Bucket Tech: realme Business Update for SA

Last week I was invited to the Durban leg of the realme Buisness update for South Africa, at the event I got a chance to meet the South African team and learn about the hard work they've been putting into the brand over the last 9 months. Just some background on the brand as it is pretty new to the country, realme was founded in 2018 by Li Bingzhong, who was the former vice president of Oppo, the brand originally started as a sub-brand of Oppo eventually ventured as its own brand but the devices are still manufactured at the shared plant in China. Marketed as a phone for the youth, realme brand commitment is to offer mobile phones with powerful performance, stylish designs and sincere services to its users and judging by their products and pricing, they're keeping up to their promises. 

Country manager Jace Chen led the introductions, given us insight into the brand and how far they've come since being a sub brand of a larger manufacturer. The brand is one of the fasting emerging mobile brands worldwide with it being in over 200 markets, with over 200 million users and in its short stint in South Africa they have also seen this trend follow. The brand also works closely with SA's three largest mobile operators to ensure the best deals are being offered on their devices, with some bundle options for select products too.

Gareth Clarke, realme Account lead for South Africa dropped some insightful figures during his presentation, to date, realme have sold over 20,000 devices in the 9 months they have been available in the country. realme product segment range expands over 4 offerings with for now, just the C series which has been available the longest being on the market and now the introduction of the Note and the Number series which I got a hands on experience with at the event. 

“realme is committed to empowering South African youth to be more daring through leap-forward technology and design,” says Gareth Clarke, realme Account Lead for SA. “The combination of high-end features and accessible pricing in the new realme 12 Series embodies our goal of delivering compelling value propositions for the midrange smartphone market.”

realme 12+ 5G: Premium photography and luxury design that you can afford

realme 12+ 5G is equipped with Sony's Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor to deliver stable, low-noise images under all conditions. The 2X in-sensor zoom ensures a high-quality picture from any distance. realme 12+ 5G includes a 112° ultra-wide camera, micro camera and a 16MP HD selfie camera for all your photographic needs.

Designed for ease of use, realme 12+ 5G features the new Snap Portrait System, an innovative system for capturing quick shots. realme has collaborated with Oscar-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda for the creation of three photo enhancement filters drawing inspiration from his award-winning films ‘Life of Pi,’ ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’

realme 12+ 5G is one of the only smartphones to incorporate premium vegan leather, chosen to enhance both design and ergonomic comfort. This high-end material is 10% softer than previous generations and is more dirt-resistant, lightweight, and perfectly balanced for long-term comfort in smartphone use.

Packing a powerful punch

realme 12+ 5G packs the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G processor, featuring an 8-core 64-bit CPU. An innovative cooling solution boosts efficiency and prevents overheating during intensive tasks like gaming and multitasking. Ultra-low power consumption ensures extended usage, making realme 12+ 5G an exceptional choice for users seeking power and endurance.

The 120Hz ultra-smooth AMOLED display is enhanced with advanced features like Rainwater Smart Touch. This technology distinguishes between unintentional water touches and actual finger input. The Sunlight Screen feature employs pixel-level dynamic contrast adjustment and backlight control to improve readability under intense sunlight.

The device's sleek 190g ultra-thin body houses a substantial 5000mAh battery, supporting all day use. Combined with the 67W SUPERVOOC charging, it ensures a full charge in just 48 minutes. Adding to its impressive features are the dual stereo speakers, high-res audio certification which provides an immersive audio experience. The realme 12+ comes with 512GB storage and 12GB of onboard RAM, along with the ability to expand the Dynamic RAM all the way up to a massive 24GB of RAM.

realme 12 5G: 108MP Ultra-Clear Portrait Master with outstanding performance

The realme 12 5G is equipped with a 108MP 3X Zoom primary camera that delivers exceptional image clarity. Its standout feature is the FHD+ Sunlight Display, boasting a 16.7 million colour spectrum and a 2400 X 1080 resolution. The display's peak brightness of up to 950nit ensures clear visibility under any lighting condition.

