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Flipkart Big Saving Days Sale Goes Live: Best Offers on Mobile Phones, Electronics

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Flipkart Big Saving Days sale is now live for everyone, one day after offering early access to the Plus members. The six-day sale brings deals on mobile phones, home appliances, and other electronics items. Flipkart has also tied up with the State Bank of India (SBI) to offer a 10 percent instant discount on purchases using the bank’s credit cards and EMI transactions. The sale brings no-cost EMI options and exchange discounts on various products as well. Flipkart Big Saving Days sale will go on till May 8.

We’ve handpicked some of the best deals and offers available during the Flipkart Big Saving Days sale.

Flipkart Big Saving Days sale: Best offers on mobile phones, electronics

Vivo Y53s

The Vivo Y53s is down to Rs. 15,990 (MRP Rs. 19,490) during Flipkart’s Big Saving Days sale this week. Customers can swap an old smartphone and receive another additional discount worth up to Rs. 14,000 on the Vivo Y53s. Furthermore, the sale offers up to Rs. 1,000 discounts for customers paying via SBI credit card or EMI transactions. The Vivo Y53s features 6.58-inch full-HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It is powered by MediaTek Helio G80 SoC coupled with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It has 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.

Buy now at: Rs. 15,990 (MRP Rs. 19,490)

Redmi Note 10T

The Redmi Note 10T 5G price starts at Rs. 13,999 in the Flipkart’s Big Saving Days 2022 sale. Flipkart is giving up to Rs. 1,000 off to customers using an SBI credit card and EMI transactions. Similarly, customers can get an exchange discount for getting the new Xiaomi phone in exchange for their old model. The Redmi Note 10T 5G features 6.5-inch full-HD+ display with 90Hz adaptive refresh rate and is powered by the octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC. It has triple rear cameras and packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging.

Buy now at: Rs. 13,999

Mi TV 5X

Mi TV 5X 50-inch model is listed with a price tag of Rs. 39,999 during the Flipkart during the Big Saving Days 2022. The model was launched for Rs. 41,999. Paying with an SBI credit card will fetch you a 10 percent instant discount. Customers paying via HDFC Bank cards and EMI transactions can avail of Rs. 4,000 discounts. Interested customers can also exchange an old TV and get up to Rs. 17,000 off as an additional instant discount on the purchase. The Mi TV 5X comes with 40W speakers with Dolby Atmos support. It has a 4K resolution display and it packs 2GB RAM and 16GB of storage.

Buy now at: Rs. 39,999 (MRP Rs. 41,900)

Samsung Galaxy F22

Samsung Galaxy F22 is listed in the Flipkart Big Saving Days with an initial price tag of Rs. 10,499, down from the launch price of Rs. 12,499. The Android-based smartphone is also eligible for an exchange offer of a maximum of Rs. 9,800. Customers paying via SBI credit card and EMI transactions will get an additional 10 percent instant discount. The Samsung Galaxy F22 features a 6.4-inch AMOLED display. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G80 processor and sports a 48-megapixel triple camera setup.

Buy now at: Rs. 10,499 (MRP Rs. 12,499)

Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P

Xiaomi’s Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P robotic vacuum cleaner is available at a discounted price of Rs. 17,999 (MRP Rs. 29,999) during Flipkart’s Big Saving Days sale this week. Customers can avail of an additional up to Rs. 1,500 instant discount for payments using SBI credit cards and EMI transactions. Flipkart is also offering Rs. 2,000 off on purchases via the HDFC bank cards and EMIs. The no-cost EMIs start at Rs. 3,334 per month. Flipkart is also offering an exchange discount worth up to Rs. 2,500. The Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P comes with a two-in-one sweeping and mopping function and has a Laser Detect System (LDS) for navigation. The MI Robot Vacuum-Mop P packs 12 high-precision sensors and supports remote operations through the Mi Home app.

Buy now at: Rs. 17,999 (MRP Rs. 29,999)

Hisense 55A71F 55-inch

The Hisense 55A71F 55-inch smart TV is listed with a starting price of Rs. 35,149 (MRP Rs. 59,990) during the Flipkart’s Big Saving Days sale. The Android smart TV also includes a bundled exchange offer of up to Rs. 11,000 and a 10 percent discount for purchases using SBI credit and EMI transactions. The Hisense 55A71F smart Tv comes with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support.

Buy now at: Rs. 35,149 (MRP Rs. 59,990)

LG 43-inch full-HD LED Smart TV (43LM5650PTA)

The ongoing Flipkart sale brings the LG 43-inch full-HD LED smart TV (43LM5650PTA) at Rs. 29,999 (MRP: Rs. 31,999). Flipkart is also giving a maximum Rs. 1,500 additional discount for purchases using SBI credit cards. There is also a five percent discount for purchases using Flipkart Axis Bank cards. The LG 43-inch full-HD LED smart TV packs 20W speakers with DTS Virtual:X support and features a 60Hz refresh rate display.

Buy now at: Rs. 29,999 (MRP: Rs. 31,999)

To check out all the deals, head to Flipkart’s Big Saving Days sale page.


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This Virtual Reality Device Lets People Feel the Sensation of Water Touching Their Lips in Metaverse

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Imagine you are in a virtual reality (VR) environment beside a drinking fountain and want to drink water from it. While you could lean and drink water, you were unlikely to feel anything. That is set to change. Researchers at a private institution in the US have found a way that allows people to feel the sensation of the water touching their lips in the so-called Metaverse. Simply put, it means users of their device can now feel even kissing sensations, among many others. Lips are surprisingly sensitive. The researchers exploited this characteristic to let people receive tactile feedback in virtual worlds.

