Bucket Tech: Huawei P20

So about 4 weeks ago, I dropped my phone and the screen cracked...yup, it happened to me but thankfully it still fell under the warranty period with Huawei HiCare so after filling up a quick online form, the couriers were here in no time to pick up my phone for its free screen replacement. Now, I live my life with my phone and it goes everywhere I go, what to do? Coincidentally I was due a review phone, from Huawei as well! It was a device from the P20 series, but wasn't sure which one it would be, I was hoping for the Pro but when it arrived, I saw it was the standard P20. A bit bummed, I figured it was better than nothing and I had a phone to use while mine is in for repairs so I used that as my primary phone for the past 3 weeks and as you'll find out, I was won over by the P20 in every way possible. 

DESIGN

Huawei in general make great looking devices, we've become used to their great build quality, unibody design and great feel in hand, with the P20 much is the same. Slightly bigger than the P10, finished off in a more square full metal unibody, the P20 really is a delight to hold and feel. The back had a nice chrome, mirror type paint finish in a metallic blue, with the dual lens Leica camera protruding ever so slightly, flip it over and a nice large 5.8" LCD greeted you. Now the P20 does come with full view display, meaning they make use of as much as the phones surface as possible, hence at top you will notice notch, quite like the iPhoneX.  But if this bothers you, on the device settings, you have options to black out that top section so your screen is a perfect rectangle but for me it was pretty cool. Huawei have retained the button at the bottom of the phone from the P10, which doubles as a finger print reader. The sides of the device has a sliver chrome finish and on the right side, you'll find the volume and power buttons as per the norm with their device. Below is where things are changed slightly, with the doing away of the ear phone jack and only the power USB port present. 

DURABILITY 

Now the device is IP65, dust and splash proof rated but it looks so good, I wouldn't want to put that to the test but in saying that I did pull the phone out in occasions I generally wouldn't. Like in heavy rain, while riding in a golf cart. In saying that, Huawei again offers their HiCare for this device and for them to be so confident in this regard, it shows their put their money where their mouth is when it comes to the build quality and their ratings on their devices. 

PROCESSING

The Huawei P20 comes with Android 8.1, otherwise known as Oreo and is run on a Hisilicon Kirin 970 chipset which has an Octa-core CPU, which basically translates to 8 mini CPU's, of which 4 run at 2.4GHz and the other 4 at 1.8GHz, this has an overall improved processing speed, and with an on-board capacity of 128GB plus the 4GB of RAM, there really was no issues at all with speed and performance. In fact, I even used to leave multiple applications open while using it, so things like Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Twitter, all of which are heavy data and battery intensive applications, along with Google Play and other background apps running and not one issue. I think the massive hard disk space plays a big part with this, and with everything being cloud base, I don't really think many will fill all 128GB so it's nice to know that it's there. 

CAMERA

Big talking point on the P20 Pro is the triple Leica Lens, on the P20, it still uses Dual Lens Leica technology but to a greater degree than the outgoing P10. The camera makes use of the AI capabilities and its able to learn in a split second what you're taking a picture off. Whether its food, a sunrise, sunset, text, beach, you name it, it has 100's of built in settings to take the perfect picture almost every time. The shutter speed has improved with the dual 12 MP camera, so that means taking quick moving pictures that won't be blurred. Video's on the camera records at 2160p@30fps and are crystal clear. The issue with the Huawei mic seems to have been sorted out as well, so when you're at a concert, you won't get heavy feedback in your videos. On front, you have a 24MP secondary camera, this makes selfies all that much more better, with is also using AI tech, to automatically detect the scene and adjust the exposure to suit. The front facing camera also doubles as a face reader to unlock the phone when you look at it, so no need for the security codes or finger print, simply look at your phone and it unlocks. 

VERDICT

As much as I was disappointed not to have received the P20 Pro, I was not disappointed at the performance of the P20. This phone is probably under rated because of the shadow cast upon it by the Pro much like the iPhone 8 is with the iPhone X but the point of the matter is, it's a really great device! And personally, I think you're scoring with this one as it is much more cheaper, as you'll be paying between R500 and R600 month on contract for the P20 versus R700+ for the P20 Pro. While the Pro might have its key features, for an everyday smart phone that does everything well with no hassle, there really is no reason to doubt the P20. 

