Bucket Tech: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25, setting a new standard as a true AI companion with our most natural and context-aware mobile experiences ever created. Introducing multimodal AI agents, the Galaxy S25 series is the first step in Samsung’s vision to change the way users interact with their phone – and with their world. A first-of-its-kind customised Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset delivers greater on-device processing power for Galaxy AI and superior camera range and control with Galaxy’s next-gen ProVisual Engine.

“The greatest innovations are a reflection of their users, which is why we evolved Galaxy AI to help everyone interact with their devices more naturally and effortlessly while trusting that their privacy is secured,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy S25 series opens the door to an AI-integrated OS that fundamentally shifts how we use technology and how we live our lives.”

Our Most Intuitive and Effortless Mobile Interactions Yet

With One UI 7, the Galaxy S25 series is a true AI companion that understands the context of your needs and preferences and provides personalised AI experiences with privacy assured at every turn. It’s the starting point of a shared vision with Google to imagine Android with AI at the core, bringing together developers and partners from around the world.

AI agents with multimodal capabilities enable Galaxy S25 to interpret text, speech, images and videos for interactions that feel natural. Upgrades to Google’s Circle to Search make searching your phone screen more helpful, fast and contextual. Circle to Search now quickly recognises phone numbers, email and URLs on your screen, letting you call, email or visit a website with a single tap.

With Galaxy S25 series, you can also perform actionable searches with context-aware suggestions for next steps. Plus, Galaxy S25 makes it frictionless to switch between apps for quick follow-up actions, like sharing a GIF or saving event details.

Galaxy S25 also represents a breakthrough in natural language understanding, making everyday interactions easier. Simply ask and intuitively find a specific photo in Samsung Gallery or adjust the size of display fonts in Settings. Just press and hold the side button to activate Gemini and perform seamless interaction across Samsung and Google apps, plus third-party apps such as Spotify. For example, find your favourite sports team’s season schedule and add it to Samsung   Calendar – with a single command.

These intuitive interactions are elevated by expansions to Galaxy AI’s popular tools for communication, productivity and creativity. Galaxy S25 keeps calls organised with Call Transcript[4] and summary. Writing Assist features such as summarizing content or automatically formatting notes can be enabled where texts can be selected, without needing to switch between applications. Drawing Assist unlocks fresh ways to bring ideas to life through combinations of sketches, text or image prompts.

Hyper-personalised Experiences with Privacy Secured

In the era of AI, personalisation goes hand-in-hand with privacy. On Galaxy S25, the Personal Data Engine powers personalised AI features by safely analysing your data on-device to deliver highly tailored experiences that reflect your preferences and usage patterns. These insights enable tailored experiences such as searching for an old photo in the Gallery using natural language, or being guided through the day with Now Brief, which proactively offers suggestions accessible via Now Bar on the lock screen. All personalised data is kept private and secured by Knox Vault. Combined with enhanced on-device processing capabilities, this creates a powerful, protected AI experience that is unique to Galaxy.

Galaxy S25 also introduces post-quantum cryptography, safeguarding personal data against emerging threats that could increase as quantum computing evolves. Because there is no privacy without holistic security, One UI 7 laid the groundwork for these innovations by introducing an extra, fortified layer of device safety designed for the age of AI and hyperconnectivity. Additional updates include added Maximum Restrictions settings, enhanced Theft Protection, and a new Knox Matrix dashboard to monitor the security status across a connected device ecosystem.

Galaxy’s Most Powerful Performance Ever

The Galaxy S25 series is powered by the Snapdragon® 8 Elite for Galaxy. With unique customisations by Galaxy, this is the most powerful processor ever on Galaxy S series, delivering a performance boost of 40% in NPU, 37% in CPU and 30% in GPU compared to previous generation. This power fuels the Galaxy S25 series’ ability to process more AI experiences on-device without compromise, including previously cloud-based AI tasks such as Generative Edit.

Samsung and Qualcomm Technologies worked together to customise the Snapdragon® 8 Elite for Galaxy.  The Galaxy S25 series features advanced, efficient AI image processing with ProScaler to achieve a 40% improvement[12] in display image scaling quality, while incorporating custom technology with Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) embedded within the processor using Galaxy IP to enable greater display power efficiency.

Snapdragon® 8 Elite for Galaxy is also equipped with Vulkan Engine and improved Ray Tracing, which makes for smoother and more realistic mobile gaming. All intense device usage and AI processing run smoothly thanks to changed heat dissipation structure with 40% larger vapor chamber and a tailored thermal interface material (TIM) that delivers extra improvement in thermal efficiency.

Unleashing Truly Pro Creation

The Galaxy S25 series delivers ultra-detailed shots at every range with high resolution sensors and ProVisual Engine, setting a new standard for mobile photography. With a new 50MP ultrawide camera sensor upgraded from the previous 12MP, Galaxy S25 Ultra provides exceptional clarity and vibrancy.

