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Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro Review: Still the best midranger?

GadgetByte

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August 14, 2019

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro Review: Still the best midranger?

So, been using the Redmi Note 7 Pro as my secondary phone for like 3 months now. It has always been with me while I was reviewing other phones! So, now finally, with new competition like VIVO Z1 Pro and Realme 3 Pro, I am continuedly asked that: is Note 7 Pro still the best value for money midranger out there? I think I am finally going to answer all your queries in this long-term review. So, let’s get started.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro Specifications:

Display: 6.3″ LTPS display with Gorilla Glass 5 protection
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2340 × 1080 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 675; 11nm process
CPU: Octa-Core SoC (2x Cortex-A76 @2.0GHz + 6x Cortex-A55 @1.7GHz)
GPU: Adreno 612
RAM: 6GB/4GB
Storage: 128GB/64GB
Rear Camera: (48MP, f/1.79, 1/2″ sensor, IMX586 sensor) + 5MP depth sensor, LED flash
Front Camera: 13MP
OS & UI: Android Pie with MIUI 10 on top
Battery: 4000mAh; USB Type-C port
Colors: Neptune Blue, Nebula Red, Space Black
Redmi Note 7 Pro price in Nepal: Rs. 24,999 (4+64GB)
Redmi Note 7 Pro price in Nepal: Rs. 29,999 (6+128GB)

Design and Build

First, let’s discuss about the design. Now, there are two things that go in the design aspect – the way that it looks, and the way it feels in your hands. And if we take both into consideration, the Note 7 Pro for me is a mixed bag.

In terms of looks, it’s actually…great! Compared to the bland designs of its predecessor, the 7 Pro offers a fresh look. And with its glass back, the smartphone has some kind of an appeal – it looks quite elegant. This also gives it an edge over other plastic body phones like Vivo Z1 Pro and Realme 3 Pro. Plus, the Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top only adds to its niceties.

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But, it does not feel the same on the hands. The smartphone is boxy and feels like a flat glass slab on the hands. It’s a bit heftier than what we would prefer. So it’s not very comfortable to use. And yes, it’s also slippery – which is a given for glass backs, so, you’ll have to use a case on it.

In addition, despite the glass back, the phone has a plastic frame. So, its durability was a concern from the beginning. And if you’ve followed durability tests from JerryRigEverything and TechnicalGuruji, then, it has failed on both occasions.

Now, I was not going to try those kinds of tests myself, but it was a concern. However, during my time with the device, I have not had any kind of such issues, like bends or creaks or whatnots. And my worries didn’t come true, so, it is durable for all kinds of daily abuses.

Display

As for the display, the phone comes with a 6.3” IPS screen with Full-HD resolution, so, the display quality is sharp. Colors look okay – not along with the levels of OLED panels, but for what LCDs are worth, it’s decent. Last year’s Note 5 AI had this slightly bluish tint in its display, but this has been improved here. For this, they certainly deserve a pat on the back. Good job, Xiaomi! The screen is also bright and is legible on broad daylight scenarios, as well. So, no complaints, here.

In terms of its aesthetics, the display features a tiny notch on top, and Xiaomi calls it the “Dot-notch display”. And it is also fitting because the teardrop notch is minimal and doesn’t obstruct contents. But if you find it disturbing, you can hide it easily.

However, it’s not the same on the whole screen. Even with the size of bezels decreased considerably, there is a thick chin on the bottom. That houses a tiny LED notification light, but it feels awkward to have one in there.

But at least, it’s better than not having one, right? But as it turns out, in this case, not so much. Because just like on the Note 5 AI and Note 6 Pro, the LED is very small, dim and only glows white. So, it’s difficult to identify them as well.

Camera

Now, for the cameras. One of the reasons Redmi Note 7 Pro caused such hype is due to its camera prowess. After all, it has a 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor which is the same one found on devices like OnePlus 7 Pro, Oppo Reno 10X Zoom, Redmi K20 Pro, and even on the Galaxy A80.

