Bucket Tech: MacBook Neo Launches at iStore

iStore, South Africa’s only Apple Premium Partner, has officially introduced the MacBook Neo, a brand-new addition to the Mac lineup designed to bring the performance of Apple silicon to a wider audience than ever before. Starting from R11 999, the MacBook Neo combines a colourful aluminium design with a crisp 13-inch Liquid Retina display, positioning it as an accessible entry point into the Mac ecosystem for students, professionals and small businesses alike.

Available in four vibrant colour options, the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip — the same generation of Apple silicon that has helped redefine performance across Apple’s product range. In day-to-day use, that translates into smooth multitasking whether you’re working through spreadsheets, editing photos, streaming content or running business applications. Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours, giving the machine enough endurance to comfortably carry you through a full work or study day without reaching for a charger.

Alongside the new hardware, iStore is also making the switch to Mac easier for customers currently using older PC laptops. Through its PC Buy Back programme, customers can receive a guaranteed R3 000 trade-in value when moving from a qualifying PC to the MacBook Neo, lowering the barrier to entry for those considering their first Mac. The offer officially goes live on 11 March 2026.

Trade-ins remain a core part of the iStore upgrade experience. The retailer offers competitive valuations for both Mac and PC devices, allowing customers to offset the cost of a new Mac by trading in their current laptop. For many buyers, that can make stepping into a new MacBook significantly more attainable.

For those looking for added peace of mind, iStore also offers iCare for Mac, its extended protection and warranty plan. The service extends coverage beyond Apple’s standard warranty and can help maintain stronger trade-in value when it eventually comes time to upgrade again.

Customers who prefer to browse and compare devices digitally can do so through the iStore App, which provides a convenient way to explore the full Mac range, compare specifications and complete purchases directly from a smartphone. The app is designed to streamline the buying experience, allowing customers to move from research to checkout in just a few minutes.

In store, iStore’s Apple specialists remain available to help customers choose the right Mac for their needs. That includes assistance with setup, data transfers and guidance for those moving from a PC environment to macOS for the first time.

The MacBook Neo is available now through iStore locations nationwide as well as online at iStore.co.za, with pricing starting from R11 999. With its vibrant design, capable performance and competitive entry price — combined with trade-in incentives, expert support and flexible purchasing options the MacBook Neo aims to make the Mac experience more accessible than ever in the South African market.

Bucket Tech: Apple Event 2025

This years Apple Event saw a host of products being launched, none more anticipated than the new iPhone 17. The model line up for their new device range has expanded which now includes a super slim iPhone 17 Air. The event drew much fan fair to see what new exciting developments have happened at Apple Park since last year, and while the new products are getting much attention since their release, many tech experts weren't that impressed with what was showcased. The iPhone 17 features Apples new A19 processor which is built on a 3nm process, it's faster and more efficient than the A18 with improved CPU/GPU performance for tasks like AI and gaming. The Pro models will feature the A19 Pro variant that is custom made for complex tasks that users might be using those devices for. Screen sizes start from 6,3-inches and features Pro-Motion, the unibodies are made from aluminium which assists in keeping the device cool. 

iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 screen has been enlarged to 6.3-inch 120Hz ProMotion display which gives you better clarity and refresh rate. This will greatly improve gaming and watching high resolution videos on the device. The brightness has also been enhance with the screen now giving 3000 nits in peak brightness. Battery life has been improved with the device giving you an additional 8 hours vs the iPhone 16 for video playback, with the fast charge, you can charge your device from 0% to 50% in just 20 minutes. The Dual Fusion camera eco-system features a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera, thats 13mm focal length with hybrid focus pixels, it also has a 12MP 1 x Macro lens with 26mm focal length. 

iPhone 17 Air

The first of its kind ,Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm and 165 grams, featuring a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion and Ceramic Shield 2 for durability. Powered by the A19 Pro chip, it offers pro-level performance and all-day battery life. It has a single 48MP Fusion Main camera with 2x Telephoto, an 18MP Center Stage front camera, and supports Apple Intelligence tools like Clean Up. Available in four colors—space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue—it uses a titanium frame, eSIM-only connectivity, and a C1 modem. 

