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Sony’s fantastic WF-1000XM4 are almost perfect

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100 BEST APPS Upskill with these amazing apps

iPad Pro takes the M1 Highlights from E3 2021 HTC’s powerful Vive 2 Pro Be the Alpha with Sony’s A1 & Drive yourself mad with Garmin’s Catalyst 21004

9 771994 313049 Issue 113 – Aug/Sept 2021 – www.stuff.co.za R49.50 (incl VAT) Other countries: R43.04 (excl tax)

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Subscriptions hotline Call Centre: 0873531291 WhatsApp: 0873531292 Advertising Business director Sally Hudson sally@stuff.co.za Senior account manager Thalia Pallotta 083 375 2418 thalia@stuff.co.za Management Stuff South Africa is published by the Stuff Group (Pty) Ltd. Directors: Toby Shapshak, Sally Hudson PO Box 74, Melrose Arch, 2096 Kelsey Publishing UK Stuff UK content is published with the permission of copyright holder Kelsey Publishing Ltd, Cudham Tithe Barn, Berry’s Hill, Cudham, Kent TN16 3AG ... and a word about prices Generally, we show the manufacturer’s recommended price. Occasionally we (or suppliers) can make mistakes. Please remember that prices listed in Stuff are intended as a guide only. We make every effort to confirm that all information is correct (and triple checked) when we go to print.

It’s difficult to know what to write here this month. As this issue entered its final drive towards being a printed product, riots engulfed KwaZulu Natal and parts of Johannesburg. At present, there’s no resolution to the ongoing conflict and I’m not in any position to make any guesses what the country will look like by the time we go on-shelf. But I do know that it has affected everyone in the country. It’s affected Stuff as a magazine – there are many stores we won’t be in for this issue. Because they’re gone. It’s affected the industry we cover and that supports us. LG and tech distributor Mustek are just two companies that have suffered massive losses. It’s affected friends and relatives; it’s affected strangers who didn’t deserve to have everything they own taken from them. It’s even affected the people who were looting. Jobs and places of employment are gone, lives have been lost and the country is poorer for it. Worst of all, those who will feel the greatest effect of this unrest are – again – the poorest of the poor. But I’ve also noticed people are coming together in the face of what increasingly looks to be a coordinated campaign to destabilise the country so a few can profit. Strangers are helping each other; they’re reaching out to try and lift the fallen up even before the smoke has cleared. There’s a lot of fear and uncertainty in the country but there’s also a lot of hope in the darkness. It’s hard to talk about the magazine when this is going on, so I’m not even going to try. As usual, the issue’s packed with loads of tech and you’ll find a glimpse of the future on the pages that follow. Stuff Stuff’’s always interested in the future and we’re also always sure that future will be a better one. Time will tell, but I believe we’ll overcome this upheaval the way we always do – by helping the people next to us, no matter who they are.

Brett Venter, Editor brett@stuff.co.za @DrakonisZA

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Stuff competition terms and conditions: Apple is not a sponsor, nor is it involved in any way with any Stuff Magazine contests or sweepstakes. Stuff Magazine does not offer Apple products as contest or sweepstake prizes. 1 Promotions, giveaways and competitions are entered through Stuff Group’s website www.stuff.co.za and are opened for Issue 113, 2021 on 2 August 2021 and close on 26 September 2021. 2 The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into. 3 Employees of Stuff Group and their families are not allowed to enter. Advertising and public relations representatives may not enter competitions in the issue in which their promotions, giveaways or competitions are carried. 4 Prizes are not exchangeable for cash and/or other products. Prizes are available while stocks last. It is at the discretion of Stuff Group and the custodian of the prizes to ensure that, should there be a problem with the stipulated prize won, a reasonable replacement of the same value will be offered. 5 Stuff Group carries promotions, giveaways and competitions in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any misrepresentation on the part of the custodian of the promotions, giveaways and competitions. 6 Winners will be notified telephonically and by mail. It is the responsibility of the winner to ensure that the correct address and contact details are given. It is the responsibility of the custodian of the promotion, giveaway and competition to ensure that prizes are sent out correctly and within the specified time. 7 Prize delivery will take four to six weeks from the time the winner has been notified. 8 Promotions, giveaways and competitions are open to South African residents only. 9 All prize-winners will be published on www.stuff.co.za the following month, once the competition lines have closed. 10 Readers may not claim for more than one prize at a time, and once announced as a winner in any Stuff promotions, giveaways or competitions, will not be eligible for another prize for three (3) months thereafter. 11 By entering any promotions, giveaways or competitions, or by accepting any prize, entrants agree that their personal details may be retained by the promoter and/or Stuff magazine and used for the purpose of sending them information about future promotions, events and news, as well as for internal administration and analysis. 12 Unclaimed prizes will be kept for three months and will not be resent. 13 Participation in any promotion, giveaway or competition and/or acceptance of any prize implies full knowledge and acceptance of all rules.

© Stuff South Africa. All due care will be taken with material submitted, but the magazine and publishers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. Stuff South Africa assumes no responsibility to return unsolicited editorial, graphic or other material. All rights in letters and unsolicited editorial and graphic material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and material will be subject to Stuff South Africa’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Stuff South Africa is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be reprinted in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information given to readers, the editor, publisher and proprietor cannot accept responsibility for any damage or inconvenience that may arise therefrom. Stuff is published in Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, the Middle East, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Zinio digital edition.

CON S ON THE COVER

P60

p29 Listen up, ’buds

P12

HOT STUFF 8

16 20 24 26

The Hot Five ● Honor 50 Yes, we’re actually excited about a phone having Gmail on it ● Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6 This tablet wants to replace your laptop ● Lego Adidas Originals Superstar Brick-based shoe-making fun ● Beats Studio Buds Another Dre in paradise ● Nintendo Game & Watch: Zelda It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this. Vital stats HTC Vive Pro 2 VR without the wooziness? Best of E3 Village of the damned impressive Wheels Mercedes Concept EQT A longboard with a car attached Stream Featuring farmers, spandex and Skeletor

p16 Get ready to Vive

p73 Alpha tested

p72 Beat your best

TESTS 29 First test Sony WF-1000XM4 The old XM3s were our favourite in-ears for approximately ever. Can the XM4s be even better? 56 Tested Huawei Vision S 65in When is a TV not a TV? 57 Tested Apple iMac 24in 60 Tested Huawei Watch 3 Chinese giant arms itself 62 Tested Sony XR-55A90J 64 Long term test Apple TV 4K New! Improved! Still pointless? 66 Group test Portable speakers Let’s party! For R5 000 or less! 72 Tested Garmin Catalyst A strangely tiny racing coach 73 Tested Sony A1 Exciting camera, boring name 74 Tested Apple iPad Pro (M1) Plus those dinky new AirTags 78 Long term test DJI Air 2S Yep, we’re droning on yet again 84 Games Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Resident Evil Village

08/09.21 P104

P101

FEATURES 33 Mini meme To-do list apps Now you just need an app to keep on top of all your apps to keep on top of things 34 Cover feature 100 best apps From five-minute puzzle games to sophisticated photo editors, here are the top downloads to make your phone, tablet or watch even smarter and your life even more wonderful (insert sarcasm here if required) 80 Instant upgrades iPhone 12 Pro A deep dive into the secrets of Apple’s handsome handset 82 Beta yourself Get organised Use technology to get your life in order (well, within reason) 104 Random access memories Donkey Kong (1981) Where it all went wrong for a generation of underachievers

TOP TENS 90 Smartphones What’s the handiest, handsomest handset? 91 Budget smartphones Everyone deserves to hold an excellent phone 92 Tablets, streamers Slick slates and ways to stream everything 93 TVs All you need for a lazy night/day/year in 94 Laptops Porta-powerhouses to warm your knees 95 Wearables, smartwatches Strapping smart tracking tickers 97 VR headsets and VR games This reality sucks. Try these new ones 100 Headphones In-ears and on-ears, hear hear! 103 Games 10 ways to avoid adult responsibilities

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I STARTING TAKING MY TABLET (SERIOUSLY)

I realised, just prior to lockdown kicking in again, that I could use my criminally underused Samsung table to read comic books. So I’ve been doing that, devouring everything I can get my hands on. Former Stuff writer Brad Lang was instrumental when it came to recommendations but I’ve hit all the major titles with a vengeance. Batman, Superman, Thor, Conan and Ant-Man have proved to be highlights but there’s nothing I like more than a solid Wolverine story arc. Because that little Canadian headcase really does get some of the best storylines (and is nowhere near as depressing as Spider-Man, holy crap). Logan, Weapon X, and Savage Wolverine – go, now, and read them. Brett Venter, Editor

I REGAINED TRUST IN COMMUNITY

Say what you want about community WhatsApp/Telegram groups, they’re effective. While most of us summarily mute our quaint suburbia-focused messaging groups, it’s become increasingly clear that they’re a useful tool during national disasters. I get it, you don’t want to see Susanna’s spam ads for her rusk business, and Andrew’s been pestering the council members about the tree on Main Street. But look past the drivel and it becomes an exceptional point of contact should something go wrong in the community. Over the past month, ours helped organise additional community security, food parcels for families infected with COVID and helped me regain trust in the people living around me. Marcé Bester, Online Editor

Making Stuff up Publisher and Editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak toby@stuff.co.za Editor Brett Venter brett@stuff.co.za Online Editor Marcé Bester marce@stuff.co.za Staff Writer Duncan Pike duncan@stuff.co.za Art Director Brandon van Rensburg art@stuff.co.za Digital Publisher Nic Boerma nic@stuff.co.za Associate Editor Nick Cowen nmc@stuff.co.za Intern Max Milella max@stuff.co.za Selling Stuff Business Director Sally Hudson, sally@stuff.co.za

OUR MONTH

What this issue has brought us by way of geekery I KEPT AN EYE ON MY DAUGHTER

I gave my daughter a selfish present, in the shape of a new Xiaomi Mi Smart T500 Electric toothbrush. I say ‘selfish’ because with the Mi Home App, which can quickly be downloaded to both our phones (to mine on the quiet), I can easily check her dental habits. It gives brilliant insight in to how often she brushes, for how long and even tells me if she’s missed a spot. Plus, it recommends ways for her to improve her dental habits. It really is fantastic, taking away much of the effort needed to convince my 12-year-old to brush her teeth. With her mouth full of metal braces, I’ll take all the help I can get. Sally Hudson, Business Manager

I GOT MYSELF CAMERA READY

Thanks to a series of events, including a shift to working from home again, over the past month I’ve been streaming over on Twitch for StuffPlays. All the kit is set up in my kitchen, which is the only room in my house close enough to the router for me to roam the internet wastelands with the ethernet cable plugged in. It’s been loads of fun, despite my complete lack of streaming experience. I’m currently streaming DOOM Eternal, and the viewers have suggested I take on a horror game next. After playing Dead Space last month I may have to disappoint them with a firm no. I’m still recovering from that one. Max Milella, Amazing Stuff Intern/Genius

Senior Account Manager Thalia Pallotta 083 375 2418 thalia@stuff.co.za Getting Stuff to you Printing CTP Distribution On the Dot 087 353 1291 Contacting Stuff Call us 087 353 1291 Email us stuff@stuff.co.za Subscribe stuff.co.za/ subscribe-now Find us www.stuff.co.za StuffSA @StuffSA

South Africa

STU FF PRO MOTIO N

An industry-first all new Clean Station™ – the Samsung Jet™ Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner Samsung’s new line-up of the Samsung Jet™ cordless stick vacuum cleaners, deliver a high-performance, hygienic, user-friendly solution that makes cleaning up easier than ever. Along with this innovation Samsung has introduced a compatible Clean Station™ that effortlessly takes the chore out of cleaning.

The newly unveiled1 Clean Station™ is an innovative dust disposal solution that automatically empties out the Samsung Jet’s dustbin to provide users with a simpler way to manage their Samsung Jet™. The Clean Station™ incorporates a highly advanced filtration system that directly solves the issue of having dust particles fly everywhere while disposing of residue from the vacuum canister. Users simply need to place the dustbin on top of the Clean Station™ to automatically empty out its contents. The Clean Station™ also has an Anti-Dust Emitting Structure that has been verified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to prevent ultrafine dust from getting released back into the air while the dustbin is being emptied out. Its air-tight design prevents 400 times more emission than conventional dustbins. It also has its own 5 Layered HEPA Filtration System that traps 99.999-percent2 of fine dust particles to ensure purer air in the room. The Clean Station™ even features Air Pulse Technology, which pulsates the air in the dustbin to shake off trapped dust. The dust is then collected in a micro bag inside the machine, which can easily be replaced every two to three months.