The researchers say that their device will make the Metaverse experience more immersive. The engineers at the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh say their new ultrasound-based system allows users to feel the virtual world on and in their mouths – without actually making physical contact.

The development is surprising. Their technology creates sensations on the lips, teeth, and tongue using airborne ultrasonic waves, and it’s small and light enough to attach to the bottom of virtual reality (VR) goggles.

The researchers have also used the system to create such haptic effects as raindrops, mud splatter and crawling bugs. The researchers explained on the university’s website that the effect is achieved by using multiple ultrasound-generating modules, or transducers. The device uses 64 tiny transducers.

However, not all effects that the device created were equally useful. The researchers said that those that were mouth-specific — such as brushing teeth, feeling raindrops from an open window or feeling a bug moving across the lips — were most successful. Others, such as the feel of walking through cobwebs, proved less powerful as people expected to feel those sensations over a large part of the body.

Even drinking from a water fountain could be a little disorienting, said Vivian Shen, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Robotics Institute and one of the developers of the system. “It’s weird because you feel the water but it’s not wet,” she said.

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Apple Introduces HidrateSpark Smart Water Bottle Accessories: All You Need to Know

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Apple’s latest offering on its US site’s accessories section is not another pair of AirPods or a keyboard. Apple lists third-party accessories on its site for a variety of product categories, but this may be the first time it has listed a smart water bottle from the brand HidrateSpark. As the name suggests, these smart water bottles claim to keep you hydrated by monitoring your water intake. To use the smart features of this smart accessory, one needs to sync the HidrateSpark to the Apple Health app via Bluetooth. The HidrateSpark smart water bottles are currently only available in the US. Interested buyers in India might have to wait a little longer to get their hands on these.

HidrateSpark Smart Water Bottle price

Apple‘s product listing page in the US is currently displaying four variants of the smart water bottles – HidrateSpark 3, HidrateSpark Pro Steel, HidrateSpark Pro, and HidrateSpark Steel. The most expensive of these variants is the HidrateSpark Pro Steel, which is currently listed at $79.95 (roughly Rs. 6,100), while the Pro version is available at $59.95 (roughly Rs, 4,600). The other two variants are priced at $69.95 (approximately Rs. 5,400).

HidrateSpark Smart Water Bottle features

The HidrateSpark smart water bottle, listed on Apple’s website and retail stores, can monitor your daily intake of water while syncing it with your Apple Health. The device helps in achieving personalised hydration goal using LED sensors placed at the bottom, and sends alerts to Apple Health whenever water is consumed.

To sync it with Apple Health, one needs to download the HidrateSpark app on their iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. After creating an account, the app will ask for access to Apple Health to track personal info and other data. If the person is drinking water from any other source than the HidrateSpark PRO bottle, it can be added in the data for seamless calculation of water consumption. The bottles keep your water BPA free. They can be easily washed in a dishwater and the sensor can be wiped using a damp cloth.

The Hidrate Spark 3 Smart Water Bottle comes in three colour options — White, Yellow and Black. It comes packed with a Lithium cell CR2477 battery, which has a life of approximately six months. The dimensions of the water bottle are 10.4 x 3 x 3.25 inch. To access it on your devices, one needs to have iOS 13 or later, while Apple Watch must run watchOS 4.3 or later. It comes with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. The package contains the smart water bottle, finger loop, a battery, and instruction manual.

The HidrateSpark Pro Steel Smart Water Bottle is currently available in black and silver colour options. With a stainless-steel, vacuum-insulated chug, the smart bottle packs a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which runs 10-14 days on a single charge, which takes about 2.5 hours to charge. It has connectivity compatibility for Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth 5.0 and can be charged using a USB cable. The dimensions of the bottle are 11.3 x 3.8 x 3.8 inch. User should have iOS 12.3 or later on iPhone and watchOS 4.3 or later on Apple Watch to connect the HidrateSpark app.

Next in line is the HidrateSpark Pro Smart Water Bottle that comes in Tritan Plastic Sea Glass body with colour options green and black. User should have iPad or iPhone with iOS 12.3 or later, or an Apple Watch that runs watchOS 4.3 or later, to connect the app. The features of this water bottle are similar to HidrateSpark Pro Steel Smart Water Bottle, while the dimensions are 10.9 x 2.8 x 2.8 inch.

Another product in the lineup is the HidrateSpark Steel with dimensions 10.7 x 3.2 x 3.2 inch. With the same features as the above two bottles, the HidrateSpark Steel is available in silver and black colour options.


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Elon Musk Sells $4 Billion in Tesla Shares, Says No More Sales Planned

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Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk sold $4 billion (roughly Rs. 30,610 crore) worth of shares in the electric vehicle maker, US securities filings showed on Thursday, in sales likely aimed at helping finance his planned purchase of Twitter.

Musk said in a tweet that there are “no further TSLA sales planned after today.” He sold 4.4 million shares on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the filings, equating to 2.6 percent of his stake in the company.

The sale came after Musk on Monday clinched a deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion (roughly Rs. 3,36,690 crore) cash in a transaction that will shift control of the social media platform populated by millions of users and global leaders to the world’s richest person. Musk’s net worth is $268 billion (roughly Rs. 20,50,725 crore), according to Forbes.

As part of the deal, Musk said he would provide a $21 billion (roughly Rs. 1,60,690 crore) equity commitment.

It is not clear how he will cover the remaining $17 billion (roughly Rs. 1,30,090 crore) of equity financing. Musk holds a 43.61 percent stake in unlisted rocket company SpaceX that is reportedly valued at $100 billion (roughly Rs. 7,65,230 crore).

Musk has been looking for partners to reduce his equity contribution to the deal, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters, adding that it is far from certain such a partner will emerge.

