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Daraz Black Friday 2017: Everything You Need To Know

GadgetByte

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November 21, 2017

Daraz Black Friday 2017: Everything You Need To Know

Daraz, which most of you still call Kaymu brings us the festival of discounts. And it’s none other than Daraz Black Friday 2017, “The Biggest Online Sale Of The Year”. It starts this Friday (Nov 24) and will end on Tuesday (Nov 28).

What is Daraz Black Friday?

It’s basically the same thing as Black Friday but specifically for Daraz’s website when they will be giving discounts up to 70% on the products listed on their website. This offer includes all the products from the website be it anything ranging from Fashion, Electronics, Home Appliance, Mobile Phones, Musical instruments, Cosmetics, and so forth.

The main purpose of this is to bring genuine products at the best rates possible, providing the best value for money. You can also expect additional discounts, with the use of vouchers. They will also host competitions on Facebook where you could win prizes such as smartphones, flight tickets, and watches, so stick around on their Facebook page for more deals and offers.

A little background

Last year we saw a transition from Kaymu to Daraz. The “Daraz Kaymu Black Friday 2016” was the first black Friday from this particular e-commerce website. With over 15 fold increase in orders on the first day, the Black Friday deal last year was well received by the Nepali consumers.

What can you expect this year?

Top brands like Nokia, OnePlus, UMIDIGI, Coolpad, Samsung, Homeglory, Hisense, Goldstar, Sonam Gears, Gahana, Timberland, New Balance, North Face and many more brands will be listing their products on heavy discounts.

Selected laptops will also come with free 6 months 25Mbps Internet Package from Worldlink. Sonam Gears is also offering up to 60% discount on selected products. Also, the UMIDIGI Crystal 4G smartphone will go on sale for Rs 21,000, exclusively for this occasion. Moreover, Nokia Fans will also be able to pre-book the Nokia 8 smartphones.

Extra Gifts

If you spend more than Rs. 1000 on products at the first hour of the Black Friday (24th Nov), you will be eligible for a chance to win an all-inclusive holiday package to Dubai for a couple. Additional vouchers of Rs 500 are also receivable on a minimum spending of Rs 2500. And finally, there is also a two-way ticket to Rara for a couple and a jewelry set worth Rs 45,000.

Black Fridays are fun, and it’s good seeing Nepali sellers and buyers embrace this holiday. So get ready to buy all the products that you have been wanting to buy and make the most out of available deals, offers, and gifts!

Which do you think is the most exciting deal in the Daraz Black Friday 2017? Let us know in the comments below!

PC Master Race: Top 5 Games For PC

Games

GadgetByte

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November 21, 2017

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Spending your hard earned cash on a nice Gaming PC or laptop is only half the work, you still need to buy a game. And choosing a game out of all those triple-A titles might be a hard one. So we are here to help you with a list of five most “fun” games according to us (your preferences may vary).

PUGB (PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS)

This is an awesome game from Bluehole, Inc. It’s still in its early access stage, but with more than a million players at any given moment, this game is no joke. Plus, it’s mad fun to just play around.
You basically fall into this map from an airplane along with some 90-95 other players with basically one objective. Be the last man surviving! Just think of “Hunger Games”, this game is almost exactly the same. You can also make a group of up to four friends and team up.

You can buy the game from STEAM, they are currently giving you a hefty discount. Also, note that this game is in its early unoptimized stages, so make sure you have more than enough horsepower to reach the 60fps mark. Most probably a GTX 1060, you can buy this game from here.

FIFA 18

Fifa 18 is hands down one of the all-time favorites for the football lovers. You can also opt for PES 18 if that’s your thing. Either way, I can’t think of a better game for a virtual football game than this.
In general, there are 22 players on the pitch, and you try to…….Do we really need to explain football now? You would be happy to hear about the new “Journey” mode where you play as Hunter, and the improvements in the Carrier modes as well.

You can buy the game from Origin, here is a link to the game.