Before you get to use the magic of the cleaning station you already benefit from the appliance’s Digital Inverter Motor, which generates up to 200W of suction power, while its Jet Cyclone makes an optimal air path, minimizing the loss of suction. It also uses a state-of-the-art, high-capacity battery for up to an hour of use, or two hours with a spare battery3, allowing you to clean several times before the battery runs out. Additionally, the Samsung Jet’s lightweight design ensures maximum usability and reduces strain on users’ wrists with its powerful cleaning solution in a lightweight body. Availability The Jet 70, Jet 75 and Jet 90 have been released in South Africa. The recommended4 retail prices are: • • • •

Jet 90 – R15 999 Jet 75 – R12 999 Jet 70 – R9 999 Clean Station – R2 999

Pay 0% interest when you purchase online at www.samsung.com/za

For more information on the Samsung Jet™ cordless stick vacuum cleaner, please visit www.samsung.com/za 1 Cleaning Station sold separately 2 Based on internal testing in accordance with the IEC62885-2, Cl. 5.11 standard 3 Spare battery sold separately 4 Recommended retail price may vary depending on retailer

Scan this QR code to learn more about the Jet 90 7

Lovin’ you is SE As well as the 50 and 50 Pro, Honor also mentioned a cheaper 50 SE. It’s got a bigger screen but a less powerful processor, and only three cameras on the back instead of four.

HOT SIX #1 I’LL HAVE WHAT G’S HAVING Honor 50

You can’t beat a good reunion. First Robbie (briefly) rejoined Take That, then the cast of Friends got back together to compare facelift bills, and now Honor and Google have kissed and made up. It all started when Donald Trump (you remember him – orange fella, tiny hands, bad hair) took issue with Huawei; but now Honor is nothing to do with its ex-owner, so the pair can be friends again – and what better way to celebrate than with a new phone? As well as being reunited with all of Google’s services (Maps, Gmail, Drive etc), the 6.57in Honor 50 gets a 120Hz OLED display with a 32MP selfie-cam peeking through, plus four snappers on the back: 108MP main, 8MP wide-angle, 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensor. Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 778 5G platform, 8GB of RAM and a 4300mAh battery power the Android-based Magic UI, but if you want a bigger 6.72in screen and dual selfie-cameras there’s also the 50 Pro. Both will be available from Honor at some point later this year, which could lead to one of the greatest reunions of them all: an Honor phone and the inside of your pocket. As hot as… Trump’s temper Rtba / hihonor.com 8

E T ROM CH

We are the gigs Opt for the 50 and you’ll get a choice between 128GB and 256GB of built-in storage; the Pro comes with the full 256GB as standard. Its battery is a smidge smaller but charges quicker.

Let’s get frost The Honor 50 comes in Frost Crystal (which means silver), Amber Red (pink), Emerald Green (you can probably guess that one), or Midnight Black (and that one).

Daddy fuel To go with that all-day battery life, the new tab gets 40W fast charging, 27W wireless charging and even reverse wireless charging with other Huawei devices.

Bezel’s haircut That gorgeous OLED display gets the full might of a 120Hz refresh rate and has a 90% screen-to-body ratio, giving your fingers just enough bezel to grab hold of.

HOT SIX #2 PAD BOON RISING

Huawei MatePad Pro 12.6

Leaders of pen Pro tablet productivity requires add-ons – as well as the Smart Magnetic Keyboard (Rtba), look out for Huawei’s 2nd-gen M-Pencil (Rtba), with a lag time of just 9ms.

Tablets masquerading as laptops continue to be a thing – and they’re getting good at it. To be honest, we’ve not spoken to any laptops to find out if they feel threatened, or asked any normal tabs if they’re getting an inferiority complex, but one look at the latest Huawei MatePad Pro hybrid and we wouldn’t blame them. Running the company’s rapidly evolving HarmonyOS, the 12.6in model (there’s also a 10.8in version) comes with a 2560x1600 OLED screen – and yes, once you snap on the optional Smart Magnetic Keyboard, it certainly looks a lot like a laptop. There’s no ‘Intel inside’ here, of course, and you know Apple ain’t sharing its M1 chip with anyone, but Huawei’s own Kirin 9000E processor promises more than enough power. In fact we’ve already had a play, and some of the best bits include a powerful eight-speaker array that sounds great, slim screen surrounds that minimise bulk, and battery life of up to 14 hours. It’s plastic, not aluminium or glass… but if you’re really trying to be a laptop, perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. As hot as… the fury of a thousand humiliated laptops R14 000 (est) / consumer.huawei.com 11

Frou-frou boxes Rather than the usual Lego box that normal kits live in, your Lego Adidas Originals Superstar comes in its own shoebox. Just try not to throw it in the recycling.

HOT SIX #3 BLOCK ROCKIN’ FEETS Lego Adidas Originals Superstar

Earlier this year, Lego and Adidas teamed up to make some customisable Ultraboost running shoes, with three Lego stripes on each one and a selection of flat bricks that allowed you to give your kicks a unique look. The problem was they still felt more like sneakers than Lego… but this Superstar is the other way around. Instead of a foot-hugging Primeknit upper and responsive Boost midsole, you get a fully buildable Lego shoe. The final object is 27cm long and neatly mimics the original sneaker’s timeless form and design, with the trademark shell toe, heel tab and requisite three stripes. You even get laces to complete the effect. But do you get a right or left shoe? You decide, by way of 17 extra elements in the box that can be used to switch between the two. Alternatively, buy a couple of the 731-piece sets and make one of each. Just don’t in a moment of madness try putting them on. Stepping barefoot on a Lego brick is bad enough; you’d need to be a total masochist to head out wearing entirely brick-built footwear. As hot as… plastic underpants R1 800 / greatyellowbrick.co.za 12

Glory dais Your Superstar comes with a display stand, so you can show it off like you live in a shoe shop – or sneak it in with your real kicks and make them wonder what’s going on.

Alive and bricking Think you can improve on Adidas’s design? It’s possible to take some bricks from your Lego collection and add your own flourishes. A couple of Nike swooshes, perhaps?

HOT SIX #4 DRE DREAM BELIEVER

Beats Studio Buds Beats headphones aren’t exactly known for being affordable – what do you expect when Apple spent $3bn on buying the company from Dr Dre? – but at roughly half the price of a pair of AirPods Pro, the new Studio Buds look like a bargain. With active noise-cancelling, Siri-based voice control and support for Apple Music’s nifty new Spatial Audio tracks, you don’t have to make do without any of the fancier features you get on pricier buds – although it’s got to be said the 5hr battery life (with 10 more in the charging case) is a little bit stingy. Switch the noise-cancelling off and that jumps to 8+16hrs, but why have ANC if you’re not going to use it? Each bud weighs just 5g, and with an IPX4 rating they’re not bothered by water or sweat, plus there’s a transparency mode in case you want to eavesdrop on your fellow humans thrilling conversations about seahorse mating rituals. Their one-touch pairing also works with Android phones, which is unusual for an Apple product, but then these buds are all about nice surprises. As hot as… Dre’s next project Rtba / istore.co.za 13

A wink to the past If you like having your nostalgia glands tickled you’ll love the box this unit comes in. It’s designed to mimic the original range, with the same gold hue and retro artwork.

HOT SIX #5 NEW ZELDA WORLD IN YOUR ARMS Nintendo Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda

Zelda fans might still be busy dissecting every single frame and pixel of the new Breath of the Wild sequel trailer from E3 (see p20)… but with anything up to 18 months to wait until that game is actually released, Nintendo has offered something to stop us going spare in the meantime: a dedicated handheld to mark the series’ 35th anniversary. While it won’t be released until November, this special Game & Watch is crammed with enough Link-related goodness to keep anyone occupied for months, with the original The Legend of Zelda from 1986, 1987’s Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link, and the Game Boy version of Link’s Awakening all pre-installed. Plus there’s a special version of Vermin, essentially Whack-a-Mole for the Game & Watch, with Link as the walloper. Ninty’s also squeezed in a Zelda-themed clock and timer that are both playable – so even when you’ve finished the games you still have something to do. Maybe there’s no need to rush that new Switch title… As hot as… Hyrule’s fireproof lizards R1 300 (est.) / store.nintendo.co.za 14

Phantom hour-pass The original Game & Watch would eat through batteries like a hungry piranha plant, but this version is rechargeable via the USB-C port. You should get up to eight hours out of it.

The twinned waker Nintendo released a very similar Mario-themed Game & Watch last November. The start and select buttons are new here, but the screen looks like the same 2.36in job.

Gorillapod 3K PRO

Machined aluminum sockets

Calling all content creators: the GorillaPod 3K PRO is here. Designed for Vloggers and Content Creators who shoot with the latest Premium Mirrorless Cameras, the GorillaPod 3K PRO is the next evolutionary step in content creation. Grip it. Wrap it. Stand it.

joby.com

V I

T A L S T A T S

IT’S NOT AS QUEASY AS IT LOOKS

The built-in headphones have 3D spatial sound and are certified for Hi-Res Audio.

HTC Vive Pro 2 Rtba / vive.com

Could this beefed-up VR headset eliminate motion blur and tummy troubles? Maybe, provided you’ve got the PC to run it… ● Real gone grid Performance gains are important all across the gadget-sphere, but with VR headsets you can really see them with your eyes… and sometimes feel them in your stomach. Luckily, HTC’s latest Vive headset claims to bring an improvement in every department. With a 5K screen and a dual-lens design that ups the field of view to 120°, the PC-powered Vive Pro 2 aims to all but eliminate the screen 16

door effect (where you can see the gaps between pixels) and let you see more of your virtual world of choice up close. ● Motional rescue The Vive Pro 2’s panel has a 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in less motion blur and a more immersive and (we’re promised) more comfortable experience. On top of that, it’s the first VR headset to use lossless Display Stream Compression (DSC), which ensures maximum visual quality while maintaining backwards compatibility with DisplayPort 1.2, meaning even older graphics cards will benefit from the new tech.

● Snugger baby love If you’re paying large sums for a VR headset, you’ll want to know that sticking it on your head isn’t going to be a chore. Good thing, then, that the Vivo Pro 2 has fine-adjustable interpupillary distance, evenly distributed weight and quick-adjust sizing dials. ● Vive talkin’ HTC mercifully doesn’t demand that you replace all your old VR gear to accommodate the Vive Pro 2. The new headset is compatible with older Vive trackers, as well as older SteamVR base stations, controllers and other accessories. More on those to your right…

THE PANEL’S 120HZ REFRESH RATE MEANS LESS MOTION BLUR, MORE COMFORT

NOW ADD THESE… ● Vive Facial Tracker

What’s the point of throwing a rock at someone in VR if you can’t wink at them afterwards? The new Facial Tracker captures face movements from all angles, from scowls to smiles. Rtba / vive.com

● Vive Tracker 3.0

Put your mind at wrist

FITBIT LUXE

Fitbit’s thinnest fitness tracker yet is inspired by jewellery design techniques... but forget blingy Swarovski crystals, because the Luxe is more ‘Indian yoga retreat’ than ‘night at Sun City’. The emphasis is on a holistic approach to fitness, taking into account sleep, stress and nutrition, as well as all the regular stuff like calories and distance. The only in-your-face feature is the vivid AMOLED display, suitable for smartphone notifications, but even that can easily be hushed. Subscribe to Fitbit Premium (R150/m) and you’ll unlock benefits such as guided meditation by none other than New Age champ Deepak Chopra. It’s fully waterproof, for dunking yourself in the River Ganges. R3 000 / fitbit.com

Vive likes to ensure movements are accurately replicated on screen so the virtual world feels real; this latest tracker is 15% lighter and 75% longer-lasting than its predecessor. R2 000 / bhphotovideo.com

● Vive Wireless Adapter

The Oculus Quest 2 has proved that wireless VR is the way forward… so this adapter untethers you from your PC while maintaining a low-latency VR experience. R6 100 / takealot.com

Groove is in the chart

LEGO ART WORLD MAP Move over, Colosseum – there’s an even bigger Lego set in town. The World Map features a whopping 11,695 (!) elements, most of which are round tiles that you plug into 40 interconnecting baseplates. The land is white, with a subtle shadow, providing contrast with ocean floors whose colours are inspired by bathymetric mapping. Naturally, putting all this together takes time – a lot of time – and so Lego has provided a soundtrack while you work, where travel experts tell tales of far-flung places they’ve visited. You can mark off those you’ve experienced for real too, with cone pieces that transform your plastic masterpiece into a kind of offline brick-built Google Maps. R5 000 / greatyellowbrick.co.za 17

BMW time machines

BMW CHRONOGRAPH Costing a fair amount less than a single month’s payments on an actual BMW, these new chronograph movement wristwatches won’t look out of place on your wrist as you tool about the city in your fancy German-engineered vehicle. They’re not smart, so don’t expect notifications, but they are rather smart. If you get what we mean. It’s a style thing. Just look at the replicated grille. And, if your budget doesn’t start at five grand, there are also new silicon-banded wristwatches based on the M Motorsport label starting at R1 900 to check out. Unlike its namesake, the M logo etched into the face doesn’t make it run any faster. from R5 600 / watchrepublic.co.za

A rather novel idea

LEGO IDEAS TYPEWRITER This Lego Ideas typewriter is more than just the sum of its 2 079 parts. Lego could have just made it look pretty and called it a day but no, they had to go and make it functional as well. The carriage actually moves as you type, there’s a fabric strip included that brings to mind an actual printer ribbon, and each of the strikers has the correct key emblazoned on it. You can even feed paper into this marvel correctly. If not for the fact that it is made entirely from Lego (and thus can’t take the punishment), you could actually type that novel you’ve been meaning to write on this thing. R4 000 / greatyellowbrick.co.za

Working better under pressure

XIAOMI MI PORTABLE ELECTRIC AIR COMPRESSOR Xiaomi makes some interesting kit but this little portable air compressor is the serious business. It’s got profiles for cars, bikes (both motor and pedal), as well as balls and then a freestyle option, automatic cutout once you reach your desired programmable pressure and controls similar to that of the old Apple iPod. The 2,000 mAh battery will get at least one (and up to five) flat tyres completely inflated. Just don’t expect service station inflation speeds. It’ll take about six minutes to transform your soft, rubber-encased thingy into something nice and er… firm? Road bike tyres inflate in about three minutes (each). R900 / syntech.co.za

(Don’t) add another zero

JBL QUANTUM 800 We’re used to seeing the JBL name on speakers, it’s about time we got familiar with them on smaller speakers that live on your ears. The Quantum 800 cans from the audio brand target (mostly) the PC gaming market, offering up comfortable design, noise cancellation, a decent microphone (though it’ll do better if you’re a PC player) and substantial audio performance at a price point that isn’t about to kick your wallet in its squishy nether regions. They’ll also work just fine on consoles but you lose access to JBL’s QuantumEngine software – which drops a few of these cans’ best features off the map. R3 800 / jblsouthafrica.co.za

WTF IS APPLE SPATIAL AUDIO? Is this the US spelling of ‘special audio’?