But even with the sensor, it only captures 12 MP images by default. However, if you compare its 48 MP images with 12 MP, you’ll not find many differences.

12MP vs 48MP Images from Note 7 Pro

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As for image quality, they look decent with plenty of details. Colors are true to life, and when compared to the Vivo Z1 Pro and Realme 3 Pro, the Note 7 Pro’s images stood out most of the time. But if you aren’t satisfied with the imagery, you can always install G-Cam, and take your photography to the next level.

Normal Daylight Images

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When it comes to low light photography, Google’s Night Sight and Huawei’s Night Mode are quite popular. And Xiaomi added a similar feature in its camera UI. In this mode, the phone decreases its shutter speed and takes some time to process the images and bring out details in the dark. And while there is a slight increase in the amount of details, it really doesn’t do much.

Normal Vs Low Light Images

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But that’s the trade-off in Mid-range phones, I guess. Let’s hope Xiaomi will fix it with future updates. Talking about the fixes, there was this frame drop issue while taking videos, and this was fixed with the new MIUI 10.3.12 update.

Alongside the primary shooter, there’s a 5 MP depth sensor for portraits. And portrait images look amazing. Of course, the edge detection is not as polished and we can mostly see the imperfections in the hair of the subject, but most other mid-rangers share the same story, so, cannot complain much.

Redmi Note 7 Pro portrait images

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On the selfie side, there is a 13 MP shooter on the notch upfront. The selfies look decent with good colors, and similar is the case with portrait selfies. Colors are decent, and you get a fair amount of details. However, the edge detection is not quite smooth, and you’ll be able to ding imperfections while zooming into the subject. But upon normal inspection, it looks okay.

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Despite all that, I still think the camera is the best thing about this phone. It’s better than the Realme 3 Pro and the VIVO Z1 Pro in raw camera performance, and I think if Xiaomi improves the Software processing in the next few updates, the Sony IMX 586 sensor will live up to its full potential.

Performance

Now, let’s dive into the performance. For that, you get the Snapdragon 675, which is the same one on a more expensive Vivo V15 Pro and Galaxy A70. And that’s reflected in real-world usage as well.

In these three months, I have installed over 100 apps, and the phone has handled most of the apps and tasks without a fuss. They load quickly and transitions are smooth and even while multi-tasking with a number of apps, the Note 7 Pro shows no signs of fatigue.

That’s the reason why I got along with the Note 7 Pro for such a long time. And the smooth performance is, also partly, helped by its DDR4X RAM. And if you ask me which memory variant to choose, go with the 4+64GB and not the 6+128GB. Because, the 6+128GB version pricing is close to Realme X and VIVO S1 which offers better specs, period!

As for gaming, I have played all sorts of gaming and the phone handles the graphics-related tasks pretty well. I tested its limits with PUBG at high settings, and the game ran fluently without any stutters. That held up on Asphalt 9 as well, and I noticed no frame drops.

Redmi Note 7 Pro Benchmarks

AnTuTu v7: 178,678
- CPU: 83260, GPU: 36364, UX: 46291, Memory: 12763
AndroBench:
- Sequential Read: 297.47 MB/s
- Sequential Write: 207.47 MB/s
Geekbench 4
- Single-core: 2376, Multi-core: 6575
- RenderScript Score: 5862
PC Mark
- Work 2.0: 7155
3D Mark
- Slighshot Extreme OpenGL ES 3.1: 1091
- Slighshot Extreme Vulkan: 1166

Software and UI

For the software, I have received like 7-8 updates and this proves that Xiaomi is trying their best to optimize the software. And yes, you still get Ads on its UI, and I hope Xiaomi shares the revenue generated by those Ads sometime in the future.

As for security, the fingerprint is fast and accurate, as expected on the Redmi devices, But, for the speed of Face Unlock, it felt like it’s not as snappy as the Oppo or Vivo phones, but still better than the Samsung. Since it’s not that accurate, I didn’t use it much and I don’t have much to tell you about it.