iPhone 17 Pro

The 17 Pro where the business sector would be focused on, it features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion and Ceramic Shield 2. Powered by the A19 Pro chip, it delivers top-tier performance and efficiency. It includes a triple-camera system: 48MP Fusion Main, 48MP Ultra Wide, and 5x Telephoto, with advanced Apple Intelligence features like Clean Up. Constructed with a titanium frame, it supports eSIM-only connectivity and the C1 modem. Available in four colors—space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue—it offers all-day battery life.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

The range topping iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion and Ceramic Shield 2 for enhanced durability. Powered by the A19 Pro chip, it offers exceptional performance and efficiency. The triple-camera system includes a 48MP Fusion Main, 48MP Ultra Wide, and 5x Telephoto, enhanced by Apple Intelligence features like Clean Up. Built with a titanium frame, it supports eSIM-only connectivity and the C1 modem. Available in space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue, it provides all-day battery life. 

Bucket Tech: Google Gemini

 

AI has been slowly creeping its way into almost everything over the past 2 years, it came in relatively unannounced with tech companies using AI to assist with some of the most minute applications but slowly it began to grow even more, AI became more than something on your smart phone to help you take better pictures, soon with applications like Chat GPT, you were able to get AI to write you letters, essays, heck, it can even write this post you're reading but rest assured, this one is coming straight from that grey matter in my head. Yes, AI is here to assist you, at the end of the day, AI can only do so much because its an ever evolving technology that feeds from information you give it. Apple recently at their event went through the various features their OS has with AI, by the way, they call it Apple Intelligence and not the global norm which is Artificial Intelligence. But Apple being Apple can do shit like that and the world will still be amazed. This however riled up the Android boys hence last night, Google decided to drop Gemini, their AI assistant that is available to use on all Android devices. Gemini is deeply integrated into Android and runs at its core, with the rest of the operating system being built around it, this they say will "redefine what phones can do". 

Yes, we've always had the interactive functions of "voice command" from Google before, but with Gemini it's become more streamlined and has a lot more functionality than before. With "Okay Google" command prompt it limited you to app based questions, while with Gemini, the command prompt is changed to a simple "Hello" and then you can ask it pretty much anything you want? What is great as per the above video, it can run through multiple apps to give you an answer with solutions and show you how to do it. For example, an email was sent to you to meet a person at a certain location at a certain time, the user asked Gemini for the info, it searched through Gmail for the specific email, found the time and location, opened Google Maps and told her how long it will take for her to get their with traffic information. This new personal assistant feature comes really handy for people on the go, to schedule appoints and reminders. 

As always, the big question comes about security, with so much information being fed into the Gemini, how sure are you that what you're telling it wont reach into the hands of those of others. Google says with its end-to-end approach to AI privacy on Android, all your personal information is secured. Google is using cutting-edge privacy technologies like Private Compute Core and federated learning to ensure the assistant experience with Gemini on Android is aligned with their existing Secure AI framework, AI Principles and Privacy Principles. They maintain they do no hand off to a third-party AI provider and everything on their ecosystem is in house. 

With Android global footprint on various devices, Gemini is the most widely available AI assistant, with this in mind, it supported in 45 languages in more than 200 countries and territories and its an ever growing platform with these figures only going to grow. Whether you're using Gemini on Pixel devices or Samsung devices, each brand has customized Gemini in various ways  to make it more comfortable for their user to experience.  Some stand out features will feature throughout the Android ecosystem like Samsung's "Circle to Search" is available on Gemini now and this is only the beginning. 

Bucket Tech: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Series

Apple fanboys worldwide were glued to the Apple Event 2023 live stream last night and with good reason. Every year in September, the global tech giant showcases their latest products at this exhibition which is streamed world over, it's an optimal time as it gives the consumer enough time to save up for them as Christmas gifts. That is how well thought out these events are by Apple and probably why they remain not only in the forefront of sales globally but also innovation and marketing. Last nights event saw the the official unveiling of multiple products including the new all new Apple Watch Series 9 which features a new CPU and other good features, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the introduction of the iPhone 15 series which has two models, the normal iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus. The last devices two be released were the iPhone Pro series which we will take a closer look at in today's post. After purchasing my first Pro Max device last year, I can see what makes these phones so special and while there isn't a significant shift in user experience from Android to iOS, at the end of the day the consumer wants phones to work when they need it to work and that is what Apple does so well. 

