3 Mobile Phones to keep your eyes on in Daraz Mobile Week

With the Daraz Mobile Week’s commencement with

mobiles, and the whole shebang, the average mobile
enthusiasts may find themselves overwhelmed with
choices. Our team at TechSathi couldn’t help but get into
passionate arguments amongst ourselves, given so many
phones as potential contenders, but so little money at
hand (ha!). After considerate influx of back and forth
reasoning and rationalizations, which we contemplated
upon, we present you, our take on the best contenders for
your wallet. Since we’re obviously humans here (wink
wink), we’ll try our best to pitch you some phones we
think provide pretty good value for money spent, in each
respective classes.

<< READ: DARAZ MOBILE SALES NEWS>>

Since Huawei made it into Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List early
this year on May the 15th, we’re excluding Huawei from our list, given several verified reports of apps
ceasing to function in it, ranging from traditionally available native android Google apps, to several
popular ones like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We reiterate: We at TechSathi.com don’t think
Huawei’s not worth your money; it’s just that, given the circumstances, you might run into problems
getting your frequently used apps to work on a Huawei phone. We will revisit this decision in case the
ban on Huawei is ever lifted.

We have decided to cater to three of our readers’ categories, namely, the Power User, the Economic
Artisan, and the Budget Baron. So without further ado, we present you, our picks for each class of
Mobile phone users:
The Power User – For those who know that might is right only when it’s priced right

Winner for Performance-First Phones: Xiaomi Poco F1

We all are well aware high octane mobile computing needs a big
wallet, you’re better off with a phone that’s all about raw processing,
and features that pretty much speak for themselves.

Xiaomi Poco F1 is a phone where its features justify its price-point.

With an Octa-core Kryo™ 385 CPU architecture, a top-of-the-shelf
processor that clocks at a whopping 2.8 Ghz processor, this bad boy
can withstand the test of time for a while, making sure to run any
applications without any hitches. Based on the Qualcomm SDM845
Snapdragon chipset, shipping an Adreno 630, it can boast to run
graphics intensive routines, giving rise to eye watering rendering,
and smooth experience for its users. Sporting 6 gigs of RAM, this
phone was made for folks who like to live life dangerously, wading
from app to app, with no signs of the operating system slowing
down, or experiencing any jitters. It comes with a 64 gigs of internal
storage, that makes sure you wouldn’t be running out of space
anytime in a few years, trivializing the hassles of micromanaging
your storage space – simply stow away what’s important to you, and
never bother about how you go about it.

With a 6’ display, you’d find yourself hard pressed to squint whilst gazing at your screen, especially if
you’re an attention-to-detail buff. With a capacitive Corning-Gorilla® Glass, you’d find your phone
besting the elements, with its rugged screen that can outlast blows from heavy-blunt as well as sharp-
pointed objects. You’d be surprised to the extents of durability tests this phone has undergone.

What’s really impressive about this phone is that it allows for arguably the crispest of photos, with its
Dual 12 MP cameras, you could simply instill the moment you wish to capture directly to a digital form
you could cherish forever.

It also includes a formidable 20MP front camera, for all your ‘welfie’ needs – no one left behind! You
could also engage yourselves in high quality video calls; since it’ll make sure you’re presented at your
best with your loved ones. Although battery could be better, it’s already sufficient for average day to day
activities: Sitting at 4000mAh. Understandable, given as the phone is so feature packed, something had to
give, to make the phone nimble in your hands, and seamless for one-handed usage.

Currently being sold at Rs. 32,999, with a 13% discount from Daraz, this is one phone we believe you
should absolutely have, if you’re thinking of getting yourself an upgrade to your existing phone: we
promise it’ll not fail to surprise you with its full-featured form-factor. It’s simply a phone crafted to
plunder your wallet over.

Our Verdict: 4.7/5, quite easily our Editor’s choice. Battery could have been better, though.
Detailed Specs
Model Number: Poco F1
Network Technology: GSM /WCDMA/ FDD-LTE /TDD-LTE
Body: 155.5 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.12 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)
SIM Type: Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Display: 6.18 inches screen, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen,
2246 x 1080 FHD+, 1500:1 contrast ratio
OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI
10.2.3 POCO
Chipset: Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
CPU: Octa-core Kryo 385
GPU: Adreno 630
Storage/Memory: 64 GB ROM / 6 GB RAM
Expandable Storage: microSD, Expandable up to 256 GB (uses
shared SIM slot)
Rear Camera: Dual (12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel
PDAF + 5 MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm, depth sensor12 MP, f/1.9,
1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF) / (Dual-LED flash, HDR,
panorama) / [Video:2160p@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-
EIS), 1080p@240fps, 720p@960fps]
Front Camera: 20 MP, f/2.0, 0.9µm / HDR /
(Video:1080p@30fps)
Sound: Loudspeaker / 3.5mm Jack-(Active noise cancellation with
dedicated mic)
Connectivity Technologies: WLAN(Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac,
dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot) / Bluetooth(5.0,
A2DP, LE, aptX HD) / GPS(with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS)
/ Radio(FM Radio) / USB(2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible
connector, USB On-The-Go)
Battery Capacity: Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery
Sensor: Proximity Sensor / Gyroscope / Accelerometer /
Electronic Compass / Vibration Motor / Hall Sensor / Ambient
Light Sensor
The Artisan – For those who want to express themselves and call home, sometimes at the same time

