Page 714 – GadgetByte Nepal

Sony Mobiles Price in Nepal [Updated]

GadgetByte

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January 21, 2019

The Japanese smartphone giant, Sony is not a new name in the Nepali smartphone market. With its innovative approach to design water-resistant smartphones, it had created an enthralling wave once. Even now, the new Sony smartphones are equipped with a good set of cameras to fascinate people with its astounding photo shoots. These features have lured some of the Nepali smartphone enthusiasts too. And to fuel such interests, Nepa Hima Trade Link (the authorized distributor of Sony products in Nepal) occasionally brings exciting offers for the potential buyers.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

Dimension: 156 x 77 x 7.9 mm; Weight: 195 g
Display: 5.5 inches IPS LCD; Triluminos Display; HDR10 Compliant with Gorilla Glass 5 Protection (Screen & Back panel)
Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) @807ppi
OS: Android 7.1 (Nougat), planned upgrade to Android Oreo (8.0)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Chipset
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.45 GHz & 4×1.9 GHz)
GPU: Adreno 540 GPU
RAM: 4GB RAM
Storage: 64GB internal storage, Expandable up to 256GB
Rear Camera: 19 MP with f/2.0, 1/2.3″ sensor size, 25mm, EIS (gyro), predictive phase detection and laser autofocus
Front Camera: 13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3″ sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size
Sensors: Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass, color spectrum
Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3230 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0
Price: Rs. 80,500

Sony Xperia XZs

Dimension: 146 x 72 x 8.1 mm; Weight: 161 g
Display: 5.2 inches IPS LCD with Gorilla Glass Protection
Resolution: Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
OS: Android 7.1 (Nougat)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
CPU: Quad-core (2×2.15 GHz & 2×1.6 GHz)
GPU: Adreno 530 GPU
RAM: 4GB RAM
Storage: 64GB internal storage, Expandable up to 256GB
Rear Camera: 19MP with f/2.0, EIS, Predictive Phase Detection and Laser Auto Focus, LED Flash
Front Camera: 13 MP, f/2.0
Sensors: Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass, color spectrum
Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 2900 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0
Price: Rs. 55,000

Sony Xperia XZ

Dimension: 146 x 72 x 8.1 mm; Weight: 161 g
Display: 5.2 inches Triluminous IPS LCD with Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Resolution: Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
OS: Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
CPU: Quad-core (2×2.15 GHz & 2×1.6 GHz)
GPU: Adreno 530 GPU
RAM: 3GB RAM
Storage: 64GB internal storage, Expandable up to 256GB
Rear Camera: 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm, Phase Detection and Laser Autofocus, LED Flash
Front Camera: 13 MP
Sensors: Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass, color spectrum
Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 2900 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0
Price: Rs. 52,500

Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra

Dimension: 163 x 80 x 9.5 mm; Weight: 221 g
Display: 6.0 inches IPS LCD with Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Resolution: Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
OS: Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
CPU: Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: Adreno 508 GPU
RAM: 4GB RAM
Storage: 64GB internal storage, Expandable up to 256GB (SIM2 Slot)
Rear Camera: 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3″, PDAF
Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.0, OIS) + 8MP (f/2.4)
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 3,580mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0
Price: Rs. 40,000

Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra

Dimension: 165 x 79 x 8.1 mm; Weight: 188 g
Display: 6.0 inches IPS LCD with Scratch-resistant Glass
Resolution: Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
OS: Android Nougat (7.0), planned upgrade to Android Oreo (8.0)
Chipset: MediaTek MT6757
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4×1.6 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU: Mali-T880 MP2
RAM: 4GB RAM
Storage: 64GB internal storage, Expandable up to 256GB
Rear Camera: 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm, Phase Detection Autofocus and LED Flash
Front Camera: 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.6″ sensor size, OIS, autofocus, LED flash
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 2700 mAh battery with Fast charging with Pump Express+ 2.0
Price: Rs. 40,500