Additionally, an 8MP selfie camera provides versatile shooting modes, including support for 1080P/30fps video recording. Echoing the luxury watch-inspired design of realme 12+ 5G, realme 12 5G comes in two trendy colours: Woodland Green and Twilight Purple. Beyond its aesthetics, it packs a powerful punch with the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ 5G chipset.

Achieving great efficiency with its low power consumption, realme 12 5G is supported by a 5000mAh battery and 45W SUPERVOOC charging. Users enjoy prolonged usage without concerns about battery life, storage limitations, or performance drops, redefining expectations from a mid-range smartphone.

Bucket Tech: HUAWEI P60 Pro and HUAWEI MATE X3

In an era where technology intertwines seamlessly with our daily lives, HUAWEI presents two remarkable devices that cater to the diverse needs of modern individuals – the HUAWEI P60 Pro and the HUAWEI Mate X3. These two devices offer distinct lifestyles tailored to both creatives and business professionals, combining innovation, power, and style.

The HUAWEI P60 Pro: Power your creative spirit

For the artistic souls and creative minds, the HUAWEI P60 Pro is the ultimate tool to express yourself. With a stunning 6.7-inch OLED display boasting vibrant colours and exceptional contrast, this device transforms into a canvas for your imagination. Whether you're a photographer, designer, or content creator, the HUAWEI P60 Pro's Quad-camera system delivers unparalleled photography capabilities.

The charm lies within the Ultra Lighting XMAGE imaging system showcased by the HUAWEI P60 Pro. The Ultra Lighting Main Camera has a formidable 48-megapixel boasting the most expansive F1.4 physical aperture. It has the capacity to enable a greater light and effortlessly capture clear, high-definition pictures even in dimly lit environments.

The device's AI-enhanced features assist in real-time image optimisation and video editing, ensuring your content is improved. Its powerful processing capabilities and ample storage let you seamlessly edit 4K videos and handle graphics-intensive applications without missing a beat.

This exceptional smartphone also embraces a distinctive Pearl Texture Design, giving it a radiant allure akin to a timeless jewel. Its Rococo Pearl exterior is captivating, making it stand out amongst other smartphones in the market.

The HUAWEI MATE XS3: Elevate your work life

For the business professionals who require efficiency, sophistication, and multitasking prowess, the HUAWEI Mate XS3 is the embodiment of executive excellence. Its dual-screen design offers a productivity powerhouse, allowing you to manage emails on one screen while conducting video conferences on the other. The device's expansive 8-inch AMOLED main screen provides ample space for reviewing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with exceptional clarity and detail.

Powered by a cutting-edge Kirin processor and accompanied by substantial RAM, the HUAWEI Mate X3 ensures swift performance, even when handling resource-intensive business applications. Its robust security features, including facial recognition and encrypted storage, guarantee the confidentiality of your sensitive data.

That’s not all, the HUAWEI Mate X3's enduring battery life ensures you stay connected throughout your workday, eliminating the need for frequent charging interruptions.

The multi-layered interior screen⁠, including a layer of non-Newtonian fluid materials, is 4x more impact-resistant, made credible by the Switzerland's five-star SGS impact-resistance certification.

Are you a passionate creative or a devoted business professional? Both the HUAWEI P60 Pro and HUAWEI Mate X3 represent a holistic approach to modern living, where technology enhances every facet of our lives, from artistic expression to business advancement. To get your hands on the HUAWEI P60 Pro visit the HUAWEI online store and get it for only R24 999.00.  The HUAWEI Mate X3 retails at just R44 999.00 and can also be found on the HUAWEI online store. 

Bucket Tech: OPPO A98 5G

OPPO recently introduced the newest addition to its A series family of smartphones, the OPPO A98 5G, in South Africa. A98 5G features flagship-level battery performance with 67W SUPERVOOCTM charging, a large 5,000mAh battery, and OPPO's Battery Health Engine. Furthermore, equipped with an incredible 120Hz Silky Smooth Large Screen, RAM Expansion technology, and the latest ColorOS 13.1, A98 5G delivers an incredibly fast and smooth experience from start to finish.

