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Lenovo A5s: What does a $100 phone pack? – Our exclusive hands-on review!

GadgetByte

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January 18, 2019

Lenovo A5s: What does a $100 phone pack? – Our exclusive hands-on review!

The Lenovo A5 was a budget phone that launched a few months back in 2018. And for a budget phone, it was well received. The Chinese company is working on an upgraded version of the Lenovo A5, dubbed the Lenovo A5s. And while there are some rumors hanging around the budget phone, we have an exclusive first look for you!

Lenovo A5s Overview

The Lenovo A5s has a pretty old school design with bezels and a chin. Of course, for a budget phone, this is not uncommon either. The body is plastic with a glossy finish. The back panel is removable, and there is a removable battery inside – pretty uncommon these days. But given that the SIM slots are inside, that’s all well. There are two SIM slots – one micro and the other nano. There is an SD card slot inside as well.

The build of the phone looks good. The back panel is pretty stubborn to open too. The glossy finish attracts a lot of finger smudges though. The power button and volume buttons are on the right and overall, the phone looks good enough for the budget category.

The display is a 5.72″ IPS LCD panel with HD+ resolution but CPU-Z and My Device showed different pixel measurement. CPU-Z shows a standard of 1440 x 720 whereas My Device measures 1344 x 720. Nevertheless, the HD+ resolution on a budget phone is good enough.

In terms of camera, it packs a single 13 MP camera at the back and a 13 MP camera up front as well. This is a budget phone, so, I would not expect too much from the camera, though. However, the UI is very simple. There is only a normal mode, and not much else to see. I don’t know if this is only on the unit we got our hands on or all retailing models, but that’s that.

Under the hood, the phone runs on MT6761 processor, which is more commonly known as Helio A22 chipset. There is 2 GB RAM in it, and a 16 GB of onboard storage. But since there is a microSD card slot, it is not a deal breaker. However, the Lenovo A5 had a 3 GB RAM, so, we might also see another 3 GB variant of the phone as well.

We had seen the chipset on the Xiaomi Redmi 6A with the same RAM and storage configuration. Not just the hardware setup, the performance of the device was also identical. Light apps and games ran pretty smoothly and app switching was also pleasingly decent. So there is nothing much to complain here when the pricing is considered.

The phone runs on Android 9.0 Pie. And it is a bit surprising that it runs on the latest software when many high-end phones are yet to receive Android Pie updates. But it is there. How the device performs, we’ll let you know after a full review.

For now, this phone has not even launched anywhere, so, our unit could very well be a demo unit, too. Lenovo officials have cued the price of the phone to be around $100 and said to hit various market really soon. But till the day I reviewed, there was not any sort of official announcement or an official disclosure of the pricing.

Lenovo A5s Specifications

Design: Plastic body with a glossy back cover and aluminum frame
Display: 5.72″ IPS LCD with HD+ resolution (1440 x 720)
Rear Camera: Single, 13 MP
Front Camera: 13 MP
CPU: 2.0 GHz Quad-core MT6761 / Helio A22
GPU: PowerVR GE8300
RAM: 2 GB
Storage: 16 GB, expandable via microSD
Battery: 3000 mAh
OS: Android 9.0
Price: $100
Price in Nepal: Rs. 12,500

Understanding Pixel Binning in Smartphones featuring Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

GadgetByte

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January 17, 2019

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Understanding Pixel Binning in Smartphones featuring Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

These days, smartphones usually seem to focus on two things – getting that edge-to-edge display and fitting more cameras into the phone. Smartphone cameras have been getting better over the years, with AI this and AI that. But at one time, it will reach its limit. After all, there’s only so much software can do.

At some point, you need to improve the hardware as well. And so, these days, we can see some smartphones with large megapixels in their cameras. Now, that is probably to create a hype in the market, but nevertheless, they are there. But then again, the software also needs to work in tandem with the hardware. And to make effective use of the large megapixels, pixel binning seems to be the way.

While pixel binning is being used by some phones already, this topic is raised recently, because of the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 7. The supposed mid-range killer phone packs a Snapdragon 660 chipset but features a 48 MP camera at the back. But the Snapdragon 660 is not capable of processing that many megapixels from the camera. And so, pixel binning comes into play.

What is Pixel Binning?

Pixel Binning, actually, is pretty simple…it is just combining more pixels into 1 to make it a superpixel. But there is a lot more that goes into it behind the scenes.