Sony Xperia XA2

Dimension: 142 x 70 x 9.7 mm; Weight: 171 g
Display: 5.2 inches IPS LCD with Gorilla Glass 4
Resolution: Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
OS: Android Oreo (8.0)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
CPU: Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: Adreno 508 GPU
RAM: 3GB RAM
Storage: 32GB internal storage, Expandable up to 256GB
Rear Camera: 23MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, LED flash
Front Camera: 8MP front camera with f/2.4 aperture
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 3,300 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0
Price: Rs. 31,500

Sony Xperia X

Dimension: 142.7 x 69.4 x 9.7 mm; Weight: 153 g
Display: 5 inches Triluminos IPS LCD
Resolution: Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
OS: Android Oreo (8.0)
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 650
RAM: 3GB RAM
Storage: 64GB internal storage, Expandable up to 200GB
Rear Camera: 23MP with Exmor RS sensor, 1/2.3″ sensor, f/2.0 lens, Predictive Hybrid AF, LED Flash
Front Camera: 13MP with 1/3” Exmor RS sensor, 22mm wide-angle f/2.0 lens
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 2630mAh Battery with Qnovo’s Adaptive Charging technology
Price: Rs. 18,500

Sony Xperia XA1

Dimension: 145 x 67 x 8 mm; Weight: 143 g
Display: 5.2 inches IPS LCD with Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution: Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
OS: Android Nougat (7.0), planned upgrade to Android Oreo (8.0)
Chipset: MediaTek MT6757 Helio P20
CPU: Octa-core (4×2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4×1.6 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU: Mali T880-MP2
RAM: 3GB RAM
Storage: 32GB internal storage, Expandable up to 256GB
Rear Camera: 23MP rear camera with Exmor RS sensor, 1/2.3″ sensor, f/2.0 lens, Predictive Hybrid AF
Front Camera: 8MP front-facing camera with 1/4” sensor size, f/2.0 lens
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 2,300 mAh battery
Price: Rs. 14,000

Sony Xperia XA Ultra

Dimension: 164 x 79 x 8.4 mm; Weight: 202 g
Display: 6.0 inches IPS LCD
Resolution: Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels)
OS: Android Marshmallow 6.0
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P10
GPU: Mali T860MP2
RAM: 3GB RAM
Storage: 16GB internal storage, Expandable up to 200GB
Rear Camera: 21.5MP Primary Camera with LED flash
Front Camera: 16MP front-facing camera with LED flash
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 2,700 mAh battery
Price: Rs. 14,500

Sony Xperia L2

Dimension: 150 x 78 x 9.8 mm; Weight: 178 g
Display: 5.5 inches IPS LCD with corning gorilla glass 4 protection
Resolution: HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
OS: Android Nougat 7.1.1
Chipset: MediaTek MT6737T
CPU: Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: Mali T860MP2
RAM: 3GB RAM
Storage: 32GB internal storage, Expandable up to 200GB
Rear Camera: 13 MP with f/2.0 aperture, LED flash
Front Camera: 8 MP front-facing camera, f/2.4 aperture
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 2,700 mAh battery
Price: Rs. 14,500

Sony Xperia L1

Dimension: 151 x 74 x 8.7 mm; Weight: 180 g
Display: 5.5 inches IPS LCD with corning gorilla glass 4 protection
Resolution: HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
OS: Android Marshmallow 6.0
Chipset: MediaTek MT6737T
CPU: Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: Mali T860MP2
RAM: 3GB RAM
Storage: 32GB internal storage, Expandable up to 200GB
Rear Camera: 13MP with f/2.2 aperture, LED Flash
Front Camera: 5 MP, f/2.2 aperture
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 2620 mAh battery
Price: Rs. 12,000

