Bucket Tech: Hisense Launches New MiniLED TV

Hisense, a world-renowned consumer electronics brand, has officially unveiled two new MiniLED TV models in South Africa, the E8S Series and U6S Series. Available at Game and Makro from 1 June, these premium audio-visual models cater to performance enthusiasts and family-orientated users, respectively. They deliver immersive high-end viewing experiences and redefine the standards of living room entertainment across South African households.

Strategically Positioned Dual Flagships for Diverse Lifestyles

Living rooms in South Africa serve varied leisure purposes. Sports fans cheer fervently for goals, while families relish cosy movie moments together. Designed to satisfy diverse lifestyle demands, Hisense E8S and U6S Series bring every personal passion vividly onto the screen.

Hisense E8S Series: Performance Flagship Built for Sports and Gaming Thrills

Tailored for users pursuing supreme fluidity and immersion, the E8S Series is an ideal pick for sports lovers and hardcore gamers. Equipped with native 144Hz high refresh rate MiniLED panel, Hisense Hi-View AI Picture Engine and AMD FreeSync Premium technology, it delivers sharp, smear-free visuals. Fast-paced football matches, high-speed racing games and thrilling action sequences showcase intricate dynamic details, creating a lifelike on-site viewing feel.

With Hisense serving as the Official VAR Display Provider for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the brand’s latest MiniLED lineup reflects the same commitment to precision, clarity and high-performance visual technology trusted at the highest level of global football. As anticipation builds ahead of the tournament, the E8S Series is designed to bring that same stadium energy into South African homes, allowing fans to experience every tackle, replay and match-defining moment with exceptional realism.

Boasting a Devialet-tuned built-in subwoofer, the TV produces layered, immersive sound. Crowd roars, engine rumbles and dramatic movie sound effects can be enjoyed at home, creating a private cinema and gaming haven. Available in sizes from 55-inch to 85-inch, it fits compact apartment lounges and spacious home theatres alike, turning every match viewing and gaming session into a stunning sensory treat.

Hisense U6S Series: Premium Flagship for Daily Family Entertainment

Focused on everyday family leisure scenarios, the U6S Series brings warmth and refinement to household life with exquisite picture quality, immersive sound and user-friendly design. Powered by MiniLED backlight technology and Hi-View AI Picture Engine, coupled with Filmmaker Mode, it faithfully restores original cinematic visuals. Heartwarming dramas, vibrant animations and stunning natural documentaries display authentic colour gradation, offering comfortable eye-friendly viewing for all family members.

Also fitted with a Devialet-calibrated built-in subwoofer, it reproduces rich, pleasant sound for music and daily conversations. With size options ranging from 55-inch to 75-inch, it suits most South African living spaces. It enables relaxing premium enjoyment during family movie nights and casual leisure time.

Based on local consumption habits and daily demands, Hisense highlights three core advantages to address user needs:

Ultra-smooth Visuals Redefine Sports and Gaming Experience

As South African audiences gear up for a packed sporting calendar, including the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026™, demand for immersive, stadium-quality home viewing experiences continues to grow. The 144Hz high refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium technology eliminate blurriness and ghosting on fast-moving footage, delivering stadium-grade viewing experience at home. For console gamers, low-latency and ultra-smooth visuals ensure instant response, boosting immersion and making E8S a top choice among young users.

Professional Audio-visual Performance Builds Shared Family Leisure Space

Both models adopt Devialet professional sound tuning and Hisense Hi-View AI Picture Engine, achieving outstanding sound and image performance. Whether for family movie gatherings or weekend music parties, superb audio and visuals transform the living room into a shared entertainment hub, perfectly matching local families’ fondness for reunion and shared fun.

Intelligent Eye Protection Adapts to All Household Scenarios

Both TVs come with AI ambient light-sensing technology, AI RGB sensor for E8S and standard AI sensor for U6S. The screen automatically adjusts brightness and colour temperature according to surrounding light conditions. It ensures comfortable viewing under bright daylight and dim night surroundings, relieving eye strain and protecting family eyesight during daily use.

The launch of Hisense E8S and U6S Series further completes the brand’s high-end television layout in South Africa. With distinctive positioning, the two products meet demands spanning extreme performance and daily home use, allowing local consumers of varied lifestyles to find their ideal premium MiniLED TV. Going forward, Hisense will stay user-centric, roll out more innovative electronic products and help local families enjoy upgraded smart living experiences.