Battery

The 4000 mAh battery on the device so far has served me with an amazing backup. Since it was my secondary phone, the phone backed me for more than 2 days easily. This means you should easily get 1 day of use if you are a heavy user. So, endurance is pretty praiseworthy.

But what’s not praiseworthy is you don’t get a fast charger out of the box, even though it supports Quick Charge 4.0. That means with a default 10W charger, it takes around 2.5 hours to fully charge the battery.

So, I got this 18W charger, which, by the way, is an additional $15 (Rs. 2,000) and if you are getting the Note 7 Pro, you should too.

Conclusion

So, the Redmi Note 7 Pro, despite being like 6 months old, is still a great mid-range smartphone. It has a good enough build, dependable performance, remarkable cameras, and good battery life.

But I hope Xiaomi stops sending Ads in the UI, and then improve on smaller things like Vibration motor, speakers, and Antennas on its successor to continue the legacy of providing the best midrange phone every year.

Redmi Note 7 Pro: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Dependable performance
Great set of camera
Amazing battery life

Cons:

Ad-laden UI
The design could have been better

OnePlus 7T Pro just two months away from the launch

GadgetByte

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August 14, 2019

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OnePlus 7T Pro just two months away from the launch

OnePlus has been launching an upgraded variant of its first half’s smartphone with a ‘T’ prefix in its name. To recall, in October last year we saw OnePlus 6T launch and 5T in November, the year before. And according to the rumors the OnePlus 7T Pro smartphone will launch on 15th of October this year.

The ‘T’ lineup of the smartphone from the Chinese company usually come equipped with an identical design but improved specs. So, the OnePlus 7T Pro may look identical to the OnePlus 7 Pro.

By the looks of it, the 7T Pro also has a notch-less display and curved edges, similar to the OnePlus 7 Pro handset. The bottom bezels also appear thinner compared to its predecessor. The notch-less design suggests the phone features a pop-up selfie camera. Talking about the top bezel, the speaker placed here seem more prominent this time.

Also Read: OnePlus Mobiles Price in Nepal

Now, the rear carries a vertical triple camera unit on the upper half of the phone. Two of the three camera sensors are placed together; whereas there is a small gap between the second and third sensor. There is no fingerprint sensor at the rear suggesting the phone will continue with the in-display fingerprint this time too. The rear design of the upcoming smartphone looks identical to the 7 Pro, with an LED flash placed below the triple camera unit.

If the rumors are true, then we could see the OnePlus 7T Pro fueled by the new 2.96 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ octa-core processor; followed by much-improved camera setup. New color options are also a possibility with this new smartphone.

Other features of the phone are still in the dark. However, we expect to know much more information about the phone in the coming week or two. The smartphone world always gets excited whenever OnePlus announces the launch of a new phone; it seems the case this time too. It certainly has everyone elevated as the launch of the phone comes near.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus sets the best Display records!

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August 13, 2019

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus sets the best Display records!

Whenever a new Samsung flagship launches, it makes headlines. There are always a couple of “Best” titles. This time with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, the company seems to be on a roll! It took the lead on DxOMark camera scores with the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G, leaving the Huawei P30 Pro behind. And in addition to that, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus now is the best display on a smartphone, according to DisplayMate.

Now, this comes as a no surprise. Because Samsung’s displays on flagships go uncontested. They’re usually on the top of their game in displays, so, it might not be a very big deal. After all, the Samsung Galaxy S10 also got the same designation! But with the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, it broke/set 13 Display performance records! And that…is well, astonishing. And with that, the Note 10 Plus also gets the DisplayMate A+ rating, which, the OnePlus 7 Pro also got.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus DisplayMate ratings

But having “the best smartphone display” is better than the highest rating, too. And with DisplayMate’s in-depth display shoot-out, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus managed to break 13 performance records!