And to understand that, we also need to know how camera sensors work. The general notion is that the larger the camera in terms of megapixel count, the better. Sharper pictures have more details even when zoomed in. Then, there are pixels to consider. That, too, differs in terms of camera sensors and digital output on your screen.

On a sensor, there is something called a Bayer filter. Which means there are red, green and blue filters on top – allowing these lights to pass through. These pixels are laid out in alternate patterns with the green filter occupying 50% and the other two occupying 25% each. So, the pixels are arranged in such a way that each pixel alternates in this way: Red-Green-Blue-Green, and so on. Without the Bayer filter, the images would come out monochrome.

Also Read: Understanding camera terms

These Red, Green and Blue pixels are combined into a single RGB pixel using a process called Demosaicing, generating your standard RGB colored picture in the digital format. Now, when the JPG picture is to be generated, pixel binning takes place during this demosaicing.

It takes 4 pixels, i.e. of a 2 x 2 grid and combines them into 1, so, the information gathered by 4 pixels is now contained by a single larger one, which means, the noise in each pixel are compressed while the details get sharper.

But squeezing the pixels also decreases the resolution. And so, a 40 MP camera would produce about 10 MP image. But that, still in itself, is a good usable picture, so, there’s nothing to worry about. However, this technology is not generally used in cameras with smaller megapixels, as it can significantly reduce the resolution of the pictures.

But binning actually has quite a few benefits. It immensely helps in low light photography, by compressing noise and details to make photos sharper. Each pixel gets its own light, so, when light from 4 pixels are combined into 1, the image should be better. It also helps to get good frame rates in videos by reducing the exposure time and reducing number of pixels to be measured. More benefits include improving the signal to noise ratio and improving High Dynamic Range.

The limitations of using the technology, in addition to it reducing the resolution, is that the camera lacks RAW output. That is you cannot produce RAW images from mobile phones unless the manufacturer lets you do it by disabling pixel binning, like the Huawei Mate 20 Pro.

But there are also other mathematics and whatnot that goes into image processing. So, this is only a small part of camera technology.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobiles price in Nepal

Redmi Note 7’s 48 MP Camera

And about the Redmi Note 7, whose chip cannot support the huge 48 MP camera’s outputs. The Samsung GM1 sensor used in it has Quad-Bayer filter, which means that the pixels are arranged in…let’s say, a quad-alternate way, which leads to the same pixel binning process as discussed. So, that’s how the processor can support a 48 MP camera. The Snapdragon 660 not being able to process a 48 MP image has nothing to do with the 48 MP hardware on it.

All in all, this means despite the claims of large megapixels in smartphone cameras, it is not always necessary that they produce the best of images. Now, we’re not saying the Redmi Note 7 will not produce good results. We just mean to say that, this is not only a marketing gimmick from Xiaomi – it definitely has a 48 MP camera, but at the same time, it will not produce as good photos as a real 48 MP camera!

Lava launches two new smartphones in Nepal

GadgetByte

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January 17, 2019

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Lava launches two new smartphones in Nepal

While Lava may not exactly a household name, they still hold a sizable mark in the smartphone market. And the same brand has recently launched two new smartphones in the Nepal market, namely Lava R5 and Lava R3 Note. Both of the smartphones are flagship devices in Lava’s smartphone lineup and accordingly packs some decent specs.

Lava R5

The Lava R5 comes with a host of features including a huge 6.22″ 19:9 HD+ display with a notch. Internals include the MediaTek Helio P22 Octa-Core SoC paired with the PowerVR GE8320 GPU. Besides, for an HD+ display, the GPU should have no problems. Furthermore, it comes equipped with 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB storage.

The smartphone has a 13+5MP dual rear camera setup on the back and the equally important dual LED flash. Talking about the selfie shooter, the front boasts a 13MP snapper, which looks enthralling when peeked into the hardware details. The selfie shooter is fitted with a wide f/2.0 lens. That’s not all, the most impressive feature here is the giant pixel size of 2.0μm. With large pixel size, each pixel gathers an abundant amount of light so the selfies look bright and vibrant. And this is surely one of the reasons why the Lava R5 is one of best budget camera smartphones available in Nepal in today’s date.

Talking about the selfie camera, this front snapper is also capable of capturing portrait selfies. So if you want your background blurred while taking selfies, the Lava R5 gets you all covered. The same front camera will be in charge of unlocking the smartphone as well. You also get a fingerprint reader to go with the face unlock.