Sony Xperia XA

Dimension: 143.6 x 66.8 x 7.9mm; Weight: 137.4 g
Display: 5.0 inches IPS LCD with corning gorilla glass 4 protection
Resolution: HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
OS: Android Marshmallow 6.0
Chipset: MediaTek Helio P10 processor
GPU: Mali T860MP2
RAM: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16GB internal storage, Expandable up to 200GB
Rear Camera: 13MP with 1/3” IMX258 Exmor RS sensor, LED Flash
Front Camera: 8MP with Sony IMX219 Exmor R sensor, 88-degree wide-angle lens
Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 2300 mAh battery with Qnovo’s Adaptive Charging technology
Price: Rs. 17,000

Sony Xperia Mobile Price in Nepal (Summary)

Sony Xperia Models	Price in Nepal
Sony Xperia XZ Premium	Rs. 80,500
Sony Xperia XZs	Rs. 55,000
Sony Xperia XZ	Rs. 52,500
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra	Rs. 40,000
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra	Rs. 40,500
Sony Xperia XA2	Rs. 31,500
Sony Xperia X	Rs. 24,000
Sony Xperia XA1	Rs. 20,000
Sony Xperia XA Ultra	Rs. 20,000
Sony Xperia L2	Rs. 21,000
Sony Xperia L1	Rs. 12,000
Sony Xperia XA	Rs. 17,000

Where to Buy Sony Xperia Mobile in Nepal?

If are planning to have one of the aforementioned Sony Xperia Smartphone then you can visit the Sony showrooms. You can find Sony showrooms in Kantipath, Labim Mall (Second Floor) or in Jawalakhel or you can contact any one of the contact information provided below.

Head Office:
Bakhundole, Lalitpur: 01-5550705

SONY Center:
Kantipath: 01-4250305
Jawalakhel: 01-5526300
New Road 01-4243793
Durbar Marg – N/A
Mail: [email protected]

Sony Service Centre:

Address: Siddhi Bhawan, Kantipath
Contact: 4259289

Samsung Galaxy M10 and M20 prices leaked: Budget Category

GadgetByte

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January 21, 2019

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Samsung Galaxy M10 and M20 prices leaked: Budget Category

With the Samsung Galaxy M10 and M20 in the works and many of specs leaking about, it is evident that they’re coming. These two phones are actually set to be unveiled on January 28 in India as an Amazon exclusive. The phones will also make their way, here, but of course, they will probably be sold offline here. But no matter what, these new Samsung entrants in the budget category is interesting.

Mostly, because the M-series is going to replace the existing or soon-to-be-extinct Galaxy J, Galaxy C and Galaxy On series. All of those three smartphone segments combined into one will not only simplify the phone naming convention. And also, should also rectify the mistakes seen in them.

Nevertheless, we now have new rumors from the closest of Samsung’s pricing sources about the price of these two phones. And earlier, there were speculations that the Galaxy M10 would cost below $150, which is now confirmed by these price leaks. As suggested, the Galaxy M10 will cost about $125, give or take a few dollars; whereas the Galaxy M20 will be a bit more expensive. The Galaxy M20 will cost around $180. The source of these leaks confirms the Indian pricing for these phones as well, which is very close to these numbers.

In India, the Galaxy M10 will cost INR. 8,990 and the Galaxy M20 will cost INR. 12,990. For the price, the phones are quite justified it seems. Because this is Samsung’s strategy to make its presence more prominent in the budget segment. As for the Nepali market, phones generally tend to be expensive here due to these reasons. But even so, the Galaxy M10 will be priced below Rs.20000 here. We cannot be sure about the Galaxy M20, however.

Galaxy M10 will feature a 6.2″ HD+ Infinity-V display (Samsung’s fancy way of saying tear-drop notch), dual cameras at the back comprising 13 + 5 MP sensors, Exynos 7872 chip, 2 or 3 GB RAM variants and a 3400 mAh battery. The Galaxy M20 will have a slightly larger 6.3″ FHD+ Infinity-V display. It will have a similar camera setup at the back with the front camera being 8 MP. The SoC will be Exynos 7885, will have 3 GB RAM, and a large 5000 mAh battery. It will come in 32 / 64 GB storage variants.