10-bit HDR recording is now applied by default, offering four times richer colour expression compared to 8-bit. Galaxy S25 can thus capture details in any lighting conditions. Plus, low-light videos have never been clearer than with Galaxy S25. Based on powerful processor, Galaxy S25 analyses movement and time to reduce noise more effectively. This integration allows detecting both moving and static objects with greater precision, ensuring sharper, cleaner footage in any scenario.

Galaxy S25 also introduces a range of tools once limited to specialised software, making advanced editing accessible for all. Now anyone can be a pro at editing photos and videos. Audio Eraser simplifies the removal of unwanted noise in videos. By isolating categories of sounds – including voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise – you can control what to tone down or eliminate entirely.

For a DSLR-like experience on mobile, Galaxy S25 introduces depth-of-field control with Virtual Aperture, integrated into the popular Expert RAW. Galaxy S25 also elevates cinematic creativity with Galaxy Log, enabling precise colour grading options for more professional video production. Portrait Studio has also been enhanced, allowing users to create personalised avatars with more true-to-life facial expressions. Filters introduces new analog-style filters, delivering film-like aesthetic for their photos and videos.

Durable Design Embracing a More Circular Approach

The Galaxy S25 series builds upon Galaxy’s ‘Essential Design’ grounded in ‘Simple, Impactful and Emotive’ elements. Galaxy S25 Ultra refines this essence into the slimmest, lightest and most durable Galaxy S series yet, with a rounded edge for a comfortable grip that complements the series’ aesthetic identity.

Galaxy S25 Ultra features durable titanium and the new Corning® Gorilla® Armor 2, a first-of-its-kind material that is more durable than glass. It combines Corning’s glass-ceramic with a proprietary anti-reflective surface treatment, helping to ensure advanced drop protection alongside anti-reflection surface treatment and scratch resistance.

Every external component of Galaxy S25+ and S25 now includes at least one recycled material, as their metal frame incorporates recycled armor aluminum for the first time. In addition, while every Galaxy S25 series device uses a minimum of 50% recycled cobalt for its battery, Galaxy S25 will be the first Galaxy smartphone to feature batteries made with recycled cobalt sourced from previous Galaxy devices or the batteries discarded during the manufacturing process. Samsung goes through multiple stages with its like-minded partners, from extracting cobalt from used batteries to re-using the recycled cobalt for the batteries of Galaxy S25.

Combined with seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, the Galaxy S25 series ensures a reliable and optimised performance over a longer lifespan. For greater peace of mind, Samsung Care+ offers comprehensive coverage for accidental damage, repairs, and replacements, ensuring peace of mind for Galaxy users. Plus, Samsung is introducing the New Galaxy Club. For users who love having the latest technology, this flexible subscription model is designed to make owning and upgrading Galaxy devices more convenient than ever. Regional details and availability will be announced at a later date.

The Galaxy S25 series will be available for pre-order from 23 January to 13 February 2025. Galaxy S25 Ultra will be available in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver and Titanium Gray. Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ will be available in Navy, Silver Shadow, Icyblue and Mint.

Pricing as follows:

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB - R29,999
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB - R31,999
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB - R34,999

Bucket Tech: iPhone 16 Pro

Monday saw Apple's global unveiling of their iPhone 16 range, and while many were pretty excited to see and hear their favourites from the brand tell them all about this new device, for most in the tech world it was pretty meh. Like many brands Apple has designed their latest device around AI, which means Artificial Intelligence but to those who worship the fruit brand, it's known as "Apple Intelligence", as cheesy as they made it sound, I quite like it, maybe its the Dad Joke side in me that's finally starting to show. Anyway, Siri has been upgraded with AI and can do a whole more than just beat box and answer your stupid questions, as mentioned in my previous post about their AI, it basically is your personal assistant that has access to all your phones features and apps, but with security and privacy at its utmost priority. With such a power tool, that hasn't been seen before on a new Apple device, there isn't much they needed to do to the iPhone 16 to make standard from the rest but to their credit they did make some changes to warrant the high price tag. While the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus see's a lot more tech that was usually reserved for the Pro models, its the Pro models we're really interested and that is what we will be chatting about in this post. 

The Pro devices see's an upgrade in chipset, moving away from the A17 and coming with the new A18 Pro CPU that was built for Apple Intelligence. the A18 Pro is a 6-core chipset with 2 cores at 3890 MHz and 4 cores at 2200 Mhz, this is their fastest CPU to date and claimed to be the fastest CPU in any smartphone currently on the market. The design is pretty much the same as the previous made up of a titanium unibody and coming in bespoke finishes like Black, White, Natural and new Desert Titanium. The display has grown by 0.6" on both the Pro and Pro Max, giving it a minimal body and one of the best screen-to-body ratios to date. Batteries on the Pro and Pro Max model have been upgraded significantly with the Pro Max claiming up to 33 hours of video watching time. The iPhone 16 Pro Series MagSafe Charging capabilities remain the same as the previous model with 15W and 25W respectively. 

