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Bose Soundlink Micro Review: The Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker for its Size?

GadgetByte

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February 5, 2018

Bose Soundlink Micro Review: The Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker for its Size?

Gone are the days when the bulky and high power-devouring speakers used to be installed for amplifying sound. These days, speakers are available in small form factor, which intensifies the sound level to a great extent without major compromises on the sound quality. And adding to the list, there is Bose Soundlink Micro Speaker, which comes at a portable size and promises for a superior audio quality. But how does this device fares in real life? Let’s find in this Bose Soundlink Micro review.

Bose Soundlink Micro Specifications

Connectivity Technology: wireless (Bluetooth)
Controls: activate Bluetooth, power on/off, volume
Battery: Rechargeable
Recharge Time: 4 hours
Battery Backup (Up To): 6 hours
Color: Midnight blue, Orange, Black
Body Material: Silicone rubber
Protection: Waterproof (IPX7 certified)
Speaker Channel Type: Mono
Amplification Type: Active
Transmission Range: 9 meters
Intelligent Assistant Compatible: Google Assistant, Siri
Hands-Free Function: Yes
Amplification Type: Active
Audio Amplifier: Integrated
Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.9 x 3.5 cm
Weight: 290 grams
Price: Rs. 18,000

Also Read: Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers under Rs. 10000 in Nepal

Build and Design

To be honest, the speaker got me impressed in the first glance. With the rounded edge across the corners, the soundlink micro looked aesthetically and ergonomically flawless. The speaker fits perfectly within my palm, all thanks to its minimalist construction. It is light with just 290 grams of weight and doesn’t feel hefty even when carried around in a pocket. But you don’t need to do that as it has a rubberized silicone strap embedded to its back. The strap is tear-resistant and can be employed to fix the speaker in the belts or belt loops, backpack, handle of the bike or any place convenient.

Meanwhile, check out all the prices and specs of Bose speakers and accessories

The attachment is firm and you don’t need to worry about the fall. Even if it falls, the silicone rubber wrapped around the device keeps it perfectly safe from the scratches, cracks, and dents conveniently protecting the speaker inside. Even on my use, the device fell quite often, but all thanks to the design, it still looks almost new and the quality of sound is still the same. In addition, the soundlink Micro is IPX7 certified so it is resistant to water and moistures. The speaker remains unscathed even if it is submerged in a water pool up to 30 feet for around thirty minutes. This specialty has made it suitable for the use during the showers, while swimming and even in the rain dance.

There are five buttons in the device to handle the job eloquently. With volume rockers and multi-function buttons, there are three buttons altogether embedded on its chest. The power button and active Bluetooth button lies on the top with micro USB 2.0 port accommodated between them. In the proximity to the charging port, there are six LEDs to depict the power state of the speaker. The secluded single LED on the right-hand side depicts the power on/off state of the speaker, whereas the remaining five on its left denotes the battery level while charging.

Also Read: Anker SoundCore nano Review: Best Bluetooth Speaker Below Rs.2,000

Pairing and Control

Since the soundlink micro is the wireless speaker, it pairs with the audio device via Bluetooth. The pairing and connection is pretty fast with the device and a voice prompt states the name of the device connected.

Once the connection is established, every sound from the audio device is amplified from the speaker. The amount of loudness of the audio can be controlled through the volume buttons on its chest. The multi-function button in between the volume buttons comes handy on playing/pausing the audio, toggling to the next and previous, and on triggering the AI assistant in the smartphones. While playing the music, pressing the multi-function button twice skips the tracks and plays next song in the list, whereas pressing it thrice plays back the previous song. And a single press suffices the toggle between the play and pause.

Once connected to the smartphone, pressing and holding the multi-function button triggers the AI assistant of the smartphone. There is also a mic right on the top of the Bose logo through which command to the AI assistants can be given. This mic also comes handy during the phone conversation in hands-free mode.

For the hassle-free control of the speaker via smartphone, Bose has also developed the app named Bose Connect. With this app, the state of power and volume can be known. Playing/pausing the music and volume can also be controlled through this app. The best thing about the app is it helps to pair the device with another Bose speaker for more loud and vibrant stereo output.

Sound Performance

In terms of Sound output, the speaker is unarguably the best speaker at its size. I was impressed by its level of amplification and the sound quality. Bose has injected “custom-engineered transducer and miniature dual-passive radiators” in the speaker to enhance the audio supremely. While listening to the classic blues and rock music, walking bass lines has a pleasing rumble. And along with the soothing sensation, they are vivid and clear at lower volumes. However, as the volume is increased near to the maximum level, noises dive in to mix in the audio and the music sounds little distorted. So playing music at 50-75% always result in the better audio quality.