Battlefield 1

Battlefield has always been one of the best First Person Shooters (FPS) games in the business, and Battlefield 1 takes it to a whole another level. It’s the second game in our list developed by EA DICE.
Basically, this game takes place in the various scenarios from the World War 1. You play as a bunch of characters with their own stories. Every character has their own objectives, backstory, which makes every character special. This game is all about the storyline. Although, saying more about this game would be a spoiler, so you should give this game a try yourself.

You can buy it from here.

Tom Clancy’s The Division

Tom Clancy’s The Division is a Third Person Shooter developed by UBISOFT. This game delivers really good graphics, along with a decent gameplay experience.
The game itself takes place in a world where the society that we live in now has fallen apart, due to a devastating pandemic sweep or something. What you have to do is fight for a better tomorrow.

You can buy the game from here.

Need For Speed Payback

Need For Speed is a game that needs no introduction. Developed by Ghost games and EA sports, this game has been one of the most famous car racing games ever.
The game takes place in an open world environment. You get three playable characters, with focus on “Action Driving”.

You can buy the game from here.

Nokia 8 Pre-Booking Started in Nepal

GadgetByte

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November 20, 2017

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Nokia 8 is the most powerful Nokia smartphone right now. The budget offerings from Nokia were good but they were just run of the mill. We all have been waiting for the Nokia 8, the Big Daddy of Nokia phones and it’s now finally available for Pre-Booking in Nepal via Daraz Kaymu.

Prebooking Information:

> Booking Period: 20th – 30th November 2017
> Phones Availability: 7th December 2017
> Black Friday Deal: To be revealed on 24th Nov 2017 (Friday)
> Color: Glossy Blue

Also Read: Nokia Mobiles Price in Nepal

Nokia 8 comes with a similar form factor like the Nokia 5 but it much more premium with the use of polished unibody 6000 series aluminum. This also provides the rigidity to the device as it’s what Nokia’s known for. Like the Nokia 5, it has incorporated fingerprint sensor on the home button. The phone comes with a 5.3-inch 2K display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection against drops and scratches. The phone is also IP54 splash resistant. It also offers the Always on Display widely popular on Samsung and Motorola phones. Despite all it has to offer, the display in today’s standard seems outdated with no 18:9 aspect ratio and comparatively big bezels.

Powering the phone is the latest Snapdragon 835 chipset coupled with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. In terms of performance, it is on par with every flagship out there today. The stock Android experience may even make it smoother. It is running on Android 7.1.2 Nougat with Oreo update on the pipeline. The Nokia 8 offered for Pre-Booking is a base model. It sports 64GB storage coupled with the 4GB of RAM. The storage can be expanded up to 256GB using the SIM 2 slot.

The camera is where Nokia phones had kept their mark in the past and they tend to do so with the Nokia 8. It comes with dual camera setup on the back with a 13+13MP pair. The primary 13MP camera comprises of RGB sensor while the secondary 13MP holds the monochrome sensor. The assisting camera helps to attain more details and depth. This combo results in highly detailed images, great Black and White photos and amazing bokeh effect. It can also shoot 4K videos at 30fs with Optical Image Stabilization. The phone also comes with Dual Sight mode which opens the back and the front camera at the same time. It can be proven beneficial for Facebook or Instagram Live. Up front, it is equipped with the same 13MP primary sensor as in the back. So, the front camera is likely to be superior compared to others. It can also shoot 4K@30fps and has PDAF. To add up, Nokia 8 is the first phone in the world to sport OZO spatial 360 audio. It will result in more lively sound and provides better audio quality while capturing videos.

The Nokia 8 comes with USB Type C and luckily a headphone jack as well. It is backed up by 3090mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0.

