview
Design and Display
Oppo Reno 2F is part of the Oppo’s Reno series. Unlike the F-series and A-series, the Reno series offer more premium options in terms of design, camera capabilities, and processor and it is the case with Oppo Reno 2F.
Oppo Reno 2F comes with a 6.3-inch Full-HD design. As with other premium devices, the display here is an AMOLED panel and it packs in an FHD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. The Gorilla Glass 5 layer on top of the device not only protects the device from accidental damage, but it also complements the gradient finish on the rear panel of the device.For the cleaner look, the device doesn’t come with big bezels and any notches. There’s a motorized pop-up selfie camera. An optical fingerprint sensor is placed under the display.
Performance and Memory
Under the hood, you get an Helio P70 chipset, which is a mid-range chipset from MediaTek. The P70 is a fairly decent chipset used on phones like Vivo V15 and Oppo F11 Pro, however, P70 was announced like a year ago, so maybe Oppo could have used a newer Helio G90T chipset which has proven to be a stellar gaming performer as seen on our Redmi Note 8 Pro review.
In terms of memory, you get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with microSD card support. There’s also a sizeable 4000mAh battery with 20W VOOC 3.0 fast charging. Oppo F15 with similar battery capabilities last almost a day under heavy uses and takes around an hour to recharge completely. We hope it’s the same with the Reno 2F.
Camera
As the trend with midrange phone goes, the OPPO Reno 2F also features a quad camera on the back. There’s a 48MP f/1.7 primary camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, a 2MP mono lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. There’s a 16MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture. The camera setup on this one looks strikingly similar to in the recently launched Oppo F15 and with our time with the device we are yet to be impressed by camera capabilities of the OPPO F15.
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
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
OPPO Reno 2F Price in Nepal and Availability
The price of Oppo Reno 2F in Nepal is Rs 46,990 for the 8/128GB variant. You can get the device from Oppo’s official showroom at Newroad and other retail shops. Oppo Reno 2F is also available through online marketplaces such as Daraz and Smartdoko.
Model Name
Price in Nepal
Oppo Reno 2F (8/128GB)
Rs 46,990
Oppo Reno 2F (8/128GB)
Rs 45,990
Oppo Reno 2F is a stunning mid-ranger which seems to tick all the boxes. But you are into gaming or prefer performance, you won’t go wrong with Redmi K20 Pro. If you are tight on budget, Realme X2 is greater value for your money.
The Redmi Note 7 Pro was already an amazing phone. It was priced reasonably well as compared to India. On top of that, MI Nepal introduced the “Free Screen Replacement” service before the start of the festive season. But MI Nepal hasn’t given up on its generosity just yet. To make the device even more compelling, the company dropped the price of its highest-selling mid-ranger.
Redmi Note 7 Pro Overview:
The most exciting part about the Redmi Note 7 Pro is its camera. The phone comes with the 48MP main camera, which was one of the very first devices to feature such a high megapixel sensor, even though it makes use of pixel binning. The main camera here uses Sony IMX586 sensor, which is the same sensor used on the premium OnePlus 7 Pro. There is also a 5MP depth sensor for portrait images.
Even in terms of design, the handset looks quite pleasing. The phone also features a premium glass back with a Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. The Gorilla Glass 5 protection extends to the front as well. The 6.3-inch LTPS display on the device is also encapsulated with that toughened glass to keep the display quite safe from accidental drops and scratches. The display on the device also features a tiny notch on the top.
When it comes to performance, there is a Snapdragon 675 chipset. It’s the same chipset used on more expensive devices like Samsung Galaxy A70 and Vivo V15 Pro. In terms of memory, the phone comes in 4/64GB, 6GB/64GB, and 6/128GB formats.
Software-wise, Redmi Note 7 Pro boots on Android Pie out of the box with MIUI 10 on top. The device is also eligible for the Android Q update, which Xiaomi will release in Q1 of 2020. And it’s also slated to receive the much-hyped MIUI 11. The handset also packs a generous 4000mAh battery promising prolonged endurance. It supports 18W quick charging, but Xiaomi only includes a 10W charger inside the box.