Moving onto the cameras, the 16 Pro retains the 48MP Wide lens, the 12MP Ultra Wide lens but now the 12MP Telephoto lens allows for 5x optical Zoom. On the Pro Max, the Ultra Wide 40MP lens and the 12MP Telephoto lens are retained. Macro photography has been enhanced thanks to the new lens technology and Apple Intelligence allowing you to capture more detail on those close up shots. The standout feature is the dedicated camera button which is a lot more than just a camera trigger, it allows you to swap to lenses, zoom in and adjust to get the perfect shot.  With AI, you're now able to do more edits to your pictures with one touch, either after capture or in real time with the phone allowing you to swipe through filters before taking the shot. AI also helps to clean up the picture for any unwanted objects or people that might have gotten captured. The Pro Max now offers 4K video recording in slow motion 120fps w/Dolby Vision giving the user to ability to record breathtaking cinematic videos from the palm of their hand. Video editing has taken a leap as well, with audio mix giving the user to isolate in videos, allowing it to concentrate on one subject and the to the next. Speaking of audio, the voice recording app now allows you to add layers to it. So if you record a tune, it gives you an option to sing over it, pretty neat. 

Now, while it's cool to read about the new iPhone 16 range, many will be seeing the US release dates and thinking we still have another month or more to wait for it to get to SA but that is where you're wrong. For the first time ever, the USA and SA release dates will be the same! But wait, it gets better, iStore is debuting its innovative Contract Price Freeze — a game-changing offer that helps South Africans beat inflation. For the first time, iPhone users can upgrade to the latest iPhone 16 range while keeping their monthly contract price the same as their existing plan. In a time when rising costs have made upgrading to the latest technology increasingly expensive, iStore is offering a financial lifeline. Trade in your iPhone and freeze your current contract price, or even pay less than what you have for the last two to three years. Those not on contract need not worry as iStore is offering up to R22,000 on trade-ins of your old iPhone. This cash back can be used to purchase a new iPhone 16 model or you can just get the cash and do what you want with it. iStore is also offering free iCare Plus valued at R1999 for their launch deals so overall, looks like a pretty sweet deal if you looking to upgrade. No pricing of the iPhone 16 range has been released as yet by the iStore 

Bucket Tech: HONOR X7b: Impressive from All Angles

In February, HONOR announced the official availability of the HONOR X7b in South Africa. Featuring a large 256GB storage, long-lasting 6,000mAh battery, 108MP Superior Main Camera[2], and an Ultra-Bright Display, the HONOR X7b is the perfect statement for today’s movers and shakers. With its well-rounded features and affordability, the new HONOR X Series smartphone offers users an exceptional, uninterrupted user experience.

Uninterrupted Access and Ample Storage Capacity

Users who live and breathe content can fully leverage the expansive 256GB[3] storage drive, which can keep over 60,000 pictures, 24,000 songs or 950 HD videos[4] onboard. The HONOR X7b is also equipped with the HONOR RAM Turbo (8GB+8GB), an HONOR proprietary technology that moves a portion of flash memory to RAM, meaning 8GB RAM can be increased to 16GB, enabling users to carry on with their tasks seamlessly with ease.

6000mAh Long-lasting Battery to Support All-day Use

The HONOR X7b holds the DXOMARK Battery Gold Label this is because of its 6,000mAh ultra-large battery which promises usage of 3 days on a single charge. It impressively delivers the best battery life among all HONOR X Series smartphones to date. Once fully charged it can support up to 18 hours of video streaming, 24 hours of social media browsing or 69 hours of music streaming, making it a reliable companion for users who are on the go.

What’s more the HONOR X7b’s battery exhibits exceptional longevity, with the ability to maintain over 80% of its health even after three years of usage.

Superior Photography Capabilities for Crystal-sharp Visuals

The HONOR X7b boasts a 108MP Main Camera with a 1/1.67-inch sensor. Boosting light intake massively, the smartphone supports 9-in-1 pixel binning to achieve a pixel size measuring 1.92µm, enabling the camera to capture bright and vivid shots even in challenging low-light conditions. This ensures that night colours inherently pop in images. The HONOR X7b also features the Portrait Mode that supports 2X zoom, providing a diverse range of use that allows users to capture a wide variety of moments with versatility and flexibility.

Immersive Audiovisual Experience with Hyper-Transmissive Display  

Display real estate matters for today’s entertainment generation. With that in mind, HONOR has designed a 6.8-inch HONOR FullView Display with a 91.3% screen-to-body ratio on the HONOR X7b. It further supports a FHD+ resolution and a colour depth of 16.7 million colours, delivering visuals with stunning clarity and vibrant hues. With 850 nit Global High Brightness, 700nit Typical Brightness, consumers can see the navigation route, reply to messages, and stream videos clearly in strong outdoor light.