Specifications of Nokia 8

Display	5.3 inches 2K (1440 x 2560), 554ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Android Version	7.1.1 Nougat, Upgradable to 8.0 Oreo
Fingerprint Sensor	Front (Home Button)
SIM	Hybrid Dual Nano-SIM
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835
CPU	Octa-core (4×2.5 GHz Kryo & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo)
GPU	Adreno 540
RAM	4 GB LPPDDR4X
Storage	64 GB UFS2.1 Expandable up to 256GB (Using SIM 2 slot)
Rear Camera	Dual 13 MP, f/2.0, laser & phase detection autofocus, Carl Zeiss optics, OIS, 4K@30fps
Front Camera	13 MP, f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, 4K@30fps
Battery	Non-removable Li-Ion 3090 mAh battery
Price	Rs.62,999

Pre-Book Nokia 8

Xiaomi Square Box 2: Cheap, loud and long lasting portable speaker

GadgetByte

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November 19, 2017

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Xiaomi Square Box 2: Cheap, loud and long lasting portable speaker

Your music experience depends on the speakers you use. And when you are in a group, the tinny speakers on your phone just won’t cut it. The only reasonable and viable alternative is a portable speaker, preferably one that’s loud and has a long battery life.

The Xiaomi Square Box 2 is a Bluetooth speaker that ticks both of these boxes. With a battery that lasts more than 6 hours and a portable lightweight body, is this the best Bluetooth speaker? Nope, not even close, but considering it’s price, you will not regret it.

Body

The Square Box 2 has an aluminum body with the exception of the front and back, those are plastic. Although the speaker did not feel quite good in the hand, with sharp and uncomfortable edges, most users probably won’t even notice it anyway. It is a sturdy device nevertheless.

The top of the speaker has three buttons for input. The power button doubles as a call receiver, and with a built-in mic, you can pick calls-up without touching your phone. The volume buttons also double as a music navigator.

The back of the speaker has two ports, one a 3.5mm audio jack, and a micro USB for power. The front is filled with speaker grills and finally, the bottom has two rubber feet for vibration control. It’s a relatively minimal design compared to some flashy portable speakers out there.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is pretty decent, considering a price tag of $28, I didn’t hope for much. It was pretty loud for its size, although the bass on those two 2.5W speakers did disappoint me. This is definitely not one for music enthusiasts or serious listeners but for casual users, this will be more than enough. Moreover, even at high volumes, there is very less distortion. Other speakers at this price point did perform similarly, with some bass heavy and some really loud, this particular one is decently loud and lightweight.

Connectivity

Connectivity can be done through two ways, a 3.5mm headphone jack or Bluetooth 4.2. This speaker connects to your phone really fast, not Bluetooth 5.0 fast but it’s pretty fast. The range is also quite decent, you won’t have any problems unless you have a really big room.

Battery Life

The speaker has a 1200mAh battery that, according to the website delivers 10 hours of continuous playback at 40% volume. I usually got more than 6 hours of music playback, video watching and game plays at mixed volumes. I personally didn’t find any problems with the battery backup on this. And when you do run out of battery, you can fully charge it within 3 hours.

Conclusion

All in all, this is a good speaker for casual users. But in any case you have more budget than the cost of this speaker, I recommend you go for some other speaker like the audio cube, which won’t be as portable but will deliver immensely better sound quality. You can also buy one from Xiaomi itself, the Mi Bluetooth Speaker, which costs around 2k more but the improvement in sound quality is definitely worth it.

If you are looking for a cheap, portable, long lasting and loud Bluetooth speaker, this one is for you. You can buy the Square Box 2 from banggood.com. If you want one, you can buy it here. They do ship to Nepal at a really low shipping cost and are also pretty reliable.

Second-generation Tesla Roadster Unveiled: Fastest Car Ever!

GadgetByte

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November 19, 2017

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Second-generation Tesla Roadster Unveiled: Fastest Car Ever!

Tesla just unveiled Tesla Roadster 2.0, which is, in literal terms, INSANE! This is the fastest car to ever enter production, and that is counting the cars that run on electricity and petroleum products according to the figures showcased by Elon Musk.

According to Elon Musk, the car can go from 0 to 60mph in a staggering 1.9 seconds, and 0 to 100mph in 4.2 seconds. Another crazy figure based on the Tesla Roadster 2.0 is it can do a quarter of a mile in 8.9 seconds.

“This is the base model!”

-Elon musk

Talking more about the car, it has a top speed of over 250mph, and if all this isn’t insane enough for you, I don’t know what is.

Powering all of these figures is a 200kWh battery which, according to Tesla, will offer a range of 630 miles. They did state that the range was for highways so regular driving miles will differ.