One of them is the peak brightness on a smartphone display. And with 1308 nits of peak brightness, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus becomes the brightest ever! It is actually 25% brighter than the Galaxy Note 9. Plus, it is also the phone with the lowest screen reflectance of 4.3%. So, I can’t think of any situation when you cannot read the display on that phone, like…ever!

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 & Note 10+ available for pre-booking in Nepal

Also, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus takes the cake in terms of color accuracy as well! This phone is now, one of the first phones to cover 100% of the DCI-P3 Color Gamut coverage. In addition, the phone also has a very high image contrast accuracy and intensity scale accuracy. And that too is in Normal mode. In Vivid mode, which tweaks the saturation and contrast making for a more vibrant display, the phone hits a 113% of DCI-P3 and a 114% sRGB! DisplayMate rates it as “Visually Indistinguishable from Perfect”, which is what they also said about the Galaxy S10!

Also Read: Samsung takes the DxOMark lead with its Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G

Furthermore, the Infinity-O display on the Note 10 has improved further. According to them, the punch-hole in the center takes only 0.15% of the total display area, which is about 25% less than that of the Galaxy S10. Maybe not very significant, but it is an improvement nonetheless. Another improvement is on its Blue Light filters. The Note 10 Plus reduces the harmful light by 37.5% more than the Galaxy Note 9.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Latest price in Nepal

All of this was possible because Samsung focused on improving picture quality and color accuracy this time. As it already had achieved near perfection in terms of hardware, this decision seems plausible. And it also worked out for them, it seems. The display is the one part that users mostly interact with, and it is one of the prime factors to consider if you’re going to spend over $1000 on a smartphone. So, Note 10 seems in the right for investing to make the best display possible!

Samsung takes the DxOMark lead with its Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G

GadgetByte

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August 13, 2019

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Samsung takes the DxOMark lead with its Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G

DxOMark is the Holy Grail of camera scores and rankings. Every smartphone company, as well as ourselves, look up to DxOMark to find out which smartphone has the best camera. DxOMark tests comprise of scientific tests of lenses, sensors, image quality, video quality, number of lenses, camera features, etc. And so, the scores and rankings become a benchmark for some while buying new smartphones. And the latest development in the DxOMark leaderboard brings the new Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G onto first place!

It had been a while since a Samsung smartphone made to the top of the list. It was the Huawei P30 Pro that was the leader for quite some time. Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus 5G, later, shared the same spot, but could not take down the P30 Pro. But now, the tables have turned in Samsung’s favor. It was obvious that the Galaxy Note 10 would definitely pack some great artillery in the camera section. But now, it just got confirmed.

The Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G earned a total score of 113 for the rear cameras and 99 for the selfie camera. In contrast, the Huawei P30 Pro has a score of 112 for the rear but only 89 for the front camera. So, even though the primary score lead looks thin, the front camera score has quite the gap.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 & Note 10+ available for prebooking in Nepal

It’s not that the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G cameras are any different than the regular Note 10 Plus. But DxOMark tests generally require the top-end phone, which is the 5G variant of the Note 10 Plus. So, that’s plausible.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G Camera overview

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus packs a Quad-camera setup at the back. The setup comprises of a 12 MP primary camera, another 12 MP Telephoto lens, a 16 MP Ultra-wide angle lens and a ToF (Time-of-Flight) Depth Vision sensor. The 5G variant adds an extra ToF sensor. So, you get all kinds of lens you would want in a smartphone camera. The front camera is a 10 MP sensor.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal

Also, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus lets you take 4K videos @ 60fps and Super Slo-Mo videos @ 960fps as well. In addition to this, the phone is equipped with a Pro-grade camera to shoot videos, meaning you won’t need any extra gear to capture professional-level videos. Features like Live Focus videos and Zoom-In Mic really convince you too. And the Super Stabilization feature works even in Hyperlapse videos!

