ways to avoid adult responsibilities

Here comes the sum The 64GB SE will set you back R10 000, but an extra R2 500 nets you the 128GB version. Check the panel below to see how it compares to some handy Androids in the same bracket.

FOR ABOUT THE SAME CASH...

HUAWEI P30

When it launched last year the P30 would’ve set you back nearly twice its current price, which goes to show the calibre of phone we’re dealing with here. Its all-screen design gives it a very 2020 look too. R11 000 / huaweistore.co.za

XIAOMI MI NOTE 10

Want a 108MP camera sensor but don’t want to pay Samsung’s prices? Xiaomi was the first to get the tech and they stuck it in this – a phone less than half the price of an S20 Ultra. R9 000 / takealot.com

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 10 LITE

Going big often means taking a hit to the wallet. Not so with the Galaxy Note 10 Lite, which gives users a generous screen, an S-Pen, and some money left over for lockdown alcohol. R11 300 / takealot.com

When’s day weak?

Apple won’t say how big the SE’s battery is but reckons it can manage 13hrs of video. That should mean a full day of normal use before you have to look for a Lightning cable.

iPerfect cousin Design-wise the SE is the spitting image of an iPhone 8, so you still get slightly retro bezels above and below the screen. The back of the phone comes in black, white or red.

When flatter day comes You might expect the SE to lose some of the clever stuff to keep the price down, but it’ll charge wirelessly and with an 18W wired fast-charger… although neither is included.

Anyone’s game The Polar Grit X uses low-energy Bluetooth, so it’ll work with heart-rate monitors and external movement sensors more accurately, whether you’re on two feet or two wheels.

H OT FOUR #2

CARBLESS WHISPER Polar Grit X

Most fitness tech nags you to do boring stuff: stand up, go for a walk, check your heart rate. So when you see Polar’s new Grit X displaying an instruction to drink and take 10g of carbs (approximately ten jelly beans), you might think you’ve finally found a wearable to suit a more couch-bound existence. Of course, the reality is very different. Even with its built-in GPS, heart-rate tracking, barometer, compass and altimeter in full flow, the Grit X’s battery lasts a whopping 40 hours, so you’d need the stamina of a pill-popping Energizer bunny to beat it. It can even give breakdowns of how you performed on the uphill and downhill parts of your route, plus there’s turn-by-turn route guidance. None of that is any use if it can’t withstand the great outdoors, so the 1.2in 240x240 colour display is covered by Gorilla Glass and housed in a stainless steel case that’s water-resistant down to 100m. It’s even passed the US military’s MIL-STD-810G tests against temperature, humidity and drops. And if the Grit X can survive that, chances are it’ll cope with life aboard your cookie-loving flesh chassis. As hot as… a no-holds-barred Energizer vs Duracell pink bunny wrestling match Rtba / polar.com/za

Biscuit game

That ‘Take 10g of carbs’ instruction is part of Polar’s FuelWise feature, which reminds you when to refuel on longer runs. It even breaks down your energy usage into fat, carbs and protein.

Long game If 40 hours isn’t long enough for you, the Grit X’s power-saving modes (which still allow you to use GPS) extend the use of its training features to 100 hours. And all in a package that weighs just 64g.

H OT FOUR #3

ALL YOU CAN EIGHT Canon EOS R5

Canon’s latest full-frame mirrorless camera can do something that’s probably never been done before: film a lockdown braai in 8K at 120fps. Just imagine how badly burned your boeries will look when they’re rendered in 7680x4320 pixels. Of course, you’ll need an equally pricey 8K screen to show that footage at full resolution, but details, details… Anyway, the EOS R5 is a serious all-round camera, with support for dual-pixel AF in all modes and frame rates, a 20fps electronic shutter, a 12fps mechanical shutter and in-body image stabilisation. And while the fastest-moving thing you’re likely to encounter at the moment is the rush of hungry family members to the coals when you announce the chops are ready, those frame rates are up there with anything a pro sports-focused DSLR will offer – so combined with Canon’s RF lenses, you can expect shake-free, super-sharp footage of steaks, ribs and post-lockdown beer. It’s even got Wi-Fi on board so you won’t need to venture inside to transfer your images. No word on a price yet, but like what you’re drinking, expect it to be reassuringly expensive. As hot as… the sosatie you’ve just cremated Rtba / canon.co.za

H OT FOUR #4

BEAM ME UP SONY Sony PlayStation 5

The next next-gen console war is underway, with both Sony and Microsoft’s consoles revealed and ready to launch by the end of 2020. Sony’s shown off the PlayStation 5, dazzling the world with its alien-like design.

We don’t know who needs to hear this – but the PS5 will tie any room together, so go out and buy one. That is, if you can afford the $500 price tag…

It’s also not just about looks here (Sony isn’t that shallow, luckily). The PS5 features a custom GPU based on the

Radeon Navi and a CPU based on AMD’s third-gen Ryzen line which will all be used to output ray-tracing tech at a hardware level. It also features visual output up to 8K (if you’re lucky enough to have an 8K display). But this is probably just for the sake of future-proofing a console that has to last quite a few years. Also? It’ll boast framerates up to 120FPS, which may just allow you to see into the future and get that headshot in.

The biggest upgrade from current-gen consoles, however, is the addition of only SSDs inside that pretty box. No HDDs here, folks. SSD inclusion greatly improves load times and game performance. That’s what you get when you take out all those moving parts in favour of something altogether… quicker. As hot as… Darth Vader’s face from R8 500 (expected) / playstation.com/

Giving you a DualSense

The updated DualSense controller supports USB-C h i d i 3 5

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