Now, now. Spatial Audio – with Dolby Atmos, no less – creates immersive, multidimensional sound and clarity that comes from all around and above you, so think of it like surround sound but for music rather than dumb films. Sony is already doing something similar with 360 Reality Audio, but now there’s an Apple version and they won’t shut up about it.

Presumably it’s expensive?

Actually that’s the good bit, because Spatial Audio songs on Apple Music are available at no extra cost, which is a pretty hefty shot across the bows of streaming rivals like Spotify and Tidal. The upgrade is in addition to a catalogue of 75 million songs in Lossless Audio also available to Apple Music subscribers for R60/m a month.

But I need Apple headphones, right?

Well, yes, you’ve got that bit right. Spatial Audio tracks will play on Apple Music by default in iOS 14.6 on all Apple AirPods and Beats headphones with an H1 or W1 chip, as well as the built-in speakers on the latest iPhones, iPads and Macs. How about HomePods? You’ll need a new Apple TV 4K (reviewed on p64) to go with them.

How do I set it up, then?

Disciple of roar

FENDER FINAL FANTASY XIV STRATOCASTER Fender’s limited-edition Final Fantasy XIV Stratocaster celebrates the company’s 75th anniversary with an unexpected gaming tie-in. This black Strat has been accented with blue and purple to represent the “crystals of darkness and light”, a key component in FFXIV lore, while the playability and sound are said to “mirror the world” of the game (somehow). The guitar features a slim maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, while a trio of V-Mod pickups bring the fantastical tones. Sadly there’s no online multiplayer mode on a guitar, but you could always team up with a bassist and a drummer. Rtba (late 2021) / fender.com

In Apple Music’s settings under Audio there’s an option to set Dolby Atmos to ‘Automatic’, ‘Always On’ or ‘Off’. Apple’s also building Spatial Audio authoring tools directly into music-making apps like Logic Pro – later this year it plans to release an update to Logic so anyone can create and mix songs in the format.

What’s there right now, Ed Sheeran?

Inevitably, along with “some of the world’s biggest artists and music across all genres”, and Apple has slapped a Spatial Audio badge on song details to make them easily discernible. There’s also a set of curated playlists remixed for the format.

G A M E S E 3 S P E C Four pages of gaming expo highlights

DUE 26OCT

ISN’T IT MARVELLOUS?

MARVEL’S GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC, Switch (via cloud) When a publisher like Square Enix gets hold of the Marvel licence, you naturally expect big things – and even more so when the word ‘Avengers’ is uttered. But it’s fair to say last year’s video-game take on everyone’s favourite superhero collective was a mixed bag, with a host of performance issues hurting the live-service title at launch, and grindy post-game content failing to give players much incentive to stick around once the entertaining campaign was done with. So what’s next? Well, it’s perhaps not surprising that we’re getting a Guardians of the Galaxy game this year… but we wouldn’t have put any 20

money on it being the story-driven, entirely single-player title unveiled at E3. In Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy you play as Peter Quill, better known as Star-Lord, the self-appointed leader of those intergalactic outlaws, in an original comics-inspired adventure that looks very promising indeed. And we hope Star-Lord is your favourite Guardian, because you only play as him. When beating up aliens in the game’s third-person combat sections, Quill is able to issue instructions to the other AI-controlled Guardians in real time, while there will be dialogue choices that affect how the story plays out. For example, in the fairly

lengthy E3 gameplay demo, we saw the Guardians squabbling over whether to sell Rocket or Groot in an attempt to make a bit of fast cash, with the final decision being left to Star-Lord. It’s a fun idea that seems well suited to a game featuring the Guardians, whose strange alliance is what makes them so watchable. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Guardians of the Galaxy game without a soundtrack rammed full of ’80s bangers, and here they’ll kick in when you trigger certain special attacks – because what fight in space can’t be improved by a bit of Bonnie Tyler? It’s due out in October.

STARFIELD

XSX/S, PC Bethesda’s first totally new franchise in a quarter of a century was first teased three years ago, but we finally got a very brief look at what to expect from Starfield – and when to expect it. This space RPG, which its developer calls ‘the game we’ve dreamed of playing’, will let you create any character and explore with ‘unparalleled freedom’ when it arrives in November 2022.

METROID DREAD

Switch Quite literally the first entirely new side-scrolling Metroid game in 19 years, Metroid Dread captures the spirit of the seminal 2D classics with a dazzling new look. And while that will thrill old-school fans, it’s not all familiar mechanics: Samus has a new slide move and Phantom Cloak suit. We’ll get this one in October, and yes, Nintendo is still working on Metroid Prime 4…

ELDEN RING

PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC Elden Ring has been one of the most anticipated games on the horizon for a while now, as not only the latest game by FromSoftware but also a collaboration with Game of Thrones mastermind George RR Martin. The first proper gameplay reveal showed an epic fantasy battler that seems to have a bigger emphasis on magic in combat. It’s due out in January. 21

G A M E S E 3 S P E C I A L

DUE 9 NOV

MEXICAN RAVE

FORZA HORIZON 5 Xbox, PC E3 specialises in dangling flashy trailers in front of us, before cruelly revealing that we won’t actually be playing those games for several long years. But this is never the case with the Forza Horizon. When Playground Games unveils a new entry in its great open-world racing series, it usually looks very nearly ready to send out of the door… and it’s the same story with Forza Horizon 5. Out in November

and looking predictably stunning in 4K @ 60fps with ray-tracing on the Xbox Series X, this title takes the series to Mexico in what its maker is calling its biggest game to date. The diverse racing locales range from deserts and jungles to modern cities, crumbling ruins and even a snow-capped volcano, while dust fills your windscreen and tropical storms rage as Mexico’s dynamic

seasons test your car-handling skills. There’ll be a bigger focus on story than before, with a host of characters to assign you missions, plus a huge selection of vehicles to take on and off the roads. Forza Horizon 5 will undoubtedly be a riot for strictly solo players, but this will once again be an online open world that lets you seamlessly enter challenges and events with both friends and

strangers as you play – and if its predecessor is anything to go by, new content will keep coming until the inevitable arrival of FH6. Also new is Events Lab, which lets players create mini-games within the game, while cars can once again be given custom paint jobs that you can share with other players online. The only negative we can find is that November still feels like quite a while away. Sigh.

SEA OF THIEVES: A PIRATE’S LIFE

FAR CRY 6

HALO INFINITE

WARIOWARE: GET IT TOGETHER!

Xbox, PC Sea of Thieves… but make it Jack Sparrow. Yep, the online multiplayer pirate-’em-up has joined forces with Disney for a new storyline that will centre around the Pirates of the Caribbean rum-swigger.

Xbox, PS5, PS4, PC, Luna, Stadia Far Cry’s oddball personality still shines through in the latest entry, with entertaining weapons and vehicles plus a wild rooster who can do your bidding. Add-ons will bring back previous Far Cry villains as playable characters.

Xbox, PC We still don’t have a nailed-on release date for the next Halo game, but Microsoft did show a snippet of campaign action as well as giving us a look at Infinite’s multiplayer, with a trailer featuring lots of jumping and explosions.

Switch Finally, Wario gets his day in the sun on the Switch, with a new WarioWare entry launching later this year. Expect the wacky vibe of past micro-game collections but with some new elements.

…AND WHAT WE DIDN’T GET

FRESH NINTY BREATH

ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD SEQUEL Switch

BATTLEFIELD 2042

Xbox, PS5, PS4, PC The next Battlefield game was revealed ahead of the expo, but it was at E3 that we got our first look at gameplay. The 2042 trailer showed off the new shooter’s 128-player battles, which look incredible – and bonkers. The near-future setting means these massive matches will be sprinkled with futuristic tech, and we saw everything from parachuting tanks to explosive quad bikes. Players can use wingsuits to quickly move from ground skirmishes to the action taking place high above street level, while sandstorms and tornadoes will very quickly put an end to any strategy your squad might have. You just can’t legislate for your chopper being hurled into the side of a building. The lack of a campaign might disappoint some, but Battlefield 2042 could be the multiplayer event of the year when it arrives on 22 October (2021, not 2042).

Since its surprise announcement at E3 2019, we’ve heard almost nothing about the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, other than Nintendo occasionally telling us it doesn’t have anything to show. But while we still have very little information, not even a proper title, we did finally get a new trailer at this year’s E3. And we’d advise Zelda fans who haven’t yet seen the new BOTW2 footage to hunt

SABLE

Xbox, PC, macOS We’ve been staring dreamy-eyed at this open-world exploration game for years now, whenever it’s emerged from its development cocoon… and this latest trailer is the most stunning yet. The release date is 23 September.

it down the second you’ve finished reading this, as it really does look absolutely stunning. The big takeaway is that we see Link soaring over what appears to be a collection of floating islands, above a much more familiar Hyrule than the one we saw in the original 2019 reveal. His trusty paraglider is seen cutting through clouds, and it appears our hero can even teleport upwards through solid surfaces. This one should be out next year.

MARIO + RABBIDS SPARKS OF HOPE

Switch Ubisoft’s mash-up franchise is getting another entry in 2022 with this follow-up to the early Switch gem Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, taking its inspiration from Super Mario Galaxy.

While there was news aplenty at this year’s show, E3 isn’t the extravaganza it once was. There was a PS5-shaped hole in proceedings, with Sony opting once again to give it a miss. PlayStation has recently showed off a chunk of its biggest upcoming game, Horizon Forbidden West (above), but we’re still awaiting more information on what the future will look like for PS5 players. The other major absence was EA, which opted to stream its annual EA Play Live event in late July. Turns out, you get more love if you show off your wares when nobody else is. Except here, EA.

As for games that didn’t show up, well, we couldn’t fit them all in here if we tried. Skull and Bones (above), the Ubisoft pirate game that’s been in development for a lifetime, was nowhere to be seen. Nor were Fable 4, Pokemon Legends: Arceus or Everwild. But perhaps the biggest surprise E3 no-show was the so-called Nintendo Switch Pro. Rumours of a powerful OLED-screened Switch with 4K graphics have been raging for a while… those are no longer rumours, it’s coming in October. 23

W H E E L S

Mercedes-Benz Concept EQT

FREIGHTER BOI Weather too grim to open the gigantic sunroof and admire the night sky? No matter: there’s a starscape laser-etched into the roof itself.

Rtba (concept) / mercedes-benz.co.za Looks like a happy chappy. This smiley little fella is a result of designers at Mercedes-Benz getting a bit creative. Based on the existing V-Class van, the Concept EQT is a look at what an electrified small van from the German brand might look like in the not-so-distant future; but it’s actually more likely to form a design base for the upcoming petrol and diesel T-Class. Are those little stars all over the front grille? Yep, the grille itself is made up of 3D-effect back-illuminated stars, while the narrow LED headlights save that big grin from looking downright goofy by adding a bit of menace that leads into some neatly puffed-up wheel-arches. This is a concept – so, come on, where’s the wacky feature? In the boot! Open up that sucker and you’ll be greeted by – wait

for it – an electric longboard. It’s stored in an aluminium-framed box beneath a plexiglass lid. The longboard is also made of aluminium and features a star pattern, just in case you needed more of an excuse to be pushed into traffic as you ride to work. Serious question – is it practical? The car, not the longboard. Yeah, massively, seeing as there’s room for up to seven people, who can access their sumptuous leathery pews via large sliding doors on both sides. Three child seats can be fitted in the second row, and to entertain the kiddies there’s a huge panoramic roof. Is this making vans… cool? Maybe! So many families fall for the SUV marketing fluff, but the humble MPV is brilliant for ferrying kids, prams, dogs and bikes. This concept could be just what the people-carrier market needs.

NEWS DASHBOARD

CYBER PACE

MG has taken the wraps off a bold new concept: the Cyberster roadster. It might sound like a long-forgotten Transformer, but MG says interest in the electric two-door beast rocketed after its unveil at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show, so it only feels right that the car is likely to go into production.