Some pictures, taken with the Huawei P20, unedited and auto adjusted by the AI for the perfect picture. 

Bucket Tech: Huawei P Smart - First Impressions

Huawei SA this week launched it's new P Smart device, a smart phone device with all the characteristics of a high level smart phone but at half the price. Yes, you read that correctly the first time, no need to read it again. So how have they done it? Well like with most of their devices, a lot of the tech they use gets moved into lower level devices, but there is compromise in certain areas which helps lower the price for the end user. No that it's a bad thing, it's just that you wont have enough RAM or as fast of a processor as the high level smartphones. 

Looking at the P Smart, Huawei have really went all out on this one, its the first phone in its category to feature a FullView Display, and its a 2.5D curved screen design which feels more compact in your hand. It also has dual lens technology camera, with a host of personalized photography functions. Combining 13MP+2MP rear dual cameras and 16-level dual shot blurring, Hauwei say the P Smart will make your photos impressive and stereoscopic. Further, with high-precision camera sensors, high-density phase detection pixels, the 13Mp HD camera focuses on real time, accuracy and speed, thus accurately capturing exciting moments. 

The P smart comes with the new EMUI 8.0 operating system, which is based on Android 8.0, which takes usability to new levels for fast and intuitive feature use. Chipset wise, the P Smart features Kirin 659 processor made with a process for med-range and high-end chips characterized by better engery performance, this also helps with battery life. The P Smart comes with a 3,000-mAh battery, combined with the Intelligent Power saving technology 6.0, which supports background real-time detection of power-hungry apps, comprehensive power consumption test and one-key optimization to save power significantly and help extend the battery life. 

Another nice feature is the unique on-touch split screen mode which the P smart has, which means you can use and run two applications simultaneously on your screen, offering you even more possibilities of mobile operations. The P smart also is equipped with Fingerprint 4.0 solution, fingerprint recognition within 0.3 seconds to bring an enhanced user experience, apart from just unlocking your phone, Huawei has also combined fingerprint recognition with other functions to develop ground-breaking apps such as fingerprint navigation, fingerprint shot and alarm clock deactivation with fingerprint. 

"Our new P smart brings you flagship features at an affordable price. It's the first time the industry will see both dual camera and FullView display at this price range and we are excited to introduce this to the South African market" - Likun Zhao GM, Huawei Consumer Business.  The Huawei P smart is available for purchase at all operators in South Africa from 13th February 2018 and the recommended retail price is R3999. 

Bucket Tech: Huawei Mate 10 Pro & Mate 10 Porsche Design - First Impressions

Monday night saw the launch of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and Mate 10 Porsche Design devices in South Africa, much like the wind in Cape Town, it blew many of the crowd away with it's features of which many are a first for a smart phone. For it's flag ship device, Huawei opted for the tranquil and scenic Camps Bay, which was anything but thanks to the weather. Once sheltered from the gale force winds, it was time to view what the Chinese manufacturer had in store in its latest Mate series device. With the smartphone trend, everyone is looking at what each other is inventing but then copying and perfecting these trends, with Huawei, they have set some standards in the industry first which saw their competitors play catch-up. some of these include the dual lens technology in the cameras, the long battery life and super charge, but with the Mate 10, they needed something ground-breaking, something that would make their competitors not only think "why didn't we think of that?" but rather "how did they do that?". 

Step in the world's first AI Processor, the Kirin 970. But you may ask, what is AI? And how will it be beneficial to me? We've seen AI in movies but most of that has been fiction until now, AI is artificial intelligence, which enables the device to think on its own and not only when you tell it to do something. Yes, this is ground breaking and what makes it even more astonishing, is that it is able to do this without having a connection. For example, Huawei has teamed up with Microsoft for a number of things for the Mate 10 Pro, one of them being Microsoft Translate. The Mate 10 pro is able to view foreign text and convert it for you to the desired language, all on its own without an internet connection. "As we enter the age of intellegence, AI is no longer a virtual concept but something that interwines with out daily life. AI can enhance user experience, provide valuable services and improve product performance" says Likun Zhao, GM of Huawei Consumer Business Group. "The Huawei Mate 10 Series introduces the first mobile AI-specific Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU), launching a new era of intelligent smartphones. For the South Afrcan market, we bringing two most premium phones in this exclusive series - namely the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and the Porsche Design Huawei Mate 10 - as we believe these are the best phones to meet the mobile needs of South African consumers, especially when it comes to business."