“The point of doing this is to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline vehicles.”

The Tesla Roadster 2.0 is a two by two four-seater, with a torque of 10,000Nm that will cost you a sweet $200,000. The first 1,000 buyers will get the Founder’s series that will cost them a cool $250,000, a $50,000 premium.

The price will feel like a bargain when you think that this is the fastest production car as of now. Tesla also gave people in the crowd a chance to test ride it if they put a $50,000 deposit.

The Roadster will be available for purchase by 2020. With more than one world-record shattered, this was an eventful night. Also, with the name Roadster comes a convertible roof, not a traditional one but still.

Alongside the second-generation Tesla Roadster, Tesla also released a Semi Truck. This one has a range of 500 miles, looks like Darth Vader, engineered to be aerodynamic, and has 18 wheels. Elon Musk also promised self-driving abilities.

Budget-oriented Nokia 2 with 4100mAh battery Launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

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November 19, 2017

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Budget-oriented Nokia 2 with 4100mAh battery Launched in Nepal

So you want a value for money smartphone? Back in the days, you’d probably think of a Nokia mobile phone. But you can still do the same today. The Nokia 2, a budget-oriented Android smartphone from HMD, is now available in Nepal for the price of Rs. 11,499. Let’s find out what this phone has got in store for us!

Right off the bat, the phone comes with a 5-inch 720p panel which is standard for a sub 15K phone. To my surprise, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 making it less prone to cracks and scratches. For added durability, it comes with a 6000 series aluminum frame giving it a robust body. The back, however, is made out of polycarbonate. The design is similar to the Nokia 3 or the Nokia 5. But you’ll find the phone in two-tone colors giving a fun vibe to it.

Performance is where the phone falls back. It is powered by an old Snapdragon 212 Processor clocked at 1.3GHz coupled with 1GB of RAM. For storage, 8GB of memory is available which can be expanded up to 128GB using microSD card. The weak chipsets are aided with the Stock Android which should provide a decent experience. It is running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat and will soon be receiving the Oreo Update. Android 8.0 introduces Android GO which optimizes android for phones with low hardware specifications. This will certainly bring more life to the phone later on.

On the optics side of things, it sports an 8MP rear Camera with autofocus and 5MP Front Facing Camera. The rear can shoot 720p videos. Staying true to its culture, Nokia 2 sports a massive 4100mAh battery which is going to back this device for days. Although, slow charging is a concern.

Don’t Miss: Nokia Mobiles Price in Nepal

Specifications of Nokia 2

Display	5.0 inches(720 x 1280) @294ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Android Version	7.1.1 Nougat, Upgradable to 8.0 Oreo
Fingerprint Sensor	No
SIM	Dual Nano-SIM
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8909v2 Snapdragon 212
CPU	Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU	Adreno 304
RAM	1GB DDR3
Storage	8GB, Expandable up to 128GB (Dedicated Slot)
Rear Camera	8MP with autofocus
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	Non-removable Li-Ion 4100 mAh battery
Price	Rs.11,499

Gionee M7 Plus leaks Online: Full specs revealed

GadgetByte

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November 17, 2017

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Gionee M7 Plus leaks Online: Full specs revealed

The battery champ Gionee M7 Power will soon launch in Nepal. But Talks about the Gionee M7 Plus has already made its rounds on the internet. And the Plus will sit comfortably on top of the M7 lineup hierarchy.

Also Read: Gionee S11 appears in the leaked images; features some trendy specs!

The regular Gionee M7 and the M7 Power feature 6-inch displays, so it’s only fair that the Plus variant is bigger. And so it seems, with Gionee M7 Plus’s screen size standing at around 6.5 inches.

Courtesy of Antutu benchmark, we now know the full specs of the M7 Plus. The screen resolution remains identical with the regular M7 at 2160*1080, but an AMOLED panel is uncertain.

The similarities continue with 6GB of RAM and 64Gb of storage, although the plus seems to have missed out on a dual back camera setup. With a single 16MP back sensor capable of 4K recording and an 8MP lens at the front for selfies.