Punk tracks from the device ring in the device with great acute sound with suitably loud intensity. But more complex, textured mids in jazz and classic songs, while audible, generally are not as pronounced as they are on more expensive, slightly larger speakers, and this has been an issue on all the small-sized speakers.

In a nutshell, the Micro has an impressive performance on the overall sound quality with remarkable gain. However, the speaker does not offer 360-degree sound because of which a shift from the speaker’s path results in the muddier and less intense sound. This is definitely a major issue if the speaker is used at parties and group hangouts.

Battery

For the size and portability, Bose seems to make a compromise on the battery. The battery backed me up for six hours while playing music with the volume at 50%. Like every other wireless speaker out on the market, its battery life also diminished when the amplification was increased. The speaker ran powerless after four hours when the songs were played at its maximum intensity. Charging is also little sluggish in the device. The device took around four hours to get it fully charged with its stock charger of 5V, 1A.

Verdict

Bose Soundlink micro is a great audio gadget for the audiophiles who opt for minimum size and maximum portability. Its size assists for the use in multiple occasions like biking, hiking, jogging and small indoor get together. But the short battery life ruins the fun in major scenarios as the charge diminishes quickly. Also at the price of Rs. 18,000, the device is awfully expensive. So, if sound quality is the major priority along with the portability then Soundlink Micro is the perfect audio gadget at this size. However, if prolonged battery life is all you need then JBL Clip 2 would be the perfect fit. The JBL Clip 2 comes in nearly same form factor at a cheaper price offering 8 hours of backup but with few compromises on the audio quality.

According to NTA, the internet penetration in Nepal has reached 63%

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GadgetByte

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February 5, 2018

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According to NTA, the internet penetration in Nepal has reached 63%

Nepali youths and their love for internet are not unknown to us. We can see people busy on their phones with cellular data on when getting into a public vehicle, or walking through the streets, might be in some malls or even in the movie theatres.

Not just youths these days but also children and elderly people are seen using the internet. Especially in the valley and areas around it where most of the population lives. The use of internet might not be consistent per se but the availability, as well as the demand for the same, is well known.

A recent Management Information system(MIS) report from Nepal Telecom Authority(NTA) states that the internet penetration rate as of Kartik 2074 is nearly 63% in Nepal which is a large number considering Nepal being an underdeveloped country and secondly the literacy rate of Nepal according to CBS report, 2011 is 66%.

Does it mean that internet is heading towards being one of the basic needs in Nepal? Or is it already? We are yet to find it out as the illiterate population might not be that into internet whereas the literacy percentage is just 3% more than the internet penetration rate as per the mentioned MIS report.

Looking at the other side of the statistics, it’s been almost 6 years since the CBS report was published so the literacy rate might have increased in these 5 years.

The education system in urban areas is more or less internet based these days. This also may have contributed a lot in the increment of the number of internet users.

Availability of smartphones at an affordable rate these days and the availability of network in the rural areas can also be considered as one of the major reasons for the high percentage of internet penetration in Nepal.

It certainly has made people acquainted with global news and trends but can it be considered as the increment in the living standard of people in terms of earning? Certainly not.

The internet certainly is growing as a need among the people globally. If the stats provided by NTA is true, this sure is a positive change in terms of generating awareness and for the people to stay informed.

Highlights:

63% of internet penetration
66% of literacy rate
Cause: availability of phones in moderate price, availability of network (cellular data)
Increasing number of ISP (internet service provider)
Exposure to social media
Vital for the awareness

Locus 2018 Overview: Creative Students Showed a Glimpse of a Smart City

GadgetByte

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February 5, 2018

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Locus 2018 Overview: Creative Students Showed a Glimpse of a Smart City

The three-day Locus 2018 concluded yesterday. The 15^th National Technological fest kicked off with the theme of ‘Smart City with ICT’. And was held on IOE Central Campus, Pulchowk for three days in a yearly fashion. The event showcased some creative hardware and software projects. Also, there were various technical competitions brought to the limelight.

The event was a huge success and had been able to garner over 30,000 visitors in three-day time. With the participants from more than thirty colleges all over the nation, the event concluded on a good note. Following were the major highlights in the event.

Hardware Competition and Software Competition

The concept of the smart city has been creating quite a buzz in our country these days. We have a majority of the population believing in the smart city as the facilitated society with the free Wi-Fi. And these agendas were also brought by the politicians during the elections. It has been months the elections were conducted; however, no significant actions could be seen in the deployment of that idea. So to illuminate the people about the concept and practical applications of the smart systems, different creative and constructive ideas were showcased in the event.