Yes, SA won't be getting the standard Mate 10 device as Huawei feels that the consumers would opt for the Pro and the PD devices, also the price difference in the standard and Pro is minimal. Getting back to AI, in essence, this issues a new dawn in the smartphone market, AI will only be enhanced from here on, unlocking potentials that we can only dream off from a phone. Some other cool features of the Mate 10 Pro, includes a new camera. It's a world's first f1.6 Leica Dual LEns camera which identifies, in real-time, different types of scenes and objects, such as food, nightscapes, sunsets and beaches, heck it can even identify if you taking a picture of a dog or a cat! It will then automatically adjust to make sure your picture is captured in the best possible way. While their is a Pro feature on the camera, you would rarely have to use it! The Huawei SuperCharge has also been upgraded, as the phone comes with a 4000 mAh batter with AI powered battery management for optimal usage, so this extends battery life on the device. It also comes with fast charging, allowing the device to get from 0 to 20 percent in 10 minutes. 

The Mate 10 Pro also comes with a dual SIM where both SIM slots are 4G capable. The design see's a change to the 9, with it having a more beveled finish, making the handset quite smooth and sleek. It has quite a large display, Huawei calls this "full view" enabling the user to have brilliant clarity and optimizes the viewing for the user. It also has the best screen to body ratio in its class using a 5.9 inch screen and 16:9 display. The device is IP67 rated as well, which we put to the test in the viewing rooms where we were allowed to dunk the phones into a fish bowl. Quite nerve wrecking but cool to see. 

Pre-Orders for the Mate 10 Pro have already begun, but the recommended retail prices have some folks talking. The Huawei Mate 10 Pro being R18,999 isn't too bad seeing that it has a host of worlds first and an extremely good smart phone, however the Porsche Design Huawei Mate 10 comes in at R26,999. That is a big jump in price but with PD, their products are quality and quite expensive. Also this Porsche Design handset will be super exclusive with only 999 units coming to South Africa. 

"We are delighted to bring the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and the Porsche Design Mate 10 to South Africa as we believe these smartphones will cater for the South  African consumers needs as we enter the age of AI" - concludes Zhao. 

Bucket Tech: iPhone X - First Impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bucket Tech: Mobile World Conference 2017

Life as we know it revolves around our mobile phones, with many now using smart phones for os much more than just phone calls goes to show how important these devices are to our life. I read a joke last year that if you had to fall down, you would first check if you phone was fine before noticing if you were injured, which could very well be true for most of us! With technology constatnly evolving, consumers demands increase with them wanting the latest and greatest device available. This push saw mobile device manufacturers create updated or new devices every year and now almost in under a year .The biggest stage for brands to showcase their top models is at the Mobile World Congress currently taking place in Barcelona. This past weekend saw some big releases and today we're just going to give you some of the highlights. 

Huawei P10 and P10 Plus

The Chinese giant wasted no time in showing to the world it's key smart device, the P10 and P10 Plus. Taking over from the P9, the P10 epitomises everything the company stands for. They are quickly becoming one of the top players in the market and with good reason to. They are in the forefront of the latest tech and do not compromise on quality of  their products. The P10's key features are the Leica Dual-Camera 2.0 primary camera on the P10 and the Leica Dual-Camera 2.0 Pro Edition on the P10 Plus. Both cameras have a 12-megapixel RGB sensor,and 20-megapixel monochrome sensor and enhanced fusion algorithms, with superior technical and artistic photography features to garuntee you professional pictures on almost every click. The P10 and P10 Plus also for the first time feature Leica front facing cameras to complete the total photography package on the devices. Both devices are also avialable in a selection of unique colors as a result of the first cross-industry partnership with Pantone Color Institue, the world's foremost authority on color. Key technical features of the phone are the new powerful Kirin 960 processor and all new EMUI 5.1 which is Huawe''s latest high performance SoC chipset. 