So lets talk about build quality, Apple states the new Pro Series is the toughest and lightest ones yet, made from grade 5 titanium enclosure, it has a higher tensile strength than regular titanium, the same stuff they make spacecraft with, it is machined to its size and shape with a special PVD coating for the colours, which are Black, White, Blue and Natural Titanium. The overall dimensions of the iPhone Pro and Pro Max have been reduced thanks to this new titanium shell but the screen sizes remain the same, making the iPhone 15 Pro Series having the thinnest borders for an iPhone. The Pro screen measures in at 6.1-inch with the Pro Max having a 6.7-inch display. Both XDR touch screen display feature a toughened glass with an added layer of protection coming from the Ceramic coating which is only available on iPhone devices. 

A key design feature on the iPhone 15 Pro sees a change in the ring/ silent switch which is now and action button that can be customizable by the user that can trigger just about anything, from voice recorder, camera or your favourite application. It still remains a ring/ silent switch by means of pressing and holding the button which will give you a haptic feedback when each mode is engaged. It's designed to give the user more convenience and enhance the iPhone usability. Any action will give you visual alerts via the dynamic island which proved to be a hit on the previous model. The dynamic island now offers the user more than before, with added information by expanding the island when required. The iPhone 15 Pro now has an always one display with the screen going into a standby mode when placed horizontally, displaying the date, time like an alarm clock display or customize it with other widgets. 

iPhone 15 Pro features a brand new A17 Pro chip which is new from the ground up, its made by a new generation silicon development by Apple, with changes to the entire chip including a breakthrough new GPU. Apple have developed new transistor technology making the A17 Pro the first 3 nanometer chip. With the chip featuring 19 Billion of these transistors, this all results in an improved performance, efficiency and features on the iPhone 15 Pro. This chip also enhances viewing experiences on streaming services, pro motion on video mode and transfer speeds on the new USB C port, yes, Apple has finally done away with their lighting cable port and have adapted the USB C port. With the A17 Pro chip it has a special coding that allows transfers up to 10GB per second, using a USB 3 cable which makes it 20x faster transfer speeds. 

The iPhone 15 Pro series retains the triple lens ecosystem, with the primary camera being new improved 48MP main camera with 24mm focal length. This makes for more breathtaking pictures that captures more detail at a higher resolution, the new light sensor means more bespoke bokeh pictures with with even more detail than before. The 12MP Telephoto lens available on the 15 Pro Max has a focal length of up to 120mm by a tetra prism design with new focus stablizer that gives you 5x Optical zoom which allows you to capture objects far away with much more precision and a lot more detail. The 12MP Ultra Wide camera  is improved with new anti reflector coating, better night mode and better Macro mode. The video mode on the iPhone 15 Pro will appeal to videographers  as it can record Pro raw in 4K at 60 fps and save directly to an external drive via the USB C port. The iPhone 15 Pro series is looking the deal with these new dynamic changes and improvements with the pricing released for pre-orders in the USA being almost identical to that of the 14 Pro Series, added to that Apples trade-in policies, it looks like a bargain for those in the US. Us in South Africa have to wait a bit to find out what sort of loan we have to take out to pre-order one of these but if they keep the pricing aligned to the US market, it shouldn't be too far off from what we were paying for the iPhone 14. 

Update: iStore has announced that pre-orders for the iPhone 15 can be placed from the 22nd of September with orders availability from the 29th of September. 