So, what do you think of these upcoming Samsung budget phones? Did they get it right this time, or are there much better options out there? Do let us know.

Best mid-range camera smartphones in Nepal (Under Rs. 35,000)

GadgetByte

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January 20, 2019

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Best mid-range camera smartphones in Nepal (Under Rs. 35,000)

Buying a smartphone is pretty daunting these days. The cheesy advertisements and the confusing benchmark numbers make us change our thoughts in no time. And among all those numerous smartphones riddled with myriads of specs and features, choosing a good camera smartphone is cumbersome. So to guide you to find the best camera smartphone in the midrange section, we have done an in-depth analysis of some popular and noteworthy camera smartphones in the market. Decrypting their features and unveiling the potential, we have come up with five best mid-range camera smartphones in Nepal, which outdid the others available in the similar price range.

Xiaomi MI 8 Lite

This new phone in the Nepali market is actually like some other phones we’ve seen before. And it bears an uncanny resemblance to the MI 8 SE in terms of camera. The MI 8 Lite packs a 12 MP primary camera accompanied by a 5 MP depth sensor at the back.

The picture quality from the MI 8 Lite is not just great, but certainly good enough to earn itself a place in this list. The colors in the pictures are quite good, and the ones from the normal camera are decent, nothing extraordinary. Its HDR mode is pretty good though. And of course, this phone too packs the AI features, which gives you some punch in the photos. But we’ve seen better AI cameras elsewhere.

The portrait mode is also only okay because while the foreground comes out good, the background blur seems a bit off. And of course, there’s a bit of poor edge detection. Night shots are also only very average.

The selfie camera is what is great about this device. Its 24 MP selfie camera gives you good results, and some pictures are better than from the back camera actually! So, this combination of cameras and picture quality with its price is just enough to put this phone on our list. The Mi 8 Lite is, currently, priced at Rs.31,999.

Huawei Nova 3i

Huawei Nova 3i is the only smartphone on the list that comes with a quad camera setup. The phone enjoys a dual camera setup at the back. It also boasts a camera pair on the front, right on the top of the display.

On the back, the phone has a 16MP + 2MP camera. Normal pictures from the rear camera are punchy and vibrant in terms of colors and they pack in good details. However, the portrait mode is not particularly impressive as the edge detection gets jittery at times. With AI cameras, your sceneries are enhanced making them look more appealing. Other than greenery, the phone detects the objects and scenarios pretty well and enhances them. So the results images look very pleasing to the eye. But despite all the good things, night time shots from the phone are not particularly impressive. Low light images contain a substantial amount of noises and grains and the images tend to lose details.

Talking about the selfie camera, a camera pair of 24MP and 2MP sensors resides on the notch. In terms of details and colors, one can barely complain about the ability of the selfie camera on the Nova 3i. With plentiful details and natural like colors, selfies from the phone look absolutely incredible. There is an HDR Pro mode, which enhances colors. Since the selfie camera is also AI-powered, it really helps to enhance the pictures alongside the beauty mode, which just smoothens the skin and makes fairer. If you are wondering about the price, the phone is tagged with the price of Rs. 35,990 (MRP). But you can get it for Rs. 35,000 or less in the retail stores.

Vivo V11

The Vivo V11 is yet another not-so-new mid-ranger device from the company. But in the camera department, it does have some aspects that shine against some others. It also packs dual cameras at the back comprising of a 16 MP camera and a 5 MP depth sensor, like most phones in 2018.

The cameras capture great photos with top-notch saturation and details. The dynamic range is covered pretty well, with it preserving good details in highlights and shadow details. The pictures do come out with a slight pinkish tint, but that’s ignorable and not very noticeable either. In terms of portrait images, there are better camera phones out there, but not in this price range of course! But the portrait photos from this one are great too. Night time or low-light images result in slightly warmer pictures, but in terms of details, it does a good enough job.

