2017 has been a great year for the smartphone world. The year started with HMD Global launching a Nokia branded smartphone, Huawei releasing its flagship and Samsung opting for a larger display and aspect ratio. And even greater news, most of the top-tier smartphones launched internationally will soon be available in Nepal. So today, we have made a list of the top smartphones that the Nepali smartphone market will soon see.

Nokia 6

Nokia made an epic comeback this year with the release of the Nokia 6 and the Nokia 3310 among others. The Nokia 6 is a budget smartphone that comes with a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with the resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels (403 ppi). The display has a Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Under the hood, the device is powered by an Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor. The processor is coupled with Adreno 505 GPU and 3GB of RAM. It runs on Android v7.0 and also features Google Assistant. Camera wise, the Nokia 6 houses a 16-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel secondary camera. It comes with a front-mounted fingerprint sensor. A good 3,000 mAh battery backs up the device.

Nokia 6 is rumored to arrive in Nepal in the end of April via Paramount Electronics Pvt. Ltd, its authorized distributor in Nepal. We are yet to receive a word on its pricing. I am very excited to see this new and revamped Nokia smartphone hitting the Nepali market. It is a device to watch as Nokia was once a beloved brand of the Nepali people.

Nokia 6 in a nutshell:

• 5.5-inch IPS LCD full HD display
• Rear Camera: 16MP with f/2.0 aperture
• Front camera: 8MP with f/2.0 aperture
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor
• Octa-core CPU
• Adreno 505 GPU
• Android v7.1.1 Nougat
• 3GB of RAM
• Internal Storage: 32GB
• Expandable Storage: Up to 128GB
• Fingerprint scanner
• Google Assistant
• 3000 Non-removable battery with fast charging

Huawei P10

Huawei’s flagship for 2017, the Huawei P10 was released last month internationally. The device packs a smaller-than-average 5.1-inch display. The IPS-NEO LCD display features a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and it is covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Software wise, the Huawei P10 runs on Android v7.0 Nougat with Emotion UI 5.1 on top. It is powered by an Octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 960 processor and Mali-G71 MP8 GPU. The device comes with 4GB of RAM.

On the photography side, the P10 is equipped with a dual camera lenses measuring 20-megapixels and 12-megapixels with f/2.2 aperture and Leica optics. The front-facing camera is of 8-megapixels. A 3,200 mAh battery runs the show for the Huawei P10.

Regarding the launch date of the P10, Huawei could release the device this April’s end here in Nepal. In the international market, the Huawei P10 is currently priced at $685. We can expect the price to rise when it is launched here in Nepal.

Huawei P10 in a nutshell:

• 5.1-inch (1080 x 1920) display with 2.5D curved glass and Gorilla Glass 5 protection
• EMUI 5.1 on top of Android 7.0 Nougat
• HiSilicon Kirin 960 Chipset
• Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) CPU
• Mali-G71 MP8 GPU
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB Internal Storage, Expandable up to 256GB
• Dual 20 MP(Monochrome) + 12 MP(Color), f/2.2, OIS, Leica optics, phase detection autofocus
• 8MP Front Facing Camera with f/1.9 aperture
• USB Type C
• Fingerprint Sensor
• Non-removable Li-Ion 3200 mAh battery with SuperCharge fast-charging

Moto G5 and G5 Plus

Moto devices have been a hit in the international smartphone market, especially the smartphones of the G-series. They are proper ‘bang-for-budget’ devices. And finally, after years of waiting, Lenovo is finally bringing Moto phones in Nepal. LifeCom, the authorized distributor of Lenovo in Nepal is set to launch the Moto G5 and G5 Plus in the near future.

The G5 has a 5.0 inch and the G5 Plus has a 5.2-inch 1080p IPS display. Processor wise, the G5 comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor with the clock speed of 1.4GHz whereas the G5 Plus features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC with 2GHz clock speed.  a 13MP rear and 5MP front camera. Buyers of the Moto G5 will get to choose between 16 or 32GB of internal storage which features 2GB and 3GB of RAM respectively. As for the G5 Plus, buyers will get to choose from two storage variants, 32GB of 64GB. The 32GB version comes with 3GB of RAM and the 64GB version comes with 4GB of RAM. Running the show for the G5 and G5 Plus are 2,800 mAh and 3,000 mAh battery respectively.

We are yet to receive any news on its pricing in Nepal.

Moto G5 in a nutshell:

• 5.0-inch 1920×1080 IPS display
• Android 7.0 Nougat
• 13-megapixel rear camera(dual-LED flash)
• 5-megapixel wide-angle front camera
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor
• 2GB/3GB RAM
• 16GB/32GB storage
• Up to 128GB microSD storage
• 2800mAh removable battery (fast charging support)
• Micro-USB charger port
• Dual-SIM support
• Android 7.0
• Fingerprint sensor

Moto G5 Plus in a nutshell:

• 5.2-inch 1920×1080 IPS display
• Android 7.0 Nougat
• 12-megapixel dual camera (claimed to be better for low-light photos)
• 4K video recording, f/1.7 aperture
• 5-megapixel wide-angle front camera with auto-HDR
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor (with TurboCharging)
• 2GB/3GB/4GB RAM
• 16GB/32GB/64GB storage
• Up to 128GB microSD storage
• 3,000mAh battery
• Micro-USB charger port
• Dual-SIM support
• Splash-proof coating
• Android 7.0
• Fingerprint sensor

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

It hasn’t been long since Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S8 and S8+ internationally. But the company is already at its work as it has been rumored that the devices will be available for pre-order starting April 19 here in Nepal. The devices will probably run you Rs. 79,999 and Rs. 89,999 respectively.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ come in a 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch display with minimal bezel at the top and bottom. These devices will be powered by Exynos 8895 in the Nepali version. International version, however, houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. The processor of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be coupled with 4GB of RAM.