Bucket Tech: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Last nights Apple event saw the companies introduction to the new iPhone 14 family. Like always, Apple's events were very hyped up and were not short of excitement for the unveiling of their new products. While there were many which included the mobile devices, new airpods and watches, there was one particular thing I was most interested in, that was the Pro Max version of the iPhone 14. I recently purchased my first iPhone, the 13 Pro Max and with my short period with the device, I can instantly see what it has been such a hit with many over the years. While there is some short comings when moving over from Android, it's nothing that is too much of a bother and there is always a work around, even though it sometimes is a bit more complicated than it should be but other than that, usability is very easy and there wasn't even a transition period and the interface is so similar, that it was almost seamless. Anyway, enough about my experiences with my device, lets take a look at the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.

While Apple did launch a standard iPhone 14 as well as the Pro, the Pro Max is the one that has everyone talking. Bringing in a host of new features and tech which includes satellite calling and texting! Yes, in areas with no connectivity, you can make satellite calls or texts from your iPhone 14 Pro Max, this is thanks to a smart new antenna that they've developed over the years that fits into the unibody of the device and enables you to contact first responders during emergencies. It's a massive leap in terms of satellite calling tech, with regards to the texting, they have created a new algorithm that makes messages samll enough to send via the network. Apple say they've developed a special software to show users where to point their phones to maintain a connection. The service will be free for two years with the iPhone 14 starting in the US and Canada. 

The iPhone 14 Pro Max display remains the same size as the 13 Pro Max measuring in at 6.7" and has Ceramic Shield which is tougher than any smartphone glass and is water resistant. One of the key new design elements is the removal of the notch and the addition of the "Dynamic Island" display which see's the front facing camera, and other sensors move into a floating island at the top of the screen. This then transforms as you use the device to display incoming messages, music that you're listening too, notifications, Siri commands and so much more. The device has always-on display and has a refresh rate of 120Hz. The iPhone 14 Pro Max features the new A16 Bionic chip, the company\s first 4nm based chip which they claim is generations ahead of their competitors and up to 40% faster than the competition. The neural core and memory bandwidth have also been radically improved, enhancing image and video captures and bumping up gaming performance. 

Camera game on the iPhone 14 Pro Max has been elevated to the Max, with it having a triple lens system that has a 48MP main camera with quad-pixel sensor, that can take uncompressed ProRAW imagines with greater detail and colours. It has a 12MP Ultra Wide camera for sharper, brighter macros shots and 120 degree field of view and a Telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and up to 2x better low-light photos. Videos on iPhones are always amazing and that doesn't change with the iPhone 14 with it now features "Action Mode" which improves stabilisation when recording. 

Battery life has also been upgraded in the iPhone 14 Pro Max with Apple claiming an all in, all day battery life that can give you up to 29 hours video playback! It also features a MagSafe charger for faster wireless charging. The iPhone 14 Pro Max will also be the first Apple device to do away with sim trays as its adopting eSIM, not sure if this will be the case for local models as well but we will have to wait and see. 

The iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available for shipping from the 16th of September with the pricing coming in at $1,099. Local pricing and availability is still yet to be confirmed. 

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: Digital Migration in Africa

We've been hearing about it for over decade now, South Africa was poised to migrate to digital broadcasting since the early 2000's but it never materialized due to a number of setbacks but are we finally on the cusp of digital migration? It's already being rolled out in certain parts of Africa and has shown to have loads of benefits but what is the difference and how will it impact us? Samsung have given a brief summary of what digital migration is and how it will impact the space we're in. 

Shifting to a digital format offers a number of advantages, including improved reception quality, expanded channel options and the ability to add enhanced applications like video-on-demand. Additionally, once TV broadcasting switches to digital, the freed-up spectrum can be used for wireless applications, like those required for 5G for smartphones, that could contribute to broader economic growth. Then there are the added advantages of maximising the potential of pioneering technology like Samsung's 8K QLED. 

The OLED range offers crystal clear TV and a host of incredible benefits to viewers. This includes more screen size options, stunning picture quality enhancements, dazzling colours from every angle, exciting new design elements and it provides even more entertainment options. It does this by offering a new iTunes Movies and TV Shows app and supports Apple AirPlay 2. 