The smartphone comes equipped with a headphone jack and a charger beside the speaker at the bottom. It runs on StarOS 5.1 with Android 8.1 on top. More importantly, it gets a 3260mAh battery with 10W fast charging. Lava claims the smartphone charges from 0 to 80% in 77 minutes and 100% in 102 minutes.

Lava R5 Specifications:

Display: 6.22-inch 19:9 HD+ panel
SoC: MediaTek Helio P22 MT6762
Processor: Octa-core 4 x2.0GHz Cortex A53, 4 x1.5Ghz Cortex A53
GPU: PowerVR GE8320, 650MHz
Rear Camera: 13+5 MP, f/2.0, Dual-LED flash
Front Camera: 16 MP, f/2.0, 2μm, Portrait lighting
RAM: 4GB LPDDR4X
Storage: 64GB
Security: Fingerprint, Face unlock
Network: 4G
OS: Star OS 5.1 based on Android 8.1
Battery: 3260mAh, 10W fast charging
Price: Rs 22,999

Lava R3 Note

While the Lava R3 Note may not be a flagship, it still borrows a lot of features from the R5. For instance, the display, SoC and battery are the same, with the exception of fast charging. The R3 Note also has to make do with just 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage.

Furthermore, it gets a 13MP f/2.0 single camera set up at the back and an 8MP f/2.0 selfie shooter at the front. This one also runs on Star OS 5.1 based on Android 8.1, although we would have loved to see it run on Android Go.

Lava R3 Note Specifications:

Display: 6.22-inch 19:9 HD+ panel
SoC: MediaTek Helio P22 MT6762
Processor: Octa-core 4 x2.0GHz Cortex A53, 4 x1.5Ghz Cortex A53
GPU: PowerVR GE8320, 650MHz
Rear Camera: 13MP f/2.0, portrait lighting
Front Camera: 8MP f/2.0, portrait lighting
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 16GB with an option for storage expansion
Security: Fingerprint, Face unlock
Network: 4G
OS: Star OS 5.1 based on Android 8.1
Battery: 3260mAh
Price: Rs 17,999

Lava R5 and Lava R3 Note Availability

Talking about the price, the Lava R5 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage will cost you Rs. 22,999 on the purchase. Similarly, Lava R3 Note has been tagged with the price of Rs. 17,999. As far as the availability is concerned, both the smartphones will be available in the retail stores starting from 20th of January 2019.

Sony Alpha A6400 unveiled: Real-Time Eye AF and Tracking, World’s Fastest AF

GadgetByte

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January 17, 2019

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Sony Alpha A6400 unveiled: Real-Time Eye AF and Tracking, World’s Fastest AF

Sony is making a revolution in the camera world with its mirrorless cameras. The Japanese tech giant has already astounded many with the features packed in its cameras. And it does not seem to stop any time soon. Sony recently unveiled the Sony Alpha A6400 mirrorless camera with an impressive list of features and specs. Despite being a mid-range device, the camera features real-time eye autofocus, real-time tracking, and the world’s fastest autofocus. But what more does the camera offers? Let’s find out here.

Sony Alpha a6400 Overview

As the name suggests, the Sony Alpha A6400 is not the direct successor the fan-loved A6500. The mirrorless camera is here to replace the popular A6300 with a plentiful of amazing features.

The camera is provided with a latest and powerful Bionz X processor, which is also present in Sony’s top-of-the-line Alpha A9 and the fan-loved Alpha A7 III & A7R III devices. So the image processing here will be 1.8x times faster than that on the A6300. That’s not all, Sony also claims to have improved the color accuracy. Not just the image processing, the autofocus on this device is also equally snappy. The Sony Alpha A6400 flaunts an autofocus speed of 0.02 seconds, which is the fastest autofocus in the world in today’s date.

Furthermore, Sony has also introduced Real-Time Eye AF with AI-based subject recognition, which is the first time on any Sony devices. With this new autofocus technology, the A6400 promises to deliver even more accurate and faster autofocusing than the previous generation of its Eye AF system. Moreover, Sony has now increased the versatility of the device with the inclusion of priority mode to set autofocusing on left or on the right eye. For best better autofocusing, Sony has also incorporated 425 PDAF and 425 CDAF point, which makes 84% coverage on the image area.

“In all autofocus modes, the camera now automatically detects the eyes of the subject and activates Eye AF with a half press of the shutter button, and when in AF-C or AF-A mode, the preferred eye (left or right) of your subject can be selected as the focus point,” Sony says. “Choices include Auto / Right Eye / Left Eye, and a Switch Right / Left Eye function is able to be assigned to a custom function as well.”