Smart systems use the concept of embedded systems, Internet of Things (IoT), and automation. And it was seen in the event that the students were tirelessly dedicated to employing the concept of smart systems for the greater good. David: Assistant Bot for home automation, Smart restaurant for better and efficient management of hotels and restaurants, smart city, smart library management system, smart parking systems, smart garden, etc. were some of the creative projects in the show.

Locus 2018 also had some projects that were related dedicated to the reducing the electrical energy crisis in the nation. Smart street lighting system and efficient solar panel system were some of the iconic electrical engineering projects in the event. Some of the students had also developed object detection software, assistive software, and security software.

locus 2018 smart restaurant — smart restaurant

Code Jam

Code Jam is another competitive event, where finding the participants are expected to find the solution to the problems given by the experts. This competition is divided into beginner and advanced level. And giving attention the level, the tasks were assigned accordingly.

For the participants taking part in the Basic level, simple problems were given. And based on the time taken for finding the solution and considering the amount of efficiency with the idea, judgment was made. In the advanced level competition, participants were assigned to complete a real-life practical task. And the judging parameter was not just the successful completion of the task but also the optimal code structure, optimization and the means of the completion of the task.

MatLab Simulation

MatLab is one of the most powerful simulating software related to engineering. In this competition, the students are asked to develop and system using MatLab and perform the necessary simulations to present the ideas that would reduce or eliminate the complexities regarding the generation, transmission, distribution, and utilization of the electrical energy.

Robo Warz

It was another competition in the show, which had got all the visitors and exhibitors excited during the event. As the name implies, this competition is all about the battle between the robots. It was mandatory that the robots brought should be self-made. In this competition, two robots are placed on a table and they need to tussle each other. And to be the winner, the robot master should manipulate their robot in such a way that it should push its opponent off the table. The mighty robot, which succeeded to knock its opponent off the table was granted with points. Within the time of five minutes, the robot with maximum points was then ascended to the next round.

There were eighteen robots altogether in the battle. And in this event, the Android named Robonauts got the upper hand of all with its power and agility and stole the title.

Dronacharya

This is the competition, where one is expected to show their skills and expertise in piloting their aerial device, i.e. drone. In this competition, the drones should pass through a number of obstacles and reach the destination within the designated time of five minutes. On passing each obstacle successfully, the drones were rewarded with the points. Based on the number of points achieved by the drones, the drones with higher points were ascended to the next round. Dominating the other drones, the drone Oztec became the ultimate champion in the competition.

Games and Entertainment

For the refreshment of the visitors, there were many games and means of entertainment to maintain the jolly mood of the visitors intact. In the gaming section, the Locus 2018 committee managed to accommodate the infrastructure for the games like Mini Militia Battle, FIFA 2018, etc. The small entry fee to the games and big prizes to the winners was the exciting factor in the competition. There was also the Flash Mob to cheer the guests and visitors with the dance.

Musical Eve

It was another impressive means of entertainment, which provided the platform to the ones with dexterity in the musical field. Musical eve was not actually a competition. And every individual, who craves for singing a song, dancing or playing the musical instrument showed their talents in the event.

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Oppo A71 2018 launched globally and is coming to Nepal soon

Pratima Adhikari

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February 1, 2018

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Oppo A71 2018 launched globally and is coming to Nepal soon

Oppo A71 was launched last year but did not make much noise in the market. This year too, Oppo has brought to the table the Oppo A71 2018 with a couple of improvements to its predecessor. The specifications are pretty the same in this model too, like the 5.2-inch display with 720p display resolution, 5MP selfie camera, 13 MP rear camera, 3000 mAh battery and 16 GB of internal expandable storage.

Also Read: Oppo Mobiles Price in Nepal

The Oppo A71 2018 has been launched globally and is soon to launch in Nepal too.
What’s not same in the 2018 variant of this device is the chipset and the amount of RAM offering. The new variant surprisingly comes with a GB less RAM, i.e. 2 GB instead of the previously offered 3 GB of RAM.

As mentioned earlier, another major change in the 2018 variant of the Oppo A71 is the chipset. The 2017 version of this device offered MediaTek’s MT 6750 chipset while the new 2018 version offers a Snapdragon 450 chipset. This change, as said by the company, signifies 12.5% increase in application in the application startup time. The Qualcomm‘s Soc comes with the Adreno 506 GPU and an octa-core Cortex- A53 CPU clocked at a speed of 1.8 GHz.