Furthermore, Galaxy Note 10 Plus also has Edit-On-the-Go features. You can edit your videos directly on the phone itself, without having to connect to your PC! Its native video editor allows you editing functionality right on your phone with things like trimming and transitions. Plus, there are other features including AR Doodle, 3D Scanner, and even Night Mode on the Front Facing camera! And by the looks of all this, it’s doesn’t seem like a surprise that this phone made to the top of the DxOMark list.

Samsung does enjoy the top spot on the DxOMark list currently. But how long will it stay there is the big question. We have other flagship phones dropping in very soon. For instance, Huawei might want its top spot back with its Mate 30 Pro. And of course, the new iPhone XI are to arrive soon as well. And how can we forget the king of smartphone cameras, the Google Pixel 4XL? Let’s wait for the Game of Phones…

Samsung Galaxy M90: Another addition to the M-series

GadgetByte

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August 12, 2019

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Samsung Galaxy M90: Another addition to the M-series

The first half of the year, we saw Samsung‘s mid-range series; Galaxy M10, M20, M30, and the M40. Now, the rumors have it that Samsung will soon be launching Galaxy M10s, M20s, M30s, and the M40s; which will be the upgraded versions of the phones of the previous generation. However, a fresh leak reveals that Samsung is work on yet another smartphone of the same series; the Samsung Galaxy M90.

According to sources, the South Korean company has named M90 as model number SM-M905F. As of now, nothing is known about the specifications of the smartphone.

Although, we can claim that the Samsung Galaxy M90 will be exactly the same as the upcoming Galaxy A90. However, the M90 is expected to offer steller specs at an affordable price. The Galaxy A90 is going to have top-notch specs; no doubt. The phone will be fueled by Snapdragon 855 chipset and powered by a 4400 mAh battery. The phone will presumably come with a 6.7-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with an Infinity-U notch. Also, the rumor has it that the phone could come in 4G and 5G versions.

The specs could differ in some places however, as the Galaxy M90 will be a mid-range segment phone. Where things could differ is the processor. Galaxy M90 is likely to house a Snapdragon 730 chipset. A comparatively smaller battery of 4000 mAh; which is also not so bad. Adding to this, the screen could also differ with a hole-punch cutout for the front camera.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal

So, the Galaxy M90 is going official in October or November; according to reports. But, there is no information if Samsung will be shedding light on Galaxy M50, Galaxy M60, Galaxy M70, and Galaxy M80. Hopefully, we will get more details on M90 as its launch approaches near.

Also Watch: Samsung Galaxy A80 Review!

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No notch on the Google Pixel 4 XL, Leaked images show…

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August 12, 2019

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No notch on the Google Pixel 4 XL, Leaked images show…

Google’s current iteration of its Pixel-series is about to drop soon. And the rumors regarding the Google Pixel 4 series are left and right. There have been some renders of the Google Pixel 4 XL, and specs leaks as well. But the latest leaked images should arrive as good news to some. The Google Pixel 4 XL brings back the old-school bezels instead of the wide notch!

The Google Pixel 4 XL, also has other developments. It packs a super-thin chin and super thin side bezels as well. In comparison, the forehead is a bit thick to house all that is necessary. The forehead houses a single selfie camera, sensors for its 3D Facial Scanning, a Soli Radar chip, and a small speaker grill. It may be the couple of extra sensors that brought back the bezel instead of the notch, but I, for one, happen to like it!

google pixel 4xl spotted on airplane — Source: **Slash Leaks**

Also, there are other rumors about the device as well. According to sources, the Pixel 4 XL was spotted in an airplane. It most probably was a Google employee. And so, we have further details. There are details regarding the overall design language. The phone has the volume rocker on the right, above which, is an orange power button. The rear has a square-shaped camera housing with the triple camera setup. It means there will be a telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens, which is a first for Google’s flagships.