The shift to digital will unlock even more potential from both 4K and 8K technology. 8K QLED can upscale current content to a level closer to 8K. However, digital migration will allow for the creation and viewing of content that even more matches the tech that goes into the breath-taking QLED range. It's therefore important that digital migration is still on the agenda for most African countries. The continent has 54 countries and each presents broadcasters with unique challenges in the shift from analogue to digital signals. 

When it does, pioneering advancements in mobile technology, as well as pioneering products like Samsung QLED, will capture our imagination even more so. 

Bucket Seat: KIA Cerato - First Impressions

The compact sedan market is hotting up as the luxury sedan segment pricing seems to be rocketing up, consumers, especially the middle class earners are looking for affordable family vehicles but also should look good and have most of the bells and whistles that you would expect from a compact sedan. For years Toyota have dominated this aspect in the market with their Corolla, and to this day remains one of the best selling vehicles in its class, worldwide! But over the recent years, the Korean's have come to the fight and they got the weapons to match. A little over 10 years ago I watched an interview and interview of the President of Toyota, of which he was asked if he fears the competition from VW, and he replied, no, its the Korean car-makers which he worries about .Fast forward to present day, and you will see what he was talking about. The likes of Hyundai and KIA have stormed the market with their variety of vehicles and exceptional service and guarantees. 

This week saw KIA launch their 3rd generation Cerato sedan, a car which has done reasonably well in SA, well not so much the actual sedan but rather the variants with the hatch and Koup being the popular ones from the line-up. Not sure what the reason for that was, maybe the styling? If that was indeed the case, then this new Cerato shouldn't have the same problem as it looks great! Unlike the Rio and Picanto we tested last year, the design of the front is more on the lines of the new Sportage with a similar angled grille and elongated headlamps. The rear ties in quite nicely with the car as well and also similar to the Sportage rear with the straight-line tailgate linking the both rear lights. From the pictures, it looks like they're LED lights as well. 

Moving on to the interior, it is very similar to the Rio, slightly more spacious though. Interesting to note is that it comes standard with the 8" touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as this was an optional extra or model dependent in the Rio and Picanto, it however for the US market, I'm hoping it also applies to the local market. I did mention in my review of either car that it is a must as it integrates so well with your smart phone, from navigation, to phone calls, it even reads out sms's and whatsapp messages to you. The Cerato has some nice options for the interior, like a wireless charging tray and a 320-watt sound system that has been developed with Harman Kardon! I'm liking this car already. In terms of safety, the car comes with the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) which is offered in many of the other premium models and now is featured in the Cerato. It has blind-spot collision warning, lane keeping assist, it also comes with forward collision avoidance assist and smart cruise control which maintains a specific distance to the car in front of you. 

Performance wise, the new Cerato comes powered with a 2.0L Nu four-cylinder engine that benefits from Atkinson Cycle technology and cooled EGR system. They have eliminated the CVT transmission and developed the IVT with adaptive style shift logic with a chain-type belt instead of a push belt, which is a first in the compact class.They have also reduced engine noise by wrapping the transmission case in a sound-insulated cover to help minimise the "drone" associated with this technology. The engine pushes out the same figures as the current Cerato, with 110kW and 179Nm of torque but efficiency levels have been bettered with an approximate 6.7L/100km. KIA's have some of the best Eco figures from the host of cars I've test so I can only imagine this must be just as good. 

Overall this looks like a very exciting new addition to the compact sedan market, certainly has a more premium feel to it than its competitors. While the battle for the top spot may be dominated by Toyota with its Corolla, Hyundai's Elantra might have some good competition with the Cerato for the battle of second place.

love this cheeky little advert from KIA comparing the Cerato to the Aventador 

Bucket Tech: iPhone X - First Impressions

The lead up to this week's Apple Event was all about the new iPhone, with the current available model on the market being the 7, in natural Apple progression, the next model to be released would be the 7s but with the 10 year anniversary of the iPhone being this year many in the know said that Apple would skip the S model and unveil the 8. They were bang on the money with that prediction but in true Steve Jobs fashion, Tim Cook and Apple had "One More Thing" up his sleeve for the night... the iPhone X.