Delivering the brand’s uncompromising commitment to human centric technology, the HONOR X7b comes with industry-leading eye comfort features including Circadian Night Display and Dynamic Dimming. Having received the certification from TÜV Rheinland for its low blue light emissions, the smartphone is suitable for extended usage without causing eye strain, perfect for today’s digital-savvy generation who spend long hours viewing content on their smartphones.

Furthermore, the HONOR X7b incorporates advanced audio capabilities, thanks to the Dual speakers for stereo sound, 200% extra volume and Hi-Res sound quality certification, ensuring an immersive audio experience. Whether users are indulging in entertainment or focusing on work-related tasks, the HONOR X7b is well-equipped to meet the demands of various real-life scenarios, providing users with an enjoyable and captivating experience across different activities.

Pricing and Availability

The HONOR X7b is designed for the style-conscious user and is available in two stunning colours: Flowing Silver, and Midnight Black. The all-new smartphone is available to purchase for R6,499.00 at MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Cell C.

For more information, please visit HONOR at www.hihonor.com.  

Bucket Tech: HUAWEI Nova 9

So a few weeks back I attended the official launch of the HUAWEI Nova 9, the flagship device in the Nova range so far and while I did give you key product highlights of the phone I thought it would be a good idea to do a proper review, not so much an in-depth one as I would need to have one on test to do that. So what is the Nova 9 all about? Well it has a host of features but one that stands out the most is the flag-ship grade camera technology, one which will rival some of the best phones in the market. What makes it so special you may ask? Well it boasts a Quad lens camera system that features a powerful 50MP ultra-vision camera, as well as an ultra-wide angle camera, a macros camera and a depth camera. The camera system include a colour filter array and an XD Fusion Engine, which help you to capture impressive stills and videos, even in low-light settings, it also automatically enhances the images detail and quality. On the front end, the phones selfie camera is a 32MP high-resolution camera that supports 4K video recording with built-in AI image stablisation, enabling you to record high quality videos that would be perfect for Insta stories and TikToks without the use of a hand held gimbal or tripod. Thanks to continuous front/rear recording, you can also switch between the front and rear cameras, fluidly capturing your story in a single video file.

Huawei have always maintained that their Nova series has been focused on the youth, as it combines powerful performance and beautiful aesthetics at a reasonable price tag. That has been evident throughout the range and is no different with the Nova 9. The design is sublime, with a 6.57" curved display fitting onto a metal unibody and comes in an eye catching new colour, Starry Blue which adds a unique texture to the chassis. Apart form just looking good the device has a powerful chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G, the HUAWEI nova 9 also intelligently prioritises tasks and optimises performance for a seamless gaming experience. Its powerful processor is complemented by an equally powerful cooling system, which is designed to dissipate heat fast and efficiently. This means that your device can run at full throttle while staying cool to the touch – even after hours of gaming or streaming videos.

The 6.57-inch Original-Color Curved Display with a tapered surface that minimises the left and right bezels for a more immersive viewing experience. It can display over one billion colours and features a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz. Gamers will know exactly what these specs are all about. Every single one comes together to ensure a spectacular gaming experience with smooth visuals, vivid colours, incredible details and ultra-fast response times.

Buy the HUAWEI nova 9 now, priced at R12,999 and you’ll receive a HUAWEI FreeLace valued at R1,499. Ts and Cs apply.

Bucket Tech: HONOR 50

The HONOR 50 comes with GMS and is the first smartphone to feature Qualcomm’s SnapdragonTM 778G Mobile Platform. The premium model is equipped with multi-video shooting modes, with combinations that use the front and rear cameras at the same time. In just one take it allows the users to choose from six modes which makes the vlogging experience fun, exciting, and engaging. With this the HONOR 50 also features an immersive 6.57-inch 75° curved OLED display which delivers a smooth surface experience visually and in hand, boasts 66W SuperCharge technology, enabling the battery to be charged over 70% in just 20 minutes and powers an outstanding 4300 mAh battery. HONOR 50 (8GB+256GB) will be available on sale from today at R13,999 in two vibrant colour options – Frost Crystal and Midnight Black. HONOR 50 Lite (8+128 GB), another variant under HONOR 50 series, will also be available at R5,499.

 “Continuing the HONOR series’ legacy of integrating aesthetics and technology, the new HONOR 50 smartphone boasts an array of impressive innovations across its camera, design and performance, by collaborating with our global industry leading partners. With the launch of HONOR 50, the brand seeks to change the mobile phone market forever and move forward with its pioneering strategy to become a premium technology brand by focusing on delivering breakthrough technology, advanced features for its products and create an intelligent world for everyone,” says Cao Tansong, General Manager of HONOR South Africa.