The best part about the M7 Plus is it’s SoC, featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. And finally, it’s running on Android 7.1.1. November 26 is the expected date of release for this particular device. So we will have to wait and see how much of this information pans out.

Official: OnePlus 5T with a bigger display and better cameras unveiled!

GadgetByte

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November 17, 2017

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Official: OnePlus 5T with a bigger display and better cameras unveiled!

Amidst the hoard of all smartphone giants competing to create a mark for themselves with almost completely bezel-free designs, OnePlus: the Chinese smartphone marker, has also put forward a new product to add to the pile. In a LIVE event broadcast yesterday on 16th November 2017, the company unveiled the OnePlus 5T. It is also now available in Nepali market. The 64GB version costs Rs.64,900 and the 128GB version costs Rs. 72,900 in Nepal.

Earlier in 2016, the company had launched OnePlus 3 and then in the latter half of the year, OnePlus 3T was launched. Similarly, after the launch of OnePlus 5 in June 2017, the company made similar strategies like last year and launched the OnePlus 5T. With more attractive specs, OnePlus 5T seems to have set a new checkpoint for all smartphones. Without further ado, I would now like to walk you through the features of the latest release.

The first thing that everyone would notice about the OnePlus 5T is the 6-inch full Optic AMOLED display with 18:9 aspect ratio display. This is also an upgrade compared to the OnePlus 5 which had 16:9 aspect ratio. But the thing to note here is that the form factor of the phone is still the same. The new aspect ratio is one of the primary specs of the OP 5T that guards it from other counterparts. The phone offers 1080P (1080 x 2160 pixels) resolution with 401ppi pixel density. Enabled with display features like sRGB and DCI-P3, the phone is all set to provide a better viewing experience to the users. The newer sunlight display feature enabled in this phone adjusts the display features according to the ambient light settings.

To make sure that the display stays immersive and offers the best of all available screen space, the manufacturers have also moved the fingerprint scanner to the back. The scanner unlocks the phone in 0.2 seconds and also incorporates gesture control, such as swiping to bring down the notification and quick settings dropdown and holding it to trigger the camera shutter when taking a selfie. The placement has also been done well, so this transition feels really smooth. Speaking of scanners, the OP 5T comes with a new feature: face unlock which is the fastest facial recognition on any smartphone (unlocks in 0.4 seconds). With over 100 facial identifiers, the face unlock can unlock the phone even when you are wearing a scarf or making a funny face. And safety is a primary concern, this feature does not work with sensitive apps: like payment app and so forth.

Moving on to the design of the phone, the OnePlus 5T has a seamless all metal chassis that ensure that the phone is slim, comfortable, easy to hold and also durable. The arced design of the phone makes it more ergonomic and flexible. Also, the manufacturers have brought back the horizon line: a continuous hard edge that emphasizes strength and agility by dividing the phone body into two halves: one casting light and the other one in shadow for a stunning effect. There is also an alert slider that is very easy to adjust – one doesn’t have to even pick up the phone for it. Users will be able to put their phones in three notification profiles:

Ring: To receive all calls
Do not disturb: To receive priority calls only
Silent: To mute all notifications and focus elsewhere

Another crowd cheered at the launch event was the availability of the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Though the USB type C accessories are making a name for themselves in the market, a majority of the general public is still very much in love with the 3.5 mm audio jack. The cheering crowd at the event was also an indicator for this.

Moving on to the camera department of the phone, the manufacturers claimed to have one of the best dual camera settings. Based on user preferences, the company has taken note to develop two key aspects of the dual rear cameras: low light performance and portraits. The main camera is 16MP with f/1.7 aperture and the secondary camera has been optimized for better low light performance allowing users to take clearer pictures in low light conditions. The 20 MP secondary camera, now comes with 27.22mm focal length and f/1.7 aperture. The secondary lens comes with Intelligent Pixel Technology which automatically groups pixels together in order for the original sensor to capture enough light and dark data, hence, enhancing the low light performance. Serious improvements have also been made here to make sure that portraits come clear and sharp. The front houses a 16MP camera with f/2.0 aperture.