Battery performance designed for the times smartphone for the times

Designed to go all day, OPPO A98 5G is equipped with one of the best configurations in flash charging and battery in its price range. It is a smartphone that is designed for the times, as South Africa battles with rolling blackouts and loadshedding. 

Upgrades in flash charging and battery mean that the OPPO A98 5G can be charged to 100% in just 44 minutes using 67W SUPERVOOC TM, while a 5-minute charge is enough to enjoy 6 hours of phone calls or 2.5 hours of typical YouTube video viewing. The 5,000mAh battery can provide up to 39 hours of phone calls, 16 hours of YouTube video viewing, or 8.4 hours of gaming on a full charge to deliver a long-lasting, smooth smartphone experience all day. After a full charge, the battery can also last for up to 17.5 days of standby with the Always on Display.

“The A98 5G, demonstrates our commitment to creating devices that prioritise user experience has been the cornerstone of our operations, " says Liam Faurie, Head of Operations & Go-to Markets at OPPO. He continued, "We understand that the South African market is looking for this type of device that can go all day. This device meets this requirement, with one of the best configurations in flash charging and battery in its price range.”

The charging performance is supported by OPPO’s Battery Health Engine, which allows the battery to maintain 80% of its original capacity after as many as 1,600 charging and discharging cycles, thus keeping the battery performing at close to optimal capacity for up to four years of use if charged once per day on average.

Stay Stylish with Premium Cover and High Durability

OPPO A98 5G is available in two color finishes - Dreamy Blue and Cool Black. Both finishes are brought to life with the iconic OPPO Glow process to create a beautiful shimmering crystal effect and fingerprint-resistant finish. Weighing around 192 g and measuring about 8.2 mm in thickness, the handset also features a 3D Curved Back Cover for a reliable yet comfortable grip in a visually thinner body.

“Having passed six major tests designed to measure resistance to physical drops, water, radiation, climate damage, repeated small drops, and signal stability. It is built to stay stylish and durable,” says Faurie.

Upgraded Hardware and Software System Brings Peak Performance to Life

OPPO A98 5G features a 6.72-inch display with a flagship-level 120Hz Ultra High Refresh Rate. With its high refresh rate, the display delivers a much smoother and more responsive experience, no matter whether users are scrolling Instagram or playing the latest games.

Featuring the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 695 5G Mobile Platform, the OPPO A98 5G provides powerful and reliable performance. OPPO A98 5G is equipped with 8GB RAM and 256GB large ROM of storage and supports up to 1TB SD card expansion. With OPPO’s RAM Expansion technology, the phone’s RAM capacity can convert up to 8GB of unused ROM storage into temporary RAM, doubling the amount of RAM available.

In addition to its high performance, A98 5G also passes the 48-Month Fluency Protection tests conducted in the OPPO lab. Recording an average aging rate of less than 10% after four years of daily use, A98 5G offers a 4-year guaranteed fluency compared with the previous generation of A series phones.

Unleash Creativity with the Outstanding Camera System

With its advanced 64MP AI Camera, 32MP Selfie Camera, 2MP Depth Camera and 2MP Microlens, OPPO A98 5G provides photography enthusiasts with an entirely upgraded photography experience to unleash their creativity. The phone is also equipped with other impressive features like Portrait Mode, AI Portrait Retouching, Selfie HDR, AI Color Portrait, and more that deliver stunning, high-quality images in a wide range of situations.

With up to 40-times magnification, the Microlens offers exceptional detail when exploring the microscopic world beyond the naked eye. Users can now dive right into the microscopic world to uncover a whole new perspective on life, exploring more secrets behind everyday objects.

Market Availability

OPPO A98 5G is already available locally, priced at R11 999.