 Multi -Video Shooting Modes for One Take Recording

Giving users more flexibility to shoot content from different angles and perspectives, users can change between cameras with six multi-video shooting modes that use the front and rear cameras at the same time, delivering a top tier recording experience that is usually reserved for professionals. Offering even more choice when it comes to capturing content, users can also apply beauty mode, capture photographs from videos, and use pre-set video story templates on all their footage. In addition, wireless headsets[1] connected via Bluetooth can be used as wireless microphones during video capture. Creators can achieve better sound reception while shooting videos, providing an effortless vlogging experience.

The HONOR 50 is equipped with six multi-video shooting modes, with combinations that use the front and rear cameras at the same time. In just one take, users can choose from the following six modes to make the vlogging experience fun, exciting and engaging:

 •        Front to Rear Recording: Users can switch between the front and rear camera while shooting video content

•        Dual-View Recording (Front/Rear): Users can simultaneously shoot with both the front camera and the rear main camera. The dual view shows what is captured by both cameras side by side

•        Dual-View Recording (Rear/Rear): Users can shoot with both the rear main camera and the wide -angle camera at the same time. The main camera also supports 6x zoom while video shooting. The dual view shows what is captured by both cameras side by side

•        Picture in Picture: This mode allows users to overlay the view of the front camera onto the bigger view of the rear camera or vice versa. It is particularly useful if users want the audience to focus on the content but still let them see the person recording

•        Fast -Motion Recording & Slow-Motion Recording: This mode allows users to capture the object or themselves with slow or fast -motion effects, creating a cool and unique layer to video content

•        Single to Dual-View Recording: Users can also change from shooting in single camera to dual cameras at any time while recording

On top of the six multi-video shooting modes, the HONOR 50 comes with “Story” which includes nine sets of different video story templates that help users create cool videos based on different shooting scenarios. The HONOR 50 also allows users to use beauty mode while using the front camera, wide -angle shots while shooting a video, and capture photographs from video content, fulfilling the different needs of content creators and vloggers.

Unparalleled Camera System for the Ultimate Vlogging Experience 

With the rapid growth of short videos, young people have increasingly turned to vlogging to record and share their daily moments with the world around them. The HONOR 50 brings the one-take vlog shooting experience to the next level.

Equipped with a 32MP front camera with a 90o[2] viewing angle, users can take perfect selfies and videos, with more people and scenery captured in the frame. Boasting a pro-grade quad rear camera setup, the HONOR 50 comes with a 108MP[3] main camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera, allowing users to shoot photos and videos in ultra-clarity and in beautiful detail, even at night. 

Stunning Display for an Immersive and Comfortable Viewing Experience

The HONOR 50 is comes with a 6.57-inch[4] 75o[5] curved OLED screen that supports a Full High-Definition resolution of 2340x1080. The display can produce a whopping 1.07 billion colours and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, delivering stunning visuals, sharp and crisp details, and an immersive color experience.

The HONOR 50 is equipped with a screen refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz[6], promising high screen response speeds to deliver a great video watching experience and gaming with less input lag. With an intelligent dynamic refresh rate, HONOR 50 allows the users to adjust the refresh rate based on on-screen actions, helping to save power consumption.

Power Boost with Fast Charging Capabilities and a Fast Processor

Featuring a single-cell dual-circuit battery design, the HONOR 50 can easily support a full-day of uninterrupted use with its 4,300mAh[7] battery. The device boasts 66W[8] HONOR SuperCharge technology, enabling the battery to be juiced up to 70% within just 20 minutes[9] using the included charger.

Boosting performance to the maximum, the HONOR 50 is armed with the Qualcomm SnapdragonTM 778G 5G chipset, improving both CPU and GPU performance by 45% and AI processing power by 123%[10] compared with the previous generation. Powered by GPU Turbo X, a unique graphics acceleration technology, the HONOR 50 delivers a powerful performance even during intense gaming.

Superior Craftmanship and Dual Ring Camera Design

Embodying a premium and unique aesthetic that reflects the latest design trends, the HONOR 50 features an ultra-slim bezel on the front and 2.5D polishing glass edges on both upper and lower sides of the display, delivering a smooth surface to bring users a greater experience visually and in hand.

When the HONOR 50 is tilted against the light at different angles, it glitters and shimmers, making it the perfect fashion statement to match any outfit.

Paying homage to the classic twin lens reflex camera, the HONOR 50 adopts a dual ring camera design made up of two concentric circles on the back, resembling a pair of eyes to help users see more of the world around them. Drawing inspiration from the classic ring designs of luxury jewellery brands, the top circle featuring the main camera is polished with the same classic, timeless metal ring on the edge.

Magic UI 4.2 for an Exceptional All-Round User Experience

Delivering a seamless and convenient experience, the HONOR 50 is equipped with the upgraded Magic UI 4.2, offering up a creative suite of features which enable users to always stay connected.

Creating a personal, fun, and interactive UX experience for users, the HONOR 50 also includes a range of customizable modern art that lets users personalize their Always-on-Display (AOD).