Winner for Crispiest Photos Phones: Xiaomi Redmi Note 7

Some of us are those wanderlusts, who don’t enjoy carrying a

DSLR camera around just to enjoy with their friends. They value
the freedom the camera strap withholds from them, but they still
wish to capture moments that matter to them within a reasonable
price-point. Having an apt budget, we wish for the best of both
worlds: great value for money computing, paired with a price tag
that isn’t epilepsy inducing.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is a simply put, an anomaly in the

market – you’re wondering what kind of mutation it underwent
in the factory, where the engineers were probably going for a
camera, but put in a phone form factor for the giggles: Read on
to find out why exactly below. Equipped with an Octa-core
Kryo™ 260 clocking 2.2 Ghz, you can expect this phone to keep
its end of the bargain, for the price you shell out for it. Based on the Qualcomm 660 Snapdragon chipset,
shipping an Adreno 512, you will be able to enjoy seamless graphics with it, with vivid graphics
rendering. Featuring 3 gigs of RAM, the phone will be able to handle any resource demanding apps you’ll
be throwing at it. Although a slight cut from its big brother, the Poco F1, 32 gigs of internal storage is
still nothing to scoff at.

Having a 6.3’ display, with a capacitive Corning-Gorilla® Glass touch screen, you’ll find your inner artist
rejoicing on how reliable partner it makes for field expeditions, standing true to its claims of durability.
Vivid colors, high res display, and excellent for one hand operation, it’s a well rounded phone for folks
constantly on the go.

Onto why you should actually buy this phone if you’re a photographic buff: It has a massive 48 MP
rear camera with f/1.8 aperture and dual-LED flash, allowing for photographs that would put some
flagship DLSRs to shame. It’s really not an understatement to say it’ll knock the argyle socks off some of
your friends when they find out that the photo was taken from a phone. Although it’s not as robust for low
light conditions, it’s excellent for outdoor photography, and will produce photos that’ll make lasting
memories happen.

Having a 13MP camera front camera, high quality video calls and selfies will be of desirable resolution;
although Poco F1 completely overshadows its sibling in this regard. Battery is pretty standard according
to Redmi norms, at an apt 4000 mAh. It will last almost a full day for most folks, but if you’re into using
a lot of resource intensive apps, perhaps games, you might find yourself running out of battery in a
noticeable pace.

Currently being sold at Rs. 21,999, from Daraz, this is one phone we have a love- hate relationship with.
Whilst it’s smart to get a separate DSLR, you’d still need to shell out money for a decently priced phone,
and therein lies the problem, which Redmi Note 7 promises to fix for you: Without actually burning a
hole through your wallet, of course. Having a decent phone to capture your fun times with friends whilst
sharing them immediately without heading home to process those images first comes at a great bargain, is
a sentiment that is probably shared by our readers, as well.

Our Verdict: 4.45/5, a favorite of yours truly. If you’re into recreational photography, TechSathi
wholeheartedly recommends this as a nice entry-level phone. Battery, like its beefier cousin, could have
been better, although we complain about anything below 5000 mAh.

Detailed Specs
Brand: Xiaomi Storage/Memory:3GB RAM /32GB ROM

Model Number: Redmi Note 7 Rear Camera: 48 MP, f/1.8, 1/2", 0.8µm, PDAF + 5 MP, f/2.4,
depth sensor/ Features: Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama/
Network Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE Video:1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS

Body Dimension: 159.2 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) Front Camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, 1.25µm / HDR / Video: 1080p@30fps

SIM Type: Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Display: 6.3 inches, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors,
1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio
OS: Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10
Chipset: Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260)
GPU: Adreno 512
Sound: Loudspeaker / 3.5mm Jack-(Active noise cancellation with
dedicated mic)
Connectivity Technologies: WLAN(Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-
band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot) / Bluetooth(5.0, A2DP, LE) /
GPS(Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS) / Infrared Port / FM
radio, recording / USB(2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector)
Battery Capacity: Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery
Sensor: Fingerprint (Rear-Mounted) / Accelerometer / Gyro /
Proximity / Compass

Features: Front/Back Glass (Gorilla Glass 5) / Plastic Frame

Expandable Storage: microSD, up to 256 GB (uses SIM 2 slot)
The Budget Baron – Who know a feature unwanted is money wasted

Winner for the most budget friendly phone: Samsung M20

In times where the amount of things one might want are increasing
by the seconds, but the bank balances are still not quite there yet, it’s
impossible to ask for things one may want but may not ever need
(We might be getting too philosophical here). And there in comes a
great value phone that is a basic boiler-plate featured, future-proof
phone. Samsung strikes again, quite to nobody’s surprise. No matter
which way you look at it, Samsung’s just too damn good when it
comes to making phones in a great-value spectrum.