As South Africans gear up for the excitement and anticipation surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Hisense is helping bring the spirit of the tournament closer to home through next-generation viewing experiences designed for modern sports fans. As the Official VAR Display Provider for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Hisense continues to showcase the same precision, clarity and performance trusted at the highest level of global football, allowing local consumers to enjoy every moment of the game with immersive stadium-quality visuals from the comfort of their living rooms.

Bucket Tech: WD Storage Solutions

Western Digital announced it has released several new Flash storage solutions to help pros and consumers get ready for the holidays. Whether looking for the perfect gift, or planning a new venture in the New Year, the innovative products from its award-winning SanDisk® and WD_BLACK™ brands reach new levels of speed, reliability, and capacity, serving a diverse set of digital storage needs.

High Performance, Super Capacity Portable SSDs

The expanded SanDisk portfolio of portable SSDs includes two offerings that feature next-generation SSD speeds and help defy the limits of durability. The new drives are perfect for pros or creators and anyone else who needs to store large amounts of data on the go in the toughest of climates:

SanDisk Extreme PRO® with USB4® high-performance portable SSD - As one of the first portable SSDs in the market to feature a USB4 interface, the SanDisk Extreme PRO® with USB4® is great for pros who need exceptional speed and performance. It has lightning-fast USB4 connectivity with speeds up to 3,800 MB/s read and up to 3,700 MB/s write, providing users with incredibly fast file transfers that keep workflows moving, instant access to content, and smooth 3D rendering. The drive features a rugged silicone shell and forged aluminum chassis to help protect data from everyday wear and tear, allowing users to seamlessly access files without compromising reliability. Its IP65 water and dust resistant design helps withstand splashes, rain, and even spills. For those accidental drops, the SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 is drop protected up to two meters. The drive is also backwards compatible with USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 devices and supports Thunderbolt™ 4. The SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 is expected to be available in early 2025 in 2TB and 4TB.

8TB SanDisk Extreme® Portable SSD - Great for anyone creating massive files or backing up huge content libraries on the go, the 8TB SanDisk Extreme® Portable SSD is the perfect blend of speed, durability, and capacity to keep up with content demands and active lifestyles. The drive offers up to 1050MB/s read and up to 1000MB/s write speeds. The 8TB SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is now available at SanDisk.com and select retailers.

Uplevel Gaming with Higher Performance, More Storage

The purpose-built gaming line, WD_BLACK, now features two new products aimed to deliver amazing performance and capacity so gamers can play at their best:

WD_BLACK™ SN7100 NVMe™ SSD - Building on its reputation for speed, WD_BLACK is introducing a new high-performance PCIe® Gen 4x4 DRAMless NVMe SSD that is perfectly suited to help mainstream gamers take full advantage of today’s highly visual and immersive games that continue to grow in file size. Built with Western Digital’s latest TLC 3D NAND, this new SSD delivers speeds up to 7,250MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write  (1-2TB models), providing up to a 35% performance boost over our previous generation SSD. For mainstream gamers who are looking for more capacity, the WD_BLACK™ SN7100 NVMe™ SSD provides massive storage options for current game libraries with space left over for new games, future updates, and downloadable content. This high-performing NVMe SSD was engineered with laptops and gaming handhelds in mind and provides up to 100% more power efficiency at maximum speed over the previous generation. It also boasts up to 1,200TBW  (2TB model) of endurance for gameplay streaming, speedrun captures, and creating with the latest game engines and for gamers who often write and delete a lot of data off of their drives. Available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities , the WD_BLACK™ SN7100 NVMe™ SSD is expected to be available for pre-order today at SanDisk.com for U.S. MSRPs ranging from $59.99 – 159.99. A 4TB model is expected to be available next year.

2TB 1 WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox® - With more games than ever exceeding 100GB, the new 2TB WD_BLACK C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox provides the space gamers need.  The WD_BLACK C50 NVMe SSD’s core delivers exceptional speeds, while its integration with Xbox features like Xbox Velocity Architecture and Quick Resume provide a truly seamless experience. It’s the fast and easy way to give the Xbox Series X|S a big capacity boost and keep more titles installed. Just plug this officially licensed card directly into the console for similar performance as Xbox internal storage. The drive also includes one month of Game Pass Ultimate and one month of Discord Nitro. The 2TB WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox retails for U.S. MSRP $199.99 and is available now at SanDisk.com and select retailers.