Colour, Pricing and Availability

Designed to meet the evolving tastes of today’s discerning fashion-conscious crowd, the HONOR 50 goes beyond conventional colours and is available in a range of stunning and fashionable options including Frost Crystal, which is inspired by snow crystals and creates a dreamy diamond-like finish and timeless Midnight Black[11].

Starting from tomorrow, 26 November 2021, the HONOR 50 will be available in South Africa via Takealot, and will be available from MTN, Cell C, Telkom Mobile and selected retail stores, from early December. The smartphone will be available in 8GB + 256GB version priced at R13,999. It comes paired with HONOR Earbuds 2 Lite, an exclusive gift from HONOR worth up to R1,499.

For more information, please visit HONOR online store at www.hihonor.com. 

Bucket Seat: Volkswagen Golf 7.5 GTI TCR

Video by @mvrc1988

I think it goes without saying that the VW Golf GTI is a pretty iconic car worldwide but in South Africa it has it's own legacy. Ever since the MK1, the GTI offered the driver a car with performance figures that could match most sports sedans on the road at the time, not only with it being a fraction of the cost but also offered better driving dynamics. Being a small hatchback, the car was more agile, more nimble and gave you a rush that no sports sedans could replicate. Till this day, the MK1 is still revered by many and has become a collectors item for enthusiasts, if you have one in fairly good condition, people are willing to pay a pretty penny for it. Fast forward to modern day, with the Golf MK7.5 currently in the market, if you had to look at sales, the GTI and R models are one of their best sellers and in Durban, almost every Golf you see is either a GTI or the R, the locals love it and while it may not be as affordable as it was, it still gives you that thrill as the original did when driving it. I myself up and until this week had never driven a GTI before, so when VW said I was getting the limited edition GTI TCR for a few days, you bet I was busy clearing my calendars to make sure I get to drive it as much as I could during those two and half days, after all what better way to break your GTI virginity that with a model like this? 

DESIGN

While the normal GTI is pretty menacing in looks, they've certainly stepped up a few notches with the TCR, by adding additional items such as front and rear diffusers along with skirts to match in matte black. Large 19" split-five-spoke rims which expose the large break discs and red calipers with the front ones having the GTI emblem on them. The TCR also receives some interesting decals on the side of the car, which I presume has to do with the name, TCR (Touring Car Racing), this however isn't everyone's cup of tea but for me personally, I didn't mind them. It is quite noticeable and big differentiator when it comes to distinguishing this from the normal GTI. The rear spoiler also gets a nice matte black wing tip, not sure how much that helps with aerodynamics but it does look nice and completes the package. On the interior its your standard GTI look with some additional touches like the sports style seats with scotch finish and red accents. The car is definitely a looker and when driving it around in this eye catching red colour, it had heads turning everywhere I went. 

PERFORMANCE

This is where the main talking points come in, as much as this is a limited edition model, with only 300 in the country, people are not going to pay extra for a car just for some cosmetic changes to the exterior but rather what is under the hood. VW have kept the 2.0L turbo-charged engine but upped the anti with it but increasing its performance from 169kW in the standard GTI and cranked it all the way up to churn out 213kW! This along with the 380Nm of torque combine to give you a rapid start off the line, so much so that the tyres get giddy and start to spin as well. The DSG gearbox that its coupled with is just sublime as it manages to hold out for longer revs to get the maximum out of each gear. While there were other limited Golf models like the Clubsport and so on, this one truly is special, and when you get behind the wheel of it you understand that from the get go, any review can give you stats and you can compare it with other models but feeling what the car delivers as an overall package is truly spectacular, also with the GTI TCR being so light weight, it helps a lot with delivering the optimal power to those front wheels, so much so that the only disadvantage to the less mass is that the torque comes in to confuse the equation, hence you get that wheel spin on both first and second gears but it all adds to the experience which is thoroughly enjoyable. 

COMFORT

While this is a performance hatchback, it still in essence a Golf which is aimed as a family car and there is sufficient space in the cabin for a small family, it still has a boot that can fit quite a bit of luggage. The seats as mentioned earlier are suede/ material finished, GTI embossed on the top but are molded into a sports seat configuration, bucket style for the front passenger and driver and semi bucket seats for the rear. The car comes with all the creature comforts such as dual climate control, seat heating for driver and front passenger, electrical adjustable seat for driver with lumbar support. The steering wheel is finished in leather with red stitching, the dash has an additional plaque on the passenger side which displays the model number out of 300, which is a nice touch. The ambient lighting as well as infotainment colour theme is red, not sure one can change this but I don't know why you would want to. The ride of the car is solid and even with the stiffer suspension, the comfort isn't has hard as you would expect it to be. Even when sports mode is engaged, which does stiffen things up and makes the exhaust noticeably louder it does make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and being the driver, you don't really notice much about the ride quality as you are more focused at attacking the next corner with the biggest grin on your face. 