CUTE HUSQY

Motorbike maker Husqvarna has committed to an electric future… and its Vektorr Concept is a mega-stylish peek at what battery-powered scootering could look like. It’s expected to have a range of around 100km and reach a learner-friendly top speed of 45km/h The Akira vibes are strong with this one.

LAN OVERBOARD

The legendary Lancia 037 of the early ’80s has been given a makeover by Italian ‘restomod’ specialist Kimera. The EVO37 uses the same 2.1-litre engine but tweaked to produce 500bhp, with carbon fibre replacing fibreglass. Just 37 are being made, costing a smidge over R7.85 million each. Mamma mia!

Hanging around in ‘bars

LG SN11R

The first thing you need to know about the LG SN11R soundbar is that it’s large. Very large. If you’re not rocking at least a 50in TV (and it’ll suit sizes of 65in even better), you probably don’t need this multi-speaker 7.1.4 channel Meridian-powered surround sound system. There are more than 25kg of speakers to contend with, in a box that will barely fit inside a hatchback. LG promises Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support out of the (substantial) box, AI-powered room calibration and 770W of audio power. It’ll play nice with LG’s TV models from 2020 onwards. R19 000 / lg.com/za

WTF IS THE ONEXPLAYER? Well, this isn’t quite how I imagined the new Nintendo Switch looking…

Nah, this is the Onexplayer: a portable games machine that marries AAA PC gaming with handheld convenience. While it’s impossible not to draw comparisons with the current Switch, the Onexplayer politely crushes it in the specs department. We’re talking up to an 11th-gen Core i7 with integrated Iris Xe graphics and a whopping 8.4in 2560x1600 IPS display. That’s more than four times as many pixels as the Switch’s 6.2in screen.

Ooh, that won’t go down well in the Mushroom Kingdom…

You get the full complement of controls, including analogue triggers around the back, plus dual vibration motors, stereo speakers, and dual cooling fans to ensure the console doesn’t burst into flames when you’re playing Doom Eternal. It weighs as much as two Switches glued together, but deftly deals with weedy arms by way of a kickstand. A separately available keyboard enables you to occasionally fire up Office and pretend you bought the thing for work, but the Onexplayer has one more trick to tempt your buying finger: twin USB4 ports, so you can plug in an eGPU and a 4K screen at the same time.

So I can play anything on this thing?

Quite the photo finish

FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 40 Fuji can’t go wrong by releasing its modern take on 1970s camera technology, it seems. The company’s newest, the Instax Mini 40, features old-school design in a black leatherette body, eschewing the usual bright and colourful designs for something almost… stylish. There are only really two modes to contend with: Automatic Exposure and then Selfie. Guess what they do? The company has also launched new Contact Sheets, which mimic… well, contact sheets. They’ll set you back R170 for a pack of 10, and they’re also compatible with any other Fuji camera that takes Instax film packages. R1 400 / fujifilm.com/za

Well, it’s a licensed Windows 10 machine, so anything in your Steam or Epic games library, and presumably Xbox Game Pass for PC titles too. Performance depends on what you’re playing, but in theory there’s nothing you shouldn’t be able to throw at the Onexplayer… and if you burn through the built-in 15,300mAh battery in one mammoth sitting, you can rest assured that the 65W charger will juice it up again before you can say “wrist strain”.

Sold! Although that might change when I hear the price…

Even at the lowest possible spec, the Onexplayer is going to leave you R11 500 out of pocket. Well, nobody said taking your entire PC games library to play on the toilet would be cheap.

S T R E A M This month’s on-demand TV highlights range from grumpy farmers to regular folks, while travelling back to the 80s and to other worlds

Clarkson’s Farm

Normal People

The Last Mercenary

Motoring journalist and famous grumpy person Jeremy Clarkson has to run a farm despite having no farming experience. What follows is, presumably, hilarious – because Clarkson is in it. We can only hope they give him an ailing plaas in the Free State to spruce up for the next season. Hey, Top Gear travelled to Africa all the time. S1 / Amazon Prime Video

There’s no acting like British acting so this tale of first love between two Irish teens, a BBC-made limited series with a Golden Globe nomination, proves to be a punch in the emotional gut. Based on the novel by Sally Rooney, viewers can look forward to people being… well… normal. Their situation? That’s not as normal as they’d like. S1 / Showmax

The Muscles from Brussels may be a tad wizened and creaky these days, but fans of action flicks will be cheered to see Jean-Claude Van Damme back on the screen – even if it is in a French-language Netflix movie. JCVD plays a super-merc forced out of retirement for (you guessed it) one last job: to save his son from mobsters. Film / Netflix

Masters of the Universe: Revelation

Ted Lasso

Physical

On paper, Ted Lasso never should have worked. The premise – brash American football coach takes over ailing English soccer team, despite knowing nothing about the sport or the country – is about as hackneyed as they come; but the first season’s wit and warmth won the critics (and us) over. Bring on the second. S2 / Apple TV+

Discovering yourself through the magic of aerobics only sounds like a strange concept to South Africans who didn’t see that stuff every morning on SABC. This 80’s dark comedy tale starring Rose Byrne will take you back to a weirder time, when working out in tights could be a full-time job. Bring on the Body Beat. S1 / Apple TV+

Kevin Smith, famous for making films where stoned slackers talk about He-Man and Skeletor, has been handed the keys to the cult cartoon franchise for a miniseries of his own. Smith says it’ll have a more mature direction than the original… even though Prince Adam is still wearing furry underpants. S1 / Netflix

Based on the novel by Stephen King, Lisey’s Story follows the titular Lisey (played by Julianne Moore) as she comes to terms with the last task her deceased husband, author Scott Landon, has given her. Part fantasy-horror, part romance, part thriller, this eight-episode series, penned by King himself and starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Jason Leigh alongside Moore, will have you on the edge of your seat. Long-time Stephen King fans will see that there are, indeed, other worlds than this.

DO M N’ TH ISS T IS

Lisey’s Story S1 / Amazon Prime Video

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FIRST TEST SONY WF-1000XM4

Every bud ear’s happy nowadays With so many fine active noise-cancelling true wireless rivals around, Sony has hit back by making its own in-ears smaller and lighter – while piling on the features

R7 000 / sony.co.za

ony is the reason there are so many brilliant active noise-cancelling true wireless earphones around right now. The company kicked the whole thing off in 2017 with the original WF-1000X buds, and since then everyone else has been playing catch-up – some

with more success than others. And while the WF-1000XM3s were always near the top of the class, in the two years they’ve been on sale everyone from Sennheiser and Bose to Bowers & Wilkins and now Devialet (see p32) has been trying to take the crown. But anyone who expected Sony to just fiddle around the

edges of a proven design is going to be surprised. The WF-1000XM4 is Sony’s latest demonstration of the state of the art, and it’s an entirely new design, fresh from the ground up. The earbuds themselves are smaller and lighter than before (7.3g per bud) and the charging case they live in is fully 40% more compact than the old

model. The packaging is reduced too, and it’s now all paper-based and recyclable. Despite reducing the physical dimensions, though, Sony has been able to include a stack of new features – from adaptive noise-cancellation to fast pairing for Android and Windows. All the buds have to do now is sound better than all their rivals…

FIRST TEST SONY WF-1000XM4

aptX’s and Ohs

Wireless link-up is via Bluetooth 5.2, which is right at the cutting edge. There’s support for SBC and AAC codecs, as well as Sony’s own LDAC hi-res offering – good news for Xperia owners. But there’s not a sniff of aptX or any of its derivatives.

2 Get a chip on yourself The entire audio chain in these buds is new. The V1 processor and its associated amplification are both fresh designs, and once they’ve finished dealing with your digital audio file they pass it to an equally new pair of 6mm full-range neodymium drivers (1).

4 Kick out the slams The active noise-cancelling will adapt to your surroundings to give you the optimum experience whatever you’re doing. And Sony has also developed some new polyurethane eartips (3) for more passive noise-reduction than ever before.

3 Rockaway speech Just say the familiar wake word and Google Assistant or Alexa will spring into life – and thanks to the three mics in each earbud (2), voice commands are heard and acted on quickly. Siri is available too, if you want to make things less quick and simple.

5 Squall of Cthulhu There’s some extensive EQ adjustment available in Sony’s control app, including two slots for your own custom settings. Some of the presets are worth experimenting with, although the one labelled ‘Excited’ isn’t quite as exciting as we hoped.

Good Meh Evil

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24 hours with the Sony WF-1000XM4s

2mins 30

5mins

10mins 20mins

8hrs

9hrs

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FIRST TEST SONY WF-1000XM4

Techspecs

Audio 6mm neodymium drivers Connectivity Bluetooth 5, USB-C and Qi charging Battery life 8hrs (buds), 16hrs (case) Waterproof rating IPX4 Weight 7.3g each, 41g case

Best buds forever? So the specs and features are impressive, but what’s it like to hang out with Sony’s new noise-cancellers?

■ Blasting

■ Lasting

■ Tweaking

■ Speaking

The sound is really accomplished: balanced, vibrant and articulate. There’s plenty of punch and drive, but lots of subtlety too, and they never let even the finest details escape.

A Ot NC he is r b eff ud ec s d tiv o er a b ig Th it ht u by e be p th pas tte un e i si r h til m ve pr n er it i ov oi e. sn ed se ’t. An ea is o co d r tip lat ul ca s i ion d h ll q si o av ua m ff e a lit pr er es ed ch y is siv f at la So e. du ta H ny rin ou i-R ’s L t g s es DA a h up Au C ur er i ric b. di s a o d an Yo W ec e. u ire e Ha le nt W ve ss co F- n’ ce de 10 t y rt c – 00 et ifi ca w XM fou te ith 4s nd . do a s n’t tyl th e o ink f m is us br ic illi th an e t.

Sony’s control app is the best around. As well as adjusting EQ and ANC levels, you can assign specific commands to the touch controls and deploy Speak-to-Chat automatic pausing.

20hrs

21hrs 22hrs

23hrs

24hrs

Battery life is in the ‘good but not great’ category. With ANC on they’ll run for around 8hrs, and there are two charges in the case. So unless you cane the volume you should be OK for a 24hr solo party.

Sony has put a lot of effort into improving call quality, and a bone-conducting vibration sensor ensures clarity is immaculate. The feed-forward mics even switch off if they detect too much wind noise.

With the arguable exceptions of call quality and app slickness, the Sony WF-1000XM4s aren’t quite the best at anything. But they’re so close to being the best at everything that their all-round game is untouchable. No other true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds are so consistently accomplished across the board.

STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ The best true wireless earbuds around – small(er) is beautiful and this is the complete package 31

FIRST TEST SONY WF-1000XM4

The new alternative: Devialet Gemini

For just a bit less, you can go full-on audiophile… or can you?

R6 800 / e-piphany.co.za ■ Yep, there’s room for one more on the ANC wireless bandwagon… and it’s French luxury hi-fi brand Devialet, bounding up to the top deck with a pair of surprisingly inexpensive in-ears that promise high-class sound and hi-tech noise-cancelling. Even if they do look a bit like big clompy boots.

Let’s go drippin’ The buds are rated IPX4, so they can stand the odd splash, and they’ll handle calls and voice-assistant commands as well as music.

■ Do you like acronyms? You’ll love these. They’ve got EAM (ear active matching), whereby the buds tune their sound to the shape of your ear canals; PBA (pressure balance architecture) to regulate the amount of air inside; and IDC (internal delay compensation) for more accurate ANC in the high frequencies. ■ They should sound amazing, shouldn’t they? But on first listen, the Geminis’ edgy aggression has us wincing. Luckily, a visit to the app’s EQ screen is all it takes to swap ‘excitement’ for something a lot smoother. With dips on the 1.25kHz and 4kHz bands, we’re suddenly in happy hi-fi land: the balance is perfect and the sheer space in the midrange is joyous. ■ Is this the most powerful ANC ever? No, but if you just want to silence general hubbub it’s highly effective. It’s also very natural, cutting evenly across the range so the world seems to be turned down a few notches rather than weirdly hollowed out.

Tech specs Audio 10mm drivers Connectivity Bluetooth 5, USB-C and Qi charging Battery life 6hrs (buds), 18hrs (case) Waterproof rating IPX4 Weight 7g each, 76g case

There’s nothing special about these buds’ design, charging case, battery life, ANC or app… and the sound out of the box is overhyped. But who cares when what you’re getting here (eventually) is proper hi-fi brilliance for under R7 000?

STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ These in-ears are capable of delectable sonic refinement 32

■ Phones

Devialet’s simple Android/iOS app lets you choose from three levels of ANC and two levels of transparency for when you do want to hear the real world, as well as checking on the buds’ battery levels.

■ Tones

The app’s EQ screen includes a number of presets, but dragging the nodes on the graphic equaliser up and down is much more fun. You can also alter the left/right balance, for some reason.

■ Zones

The buds have touch-sensitive outer surfaces that handle the usual play/pause, ANC on/off and call functions with short or long presses. Double-press functions can be customised in the app.