Further, the company also added that this transformation will also lead to the smoother navigation of the ColorOS 3.2 UI used in the device. However, this is just an upgrade in the performance of the software while the Android version still remains the same, i.e. Android Nougat 7.1.

The major attraction of the ColorOS 3.2 in the Oppo A71 this year is the “AI Beauty Recognition Technology”, which is “based on a global image database that serves as an experienced photographer, who knows your beauty and will offer the most suitable beautify effect for you”, according to Oppo’s official website.

Oppo A71 2018 Specifications:

Android Version: Android Nougat 7.1 aided by ColorOS 3.2 UI
Chipset: Snapdragon 450
Processor: Octa-core Cortex A53 CPU clocked at 1.8 GHz
GPU: Adreno 506
Display: 5.2-inch IPS LCD HD (720×1280)
Rear camera: 13 MP f/2.2, phase detection Auto-focus
Selfie camera: 5 MP, f/2.4 aperture with AI beauty
RAM: 2 GB
Internal storage: 16 GB expandable up to 256 GB
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, A-GPS, Dual-SIM, 4G connectivity, Micro USB 2.0, USB OTG
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery: 3000 mAh non-removable battery
Price: $179

Oppo A71 2018 Expected Price in Nepal

Although Oppo has claimed the smartphone to launch soon in Nepal, the brand has recently brought the Oppo A83 smartphone in Nepal. Oppo A83 is a camera-centered device that comes FullView Display and AI compatible camera. So chances are that the smartphone could land in Nepal during the month of March. And in terms of pricing, we can expect the device to be available at the price that ranges from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 22,000.

Will you buy the smartphone if when comes to Nepal? Let us know in the comment section. And do mention your favorite feature in the smartphone.

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Samsung launching smartphones with foldable OLED displays in 2018

Pratima Adhikari

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February 1, 2018

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Samsung launching smartphones with foldable OLED displays in 2018

2017 was a good year for smartphone companies as we saw a lot of innovations in the year. With the commencement of 2018, smartphone companies are opting to bring about cooler stuff on the table. One of the examples would be Samsung, that is all set to bring foldable OLED displays for smartphones this year.

Ever since Samsung hinted about foldable smartphone technology a few years back, people have been patiently waiting for the miracle to arrive. Now that Samsung has confirmed for its arrival, the wait is finally coming to an end.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal

Samsung Electronics, on Wednesday, announced that the company is planning to introduce the foldable OLED display technology and finally we shall be out carrying a smartphone that is completely flexible.

Samsung in its fourth-quarter report stated explicitly, ” As for mobile business, Samsung will continue its efforts to differentiate its smartphones by adopting cutting-edge technologies, such as foldable OLED displays.”

That being said, the company is also said to focus on other innovative features such as Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the current year launches. Samsung’s flagship feature Bixby Assistant and Upcoming 5G technology are too in line up with this year’s cutting-edge technology list.

Video Credits:IndVideos

The move towards foldable displays and AI for smartphones can be interpreted as Samsung’s strategy to distinguish itself from its competitors in the market. With different Samsung smartphones in line for launch this year, like, the Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Galaxy J7 variants 2018, we are certainly curious to know what this new device will look like and how it will perform.

Along with that, Samsung is also said to take forward new businesses related to AI/ IoT by strengthening the ecosystem based on the Bixby and the much awaited 5G technology. The foldable display technology is also rumored to be used in the automotive electronics industry as foldable panels.

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Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus 2018 Finally Launched in Nepal

GadgetByte

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February 1, 2018

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Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus 2018 Finally Launched in Nepal

Samsung Nepal has finally launched its latest premier midrange A8 Plus in Nepal. If you are not aware, the Samsung Galaxy Galaxy A8 and A8 Plus 2018 were announced just a month ago. Out of the two devices, however, only the Galaxy A8+ 2018 will be launching in the Nepali market. On the plus side, the device will be of the higher variant offering 6GB of RAM.

“At Samsung customer-centric innovations are at the heart of our business. With Galaxy A8+ we are bringing our customers’ favorite features from our flagship smartphones, such as the Infinity display and our first Dual Front Camera with Live Focus, to our Galaxy A series. Galaxy A8+ comes with flagship features, never before seen on a smartphone in this price segment. It defies the ordinary and challenges the status quo. It is the phone with attitude, in all aspects,” said Mr. Pranaya Ratna Sthapit, Head IM Biz, Samsung Nepal.