VERDICT

I have to be honest, I was never the biggest Golf GTI fan, not because it was a bad car but because it was so popular with many. I never understood why until I got into one, while I agree it isn't fair to base my assumption on a limited edition variant of the GTI but you have to appreciate what the people at VW have done. Also, what this car means to the petrol heads in the city I live in, which is Durban, I felt that I missed out over the years, to experience what others already knew about but I was just too stubborn to realise. Seeing that this was a limited model and I had number 300 of 300, I did my duty as a Durbanite to visit the popular spots that this car would have caused quite a stir, if we were not being restricted due to Covid. It was almost a homage tour, me getting showing the GTI TCR around town, and so I visited Blue Lagoon, a popular weekend hangout where people brought their GTI's not to show off but to chill out, have a braai and listen to music with friends, then went to Umgeni Rd which on certain nights turns into Durban's famous illegal drag strip where many Golf's have embarrassed the bigger German models and even some supercars and to end things off, I took it to the relocated takeway spots in Umhlanga to have a bunny chow on the bonnet. While I only had 2 days and some change with the model, I think the time spent together has done it justice to give out this review. I will never forget my first GTI experience and it has humbled my overall feel to the legend. Another great talking point is the price, coming in under 700K, and giving performance figures like that, it really is a bargain of note, which is why it sold-out like hot cakes! This is one for the collectors so if you're lucky enough to get one brand new, don't go looking to make a quick buck, rather enjoy the car. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L TSI
Gear Box	7-DSG automatic
Torque	380Nm
Power	213kW
0-100km/h	5.5 seconds
Price	R669,000

 

Bucket Tech: DJI Pocket 2

 

Yesterday saw DJI drop its latest hand held gimbal device, the Pocket 2. This pocket-sized and extremely portable device is perfect for capturing those on-the-go moments, in crystal clear video with unparalleled stability thanks to its 3-Axis stabilized camera. Equipped to stabilize movement and take sharp photos and smooth videos, Pocket 2 gives you the freedom to create magic at hand.  Because of its size, the Pocket 2 fits perfectly in your hand, bag, or pocket so that you can take it anywhere. When you journey begins or something that suddenly catches your eye, Pocket 2 is ready to capture it all. 

When it comes to gimbals, people generally get the notion that its only for videoing but with the camera stabilizer it even enhances the pictures you take. The Pocket 2 event offers a High-Definition panorama, with a 180 degree view range so you can capture the entire mountain range or get everyone in your group selfie with the 3x3 panorama. While the camera may be small in size, the shots it can take are big. Another great feature on the Pocket 2 is active track 3.0 which when object is selected, be it a moving car, or just your friend walking around, it will stay locked on to the subject throughout the record time, adjusting a moving to suit. 

Other great additions to the Pocket 2 is story mode, allowing you to create and edit videos with ease, the new timelapse function allows you to turn hours into seconds with ultra smooth hyperlapse videos which you can set the camera to turn as it records, just like the pros! Coming back to the editing, if you're not an editing buff, no need to worry, the AI Editor automatically combines your clips with transitions and music to create content that will blow your mind and make you look like Steven Spielberg on Instagram. There is no official date on when the Pocket 2 will be available locally but keep your eyes peeled for dates and pricing. 

Bucket Tech: Apple iPhone 12

Last nights Apple Event saw the American tech giant launch their all-new iPhone 12 range. The range includes the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Big news from the launch is that all variants will come standard with 5G network access and powered by Apples new A14 chipset, which they claim is the most powerful chipset in a smartphone currently. Seeing that the rollout of 5G is going full steam ahead in the US, despite the urban myth of the tech being the cause of the current pandemic, this is a good move by Apple. They have reported testing of 5G with speeds up to 3.5GB per second in good network conditions and down to 1GB per second in poor network conditions, the iPhone 12 also adapts it's network connection depending on how data conducive the apps or functions you are using. So for example if you're making a normal voice call or using apps that do not require data, the phone will switchover to LTE instead of utilizing 5G which is very power demanding.

Cameras on the iPhone 12, the standard and Mini have a two lens camera system with both main lenses being 12MP. Apple have invested a lot of their time into improving low light photography on these cameras which allows 27% more light than before. This translates to brighter, less noise, more detail and great depth perspective. The ultra-wide lens has a 120-degree field of view with 13mm focal length, the night model feature has been improved and now features a night mode time lapse. Apple's new Smart HDR 3 system is featured on both devices and has the ability to shoot HDR video with Dolby Vision at 30fps. 

The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max feature a triple camera system with the same two lenses as the standard iPhone 12 but has an additional telephoto lens to the camera eco-system. This lens is a 52mm f/2.0 and able to take Deep Fusion photos. The big addition to the Pro camera is the inclusion of a a LiDAR sensor, which has massive benefits in low-light situations. Apple say the LiDAR sensor assists in faster focus times, up to 6x faster in most cases and even in poor lighting conditions. The LiDAR also allows you to take portrait pictures in Night Mode. Video capabilities on the Pro and Pro Max step up big time with Dolby Vision HDR recording at 60fps as well as Dolby Vision video editing on the device, making it easier for you to shoot, edit and share from your phone. 

