Quantum computer chip to power super powerful unhackable PCs revealed

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GadgetByte

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December 17, 2017

Quantum computer chip to power super powerful unhackable PCs revealed

Scientists have revealed a silicon computer chipset which can assimilate quantum interactions. Researchers from the University of New South Wales are behind this feat clearing a way to create super powerful computers which will be able to perform calculations that can solve wide range of scientific problems such as climate change or even show the proper way to cure diseases like cancer.

Dr Andrew Dzurak, member of the research team, said, “We often think of landing on the moon as humanity’s greatest technological marvel. But creating a microprocessor chip with a billion operating devices integrated together to work like a symphony – that you can carry in your pocket – is an astounding technical achievement, and one that’s revolutionised modern life.”

“With quantum computing, we are on the verge of another technological leap that could be as deep and transformative. But a complete engineering design to realise this on a single chip has been elusive. I think what we have developed at UNSW now makes that possible.”

According to the researchers, the chip will now help create millions of quantum bits and make a computer with computing speed million times faster than conventional computers. In short, it will be able to solve different issues in under a couple of days, an issue which today’s computer takes millions of years to complete.

Dr Menno Veldhorst, who led the study, said, “Remarkable as they are, today’s computer chips cannot harness the quantum effects needed to solve the really important problems that quantum computers will. To solve problems that address major global challenges, it’s generally accepted we will need millions of qubits working in tandem.”

“To do that, we will need to pack qubits together and integrate them, like we do with modern microprocessor chips. That’s what this new design aims to achieve.”

Xiaomi Mi A1 now available in a Special Edition

Pratima Adhikari

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December 16, 2017

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Xiaomi Mi A1 now available in a Special Edition

Xiaomi Mi A1 is one of the most hyped smartphones from Xiaomi recently. The device has come to the attention of many people due to the fact that it runs on pure android. This new variant is nothing but a cosmetic upgrade over the older one. Well, like most of the smartphone companies, Xiaomi is too in the race to bring out smartphones in red. Having said that, the red color looks somewhat like the OnePlus’ Lava red.

As mentioned already, the device comes with exactly the same internals. It has the same 5.5-inch Full HD display. Similarly, it packs a combination of dual 12MP cameras at the back (wide- angle and telephoto) and a 5MP selfie camera. It is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor. The smartphone currently run on Android Oreo coupled with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB ROM out of the box.

Along with all that, it has a 3080mAh battery to keeps the lights running. Which again, paired with the SoC delivers on some promising battery life. The smartphone is a part of Google’s Android One, making it one among the handful of other devices. This also makes it the only Xiaomi smartphone with stock android out of the box.

It comes with a few features you don’t see on other mid-range smartphones like the inclusion of a USB C port. Although missing out on an almost bezel-less design was a bit of a disappointment, but not a deal breaker by any means. And with the inclusion of a fourth color option, it just sweetens the deal.

The red variant that we are currently talking about is currently available in Indonesia for around $228. Availability outside the country is yet uncertain, and we will keep an eye out for that. Until then the Xiaomi Mi A1 is available in Nepal in two variants. The 64GB variant that will cost you Rs 30,000 and a new 32GB variant as well for Rs 26,999.

Quick Note on Xiaomi MI A1

Xiaomi MI A1 has created a buzz in the Nepali smartphone market for a while now. For its features like bloatware-free stock android, dual-camera setup and a remarkable and superseding performance among the mid-range smartphones, it has gained an upper hand over its competitors. Keeping all these things in mind, we are striving to review the device. The device is currently in the review phase and we will soon let you know more about the smartphone. So if you hate to miss the review, please subscribe our YouTube channel and also follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Health Officials: Sleeping anywhere near your mobile phone might cause cancer and infertility

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GadgetByte

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December 16, 2017

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Health Officials: Sleeping anywhere near your mobile phone might cause cancer and infertility

Do you sleep anywhere near your smartphone? If your answer is yes, you might be actually doing yourself severe harm. According to the California Department of Health, people need to place their smartphone as far as possible while sleeping in order to decrease the exposure risk and diseases that follow. The department claims that sleeping anywhere closer than arm’s length of a smartphone could mean cancer and infertility.