Also Read: Samsung unveils 108 MP Smartphone Camera Sensor

As for other leaks, the Google Pixel 4 XL will have the Snapdragon 855 with 6 GB RAM. Also, it the 5.7″ and 6.3″ OLED displays will be 90 Hz “Smooth Display”, similar to the OnePlus 7 Pro.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 & Note 10+ Launched; Available for Pre-booking in Nepal

All of these sound interesting, but I’m mostly anticipating the return of the bezels. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer them over notches. Are notches going to die soon? Very interesting…

Samsung unveils 108 MP Smartphone Camera Sensor

GadgetByte

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August 12, 2019

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Samsung unveils 108 MP Smartphone Camera Sensor

While many think a 64 MP camera on a smartphone is overkill, Samsung has other ideas. In fact, I, personally think they’re overkill as well, but our opinions don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. And so, Samsung brought a piece of earlier news into confirmation. There was word earlier that Xiaomi would launch a 108 MP camera in collaboration with Samsung. And so, Samsung has introduced the camera sensor to the world. It’s called the Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX. A Samsung 108 MP camera… imagine that!

With Realme and Redmi announcing 64 MP cameras, it was obvious that smartphone companies wouldn’t stop stuffing more megapixels into smartphone cameras. Both Realme and Redmi are using Samsung’s ISOCELL cameras, and while Samsung was soon going to jump on the 64 MP camera soon, they’re leading the camera technology, it seems.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal

Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX Overview

Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX has 0.8-micron pixels, which is about the same size as current 48 MP and 64 MP cameras. And like them, it also uses pixel binning to deliver pictures that are close to 1/4th of the number of megapixels. To be exact, it delivers shots that are comparable to 27 MP 1.6-micron pixel camera. Still, it is higher than what we get currently from smartphone cameras. The current 48 MP and 64 MP sensors also use pixel binning to deliver 12 MP and 16 MP 1.6-micron pixels images respectively.

What this means is the new Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX will probably be more or less similar with the 64MP sensors. However, it also means it will be much, much better in low light settings. It should make for better details and non-existent noise, at least, in theory.

The Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX maintains the same pixel size as the other 48 MP and 64 MP sensors due to the 1/1.33″ sensor size employed by the 108 MP camera sensor. This sensor is larger than Samsung’s 64 MP GW-1 and other 48 MP cameras, which are 1/1.72″ and 1/2″ respectively.

Also, the ISOCEll sensor makes use of Smart ISO technology. It’s able to shoot 6K videos at 30 fps! We’re only getting used to smartphones shooting 4K @60fps currently, but of course, it will soon find its use. However, there is no word on the 960 fps super slow-motion. And since, the 64 MP and 48 MP sensors don’t support the tech, there’s no way to tell.

According to Samsung, they will begin mass production of ISOCELL Bright HMX sensors later this month. So, maybe we’ll be able to see 108 MP cameras before the end of the year. And rumors have it that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 will be the first device to sport it too!

However, this technology might have a price… It could even be the reason for phones being expensive when they come out. So, what do you think about this? Would you buy a 108MP smartphone?

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 2019 goes on sale in Nepal – Updated outside, Updated inside

GadgetByte

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August 11, 2019

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Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 2019 goes on sale in Nepal – Updated outside, Updated inside

The Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 is Dell’s first 2-in-1 ultrabooks in the XPS lineup. Compared to the regular XPS 13, it not only offers a spec bump but also some major design changes. Neoteric, the authorized distributor of Dell products in Nepal, has finally made the Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 laptop in Nepal for what it seems like an exorbitant price.

Also read: Dell Laptops Price in Nepal

Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 (Late 2019) Overview

The Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 comes with the latest 10th Gen Ice Lake CPU from Intel which is based on 10nm fabrication. Because of this, it offers a significant boost over the 8th Gen CPUs both in performance and graphics department. And not just the performance, the XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 has a new keyboard, hinge and webcam placement.

Intel’s 10th Gen Ice Lake upgrade

Of all the things that changed, the Ice Lake upgrade is certainly the highlight here. These are the 10th gen CPUs in Intel’s low powered line of processors. They skipped out on the 9th Gen for some reason but that’s really none of our business. These 10th Gen Ice Lake CPUs are all based on 10nm, all of which sport hyperthreading, has a TDP of 15W, and offer an average of 20% – 30% boost in performance.