Specifications:
Display: 6.3″ LTPS display with Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2340 × 1080 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Screen Replacement Service for Redmi Note 7 Pro in Nepal
Anyone, who has bought Redmi Note 7 Pro (any variant) in the time frame 27th September to 31st October 2019 will get to claim for this service. So if you, by any chance break or damage your Redmi Note 7 Pro by accidental drops or mishandling, you won’t have to worry about it. MI Nepal will replace it for free if that has happened within 6 months of the purchase.
Redmi Note 7 Pro Price in Nepal [Updated 2020]
The new price of the Redmi Note 7 Pro in Nepal is Rs. 25,999 for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Other variants such as 4+64GB and 6+64GB are currently out of stock in Nepal.
Realme, the subsidiary of OPPO has been known for its budget phones like the Realme 5, 5 Pro, Realme XT, etc. And now for the first time in the company’s history, Realme has pushed the boundaries and released the Realme X2 Pro which offers flagship-level performance for the price of a budget phone. Kudos to Realme! The major highlight of the phone is the latest and flagship-grade Snapdragon 855+ chipset, a 90Hz display, a 64MP quad-camera setup, and 50W VOOC charging. However, Realme X2 Pro will not be launching in Nepal officially.
Realme X2 Pro Overview
It’s a great time for smartphone consumers. One no longer has to put a big hole in their wallet to purchase a flagship-level phone. Major thanks to the neck and neck competition among the manufacturers for the bigger share of pie and consumers’ increasing tendency to hold on to their devices longer, OEMs have been in a way compelled to bring out high-spec phones at a lower cost. Let’s just hope this trend doesn’t fade away anytime soon.
Display
Sporting a big 6.5-inch “Dew-Drop” Super AMOLED screen, the Realme X2 Pro’s display is a visual treat. It has an FHD+ (2400 x 1080) resolution and a tall 20:9 aspect ratio. Additionally, its a 90Hz panel with HDR10+ support with max brightness up to 1000 nits. Furthermore, the Realme X2 Pro display is also said to have full coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. The only thing to nitpick about the X2 Pro’s display would be the older generation Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
Performance & Memory
Moving on, it boasts the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset alongside the Adreno 640 GPU. Knocking down every task you throw at it, the Realme X2 Pro throws some major shade at the Redmi K20 Pro. It comes in three memory variants: 6/64GB, 8/128GB, and 12/256GB. However, the base model is constrained to older UFS 2.1 storage technology while the higher ends have UFS 3.0.
Quad-camera is the next big thing in mobile photography it seems. The Realme X2 Pro features a 64MP Samsung GW1 sensor with f/1.8 aperture. It is further complemented by a 13MP f/2.5 telephoto lens, an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide angle lens, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The telephoto lens here supports 5X Hybrid Optical zoom and 20X Hybrid Zoom. Coming to the front, there’s a 16MP f/2.0 lens in a tiny notch.
There are also some decent videography features embedded into the Realme X2 Pro. It can shoot 4K videos at either 30 or 60fps. When it comes to image stabilization, the rear camera has Ultra Image Stabilization (UIS) while the front one has Electric Image Stabilization (EIS). Video Bokeh and Super Wide-Angle videos are other highlights of the device.
Battery & Charging
Powering this beast is a 4000 mAh non-removable battery. On an interesting note, the Realme X2 Pro supports an impressive 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charge that can take your phone from 0 to 100% in about 35 minutes of charge. Talk about speed! Realme has designed the X2 Pro with power users in mind.
On more positive news, the phone still has a 3.5mm audio jack with Dolby Atmos support. There are dual stereo speakers for a great audio experience. The phone implements the latest Goodix G3.0 in-display optical fingerprint scanner, which unlocks the device under 0.23 seconds. Realme X2 Pro runs on Android 9.0 (Pie) with OPPO’s ColorOS 6.1 on top. It is also scheduled to receive the Android 10 update.
Realme X2 Pro Specifications:
Body: 6.34 x 2.98 x 0.34 inches; 199 gm
Display: 6.5-inches “Dew-Drop” Super AMOLED 90Hz display
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2400 × 1080 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+; 7nm Mobile Platform
Connectivity: Dual-SIM, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/GLONASS/GALILEO/BDC, USB Type-C
Battery: 4000 mAh battery with 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charge
Realme X2 Pro Price in Nepal & Availability
Realme launched the Realme X2 Pro in China, India, and some parts of Europe. However, it is yet to launch in Nepal. But you can buy the Realme X2 Pro in Nepal via an unauthorized channel for a price of Rs. 53,000.