Talking about the sensor, the camera features a 24MP Sony Exmor Sensor. And like all of the Sony Alpha A6000 series devices, the sensor on the A6400 is also an APS-C one. So you should also consider the crop factor while looking for the camera lenses.

sony alpha a6400 display — Sony Alpha A6400 flip-up touchscreen

sony alpha a6400 back — Sony Alpha A6400 back

On the display front, the Sony A6400 comes with a 3-inch TFT display. The display here is an articulating one, you can capture selfies as well. The tilting display (180-degrees) here is also expected to lure the videographers and vloggers.

For video, the a6400 can shoot internal UHD 4K with full pixel readout and no pixel binning. The camera collects “about 2.4x the amount of data required for 4K movies, and then oversamples it to produce high-quality 4K footage with exceptional detail and depth,” Sony says. 1080p Full HD can be shot at 120fps and up to 100Mbps.

Despite being a midrange device, the camera is capable of recording 4K movies as well. However, the 4K videos can be recorded only on 30fps. But on scaling the resolution down to Full-HD, users can record videos up to 120fps. So you can capture Full-HD slo-mo videos on 4x @ 30fps and 5x @ 24fps as well.

Also Read: Sony Cameras Price in Nepal

Sony Alpha a6400 Specifications:

Camera Weight: 453 grams
Image Sensor: 23.5 x 15.6 mm, 24.2MP, Exmor CMOS, APS-C
Pixel Size (Approx.): 3.92 microns
Image processor: Bionz X
Screen: 3-inch TFT, 921,600 dots, Touch Screen, Flip-up touchscreen
Viewfinder: Electronic, 100% coverage, 2,359,296 dots
Stabilization: No built-in stabilization
AF System: 425 CDAF + 425 PDAF points; 84% of image area; 0.02 seconds of AF acquisition
ISO Range: 100-32000
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 – 30 seconds
Continuous Shoot: 11 frames/sec; 8 frames/sec (silent shooting with AF?AE tracking)
Video Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 1280 x 720 pixels
Video Frame Rate: 3840 x 2160 pixels (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 pixels (120p, 100p, 60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Built-in flash: Yes; External Flash support: Yes
Compatible Lenses: Sony AP-S, Sony AP-C, Sony MF lenses
Environmental Shielding: Yes
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Type C Mini HDMI Connector, Micro USB 2.0, 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Battery Type: Li-ion, Rechargeable
Battery Life (Approx.): 410 shots
Price – $899 (Body Only)

Sony Alpha A6400 Price and Availability in Nepal

Soon after the launch the device in the international market, we had a conversation with an official of the Nepa Hima Trade Link (authorized distributor of Sony products in Nepal). And on asking about the potential launch of the device, he said that the device will launch in Nepal in April of 2019.

We also had a brief discussion regarding its probable price in Nepal. He explicitly disclosed the price to be some 5 to 10 thousand more after the direct international translation. So considering the fluctuations in dollar rates, we can expect the device to cost somewhere around Rs. 1, 00,000 to Rs. 1, 20,000 when it hits the Nepali market. So are you guys excited for the Sony Alpha A6400? Please let us know in the comment section.

Best Budget Camera Smartphones in Nepal

GadgetByte

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January 17, 2019

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The craze for camera smartphones is increasing day by day. Having a good camera smartphone is a matter of pride these days. Our life has been dependent so much on cameras these days. Taking photos instead of scanning printed documents, translating documents, taking photos in order to report suspicious person or activity, to compare price in the market or confirming the item of your search, the list goes on. Also taking photos and posting in the social media is still trending. Having a good camera smartphone helps us do such things with ease. With a view to saving your time, we have narrowed down a list of best budget camera smartphones in Nepal.

Xiaomi Redmi S2

The Redmi S2 has recently received a price drop in Nepal and at the new price, the smartphone is an absolute bargain if you are looking for a good budget camera smartphone.

When it comes to the megapixel count, the setup looks similar to that on the Redmi Note 5 AI with 12MP main camera backed by 5MP depth sensor. However, the hardware setup is different. The aperture here is slightly narrower at f/2.2 and the pixel size is slightly smaller (1.25μm). Nonetheless, the images captured from the phone looks amazingly great. And since there is a capable Snapdragon 625 chipset on the board, the image processing is also snappy here. The camera on the smartphone is also EIS-enabled. So the videos recorded from the phone remain free from shakes and vibration. So you can perform handheld video shootings as well.