The A-series of Samsung smartphones is known for having premium build quality and aesthetics. The Samsung A8 Plus 2018 also features a premium aluminum body along with glass back and front makes the phone no less than the flagship from Samsung. Moreover, the phone sports the tall 18.5:9 aspect ratio with a Super AMOLED display.

Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal

The Galaxy A8+ comes with a 6-inch Super AMOLED display which is one of the best selling points of the device. The richness of this display will be no different than that of the flagships like Samsung Galaxy S8 and the S8 Plus. It also incorporates the Samsung’s signature, Always on Display. Also, it’s 2018, and the smartphone wouldn’t be complete without the tall aspect ratio.

Also Read: Smartphones with bezel-less display in Nepal

Upon trying to make it like the Galaxy S8’s, the slightly thick side bezels make it look like the LG G6. Although, I must admit the phone has better fingerprint sensor placement compared to the Samsung flagships. The Galaxy A8+ 2018 also comes with IP68 water and dust resistance.

Also Read: Best Water-Resistant Phones You can Buy in Nepal

Powering the device is the new mid-range chipset from Samsung based on 14nm architecture, namely, Exynos 7885. It is an octa-core chipset clocked at 2.2GHz. The variant that’s launched in Nepal has 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage.

The camera setup on the A8+ looks promising. On the back, there’s a 16MP camera with f/1.7 aperture. No dual camera though. But surprisingly on the front, it sports dual camera setup of 16MP + 8MP with f/1.9 aperture. The dual camera allows the phone to take Bokeh selfie images. In terms of video recording, still no 4K here. The phone records full HD videos at 30fps.

On the bright side, when it comes to connectivity, the phone offers the best in class hardware. It offers the latest Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band ac WiFi, and USB Type C connector. Backing up this device is a decent 3500mAh battery and has fast charging support. And the most noteworthy feature of all is that the device supports Samsung’s Gear VR, which made it the first smartphone in the A-series to inherit this awesome feature.

Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus 2018 Specifications

Display: 6.0 inches Super AMOLED (1080 x 2220) @411ppi, Always ON Display
OS: Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Chipset: Exynos 7885 Octa
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6×1.6 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU: Mali-G71
RAM: 6GB
ROM: 64GB extendable up to 256 GB (Dedicated Slot)
Rear camera: 16 MP, f/1.7, phase detection autofocus, LED flash
Selfie- camera: Dual: 16 MP + 8 MP, f/1.9, 1080p
Connectivity: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), WIFI b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type C
Sensors: Fingerprint sensor (rear- mounted), Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Ambient light.
Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3500 mAh with fast charging support
Additional Features: IP68 Certified (Water and dust resistant), supports Samsung’s Gear VR
Colors: Black and Gold

Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus 2018 Price in Nepal

Latest Price: Rs. 44,990 [Last updated on: December 6, 2018]

In terms of pricing, Galaxy A8+ 2018 comes with a price tag of Rs. 59,990. At such high pricing, the phone lands somewhere around the flagship zone even though it doesn’t carry an absolute flagship character. At this price segment, OnePlus 5T would be its biggest rival. OnePlus 5T is obviously a sweet option but there is another important question that nudges along “Why not add 10K more and get the Galaxy S8 instead?”

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Xiaomi Mi A1 now available in a special edition Red color variant in Nepal

GadgetByte

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January 31, 2018

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Xiaomi Mi A1 now available in a special edition Red color variant in Nepal

The Xiaomi Mi A1 was one of the most sought-after smartphones of 2017. The smartphone is faring quite well in the mid-range price segment right now where competition is getting tougher and tougher each day. And to attract more customers, Vatsal Impex, the official distributor of Xiaomi products in Nepal, has launched a red colored special edition variant of the smartphone here.

Don’t Miss: Xiaomi Mobiles Price in Nepal

This special edition variant of the Mi A1 was launched a while back in December, last year. This device follows the trend of a lot of mobile companies launching a red colored variant of their smartphones. And if the looks are considered, the Xiaomi Mi A1 with its dual cameras and a fingerprint scanner on the rear side resembles OnePlus 5T’s Lava Red variant.

The Xiaomi Mi A1 Red edition features the same architecture as its regular version. The device comes with the same Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor with 4 GB of RAM. Storage wise, the device has 64 GB of onboard memory which is expandable as well. Likewise, the display stands 5.5-inch tall and has a full HD resolution. Xiaomi has included dual rear-facing lenses on the Mi A1. Both lenses measure 12-megapixels and are capable of taking portrait images with a shallow depth of field.

The Xiaomi Mi A1 is the Chinese manufacturer’s first smartphone running Google’s Android One program. It recently received Android Oreo update and will also be upgradable to Android P in the near future.

