Bucket Tech: HUAWEI nova 10 SE

Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) has announced the launch of the new eye-catching HUAWEI nova 10 SE. This new release comes with new design features such as its dual rings which decorate the module to produce a starry sheen. The smartphone's 108MP imaging system reveals a new level of detail, giving HUAWEI nova users the tools they require to capture and share life experiences at all hours.

The stylish star orbit ring and exquisite appearance

The HUAWEI nova 10 SE takes design to new heights. The smartphone comes in two bold and youthful colours: Starry Silver and Starry Black. The Starry Silver is a colour of technology and fashion which matches flawlessly with the silver rear cover, as well as the golden Star Orbit Ring and logo.

The HUAWEI nova 10 SE standout design feature being the rear cover's starry flash craft, features special gravel processing technology and a crystal-like matte surface, which produces a frosted look and feel. The anti-fingerprint (AF) coating counteracts smudges, oils and water. The surface of the HUAWEI nova SE is highly resistant against daily wear-and-tear and scratches. In addition, the HUAWEI nova 10 SE shows that less is more. With an ultra-thin design and weighing just 184 g and 7.39 mm thick, it is sure to slip into pockets or slide into palms with ease.

The 108MP high-res portrait camera to capture every last detail

The HUAWEI nova series has always drawn acclaim for its formidable mobile photography technology. Each new generation of smartphones come with significant new advances. The HUAWEI nova 10 SE continues this legacy, with its 108MP imaging system and multi-frame fusion algorithm in RAW domain to provide versatile performance across a wide range of shooting scenarios. Whether you are in a bright or poorly lit environment, indoors or outdoors or in the presence of a back or front-lit scene, rest assured that the HUAWEI nova 10 SE always excels.

The multi-frame fusion algorithm in RAW domain interacts with the phone's multi-frame noise reduction technology and high-resolution sensors to ensure that images of all types feature less image noise. Photos taken in poorly lit environments, such as night scenes, feature less image noise, optimised brightness and increased dynamic range, revealing details that may have previously gone unnoticed. The HUAWEI nova 10 SE automatically identifies backlit environments and increases contrasts to enhance the shooting experience. When HDR is enabled, portrait photos taken in backlight environments are characterized by a high level of clarity, facial expressions and vivid detail.

The robust battery Life, superb gaming and smart communications

The HUAWEI nova 10 SE comes with a new and improved battery life, gaming capabilities, entertainment features and smart communications, bringing the exhilarating experiences that today's young users expect. The HUAWEI nova 10 SE is fitted with a 4500mAh long-lasting battery and supports 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge, for industry-leading fast charging, made possible by the use of a brand-new dual low-voltage charging pump and three-tab battery technology. It takes just 38 minutes to charge the smartphone to full capacity.

A 6.67-inch OLED HUAWEI FullView display

The HUAWEI nova 10 SE comes equipped with a 6.67-inch OLED HUAWEI FullView Display that supports 10K-Level auto brightness adjustments, which calibrates screen brightness depending on the lighting conditions. The blue sub-pixels within images are minimised through cutting-edge hardware and software intervention, reducing strain on eyes at night. In addition, the HUAWEI nova 10 SE supports Always-on-Display (AOD) notifications, which means that you will still be able to view key information, such as the time and battery level even when the phone screen is off. The HUAWEI nova 10 SE also supports a P3 wide colour gamut display, presenting vivid cinematic colours with strong contrasts between light and dark light regions. Lastly, this mid-range smartphone supports a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a touch-sampling rate of up to 270 Hz, ensuring that it is highly touch-responsive, whether users are browsing the web, swiping through video, or pausing audio playback.

Bucket Tech: Oppo A53S & A15

Something new has sneaked its way into SA, that is OPPO, the Chinese mobile manufacturer. After enjoying great success in Asia, the sub continent as well as Europe and the Middle East, they've decided to launch in SA. Who is OPPO? They're  leading global smart device branch, with their first ever device launched in 2008 called the "Smiley Face". they have been relentless in the pursuit of synergy in aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today OPPO provides customers with a with a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno Series, ColorOS operating system as well as internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+.  With operations in over 40 countries and regions, 6 research institutes and 4 R&D centers worldwide as well as an international design center in London, OPPO's more than 40,000 employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world. 

OPPO are launching two new devices to the market on the 7th of November, namely the A53S and the A15. Looking at the A53S, OPPO claim that the device makes premium features accessible to more customers with their low prices and offering faster and smoother performance with speed that connects you to your entertainment needs and friends. The A53S boasts a high refresh rate 65.-inch screen which offers smooth viewing at 90Hz thanks to a Neo-Display with AI brightness that rivals flagship phones. The 3D-curved Iridescent Wave Design hides a beefy 5000mAh battery that can be quickly charged with its 18W Fast Charge. The A53S has imbedded in its system a Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core 460 processor and OPPO's first RAM+ Memory Optimization is tailored to enhance the Google-powered Android experience for all-round performance. The A53S has 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB if UFS 2.1 storage which can be expanded to 256GB through a 3-Card Slot. Camera wise, the A53S has a 13MP AI Triple Camera on the rear which includes a 2MP macro camera. It has an array of stylish camera features which include Portrait Bokeh, Dazzle Color Mode and more than a dozen filters to add a dash of flair to your daily pictures and videos. The front facing camera is 16MP with AI beautification that automatically adjusts your skin tone to look natural and bright even in a dim environment. OPPO A53S has a built-in finger print sensor on the back for added security. 