On the selfie front, the smartphone truly shines. The Redmi S2 comes with an AI-powered 16MP front snapper. The selfie shooter captures some awe-inspiring images with an appreciable sharpness. And since the selfie shooter is Artificially Intelligent, removing the facial blemishes and acne on the real-time is also possible.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI

When it comes to the budget camera smartphones, the Redmi Note 5 AI is one of the capable performers, which doesn’t put a hole in your pocket (I am talking about the 3/32GB variant here).

The smartphone boasts a dual camera setup at the back accompanied by Dual-LED flash. The primary camera features a 12MP sensor, which is relatively large with 1/2.55 inch of size. The pixel size of 1.4µm is equally impressive here as a larger pixel summons a substantial amount of light and the captured images also pack abundant details. The second camera here possesses a typical depth sensor, which garners depth information of the subject while capturing the portrait images. And with both cameras in action, the smartphone is capable of taking some amazing portrait images.

When it comes to the videos, the smartphone truly shines. The smartphone features EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) due to which the captured images remain free from shakes and vibration which is usually the case while capturing videos with a free hand.

Taking about the selfie camera, there’s a 13MP camera. The front snapper is not just rich in megapixel counts but also gathers abundant facial details into the images. And despite the absence of dual selfie camera, the handset is capable of capturing portrait selfies as well.

Samsung Galaxy J7 Duo

The J7 series of smartphones is one of the most popular series in Samsung’s lineup. And on 2018, Samsung crowned its popular smartphone series with a fancy dual camera setup at the back. And with this setup, the smartphone looks really compelling, especially in the camera front.

Going by the specs, the Galaxy J7 Duo embraces a camera duo at the back. The camera pair is a combination of 13MP and 5MP sensors, both of them are fitted with a lens of f/1.9 aperture. So with a large aperture on the board, the lens allows greater amount of light to strike into the sensor. So the captured images look really bright and lively.

And with the twin camera on the board, the rear camera is capable of capturing portrait images as well. Despite the presence of dual camera, even the selfie shooter here captures some astounding portrait images. As far as selfie shooter is concerned, the 8MP snapper on the front gets the job done. The front shooter is also accompanied by an LED flash. So even in the low light settings, the Galaxy J7 Duo gets you all covered.

Sony Xperia X

The Sony Xperia X was priced at Rs. 32,500 when it was launched. Now the handset is on the shelf of Daraz at 43% discounted rate. And hence, the smartphone made it to our list of best budget camera smartphones.

Going by the specs, the smartphone comes with a 23MP shooter on the back. When all the smartphones on our list are boasting a dual camera setup at the back, the Sony Xperia X lacks that feature. Despite the absence of the secondary rear camera, the handset captures amazing images. And with the 23MP camera on the board, you’ll get high-res images, which are abundantly rich when it comes to the details.

Talking about the selfie camera, there is a 13MP selfie shooter with a wide f/2.0 aperture. The sensor is also large in size with a sensor size of 1/3″, so the captured images will look really sharp with substantial facial details.

Lava R5

Lava smartphones may not be that well known in the Nepali market. But when it comes to the cameras, they have always strived to offer more. And Lava R5 is one of such smartphones, which promises to cater more in the camera department.

When it comes to the rear cameras, the Lava R5 is another smartphone on our list with two cameras at the back. The camera pair consists of a 13MP primary sensor coupled with a 5MP secondary or the depth sensor. With both cameras triggered, the Lava R5 captures some captivating portrait images.

On inspecting the front side of the phone, you will be greeted with a 13MP selfie shooter. Unlike most of the budget camera smartphones out there, the Lava R5 embraces the sensor with a large pixel size of 2.0μm. So with the large pixel size, the pixel garners plentiful of light. Also, the captured selfies pack lavish amount of facial details. Furthermore, the handset is capable of capturing portrait selfies as well.