The California Department of Health released a guidance on Thursday regarding the exposure risk of mobile phone radiation. There have been multiple reports regarding mobile phones radiation while sleeping with some even claiming that they cause radiation while using normally. This guidance follows cities like San Francisco and Berkeley, where officials recently warned the risk of sleeping near one’s mobile phone.

Dr. Devra Davis, official, Environment Health Trust, says, “Keeping a phone directly on the body has never been a good idea.”

Mobile phones use radiofrequency to transmit information. This frequency, although it is low, might be exposing us to harmful radiation, if the claims of the health officials are true. There are numerous research reports which claim that even under normal usage, mobile phones can cause radiation.

Apple includes a radiofrequency exposure notice in its smartphones’ settings with numerous mobile phone manufacturers also agreeing to this issue.

Dr. Devra Davis mentions, “Most people are not aware that there is a clear warning to keep the phone off the body embedded in the phone. This is particularly worrisome because most parents aren’t aware of these warnings are not managing their children’s expo California Department of Health sure to phones.”

The notice from the California Department of Health emphasizes on the subject of radiofrequency easily penetrating the brain matter of kids. Children have more risk of being affected by radiation than adults as it can damage brain development.

Although the reports regarding radiations of mobile phones causing cancer aren’t to be trusted yet, as a student of Public Health, even I would suggest you to stay away from mobile phones while sleeping.

CES 2018: Samsung to launch Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018) and LG to launch K10 (2018)

GadgetByte

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December 16, 2017

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CES 2018: Samsung to launch Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018) and LG to launch K10 (2018)

If the rumors in South Korea are considered, Samsung will launch the 2018 edition of Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ at CES 2018. This year’s CES is scheduled for January. LG will also try to win over the limelight as the company is set to launch the LG K10 (2018) at the event.

The Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018) will feature the much-loved Infinity Display with 18:9 aspect ratio. With the A-series, Samsung always tries to bring some of the flagship grade specs into a relatively cheaper smartphone. The price of these duos haven’t been confirmed yet, but we can expect it to be over $300. The devices will then launch in Nepal in the following months.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal

As for other features, the devices will also have Bixby Home and Bixby Remind right out of the box. The A8 2018 will sport 5.5-inch display while its bigger variant will come with a 6-inch screen. For performance, both the devices will pack 4 GB RAM, 64 GB internal memory and a dual camera setup (16 + 8 MP). All of this will be backed by a 3,500 mAh battery in the plus variant. Other features include Samsung Pay and a USB Type-C support.

The Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8 + (2018) will be out in mid-January in Korea with the international launch following up later.

Going up against the two smartphones of the A-series will be LG K10 (2018). The device will be a successor to this year’s K10 which, like all LG smartphone, didn’t launch here in Nepal. It will sport a 5.3-inch screen with a full HD device. The device will feature 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage and a traditional camera setup measuring 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel for the rear and front camera respectively. It will launch in Korea late January with pricing yet to be confirmed.

The flagship devices of Samsung and LG – Galaxy S9 and G7, according to rumors, is set to be introduced “after February”.

Apple Now Owns Shazam – Here is why

GadgetByte

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December 16, 2017

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If you don’t know what Shazam is, you are probably missing out on something. Shazam one of the most popular apps that answers a very important question – “What’s that song?” The app has over a hundred million downloads in Google’s play store alone. And why would it not, an app that can recognize any song in seconds, find lyrics, provide links to buy them, and even find tickets to the artists’ concerts.

Apple has acquired Shazam for around $400 million. A smart decision for Apple Music, which will perfectly go hand in hand with Shazam. The music recognizing app actually delivers around a million clicks to apple music and Spotify through referrals. And that is a huge number, in any case, Spotify happens to lose all those referrals.

Other than possibly eliminating one of their biggest music streaming rivals, there are a few other reasons why Apple aquired Shazam. The service can very well go hand in hand with Siri, unlocking a new platform of abilities.

There are also other aspects like the augmented reality. Shazam’s abilities can very well be put to good use as iPhone X’s exclusive features. The most important subject of this aquisition is the data that Shazam holds.

The musical preference of millions of users outside its ecosystem is also something to think about. Shazam is an android app too, and apple can definately use a little outside information from those millions of Android users.