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: Igniting the future of South African gaming

PC gaming has become a beloved pastime for many South Africans, with the ability to access a vast library of popular AAA-classified titles. However, the growing demand for complex, graphically-intensive games has presented new challenges for local gamers. As game install sizes continue to balloon, sometimes exceeding 200GB, players are faced with issues like lengthy boot times, slow load speeds, and performance bottlenecks during multiplayer sessions.

The Growing Demand for Complex Games

The growing demand for complex games in South Africa mirrors global trends.. With each update, more features such as 4K textures, complex graphics, and audio are added, thereby increasing the size of the game, which will further adversely impact the load time. To address this problem, investing in a reliable and high-performing storage device is essential to enhance the gaming experience. Popular operating systems may require 20 GB of space, but when you download as many as three to four AAA-classified games, the storage capacity must be increased.  This is where the solid-state drive (SSD) storage devices plays a crucial role.

The Benefits of SSD Storage

An SSD provides smooth gameplay, especially for South African gamers who enjoy complex titles. Many such games perform a large number of tiny read and write operations during gameplay, which usually result in hundreds of megabytes of data transfer. While upgrading to an SSD may not increase frames per second (FPS), it can enhance the performance of open-world titles with game engines that load new areas and textures. The larger bandwidth and low latency of SSDs help in accelerating and thereby processing the command. The latest NVMeTM technology-based SSDs, such as those offered in the WD_BLACKTM portfolio, should help to resolve these issues for gamers.

The Future of Gaming Storage

As the industry grows and the demand for complex games increases, storage devices are also evolving. For example, there is NVMeTM, which enables faster speeds on SSDs. The technology not only allows a faster installation of a game, thereby letting the gameplay begin almost instantly, but also further aids in recording. For e-sports players, recording gameplay is a vital part of the entire journey; thus, the technology makes it easier to edit videos, which can be quickly streamed.

The Rise of Professional Gaming in South Africa

The rise of professional gaming in South Africa has further underscored the importance of optimised storage. As the country's esports scene continues to grow, aspiring players are recognising the need for powerful, customisable PC setups that can handle the demands of loading, recording,  and editing gameplay. NVMeTM,-based SSDs, such as those in the WD_BLACK portfolio, are well-equipped to meet these requirements, empowering South African gamers to take their skills to the next level.

As the gaming industry evolves, storage technology must keep pace. Innovations like NVMeTM, are paving the way for a future where lightning-fast load times, seamless gameplay, and effortless content creation become the norm. By embracing these advancements, South African gamers can unlock new levels of performance and immersion, solidifying the country's position as a rising force in the global gaming landscape.

Bucket Tech: New from Lenovo

Today, Lenovo announced several new products and solutions at its annual holiday product launch. The new additions to the portfolio – which include AI-tuned innovations in gaming, a ground-breaking 3D monitor, software solutions, versatile accessories, and more – are available to explore here.

Gaming on the Go: Lenovo Legion™ Gaming Handheld Device and Accessories Untether PC Gaming

The new Lenovo Legion Go is the company’s first Windows gaming handheld device that gives gamers more freedom to game however—and wherever—they want. The Lenovo Legion Go is designed for gamers who will settle for nothing less than top-tier specs and visuals on their handheld device. Along with the new micro-OLED-equipped Lenovo Legion Glasses and new Lenovo Legion E510 7.1 RGB Gaming In-Ear Headphones, the debut of the Lenovo Legion Go is a marked expansion of the Lenovo Legion ecosystem of gaming devices, monitors, accessories, software, and services that empower gamers to immerse themselves in their games.

The new Lenovo Legion Go brings Windows PC gaming power to a handheld mobile form factor, powered by AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Series processors that bring games to life on its 8.8-inch Lenovo PureSight Gaming Display.

For gamers who want to take their Lenovo Legion Go portable gaming experience to the next level, the new Lenovo Legion Glasses leverage micro-OLED technology to provide a large screen viewing experience that fits in the pocket.

For a truly immersive gaming experience, the new Lenovo Legion E510 7.1 RGB Gaming In-Ear Headphones offer hi-res 7.1 surround sound audio with a multifunction inline controller.