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Deal Alert: Four Xiaomi smartphones received price drop in Nepal

GadgetByte

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January 16, 2019

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Deal Alert: Four Xiaomi smartphones received price drop in Nepal

The Redmi S2 has recently received a price drop in Nepal. Well, the Redmi S2 no longer remains the sole handset in Xiaomi’s lineup to receive the price cut. Xiaomi further slashed the price of four other smartphones. And looking at the new prices, the smartphones look really irresistible.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobiles Price in Nepal

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI

The Redmi Note 5 AI was one of the best performing midrange smartphones of 2018. The handset proved itself really praiseworthy in a number of aspects in its price segment. And even in today’s date, the smartphone looks absolutely compelling. Now with the recent price drop, the smartphone has been one of the unrivaled midrange smartphones in the market to offer the best value for money.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Specifications:

Display: 5.99-inch IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection
Resolution: Full-HD+ (1080 x 2160 pixels)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
CPU: 1.8 GHz Octa-core
OS & UI: Android Oreo 8.0 with MIUI 9.0 on the top
RAM: 3/4GB
Storage: 32/64GB, up to 128GB expandable storage (uses SIM 2)
Rear Camera: 5MP + 12MP, LED flash
Front Camera:13MP with f/2.0 with LED flash
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, gyro, IR blaster, Fingerprint
Battery: 4,000mAh
Price (4GB/64GB): 27,499 26,499
Price (3GB/32GB): 23,499 21,999

Xiaomi MI A2 Lite

It is really hard to find a budget phone with the stock Android. But in that rare list of such phones, Xiaomi MI A2 Lite places itself in quite an appreciable position.

The handset boasts a capable Snapdragon 625 chipset with 3/4GB of RAM. On the memory front, you will get either 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage. However, Xiaomi has announced the price drop only for its 3/32GB variant. Since you have an SD card slot to expand the internal storage further, there is nothing to worry about.

The smartphone also boasts a tall and sharp 5.84-inch display with Full-HD+ resolution. So the content will look really sharp. The smartphone also flaunts a massive 4000mAh battery to provide a prolonged backup.

Xiaomi MI A2 Lite Specifications:

Display: 5.84-inch IPS display
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2280×1080 pixels)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
CPU: Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
RAM: 3GB/4GB
Storage: 32GB/64GB; Expandable up to 256GB via SD card (dedicated slot)
OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo) Android One
Rear Camera: Dual camera –(12 MP, f/2.2, 1.25 μm, PDAF) + (5 MP, f/2.2, 1.12 μm, depth sensor), LED flash
Front Camera: 5MP, f/2.0
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery: 4000mAh
Price (3/32GB): Rs. 20,999 19,999

Xiaomi Redmi 6

Budget phones and a good processor, it is a rare story. Well, the Xiaomi Redmi 6 is an exception here. The smartphone comes with a capable MediaTek Helio P22 chipset paired with 3GB of RAM. With this setup, the smartphone can outperform almost all the smartphones available at a similar price.

Moreover, the smartphone comes with a dual camera setup at the back. And with the dual cameras in action, users can capture portrait images as well. The smartphone also has Face Unlock and a fingerprint sensor. So even on the security front, you are all covered.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Specifications:

Display: 5.45″ IPS LCD display
Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1440 pixels)
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P22
CPU: 2.0 GHz Octa-core
RAM: 3 GB
Storage: 32 GB / 64 GB (expandable up to 256 GB via micro SD)
Rear Camera: 12 MP lens with PDAF, f/2.2 aperture + 5 MP depth sensor
Front Camera: 5 MP
OS & UI: Android Oreo 8.1 with MIUI 9
Battery: 3000 mAh
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyro, proximity, compass
Price (3/32 GB): 16,499 15,499

Xiaomi Redmi 6A

The Redmi 6A is an affordable version of the Redmi 6. However, there are also a fair number of compromises on the device. The presence of the less powerful Helio A22 chipset, absence of dual camera setup, and the absence of the fingerprint sensor is definitely disappointing. But considering the price, you couldn’t ask for more.

Xiaomi Redmi 6A specifications:

Display: 5.45″ IPS LCD display
Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1440)
Chipset: MediaTek Helio A22
CPU: 2.0 GHz Quad-core
OS & UI: Android Oreo 8.1 with MIUI 9
RAM: 2 GB
Storage: 16 GB (expandable up to 256 GB via microSD)
Rear Camera: 13 MP lens with PDAF, f/2.2 aperture
Front Camera: 5 MP with f/2.2 aperture
Battery: 3000 mAh
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, IR blaster
Price: Rs. 12,999 11,999

Samsung Galaxy S10 trio will feature LPDDR5 RAM, but what does it mean?

GadgetByte

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January 15, 2019

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Samsung Galaxy S10 trio will feature LPDDR5 RAM, but what does it mean?

Last year, Samsung showed us the world’s first LPDDR5 memory chips for the next generation of flagship smartphones. Naturally, we’d expect the new Galaxy S10 devices to come with this new memory technology. But what does LPDDR5 actually mean? More so, for us, laymen?