This is his first Tesla stock sale since he offloaded $16.4 billion (roughly Rs. 1,25,500 crore) worth of shares in November and December after polling Twitter users about selling 10 percent of his stake in the electric car maker.

Musk said on Twitter that he would pay more than $11 billion (roughly Rs. 84,140 crore) in taxes in 2021 due to his exercise of stock options set to expire this year.

Some traders have fretted this week that Musk may not have enough money sitting around to fund his $21 billion (roughly Rs. 1,60,690 crore) cash contribution and could walk away from the deal, weighing on Twitter shares.

Tesla shares have fallen nearly 20 percent since Musk disclosed his over 9 percent stake in Twitter on April 4. Investors have expressed concern that Musk may have to sell Tesla shares to fund his equity contribution to the takeover offer.

As part of the Twitter deal, Musk also took out a $12.5 billion (roughly Rs. 95,600 crore) margin loan tied to his Tesla stock. He had already borrowed against around half of his Tesla shares.

© Thomson Reuters 2022
 

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Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 Wi-Fi Security Camera Review: Very Easy to Use

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Kent might be best known in India for its range of water purifiers, but the company also sells a diverse set of products across various home appliance segments, including kitchen appliances, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, and security cameras. Talking specifically about the company’s camera products, Kent has a small range which includes security and monitoring cameras for cars as well as a Wi-Fi-enabled model for homes. The Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 Wi-Fi Security Camera is the product I’m reviewing here, and it is priced at Rs. 2,999 in India.

Much like the Godrej Spotlight Pan-Tilt Home Security Camera, which I had reviewed earlier, the Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 is meant for your home, and promises quick and convenient access to a video feed using Wi-Fi connectivity and a dedicated app. You can also adjust the camera angle to look all around your home for more flexibility, and there are many other features worth talking about, which I’ll elaborate on in this review. Is this the best low-cost home security camera you can buy right now? Read on to find out.

Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 design and specifications

The Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 competes directly with the Godrej Spotlight Pan-Tilt camera, and offers a similar range of vision and features. However, its design is considerably different. The camera sits within a ball-like module that allows it camera to look up and down, and the entire plastic casing can rotate on a fixed base.

The Kent CamEye Home Cam 360 has a microphone and speaker, both of which are on the back of the device. This allows the camera to not only pick up audio along with the video feed, but also enables two-way communication, alert chimes, and an intruder alarm feature. The front of the camera has a status LED which indicates its power and connectivity states.

kent homecam 360 review base Kent

The bottom of the Kent HomeCam 360 is rubberised, and the camera rotates on this fixed base

 

The Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 has a fixed base with a rubberised surface for grip, and the rest of the camera’s body rotates on that base. A socket on the underside allows you to mount this camera on a tripod, wall, or ceiling. No kit or bracket for mounting is included in the box and one will have to be purchased separately. In the sales package, you get a wall adapter and a USB Type-A to Micro-USB cable to power the security camera.

On the base, you’ll find the Micro-USB port for power, and a MicroSD card slot that supports up to 128GB capacity cards. The device has a 2-megapixel camera sensor with support for up to full-HD video recording. The camera has a horizontal rotation range of 350 degrees and a vertical rotation range of 65 degrees. The field of view is specified as 120 degrees horizontally and 95 degrees vertically. There are six infrared LEDs to enable visibility in darkness. The camera connects to the Internet using only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and the 5GHz band is not supported.

Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 app and features

As with other Wi-Fi-enabled home security cameras, the Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 works with an app that allows users to monitor the video feed, control the camera, access stored footage, and more. The Kent CamEye app is available for iOS and Android, and I used the former platform to test the features and functionality offered by the app. If you have multiple Kent CamEye cameras, they can all be controlled and monitored together.

Once you’ve registered and created an account through the app, you’ll be able to link the security camera and get it connected to your home Wi-Fi connection. After this, tapping on the camera icon will take you to its video feed, and you’ll be able to adjust the camera angle and settings, activate the speaker and microphone (either simultaneously or separately), take a snapshot to save to your smartphone, and more.

The app is very easy to use, and has most options and functions in convenient places. For instance, you can easily activate two-way communication or take snapshots with a single tap. The D-pad to adjust the camera angle is also directly accessible, and it usually took just two to three seconds to activate the camera and show the video feed.

Going deeper into the menus and settings lets you enable privacy mode, in which the camera does not activate itself or record footage. You can also access your saved recordings and images, and look at a list of alerts generated by the camera based on motion or noise detection parameters. Usefully, the alert sensitivity is customisable. Turning on all settings generated dozens of alerts per day when the camera was placed in front of my main door, so it’s nice to have this kind of control over the various functions.

kent homecam 360 review app Kent

The Kent CamEye app controls the camera, and lets you view the live feed or stored footage

 

The Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 can upload its footage, particularly event-triggered video clips, to the company’s own cloud platform. This is a premium feature and prices for storage space start at Rs. 150 per month or Rs. 1,500 per year. You can store up to seven days’ worth of video clips triggered by some event, and these clips are around 12 seconds long. The paid tiers go up to Rs. 400 per month or Rs. 4,000 per year to store up to 30 days’ of video history. A one-month subscription is included with each purchase. 

I was able to use the one-month plan for this review, and it allowed me to store and view older footage from the cloud. Even after the plan expired, I was able to view some clips within the app, and download them to my smartphone.

As per the information on Kent’s website, a paid subscription allows you to capture event-triggered recordings which are saved to the cloud, and also play them back directly from the cloud. However, all other functionality, including memory card recording and playback, live streaming of the video feed in real time, two-way communication, and privacy mode are available even if you aren’t subscribed to a paid plan.