The red variant of the smartphone is available for the same price tag as that of the normal one, i.e. Rs. 29,999. The smartphone is available at Mi showrooms located at LABIM Mall and Pako. They can also be purchased online on Mi Nepal’s official website and the company’s authorized retail stores.

Xiaomi Mi A1 Specifications:

Display: 5.5-inch full HD LTPS display, Gorilla Glass, 2.5D curved glass
Chipset: 2.0 GHz Octa-core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC
OS: Android v7.1.2 Nougat, upgradable to Android v8.0 Oreo and Android P
GPU: Adreno 506 GPU
RAM: 4GB RAM
ROM: 64GB internal storage, expandable up to 128GB with microSD
SIM: Dual Hybrid SIM
Rear Camera: Dual 12 MP + 12 MP rear-facing cameras
Front Camera: 5MP front-facing camera
Connectivity: USB Type-C, 4G
Battery: Non-removable Li-ion 3080mAh

Nokia 3310 4G with Android based YunOS launched in China

GadgetByte

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January 31, 2018

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Nokia 3310 4G with Android based YunOS launched in China

Who could forget the iconic Nokia 3310 mobile, which is one of the bestselling mobiles of all times? Last year, HMD Global revamped the mobile and brought it to the mobile world as Nokia 3310 2017. The same sturdy design and the inbuilt snake game brought nostalgia to its users. However, the mobile failed to please its users since it lacked the features that are considered indispensable these days. Reconsidering the concept, the HMD Global has now brought the Nokia 3310 4G. As the name suggests, the device will be able to function on a 4G bandwidth. The compatibility for 4G connectivity has been the major upgrade in the phone. And there are few other enhanced parameters in terms of specifications.

Also Read: Nokia Mobiles Price in Nepal

With the 4G connectivity (VoLTE & LTE) prevailing all around the globe, different countries had discontinued the older 2G connectivity. Last year, when HMD Global brought the modern Nokia 3310, everyone got perplexed because the cellular connectivity in the device was limited to 2G. The absence of Wi-Fi connectivity option was another letdown. So, this time around, the brand has stepped up with some praiseworthy upgrades that would fit in the crowd of smartphone lovers to some extent.

Also Read: Nokia 3310 Review: Nostalgia

Wrapped in a polycarbonate body, the phone comes with the same design language. The presence of polycarbonate body has made the device remarkably light; however, it has not compromised with the sturdiness. In terms of display, Nokia 3310 4G possesses a screen size of 2.4-inch embracing 240 x 320 pixels resolution.

Nokia 3310 2017 had 16MB of internal storage and performing the tasks in the device was pretty hectic. Running out of memory space was the major issue in the device and the use of SD card was mandatory. But in the 4G variant, there is onboard storage of 512MB and 256MB RAM. So playing with the device does not require worrying about the storage in quick succession.

New Nokia 3310 4G vs Old Nokia 3310 — New Nokia 3310 vs Old Nokia 3310

And talking about the operating system, the new 4G variant is injected with the YunOS, which is a forked version of Android built by China’s Alibaba. Along with the inbuilt snake game, the Nokia 3310 4G is also supposed to come preloaded with an MP3 player.

In terms of connectivity, Nokia 3310 4G has received loads of upgrades to its predecessor. 4G connectivity is the most remarkable addition to the device. On the top of that, there is Wi-Fi connectivity option. So unlike the 2017 variant, the users do not need to spend the SIM card balance to surf the internet in the Wi-Fi zone. Furthermore, the newbie has welcomed Bluetooth 4.0 bidding farewell to the older Bluetooth 3.0.

Despite the numerous enhancements, the newbie didn’t receive any upgrades and enrichment in the camera department. The phone comes with the same 2MP camera on the back with LED flash on its proximity. The device comes in two color variants: Fresh Blue and Deep Black. Further, it is packed with a 1200mAh removable battery, which promises 8 hours of talk time. The device has only been announced in China as of now. The pricing and the global availability of the device will probably be disclosed in Mobile World Congress (MWC 2018).

Nokia 3310 4G Key specs

2.4-inch display, QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels)
Rear-facing Camera: 2MP, LED flash
OS: YunOS
RAM: 256MB
Internal Memory: 512 MB
Expandable Memory: Up to 64 GB
FM Radio, Bluetooth 4.0, MP3 Player, 4G, Wi-Fi b/g/n
1,200mAh Removable Battery

Huawei Y7 Review: The Best Budget Phone?

GadgetByte

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January 30, 2018

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Huawei Y7 Review: The Best Budget Phone?