For starters, they are supposed to be as much as 10% more power efficient compared to LPDDR4X chips. So, in theory, they should help in attaining better battery life for your next smartphone. Also, the new technology is about 1.5x faster than it’s predecessor, claiming data transfer speeds of up to 6400 MBPS, which results in an overall faster performance.

So, the LPDDR5 memory, if it makes its way to your next smartphone, will make it faster while consuming less battery. But we hear about better performance and power effeciency year after year on different platforms – be it RAMs, processors and the likes… So, what else do we get?

AI-powered applications

Samsung, the company that introduced and is currently manufacturing these high bandwidth chips have plans for it, obviously. The first is the improvement in AI-powered applications. And AI is this sea of crunching numbers after numbers, which requires a lot of power. Faster RAM equals faster performance equals faster response, right? With the whole industry moving towards AI, this seems evident.

5G connectivity

Samsung also says the faster LPDDR5 memory will help with 5G connectivity. We already know one of the three devices from the S10 lineup will feature 5G connectivity, which should benefit from this new technology (LPDDR5). While the Snapdragon 855 chip will need another modem to support 5G, the LPDDR5 RAM should help in reducing the latency between the chip and the modem and other technical things that go inside smartphones. Off-topic: A few rumors suggest the new 5G Samsung phone will stay exclusive to Verizon network for the first few months.

Conclusion

So, to conclude, the LPDDR5 chips are faster, consumes less power and helps with AI-powered applications & 5G enabled smartphones. Should the new memory standards make its way to your next Samsung flagship, be sure to check for these improvements and get back to us.

OFFICIAL: Huawei Watch GT Launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

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January 15, 2019

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OFFICIAL: Huawei Watch GT Launched in Nepal

Huawei’s mostly known for its range of smartphones, but it does have a few smartwatches too. The latest addition is the Huawei Watch GT, which has already launched and available in purchase in other parts of the world. And now, the Huawei Watch GT has made its way to Nepal.

The Huawei Watch GT is a more fitness-focused watch rather than your full-fledged smartwatch like the Samsung Galaxy Watch. But it also lets you do quite a lot of things as well. There are two models to choose from – a Huawei Watch GT Classic and a Sports version. But the Classic variant is very hard to come across. So, just like in the international markets, the one coming to Nepal might be the Sports version.

The watch is pretty big, measuring 46.5 mm and there’s only that one option available. But it also has a big 1.39″ AMOLED screen, which is pretty bright and visible around daylights. And packs a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels that should be more than adequate for a smartwatch. There are two buttons on the side for navigation, but you’ll have to interact with the touchscreen for the most part.

Inside, you have a 16 MB RAM and 128 MB storage. Which clarifies the fact that you can’t do a lot of things on it, like on Galaxy Watches. It is mostly fitness centered with its central app being called Workouts which includes varieties of workouts like Running, Walking, Swimming, Climbing and stuff – with both indoors and outdoors options. But alongside it, there are your regular smartwatch functions like compass, alarm, flashlight, phone finder, etc.

Meanwhile, check all the prices and specs of Huawei smartwatches

In addition, this time, Huawei went with their own software, Light OS for this smartwatch. And the OS gives you only limited options. There are no 3rd party app support or Play Store apps like on the ones with Google’s Wear OS. However, the most impressive thing about this watch is its battery life. It packs a large 420 mAh battery, and Huawei claims it lasts close to a month on a single charge. Considering it doesn’t do much, it is believable too.

Huawei Watch GT Price in Nepal

This watch costs about $230 internationally, but there are a lot of discounted prices going around. And in Nepal too, the price has been set very competitively at Rs. 19,990.

Deal Alert: Xiaomi Redmi S2 on the shelf of SastoDeal now at a compelling price

GadgetByte

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January 14, 2019

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Deal Alert: Xiaomi Redmi S2 on the shelf of SastoDeal now at a compelling price

Under the price of Rs. 25,000, we have never forgotten to include Xiaomi Redmi S2 on our list. The smartphone is one of the best value-for-money devices for the price. Now the device is on the shelf on SastoDeal at a price cheaper than what we usually see on the market. And for the new price, the device looks absolutely compelling.