But most music industry enthusiasts believe that the app doesn’t have much of a standalone purpose even with the company’s initial evaluation of $1 billion dollars, and now being sold for $400 million. The fact that it brought out around $54 million as revenue in 2016 didn’t help either.

Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+: Everything from the latest leaks & renders

GadgetByte

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December 15, 2017

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Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+: Everything from the latest leaks & renders

The Samsung Galaxy S9 will surely be one heck of a smartphone. It is already one of the most anticipated devices of 2018. For a phone that needs to deliver on such high expectation, let’s look at what we know so far.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S9 Rumor Roundup: AI Chip | Front Fingerprint

The new Galaxy will feature the latest and greatest from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 845. The countries that aren’t China or US will receive the Exynos variants. The storage options could be anywhere from 64GB to a staggering 500GB with the RAM probably exceeding the 6GB benchmark.

Dimension wise the S9 and S9+ will come at around 147.6 x 68.7 x 8.4mm and 157.7 x 73.8 x 8.5mm, according to a render. And even though these dimensions are almost the same, the screen size might increase, thanks to a little elimination of the bezel at the bottom.

The fingerprint sensor looks to have found a new home, below the camera sensors. And the Iris Scanner is also said to be improved as well. The Galaxy S9+ will get the dual camera setup. The bummer here is, the S9 might not, following the tracks of apple and google to reduce features from the smaller version.

The psychics will remain the same, as the failure to pass Samsung’s internal tests. Neither are we complaining, the Samsung Galaxy S8 duo were two of the best-looking smartphones of 2017. Maybe we will see it in the Note 9 or S10.

The phone will still house the volume buttons, power button and Bixby button on the sides. Bottom of the phone will hold the USB C power connector and the headphone jack. It also has a front and back glass build with a metal frame.

Although not much has changed, the new phone will still bring a load of improvements over its predecessor. The main thing is the camera, which remained unchanged in the Galaxy S8 series from the Galaxy S7 series. The S9 duo is expected to be released this March in a dedicated event by Samsung.

OPPO F5 Review: The Pretentious Selfie Expert

GadgetByte

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December 14, 2017

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OPPO F5 Review: The Pretentious Selfie Expert

Oppo has been focusing on the selfie camera of almost all the smartphones it makes and the newly launched OPPO F5 promises to capture the “real you”. So, I took the camera smartphone for a real testing, not forgetting its new display which has an 18:9 ratio. So how does it really fare? Does the OPPO F5 tick every box? Let’s check it out in this review. But before I start, let me just get all the specs out of the way.

OPPO F5 Specifications:

Display: 6.0 inches LTPS IPS LCD
Resolution: 2160 x 1080 pixels, 18:9 aspect ratio, 402PPI pixel density
OS: Android Nougat (v7.1.1) with ColorOS 3.2 UI on the top
Chipset: MediaTek MT6763T Helio P23
GPU: Mali-G71 MP2
RAM: 4GB/6GB RAM
Storage: 32GB/64GB internal storage, expandable up to 256GB (dedicated slot for microSD card)
Rear Camera: 16MP, f/1.8, phase detection autofocus, LED flash
Front Camera: 20MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8-inch sensor
Connectivity: Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, A-GPS, USB-OTG, 3G, 4G LTE
Sensors: Fingerprint (rear mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 3200mAh (non-removable)
Colors: Black, Gold, Red (6GB variant only)
Oppo F5 Price in Nepal: Rs. 33,990 (4GB/32GB)
Oppo F5 Price in Nepal: Rs. 44,990 (6GB/64GB/Red color)

Camera

The 20-megapixel selfie camera is definitely the USP of the F5. OPPO is bragging about the Artificial intelligence capability of this camera to beautify a selfie, so I had to put that to the test. And I have to say I didn’t like the beauty mode at all. Take these images as an example.

Taking a normal picture, everything looked good, I was impressed by the fact that the camera could brighten up a picture when I was taking the picture on the left. On the right, however, OPPO amazingly erased the mole on my forehead. I have never seen a single smartphone do this. And look at my skin tone. Why would anyone like a picture with such skin tone? And why are my eyes sparkling? Yes, a couple of people on Instagram might like this new AI compatible selfie shooter, but is it for everyone? Not at all. And under low light setup, the picture I took from normal mode looks much much better than the one taken from the beauty mode as you can see in these two pictures.