APPS

Mini meme

● Todoist

The most popular entry on this page, Todoist ticks all the boxes you might include on your ‘get a solid task manager’ list – and more, such as natural language input. It’s simple enough for newbs to grasp but flexible for those who want extra. And it’ll work offline when you’re in a tunnel. Just be mindful that some key features (reminders, filters, labels) are gated behind premium payments. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

● TickTick

With a name that sounds like an invitation to anxiety, TickTick gets off on the wrong foot. Fortunately, it’s packed with features that help you blaze through tasks. You get all the usual creation and checklist tools, but there’s also a pomodoro timer that trains you to use time more efficiently and a habit planner to improve life patterns – be that setting up tasks or remembering to eat. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

YOU KNOW WHAT TO-DO Well, you will once you’ve read this… if you need help getting things done and scraps of paper are no longer cutting it, try these mobile task managers

● Twobird

Feel like you’ve enough inboxes? Twobird invites you to smash two of them together: email and reminders. The aim is to help you focus on imminent and important tasks, since they’re now all in one place. The system’s collaborative elements make it feel a bit like Slack… only without your message history vanishing when everyone doesn’t pay. (Twobird is entirely free.) Free / Android, iOS

● Agenda

Another app that mashes reminders and task-juggling into something else, Agenda bases all its planning around notes. For wordier types who like having reminders and tasks in context, this is a boon. You can add imagery, link items to your calendar, and browse the full timeline to recall why you made specific decisions that resulted in a task going spectacularly well – or horribly wrong. Free (IAP) / iOS

● Things

This app wants you to spend as much time cooing at its design as getting things done. But it isn’t just gloss – Things helps you get to important tasks quickly, browse what’s coming up and construct entries in a way that makes sense. The magic ‘+’ can be dragged to insert items where you want them, the visual structure marries looks with legibility, and pop-over search further boosts efficiency. R200 / iPhone ● R380 / iPad

● Microsoft To Do

If you’re an old hand and are wondering why we omitted Wunderlist, we didn’t. Microsoft crossed it off its own list years back, gobbling up the creators and regurgitating parts of their app into its own. Compared to rivals, To Do is basic – but that can be good if you want to keep things simple. And you won’t need to add ‘Take out subscription’ as your first task, because it’s completely free. Free / Android, iOS 33

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APPLE MAGIC KEYBOARD FOR iPAD The iPad’s on-screen keyboard is serviceable, but it’s not great for lengthy work: tapping away on glass isn’t pleasant and the board takes up a lot of space. Apple’s Magic Keyboard costs almost as much as an entry-level iPad in itself, but pays its way by making you more efficient. The keys are great and the trackpad is responsive – and because your iPad connects to the Magic Keyboard via magnets, you can turn it back into a standalone tablet in an instant. from R5 800 / istore.co.za

FILE BROWSER Apple’s Files app is great for exploring what’s stored on your device or iCloud; this app is for everything else. It can connect to a range of cloud storage services, and also locally networked PCs, Macs and drives. It integrates with Files too, so you can quickly get at your documents wherever they live. R130 / iOS

ULYSSES

1BLOCKER

The idea behind Ulysses isn’t so much to be a tool for writing your great novel, but as a repository for every word you write. Its flexibility means it’s as good for note-taking as it is for longer jobs, and cloud-synced text can export in a range of formats. The best bit: you’ll always know where everything you write is. R105/m / iOS

The internet is full of fluff, which can really bog down your web browsing. 1Blocker largely eradicates such junk, speeding up Safari and ensuring you get to the real stuff more rapidly. It’s a powerful and flexible tool… but also customisable, which means you can, for example, ‘whitelist’ ads on those sites you’d like to support. from R35 / iOS

AFFINITY DESIGNER

The iPad Pro’s camera is great for video calls but only the Magic Keyboard pivots it to a laptop-like angle, thus hiding your pandemic double chin.

The idea that pro-grade design tools couldn’t exist on iPad was obliterated when Affinity’s app rocked up. Designer is aimed at, well, designers. With an Apple Pencil, pointy digits and some skill you can craft all manner of vector-based masterpieces, utilising the app’s rich features and almost endless zoom. R380 / iPad

100 BEST APPS

TABLET TITANS If you’re thinking of ditching your laptop in favour of one of Apple’s newest iPads, you’ll be needing some desktop-grade apps

TEXTASTIC If your idea of being productive is bashing out code like you’re in a sci-fi movie, Textastic’s where it’s at. Affordable yet versatile, this app is fast, has syntax highlighting for 80 languages and can connect to all manner of external sources. Just the ticket for reworking your website or even building your own app. R200 / iOS

LUMAFUSION

MINDNODE

iMovie is there for beginners, but LumaFusion’s for when you’re serious about video editing. It works on iPhone, but on iPad the app really lets you dig into its multi-track timeline, titler, audio mixer and superb special effects. You can export in a range of formats, or even to Final Cut Pro to continue your work on a Mac. R580 / iOS

Got ideas in your head that need smashing into shape? Is the back of an envelope not cutting it? Then get MindNode. You start with a bullet-point list that, with a tap, explodes into a customisable mind map. Nodes can be arranged freeform or automatically tidy themselves, and you can add all kinds of notes, images, links and icons. R43/m / iOS

NETNEWS WIRE

PROCREATE For veteran artists and novice daubers alike, Procreate offers an ideal digital sketching and painting experience. Newcomers can get stuck in without being overwhelmed by palettes and features; old hands can delve into custom brushes, masks and effects. Either way, there’s zero chance of grinding actual paint into the carpet. R200 / iPad

If you don’t want to waste your time fiddling on social feeds to get news, or don’t want to miss a headline from you favourite publications, you need an RSS reader. NetNewsWire’s no-nonsense approach gets you to articles in an efficient manner, and the interface is nicely flexible. Free / iOS

SPARK Apple’s Mail is the vanilla of email clients: adequate but not that interesting. Spark takes things further, smartly organising your inbox to highlight key emails, adding collaborative features and scheduling, and letting you snooze emails when you can’t stomach dealing with them immediately. Free / Android, iOS 37

100 BEST APPS

BEST OF ANDROID

CONCEPTS

DJAY

Almost everything you own started life on a drawing board; Concepts takes pro-orientated scrawling into the digital realm. With your device and a stylus, you can use realistic tools to jot down ideas on an infinite canvas, with a customisable wheel to quickly access presets; and since it’s vector-based, every line remains editable. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

If your dream is to spin decks in front of a frenzied crowd of adoring fans, get some practice in with this app. The intuitive interface means even noobs can ‘UNCH UNCH UNCH’ into the wee small hours… but hook up Tidal, delve into the looper and integrate some hardware, and they’ll soon be calling you the next Peggy Gou. Probably. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

Don’t let iPhones and iPads have all the fun: these fantastic apps showcase your Google device’s ability to more than match Apple

SMOOTH TRACK

INFINITE PAINTER

This one ramps up gaming immersion without the need to don a sweaty VR headset. Your phone tracks your head’s movements, which are relayed to compatible PC games. Ideal for staring out of windows and seeing what’s around you in Microsoft Flight Simulator. R170 / Android R200 / iOS

Always fancied seeing your art in a gallery but never got further than doodling on your thumb with a pen? Then try Infinite Painter. You get all the magic of realistic brushes but none of the mess. There are layers, masks, cloning tools and, for pros, the means to export paintings as layered PSDs. Free (IAP) / Android

DUET DISPLAY Think it’s unfair that your Android device gets some downtime when you don’t? Then put it to good use as a second screen for your PC or Mac by way of Duet Display. This also means you can interact with laggard computing platforms that haven’t yet embraced touch by prodding at your Android device – win-win. R170 / Android ● R270 / iOS

TASKER Do you want your smartphone to be smarter? Tasker automates actions based on conditions that you define. For example, you can stop your phone bugging you when it’s face-down, pump up the volume while playing music, turn on auto-rotate only when viewing photos, or reduce brightness for bleary mornings. R61 / Android

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SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S7+ STOP MOTION STUDIO PRO Got an idea for a gritty Morph reboot? This app provides a usable yet powerful entry into stop-motion animation. You can shoot live or import everything from stills to scribbles… then add audio, export, and await the call from Hollywood. Or Aardman’s legal department. R85 / Android, iOS

POWERAMP There’s nothing wrong with listening to music in a streaming service’s app. But when you want something more, there’s Poweramp. Load whatever formats you please, make tracks sound great using the ten-band EQ, and adjust the UI to make your music an extension of you, rather than some corporate brand. R55 / Android

POWER DIRECTOR We’re not thrilled about the R700 annual sub for this video editor, but it is great. Load a bunch of clips (up to 4K) and you can rapidly but precisely cut your mini movie, stabilise wonky shots, add titles, experiment with overlays, then foist your creation on YouTube and Facebook. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

Sure, you can run these apps on your phone. But if you want to fully unleash the power of the best Android apps – with enough space to mix music or scribble a masterpiece – you need a larger canvas. The 12.4in OLED display on the Galaxy Tab S7+ gives you that. More importantly, this tablet has plenty of power thanks to its The Galaxy Tab S7+ Snapdragon 865+ CPU, along with a punchy packs a mammoth quad-speaker system to keep your head 10,090mAh battery bobbing to tunes while you work. that delivers up to 14hrs R23 000 / / of video playback – four more hours than the iPad Pro.

CUBASIS 3 In the olden days, crafting a smash hit required a studio that cost as much as a house; today you can create sonic masterpieces on your phone. And this is no reductive app: you get a slew of virtual instruments and loops, unlimited audio and MIDI tracks, virtual keyboards and pads, and a studio-grade mixer. Sadly, there’s no ‘extra talent’ IAP. R530 / Android, iOS

100 BEST APPS

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APPLE iPHONE 12 PRO MAX DATA COUNTER WIDGET By default, your Android phone lets you keep an eye on basics like the time, your battery level and whether you have an internet connection. But the last of those can be costly if you’re using a lot of data, so this widget makes it a cinch to track your usage. Free (IAP) / Android

HURRY Countdowns are a good way to get you excited about an upcoming event, or to ensure you don’t forget a special day – and Hurry is a friendly way to get such things right on your home screen. The widgets are customisable, can integrate online GIFs if you can’t find a custom snap, and can even sync between devices. Free (IAP) / Android

KWGT KUSTOM WIDGET MAKER If you fancy creating your own Android widgets, KWGT gives you the tools Within minutes you’ll be able to craft clocks, weather displays, battery monitors, music players and more. There’s even Tasker support (see p38) for automation. Free or R97 / Android

You’re blazing your way deep into overkill territory if you decide to buy Apple’s flagship iPhone just for its ability to display widgets. After all, this smartphone is primarily about the superb camera and, well, being the best phone Apple has ever made. But it’s also the biggest phone Apple has ever made, meaning you get a mammoth 6.7in display to show off your favourite widgets and

SOOR It’s not like Apple Music is lacking for widgets, but Soor offers something different – in the same way the main app rethinks how you experience your music collection. Naturally you get playback options; but the means to place playlists, albums and magic mixes on your home screen ensures your favourite songs are never more than a tap away. R130 / iPhone The 12 Pro Max benefits massively from the new App Library on iOS 14 that automatically organises your downloads into themed folders. 40

100 BEST APPS

WICKED WIDGETS APOLLO FOR REDDIT

CARROT WEATHER

If you have an iPhone, love Reddit but hate the Reddit app, chances are you’re already using Apollo. If not, you should be. And as of iOS 14, this client enables you to add a ridiculous array of regularly-refreshing widgets to your home screen, whether you want quick access to headlines, jokes, feeds, action buttons or photos. Free (IAP) / iOS

Known equally for dishing out weather forecasts and barbed comments, Carrot Weather brings both to your home screen – at least on iOS (you get much slimmer pickings on Android). Its range of widgets offers glanceable maps, current conditions and forecasts, to fit whatever space you have free… plus threats, if you want them. R350/yr / iOS

MATERIAL MUSIC WIDGET This music-player widget is a triumph of elegance and simplicity. It’s easy to set up, but looks great no matter how much of your home screen you fill with it. The app’s buttons are responsive, and if you splash out on IAP (all of R32) you can even use MMW to switch between players. Free (IAP) / Android

So terribly busy you can’t possibly launch a few apps in the morning? Just as well these handy home-screen helpers exist, then…

STAR WALK 2 If you’re someone who spends hours gawping at the heavens, you’ll want to know when something interesting is going to be up there – and whether you’ll be able to see it. The iOS version of Star Walk 2 provides a range of widgets that predict night sky conditions and outline when heavenly bodies will rise and set. R60 (IAPs) / iOS

WIDGET SMITH

OVERDROP One of the new breed of weather apps, Overdrop is as much concerned with the user experience as it is with hurling facts at your eyes. With its Android widgets, though, it comes across like the designers couldn’t stop making new ones – and decided to give you them all. There’s bound to be one you like. R265/yr / Android

As Apple creeps towards a point where iPhone users can fully personalise their home screens, Widgetsmith pushes things forward. It helps you quickly craft custom widgets with a range of functionality, including timezone tools, calendars and weather forecasts. R350/yr / iOS 41

100 BEST APPS

WONDER WEAR Do much more with your smartwatch than checking how late you are for lunch, with help from some of these teeny tiled apps