Samsung Galaxy M20 is a budget phone that outdoes itself when it

comes to sheer quantitative metric for features vs. value. Equipped
with an Octa-core Kryo™ 260 clocking at 1.8 Ghz, it can run apps
you might use on a daily basis gracefully, without letting you down.
It runs on an Exynos 7904 Octa chipset, shipping a Mali-G71 MP2
GPU. Although you’ll have troubles to be able to play upcoming demanding games in their full potential,
it’s more than capable of performing decently when it comes to contemporary titles like Player
Unknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), Garena’s Free Fire, or Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.

<< READ: HARRY POTTER: WIZARDS UNITE RELEASED IN NEPAL>>

Samsung Galaxy M20 comes with 3 GB of RAM, which allows for seamless multitasking, as well as
prim and proper facilitation of apps by your OS, without it frantically clawing for additional memory.
Comparable to many of today’s phones, the RAM capacity is welcome, given its relatively weaker
processor.

Having a 6.3’ display, with a PLS TFT capacitive resistant touch screen, you’ll be appalled to find no
Gorilla® Glass having your back. Although, it’s pretty respectable when it comes to resisting scratches,
it’s not going to be withstanding a lot of abuse before it breaks down and wails. You’ll still be able to
have an enjoyable experience, with tactile feedback, as well as perfect graphics rendering.

Notwithstanding its budget premise, you’ll find yourself not help but notice Samsung M20’s cameras
aren’t too shabby: Having dual 13MP/5MP rear cameras with f/1.9 and f/2.2 respective apertures, this
phone can make time stand still on your whim. Although it leaves something to be desired with
occasional grainy shots you can do nothing about, you can bet it won’t fail you when you need it for that
quick shot. Nothing to write home about, but perhaps it’s better than nothing. Its front camera isn’t too
bad after all, 8 MP camera front camera – only thing it really lacks is front led. This might be off putting
for selfie lovers, but with great value, comes even greater sacrifices. You will still enjoy good quality
video calls and selfies in well-lit conditions.

What it lacks in other features, it makes up quite formidably with its battery. Sporting a monstrous 5000
mAh battery, it’s a wonder Samsung could still manage keeping the phone under 200gms. You can expect
to use the phone at ease throughout the day, and still manage finding a bit of battery left over when you
come home tired from work – just about enough to catch up in social media before retiring it to the
charger late at night. Although usage habits might vary the results, you can count on long usage, because
battery is quite lasting when it comes to Samsung M20.

Currently being sold at Rs. 17,190, from Daraz, this is one phone we can’t recommend you enough if
you’re just looking to getting your feet wet with a budget smartphone – as the results are bound to
surprise you. Whilst it leaves a lot to be desired, you really can’t be unfair to it, as it takes care of the
value for your money quite loyally. Although for us at TechSathi, absence of Gorilla® Glass was a major
deal breaker, as 6’ phones are usually prone to getting their display damaged in the hustle of daily life.
But if you can look past that and the lack of a front LED, you can have yourself a respectable mid-tier
phone at the price of a pretty low-tier phone some years back. The battery span almost makes it up for us,
as it’s pretty sweet.

Our Verdict: 3.95/5, with a heavy heart. Not having Gorilla® Glass is the only qualm we have with the
phone. Although still quite tough, and a dark horse for this sale, it’s a pretty well rounded phone that’ll
certainly turn heads, and not make you regret your purchase.

Detailed Specs
Brand: Samsung Storage/Memory: 3 GB RAM and 32 GB ROM

Model: Galaxy M20 Expandable Storage: microSD, up to 512 GB (dedicated slot)

Network Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE Rear Camera: Dual [ 13 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.8", 1.12μm, PDAF + 5 MP,
f/2.2, 1/6", 1.12μm ], LED flash, panorama, HDR, Video:
Body Dimension: 156.4 x 74.5 x 8.8 mm (6.16 x 2.93 x 0.35 in) 1080p@30fps

SIM Type: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Front Camera: 8 MP, f/2.0, HDR, Video: 1080p@30fps

Display: 6.3 inches, PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen, 1080 x 2340 Sound: Loudspeaker: Yes, 3.5mm jack: Yes , Active noise
pixels Resolution cancellation with dedicated mic

OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo); Experience 9.5
Chipset: Exynos 7904 Octa (14 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 260
Silver)
Connectivity Technologies: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Direct,
hotspot, Bluetooth(5.0, A2DP, LE), GPS (Yes, with A-GPS,
GLONASS, BDS), FM Radio, RDS, recording, USB 2.0 Type-C 1.0
reversible connector
Battery Capacity: Non-removable Li-Po 5000 mAh battery

GPU: Mali-G71 MP2 Sensor: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro,

proximity, compass

Conclusion:

Whether it be a performance conscious enthusiast that simply wants the best the market has to offer, or
the budget wary who wants to the best bang for his buck, Daraz Mobile Week has something to offer for
everyone. We believe in simplifying choices, so we made an attempt at helping you get aquainted with the
current front runners. Our team here at Tech Sathi can’t wait for your thoughts and opinions on this sales
event. So which of the three are you, the performance conscious power user, the wanderlust artisan, or the
wary budget baron? Let us know down below in the comments below!