You now get to choose from three processors, the base variant being a Core i3-1005G1 model. This one comes with a boost clock speed of 3.4GHz and is a 2c/4t setup. The graphics chip on this one remains the same old Intel UHD @ 900MHz boost.

The next in line is a Core i5-1035G1. Basically, this has more cores and better boost speeds. It’s a four-core eight-thread setup, boost clock has increased to 3.6GHz but it still uses the same old Intel UHD graphics with an added boost clock of up to 1.05GHz.

And finally the star of the show, the Intel Core i7-1065G7, still a 4c/8t set up with a max boost speed of 3.9GHz but with Intel’s Iris Plus Graphics chip inside. The new Iris Plus graphics chip doubles the performance over its predecessor, the UHD 620. You can head over to Laptopmag for a detailed comparison, but for a quick reference, the UHD 620 pushing out 56fps on Dirt 3, while the Iris Plus delivered a 100fps on similar settings.

A second perfect example would be the 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited, 90,977 for the UHD 620, 112,379 for the Iris Plus and just 141,995 for the MX150. Don’t forget the MX150 is a dedicated GPU. It’s far from a dedicated graphics solution, but still a huge improvement none the less.

Display

Display options include a 13-inch FHD or 4k panel, all touch-enabled since it is a 2-in-1 laptop. The aspect ratio has changed to a 16:10, a bit odd but nothing to dwell upon. It now supports Dolby Vision HDR with brightness hovering at around 500 nits. The 4K version covers 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 1800:1 contrast ratio. The bezels have decreased as well, also a factor responsible for 7% more screen real state within a similar footprint.

Memory & Connectivity

Memory options start at 4GB all the way up to 32GB clocked @ 3733 MHz while storage space comes in at 256GB to a full terabyte of flash storage. For connectivity, you get two Thunderbolt 3 connectors, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 come as standard across all versions. And as for the battery, Dell has managed to fit in a 51Whr cell with a 45W ac adaptor for charging.

Other changes

Other changes include a new Maglev keyboard with a 1.3mm travel. It uses magnets to make the keyboard feel more satisfying and comfortable. They have also designed a two-fan cooling system to accommodate the upgraded internals. And the final change is the hinge, which has been improved for better/smoother transitions.

Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 (Late 2019) Price

These laptops are already available on the official Dell website which you can check out here. Pricing starts at $999 for the i3 version with 256GB SSD and 4GB of RAM. You can configure it all the way up to a Core i7 with 1TB of SSD and 32GB of memory, that one will cost you $2,650. But I think the $1,400 version with a Core i5, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD should do for most.

Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro are on the horizon

GadgetByte

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August 11, 2019

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Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro are on the horizon

Huawei is planning to refresh its top-of-the-line Mate family. Now that Samsung’s Note 10 pair is official, Huawei is set to launch the Mate 30 series. We knew nothing about the phone’s launch dates, until now. But according to Dr. Wang Chenglu – president of Huawei Consumer Business Software, the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro will be made official in Europe on September 19.

The new phones are boasting a new Kirin 990 chipset. These chips will increase the energy efficiency of the phones. An increase in power efficiency does make a lot of sense, as 990 chip is the first one built on TSMC’s 7nm EUV process. The EUV allows 20% greater transistor density and is likely to be more powerful and efficient. However, according to previous rumors, Kirin 985 chips would be used on the phones. But this might just be the same chip just with a different name for marketing purposes. We cannot say for certain.

Also Read: Huawei’s Harmony OS: Will it be able to keep up with Android?

Looking at other hardware parts, the Mate 30 Pro will also have a 4,200 mAh battery supporting 40W fast charging; which is the same as the Mate 20 Pro. It would be strange, however, if Huawei didn’t upgrade that. And the camera department also looks promising with triple rear camera setup; out of which two are 40 MP cameras.