The OnePlus 5T is still running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat with OxygenOS on top. Oreo has been available to the public since late August, and to see a new phone released in November with Android Nougat is a bit depressing. Display options like Night Mode and Reading Mode, that were also available on the OP 5, the revamped underlays of the OxygenOS in the OnePlus 5T are laudable. The changes OnePlus made to OxygenOS are welcome, such as its scalable Slate font to improve the viewing experience. However, the fact that an older Android version is just what the latest release has up for the offer, has raised some concerns for those who are a fan of Android updates.

The Snapdragon 835 processor with Adreno 540 graphics are the same as of its predecessor, and so are the two storage and RAM options: users can pick between 6GB of RAM with 64GB of storage or 8GB of RAM with 128GB of space. Backed by 3,300mAh battery, the OP 5T also come with the proprietary Dash Charge fast-charging technology. However, some latest techs like fast charging and waterproofing are still unavailable here.

Specifications of OnePlus 5T:

6.01 inches full Optic AMOLED display with 1080P resolution, 401ppi
18:9 Aspect Ratio with 2.5D Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-core Processor clocked at 2.45GHz
6/8 GB RAM, 64/128 GB Internal memory
OxygenOS based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Dual nano-SIM slot
16 MP primary rear camera, 20 MP secondary sensor with Intelligent Pixel Technology
16 MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture
Fingerprint, Hall, Accelerometer, G-sensor, Electronic Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light Sensor, RGB, Sensor Hub
USB 2.0, Type-C, Supports USB Audio, 3.5mm audio jack
Dimensions: 1156.1*75*7.3mm; Weight: 162g
3,300 mAh (non-removable), Dash Charge (5V 4A) Dash Charge (5V 4A)

One Plus 5T Price in Nepal:

iHub, the sole authorized distributor of One Plus products in Nepal, has launched the One Plus 5T in Nepal for a slightly exorbitant pricing. The company has priced the Oneplus 5T at Rs. 64,900 for the 6GB/64GB version and Rs.72,900 for the 8GB/128GB version.

A quick trivia here:

Fans of OnePlus had the opportunity to see the unveiling live in person upon paying $40 for a ticket. The attendees did not only get a swag bag with lots of goodies inside, they also got a $40 off coupon for the OnePlus 5T. Moreover, the ticket proceedings from the launch event will be used to fund F-Droid: a software repository that acts as an alternative to the Google Play Store but only accepts free and open-source software (FOSS).

What is your say on the OnePlus 5T? Do you think the hype is worth it? Let us know in the comments below

Motorola Moto E4 Plus Review: Big-time Battery Boost on Budget

GadgetByte

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November 16, 2017

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Motorola Moto E4 Plus Review: Big-time Battery Boost on Budget

Recently, Motorola surfaced in the Nepali smartphone market with four smartphones in their lineup. Moto E4 Plus was one of the four smartphones launched, which is priced at Rs.20,990. With so many smartphone brands already available in Nepal and the multitude of smartphones in their lineup, choosing a decent smartphone had always been a stressful task. But will the presence of Moto E4 Plus ease the hunt for a good smartphone available at Rs.20,000? Let’s find out in this review.

Moto E4 Plus Specs

Display: 5.5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS LCD display, 2.5D curved glass, Gorilla Glass 3 Protection, Oleophobic Coating
Processor: 64 bit, Quad-core CPU, 1.3 GHz clock speed
Chipset: MediaTek MT6737
GPU: Mali-T720
RAM: 3GB
Memory: 32GB internal memory, expandable with microSD (Dedicated Slot)
OS: Android 7.1.1 (Nougat)
Dimensions: 155 x 77.5 x 9.6 mm; Weight: 198g
Rear Camera: 13MP, f/2.0 aperture, 1.12 µm pixel size, autofocus, LED Flash
Front Camera: 5MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1.4 µm pixel size, LED flash
Sensors: Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, ambient light sensor
Connectivity: Dual SIM (4G + 2G), Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, A-GPS, MicroUSB 2.0
Battery: 5000mAh built-in battery with Fast Charging (5V/2A)
Moto E4 Plus Price in Nepal: Rs.20,990

Build and Design

Though sheathed inside a plastic body, the E4 Plus resembles a metallic fitting and also offers a premium feel to its users. However, the device is relatively heavy with 198g of weight and may discomfort the people who are used to with light smartphones. The phone has big bezels on the top and the bottom. Despite having thick bezels on the chin, the phone opted for on-screen buttons, which is so unpersuasive.

