Bucket Tech: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025

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

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

Our Most Intuitive and Effortless Mobile Interactions Yet

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

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

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

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

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

Hyper-personalised Experiences with Privacy Secured

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

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

Galaxy’s Most Powerful Performance Ever

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

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

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

Unleashing Truly Pro Creation

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

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

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

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

Durable Design Embracing a More Circular Approach

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

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

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

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

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

Pricing as follows:

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

Bucket Tech: HONOR 90 Lite 5G

In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, consumers are constantly on the lookout for devices that excel in key areas such as camera quality, display performance, and storage capacity, as consumers seek devices that not only facilitate seamless connectivity, but also provide exceptional experiences.

The latest member of HONOR’s N Series, the HONOR 90 Lite 5G is a stylish all-round smartphone boasting an incredible camera system, immersive display, and a range of smart features powered by MagicOS 7.1. With a very attractive price point, retailing at R7,999, the smartphone offers excellent value for consumers who want a reliable and affordable device. Making it your absolute choice for your next smartphone upgrade.

100MP Triple Camera System, capture the beauty around with epic clarity

The pursuit of the perfect shot has led HONOR to continually push the boundaries of camera technology. Thus, HONOR introduced the HONOR 90 Lite 5G, which features a 100MP Main Camera with a f/1.9 aperture, enabling people to create colourful, high-definition photos. The amazing 100MP resolution allows users to capture even the smallest details in any complicated scene, with or without zooming in.

Additionally, the HONOR 90 Lite 5G has a 2MP Macro Camera with an f/2.4 aperture that enables users to capture enthralling up-close images of tiny objects. The HONOR 90 Lite 5G ensures users can take captivating selfies with defined and enhanced colours, with its 16MP front camera and f/2.45 aperture. The HONOR 90 Lite 5G can up the ante by automatically stitching multiple images together. Using the Collage function, users can pick several images and generate a beautiful collage based on a range of templates.

For those who love shooting videos, the HONOR 90 Lite 5G is equipped with Multi-video Recording which streamlines that process by allowing users to take a video utilising multiple modes without stopping recording. Then, using AI Instant Movie users can generate a complete video with minimal effort. By taking editing work out of the equation, HONOR 90 Lite 5G takes the hassle out of creating videos – what remains is just the sheer joy of sharing memories.

Unparalleled viewing experience with the Eye-Comfort display

Another essential aspect that consumers seek is an immersive and visually captivating display. The HONOR 90 Lite 5G allows users to view content comfortably on a large screen thanks to its 6.7-inch HONOR FullView Display with a screen-to-body ratio of 93.6%.

The TÜV Rheinland-certified Low Blue Light display features Circadian Night Display, which helps to promote healthier sleep, and Dynamic Dimming technology, which helps to alleviate eye fatigue. Perfect for those who spend long hours in front of their screen. Boasting HONOR Display Colour Calibration technology which tunes colour temperature frame by frame, the HONOR 90 Lite further elevates users’ viewing experience with true-to-life colours.

Captivating design and brilliant colours

With the HONOR 90 Lite 5G, no detail is overlooked when it comes to aesthetics. Combining sleek lines, and premium materials, this device exudes a sense of elegance and sophistication. To create a stylish look and feel, the HONOR 90 Lite features a straight-edge design with smooth rounded corners. Sharp, uncluttered lines exhibit a delicate balance between form and function, while also giving the design a touch of attitude. They also make the gadget easy to hold and secure in one's hand.

Measuring just 7.48mm thin and 179g in weight, The HONOR 90 Lite 5G is a compact device that glides into your pocket or bag with ease and fits comfortably in your hand.

The HONOR 90 Lite is available in two bold colours – Cyan Lake and Titanium Silver, all of which were inspired by the beauty of nature and designed for style–conscious users.

Exceptional performance to satisfy your experience

Bringing a smoother user experience, the HONOR 90 Lite 5G features a large 256GB storage drive and 4500mAh battery to keep users online and connected throughout the day. What’s more, the device runs the Android 13-based HONOR MagicOS 7.1 which supports Google Mobile Services (GMS) and offers smart features such as HONOR Share for speedy file transfers across devices, helping users to boost productivity, and Scan Document to automatically recognise and convert text content in photos.

For users who prioritise convenient access to their media collection, the HONOR 90 Lite 5G offers an impressive 8GB of memory and a spacious 256GB storage drive. The smartphone is also equipped with HONOR RAM Turbo (8GB+5GB), an HONOR Technology that moves a portion of flash memory RAM, meaning 8GB RAM can be increased to 13GB RAM.