LIFESUM A stripped-back version of the full food-logging version on Android phones, Lifesum helps that better version of you keep tabs on what you’re shoving down your cakehole – even if it’s cake. Choose your meal, select the portion size and correlate with the approximate number of calories. Free (IAP) / Wear OS 42

PB: LOST PHONE ALERT FOR WATCH Rather than make you frantically search for your missing iPhone using Find My, PB blares an alarm (or plays a voice message) when it strays out of range. Luckily, this can be disabled when on home Wi-Fi, to avoid bedlam when you go for a wee and leave your phone on the couch. R100 / watchOS

INFINITY LOOP

BFT

Playing games on a smartwatch is a fiddly and frustrating affair, but somehow Infinity Loop works wonderfully on Wear OS watches. This simple puzzle game offers up a bunch of lines, leaving you to flip-reverse them until they form… yep, infinite loops, that look a bit like endless ballbags. Way less nauseating than it sounds. Free (IAP) / Wear OS

This app helps you track time in a different way from a clock face, helping you get things done by splitting your day into work/break sprints. These default to 25/5 minutes respectively, but can be adjusted on the watch. Every few cycles, you get a longer break. Do well and bear-based cards keep your motivation up. R47 / watchOS

SAMSUNG PAY

DICE BY PCALC

It’s not universal by any means but if you wanna play for something using your wrist your options are limited in SA. Samsung Pay is one of the best, which broad device and retail support. If you’re an Apple fan, then you’ll be pleased to hear that Apple Pay is also in the country now. Free / Tizen/Wear

Need that final victory roll in Snakes & Ladders, but just watched your dice roll under the fridge? Or think you’re Luke Rhinehart and can’t move without first consulting the cube? Then lob a virtual one (or ten, of varying types) across a virtual table with this app, which even tallies totals as you go. R40 / watchOS

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FOSSIL GEN 5 Available in three slick styles with a multitude of straps, and packing Google’s Wear OS, the Fossil Gen 5 is far from a relic. An always-on display, swimproof design and 24hr extended battery life make it suitable for versatile everyday use; and if touch or voice controls aren’t your thing, there’s a rotating home button and two additional push buttons that give you complete control when switching between functions and apps. R6 000 / watchrepublic.co.za

A suite of pre-loaded apps includes Google Fit, Nike Run Club and Spotify plus plenty of tools for health, wellness and sleep tracking.

AIR MATTERS Many apps offer nuanced weather data, letting you know precisely when it’s going to tip down. But Air Matters provides insight into the quality of the air you breathe. Along with AQI values, you can also put pollen readings on your watch face, for a fighting chance of avoiding sneezing fits in spring and summer. R20 / watchOS

WEAR GESTURE LAUNCHER Enjoy loading your smartwatch with more apps than a Vietnamese scooter rider loads livestock? Here you can tap on the right side of your touchscreen and draw gestures to launch an app. Add different gestures for different apps to shortcut your way anywhere and look like a wizard. Free / Wear OS

WEAR AUDIO RECORDER Recording to your wrist sounds a bit Johnny English, but saving important conversations in the heat of the moment is easier when you don’t need to fumble about with a phone. This simple audio recorder can be synced with Google Drive so messages are easily stored and shared with MI7. Free / Wear OS

LOOKUP On iPhone, LookUp is a dictionary app that’s friendly, colourful and fun – not words you’d expect to find all in the same sentence, granted. The Apple Watch app is similarly impressive, enabling you to get countless definitions on your wrist as well as enjoying a word of the day, thereby expeditiously ameliorating your vocabulary. R120 / watchOS

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MOFT Several of the apps on this spread require you to prop up your device for best effect. And that means you need to find a stand... unless you’ve welded a Moft to your phone or tablet. These adhesive stands add barely any bulk but cleverly fold out to let your device stand up in landscape or portrait. The iPhone 12 might be able to stand on its own, but its Moft model adds stability and a magnetic three-card wallet – for half the price ffering.

A folding geometric design keeps everything as slim as possible when collapsed, with 60° vertical and 40° horizontal viewing when propped up.

UNIVERSE IN A NUTSHELL If you’d like to know your place in the scheme of things while slurping up knowledge along the way, try this app. It compares the sizes of objects, from a Planck unit all the way up to the observable universe. The visuals are smart and vibrant, and you can tap on stuff to learn more. R66 / Android R60 / iOS

CAPO 4

UPTIME

Apps like Yousician can help you master the guitar, but they’re not much use for nailing your favourite songs. That’s where Capo comes in: load a track and it’ll figure out the chords. Its guesswork can be edited, and you can adjust speed and pitch while trying to figure out the hard bits and become the next EVH. from R160 / iOS

Describing itself as five-a-day for your brain, Uptime aims to make you smarter at speed. It does this through safe and curated knowledge from trusted experts. In other words, it’s like someone smashed TED into a social network, even letting you follow creators and ‘like’ impactfulmoments. Fortunately, you can’t reply. Free / iOS

X PACKS the Jackbox nd there are ings – is to have ay on your TV and s to interact. om oddball trivia signs that players hout, it feels like hat’s eaten far too , and is loads of fun. 5 / Android, iOS

100 BEST APPS

HOME TIME From watching TV to shoving knowledge into your brain, these apps aim to stave off the boredom of being stuck between four walls

CLIPS

SHOWMAX

Apple’s video capture/editor combo is all about immediacy. A big red button kicks off recording, and clips are stashed at the foot of the screen. You get loads of effects – and even AR backgrounds if you want to pretend you’re on a sci-fi set. Gimmicky, for sure, but it’s also fun and quickly gets you into making videos. Free / iOS

Showmax, SA’s own streaming service, might cost you just R100 a month but there’s another option if you’re only planning on using a mobile device. Forty bucks every thirty days gives you full access via your Android or iPhone, but you won’t get it playing on your smart TV. Which is fine, right? R40/m / Android, iOS

RAVE

JUSTWATCH

TASTY

Designed for a generation that prefers talking about TV to fully watching it, Rave smashes together streaming shows and a chat engine. Sign into a service, create a room, and you and some chums can gawp at a show while chatting about it – or anything else for that matter. But remember, no spoilers! Free / Android, iOS

Everyone’s got more than one streaming service but keeping what’s available on all of them straight is a bit of a chore. JustWatch puts all of the major services together (including those in South Africa) so you don’t have to scroll for hours on each to find out what’s new or trending for the week. Free / Android, iOS

Paper cookbooks give you a drooly photo, a list of ingredients and some instructions, then leave you to it. Tasty is a better kitchen companion. You can quickly filter its 3000 recipes by type; pick one and tiny videos are provided for every step, ensuring you know at every point what your dish should look like. Free / Android, iOS

LOOOM Although technically an animation tool, Looom feels like an experiment that crash-landed on your iPad from the future. Armed with an Apple Pencil, using Looom’s interface feels more like playing an instrument than using an app. It’s a relaxing way to free yourself from conventional thinking while making pictures move. R200 / iPad

100 BEST APPS

STRESS BUSTERS SLEEP BY MAX RICHTER

STRIDE: WALK, RUN, CAPTURE

Max Richter’s original Sleep is both awe-inspiring and overwhelming, given its eight-hour run-time. The app reframes his compositions to help you focus on work, meditate or, yes, fall asleep. You’ll need a paying Spotify account if you’re on Android, or Spotify/Apple Music on iOS. Free / Android, iOS

If you need an added incentive to get outside and walk or run, Stride reimagines exercise outdoors as an epic struggle for territory. As you move, hexes are coloured on a live grid. Repeat visits enable you to defend your turf. Rope in local friends and Stride becomes a fun way to gamify exercise. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

PORTAL Instead of merely providing sounds to soothe your ears and help you relax, Portal plays relaxing videos shot at a range of eye-popping locations. Whether your idea of bliss is a beach, a field or waves crashing against Scottish cliffs, Portal will help you get away from the real world for a few precious moments. Free (IAP) / iOS 46

If you’re feeling the strain and your middle name is ‘Help’, bring some calm and wellbeing to your life with these brain-massagers

SMILING MIND

TOCA LIFE WORLD For parents, a calm mind comes from stopping the kids tearing around the house for a blissful several minutes. Your device can help – at least if you install Toca Life World. With its many and varied locations, characters and secrets for younglings to discover, it’s an interactive digital doll’s house they’ll never tire of. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

Whether you need additional calm in your own life or to help one of your kids relax, this is a must-install. It’s entirely free, so won’t worry your bank account, yet offers meditation programmes for adults and children, and for all kinds of circumstances. Just the thing to make your mind, well, smile. Free / Android, iOS

PIGMENT The simple, childlike joy of colouring-in can be surprisingly effective in reducing anxiety… but getting felt-tip all over your fingers doesn’t help. So Pigment gives you all the benefits of real-world colouring with none of the mess; and there’s even an optional tool to stop you colouring outside the lines. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

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APPLE WATCH SE CLEO Most banking apps are still barely a step up from a spreadsheet. Cleo wants to help you own your money by enabling you to understand how you spend it. Much of this is done by chatting with the app, which will urge you to save and give you a polite nudge when you’ve ‘accidentally’ bought three new smartphones. Free / Android, iOS

NIKE TRAINING CLUB Last year, Nike walloped the mobile exercise industry around the head with size-12 sneakers by making this app entirely free. Whether you have an hour or just a handful of minutes to sweat, you can delve into all manner of workouts. Need to relax? Yoga’s included too. Free / Android, iOS

MOODISTORY Understanding how you feel over a period of time can be a useful mechanism to root out problems or help you expand on the more moments This app p a low-fric to record moods, fr little as ta a smiley f day to de deeper jo and stats R100 / iO

It’s odd to think the Apple Watch used to be more focused on bling than wellbeing. These days Apple’s wearables are primarily about ongoing peace of mind. This can come from apps and reminders, but the devices also have plenty of health-monitoring functions that run in the background until needed. Even the basic SE version will keep tabs on your heart, steps count and whether you’ve fallen; and your ears are safeguarded with warnings appearing when

BLOOM: 10 WORLDS The original Bloom had you tap an iPhone’s screen to play notes and have a disc of light explode from beneath your finger. 10 Worlds takes that ‘single’ and expands it into an ‘album’: within it are ten distinctly ambient but varied evolving art/music pieces fashioned by Brian Eno and creative partner Peter Chilvers. R150 / Android, iOS The Apple Watch SE uses the same S5 chip from the superb Apple Watch Series 5 for super-slick performance when switching between apps. 47

100 BEST APPS

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JOBY GORILLAPOD SNAPSEED Here’s an app we hope Google never gets bored of. Load a pic and you can improve (or wreck) it to your heart’s content with all kinds of tools, adjustments and effects. Changes you make are non-destructive too, so you can experiment before committing your edits and foisting your masterpiece on the world. Free / Android, iOS

PHOTOSHOP CAMERA

OPEN CAMERA

With Photoshop being a serious desktop app, it’s curious to see the brand applied to this box of often madcap camera filters. Everything’s free; and although you can be boring and make your lunch look 32% moodier, it’s more fun to transform your view into an eye-searing pop-art collage. Free / Android, iOS

Regularly updated, packed with options and entirely free, Open Camera is an Android marvel. The app’s flexibility stands out a dig into the m menus to bri preferred too its camera in is a godsend when you’re with a device doesn’t give all the cool to by default. Free / Androi

Modern phone cams have all kinds of anti-wobble tech baked in, but you’re still better off with a tripod. However, propping your phone up on uneven surfaces requires more than a typical three-legged gizmo. This is why a GorillaPod offers something extra: three flexible legs that are stable on rocky terrain and can even be wrapped around a tree branch. There’s a model to suit every pocket, from the entry-level Starter Kit

While a mobile mount is there to keep your phone steady, the same GorillaPod can be adapted for use with action cams, mics and flashes.