The 25 MP selfie camera is even better than the rear ones. It gathers enough light, and you’ll like the selfies on this one. The only problem is that the camera tends to smoothen the face even with the beauty mode off. Overall, this one is a great camera phone.

And the price of the phone, currently, is Rs.37,790, but you will get this phone for Rs.35000 with discounts that Vivo phones offer.

Xiaomi MI A2

Xiaomi MI A2 is really appealing when it comes to looks. But design is not the only aspect where the MI A2 excels, the phone also shines on the camera department.

When looked into its back, we can see a pair of cameras aligned in a vertical configuration. 12MP and 20MP sensors, both equipped with f/1.8 lenses are used on the phone to form a dual camera setup. With this camera duo, the phone edges out its competitors and shines on a lot of scenarios. The images captured from the phone have plenty of details. The captured images also boast a good dynamic range and enjoy natural colors in them. So the photos from the phone look true to life.

The portrait images from the phone also impress its users in a similar way. With proper edge detection and adding a proper amount of blurs, MI A2 imitates the high-end DSLRs quite closely. But to capture portrait images, there must be a proper distance between the subject and the camera, which can create problems at times. Also, talking about the low light portrait images, they are not really much appealing.

Despite being great on many aspects, Xiaomi MI A1 was not so impressive in terms of selfies. But with this phone, it has changed. The Xiaomi MI A2 comes with a 20MP selfie sensor over the 5MP sensor on its predecessor, and it is not The selfie shooter on the MI A2 is not just high in terms of the megapixel count but is also remarkable when it comes to quality. It captures amazing selfies with a great amount of details and clarity. And this phone also allows you to take portrait selfies, which are good enough even if it’s just software.

The Xiaomi Mi A2 is currently priced at Rs.31000.

Samsung Galaxy A6+

Samsung smartphones have always been the top contender at its price when it comes to the camera and the Samsung Galaxy A6+ is no exception. The phone comes with capable cameras both on the front and on the back to do the job sophisticatedly.

It comes with dual rear cameras which is a combination of a 16MP sensor with f/1.7 lens backed by a 5MP depth sensor with an f/1.9 lens. The primary camera on the phone is absolutely remarkable as it captures still images with great sharpness. The photos so captured are also well saturated, possess decent dynamic range and enjoy natural colors as well. Low light shots from the phone are also praise-worthy since they preserve the details without inviting much of noises and grains in the images.

It’s depth sensor, too, really does a good job on the edge detection and on segregating the foreground and backgrounds for portrait shots. Alike all the Samsung smartphones with dual camera, the Galaxy A6+ also has a handy feature with which users can adjust the blur intensity and the focus area, which can be done both before and after taking photos. This is really a cool feature because it lets us obtain the perfect images according to our needs.

Samsung always seems to have compromised on the selfie camera. Even on its flagship handsets like the Galaxy S9+ and the Note 9, the smartphone maker has provided a merely 8MP sensor. But on the A6+, Samsung has provided a top-quality 24MP sensor. With this front shooter in action, the Galaxy A6+ captures amazing selfies with plentiful details. When it comes to the pricing, the phone demands a price of Rs. 34,890 on the purchase.

So, there you have it. If you’re looking for a good camera mid-range phone, then, these can be your best option.

Samsung’s January Big Saving Offer – More price drops

GadgetByte

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January 20, 2019

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Samsung’s January Big Saving Offer – More price drops

With new phones from Samsung to heat up the market soon, the company is putting out a lot of offers for their other phones. Of course, with the likes of Samsung Galaxy S10 series and Samsung Galaxy M10 coming soon along with its other M-series counterparts, it is only natural. And with this Samsung’s January Big Saving Offer, they’re offering discounts on five of their products – budget and mid-range phones. And most of them are the ones that already received discounts this New Years.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles’ Latest Price in Nepal

Samsung Galaxy A7 2018

First up, it’s the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 – known for its triple camera setup. The triple camera setup led to a lot of high expectations and not-so-high delivery. And at the time of release, with a price of Rs.43000, it would have been a reluctant purchase.