Xiaomi Redmi S2 Overview

The major highlight of the phone is its cameras. The Redmi S2 features a dual camera setup at the back, which incorporates 12MP and 5MP sensors. The secondary one here is a depth sensor, which garners depth information while capturing the portrait images. And since there is a dedicated camera for the depth info, you will get amazing portrait images with natural-like blurs on the background. The smartphone is also equally intriguing when it comes to the videos. It can capture Full-HD videos at 30fps at max. But the best part here is the presence of Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), which is a rare feature for its price. The EIS on the device suppresses shakes and vibrations in the videos so that the movies recorded from the device looks quite stable.

Even on the selfie front, you will get a decent shooter out there. The 16MP snapper on the front does really a good job. There is also a dedicated LED flash on the front. So even in the low light settings, you don’t have to worry about taking selfies.

Talking about the performance, the handset comes with a capable Snapdragon 625 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. On the storage side of things, you will get 64GB of onboard storage with a dedicated SD card slot to expand things further. There is a 3GB/32GB variant available in the market. But since there is no any sort of offer on it, I would like to skip it here.

With the SD625 & 4GB RAM combo, all the lights apps and games run at an absolute fluidity. Even while playing some high-end games, you will only notice minor lags and stutter. So considering the price, Redmi S2 is surely one of the best performers out there. And if you are a gamer, the smartphone won’t disappoint.

Talking about the display, the handset embraces a tall 6-inch display in an 18:9 aspect ratio. And good things here is, there is no any sort of notch or cutouts on the display. So the display on this device looks all clean and appealing. The display on the handset features HD+ resolution, which is a usual case for a typical budget-oriented smartphone.

Xiaomi has also been generous on providing the necessary sensors on the device. The Redmi S2 comes with all the primary sensors like fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass. And when it comes to the battery, a 3080mAh non-removable battery keeps the device running. Since there is an efficient processor and an HD display, which consumes less power, the battery on the devices promises a prolonged backup.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mobiles Price in Nepal

Xiaomi Redmi S2 Specifications:

Display: 5.99 inches IPS LCD
Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1440 pixels) @ 18:9 aspect ratio
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
CPU: Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
RAM: 3/4GB
Storage: 32/64 GB; Expandable up to 256GB with micro SD card (Dedicated Slot)
OS & UI: Android Oreo (v8.1) with MIUI 9.5 on the top
Rear Camera: 12MP (f/2.2, 1.25μm, PDAF) + 5MP, gyro-EIS, phase detection autofocus, LED flash
Front Camera: 16MP (2.0µm), LED flash
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 3080 mAh battery with fast charging support (5V/2A)
Market Price: Rs. 23,499 (4GB/64GB)
SastoDeal Price: Rs. 20,999 (4GB/64GB)

Oppo to announce a 10x hybrid optical zoom technology on January 16

GadgetByte

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January 14, 2019

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Oppo to announce a 10x hybrid optical zoom technology on January 16

Oppo is investing a lot of money in RnD and has extensively focused on innovation. About two years ago, the company announced the world’s first 5x optical zoom camera for a smartphone. While we are yet to see a market-ready smartphone with that feature, they seem ready to announce a camera with 10x optical zoom.

The media invite shows the event will take place in Beijing, China on January 16. A quick translation of the image below reads “Ten for see OPPO 2019 Future Technology Communication Conference, January 16th, China Beijing”. This only further cements our speculations about what upcoming event will deliver.

We currently don’t have any information regarding how this zoom technology will exactly work. Currently, its 5X zoom technology works with a 90-degree prism directing the light to a vertically positioned camera sensor from a 5P lens. In addition, an OIS unit is installed at the end, which meant stabilization should work even at full zoom.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S10 launch date, price, rumors and more

According to recent rumors, the upcoming Oppo R19, and R19 pro will come equipped with this new technology. Furthermore, both phones will feature triple camera setup and will come powered by a Snapdragon 670 SoC. Sadly, rest of the specs about the upcoming flagship duo remain unknown.

UK, OPPO mobile has landed!
We combine cutting edge #Technology, #Innovation and #Creativity into every smartphone, so you can light up the New Year in #Style. pic.twitter.com/YlR06dKdZG

— OPPO Mobile UK (@OPPOMobileUK) January 8, 2019

In other news, OPPO mobiles have made its way to the UK. A tweet from their fresh new twitter handle for the country reads: “UK, OPPO mobile has landed!”. Buyers in the United Kingdom should expect the OPPO RX17 Pro and the OPPO Find X to reach their stores very soon.

Finally, we can expect a smartphone, probably the R19 and R19 Pro to launch at MEC 2019. Hopefully, the flagship duo will come with the 10x optical zoom feature that we will see on January 16.