DOUBLETAKE It’s astonishing enough that phones can record hi-def video, but an iPhone can take two feeds at once with this app. So if you want to capture your grinning visage as you careen down a mountainside and your view at the same time, you can do so as separate recordings or a single split-screen video. Just watch where you’re going, yeah? Free / iOS

100 BEST APPS

SNAP APPY ADOBE LIGHTROOM

HALIDE MARK II

If you’re an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber, you’ll want this satellite app on your phone. It’s not full-fat desktop Lightroom, obviously, but it nonetheless lets you delve into important adjustments and edits right on your phone, which can then be continued on a computer. And for everyone else, it’s a solid freebie. Free / Android, iOS

This app unlocks the power of the iPhone camera. Manual focus is aided by a loupe for pin-sharp shots; exposure tools warn if you’re about to blow highlights; and RAW is tackled via the option to shoot two photos at once – one in RAW and another using Smart HDR and Deep Fusion – so you can decide which to pick later. R210/yr / iOS

SLOW SHUTTER CAM Apple enables you to fiddle with Live Photos to fake a long exposure, but this app lets you do it properly. Settings can be tweaked for motion blur, painting with light trails and low-light snaps. Post-shoot, you can quickly edit your pics to adjust the blur and focus on what you want to stand out. R40 / iOS

If your built-in camera software’s falling short, upgrade your imaging abilities and unleash the potential of all those megapixels

SOLAR WATCH

MOON SEEKER

This one’s a weather app for photographers. Its graphic has the usual symbols and temperature predictions on its outer ring, but it’s mostly concerned with what the light’s doing. Splash out on Premium (R100/yr) and you get golden hour start/end times and an AR solar path. Free (IAP) / iOS

If you’re obsessed with night shots, you’ll want to know the moon’s whereabouts and current phase – so this app provides various views to map its impending journey. If you’re on Android and feeling aggrieved that Solar Watch isn’t available for you, neither is this app… but sister product Sun Seeker is. R80 / iOS

FILMIC PRO If you have designs on Hollywood, this is the camera app to get. It offers a slew of live analytics, controls and options for perfecting that guaranteed blockbuster of your dog. The sliders for focus and exposure/zoom are especially useful, putting your thumbs in command while you shoot footage for your next Oscar/Razzie winner. R245 / Android ● R280 / iOS

100 BEST APPS

TRICKY QUICKIES Not every game needs to be a days-long epic, as these time-easy teasers prove by stealing your life away in bite-sized chunks

GOLF SKIES

FANCADE

If you play real golf, you might have whacked a ball into the heavens in frustration once or twice. Golf Skies imagines an entire game played there, launching a ball into orbit and weaving a path through tiny planetoids, each exerting a gravitational pull to drag you off course. Never again will you grumble about a mere bunker. Free / Android, iOS

With its blocky voxels and virtual disks, Fancade is a love letter to old-school thrills reimagined for mobile, from bombing around dinky racing circuits to one-thumb leaping through 2D platforming worlds. Each challenge is brief but collectively they’re a marvel – and when you’re done playing, you can start creating your own levels. Free / Android, iOS

STICKY TERMS

SUPER FOWLST 2

Instead of having you fashion words from letter tiles, Sticky Terms hacks letters to pieces. You then rebuild phrases from what initially appears to be modern art. It’s tactile and smart, with curious foreign phrases that are broadly untranslatable, thereby teaching you a bit about the quirks of language. Free / Android, iOS

Demons are invading and no Hollywood stars are available, so it’s down to a chicken to save humanity. You are that chicken, flapping left and right in graceless arcs, bonking demons on the head and occasionally pooping missiles. This is a demented, brilliant airborne metroidvania. Free / Android, iOS

CRASHY CATS Real-life cats aren’t impressed with humans thinking they own stuff, and so will quite happily swipe a priceless heirloom to the floor. In single-thumb leapy endless runner Crashy Cats, this kitty reasoning is taken to the extreme as a string of collectable felines cause carnage that’d make even Bill Gates’s accountant sweat. Free / Android, iOS

ASTALO This one comes across a bit like Robotron: 2084 with swords and swiping. You find yourself within a tiny arena atop a terrifyingly tall cliff, and swipe to slice your way through foes. Linger an instant too long and you’re dead; do well and you’ll gain power-ups with which to tackle bigger, toothier enemies. Free / Android, iOS

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HYPERX CLOUD BUDS Designed for gamers on the go, the wireless Cloud Buds manage to pack in Bluetooth 5.1, aptX HD and sizeable 14mm drivers for a scarcely believable price. Particular attention has been given to the in-line microphone so it copes with multiplayer comms when battling background noise, and patented silicone tips are there to offer a long-lasting comfortable fit for marathon

The Cloud Buds work with the voice assistant of your choice, using an in-line mic and multifunction button to take calls, control music and more.

ORD. If you think some old-school text adventures were terse, they’ve nothing on Ord. Here, every scene ped back e words: ription, an (which you ) and an me. With your lling in the the speedy s manage trangely g and tense. Android iOS

READY SET GOAT!

SHOOTY QUEST

Life would be idyllic for this game’s protagonist if not for deadly ‘creeps’ beaming in by the second. The titular goat must therefore leap on their heads, chaining kills to acquire power-ups. Last 30 seconds and you’re doing pretty well. Stick it out for longer and you’ll unlock all kinds of goat bling. Free / Android, iOS

Evil types should know better than to blow up the house of someone called The Deadly Arrow and leave a calling card. As Mr Arrow, you get your revenge by – as the game’s name suggests – getting shooty. It’s intense single-screen fare, with a smattering of strategy as you ponder weapon choices. Free / Android, iOS

SSILE MMAND: CHARGED e much-loved original, this e test has you fend off a ge of missiles until your ble defeat – at which point y states ‘The end’. Purists pe that trackball controls een swapped for tap-based g, but the vibrant neon s remain intact. Android, iOS

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RAZER KISHI Pawing away at a glass screen is fine for games designed for touchscreen interaction; but when tackling nsole-orientated fare, you want a D ks, triggers and buttons. In short, you r Kishi. Its innovative stretchy design most modern smartphones, in forming your handset into mbling a PS Vita. It doesn’t even s power is drawn from your ortantly, the controls are great. alot.com

If your phone’s battery runs low while gaming, pass-through charging means you can plug your usual cable directly into the Kishi to juice up.

XBOX GAME PASS If you want console-grade games on your phone in a literal sense, take out a Game Pass sub and you can stream over 100 AAA games to your device, prodding the screen to play or using a controller if you’ve any sense. It’s Android-only for now, mind, because Apple. from R100/m / Android

GRIS Gris isn’t having a great time, having lost her voice and tumbled into a world of surreal watercolour landscapes. You help by navigating side-scrolling leapy sections, light puzzles and occasional boss battles. Visually gorgeous and now on Android, Gris is a console-quality masterpiece. R76 / Android R100 / iOS

BOOK OF DEMONS: TABLET EDITION OK, so this isn’t actually Diablo on your iPad. But it does reimagine dungeon-crawling and constant violence in a manner that works on the touchscreen yet still feels very console-like. Routes are linear pathways and attacks are gestural, but you still get lashings of boss fights and gore. 200 / iPad

ANTSTREAM ARCADE Think every game after 1990 sucks? Try Antstream, which pipes all manner of old fare to your phone for R200 a month. It works with touchscreens and controllers, and you’ll find everything from obscure ZX Spectrum weirdness to arcade classics like Bubble Bobble. R200/m / Android

100 BEST APPS

SERIOUS PLAYERS If you’re of the opinion that ‘proper’ games don’t exist for phones and tablets, this console-worthy selection should change your mind

FAR: LONE SAILS

Reckon you’d make a better starfleet captain than those idiots on TV? This PC original, now on mobile, puts that theory to the test as you explore a fallen empire, balance resources, and take on enemies in tense battles that play out on a hex-based grid. Equal parts FTL, Advance Wars and classic sci-fi, it’s great stuff. R155 / Android ● R180 / iOS

Things were tough for the protagonist in side-scrolling puzzler Limbo… but at least they didn’t have to contend with keeping a massive ship moving along an apocalyptic wasteland. With rich visuals and thinky puzzling, Far: Lone Sails will keep you captivated throughout its brief but beguiling journey. R105 / Android ● R80 / iOS

KINGDOM TWO CROWNS

THE UNFINISHED SWAN An orphan is given one of his mom’s unfinished paintings, but then the swan in the picture ambles off into an invisible world. Fortunately, you’re armed with an endless supply of paint balloons to bring form to your surroundings in this surreal adventure that whops you in the feels. R100 / iOS

CRYING SUNS

CIVILIZATION VI If you’ve played any Civ game, you’ll know the drill: start out with a settler, expand your civilisation and aim for the stars (or supervillain-style world domination). It’s deep, brilliant stuff and a marvel to see on a phone screen; and if you tire of the original game, there are loads of add-ons to grab via IAP. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

You’re a king with a horse and a bag of gold. Peasants do your bidding. Life is good! Except during the night when the Greed appear, dismantling all your work and attempting to pilfer your crown. This is an intense real-time strategy game with added side-scrolling pixel art. R175 / Android R200 / iOS

XCOM 2 COLLECTION Aliens have taken over the Earth, silencing dissent… but XCOM can still give them a kicking. This happens by way of turn-based strategy and plentiful explosions across the entire PC original plus four DLC packs. Note you’ll need a powerful iPhone or iPad and plenty of free space. R480 / iOS 53

100 BEST APPS

SUPER SUBS THE GARDENS BETWEEN

INFERNO+

A game about memories and time, The Gardens Between explores the relationship between two friends through the prism of their experiences. Linear pathways can be altered by reversing time, making changes and seeing how events play out. It’s gorgeous fare with an emotional punch. Google Play Pass

PEW! PEW! PEW! There’s lots of shooty action in this blaster, which combines twin-stick destruction, maze-roaming and enough neon to choke a thousand dodgy takeaway signs. You get 40 varied levels and endless challenges by way of the 90-second randomised Scorched mode in which to cause maximum carnage. GameClub

SPYDER Think it’d be cool to be James Bond crossed with Spider-Man crossed with a robot? The snag is you’re the size of a spider as you skitter around surfaces, using gadgets to slice through panels, flip switches and ruin the plans of unsuspecting bad people. Just avoid getting whacked by a newspaper. Apple Arcade 54

A MONSTER’S EXPEDITION Fresh from his adventures in superb mobile puzzler A Good Snowman, the titular monster heads for warmer climes. Keen to learn about humans, he explores sites dotted around islands, shoving over trees and rolling logs to create bridges. Responsible forestry management not included. Apple Arcade

All-you-can-eat gaming isn’t just for consoles: get dozens of top phone games for R100 a month through Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass or GameClub

SOUTH OF THE CIRCLE

SLASH QUEST

Apple Arcade goes big on games with a strong narrative, and South of the Circle is almost all narrative. Interaction is minimal, bar a few walky bits, as you explore the past and present of protagonist Peter, lost in Antarctica after his plane goes down. Beautiful stuff and a couple of hours well spent. Apple Arcade

How do you make dungeon-crawling family-friendly? Lose the gore, add loads of cartoonish characters, and arm the hero with a ridiculously huge sentient sword. You won’t miss the blood as you wander about, exploring a vibrant world and slicing foes in two as you attempt to take the sword home. Apple Arcade

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BACKBONE ONE LITTLE ORPHEUS

THE LAST CAMPFIRE

There’s more than a whiff of Limbo and Inside in this one. You spend much of your time hot-footing it, occasionally pausing to fashion a pathway forwards or avoid a terrifying enemy. But the game’s dazzling subterranean imagery, combined with its wonderful voiceovers, make it worth exploring. Apple Arcade

Can a flame be rekindled? That’s the aim here as a lost ember searches for home, helping bring light to creatures in abject despair. Might sound like a miserable experience, but The Last Campfire is a beguiling game of puzzles within puzzles, brimming with beautiful visuals and ideas. Apple Arcade

WOOORDS You know those colourful magnetic letters you stick on the fridge? That’s the interface for this wonderfully tactile word game. Against the you swipe m around, watc stars explod completed w and then ins forget the e English langu when you’re halfway thro high-scoring GameClub

Designed for Apple Arcade and other iPhone titles that support controllers, the Backbone is here to ease your route to the top of high-score tables and then to help you brag about it. Its stretchy form snugly fits any iPhone, and the combined entity more resembles an elongated DualShock than a PS Vita. Along with all the usual buttons, there’s one to shoot grabs and screen recordings, which you can edit in the app and then hurl online to wow your friends.

MINI METRO The London Tube map remains a fine piece of visual design, and in Mini Metro it becomes a living thing as you make connections between stations and manage carriages and people on your evolving network. Whether playing in the frantic Extreme or chilled Endless mode, this is a rare underground journey you’ll want to make again and again. Google Play Pass

The companion app is a boon for playing with friends, notifying you when they’re online with the option to start a voice chat.

T E S T E D H U AW E I V I S I O N S 6 5 I N

Adjust a little During setup there are eight picture presets and six EQ sound presets to play with – but the differences are

Channel dropper Ooh, Huawei is making affordable TVs… but with no tuners to receive broadcasts, are you ready for the streaming-only life? Rtba / consumer.huawei.com ■ The Vision S looks like every other 65in flatscreen TV. The bezels are slim, as are the metal feet – which are very far apart, so your surface will need to be wide as well. The build is very plastic, but well put together. ■ The key here is what’s missing: there are no tuners, so strictly speaking this isn’t a TV, it’s a gigantic monitor. Well, given how we consume content now, perhaps a smart streaming platform is the way to go? ■ This is an edge-lit 4K LED 120Hz screen, with support for HLG and HDR10 HDR, but no HDR10+ or Dolby Vision. A magnetic housing at the top houses a 13MP camera for MeeTime video calls to other Android devices, while four 10W drivers provide the audio. ■ Colours are decent, with clean whites and relatively deep blacks. It controls its backlighting zones well and the detail levels are reasonably high. There’s some shimmering in extremis, but by the standards of big affordable televisions the Huawei does well. ■ It’s nothing like as assured where motion is concerned, working awfully hard with less than confident results. Stepping down from 4K to Full HD, motion difficulties are emphasised and images inevitably softened, but detail and colours remain solid. And as far as sound goes, it completely outperforms its price-point.

■ Key to the Huawei

Huawei has worked hard on its Harmony OS, and it’s certainly clean and logical. It seems likely a final version is in the offing and will be more extensive – let’s hope it doesn’t lose the simple slickness of the version we tested.