Yes, the normal selfie mode takes good pictures but there is nothing to be home about as lots of smartphones are capable of taking better pictures, with the Huawei Nova 2i being a prime example. Here is a comparison shot between the two devices:

On the rear side sits a 16MP camera which is decent at its best. Under ample lighting, the device can capture pictures with good color reproduction and saturation. But I wasn’t at all impressed by the HDR mode. The HDR enabled picture on the right only has a little bit of increased exposure.

In short, even though OPPO claims itself as a great camera smartphone, the OPPO F5 has what we call “an average at its best” lenses.

Performance and Software

The OPPO F5 with its new octa-core Helio P23 processor and Mali G71 GPU performs quite well considering its price tag. The device scored higher on Antutu as compared to the Huawei Nova 2i and the J7 Pro. The dual-core GPU of the device also has a respectable score as it outperforms the Nova 2i and the J7 Pro.

Antutu Score
Infogram

These stats are emulated well on real life performance as the device, with its 4 GB RAM handles most of the things thrown at it.

Basemark X (GPU Test)
Infogram

Gaming on this device yields good results and multitasking is great. However, sometimes there are lags here and there, and I think it’s the software of this device that is solely responsible.

Words cannot describe how disappointed I am with Oppo F5’s user interface. The skin on top of Android Nougat is truly a copy of Apple’s iOS. And while I am okay with manufacturers’ choice to copy good things of another manufacturer, OPPO has included some of the worst features of iOS.

Take the notification shade and the control center for example. You should also know that it takes two taps to remove a notification. Everything about this skin is a whole lot of disappointment. And the heavily skinned Android is what causes stutters here and there. But there is a sound amplifying dac embedded into the UI which helps produce louder sound while using earphones!

Display

Well, OPPO isn’t just cashing in on the camera setup of its new smartphone. It is now one of the few smartphone manufacturers to include the narrower 18:9 aspect ratio on a mid-range device. So, in short, this device’s display will be directly compared with the Huawei Nova 2i. Lets forget about the nits and other geeky terms to explain this display and rather focus on the real-world usage. The OPPO F5’s full HD display produces deeper blacks thus resulting in an excellent contrast. For a device worth 34k, it has good sharpness and enough brightness to use it under the brightest of lights. But like I said before, this smartphone will go up against Huawei Nova 2i. And side by side, the Nova 2i certainly has better saturation and color reproduction. And don’t even get me started on how it performs against the Galaxy J7 Pro. The Super AMOLED display of the J7 Pro is the best display on any midranger in 2017 even with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio.

You will have to give up on one-handed usage though as the 18:9 form factor and the 6-inch display don’t help with the cause. But the newer type of display certainly helps amplify multimedia and gaming experience.

Design

With this new display format, OPPO has certainly impressed many. You too will be impressed with the screen while holding the smartphone, right before you start noticing that the back is actually made of plastic. Well, this is due to the polycarbonate plastic backing that OPPO apparently opted to cut cost. Vivo has done the same thing with its new V7!

The polished plastic tries to emulate modern 2017 looks. I have to admit that, the rear side is great looks wise. It’s somewhat similar to the iPhone 7. But on-hands, you will understand how OPPO has cleverly worked to make it feel look like metal.

The polycarbonate back certainly helps in a better grip though, which is not at all possible with metallic backs. This back borders the basic volume rockers and power button, which are also made of plastic. On the bottom lies a single mono speaker which is only average.

Sensors

On this polycarbonate body sits an oval shaped fingerprint scanner and believe me it’s one of the most fastest sensor. It is capable of unlocking the device in a jiffy and not once has it given up on me yet.

Oppo has also imitated Apple by including a face unlock system. Although this security option can intelligently differentiates between a real face and a picture, I have had mixed feelings about this security option as it works only 95% of the time. I even had issues while registering my face as the smartphone constantly nagged me about the angle and the lighting I was in. And if you are in a poorly-lit condition, the face unlock might not even work sometimes. But when it worked, it was fast, really really fast.

