Bucket Tech: HUAWEI nova13

The HUAWEI nova 13 and HUAWEI nova 13i are now available on Huawei’s official website and at select retailers in South Africa. The HUAWEI nova 13, available in Loden Green and Black, starts at R 12,999.00, and the HUAWEI nova 13i, available in Blue and White, starts at R 6,999.00.

Elevating Smartphone Design with the HUAWEI nova 13

The HUAWEI nova 13 makes a bold statement with its stunning aesthetics. A gorgeous new Dynamic Plaid Texture Design stands out as a blend of vertical and horizontal stripes that create a layered and modern pattern. This design shifts subtly under light, adding a dynamic and eye-catching effect. Available in the sophisticated Loden Green colourway, inspired by the high-fashion catwalks and blending seamlessly into the Huawei Fashion Forward mantra, it’s more than just a smartphone, it’s a fashion accessory.

These phones aren’t just about good looks. The nova 13 features a 60 MP Ultra-Wide Front Camera with a 100-degree field of view, ensuring everyone fits in group selfies without distortion.

The AI Best Expression feature takes group photography to the next level by intelligently analysing multiple shots captured in a camera burst. Using advanced algorithms, it identifies the best expressions for each individual in the frame, ensuring smiles are perfect, eyes are open and everyone looks their best. The result is a polished and natural final image that eliminates common issues such as awkward smiles or closed eyes, making it perfect for preserving memorable moments with family, friends or large groups. It’s like having a personal photo editor built right into your phone, delivering flawless photos effortlessly every time.

Regarding charging, the phone excels with the inclusion of the 100W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo feature, providing a 50% charge in just 10 minutes. Combined with a robust 5000mAh battery and intelligent AI Precision Temperature Control, users can enjoy long-lasting power and reliable safety, no matter how busy their day gets. Say goodbye to battery anxiety!

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: Samsung Galaxy S20FE

Not to long ago we saw the launch of Samsung Galaxy S20 range in the country but with the ever volatile exchange rate and the increase in prices over tech, Samsung have decided to launch mid-range S20 variant which offers some of the great features of the S20 but at a more affordable price for the consumer. Samsung say its the phone for people who want it all, a phone which they've heard the comments from the fans and in such created a device that leaves compromise behind, one that is tailor-made for fans of all kinds. The Galaxy S20FE is an all-rounder that is perfect for fans of photography, gaming or anything creative as it is the phone that gives you want you want, to do more of what you love. 

The S20FE comes in a stylish metal unibody and is available in 4 colours, namely Cloud Navy, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint and Cloud Red, all of which look equally good but I've got my eye on that Cloud Mint. The phone has a 6.5" Full HD screen with Infinity-O Display at 120Hz refresh rate and has bezels surrounding the flat edges, the 32MP front facing camera is hardly evident with a super small punch hole which translates for a more immersive screen that makes your gaming, streaming and video calling way more fun. 

The Galaxy S20FE has a triple camera lens that will let you get that professional no filter worthy shot with ease. It has a 12MP wide angel camera, 12MP ultra wide camera and an 8MP zoom camera with 3x optical courtesy of a telephoto lens. The lenses are perfect for low light photography as well, capable of taking crisp, clear and bright pictures with little to no light in the dark with night mode. AI also assist the user in taking their pictures to the next level with smart processing to adjust shutter and light.  

The Galaxy S20FE comes with a 4500mAh battery which is perfect for those who are constantly on their phone and ensures more than a days use. It also has intelligent power saving for when you need it most. The device is powered by the latest S20 chipset innovation from Samsung and has 6GB of RAM plus and enhanced NPU that takes performance to a new level, which assists in seamless switching from apps to app and with LTE and WiFi 6, live streams will come through clear with more than enough battery power to keep it going. The device has a built in hard drive of 128GB with the ability to store up to 1TB on microSD card. 

Samsung have a RRP for the S20 FE at R17,999