It’s possible to link the Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 to your Amazon Alexa account through a skill, which then lets you access the video feed from within the Alexa app or on an Alexa-enabled smart display such as the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen). This worked well for me, but I wasn’t able to adjust the camera angle when using the Alexa link.

Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 performance

An important factor in the functioning of any home security camera is reliability; you need the device to work when you need it. The Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 worked reliably for me on my 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection. I was able to get it up and running in a matter of seconds whenever I needed it, and the app is well designed, putting important features within easy reach.

The Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 records a full-HD video feed, which shows in full colour during the day, and in monochrome when it’s dark. The security camera is able to automatically detect low-light conditions and activate the infrared LEDs as required, and this worked reliably for me with most details and faces identifiable despite the lack of colour in the feed. There were some occasions on which the camera took a couple of seconds to react to lighting changes and recalibrate the video feed, but this wasn’t really much trouble.

kent homecam 360 review back Kent

The Kent HomeCam 360 has a speaker and microphone for two-way communication, which can be activated through the app

 

Full-HD footage captured by the Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 was sharp and detailed in most conditions if movement was occasional and slow, but quick movements did cause some artefacts. This wasn’t really a problem as there was still plenty of detail to be seen in faces, clothing, and small items such as boxes and packages.

You can, of course, reduce the resolution to HD or SD if necessary, which might make the stream more stable and detailed with slower Internet connections, or if you need more hours of footage to be recorded onto a storage card. This largely tended to affect the legibility of text on items such as boxes and packages, but faces were still recognisable even at SD resolution.

The camera angle can be adjusted across a wide range. With 350 degrees of panning, it’s possible to look almost all around where the camera is placed. The 65 degrees of tilt range combined with the wide viewing angles of the camera itself allow for plenty of flexibility. Although the camera took about a second to react to commands from the app to adjust its angle, movement was easy and precise for the most part.

The speaker on the Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 is loud, getting quite noisy and at its loudest when I activated the siren mode. The chimes were also loud enough to be heard from different parts of my home, and two-way communication was clear and convenient when standing near the camera. The microphone picked up a lot of ambient sound, but was able to more precisely capture speech when someone was talking near the device. Usefully, you can activate only the microphone without the speaker if needed.

The camera suitably captures video clips of human movement when it’s set to detect this, but it cannot track a moving object or person. Saved clips were still clear enough to recognise faces and objects though.

Verdict

A good Wi-Fi security camera is a simple and efficient way to set up a home monitoring system, and the Kent CamEye HomeCam 360 is a decent option to consider for this. Although this device faces strong competition from products such as the Godrej Spotlight Pan-Tilt camera and Mi Home Security Camera 360, Kent’s offering sets the benchmark by offering a good all-round experience with no significant flaws.

With a good companion app, useful features such as two-way communication, a paid subscription cloud storage option for event-triggered video clips, and reliable performance, this is among the better basic Wi-Fi security cameras you can buy right now. It’s well priced, and is definitely worth considering for your home security needs.

Price: Rs. 2,999

Rating: 8/10

Pros:

  • Wide range of motion for wide coverage
  • microSD and optional cloud storage for event-triggered recordings
  • Works well in all lighting conditions
  • Excellent, easy to use companion app

Cons:

  • Mounting kit not included in the box

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Redmi 10A India Launch Tipped for April 20, Price Leaked

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Redmi 10A was recently launched in China by Xiaomi with a 13-megapixel single rear camera. Now, a fresh leak suggests that the Chinese smartphone brand could launch the budget handset in India on April 20. However, the date is yet to be officially confirmed by Xiaomi. Redmi 10A is powered by a MediaTek Helio G25 SoC, coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. Redmi 10A also comes with up to 128GB of onboard storage, along with a 5,000mAh battery.

As per a report by Passionate Geekz, Redmi 10A is gearing up to launch in India on April 20. The handset is expected to be priced under Rs. 10,000 in the country. As per the leak, the India variant of Redmi 10A will be available in two storage options. It is said to debut in Black, Blue and Grey colour options as well. However, Xiaomi hasn’t officially revealed any information regarding the launch date of the Redmi 10A yet.

In March last week, the handset was introduced in the Chinese market with a price tag of CNY 699 (roughly Rs. 8,300) for the base 4GB + 64GB storage variant. There is also a 4GB + 128GB model, priced at CNY 799 (roughly Rs. 9,500), while the top-end 6GB + 128GB storage variant costs CNY 899 (roughly Rs. 10,700). Redmi 10A was unveiled in Shadow Black, Smoke Blue, and Moonlight Silver colours in China. The Indian variant is also likely to be priced in the same range.

Redmi 10A specifications

The Redmi 10A sports a 6.53-inch HD+ (720×1,600 pixels) display with 20:9 aspect ratio and offers 400 nits of peak brightness. The display has a waterdrop-style notch design. The Redmi 10A is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G25 SoC, along with up to 6GB of RAM.

For optics, the phone has a single 13-megapixel camera sensor on the back with an LED flash. For selfies and video chats, the Redmi 10A has a 5-megapixel selfie camera at the front. The phone offers up to 128GB of onboard storage that supports expansion via a microSD card (up to 512GB).

The Redmi 10A packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports standard 10W charging.


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Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: A Worthy Successor?

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It’s been a little over six months since Samsung’s Galaxy A52s 5G (Review) launched in India, and it is still a capable premium smartphone if you are looking for a device with an IP rating under Rs. 40,000. Samsung’s newly launched Galaxy A53 5G is essentially the same smartphone but with a new Exynos SoC instead of one from Qualcomm. This has led to some noticeable performance differences between the two phones, and makes us keen to figure out whether the new model is a worthy upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G price in India

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is available in two variants in India, both of which have 128GB of internal storage. The 6GB RAM variant is priced at Rs. 34,499, while the 8GB RAM variant is available at Rs. 35,999. Of the two, the higher RAM variant is the one to go for as it offers better value. The Galaxy A53 is available in four finishes: Light Blue, Awesome Black, White, and Orange. I received the 8GB RAM variant in Light Blue.

Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G design

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G builds on the design of the Galaxy A52s 5G and incorporates some elements from the new Galaxy S22 series (Review). Its overall design looks contemporary and refreshing. The mid-frame is still made of polycarbonate but it is broader with flatter sides, similar to the Galaxy S22 devices. The rear panel retains the look of the Galaxy A52s 5G with a matte-finished polycarbonate back panel that feels smooth and premium, and also rejects fingerprints and smudges well.

The rear camera module on the Galaxy A53 5G merges with the back panel but barely protrudes from it since this phone is thicker than its predecessor. The blacked-out inserts for the camera lenses look striking. 

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G back design ndtv SamsungGalaxyA535G  Samsung

Samsung has used polycarbonate for the frame and rear panel of the Galaxy A53 5G

 

The 6.5-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G remains unchanged from the Galaxy A52s 5G. The flat display is made of Gorilla Glass 5 for scratch protection. The left and right borders are relatively slim but the top and bottom are noticeably thicker. A fingerprint reader is embedded in the display. It works as expected and is reliable. I like how Samsung has hidden the slit for the earpiece between the display and the frame at the top, as it is barely visible. Just like the Galaxy A52s 5G, the Galaxy A53 5G has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

Samsung Galaxy A53 specifications and software

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G borrows heavily from the Galaxy A52s 5G in terms of hardware. This year, Samsung has used the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G from the Galaxy A52s in the more expensive Galaxy A73 5G, and the Galaxy A53 5G gets a new in-house Samsung SoC called the Exynos 1280.This is the same SoC that also powers the lower-priced Galaxy A33 5G.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G supports 5G, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and the usual satellite navigation systems. The Galaxy A53 5G loses the 3.5mm headphone jack of the the previous model and doesn’t come with a USB Type-C audio adapter in the box either. The phone supports dual-5G standby, and the hybrid dual-SIM tray can accept a microSD card of up to 1TB.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G front display ndtv SamsungGalaxyA535G  Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a Super AMOLED panel but does not support HDR content

 

Samsung’s refreshed One UI 3.1 software makes it to the Galaxy A53 5G. It’s based on Android 12 and is one of the best custom Android 12 experiences out there. The theme engine can change the colours of the interface and app icons depending on the wallpaper selected for the home screen. What I did find missing was the conversations widget usually found on Android 12 devices, which lets you pin important chats and conversations to the home screen. This phone is unfortunately loaded with plenty of bloatware, including a long list of apps from Samsung, plus some from Microsoft and other third-party ones. Thankfully, you can uninstall most of them.

Samsung Galaxy A53 performance

Samsung’s decision to reserve the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC for the Galaxy A73 5G does not seem to be a very smart idea. Samsung’s Exynos 1280 SoC, as tested in the Galaxy A53 5G, feels snappy enough with regular use but benchmark numbers did not reflect an improved experience. The Galaxy A53 5G managed 498 and 1,806 in Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests respectively, and it scored 3,72,582 points in AnTuTu. These scores are closer to what you’d expect from lower-cost smartphones, which shows that the Galaxy A53 5G is underpowered for its price segment. In comparison, the older Samsung Galaxy A52s scored 739 and 2,733 points in Geekbench, making it more powerful than its successor.

Graphics quality in Call of Duty: Mobile maxed out at ‘Medium’ with the ‘Max’ frame rate. It was playable at these settings on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G but lagged from time to time during matches. The display’s touch sampling rate wasn’t the best, but this did not hamper gameplay too much. The game ran best at the ‘Low’ graphics and ‘Medium’ framerate settings, which is a little disappointing for a premium smartphone. I did also notice the phone heating up after about 10 minutes of Call of Duty: Mobile gameplay, but with no drop in performance. Asphalt 9: Legends ran smoothly at the default (medium) graphics settings.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G front software ndtv SamsungGalaxyA535G  Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G runs One UI 3.1 which is based on Android 12

 

The display’s refresh rate alternates between 120Hz and 60Hz. During the testing period, I noticed that it stayed at 120Hz even when browsing Web pages or Instagram feeds, or streaming videos on YouTube. The screen refresh rate dropped to 60Hz only when playing games or using the camera app. The Super AMOLED display looks good with the typical punchy colour tones that this type of panel is known for, and is legible even in bright sunlight. HDR is missing, but video streaming content looked good, with deep blacks. The stereo speakers sounded well balanced and got quite loud.

Battery life is one area in which the Galaxy A53 5G fares better than its predecessor. Its larger 5,000mAh battery added four hours to the runtime of our HD video loop test, clocking an impressive 19 hours and 44 minutes. With everyday usage, the phone lasted two full days, which is quite good. Samsung does not offer a charger in the box, so I plugged the Galaxy A53 5G into my own 61W USB PD charger. This phone supports 25W charging, and managed to get to 100 percent from empty in 1 hour and 51 minutes, which isn’t bad, but still not as quick as some of the competition.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G cameras

The cameras on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G are identical to what its predecessor has. The rear camera setup consists of 64-megapixel primary, 12-megapixel ultra-wide, 5-megapixel macro, and 5-megapixel depth cameras. A 32-megapixel front-facing camera is in charge of selfies. The layout of the camera app is customisable and there are plenty of shortcuts in the viewfinder.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G back cameras ndtv SamsungGalaxyA535G  Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has four rear-facing cameras

 