Other noteworthy things about the new iPhone is that it comes with MagSafe which is apples new trademark wireless charging system which has a magnetic field to ensure the phone connects properly to the wireless charging unit, now with this being magnetic, Apple has capitalised on this by adding snap on accessories for the device, like covers, wallet pouches and so on, you could probably use the phone as a big fridge magnet too, a very big and expensive one but it can be done. As you may have noticed, the design of the device is very similar to that of the iPhone 4 which was one of the best designed devices of their range, its a full metal uni-body with stainless steel surroundings which also serve as the devices antenna. One of the gripes so far is what's in the box, while pricing still remains very similar to other devices on the market, Apple have decided to just give you a phone and  USB-C charging cable. So no headphones or charging adapter, they claim its because people do not use these, I understand the headphones as many would opt to buy ear pods but the charging adapter? Really?

US pricing was released with most devices bar the Pro Max being available for order from the end of this week. No word from Core Group on availability or local pricing on the iPhone 12 range yet. 

Bucket Tech: Huawei Mate 30 Series - First Impressions

While still under a huge cloud of uncertainty over their relations with the US, Chinese tech giants Huawei launched their much anticipated flagship device series in Munich, Germany yesterday. The event which was live streamed world wide was hosted by Executive Director Richard Yu who showcased the companies latest assets in the Mate 30 Series as well as new wearables, accessories and a television!

The biggest question on everyone's minds was what was going to power the new Mate 30 Series seeing that Google had put a trade block on Huawei due to the US sanctions, well the answer was given, Mate 30 features Androids open source OS, Android 10 which runs on EMUI 10, the user interface is identical to that of your normal Android device until you realise there is no Google Apps. So no Gmail, no Google Maps, no YouTube, and most importantly, no Google Playstore. Whether or not you can download these apps via a 3rd party remains to be seen but for now, it looks like you have to access some of these apps the old fashion way, via the browser. Huawei though have their own AppGallery which has over 45,000 applications already. 

Now with the device taking such a big knock already due to the US sanctions in terms of OS capabilities, the phone has to make up for it right? Well Huawei weren't going to take this lying down, the device is powered by the most advanced 5G chip-set on the market being the Kirin 990, the device also has the most advanced cooling system on the market making it up to 30% more cooler at run time. The Huawei Mate 30 Series also has the most 5G antenna's making it the best connectivity device on the market. The 5G speeds capable by the Mate 30 are phenomenal beating competitors in a speed test by almost 600mbps! That's over half a gigabyte more in the same amount of time. Huawei claim to have the best overall 5G experience with this Mate 30 device, giving you faster speeds, with a cooler device, with dual 5G sim slots and better battery performance. 

Speaking of the battery, the Mate 30 Pro comes fitting with a monster 4500mAh battery which the company claim can give you two full days of heavy usage. Being such a big battery you'd expect it to be big and heavy but its not, its actually smaller and lighter than any other competitors battery which is a major plus. Overall size to screen ratio is vastly improved on the Mate 30 Pro as it features fully bezel sides. The screen which extend over to the side has functionality too, and aren't just there for appearance. You can control the volume and has camera functions built in as well. 

The camera on the Mate 30 has stepped up big time and features a quad camera system developed with Leica in an exquisite halo ring design. Inspiration for this was taken from Leica camera lenses them self. The Mate 30 Pro camera features a 40MP (18mm) Ultra Wide lens, a 40MP (27mm) SuperSensing Wide lens, 8MP Telephoto zoom lens and a 3D depth sensing lens to give you those bespoke Bokeh shots. While it doesnt have the periscope lens of the P30 Pro, it still is able to give you up to 3x Optical Zoom with 45x Hybrid Zoom. The massive step up is on the video size, with Huawei saying that they're giving users the world's first 40 MP Cine camera that is capable of filming in 4K at 60fps, it has 4K HDR time lapse and ISO 512 000 which can shoot video in extreme low light, so not only low light photography but videography too. It has a real-time Bokeh effect recording with depth of field and dual OIS + AIS for more stable recording. The biggest surprise was its ultra slo-motion feature which captions video at 7680fps! that just blows the competition away by miles with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ only being able to achieve 960fps.

There's so much more to this device that really excites us and while the Mate 30 Pro is the one to have, the normal Mate 30 isn't too shabby either. Huawei also announced another Porsche Design Model with the Mate 30 RS. We will have to wait and see what the local offering and pricing is for the devices in the next week. So far its looking like the Chinese mobile phone manufacturer has steadied the tide against it with these but time will tell how the market will react to it.