Battery

The battery life of the OPPO F5 is quite good to be honest. During my day-to-day usage, the battery certainly lasted for a whole day. The standby time of this 3,200 mAh battery is great as well. The choice of processor, although it is of 16nm, has helped the cause.

You will be dissatisfied to know about the lack of fast charging support, though. So it will take you over 2 hours to completely juice up the device. You have your very own VOOC charging ability at helm. Make a good use of it!

Connectivity and Call Quality

The OPPO F5 has dual SIM slots, like most of the smartphones that launch in Nepal these days. On a plus side, there is also a separate microSD card slot. So, buyers will not have to worry about having to compromise on either a SIM card or a microSD card. And both the NTC and Ncell SIMs work perfectly fine on the device. The people on the other end never really complained about the call quality, and I was hearing everything perfectly fine.

Conclusion

The OPPO F5 is a selfie oriented device like all OPPO smartphones. In the end, this review begs a question, “Is OPPO F5 something you should invest in?” Well, that depends. While I personally might not be that into selfies, this device could be a good buy for someone who is really into the selfie experience. Also, it has a bright display with a new aspect ratio which is great for gaming and multimedia experience. But the Nepali market has become so competitive that what the OPPO F5 lacks is easily available on other smartphones in the same price range.

If you aren’t impressed with what OPPO F5 offers, you might want to check out devices like the Huawei Nova 2i, Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro or the Xiaomi Mi A1.

Pros	Cons
Front-facing camera	Software/User Interface
Performance	No fast charging
Battery	No 5Ghz WiFi
Fast face unlock system	Plastic back

Mi 4K Action Camera launched for Rs. 24,999 in Nepal

GadgetByte

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December 14, 2017

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Mi 4K Action Camera launched for Rs. 24,999 in Nepal

It hasn’t been long since Vatsal Impex, authorized distributor of Xiaomi products in Nepal, launched a wide range of accessories ranging from Sphere Camera Kit to Mi Power Bank here. And the company is at it yet again as it has launched the Mi 4K Action Camera in Nepal. The device is targeted especially towards adventure lovers.

Don’t Miss: Xiaomi Mobiles Price in Nepal

The Mi 4K Action Camera, as I mentioned before, is a small and portable camera that can shoot 4K video format. The camera it possesses is a Sony IMX 317 lens that has an aperture of f/2.8. This lens has a 145-degree viewing angle which Xiaomi claims can capture images without any distortion. There are different camera modes embedded into the device. It is capable of shooting slow-motion videos, time-lapse photos and videos, and loop recording among others. And for the ones into editing pictures later, the action camera also lets shoot pictures in RAW format.

On the Mi 4K Action Camera sits a 2.4-inch touchscreen which has a resolution of 960 x 480 pixels. This display is backed up by a built-in 1,450 mAh battery, which Xiaomi claims can capture 4K videos for 120 minutes @30 fps.

For connectivity purpose, the device packs Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules as well. There is also an application that lets users control the action camera directly from their smartphones. The device is priced at Rs. 24,999 and can be purchased from Mi showrooms or directly from Mi Nepal’s website.

Mi 4K Action Camera Specifications:

Display: 2.4-inch touchscreen (960 x 480 pixels)
Processor: Ambarella A12S75
Lens: Sony IMX 317 with f/2.8 aperture
Weight: 99-gram
Dimensions: 71.5 × 42.7 × 29.5 mm
Battery: 1,450 mAh
6-axis EIS
Built-in microphone
145-degree wide-angle lens
Up to 4K video recording @30 fps
Up to 64 GB external card supported
Bluetooth v4.1, Wi-Fi (up to 2.4 MBps download speed)

Mi 4K Action Camera Price in Nepal: Rs. 24,999

HTC Desire 650 Dual Review: Good looking but Average Performer

GadgetByte

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December 14, 2017

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HTC Desire 650 Dual Review: Good looking but Average Performer

HTC phones have been on the market for quite some time but they don’t seem to be grabbing much attention. HTC phones, well, they look unique and have a different aura in them but they sure are nothing new from the already existing heap of phones in the market. We took a shot at the latest offering from HTC, the Desire 650, which is a budget phone priced at Rs.20,666.