Samsung’s New Years offer saw the price drop to Rs.41000, and for a phone with a good 6″ Full HD+ AMOLED display with an Exynos 7885 and 4 GB RAM was a good enough deal. But now, with a whopping cash back offer of Rs.7000, the price drops to Rs.33,990! And for that, it is a steal!

Samsung Galaxy J8

Next up, it’s the Galaxy J8. The phone, known for its fancy dual cameras was available for Rs.30000 after the New Year’s discount. And now, this good camera phone is available for just Rs.27390! Besides the good cameras, it has a 6.0″ AMOLED display going for it but a very subtle Snapdragon 450 inside.

Samsung Galaxy J6 Plus

Then, we also get discounts on the Galaxy J6 Plus, which also has dual cameras at the back. It also packs a 6.0″ AMOLED display, but with HD+ resolution. It is powered by a Snapdragon 425 chipset. In this offer, however, only the 4 / 64 GB variant gets a price drop of 2000, making the current price Rs. 23,290.

Samsung Galaxy J4 and J4 Plus

Lastly, we have the Galaxy J4 Plus and the Galaxy J4. And this time, the Galaxy J4 is the new phone in this list that gets the price drop. The J4 and J4 Plus are not that different in terms of specs.

Both the phones are powered by Snapdragon 425 chips and pack 13 MP camera at the back. The J4 Plus only has a bigger screen and a slightly bigger battery over its non-plus version. The J4 Plus, is now, available for Rs.15,990 and the Galaxy J4 is available for Rs.14,490.

So, are these further price drops compelling enough for you to get them? Or will you wait for the M-series to make a debut in Nepal? Do let us know.

VIVO to launch Vivo Apex 2019 on January 24, leaks suggest!

Pratima Adhikari

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January 18, 2019

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VIVO to launch Vivo Apex 2019 on January 24, leaks suggest!

Innovation always makes headlines. In 2019, smartphone companies are running to get their show started for bezel-less displays. And Vivo is among the top ones in the list. Last year at MWC, we saw a prototype of Vivo Apex and that very product, renamed Vivo Apex 2019 is rumored to make it’s way in the market very soon, which might be the end of January itself. Rumors are, 24th is the date set!

This is another one of the phones that might be bezel-less, not sure though, that’s what rumors say. Like the Vivo NEX, it might have pop up cameras and no notch, giving a full-screen display experience! Again, not sure of it, that’s what rumors say!

Today, Vivo has posted an image in its Weibo profile, confirming the new phone will be called Vivo Apex 2019. The last time we saw something like this from Vivo (namely the Vivo Apex), it had an under display fingerprint scanner that covered almost the entire bottom half of the display, however, we expect something better in the upcoming phone.

According to reports, the new phone is codenamed, ‘the waterdrop’ and will feature pressure sensitive and gesture-based navigation. Further, the fingerprint sensor will be an under display one as teased in MWC last year.

As far as the rumors go, the phone will feature a 6.4-inch OLED screen, may run the latest Android 9 Pie and have a massive 4,000 mAh battery.

Memory- wise, we may get 10 or 12 GB RAM variants and the chipset may be the latest Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor based on 7nm process.

While the launch of the Vivo Apex 2019 has not been confirmed yet, we can expect it to show up in this year’s MWC to be held in Barcelona, Spain on February 25.

The things we know about the Vivo Apex 2019 are rumors till now and are not confirmed by officials yet. But, we will soon know the real deal if any such device comes to the market.

Android Pie rolling out to Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Huawei Nova 3 and Nova 3i

GadgetByte

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January 18, 2019

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Android Pie rolling out to Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Huawei Nova 3 and Nova 3i

The latest iteration of Android software, i.e. the Android 9.0 or Android Pie is rolling out to many devices. And finally, it makes its way to the most popular devices of 2018 – Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Huawei Nova 3 and Nova 3i. And for some, Android Pie is a big deal.