Featuring a 4500mAh Super Battery, the HONOR 90 Lite 5G supports a full day of use for uninterrupted work, play and entertainment on the go. On a single charge, the smartphone delivers up to 15 hours of music streaming, 14.4 hours of video playback, 20.5 hours of short clip browsing, or 16 hours of social media exploring, keeping users online and always entertained.

 

The HONOR 90 Lite 5G is available at your nearest MTN, Telkom and Vodacom for R7,999, and comes hard bundled with the HONOR CHOICE Earbuds X5 for free.

Here's to 2018

With old age comes bad memory, unfortunately as I get older I tend to forget things too which is why every time I go out or see something interesting, I take a picture of it. Also in line with the blogging, there is a lot of pictures involved there too, so it's a good way to document my life as such and it comes in very handy on days like today, when I decided to a year in review post so I can scroll back in my photo feed and relive some of the most memorable parts of the year. 

2017 sure was an eventful year for the blog, in my personal life, it was pretty hectic as well seeing that apart from many, many, many friends of mine tying the knot, my own brother did so too. It also saw my fear of public speaking being put to bed for a bit after I had to deliver a speech at his wedding. This year also almost saw me move cities, I've never left Durban, only on holiday. The thought of leaving this city was a daunting but the prospect of a new beginning somewhere else did prove to be quite exciting but in the end it wasn't to be and I remained in Durban...not that I'm complaining. But anyway, back to the blog, I launched the blogs dedicated Instagram page, which I didn't realise at first how much hard work it would be but I enjoy the challenge, keeping people up to date on a daily basis on the ongoings of the world that represents the blog. It hasn't reached the following I expected it to, but I rather continue posting the things I do and generate an organic following instead of taking the buying follower option *side eye*.

This year saw an increase in the car reviews on the blog with some new manufacturers being introduced, one that might stand out from the rest is the Italian luxury sports car brand, infamous with their trident logo, Maserati. I drove the Maserati Ghibli in March this year, and I still struggle to find the words that would do this car justice. It was my first experience driving a supercar on my own, unsupervised, it's a terrifying but exhilrating at the same time. I was due to get another model from them but due to overlapping events, this was not possible but not to worry, we will do our best to get more of these beautiful beasts featured in 2018. Another new manufacturer introduced this year was Mazda, I've always been a big fan of this Japanese motor-manufacturer . From their new Kodo design philosophy to the great tech used in their engines. Having just tested two of their models, I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of otheres next year. 

Interms of car launches, I was fortunate enough to attend the new MINI Countryman launh as well as the new BMW 4 Series launch and most recently the new BMW X3 launch. Both fantastic vehicles and readers of the blog would have read my indepth thoughts on two o the new 4 Series variants that we had on test. I was also lucky enough to attend the launch of the all new Ford Kuga, with the unfortuante problems that faced the original model it was great to see Ford SA bounce back with an awesome product and one that offered more but was less in price that it's predesscor!

On the Tech side, we were introduced to a new cellphone manufacturer to the market, Hisense. While the brand isn't popular known for their mobile devices, we've come to learn a lot about their offerings. Huawei still remains one of the biggest growing brands in the world and we're glad we could continue bringing you the latest information on their new products, as well as attending the launch of the all new flagship smart phone device, the Mate10 Pro. The devices introduces a new era in cell phone technology with it being the first device of its kind to offer AI technology on its device, which does not require a network connection to operate! Next year we pre-empting the release of the P11 and the Mate11 so we're keen to see what new features that these have to offer.

Music whise, we didn't attend any of the noteworthy music festivals but thats not to say there were not any, just happened to be that I had weddings to attend when they were on...another *side eye*. 

Next year see's Ultra South Africa return for it's 5th year and we will be there to bring you all the happenings at the event. On the blog we've featured a great number of new songs and were introduced some great new talent in the process. A stand out for us had to be W&W aliais trance name, NWYR. After a mind blowing performance at Ultra Miami, the Dutch duo were back at Tomorrowland to wow crowds there with their great mixes and electronic beats. Most of their music is still unreleased and we hope to hear them soon. 