Huawei is taking no chances to set the smartphone world on fire; as the Mate 30 Pro will feature a 6.71-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Huawei is also upgrading from the previous generation with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage; which is better than many of the phone currently in the market. plus, Huawei will ship Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro with Android Q underneath EMUI 11.

We can expect the devices to be expensive since the Mate 20 series was arguably the most premium line phones from Huawei, and Mate 30 series is an upgrade. However, we can expect Huawei to alter the pricing strategy with the current US-China trade war going strong.

Harmony OS: Will it be able to keep up with Android?

GadgetByte

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August 11, 2019

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Harmony OS: Will it be able to keep up with Android?

When Huawei was riding along with US’ Trade Bans, the whole world was looking at Huawei for an answer. And answer they did, with some hints, here and there, about their own Operating System. They did have a solid plan B, of course. We heard of a lot of rumors: from Hongmeng OS to Ark OS and as far as Sailfish OS. And even with all those speculations, once the ban was over, it went silent. But now, Huawei’s own operating system is reality – in the form of the Harmony OS.

Harmony OS Overview

Harmony OS is the final name for Huawei’s Hongmeng OS. The new open-source platform was announced in the annual Huawei’s Developer Conference. But it will remain Hongmeng inside China, though.

“It is the first micro-kernel based distributed operating system for all scenarios” as Huawei CEO, Richard Yu, put it. What this means is that this operating system uses fewer resources as possible. In turn, this means it will have faster-operating speeds and minimum latency levels.

This new platform supports all kinds of devices – from smartphones to computers, smartwatches to smart speakers, and even cars. For this very purpose, the system supports anything from RAM sizes of KBs to GBs. And it comes with TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) for better security across all devices. However, it doesn’t support Root Access.

The ARK compiler used in HarmonyOS was developed to replace ART and Dalvik VM, which caused Android “lag”. For the record, Android lag means the slow transitions and stutters, mostly seen on low-end phones, especially after some years of use. However, the ARK compiler still uses the same concept as Android (Android works as a Linux Virtual Machine on smartphones). For comparison, iOS works as a native OS, which is why iPhones don’t require higher specifications like high RAM or such than on Android. And it is the reason why iPhones don’t slow down after years of usage.

Huawei’s ARK compiler solves lag problems on Android by allowing Android to function as a native OS on smartphones. That is of course, what Huawei claims, and if it is indeed true, this means they’ve solved one of the major issues on Android.

In addition, Harmony OS will eventually, support a number of platforms. Mostly, all major programming languages like Java, JavaScript, C, C++, and Kotlin. Furthermore, it will also support apps from other platforms, i.e. it will run Android platforms soon.

First Harmony OS Device

We will be able to see Harmony OS first, on Huawei’s smart screen devices. The sub-brand Honor already unveiled two smart TVs – Honor Vision and Honor Vision Pro that run on HarmonyOS. These televisions will be available for purchase sometime this week in China. They will use the first iteration of the open-source platform, Harmony OS 1.0. And for the time being, Huawei’s plans are only limited to smart screens, but soon, they will be all over other smart devices.

Will it be able to replace Android?

According to Mr. Yu, HarmonyOS can replace Android on its smartphones at any time. But they have no plans to do so currently or the near future. Their phones will continue using Android for now, which is best for the customers and also there’s Google’s extensive app platform.

But if it comes to a state if Huawei will not be able to use Android in the future, then, they can easily switch to HarmonyOS. Also, Mr. Yu claims it won’t be that difficult. After all, the HarmonyOS was in the works since 2017, as a sort of plan B. And it will support all Android apps as well as HTML5 and Linux-based ones.

Of course, Huawei’s vision is to make HarmonyOS a global operating system in the future. The company shall soon begin providing dev kits to its partners and begin developing compatible apps. We’re sure more details will follow soon enough.

But with HarmonyOS already claiming to be able to solve the problems of Android, maybe, it will soon be able to replace it. The only thing we need to see is how willing are the users…