The King of Cool: Lenovo Legion 9i is the World’s First AI-Tuned Gaming Laptop with an Integrated Liquid-Cooling System1

The Lenovo Legion 9i (16”, 8) is the first top-of-the-line 16-inch gaming laptop in Lenovo Legion’s ecosystem—and in the world—with a self-contained liquid-cooling system1, designed for gamers and creators with heavy graphic workflow requirements who need a full development studio in their bag. The Lenovo Legion 9i leads the Lenovo Legion line-up that also includes the Lenovo Legion Pro series for competitive gamers and the Lenovo Legion Slim series for gamers who value agility, as well as Lenovo Legion displays and peripherals. Also announced today are the Lenovo Legion 16” Gaming Backpack GB700 and GB400, two backpack options that give gamers a choice between slim and lightweight agility or extra storage without sacrificing protection for their Lenovo Legion 9i (16”, 8) or any other laptops and accessories.

Transforming Digital Workspaces: New Devices and Software Power the Future of Hybrid Work

In addition to new gaming devices, Lenovo is unveiling new cutting-edge tech tools and essentials tailored to empower the dynamic, evolving needs of today's business end-users. Its new monitor, software, and accessories are not only designed to boost the capabilities of today’s remote and hybrid workforces, but also to address significant challenges faced by businesses as they digitize operations across departments. Lenovo research shows that managing a remote workforce and global teams remain central tasks for CIOs.2 That’s why the new offerings integrate impressive processing power, immersive 3D, and advanced security to create a unified, human-centered experience.

For professional content creators who require immersive 3D visualization, the new ThinkVision™ 27 3D Monitor – a stunning 27-inch, glasses-free, 2D/3D compatible monitor – offers seamless 3D effects and real-time eye-tracking.

The new Lenovo Wired VOIP Headset and Lenovo Wired ANC Headset Gen 2 are high-quality audio solutions for professionals in hybrid work environments, include an inline call control box, active noise cancellation with the latter, and compatibility with popular conferencing platforms.

For remote work and to support sustainability efforts, the cloud-based Lenovo Device Manager will roll out enhanced new features that include a comprehensive AI-powered energy management solution that efficiently manages device fleets and optimizes power usage.

To round out the new line-up are a selection of sophisticated and comfortable carry cases, the Lenovo ThinkPad Professional 16inch Backpack Gen 2,​ and the ThinkPad Professional 16inch and 14inch Topload Gen 2.

Bucket Tech: Vertagear Gaming Chair

Vertagear is celebrating its 7th Anniversary with the special launch of its latest update products line: the Vertagear 800 Series. The new 800 Series is a bold step towards a revolutionary future of ergonomics as it aims to tackle core health and comfort-related issues plaguing the industry-standard gaming chair. The new refresh lineup is equipped with Vertagear’s ContourMax™ and VertaAir™ Seat and promises to tailor itself to each individual’s specific needs to maximize comfort and healthy posture.

Video : https://youtu.be/B7smKnfRY3E

ContourMax™ Lumbar

In a natural setting, sitting for prolonged periods would normally cause inevitable back pain for any person. However, through our breakthrough research of ergonomics, we’ve engineered a new chair design that absolves all aches. Our patent pending ContourMax™ Lumbar features a layer of memory foam that adjusts specifically to the curves and angles of any individual’s body. Four highly durable Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) modules, consisting of 64 individual responsive branches, lay beneath the foam and shift themselves according to the shape and movement of the sitter’s back, always maintaining a healthy posture.

Video: https://youtu.be/uc8T3oKNoTI

1. Proper Posture for a Healthy Back

What if you could prevent back pain before it comes an issue? We’re revolutionizing the flat design of the prototypical lumbar and turning it into a contoured innovation. Our ContourMax™ Lumbar hosts two levels of modules, with the top level positioned towards your midback and the bottom level aligned with your lower back to fully support your backbone. The ContourMax™ alleviates tension throughout by adapting to your body’s shape and movement, keeping your back in a healthy posture no matter how long you sit or jitter around. Prevention is better than treatment.

Video: https://youtu.be/xCEg1hCUfUY

2. Dynamic Lumbar and Middle Back Support

Sitting still for extended periods can cause muscle pains in your back and chest. The four TPE modules of the ContourMax™ Lumbar and their 64 responsive branches relax your muscles. In addition, the ContourMax™ Lumbar is instinctively flexible, cuing your body to shift to different positions to retain ergonomic comfort when sitting for prolonged hours. Game healthier and harder.