Now, Rs.20,000 is a very sweet spot for buyers as this is the price segment where most of the people have their budget set. Not to mention this price range has full of amazing smartphones so how does it stack up against the others in this category? Let’s find out in this review.

HTC Desire 650 Dual Specifications

5-inch HD IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass protection
1.5GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6737T processor with Mali-720 MP2 GPU
3GB RAM, 32GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 256GB
Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Sense UI
13MP rear camera with LED Flash, f/2.0 aperture
5MP front-facing camera, f/2.8 aperture
Dual front-facing stereo speakers
Dual SIM (4G), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, GLONASS
Sensors: Proximity, Accelerometer
3000mAh Battery

Inside the Box

The accessories offered by HTC Desire 650 Dual is nothing out of the ordinary. First off, you get the phone itself. Then inside it comes with an European Chargerwhich has output of 5V 1Amp. It is small in size and has an interesting oval shape. The charger is aided with a 1.5 meter charging cable. The box also consists of an earphone. It comes with tangle free flat cable. It comes with a single button to Play/Pause a song or Accept/End a call. Ear phones come with rubber buds and they are dust magnet and it is equally hard to remove those dusts.

Design and Display

The HTC Desire 650 is one of the most refreshing looking phones seen after a while. The playful color accents with rubber back look exciting. The phone sport a two-tone design language, the upper back portion has a clean finish while the bottom portion holds horizontal lines which HTC likes to call “Grooves.” Also, the teal color splash with grooved lines on the power button and the purple accents on the camera bump is a unique touch adding a youthful vibe to the phone. The power and volume button on the right side are made out of plastic providing tactile feedback but they certainly feel cheap.

The back is removable which is way convenient than carrying around a SIM ejector tool or pin whenever you want to swap SIM card or microSD card. So yeah, the removable back is a huge thumb up! But wait! The back after few cycles (maybe 15) of removing and putting back on didn’t fit well in its place. The left side of the phone stayed protruded creating squeaky sound whenever I held the phone and started using it. I checked the locks and nothing was broken either. This led to my biggest concern, saving this device from water damages.

The rubber back is also a dust magnet, especially in those fancy groove lines which take extra attentive wipes to clean the dirt stuck there. So you have to dust off once in awhile to keep it looking fresh. HTC Desire 650 Dual comes with a headphone jack on top which with the proprietary earphones that came in the box sounded good to my ears. And on the loudspeaker, the audio profile is flat. The sound is decently loud and there’s no distortion even at a higher volume. But it’s older model came with HTC BoomSound which this pone lacks.

It’s hard to name any phone under Rs.20,000 that comes with a display bigger than 5-inches and has full HD resolution. The story is same with this phone as well. It sports a 5.0-inch 720p display with good colors and decent sharpness. It is bright and I had no problem using it under direct sunlight. Watching HD videos and playing games was a welcome experience with no color shifts while holding it at any angle I was comfortable with. The phone offers Miravision app to tweak the color temperature of the display.

Performance

Unlike its predecessor, the HTC 650 Dual is powered by the mid-tier MediaTek MT6737T quad-core CPU clocked at 1.5GHz. Navigation around the UI and scrolling is flawless. The opening of apps is somewhat fast and juggling between open apps with 3GB of RAM is possible without breaking a sweat. So daily run of the mill is hassle-free with this phone. Now for those, who want extra out of their bucks, is it good for gaming?

Well, you can certainly play games like Asphalt 8 and Modern Combat 5 at low frame rate without much noticeable lags and mediocre games like NOVA Legacy, online Multiplayer Standoff 2 and Sky Force ran without any issues. Also, no significant heating could be felt while gaming.

HTC Desire 650 Dual Comparision Nepal
Infogram

Comparing the Antutu benchmarks with its rival Redmi 4X, the 4X scores just a tad higher while the Moto E4 Plus scored a bit low. So, when it comes to performance this device is like any other device at this price range.

Software/UI

The Desire 650 Dual comes with HTC’s home-baked Sense UI. It is a very UI with bright color accents and playful themes and icons. It also offers HTC Blinkfeed on the left side which can be considered as a Google Now alternative but can be made much more personalized. I barely used this feature as I like to see my feed inside the native app itself, but for those who want a quick glance on news and what’s happening on their Social Media can get a quick insight from here.