Optics wise, the devices feature the same 12-megapixel rear-facing camera and 8-megapixel front-facing camera that has selfie-autofocus functionality. Decent 3,000 and 3,500 mAh batteries back up the Galaxy S8 and S8+ respectively.

Gionee A1

If you have been following the Nepali smartphone market’s news, you have probably already come across some articles or post relating to Gionee A1’s release in Nepal. We here at Gadgetbyte Nepal have already written our first impressions using the device.

The Gionee A1 sports a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with the resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and 401 pixels per inch. The Corning Gorilla Glass cloaking it ends in a 2.5D arc. Underneath the hood, the device houses an Octa-Core MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10 processor, a Mali-T860MP2 GPU and 4GB of RAM. Storage wise, the device packs 64GB of onboard storage with an option to expand it up to 128GB.

The Gionee A1 runs on Android v7.0 Nougat with Gionee’s very own Amigo OS 3.5 on top. The Chinese company has invested on people’s interest on selfies as the A1 is equipped with a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. At the back, the A1 has a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, just like the front camera.

A large 4,010 mAh battery featuring fast charging lights up the device. The expected price of the Gionee A1 is Rs. 35,000, and since the international pricing of the device is €349, the pricing of the device in Nepal is really commendable. Also, ‘pre-bookers’ of the device will get JBL Go speaker for free.

Gionee A1 in a nutshell:

• 5.5-inch (1920× 1080 pixels) Full HD IPS 2.5D curved glass display
• Gorilla Glass 3 on the front; Full Metal body on the back
• 1.8 GHz Octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor with Mali T860 GPU
• 4GB RAM, 64GB Internal memory, expandable memory up to 128GB with micro SD
• Android 7.0 (Nougat) with Amigo OS 3.5
• Dual Hybrid SIM (4G + 4G)
• 13MP rear camera with LED flash, PDAF, f/2.0 aperture, 1/3.0+” sensor, 5P lens
• 16MP front-facing camera, f/2.0 aperture, 1/3.06″ sensor, 5P lens, selfie flash
• Fingerprint sensor (embedded on the home button)
• 3.5mm audio jack, Waves MaxxAudio
• Dimensions: 154.5 x 76.5 x 8.5mm; Weight: 182g
• 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 /a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS
• Gyro Sensor
• 4010mAh battery with fast charging
• Color Option: Black, Gold, and White

Everest Tech Pvt. Ltd., the authorized distributor of Zopo mobiles in Nepal, has officially unveiled its budget-oriented smartphone, the Color C3 in Nepal for Rs. 12,990. The phone is available for purchase from different offline retail outlets (including Apex Digital smart store).

The Zopo Color C3 sports a 5-inch IPS LCD display. It is powered by a 1.3Ghz 64-bit Quadcore processor (MT6737) and 2GB RAM. Storage wise, it has 16GB ROM with microSD support upto 64GB.

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It has 8 megapixel back camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front camera with LED flash. It is backed by a 2100mAh removable battery. It runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and supports dual SIM (micro + micro). SIM1 supports 4G and SIM2 supports 3G. Other connectivity options include WiFi, Bluetooth, FM radio, and GPS.

Also Read: Top 7 Smartphones Below Rs. 15,000 in Nepal.

If you like to keep things clean, you surely are worried about the presence of microorganisms around you. Keeping this in mind, a company dedicated towards LED devices has created a prototype of the world’s first blue light emitting ball which serves the sole purpose of killing germs.

The Orb is a ping pong sized ball that emits blue UV light which is capable of killing and inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms. It gives off 405nm light which is just enough to kill harmful germs such as bacteria, algae, and fungi among others.

DESIGN

Like I already mentioned, the Orb has a spherical design. It is due to this design that the device can emit the light equally everywhere. The manufacturers have made the Orb waterproof. So, you can even purify water from the device.

WHAT THE ORB DOES

According to its Kickstarter page, the Orb emits a 405nm light which is effective in inhibiting microorganisms. Different studies have confirmed on blue light destroying different infectious disease causing microorganisms. The Orb specializes in maintaining your EnviroHygiene and making your environment free of diseases.

USES OF THE ORB

• Cleaning daily used household products
• Keeping your shoes clean and free from bacteria
• Killing the germs present in food products
• Purifying water and water reservoir

The Orb comes from a company called LED Technologies, Inc. which is not a new name in the American market. The company’s products can currently be found at Target, Amazon and Kohl’s among others. The Orb seems to be a pretty decent product. And, as a Public Health student, I am looking forward to this product.

HOW TO BACK THE PROJECT

• Go to their Kickstarter page
• Make a pledge
• As easy as that!

LED Technologies has included some pretty sweet deals according to the pledge you make. You can view all of the details on the product’s Kickstarter page.