Video: ContourMax™ Lumbar - Dynamic Lumbar and Middle Back Support

VertaAir™ Seat

If you are struggling with tightness and discomfort from the traditional gaming chair, we understand your pain. Our patent pending VertaAir™ Seat is a fresh concept that solves the primary issues plaguing traditional chairs.

Video: https://youtu.be/6Meq25MIvBc

1. Pressure Relief for Sit Bone for a Healthy Back

A major cause of back pain is gravitational pressure not evenly distributed and released when sitting for prolonged hours. Our seat padding is inspired by Bernoulli's principle to generate aerodynamic lift that can negate gravitational pressure evenly across your back and bottom.

Our VertaAir™ Seat comes equipped with eight hexagonal air pillars. These pillars host air tunnels with 4-way air emission tunnels, emitting air in and out to provide breathability and pressure relief on your sit bones for a healthy back.

Video: https://youtu.be/3RRbV2g_54c

2. Waterfall & Wide Seat Design

No more numbness in your legs when gaming for hours. The VertaAir™ Seat is designed with a soft curvy edge for more space, distributing pressure across your thighs, knees, and lower body evenly to prevent blockage of blood circulation throughout your legs. As a bonus, the waterfall, wide seat design allows users to retain a well-balanced, comfortable posture, letting them focus on their tasks without nagging discomfort.

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: Lenovo Legion

A gaming phone? Whats this? 2002? I mean that is the last time I remember a fully fledged gaming phone being available, the Nokia N-Gage but it's 2020 and there's a lot of strange things going on this year, so here's another, a new gaming mobile phone! Lenovo have released their Legion Phone Duel which is the first 5G1 mobile gaming phone that incorporates speed and smarter features. While the thought of a phone made for gaming might seem odd, you have to look at the reality of whats going on, mobile gaming has been on the surge for the past decade, while games that gained popularity didn't require complex coding and graphics,, for example Candy Crush and Angry Birds,  it still proved to be a lucrative market for gaming companies. With the advancement in mobile phone technology over the years which saw phones getting fitted with cameras that can zoom into the moon, what was stopping them from using these superfast processors to power high graphics games? That's exactly what the folks at Lenovo thought when developing their Legion. 

Gaming on a smartphone can be very resource intensive, with this in mind ,the Lenovo Legion mobile gaming engineers and designers worked with the gaming community to prioritize their most valued product attributes Turns out, may mobile gamers agree with PC players on the must-have features, such as balanced performance, reliable stamina, incredible performance and more in the lineup of high-powered Lenovo Legion PCs earlier this year, the Lenovo Legion team was well positioned to deliver on mobile and PC gamers shared needs. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset with 16GB LPDDR5 high capacity RAM. By inventing advanced methods to better dissipate heat with dual liquid-cooling and copper tubes, plus moving the dual 2500mAh batteries off to the sides, where gamers hands would rest (vs forcing them to touch the warm logic board encasing the processor), Lenovo made the handset easier to hold while also extending game play without the feature of overheating. They even made the charging port more convenient which wont get in your way whil playing. The gull 90W Turbo Power charging has two ports from center and side ports to power up both batteries for a combined total of 5000mAh. Go from 0 to 50% power in just 10 minutes and a full charge takes 30 minutes. 

The phone is pretty stylish, features a 6.65 inch full HS AMOLED touchscreen display with 144Hz refresh rate for videos and games. The phones unibody is hexagonal shape, and available in two colours, high-octane red and cool blue. Both have programmable RGB lighting effects from the Lenovo Legions Y icon on the back of the device. The devices weighs in at 239 grams and just 9.9mm at its thickest point. The Legion features a high powered 20MP front facing camera that stays tucked inside the bezel and pops out for selfies and live streaming, it also features auto-reach drop protection, so it ducts back in when it detects the phone is falling. The main camera is a 64MP which also has a quad pixel sensor for shooting high-quality 16MP resolution photos in dark and bright conditions. Video recording can be done in HD 1080p as well as 4K at up to 30FPS. You can also self-record your voice and reactions as you play, simply wake the built-in front camera while gaming to simultaneously record and overlay your image on-screen. This featured is compatible with popular streaming apps 

The Lenovo Legion 5G is the ultimate gaming phone, offering 5G speeds capable of speeds up to 2.52 Gb/s, created especially for the gamer in mind. From the design, to the colours and functionality will have every gamer frothing at the mouth for one. It's powered by Android OS and will be available in China by the end of the month, local pricing and availability still to be confirmed.