Blackberry Keyone

Also known as the BlackBerry Mercury, this device is set to be the one that kick starts this almost dead mobile devices life in the market. I have a softspot for Blackberry, I've owned two of their devices, both of which are still in great working condition, apart from the battery life on one but their phones were practical, smart and proper business orientated. The Keyone see's a change from what we usually expect from Blackberry but also incoperating all the things we loved about them. For one, it has a full key pad as well as a touch screen. It runs Android OS v7.1 (Nougat). At the heart of the Keyone is a Octa-core 2.0GHz Cortex - A53 CPU on a Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 Chipset. Pretty powerful stuff for this phone. It has 32GB internal memory with a microSD slot capable of up to 256GB. The devices expected release date is April 2017. Blackberry has a lot to do to gain back the markets trust but I think the Keyone could be the catalyst for this. 

Nokia 3310

While we on the subject of comebacks, remember this one? I did a post a few weeks back about the announcement but had no idea what to expect. I said I doubt they would remake the exact phone we were used to all those years ago because it isnt practical in this day and age, while most say they would love one, would they really use it? I doubt it. So Nokia thankfully didn't just recreate the 3310 but brought out an updated version of the classic phone. The 3310 is going to be an entry level phone that would be affordable to almost anyone so don't expect anything fancy from this device. It has a color screen but a small one that measures 2.4 inches. It has an internal memory of 16MB and microSD slot up to 32GB stick. It has a 2 megapixel camera with LED flash. There is really nothing really to write home about this device other than it's name and it's claimed standby battery life of up to 1 month but I forsee a lot of sales due to its nostalgic nature.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

4K HDR screen on a mobile phone? Yup, Sony have managed to do that on the XZ Premium. with 960fps uper slow motion capabilities. While this seems amazing, the first time I saw Quad HD screen on a phone I was blown away by the clarity but there is one major draw back, it kills your battery. Hopefully Sony have found a way around this. Can't have your key feature being the number one reason your battery is depleting.  The 5.5" screen isn't the only thing the device is good for though, the phone comes with motion eye camera that enables the super slow motion capturing, it's water resistant with an IP65/68 rating which is the best you can get when it comes to durability. It has Hi-Res Audio with Digital stereo for true sound quality. More details will be made available closer to its release date in April this year. 

Bucket Tech: Huawei Mate 9 & Porsche Design Mate 9 - First Look

In Munich yesterday, Chinese mobile phone giant Huawei hosted their global launch for it's flagship device, or should I say "devices", the Mate 9 Series. With the Mate 8 being pretty much one of the best business devices of 2016, the Mate 9 has a lot to live up to and speaking at the exclusive global launch, Huawei's CEO, Richard Yu had this to say, "In developing the Huawei Mate 9, we started with a simple question, how can we improve every element of the smartphone experience? We know that for today's business users, a fast and functional smartphone is just the beginning. Consumers also want a gorgeous design and intuitive features, so we created two new devices at the forefront of hardware and software innovation. The result is a device that is breathtakingly new, inside and out."

As mentioned before, not one but two phones were launched yesterday, both of which make up the Mate 9 Series. One is the Huawei Mate 9 and the other a Porsche Design Huawei Mate 9. The Mate 9 and the Porsche Design Mate 9 feature dynamic interplay of industry-leading hardware and advanced software that work together to keep users a step ahead. Some of the key features in the devices are,

•  Huawei's new Kirin 960, Octa-core processing unit, the worlds highest performing smartphone processor. 
• EMUI 5.0, an intuitive user interface that streamlines the users experience with the OS
• SuperCharge technology that delivers a full days charge in 20 minutes.
• Second generation Leica dual-lens camera with 12 megapixel RGB sensor, 20-megapixel monochrome sensor and Hybrid Zoom, featuring a superior 2x magnification. 