2017 also saw us attend a lot of events in the restaurant scene with many new places opening up in Durban. We will still be continuing this segment in the future with more awesome restaurant reviews coming up on the Bucket Scene. We haven't been reviewing much hotels of recent, due to other engagements but we hope to have the travel part up to speed next year with Tsogo Sun. On the Bucket Babe front, it had been an issue finding time to interview models with their busy schedules but we will try to improve on this in time to come. Overall, 2017 has been a rollercoaster ride for us here on the Bucket, and normally with posts like this, we tend to worry about the year that past instead of focusing on the future, hence the title of this post is "here's to 2018", as we look ahead to whatever is instore for us. A big THANK YOU to all our readers, from all over the globe, without  you guys, none of this would be possible. We look forward to your support in 2018. 

Bucket Tech: Hisense C30 Rock Lite

Earlier this year I reviewed the Hisense C30 Rock, which is a mid range smart device which also is pretty rugged with it being  IP68 rating and IK04 shock resistant, my verdict on that particular device was that it was a great all round device for the everyday person, with standard features and it gets the job done. A few weeks ago Hisense sent me another device to review, this time the smaller brother to the C30 Rock, the C30 Rock Lite. With recent times, a lot of smart phone manufactures have been releasing Lite versions of their premium phones, with it offering slightly less in specs than the main device. Most of the times, it uses tech from the older generation devices which was replaced but of recent, the market has gotten more competitive so manufacturers had to up their game. 

STYLING

Like the C30 Rock, the design is very similar, with round edges which are rubberised, a nice metal finish on the side and a rubber back. It's got a decent weight and feels good in hand. Being under the Rock name, this phone is already Shock resistant, IP67 water resistant and dust resistant. So it's a pretty hardy phone, and if you have to look at the current offerings in the market, not many brands have a device such as this available. The phone comes with a 5.0" IPS Display which we'll chat about a little later. It has that old iPhone look to it and it's quite a decent size, not being too bulky and doesn't feel uncomfortable in your pocket. 

DURABILITY

Unlike the C30 Rock which is IP68, the Lite is IP67 rated which is still a good rating for water resistance. I wouldn't necessarily take it swimming but I won't stress over if it does happen to fall into some water. However, I did take this for a swim but unfortunately for me, I didn't save the pictures before formatting the device when I sent it back. Rookie error on the part of us! The device is also shock and dust proof, so if you're the outdoors type of person who loves going running/ hiking, this would be the perfect phone for you. 

PROCESSING

With Lite devices, this is where the main talking point comes in, processing power. While the bigger phones need faster processes to perform the tasks on demands, buyers of these devices aren't going to be using the phone for running multiple apps, editing spreadsheets etc. With the Rock Lite, it comes with still a decent chipset, having the Quad-core 1.3GHz  processor and has 2GB of RAM which is sufficient for a phone of this nature and size. For memory, it has 16GB of on board memory and a memory card slot up to 128GB Micro SD which also doubles as a dual SIM slot. The phone is primarily 4G but the secondary SIM slot is 3G. 

CAMERA

The camera on the light is also slightly downgraded from to the 8MP camera with LED flash. Still capable of taking great quality pictures in proper lighting environments. It records in 1080 @ 30 frames per second and has an auto focus feature. The front facing camera is a 5MP, perfect for all your social media needs and you don't have to worry about your battery running out quickly as the device comes with a 3900mAh battery, which gives you about a day's worth of use. 

VERDICT

When looking at this phone, while it might not win any contest against other smartphones, it boils down to pricing. This phone is available at retailers for under R2,500. That is an absolute steal compared to what you can buy from the bigger name opposition. And with Hisense great product support locally, should you have any issues, best believe it will be resolved without a fuss. Serious value for money with this device and for someone who spends most of his time on a construction site, I wouldn't mind one for myself. 

Bucket Tech: Huawei P10 Lite

Following the launch of the P10 and P10 Plus earlier this month, Chinese mobile manufacturer Huawei has released a more affordable version of the phone onto the market, the P10 Lite. Now while previously their Lite models of the P Series seemed to have been mediocre when compared to the main model itself, the P10 Lite does so some promise of actually being a pretty decent smart phone at a very competitive price. 

For starters, Huawei has trimmed most of the tricks from the P10 but in it's own right left some phenomenal features that makes this phone miles better than anything that would be regarded as competition to it. The phone itself is of impeccable quality, with the design inspired by the natural beauty of water. It has the perfect blend of straight lines and curvatures that reflect the minimalist design of all Huawei's P Series. Featuring a 2.5D double-sided curved glass, a diamond-cut metal frame and an upgraded eye comfort mode, the P10 Lite is easy to hold and quite a looker. 