If you’re looking for a budget smartphone under the range of Rs 15,000, Huawei has brought a new smartphone from the ‘Y’ series notable as Huawei Y7. Huawei is well known for its refined specs even at a mid-range or lower budget which is why Huawei trends in Nepal.
This smartphone is more or less made for the people who especially look for a long-lasting battery life. Huawei Y7 offers a massive a battery of 4000 mAh. But except the massive battery what other highlights do Huawei Y7 have? Let’s find out in this review.

Specifications:

Display: 5.5-inch HD IPS LCD Display with 267 PPI Pixel density
Dimensions: 153.6 x 76.4 x 8.4 mm
Weight: 165 gram
OS: Android 7.1 Nougat with EMUI 5.1 on the top
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (1.4GHz Octa-core) CPU
RAM: 2GB
Internal Storage: 16GB (Expandable up to 256GB)
Rear Camera: 12 MP (f/2.2, 1/2.9″, 1.25 µm), phase detection autofocus, LED, flash touch focus, face detection
Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (micro+nano), 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, FM Radio
Sensors: accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass and ambient light sensors
Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 4000 mAh battery

Design & Build

Huawei Y7 has a very stylish design with a plastic back enclosed in a metallic frame. However, it has been smoothly designed and colored giving it a metallic look and feel. The phone is a pleasure to hold but it frequently slipped from my hands due to the metallic edges. The 16:9 ratio display makes the phone hard to handle with one hand. However, the shape of the phone does make it somewhat easier to handle.

Display

It has an 8.4mm thickness and weighs about 165 gms. It comes with a 5.5-inch HD display which is bigger than phones of same pricing range like Samsung J2 Pro and Redmi 4A. It has an IPS LCD display giving it a captative and clear display. And since the resolution is just HD, I found watching movies wasn’t really delightful.

Hardware

The standby volume key is easily felt on the right-hand side. The regular micro USB port is located at the bottom along with the speaker. There is only one speaker on the left side while the other is noise cancellation. Although the speaker isn’t very loud, I would say it is pretty decent in this pricing range. While the 3.5mm headphone jack and a noise-canceling sensor are located at the top. On the left side, you get a dual nanohybrid sim card slot which means you can insert 2 SIM cards or a SIM card and a micro SD. Also, there is a small LED on top, which blinks to alert if there is any notification.

Talking about the sensors, it has an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass and ambient light sensor. Since it bears ambient light sensor, it saves the trouble of altering the brightness under different lighting conditions. However, it lacks fingerprint sensor.

Performance

Huawei Y7 runs on Snapdragon 435 octa-core chipset along with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The performance, however, hasn’t been an exception. It performed well with light apps and games. As expected in this price range, while playing high-end games like ‘Into the death’, froze and started heating up within 10 mins or less. Even while using apps like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat and light games simultaneously, it tends to heat up within 45 mins.

Software

Moving on to the software department, it runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat with EMUI version 5.1. The UI has evolved over the years. There is no app drawer by default but you can add app drawer later. It has even added notification panel and other improvements giving a more stock Android experience.

The phone also has many fascinating features in the settings. It has integrated new ‘eye comfort’ mode which helps to filter out blue light to protect from visual fatigue. It also has glove mode which enables you to operate the smartphone with thin gloves. Besides that, it also comes with one-handed UI enabling easy operation with one hand. The phone comes with a built-in step counter so you can keep track of your health.

Battery

Like I mentioned before, the battery is very astonishing. I tried my best to drain the battery life but it seems that the battery is pretty efficient and long-lasting. The 4000 mAh battery is plenty for an average user. The phone can go on for about 2 days if you are a light user. But it can last for a whole day even if you are an intense user. The screen-on time was about 7 hours. It lacks Quick Charging but boasts a Huawei-developed power-saving solution intended to bridge that gap.

Camera

Y7 features 12 MP rear camera with LED-flash on the back followed by an 8-megapixel front camera which is decent for a phone at this price. The pictures are clear and it records decent videos too. What I admire is that the focus of the rear camera is very quick and accurate. It also offers many features like pro photo and video mode, beautify, time lapse, slow-mo, HDR, etc which is nice to see in phones falling under this range.

Phase Detection Auto Focus allows you to focus on your subject in just 0.3s, making sure you capture pictures with clear and sharp details.

The 8 MP front camera features face recognition technology and beauty mode, which helps remove blemishes and improves brightness. The low-light shots turned out to be quite clear as well. In short, both the camera, front, and back are indeed pretty decent.

Check out all the high-resolution image samples here in this link.