The phone also comes with its own theme store which offers a variety of themes, icon packs, wallpapers and even sounds for your ringtone or notification tone.

The phone comes with Boost+ app which is like a System Manage found on most of the Chinese OEM’s. It offers options to Clear Cache & Temporary files, Uninstall apps in bulk, Optimize background apps, and Pin or Password Lock apps as well.

The UI of widgets menu for home screen is also something I found really handy on this device.

Now all the glitz and glamor is cool on the outside but on the inside, at its core, it’s running on outdated Android 6.0 Marshmallow. And the stock apps like File Manager and Camera are adopted straight from the Marshmallow era which looks pretty awful by today’s standard. This can be a major letdown as Xiaomi phones mentioned earlier get regular security updates and android updates down the years. The Sense UI feels almost as fast as the new MIUI 9 but it certainly lacks a lot of features that its competing devices have to offer.

And among those features, the one that is most disappointing is the lack of fingerprint sensor. Phones like MI 4X, Moto E4 Plus, Gionee X1s and Nokia 5 all come with a fingerprint sensor at the same price range.

Camera

When it comes to phones under 20k the camera quality is something most of the manufacturers compromise on. The same thing prevails on the HTC Desire 650 Dual. Although the megapixel count at 13MP is as high as any midrange well above 20k out there, the image quality is just average at best.

During daytime, it most often tries to overexpose the shots unless you set your focus point from the viewfinder. And even while setting the focus on the subject up front, it completely darkens the image sometimes. So the best option was to let the autofocus come to play. The colors are washed out and the details are fine at best.

If you want to crank up more details and colors in your image then turning on HDR mode will surely help. Unlike other phones, it doesn’t overdo the HDR so it preserves its natural tone. Also, the shutter is quite slow when the light is slightly low and a modest hand movement while taking a shot will most probably result in a blurred shot. Indoors with enough light, the images turn out good.

When it comes to low light, like all the mid-range phones, it has grains and dark patches all over. It is capable of shooting Full HD videos with a 3GP format and they are fine if shot during daytime. With no stabilization available, videos sure are shaky but it also has the tendency to shift exposure every once in a while.

Now coming to the front, the 5MP camera with f/2.8 is decent at best. The colors are bit washed out and there aren’t much details.

In low light, like in the back, you need to have a steady hand to take a decent image without blur and lens flare. Images at night time are basically full of grains with very soft details. Turning on HDR mode also brings somewhat details and natural skin tone.

Battery

The phone is backed by a 3,000mAh battery which given the feeble specs of the phone lasts for the whole day. The screen on time is around 4 to 4 and a half hours depending on how you use this device. However, the phone takes complete 2 and a half hours to charge from 0 to 100% with the stock 5V 1Amp charger. If you happen to drain your battery in the middle of the day then you’ll be stuck near the wall charger or you might need to carry a power bank with you.

Connectivity

As the name of the phone clearly clarifies it’s a ‘Dual’ SIM phone. It offers a single Micro SIM slot and another nano-SIM slot. It is 4G enabled phone so you can surf at the fastest speed available. Calling and using mobile data was hassle free on both NTC and Ncell networks. Cell reception was good and the audio clarity, as well as the audio loudness, was well above. The phone also has dedicated microSD card slot which can be expanded up to 128GB. It’s a very handy addition as the 32GB storage onboard will run out anytime soon.

Pop opening the back will give you access to these slots. The phone has a micro USB port on the bottom for charging and data syncing. Coming down to sensors, the phone has Accelerometer, Proximity, Light, Magnetic and GPS. It lacks the gyro sensor which would have made watching VR contents and taking 360-degree photos possible on the device.

Conclusion

So in general, HTC Desire 650 is a handy device which looks and feels good. If you are someone who goes for the aesthetics and digs the composure of the phone’s color then this device would be a good choice. Apart from that, this phone has very less to offer than what its counterparts are offering in the market. The performance is on par with any other phones at this price range, so if you’re looking for performance then opting for this device won’t be a problem. Where this device lags behind is with its outdated version of Android, cheap build quality, and not so feature rich custom UI.