Some of the key features of the P10 lite are fast charge technology, which is introduced for the first time on their Lite devices. It allows the battery to charge faster and in less time. For regular users, a 43 percent battery can be achieved in 30 minutes, and a 10- minute charge supports 2 hours of video watching. The P10 Lite also features two cameras, the primary at the rear and secondary in the front. The primary being a 12 megapixel camera for bring pictures in low light conditions and an 8 megapixel front facing camera for the perfect selfie every time. 

Now, with a phone like this that has great build quality, amazing features, exceptional hardware and software, not to forget performance enhancements that will make usability that much better for the end user, you could be expecting to pay in excess of R7,000 for it right? Well you're wrong, the Huawei P10 Lite is available in South Africa for a recommended retail price of R5299 and it's available in the following colours, Gold, Black, White and Blue. 

Bucket Tech: Huawei Mate 8 - Review

A few weeks ago I received something rather cool in the post, Huawei sent me, what I feel is their flagship business phone to review, the Mate 8. Following from it's predecessors, the Mate 7 and Mate S, the 8 had a lot to live up to and after attending the launch in Joburg in April I was keen to put to see how the phone compared to my lifestyle. At the launch they spoke of how the phone was "the pinnacle of style" and I have to admit, everything from the box the actual phone comes in to the device itself, really looks on point. Generally with a phone of this nature, you would want to get a protective cover on it almost immediately but the phone looks so damn good you might be doing it an injustice by covering it up!

Quality

Even thought he market has become conducive to consumers changing their phones quite regularly, in most cases people don't even wait for their contracts to expire before they change their device, with the average person keeping their's for just over a year before they want a later model. Hence manufacturers had to keep up with the demand by releasing devices on a yearly basis. That doesn't mean they neglect the quality of their device, the Mate range has probably been the most robust series of phones I've tested. It can withstand most bumps and falls, I didn't deliberately test this but there was more than one occasion where the phone escaped the clutch of my butter fingers and it ended up with hardly a mark to show for it. So you know you're getting a premium product.

Display & Dimensions

The size is rather large compared to your normal phone (157.1 x 80.6 x 7.9mm) due to the display screen size (6.0inch) but it doesn't feel cumbersome in your hand. The new improved finger print scanner works perfectly for this phone allowing you to unlock the device in a matter of milliseconds and it can support more than one finger. The display is something to marvel at, with a 78% body to screen ratio and full HD picture courtesy of its IPS-NEO LCD with 16M colours, it makes anything you look at stunning. I watched a few videos on youtube in 4K and the quality was amazing. The protection comes in the form of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 which is still one of the best out there. 

Camera

While I didn't expect this feature to be the star, it totally shone through and made me go crazy over it, so much so I ended up borrowing a tripod! Why you ask? Well with the Mate 8, Huawei launched their professional camera setting as well as a few others like Super Night shot and added a few favourites from their older models like light trails and slow mo video which is captured by the 16 MP lens with dual LED flash. The professional setting enables the user to manually select and choose the right settings given the conditions and light in the picture you wanting to take. While it may look cool, you also need to know what you're doing but if you have time to fool around with it you can figure out how to take some really awesome pictures which require no filter if you're going to post them to Instagram. 

                   

Another feature which I had to try was the Super Night shot, basically a long exposure shot which captures as much light in the dark as possible allowing you to photograph stars and if you're lucky, some of the Milkyway! Yup, it is possible but again, you got to know how to work the settings, from how much light you want to allow to how long you want to lens to capture for. It's not rocket science but it takes some fiddling to get used to and you can capture some stunning shots of the night sky from it. 

Performance

Being a phone that is aimed at your business man, they don't muck about when it came to selecting processors and CPU's for the Mate 8. It comes with the HiSilicon Kirin 950 chipset with a Quad-core 2.3GHz Cortex-A72 + quad-core 1.8GHz Cortex A53. RAM differs from the model you have with the 32GB receiving 3GB RAM and the 64GB getting 4GB RAM. It has the latest version of Android's Marshmallow with the user interface completely customisable for your preference. Other features include acelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer and compass. 

Battery

Much was said about this phones battery, with a claim of 2 days of use without needing a charge and if you like me are constantly on your phone, I was keen to see how it will stand. It comes with a non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery which can give you up to 528 hours on standby using 3G and up to 98 hours music play. My use is a mixture of using the camera, tons of social media apps such as Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram all of which are constantly receiving notifications and whats a phone without Whatsapp? oh and I did make a receive the odd phone call. Much to my disappointment the phone didn't last the full two days but I must say I was still left impressed because it lasted more than an entire day with me using it. Normally any other phone won't see 8 hours before I need to plug it in for a charge so this is a massive breakthrough in battery technology. 