Photos captured in daylight were impressive and showcased plenty of detail and good dynamic range. Like the Galaxy A52s 5G, the colours in photos came out a bit oversaturated and had a mild bluish tone. The macro camera was quite useful, as images had good detail. Portrait photos shot using the selfie camera looked crisp and clear with good detail and dynamic range. Edge detection in these photos was also accurate.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G daylight camera samples. Top to bottom: Ultra-wide-angle camera, primary camera, macro camera (Tap to see full size)

 

Shooting in Auto mode in low light, the camera’s performance was decent with good dynamic range, but I did notice some noise. Details took a bit of a hit. Using Night Shot mode, the camera took a second longer to capture shots, and they looked brighter, but at the cost of lower detail. The standard Night mode also took a few seconds to capture low-light landscapes but managed the best quality. Selfies taken in low light looked blurry and noisy even after switching to Night mode.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G low light camera samples. Top: Auto mode (Night shot switched off), bottom: Night mode (Tap to see full size)

 

The ultra-wide-angle camera shot decent images in daylight but objects looked blurry and stretched towards the edges. Low-light shots were much lower in quality and looked soft at best.

1080p 30fps videos shot in daylight appeared well-stabilised and had good dynamic range. However, footage shot at 1080p 60fps looked shaky. Videos captured at 4K had the best detail but lacked any stabilisation whatsoever. When shooting in low light, video quality took a nosedive. The video recorded at 1080p 30fps looked blurry and had a nasty shimmering effect. The primary camera has a noticeable focus hopping issue when recording video at night, so the autofocus system went crazy quite often, especially when panning.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a capable premium smartphone but falls short compared in terms of raw performance. This is mainly due to the new SoC, which seems as though it would be a good enough fit for the budget Galaxy M33 5G (Rs. 18,999), but not for a phone that costs Rs. 35,000. Daylight camera performance is quite good, and this is the only phone we’ve reviewed in this segment with an IP67 rating. Unfortunately for the Galaxy A53 5G, the Galaxy A52s 5G (Review), its predecessor, offers better gaming performance, has a headphone jack, and comes with a charger in the box. It also costs a bit less (around Rs. 32,499) which makes it the better buy.

As for competition from other manufacturers, the iQoo 9 SE (starting at Rs. 33,990) is the Galaxy A53 5G’s biggest potential competitor. We are yet to review this phone, but it has a better Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC and you get a 66W charger in the box. The base variant also has 8GB of RAM, so even just going by specifications, it poses a threat. Those looking for a leaner Android experience can also look at Motorola’s Moto Edge 20 Pro (Review), which features a Snapdragon 870 SoC and a 108-megapixel primary rear camera.


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Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: A Worthy Successor?

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It’s been a little over six months since Samsung’s Galaxy A52s 5G (Review) launched in India, and it is still a capable premium smartphone if you are looking for a device with an IP rating under Rs. 40,000. Samsung’s newly launched Galaxy A53 5G is essentially the same smartphone but with a new Exynos SoC instead of one from Qualcomm. This has led to some noticeable performance differences between the two phones, and makes us keen to figure out whether the new model is a worthy upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G price in India

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is available in two variants in India, both of which have 128GB of internal storage. The 6GB RAM variant is priced at Rs. 34,499, while the 8GB RAM variant is available at Rs. 35,999. Of the two, the higher RAM variant is the one to go for as it offers better value. The Galaxy A53 is available in four finishes: Light Blue, Awesome Black, White, and Orange. I received the 8GB RAM variant in Light Blue.

Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G design

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G builds on the design of the Galaxy A52s 5G and incorporates some elements from the new Galaxy S22 series (Review). Its overall design looks contemporary and refreshing. The mid-frame is still made of polycarbonate but it is broader with flatter sides, similar to the Galaxy S22 devices. The rear panel retains the look of the Galaxy A52s 5G with a matte-finished polycarbonate back panel that feels smooth and premium, and also rejects fingerprints and smudges well.

The rear camera module on the Galaxy A53 5G merges with the back panel but barely protrudes from it since this phone is thicker than its predecessor. The blacked-out inserts for the camera lenses look striking. 

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G back design ndtv SamsungGalaxyA535G  Samsung

Samsung has used polycarbonate for the frame and rear panel of the Galaxy A53 5G

 

The 6.5-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G remains unchanged from the Galaxy A52s 5G. The flat display is made of Gorilla Glass 5 for scratch protection. The left and right borders are relatively slim but the top and bottom are noticeably thicker. A fingerprint reader is embedded in the display. It works as expected and is reliable. I like how Samsung has hidden the slit for the earpiece between the display and the frame at the top, as it is barely visible. Just like the Galaxy A52s 5G, the Galaxy A53 5G has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

Samsung Galaxy A53 specifications and software

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G borrows heavily from the Galaxy A52s 5G in terms of hardware. This year, Samsung has used the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G from the Galaxy A52s in the more expensive Galaxy A73 5G, and the Galaxy A53 5G gets a new in-house Samsung SoC called the Exynos 1280.This is the same SoC that also powers the lower-priced Galaxy A33 5G.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G supports 5G, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and the usual satellite navigation systems. The Galaxy A53 5G loses the 3.5mm headphone jack of the the previous model and doesn’t come with a USB Type-C audio adapter in the box either. The phone supports dual-5G standby, and the hybrid dual-SIM tray can accept a microSD card of up to 1TB.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G front display ndtv SamsungGalaxyA535G  Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a Super AMOLED panel but does not support HDR content

 

Samsung’s refreshed One UI 3.1 software makes it to the Galaxy A53 5G. It’s based on Android 12 and is one of the best custom Android 12 experiences out there. The theme engine can change the colours of the interface and app icons depending on the wallpaper selected for the home screen. What I did find missing was the conversations widget usually found on Android 12 devices, which lets you pin important chats and conversations to the home screen. This phone is unfortunately loaded with plenty of bloatware, including a long list of apps from Samsung, plus some from Microsoft and other third-party ones. Thankfully, you can uninstall most of them.