A better alternative to the HTC Desire 650 Dual would be the Redmi 4X, Nokia 5, Gionee X1s and the Moto E4 Plus providing better build quality, the latest version of Android (for now) and feature-rich custom UI which makes using the device much more intuitive.

PROS	CONS
Unique Design	Old Android Version
Good Performance	Poor Built Quality
Decent Camera	Not so Feature Rich UI

Deal Alert: Gionee X1s Received a Price Drop in Nepal

GadgetByte

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December 12, 2017

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Deal Alert: Gionee X1s Received a Price Drop in Nepal

Teletalk Pvt. Ltd., the authorized distributor of Gionee Mobiles in Nepal slashed the price of the premium smartphone of the X-series, the Gionee X1s. Initially priced at Rs. 20,000, the smartphone is now available for just Rs. 17,999. The smartphone comes with a tagline of “Super Selfie, Super Battery” promising to deliver a remarkable battery backup and to shoot some nifty selfies. And with this price drop, the smartphone stands even taller in the list of best smartphones under 20000 in Nepal.

Gionee X1s Overview

Gionee X1s comes in full metallic body and is comfortable on the hold because of its sheer weight of 166 grams. The display on the device has a size of 5.2-inch with 2.5D glass added on the top for the elegance and Gorilla glass 3 for the protection. The display on the Gionee X1s supports HD resolution with pixel density of 282PPI.

Also Read: Gionee X1S Review: A decent phone on a budget

The device is powered by MediaTek MT6737T chipset backed by 3GB of RAM. In terms of internal storage, X1s is rich with 16GB of it. And good thing is, it has a dedicated slot for SDcard if one desires for the memory expansion. The device comes with Android Nougat out of the box with Gionee’s own Amigo UI 4.0 on the top.

Also Read: Gionee Mobiles price in Nepal

The camera is one of the two aspects, Gionee X1s excels in. The 16MP front camera on the phone is capable of taking astounding selfies. And with the LED flash adhered next to it, one does not have to worry about taking selfies even in the dark. On the back, there is a 13MP camera assisted by a dual-LED flash. The rear camera also takes some decent shots under ample lighting condition. However, under low light, the images invite some noises and grains.

Also Read Best Camera Smartphones in Nepal Under Rs. 20000

The smartphone also holds a fingerprint sensor on the back. The fingerprint on the device is swift with the unlocking time of mere 0.3 seconds. Along with the fingerprint sensor, the device also possesses other sensors like accelerometer, gyro sensor, proximity, compass, etc. If you have trouble searching the remotes for your electronic devices, this smartphone will come handy since the device is privileged with an IR blaster.

Prolonged battery backup is what you can expect from the Gionee X1s as it comes with a whopping 4000mAh battery. The device also comes with luring color options like Black, Gold and Deep Blue.

Gionee X1S in a Nutshell

5.2 inch IPS HD display with 2.5D glass and Gorilla Glass 3 protection
1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737T CPU
Android Nougat (v7.0) with Amigo UI 4.0 on the top
3GB RAM
16GB internal storage, expandable up to 256GB (dedicated slot)
13-megapixel rear camera with Autofocus and Dual-LED (Dual-tone) flash
16MP front facing camera, F/2.0 aperture, 1/3.1 inch sensor size with LED Flash
Dual-SIM, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, FM radio
Rear mounted fingerprint sensor, unlocks in 0.3 seconds
IR blaster
Other sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass
4000mAh Li-ion battery
Colors: Black, Gold and Deep Blue
Gionee X1S Price in Nepal: 17,999

Verdict

Lower midrange segment is crowded with loads of smartphones. Smartphones under the price of Rs. 20,000 usually have prevailing features like 5-inch HD display, 2GB RAM, Android Marshmallow and mediocre camera and battery size. But in case of Gionee X1s, it is slightly different. The smartphone is better than the most with a slightly taller display, a bigger RAM for multitasking, fast fingerprint sensor, remarkable camera and a gargantuan battery.

Although the device lacks a crisp display like Samsung Galaxy J7 Nxt, higher internal storage like the Samsung Galaxy J5 Prime, better processor, Full HD screen and stock UI like General Mobile GM 5 Plus, the device may not be the best, but still, it could be a good buy at this price point.