Verdict

If you're the type of person that runs their life from their phone, whether you're a suited up businessman or one that's constantly on the road, this is the perfect phone for you. Fast enough to deal with any app or document that it comes across as well as giving you a battery that lasts with you worrying about charging points or carrying battery boosters. The other features are just an added bonus for you to play around with when you have some spare time. The phone is available in four colours, Champagne Gold, Moonlight Silver, Space Gray and Mocha Brown, and the 64GB version will have a dual SIM option. 

*all pictures taken by the Huawei Mate 8 are the original with no filters or editing done.

Bucket Tech: Huawei P8

Technology is a marvelous thing, I mean at this very instant I'm writing this post aboard a flight to Cape Town. Rewind to 10 years ago and no one would believe this is possible. The great thing with the quick evolution of technology is that it makes things it more affordable to many as features that are new become the norm in many devices within a space of a year. Before having a camera on your mobile phone seemed sort of a luxury but now-a-days we look at how many megapixels it has on both front and back facing cameras and if it records in HD. Also with the host of competitors to the mobile industry just makes things better for the consumer with many striving for excellence in their products in terms of quality and userbility, Huawei is one of these manufacturers. A while back they sent me their latest smart phone to hit the market, the P8 to test. 

Huawei isn't shy when it comes to comparing Apples with Apples....well Apples with Hauwei as they see the US giant their direct competition. The P8 is seen as a direct competitor to the iPhone 6S and Samsung S6 and after using it for little under a month, I can tell you it's better than both of them. Why? Simply because it offers everything that those two phones offer and more in a slim, styish, little package that will get people second guessing at what phone you're using.

Dimensions & Accessibility 

Dimensions of the phone are pretty similar to the rest of them, measuring 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4mm which fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. With a 5.2" screen it is bigger than the P7 so some with smaller hands might find it a bit difficult to access full screens capabilities with just one hand, hence Huawei were clever enough to help with this, witth a simple swip of the back key on the screen, it reduces the screen size to about 4.5" and this can be swopped to left or right side of the phone depending if you're left or right handed. Unlocking the device is standard as well with an unlock button on the side and depending on the security level you chose, you can either have a pin, matrix or simple swipe to complete the unlock.

Display

As mentioned above, the P8 has a 5.2" screen, its IPS-NEO LCD capactive with 16 million colours, not quite 4K but with 1080 x 1920 pixels, its not that far off. It has multitouch capabilities as well as Hauwei's famed knock control. Many asked how this works and if its such a big deal as they make it out to be, well yes. For one, it makes taking screen shots dead simple, just knock your screen twice with your knuckle to take a snapshot of the current screen, beats holding down the power and centre button! Also make screen selections to share is also as simple, make a selection with your knuckle in any shape making sure you complete the shape and it will be able to share it in whichever way you want to. Dont worry about knocking the phone too hard and cracking the screen as its covered in Corining Gorrilla Glass 3, so its pretty strong.

Camera

The most important feature for many is the camera, for capturing those special moments, or taking pictures of your food to instagram. The primary camera on the P8 is a 13 megapixel with autofocus, optical image stabilization and dual LED flash. It's the norm for cameras in this class of phone but what sets this one apart from the competitors is the features it has built in, from real time filters for both still and video capturing as well as taking long exposure shooting to the next level with letting the user take light trail photographs, provided you have a tripod or a really steady hand! Time lapse video is also another aawesome feature and one that I had fun with a lot but bare in mind it reduces the time a lot so a 30 minute lapse is about 30 seconds. The front facing camera is an 8 megapixel camera with 1080 video recording, good quality for taking those selfies! Speaking of which, it has the smile detection trigger so all you have to do is smile to take a picture, no need for timers or funny hand movements. 

Performance

It comes with  HiSilicon Kirin 93-/935 chipset and a Quad-core 2GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. Like many others they've opted for the two Quad Core CPU system which just ensures a smooth running OS. It uses Androids latest version 5.0.2 Lollipop and with the simplified user interface it makes using it a breeze. It offers the the simplicity of an iPhone but with the robust and expandable Android software. In terms of memory, it has an internal hard drive of 16 gigs up to 64 gigs and a microSD slot capable of taking a 128gig card, which inserts into the second SIM slot. Yes all Huawei phones are dual SIM but depending on network, and software, they limit it to just one if not advertising.