As for the buttons, the device includes a power button and volume rockers on the right with an added texture to the power button. There is also a notification LED on top bezel of the device, which seems to work only during charging or battery low condition. For charging, microUSB 2.0 port lies on the bottom alongside the speaker grills.

The phone also has a port for 3.5mm headphone jack, which resides on the top. The back cover of the device is removable, where is there is two SIM card slots and a dedicated slot for SDcard.

For securing the smartphone and to evade data vulnerabilities, there is a front mounted fingerprint sensor on the device. The fingerprint sensor is pretty sensitive and can be used for both locking and unlocking the device. However, only registered fingerprints can be employed for unlocking the device whereas any fingerprint is capable of locking it.

Other sensors on the device are proximity sensor, ambient light sensor and accelerometer with an absolute absence of the Gyro sensor.

Display

E4 Plus is provided with 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, which features 720p resolution. The viewing angle is fairly decent with good amount of color reproduction. The display on the device also looks seamless and elegant with 2.5D glass. In addition, with Gorilla Glass 3, the display is less prone to scratches.

Although oleophobic coating is provided to the display, it fails to keep aside the fingerprint smudges most of the time. The smooth coating has made the display rather slippery.

Camera

In terms of camera, the device sports 13MP sensor on the back and a 5MP sensor on the front and LED flash accompanies them both.

Under ample lighting condition, the back camera takes impressive shots with plenty of details.

But sometimes the images seem to lack dynamic range and color vibrancy. Under such scenario, turning on the HDR mode helps usually. While shooting in the night time or low-light scenario, the images suffer from noises and grains.

The selfie shooter is not disappointing either. One can pull out social media ready selfies from the front shooter. However, the beauty mode does not seem up to the mark.

With the beauty mode on the play, the skin is over smoothened in the name of making it beautiful. And the subject seems to lose their natural aura at times. Also the camera UI lacks manual or pro mode through which user could tweak the ISO, exposure, shutter speed, etc.

Performance

E4 Plus is powered by an average MediaTek MT6737 chipset aided by 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. The device runs smoothly on running light apps and games and multitasking with them. However, with heavy and graphics demanding apps and games, stutters and drop in frame rate are inevitable. The device also froze at times showing the inability to operate the tasks assigned.

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Software

The device comes with Android Nougat out of the box. The User Interface on the device is close to the stock Android with just Dolby Atmos and Moto app as the additions. With the Moto app, the users can replace the on-screen buttons with gestures through the fingerprint sensor.

Moto app has bluelight filter option for eye-protection and also has a mode to shrink the screen size for the single-handed use. It also has the Moto display mode, which when turned on wakes the screen showing date, time and notifications just on lifting the device or shifting its position. On the other hand, the Dolby Atmos app lets the user tweak the equalizer so that the user can get the sound output matching their taste.

Battery

The massive 5000mAh battery is the USP of the phone. On the heavy use, the massive battery keeps the device alive untiringly for 8-9 hours. On the normal use, it provides two days backup. There is also an optimization mode through which the backup time can be pushed further. Although the device supports fast charging, it takes around 3 hours for the battery replenishment from 0-100% with the proprietary charger.

Verdict

If a long-life battery tops your list of phone needs, then E4 Plus would be a wise choice under Rs.20,000. It offers a big screen with scratch resistant and water repellent coating, decent camera, fast fingerprint sensor, dedicated SDcard slot and bloatware free OS as the additional benefits. However, the bulk body, low 720p resolution, sluggish processor and the absence of gyrosensor may turn you off a little.

Where is the Smart Cars industry headed to in 2017?

GadgetByte

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November 16, 2017

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Where is the Smart Cars industry headed to in 2017?