Samsung Galaxy A53 performance

Samsung’s decision to reserve the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC for the Galaxy A73 5G does not seem to be a very smart idea. Samsung’s Exynos 1280 SoC, as tested in the Galaxy A53 5G, feels snappy enough with regular use but benchmark numbers did not reflect an improved experience. The Galaxy A53 5G managed 498 and 1,806 in Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests respectively, and it scored 3,72,582 points in AnTuTu. These scores are closer to what you’d expect from lower-cost smartphones, which shows that the Galaxy A53 5G is underpowered for its price segment. In comparison, the older Samsung Galaxy A52s scored 739 and 2,733 points in Geekbench, making it more powerful than its successor.

Graphics quality in Call of Duty: Mobile maxed out at ‘Medium’ with the ‘Max’ frame rate. It was playable at these settings on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G but lagged from time to time during matches. The display’s touch sampling rate wasn’t the best, but this did not hamper gameplay too much. The game ran best at the ‘Low’ graphics and ‘Medium’ framerate settings, which is a little disappointing for a premium smartphone. I did also notice the phone heating up after about 10 minutes of Call of Duty: Mobile gameplay, but with no drop in performance. Asphalt 9: Legends ran smoothly at the default (medium) graphics settings.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G front software ndtv SamsungGalaxyA535G  Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G runs One UI 3.1 which is based on Android 12

 

The display’s refresh rate alternates between 120Hz and 60Hz. During the testing period, I noticed that it stayed at 120Hz even when browsing Web pages or Instagram feeds, or streaming videos on YouTube. The screen refresh rate dropped to 60Hz only when playing games or using the camera app. The Super AMOLED display looks good with the typical punchy colour tones that this type of panel is known for, and is legible even in bright sunlight. HDR is missing, but video streaming content looked good, with deep blacks. The stereo speakers sounded well balanced and got quite loud.

Battery life is one area in which the Galaxy A53 5G fares better than its predecessor. Its larger 5,000mAh battery added four hours to the runtime of our HD video loop test, clocking an impressive 19 hours and 44 minutes. With everyday usage, the phone lasted two full days, which is quite good. Samsung does not offer a charger in the box, so I plugged the Galaxy A53 5G into my own 61W USB PD charger. This phone supports 25W charging, and managed to get to 100 percent from empty in 1 hour and 51 minutes, which isn’t bad, but still not as quick as some of the competition.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G cameras

The cameras on the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G are identical to what its predecessor has. The rear camera setup consists of 64-megapixel primary, 12-megapixel ultra-wide, 5-megapixel macro, and 5-megapixel depth cameras. A 32-megapixel front-facing camera is in charge of selfies. The layout of the camera app is customisable and there are plenty of shortcuts in the viewfinder.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G back cameras ndtv SamsungGalaxyA535G  Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has four rear-facing cameras

 

Photos captured in daylight were impressive and showcased plenty of detail and good dynamic range. Like the Galaxy A52s 5G, the colours in photos came out a bit oversaturated and had a mild bluish tone. The macro camera was quite useful, as images had good detail. Portrait photos shot using the selfie camera looked crisp and clear with good detail and dynamic range. Edge detection in these photos was also accurate.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G daylight camera samples. Top to bottom: Ultra-wide-angle camera, primary camera, macro camera (Tap to see full size)

 

Shooting in Auto mode in low light, the camera’s performance was decent with good dynamic range, but I did notice some noise. Details took a bit of a hit. Using Night Shot mode, the camera took a second longer to capture shots, and they looked brighter, but at the cost of lower detail. The standard Night mode also took a few seconds to capture low-light landscapes but managed the best quality. Selfies taken in low light looked blurry and noisy even after switching to Night mode.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G low light camera samples. Top: Auto mode (Night shot switched off), bottom: Night mode (Tap to see full size)

 

The ultra-wide-angle camera shot decent images in daylight but objects looked blurry and stretched towards the edges. Low-light shots were much lower in quality and looked soft at best.

1080p 30fps videos shot in daylight appeared well-stabilised and had good dynamic range. However, footage shot at 1080p 60fps looked shaky. Videos captured at 4K had the best detail but lacked any stabilisation whatsoever. When shooting in low light, video quality took a nosedive. The video recorded at 1080p 30fps looked blurry and had a nasty shimmering effect. The primary camera has a noticeable focus hopping issue when recording video at night, so the autofocus system went crazy quite often, especially when panning.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a capable premium smartphone but falls short compared in terms of raw performance. This is mainly due to the new SoC, which seems as though it would be a good enough fit for the budget Galaxy M33 5G (Rs. 18,999), but not for a phone that costs Rs. 35,000. Daylight camera performance is quite good, and this is the only phone we’ve reviewed in this segment with an IP67 rating. Unfortunately for the Galaxy A53 5G, the Galaxy A52s 5G (Review), its predecessor, offers better gaming performance, has a headphone jack, and comes with a charger in the box. It also costs a bit less (around Rs. 32,499) which makes it the better buy.

As for competition from other manufacturers, the iQoo 9 SE (starting at Rs. 33,990) is the Galaxy A53 5G’s biggest potential competitor. We are yet to review this phone, but it has a better Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC and you get a 66W charger in the box. The base variant also has 8GB of RAM, so even just going by specifications, it poses a threat. Those looking for a leaner Android experience can also look at Motorola’s Moto Edge 20 Pro (Review), which features a Snapdragon 870 SoC and a 108-megapixel primary rear camera.