Battery

First thing I do when getting a phone to test is load every single social media app that I use on the phone, that way I can get all my notifications and messages to test the real performance of the device battery and I've been seriously impressed with the P8. It's given me more than 2 days standby on a full charge if I use the phone, just a little over 26 hours. Thats all thanks to the Li-Po 2680 mAh battery, since the phone is fully concealed in a well finished aluminum case, the battery is non removable. 

Overall

This phone has really impressed me and costing about a 3rd to that of the iPhone 6S on contract, it is well worth the money. I've told numerous people to give it a chance and those who did are not regretting it. One of them being my own brother, I'm actually a little jealous that he has one for himself and I have to return mine tomorrow. The thing is with mobile phones, the techonoly is improving at such a drastic rate, it seems pointless to get a phone that will last you longer than a 2 year life span as by then a device thats 3 generations ahead of your current one will be on the market and you would want that one, so why waste your money on someting that you're paying for just the name? Rather opt for a device that does everything those ones do but at a fraction of the cost. 

                     

Buket Tech: LG G4 - First Impressions

You could only imagine my emotions after getting my LG G3, 2 months down the line LG release the G4. As would any tech fundy, you want the best and the latest that is out there on the market, not to say the G3 is bad but knowing there is a newer one out there just annoys me a tad bit. Anyway, LG invited me to the local launch of the LG G4 at the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, like all their events, theres an element of class to it. From the venue, to the presentations and the of course the product.

It was the first time I was going to get to see the phone in metal but before I could get my  hands on it, LG's GM for Marketing, Thomas van der Linde gave us an insight into the thought process that went into creating the G4 before Eric, LG's Mobile Product Manager took us through a video presentation of the features and design of the G4. 

One thing I've come to realised about LG is their dedication of perfecting something. Having the tech isn't enough till they know they have made it to the best possible level at that time and that's exactly what makes the LG G4 one step ahead of its competitors. During his talk, Thomas said that the LG G4 has the best camera on the market at the moment, with a F1.8 lens making pictures taken in low light brighter, even faster reacting laser focus and a choice of 3 modes for the user, with manual mode mimicking settings that of a DSLR. It's the first time I've seen a camera phone that offers such, giving you the opportunity to manipulate various settings before shooting the ideal picture that is captured on its 16 megapixel camera. The phone also gives the user access to the raw image file, which is another first.

Also worthy to note is the image stabilizer on the G4 which has a 2 degree offset which gives the phone a quicker response time to stabilize when taking pictures. LG have taken note the important of selfies and upgraded its front facing camera on the G4 to an 8 megapixel lens and like the G3 has the hand gesture trigger function but now with a slight twist. The single fist takes 1 snaps, opening and clasping your hand twice triggers the phone to take 4 consecutive photos. Everyone knows you don't take the perfect selfie in a single shot so this is the perfect way to work around that. 

The screen continues to marvel with an IPS Quantum Display in Quad High Definition, it really enhances the pictures and gives true representation of the pictures taken. It's the first Quad HD display to employ Advanced in-cell touch (AIT) technology, which combines the LCD and touch sensor into a single layer to provide better colour reproduction and touch sensitivity. This new display is calibrated for DCI (Digital Cineman Initiatives) standards for colour expression, championed by top Hollywood studios. Watching Videos in 4K is also great on the LG G4's display and gives you a true colour representation of what you're viewing.

Moving on to the design, although it looks very much like the G3 the G4 is a bit different with a the phone having a slight curvature to it. LG believe this is where the market is heading, with curved phones a thing of the future, it might not be as drastic as the G Flex but it is visible to the naked eye. They claim this minimises the risk of damage by 20% if the handset were to fall. 

The phone comes with both an aluminium diamond cut bad which feels very comfortable in your hand. The diamond cut provides better grip but the phone also comes with an interchangeable leather back. It was confirmed that this is 100% genuine leather that is hand stitched. It's a nice touch by the manufacturer and really adds to that premium product feel to the phone. When asked if these added to the price, it was noted that LG chose to absorb these things in offering the consumer a premium product at an acceptable price. No price for the phone has been released as yet but they said its in the region of R430 and R499 a month on contract which is about the same I'm paying for my G3! So you can only imagine my frustration now!

Overall, the phone looks like the market leader for now and I'm not just saying that because I own a LG. Every aspect on the phone from the screen, to the processor and the camera is unmatched by any devices currently on the market, not even that one with the beveled screen that serves no purpose. I'm looking forward to get on to test in the near future and then I can give you a more in depth review of it.