Android Pie for Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung devices are most of the times late to receive the latest Android updates. But this time around, that was not the case. Samsung’s flagships of 2018 – the Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ and Note 9 have been receiving Android Pie during the last couple of days.

And for Samsung, this means your phone’s software will now be updated to Samsung’s One UI. And this is not the Beta version of Android One or anything. This stable version of the One UI is the full-fledged, completely polished and really optimized version of the Samsung’s proprietary custom skin. Which means, it should be free from major bugs or so.

Galaxy Note 9 Samsung One UI

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One UI is Samsung’s version of Android Pie and the successor to Samsung Experience OS. It removes a lot of clutter from the Samsung Experience to help you focus on the task at hand. It also regroups a lot of setting inside a single heading to make it easier to access. Plus, it aims to be more visibly comfortable. In addition, the navigation buttons on top of the screen can be moved downward for easier navigation. But the icons have become a bit cartoonish.

If the Android Pie has made it to your device, then, you should receive a notification. If not, you can go to Settings and look for Software Update option and check.

Also, the older phones, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will get the Android Pie update too, but you have to register for the beta version now. You can do so via the Samsung Members app.

Android Pie for Huawei Nova 3 and 3i

The Huawei Nova 3 and Nova 3i are also getting the latest Android Pie updates. However, the updates available on the aforementioned devices are in the beta form and the stable version will roll out really soon. Nonetheless, the beta updates are rolling out in stages, and even if you have not seen the notification, don’t worry. It will arrive to you in some time. But, you can also check for the update using the HiCare app.

Here’s how>>

The Android Pie update for both these phones will come in the form of EMUI 9.0.1. The latest changes in EMUI include more user-friendly user experience and removes minor clutters. Of course, the bloatware stays, but many of them are now removable under EMUI 9.0.1. Also, settings are now easier to find but they can be quite comprehensive. No matter what, Android Pie is after all available here all with the improved UI and enhanced features.

Samsung Galaxy M10 to feature a powerful processor; will be priced below $150

GadgetByte

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January 18, 2019

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Samsung Galaxy M10 to feature a powerful processor; will be priced below $150

We have been seeing numerous rumors about Samsung’s upcoming M series smartphones. The series consists of the Galaxy M10, Galaxy M20, M30, and the M40. For now, we will be focusing on the Samsung Galaxy M10, which is scheduled to debut on 28th of Jan.

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi Play Debuts in China

For starters, the smartphone will feature a 6.2-inch display with a teardrop notch and 3,400mAh battery. Furthermore, the smartphone will be powered by a reliable Exynos 7872 SoC with 3GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB of internal expandable storage. First, the phone was rumored to feature a 2-year-old Exynos 7870, but recent leaks suggest it’s going to be powered by 7872 SoC. The Exynos 7872 features a powerful Cortex A73 which is a significant upgrade over the 7870.

The entry-level nature of the smartphone will probably see itself launch with Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box. The fingerprint sensor should be placed at the back of the phone, while at the front, you will be greeted by an Infinity-V display. It’s basically a really small notch at the top to hold the 5MP selfie camera.

The back will also house a 13MP camera with an LED flash, according to past rumors. Samsung will offer the Galaxy M10 with two color options to choose from, Black and Dark Grey. Availability might be limited to the Middle East and Asia, while a global debut will be held in India. Finally, there is no information on pricing just yet, but recent rumors suggest it’s going to start at INR 9,000 (NRs. 14,400) which is excellent pricing in my opinion.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A50 Rumors and Specs

There are rumors of Samsung replacing their popular J-series with the Galaxy M series. The same lineup also includes the Galaxy M20, which will feature a 5000mAh battery, while the M30 will include a 128GB storage option. In other news, Samsung’s new manufacturing plant in India will reportedly be responsible for the production of Galaxy M lineup.

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

GadgetByte

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January 18, 2019

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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.