Cars – some love them, some hate them. A cheesy way to start a story, I know. For a normal layman, there are basically three types of cars: one that runs on battery, another on fuel and a few of those hybrids. But the statement “this world will run out of fuel in the next 50 years” is where it gets a little scary.

Let’s talk about smart cars now. Smart cars are the cars that, in a simple sense, have a brain. There is a set of sensors, a smart & powerful CPU, and a few other goodies enabling it to do a set of functions on its own. Smart cars have been around for some time now, and right about now, we are finally in the transaction phase.

A bunch of huge car companies are on board to launch smart cars and the Government approval is really close,. The cars’ technology is almost complete and electric car batteries are getting better. More importantly, the general public seems to be on board and excited. In such a life-altering phase, let’s look at some of the most interesting stories in the field of smart cars.

Roborace

Firstly, Roborace car is “the world’s first electric driverless racing car“. Looking at it through the eyes of a tech enthusiast, these cars don’t just drive, they rather race without the need of a human racer. Two Roborace can even race each other, one AI vs another.

But, is it something you want? Look at of it in this way: think of a reason you love the sport of racing. You probably like those vehicles, the race tracks, or the environment, but what makes it all tick are the racers. If you take the racer out of the equation it probably won’t be as fun or emotional as before. We love the spat, the connection with the racer, the friendship, the freedom of error and more importantly the love and hate they get. And that is the same reason I can’t see myself watching a race between AIs.

Leaving the ethics and wants aside, this is, however, a huge step forward in the field of smart cars. Also, Nvidia is a partner in the Roborace project. There is still a few years left for the completion of this project, but if you want to know more about Roborace, you can visit its official website.

Toyota’s Self-Driving Car

Toyota’s new prototype of a self-driving car is complete. All Toyota need to wow, is to prove that it works. The company will surely put it through a series set of tests.

GoMentum Station, a dedicated car testing company is set to perform those tests. This technology is still in its early phases so don’t expect Toyota to start taking pre-orders anytime time soon.

Honda Sports EV concept

The Honda Sports EV is just a concept from Honda. Honda says that this car will bring the driver and the car even closer together. But for one, the production might start in 2019 or by 2021.

A feeling of joy and emotional unity to the drive

The power and performance of this car aren’t revealed yet, all we know is it’s completely electric and looks great. The car will also feature its own version of AI that will react to its driver’s reactions and emotions. It will also support voice commands and a few assistive driving technologies.

UK’s guidelines for smart car cybersecurity

We know smart cars are cars with a software, so basically, it could and is vulnerable. If you don’t get why cars need cybersecurity, then you can think of an instance where your car is on auto mode and someone hijacks it from a computer and drives you out of a cliff. Not really an exact representation but at least you get it.

allow innovation to flourish and ensure the next wave of self-driving technology is invented, designed and operated safely in the UK

So why the UK? Well, they have one of the biggest numbers of smart cars on the road. The exact words were “all parties involved in the manufacturing and supply chain … with a consistent set of guidelines.” The guidelines consist of 8 basic principles

Organizations should ensure that security is a priority on a board level
Manufacturers should assess potential risks especially with third-party contractors
Vehicle security needs to last for the lifetime of the system in question
Organizations and subcontractors must work together to certify their security processes and products
Security systems should be made redundant
Manufactures should manage software over the expected life of the system
Data storage should be secure
The vehicle or systems should be able to withstand attacks and continue to function

We are sure the cars that are currently queued for production will follow these guidelines. The problem lies with the older smart cars, will they be left vulnerable?

Samsung’s $8 billion investment on smart cars

The high demand for advanced driver assistance systems [ADAS] has brought the smartphone maker Samsung into the field of smart cars. Samsung is known to bud in on almost every booming sector possible and it seems like smart cars are also a target for the company.

Samsung wants in on the action, and is happy to put its money where its mouth is

Samsung’s recently acquired Harman International for around $8 billion. Harman International Industries has been fiddling around in the smart car business. They basically design and engineer connected products for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation, and connected services. They will be working closely with Samsung to develop safer, smarter and connected vehicles.