Now I know many, when I say many I mean people other than fans of Apple, might be thinking what is this all about? Well, essentially the iPhone X is the iPhone 10, it pays tribute to 10 years of iPhone and it is the baddest one they've made to date. I mean I normally am a bit skeptical of the products they make, sure they're built well, work well but it's more often over hyped and more likely to cost you an arm and both legs. I'm pretty sure the same could be said about the X but the technology being showcased in this phone is great. Fair enough most Android phones have had these features for a while now and when the iPhone 7 was launched I spoke about how we were so used to Apple coming up with these great features but now it's time for them to play catch and that isn't always a bad thing. Sure the technology is out there but with anything, there will be problems, so if someone has invented it, you can borrow and perfect it. I'm pretty sure that is what Tim and his staff did. Lets take a look at some of the key features into this ultimate iPhone.

First thing that strikes you is the display, in previous generations of the iPhone, the displays always have had borders around them and the standard home key which doubled as a finger print reader. Well with the iPhone X, that got tossed out. The entire front of the device is a screen, yip, with a minimalistic frame which houses the 5.8inch super retina display, only a small portion at the top houses some sophisticated tech which includes sensors, a front facing camera and face ID technology. I know what you're thinking, what does it need face ID recognition for? Well remember how I said they phased out the home button, that button also served as a finger print reader for the phone, now with this gone, the iPhone X uses face recognition software to unlock your phone! Now while there have been many memes that's done the rounds making fun of this feature, you got to admit, that is pretty cool. 

Lets talk about the build quality now, I think we can all agree that the iPhones are made pretty well. Can't say the same about the screens but overall when you hold an iPhone is feels like a well made device, not some cheap tacky mobile you bought from a dodgy corner shop. The iPhone X will be manufactured with surgical stainless steel, yes normal steel just wasn't good enough, that they using a high grade class steel to made this device. Here's the kicker though, both the front and the back of the phone will have "durable" glass on the front and the back. Not sure they're going to be using Corningware Gorilla Glass for this or they've developed their own but for the sake of prospective buyers, I hope it's pretty strong stuff. The glass front and back does give the device a super premium look if I could say so oh and the iPhone X will be dust and splash proof, just in case you spill some Apple juice on it. 

Now the most important feature on an iPhone, the camera! The iPhone X like the 7 and 8 will have a dual lens camera configuration but Apple wanted to make it different and rotated the lens, how this helps, I don't really know but long as it takes awesome pictures of food, sunsets and craft beer right? The camera is a larger and faster 12MP sensor. A new colour filter with deeper pixels and new telephoto camera with OIS. It has depth-sensing cameras and precise facial mapping creating striking studio quality lighting effects. Both rear cameras have optical image stabilization and fast lenses for outstanding photos and videos even in low light. With the wide angle and telephoto cameras on the device, this enables optical zoom as well as digital zoom of up to 10 x for photos and 6 x for videos. 

Overall this phone looks the business and really outshone the iPhone 8 which was also launched on the same night, was that a stupid move from Apple though? Killing off their own product with another one of theirs? Well yes and no, the iPhone X is a special device, so it will have a special price tag. It also has the fastest chipset and CPU than any other of their devices so it really depends on what the consumer needs and how much they can afford. Pricing has only been made available in dollars which is pretty useless to us because simply converting it won't give us a true indication of how much the phone will cost us. We will just have to wait and see along with when it will reach our shores. 

Bucket Seat: KIA Rio 1.4 TEC

I won't lie, I'm pretty lucky that I get to drive some amazing cars from top class manufacturers. More often than not, the cars I drive I can't really afford and its always those expensive ones that get you excited but there comes a time when I get a car, knowing that it's in my price range of what I could buy and it just blows my mind, the new KIA Rio did just that. The Korean car market has really come around in leaps and bound, not only proving to be a major competitor to the Japanese market but impacting the global market on a large scale. KIA is one of the manufacturers that has contributed to this success and when you look at their products, you can understand why. Not only are they making cars that can rival the opposition on pricing but also technology, style and quality. After driving the new Rio for 7 days, it was a bitter sweet moment giving it back as I really got attached to the car and this is how it went down. 