Much has been spoken about this new Kirin 960 CPU, Huawei's Kirin chipset has vastly been used by many manufacturers over the years in their devices and the Mate 9 is the first phone to get the 960. It makes use of Huawei's Machine Learning Algorithm to deliver a fast and smooth experience, even after 18 months of continuous usage. Without going into the nitty-gritty of it all, the 960 delivers performance unlike any other processor whilst reducing power consumption by 15 percent, and being energy efficient. 

One of the main issues with smartphones is battery life, whilst the Mate 8 did boast two days of battery life with heavy usage, the Mate 9 comes with a 4000 mAh high-density battery with Huawei's new SuperCharge technology. Along with Huawei's advanced power saving technology, the phone is said to provide over two days of uninterrupted performance. With the SuperCharge tech, it allows the Mate 9 to charge from 0 to 50% in 10 minutes, that is enough power to let you watch two full movies on your device. 

Design wise, the Mate 9 looks great, Huawei calls it performance in design, with their highly regarded design DNA which uses the finest materials to deliver a smartphone that features a 5.9" FHD display and is both beautifully designed and comfortable to use. It has a sleek uni-body metal fram which uses 50 unique processes, including one hour of CNC milling to manufacture. Every detail, from the soft sandblasted texture to the gorgeous colour palette, is a result of more than 25 years experience in delivering refined craftsmanship. 

But for those who want something a little different, Huawei teamed up with design icons, Porsche Design to create the Porsche Design Huawei  Mate 9. Porsche Design isn't new to cellphone design with them having a long history in designing mobile phones for select manufacturers, their designs are unique and timeless. The Porsche Design Huawei Mate 9 will be a limited edition smartphone combining Porsche Design's signature brand aesthetic with Huawei's mobile engineering expertise. Together Huawei and Porsche Design have achieved a new pinnacle where Design meets Technology. Huawei introduces a remarkable 5.5" curved AMOLED display that offers a smooth sleek feel. It will be available exclusively in graphite black. 

Overall the Mate 9 looks like a winner, with another cellphone giant's flagship business phone falling short of expectations recently, Huawei will look to capture the void that was left there. The first wave of launches kicks off soon with selective markets, we in SA will have to wait a while till we see this one, probably in the early parts of 2017. 

Also launch was the Huawei FIT, an all in one wearable device designed to support everybody's fitness needs. Featuring multi-sport tracking, automatic step count, heart rate and sleep monitoring, the waterproof Huawei FIT will be available globally. 

Bucket Tech: Huawei P9 - First Impressions

Last night saw the official launch of the Chinese mobile manufacturers flagship device, the P9 and along with it the P9 Plus and P9 lite and we were there to see what all the fuss was about. 

The biggest talking point about the phone is the dual lens technology, hence the hashtag #OO. Developed in conjunction with leading camera lens manufacturer Leica, Huawei is the first mobile device to make use of two lenses. Now you may ask yourself why? Well as Clement Wong of Huawei told us last night, it isn't just there for show. One lens captures the full colour image whilst the other captures in black and white, it then overlays the two for the final product and the results are astonishing to say the least.

Clarity and true colours like you have never seen before. They take things further with the camera with allowing the user a full manual mode where you can edit settings just like a professional DSLR. To prove that the camera is that good, they gave it to world renowned professional fashion photographer Ayaad Damouni and his pictures speak for themselves. 

Apart from a really great camera, the phone itself has lost alot of weight, it's much lighter than the P8 which made me wonder if it was in fact a full metal body but the build quality is still right up there as before. The phone is available in three finishes, all of high premium quality and 6 different colours. 

The user interface is pretty much the same as any other of their devices and for me is one of the better adoptions of the Android OS. Very easy to use and just works well in general. 

Battery life has been e better, not as great as the Mate 8 which claims to have a 2 day life span but let's hope the P9 has the same quick charge like it's bigger brother. 

The launch itself was a true reflection on the device and what it had to offer. It really is a major competitor to the other brands out there and if market share is anything to go by, the other brands need to be worried.