Connectivity

Huawei Y7 Prime packs 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, FM Radio, Bluetooth v4.1, GPS and micro USB 2.0. The phone supports 2 Sim cards. However, since it is hybrid you can use either 2 SIM card or 1 SIM card and micro SD at a time.

CONCLUSION

In a nutshell, the Huawei Y7 is a fascinating phone having a long lasting and efficient battery, sharp and clear display and a decent pair of cameras at a low budget. This brings a tough competition for other phones within this range. So, if you are looking for a phone with good specs but have a tight budget, I would definitely recommend Huawei Y7 to be befitting.

Pros of Huawei Y7	Cons of Huawei Y7
Excellent Battery Life	Heating Issue
Good sets of cameras	Hybrid SIM slots
Bigger display on a budget

Everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus so far

GadgetByte

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January 30, 2018

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Everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus so far

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is just a month away from being official. Samsung has already sent out invites to the press for the unveiling at Mobile World Congress next month. Although the company didn’t say much about the phone, one of the phone’s rumored features is a variable aperture camera.

As per the rumors, the front of Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 plus will look identical to Samsung Galaxy S8. Which seems to be fair as Galaxy S8 and S8 plus are one of the best-looking smartphones around. Leaks suggest that the Galaxy S9 will include a 5.8-inch display while the larger S9 plus will have a 6.2-inch display with near bezel-less display. The smartphones will have a Super AMOLED curved display. Both the S9 and S9 plus will embrace the Quad-HD+ resolution (1440 x 2960 pixels) with a resulting pixel density of 570 PPI and 529 PPI respectively. The phones will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Chipset/Exynos 9810 and will run on Android Oreo out of the box.

While the S9 will have 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, S9+ will have 6GB RAM and 128GB storage that can be expanded up to 256GB via a microSD card. According to the rumors, both the phones appear to be repetitive hardware updates of the existing phone S8. In terms of camera, S9 is going to get a 12MP rear camera whereas the S9 plus will 12 MP dual camera setup on the back. However, both of them are going to get the variable aperture feature allowing it to switch between f/2.4 and f/1.5. Upfront, there will be 8MP selfie shooter on both the devices.

From 02.25.2018. #Unpacked will change how you experience everything. pic.twitter.com/llrGt0Q6gF

— Samsung Mobile (@SamsungMobile) January 25, 2018

The rumors also report that the fingerprint scanner will be placed below the rear camera. This is gonna be a noticeable change as there were many complaints of the fingerprint sensor being on the right-side in S8. But the on-screen fingerprint sensor has already been showcased at CES 2018 by Vivo. Under display fingerprint sensor would still be a great thing but S9 and S9 plus do not seem to get it. A new rumor suggests that the Samsung will place the fingerprint sensor just below the camera just like the Samsung A8 Plus 2018. And to pose threat to the widely remarked Face ID on the iPhone X, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 plus are rumored to incorporate intelligent scan technology. As the rumors claim, the intelligent scan technology will use the combination of Iris scanner and the face recognition as a way to securely unlock the device.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 will have a dual (nano) SIM cards. The connectivity options will contain dual-band ac Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, and faster LTE with Snapdragon 845. Luckily, it is predicted that there will be a 3.5mm standard headphone jack, built-in radio, wireless charging and again the controversial Bixby AI assistant with a dedicated button and 3D face detection. The phones will be IP68 certified making it resistant to the water and dust. As for the battery, S9 and S9 plus will have 3000 mAh battery which is a similar size to the battery of S8.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus Specifications

5.8inch / 6.2inch display with QHD resolution (1440 x 2960 pixels), 18.5:9 aspect ratio @ 570PPI / 529PPI
Super AMOLED curved display with narrow bezels
Android Oreo
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (US) / Samsung Exynos 9810 (UK)
4GB RAM / 6GB RAM
64GB/128GB / 64GB/128GB/256GB storage (expandable up to 256GB)
Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, Intelligent scan, Wireless charging
12MP Dual Pixel camera on the back with a variable aperture of f/1.5 to f/2.4 (S9)
Dual 12MP Dual Pixel camera on the back with a variable aperture of f/1.5 to f/2.4 (S9 Plus)
8MP front camera
3.5mm standard headphone jack
Bixby AI assistant with dedicated button
IP68 Certified; Water and dust resistant
Connectivity: Dual-Band Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0
Sensors: Compass, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor and Gyroscope

The estimated price of S9 is £689 and S9 plus is £779 approximately Rs 1,12,100/- and Rs 1,26,775 in Nepal. The price is close to the Note 8 territory which suggests, the Note 9 will be even more expensive.