The OPPO A15 also launches boasting a massive 6.52-inch screen and AI Triple Camera. OPPO South Africa's Head of GTM Operations, Liam Faurie says they are glad to introduce the A15 which offers the essential features users need to satisfy their mobile lifestyle, that can take great photos with the AI Triple Camera and enjoy the HD+ display on the 6.52-inch big screen, all while enabling you to stay connected with your friends and family. The big 6.52-inch waterdrop screen with a large 89% screen-to-body ration will have you fully immersed in your games or videos with a resolution of 1600 x 720. This ensures that every on-screen detail can be viewed with clarity and also includes features that ensure the comfort of your eyes with Eye Comfort Filters which effectively filter out harmful blue light and alleviate eye strain. The A15 sports a 4239mAh battery which gives you great battery life. The device is powered by a MediaTek Helio P35 octa-core processor with 32GB storage, 2GB of RAM and extendable memory up to 256GB. The 13MP main camera with a 2MP Macro Lens which can take close-up shots as close as 4cm. The 2MP Depth Camera adds natural bokeh effect to the background. 

Pricing

OPPO A53S: R4,999 or R299pm on a 24-motnh contract at Vodacom

OPPO A15: R2,999 or R199pm on a 24-month contract at Vodacom

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 Y5p

With the "new norm" now being in full effect with everyone adjusting to working from home, and doing things differently, technology has played a big part in making this transition less problematic than normal. This unfortunately comes at a price, a high one most of the time but in the effort to get everyone being able to access such, Huawei has continued to its commitment of making technology more accessible to everyone with the launch of their Y5p, the most affordable phone yet. The new entry level device stems from the Y Series range has been designed to offer a large display, long-lasting battery and a good amount of storage for users. It has Huawei's EMUI's intuitive user experience, Huawei's high-quality product DNA, and their affordable pricing, the Huawei Y Series smartphones have been widely favoured by consumers around the world, including South Africa. 

Some of the key featured of the Y5p is the large 5.45  inch LCD FullView Display gives exceptional viewing experience, displays content in vibrant colours and has a screen-to-body ration of 81.2 percent. Memory wise, the Huawei Y5p comes with a standard 2GB RAM and 32GB of storage ensuring you have enough space for all your favourite apps, games and to store all the pictures and videos you will be capturing with it, speaking camera the device has an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing selfie camera. The rear main camera supports HDR mode which will automatically adjust brightness when required. The battery life of the phone is quite decent as well with it featuring a 3020mAh battery which gives you an average of 17 hours of continuous video playback, or up to 21 hours of 4G calling. 

Overall, the Huawei Y5p is one of the best entry level devices on the market, powered by MediaTek's octa-core processort that includes eight Cortex-A53 cores which poweres Huawei's AI tech on the device, this all comes together to give the user a smooth and fast performing smartphone at a fraction of the price. You can purchase the Huawei Y5p for the RRP of just R1,899 from the Huawei online store of any of their partners. 

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. 

Bucket Tech: Panasonic at CES 2018

In its centenary year, Panasonic chose to announce at CES 2018, held in Las Vegas that they have invested in a diversity of domains, including electric cars, voice assistant integrations and developments in the much-loved lifestyle appliances that have made Panasonic a household name. Panasonic South Africa's marketing managing director, Hidetoshi Kaneko believes that these investments align with Panasonic's quest to make daily life a better experience for people across the globe. "We are proud to expand our repertoire to include next-generation technology to create a better life and a better world for our consumers."

Panasonic also showcased some of its latest products, one of which they're held in great respect for. Since the dawn of the flat screen TV, Panasonic have been in the forefront of technology and quality in this industry. Their units were quite sort after since the value in their products were so great and reliability was second to none. The prices on their products were slightly steeper to competitors but it wouldn't take the consumer long to figure out why this is the case with some light research. With 4K OLED TV's now being the industry lead, Panasonic showcased its FZ950 and FZ800 series, featuring the HCX video processor and supporting HDR10+ dynamic metadata technology, as well as four new Ultra HD Blu-Ray players to maximise the leisure of any living room. Panasonic's high-end audio line, Technics, has unveiled the specs for its most premium turntable ever, which is bound to please vinyl lovers both young and old. 

Other notable products that were launched are their new line of 4K camcorders and the Lumix still camera range. CES 2018 proved to be the perfect introduction to Panasonic's future vision which will pave the way for the next 100 years and promises to be just the beginning for the appliance giant in the realm of technology and innovation.