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Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark on India 5G auctions, policy stability, local investments, Telecom News, ET Telecom

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ETTelecom Interviews: Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark on India 5G auctions, policy stability, local investmentsNokia CEO Pekka Lundmark has said that India is not late on 5G but needs affordable airwaves for top dollar investments and wider adoption. Speaking to ET’s Danish Khan and Romit Guha, his first media interaction in India since taking over in 2020, Lundmark said Nokia is set to invest a big part of its global R&D spending in India, which is its biggest operations globally, with the maximum head count. Edited excerpts:

Where does India fit into Nokia’s global scheme of things?

India is the number one country in terms of employment for Nokia with 15,000 employees out of 90,000 globally. It is one of the largest markets in the world and is now entering an extremely important stage with the introduction of 5G and the upcoming auctions. India is also a significant manufacturing base for us. We are managing our global product deliveries from India and are managing from our Indian operations over 100 networks in other parts of the world. So, from all aspects India is clearly on top of the list in terms of priority for us.

Do you think 5G is a missed opportunity for India, given the delay in roll outs?

It’s definitely not a missed opportunity in any way. India has made great progress through 4G and now is the natural time to introduce 5G. The auctions are now coming. We are engaging with our customers actively.

What is the impact of chip shortage on Nokia’s global and India business?

There is a structural deficiency in semiconductor manufacturing capacity in the world at the moment. We have seen the situation stabilise recently, but it is still tight, and it will still take some time before the markets find a new balance. The new Covid outbreaks in different parts of the world could again lead to production challenges in the semiconductor industry. I believe that we have handled the very difficult situations extremely well for our customers.

Will the ongoing war in Europe add to the supply chain challenges?

There is no direct impact of it but then what the indirect effects could be is too early to say.

To what extent does the absence of China’s Huawei and ZTE benefit Nokia in India?

We position Nokia as a trusted vendor. When it comes to the Chinese vendors, we do not comment.

How much are you planning to invest in India over the next year?

Our big investment is in R&D. Our global R&D investment last year was over 4 billion euros and it has actually been increasing. And the most likely scenario is that it will still continue to increase in India.

What are your views on pricing of 5G airwaves in India?

The more affordable the frequency allocations, the stronger would be the effect that fuels the economy.

Is there more pricing power for companies like Nokia in India, given that there are fewer vendors now?

India has always been a very competitive market, and I don’t think that will change. Indian telcos are extremely hard to negotiate with. The hardest in the world, you might say.

What is your view of India from a policy certainty, stability point of view?

The policymakers make their own decisions. A market with a significant number of operators is typically not healthy. It’s not for me to say what exactly is the right number of operators for each country, but in most countries, it is converging towards three or four telcos.

Your thoughts on the new network security setup that India has come up for trusted sources and products. Does that not increase compliance costs and delay roll outs?

This is not an India specific issue. The importance of trustworthiness of vendors is increasing in all parts of the world. And the measures that have to be taken in terms of product security, network security are not that different between different parts of the world.

Will you increase investments in local manufacturing to gradually reduce manufacturing presence in China and move to India?

It is our customers who will decide where it makes sense for us to operate. But the more market share we get, of course, the more India (manufacturing) would also benefit. Chennai is an extremely important factory and now with 5G, the importance is only increasing. Chennai serves as a global factory where roughly half of production stays in India and half is exported.

Your views on the ongoing battle between the satcom industry and telecom operators over millimetre wave spectrum.

We see satellites as more complementary to the ground-based networks than competing. They both have their respective roles, and in many cases, especially in rural areas, it (satcom) can really complement.

Satellite networks need connections, backhaul networks on the ground. We are involved in some of these discussions. But country-specific frequency allocation decisions are hard for us to get into.



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Vivo X Fold Alleged Images Tip Grey Colour option; Specifications, Price Leaked

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Vivo X Fold foldable smartphone’s images and price have leaked online. The images have been shared on Twitter by two different tipsters. Vivo X Fold is the company’s first foldable offering and it will be launched on April 11. The phone is tipped to come with a 6.5-inch AMOLED primary display and an 8-inch foldable AMOLED panel. It could come with a quad rear camera setup and a 4,600mAh battery. Meanwhile, the price of the smartphone has been leaked on Weibo.

The first set of Vivo X Fold images comes from MySmartPrice who collaborated with tipster Ishan Agarwal to share the images online. As per the report, Vivo X Fold will be launched in Blue and Grey colour options.

Vivo X Fold specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, MySmartPrice cites Agarwal as saying that the outer screen of the Vivo phone will measure 6.53-inch and will have a 21:9 aspect ratio. He also says that the foldable AMOLED display measures 8.03-inch and has a 4:3.5 aspect ratio. The Vivo X Fold is tipped to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, which could be paired with 12GB of RAM along with 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The handset is speculated to pack a 4,600mAh battery with support for 66W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging.

For photography, the Vivo X Fold foldable smartphone is said to pack a circular camera module with a quad-camera system. The camera may get a 50-megapixel main sensor with f/1.75 lens, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 12-megapixel portrait camera, and an 8-megapixel periscope camera with 5X optical zoom and up to 60x digital zoom. For selfies and video calls, the phone is tipped to carry a 16-megapixel front shooter. Both screens are tipped to come with an in-display fingerprint scanner.

These specifications are in line with ones shared by tipster Mukul Sharma on Twitter. He has also shared a set of images of the Vivo X Fold.

Vivo X Fold price

Citing Weibo, Sharma has also shared the information about the prices of the variants that Vivo X Fold is speculated to offer. He shared an image which also has full specifications. The Vivo X Fold smartphone is said to start at CNY 11,999 (roughly Rs. 1,43,100) for the base variant, and the top variant could be sold for CNY 12,999 (roughly Rs. 1,55,000).


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