STYLE

KIA Motors chief designer, Peter Schreyer who is also one of three presidents of the company has really set the right design language for the brand. While the previous generation Rio was pretty good, the new look is more Euro-centric, by means of clean lines, more square edges and trims but overall very professional looking. The ex Audi design chief has incorporated some of the styling from the German manufacturer in KIA's interior design but added it's own flair to it. The car has new LED headlamps which pronounce the cars front end as well as the LED rear lights add lovely detail to the back of the car. The 1.4 TEC model which I had came with a few extras that really enhanced the car, for starters it had 17" rims, glass sunroof and large touch screen infotainment screen which also had Apply Car Play and Google Android Auto but more about that later. The interior design is very sleek with some similarities to the previous model, many will recognize some of the switched and dials from the old Rio but it still looks great. 

PERFORMANCE

The KIA Rio comes in two engine variants, a 1.2 and 1.4 both of which are available in manual or automatic transmission. Both engines are in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve Double OverHead Cam with CVVT which basically mean you have two separate camshafts, one for intake valves and one for exhaust valves. This coupled with the CVVT design reduces valvetrain inertia which leads to a more responsive output. Some figures from the engine is that  pushes out 74kW and has a Max Torque of 135Nm. For a hatch it size, it is adequate power but on lower gears I did find the engine to be a bit tame. It only really opens up between 4th and 6th. This goes to show with its 0-100km/h time, but one has to realise, while it does look rather smart, this isn't a hot hatch so if it's performance you're after, look elsewhere as this car does everything perfectly apart from that. Another major plus side to that is the economy, I swear I thought this was a diesel at the end of my 7 days, I couldn't fathom how a tiny car like this with me pushing the limits hardly drank fuel. I managed to rack up just over 600km's with it and it still had a range of 100km! remarkable. 

COMFORT

I spoke early about the Audi influence in KIA's design philosophy, while their are similarities I'm sure the brand would like to say they've created their own. The KIA Rio was extremely comfortable, the ride quality is unbelievably soft even with the large rims, For a hatch, I found that very surprising but pleasing at the same time. The car came with leather seats, which were pretty good quality as well. It wasn't that stiff leather that normally makes it hard to slide in and out. Space wise, even though it is a relatively small car, it was rather spacious, even for the rear passengers. The boot space was more than adequate for a smell weekend away. The climate control aircon ensured the cabin stayed at a comfortable temperature. 

TECHNOLOGY

As mentioned before in this post, the car came with built-in Apply Car Play and Google Android Auto. This is relatively new to South African motorists and for me, is the future of in car connectivity. When I say it's relatively new, while Apple Car Play is available for iPhone users, Google is yet to make Android Auto available for the local market, since I am an Android user, I found a loophole to get the app installed onto my device, it wasn't rocket science and in no time I was all set. No idea why but with these services, it requires your phone to be plugged into the USB port, even though the car has Bluetooth connectivity. With Android Auto, the infotainment screen came alive, first thing it does is disables your phones screen so everything you want is available on the cars display, from Maps, to contacts, calls and music! What's even better, Googles voice activated menu is active at all times so you don't have to fiddle around pressing buttons or selecting menus, you can control virtually everything by just talking to the car! It really is the future of in-car entertainment and information, I hope to see other manufacturers make use of this in the future. 

VERDICT

I get to drive some pretty cool cars, pretty expensive ones too but I didn't expect a car of this level to wow me as it did. Yes, it wasn't the fastest but in today's pace and roads cluttered with traffic, who has the time or space to go fast? The new Rio has everything you need in a car and with it being up to date with most of the tech which included reverse came and easy to use cellphone connectivity with Car Play and Android Auto, there isn't much one needs more in that space. The car is comfortable, a great city car and can be equally great for the open road. This honestly is the best car I've driven all year, it's price fits my pocket, it has everything I need and it looks great! 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.4 litre, 4 cylinder, DOHC CVVT
Gear Box	6 speed manual
Power	74kW
Torque	130Nm
Top Speed	176km/h
0-100km	13.2  seconds
Price	R 274,995*

*Excluding Extras