■ You make loving phone

The remote is small and nicely shaped, with a bare minimum of buttons. One of them wakes a mic for rapid, reliable voice control, while NFC means Huawei phones can stream content without being on the same network.

Tech specs Screen 65in 3840x2160 120Hz LED OS Harmony OS 2 Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, 3x HDMI 2.0, USB, 3.5mm audio Dimensions 1449x837x72mm, 19.5kg

STUFF SAYS An impressive opening salvo from Huawei… but it’s not a television ★★★✩✩

One small step on the road to a future where all TV is streamed 56

We’re still awaiting final specs for the Vision S, so obviously a lot depends on how strong they turn out to be… but if you want an actual television, well, this Huawei screen isn’t for you. Still, as the company’s first serious attempt at a big screen at a keen price (which isn’t final just yet), with a bespoke operating system and an impressive audio system, the Vision S is ominous. But, you know, in a good way.

TESTED APPLE iMAC 24IN

You and hues army

Combining the might of Apple’s M1 chip with an array of striking new colour options, is the latest iMac the desktop powerhouse you need?

from R25 000 / istore.co.za

he original iMac was revolutionary in 1998, but in recent years Apple’s all-inone desktop has become stale. The innards kept pace with modern demands, but it’s been a decade since they did anything close to daring with the design. With this latest revamp, Apple is being daring again – and on

multiple fronts. The 2021 model arrives in an explosion of colour that recalls the lineup of the original iMac G3 so memorably soundtracked by the Rolling Stones’ She’s a Rainbow. And more importantly, the computer has been refreshed… inside and out. A floating screen with a chin on a sturdy hinge might be familiar, but the Apple

logo is gone and – apart from the silver option – plain metal shades have been replaced by subtle yet luminescent hues of blue, green, pink, yellow, orange and purple. Concerns about the white bezel being a distraction are soon dismissed, although the prominent webcam dot does irritate and you might have to

prop it on a book since the screen height can’t be adjusted. Side-on, it’s thin. Around the back, the colours are scorchingly vibrant. It echoes the iPad, and looks impressive next to the familiar 27in iMac. This feels like a computer that wants to be in living spaces, not just offices… which is just as well, the way work life is going.

TESTED APPLE iMAC 24IN

Every breadth you take

Apple calls this a 24in model but the display is 23.5in across the diagonal. Still, it’s superb, packing in more pixels than larger 4K screens: this is a 4.5K display, with 4480x2520 pixels at 218ppi. It’s bright and colour-accurate, thanks to P3 and True Tone tech.

2 Square way to heaven In use, it looks wonderful. Even at around half brightness, photos, videos and games look the part; ramp it up to full and the colours get seriously rich. That said, despite Apple’s infatuation with curved corners, these four are ruthlessly square.

3 My sweet board Input devices come in matching colours – the keys on our purple keyboard stood out nicely. It’s a shame Apple hasn’t used an inverted ‘T’ for the arrow keys, but Touch ID works perfectly, with a larger target for your digits than the tiny one on a MacBook.

4 When the chip comes in This is the first iMac since 2006 to eschew ‘Intel inside’, instead being driven by Apple’s own M1 chip. In performance terms, our 8-core review unit with 8GB of RAM blew away a 2018 MacBook Pro. Benchmarks put it on the same footing as the M1 MacBook Pro.

5 Appers’ delight M1-optimised apps range from nippy to stupidly fast. Pixelmator Pro’s machine-learning smarts in particular continue to wow, but we had no issues running Photoshop, Logic, Korg Gadget and a bunch of games. Remember, that’s with only 8GB of RAM.

Good Meh Evil

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24 hours with the Apple iMac 24in

3mins 12mins 14mins 50mins 58

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TESTED APPLE iMAC 24IN

Techspecs Screen 23.5in 4480x2520 Retina Processor M1 RAM 8/16GB Storage 256GB-2TB SSD OS macOS Big Sur Connectivity Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, 3.5mm headphone, 2x Thunderbolt 3 (USB 4), 2x USB 3 (8-core GPU model only) Dimensions 547x461x 147mm, 4.46kg (8-core 4.48kg)

Return of th’ iMac Once you’ve finished drooling over those slick new finishes, remember it’s what’s inside that counts…

■ Blowin’ in the chinned

■ The giga picture

■ Cool for chats

■ Homeward sound

Why does the iMac even have a chin? It houses the Mac’s brains, fans and sound system. Maybe Apple could have stuck all that behind the display, but that would have messed up the design.

Apple’s M1 architecture does interesting things with memory usage: 8GB of RAM on an Intel Mac wouldn’t be much, but here it feels mighty. That said, it’s a shame you can’t upgrade the RAM later.

The 1080p FaceTime HD camera is an improvement, albeit from a low bar. It lacks the Center Stage subject-tracking smarts coming to the iPad Pro (see p74), but makes you look good on web chats.

The six-speaker system supports Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. We ramped them up to max, fired up ear-monstering tunes in Apple Music and were thrown by the bass and soundstage depth.

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11hrs

19hrs 21hrs

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24hrs

The design works, the M1’s oomph is welcome and it’s whisper-quiet. Should you buy one? If you have an ageing 21.5in iMac, it’s obvious… but even owners of 27in iMacs will often find the M1 kicks their machine’s face off. Some might want to wait for what Apple’s cooking up in the pro space, but if you don’t mind a smaller display this iMac is no slouch.

STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ Never mind the pretty colours, this is a worthy update that marries the best of iMac’s past and present 59

T E S T E D H U AW E I WAT C H

Where Huawei now? The Chinese tech giant has decided to reset its wearables business with its first ‘proper’ modern smartwatch – sporting a completely refreshed UI Rtba (R7 000 est.) / huawei.com/za Huawei has made wearables for years, but the Watch 3 is the first one since 2017 that we can really call a proper smartwatch – that is, without following up with a bunch of apologies about how you can’t make calls with it or install third-party apps. Take a Huawei Watch 2, crash it into an Apple Watch Series 6 and you get something resembling the Watch 3. (Well, that or a couple of broken wrists.) We’re not enamoured with the drop in battery life from two weeks to two days, or with the waiting game to see if Huawei’s ever-expanding HarmonyOS platform is really worth investing in; but for a first crack at this tricky old game, the Huawei Watch 3 is something of a success. It has a great party trick too. This is a watch with two very distinct personalities – because with a few swipes you can turn it into a dedicated fitness watch, and one that bumps battery life back up to two weeks again.

GOOD MEH EVIL

Finally, third-party apps

The nixed day Huawei says the battery can last 3 days, but we only got 2 even without GPS. Apparently it drops to 1.5 days with an iPhone. Ouch!

The screen genie The Huawei Watch 3 has glossy curved glass holding a gorgeous screen with slimmer borders than some (1). The sides are tough stainless steel and the back is ceramic. To get close to this kind of construction from Apple you’d need to pay well over R12 000.

App-solute beginners In contrast to recent Huawei efforts, you can download apps from the company’s AppGallery right there on the watch (2). There’s also an eSIM version for making calls from the wrist, and even a teeny keyboard for typing search terms on the screen. It’s no fun, but you can do it.

Golden ears? You can talk to Huawei’s Celia assistant as you would Siri or Google Assistant… but there are teething problems. We kept being asked if we wanted to start a workout while 10 minutes into a tracked run; ask “What is the time?”, meanwhile, and she doesn’t understand.

The graphing gnome Celia aside, this is a great exercise tracker. The vibrant screen ramps up brightness outdoors (3) and the heart-rate sensor stacks up well against chest-strap accuracy. The Watch 3 can also measure your blood oxygen saturation through the day and even log your skin temperature 24/7.

Let’s not dance Apple’s and Samsung’s latest wearables can do ECG readings; this one can’t. Its rivals also have better music support, because Huawei wants you to sign up for its own streaming service – but hey, it’s still relatively early in HarmonyOS’s development as a wearable platform.

Really slick interface

Neat rotating crown

Limited music support…

…and a limited app library…

…and limited battery life

T E S T E D H U AW E I WAT C H 3

Tech specs Screen 1.43in 466x466 OLED Connectivity GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Water-resistance 5ATM Battery life 2-3 days Dimensions 46x46x12.2mm, 54g

Glancing in the street It’s new and in need of some polish, but the signs for the smartwatch version of HarmonyOS are promising

■ Ziggy

■ Stardust

■ Spiders

■ Mars

The HarmonyOS wearable system includes smooth and slick transitions relayed at a much higher refresh rate than Huawei’s older watches, and an app screen that looks like it’s been lifted straight from an Apple Watch.

Two of the most useful apps in the AppGallery are Fitify and Home Workout by Leap Fitness. These offer step-by-step workouts when paired with their matching apps on your phone… but not the Play Store versions.

This is the most dynamic wearable Huawei has made in years, and given the totally new OS it works surprisingly well. It comes as a legit rival to Apple and Samsung, but at this stage it’s not the one we’d pick. It pushes you too hard towards services you probably don’t want, and the smart stuff doesn’t justify the meagre battery life.

It’s more fun to use than a WearOS watch, and for a first stab at a smartwatch interface it’s pretty great. The rotating crown is good too, letting you scroll down menus and zoom in and out of the app page without touching the screen.

It’s tempting to use the OS’s low-maintenance mode to increase battery life, but then you’ll end up wondering why you bought this watch when Huawei makes bands that do the same stuff for around R1 700.

STUFF SAYS ★★★★✩ Huawei’s first true Apple Watch challenger could well be worth your hard-earned cents… but not yet 61

TESTED SONY XR-55A90J

The Sony way is up The firm has given its 2021 flagship OLED some fancy feet, a slick processor and a new smart TV platform… and but owning one of these will cost you Rtba (R55 000 est.) / sony.co.za

There’s nothing groundbreaking about what Sony’s trying to do with its new XR-A90J range of 4K HDR OLED TVs. Like every other TV maker that takes things seriously, it’s shooting for great picture quality, an intuitive smart TV portal, sound the right side of ugly, a bit of style and a solid build. Looks simple, doesn’t it? But this is a competitive market and getting more cut-throat all the time. So can Sony possibly meet all those criteria to the point that the XR-55A90J justifies its hefty asking price? The 55in version we’re testing can be yours for a bit under R60k. Yes, that is expensive for a set this size. But from the panel itself, via the picture-processing engine to the height-adjustable feet, this TV is the result of rigorous thinking and engineering. Only problem is, the app support for this particular model could stand to be a little more extensive. No, we’re not kidding.

2 Bassline chunky Physically, it’s one of those ‘slim yet not slim’ OLEDs we’re still a little disappointed by (1). There’s a brief portion that’s 6mm deep, but the majority of the chassis is a much less exciting 41mm thick in order to house the electronics, the inputs and two rear-firing low-frequency speakers.

GOOD MEH EVIL

Bit chunky for hanging on a wall

Feet surrender If the depth deters you from hanging it on the wall, at least its feet earn their keep. In their first position (2), the bottom of the screen is mere nanometres from the surface it’s standing on, while in position two they raise it high enough to accommodate a soundbar.

Picture is superb in every way

Screen and shout Sony has tried hard to eradicate the need for a soundbar, though. Those rear-firing drivers support its Acoustic Surface Audio+ tech, which turns the screen surface into a speaker (3). Sony has even added speaker connections so it can be used as a surround-sound centre channel.

Nice new Google TV interface…

Effective sound system App selection needs work

Not cheap compared to rivals

TESTED SONY XR-55A90J

Shake a lag PS5 and XSX owners rejoice: there are two HDMI 2.1 sockets with 4K @ 120Hz, and an input lag of just 9.9ms in game mode.

Tech specs Screen 55in 3840x2160 OLED OS Google TV Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, 4x HDMI, 2x USB, optical HDR formats HLG, HDR10, Dolby Vision Dimensions 1220x709x41mm, 19kg

All along the watch power Spending some quality time with the XR-55A90J is a feast for the eyes… and only slightly less for the ears

■ Proving

■ Moving

■ Improving

■ Grooving

Native 4K content looks deeply impressive. Black levels are classic OLED in their depth, but they’re also very detailed; white tones pop in a most un-OLED fashion, and they’re equally loaded with information.

I lost my heart to XR chip, super The latest XR picture-processing engine takes the AI capabilities of the old X1 and adds ‘cognitive intelligence’. This combines AI analysis of picture performance with more in-depth inspection across multiple zones. So the chip responds to depth of field, detail, colour and contrast (4).

My friend Goog Google TV is clean, logical and much less pushy than Android TV; and while its recommendation algorithms need finessing, it’s more usable overall. Sony’s exclusive Bravia Core streaming service features too, which is a genuine plus: content is extensive and super-high-quality.

If you’re watching HD or worse, it’s also a very accomplished upscaler. Picture noise is kept to a minimum, edges don’t soften too badly, detail levels remain high and movement is (again) kept completely under control.

The Sony XR-55A90J is a brilliantly accomplished TV that delivers utterly absorbing and believable images from any source. It has you covered for next-gen consoles, but more extensive app support from Sony’s competitions means that, right now, we’d be tempted by more affordable options from LG, Samsung and others.

The colour palette is extensive, nuanced and believable. Edge-definition is assured and, where motion is concerned, the Sony just doesn’t put a foot wrong – slow or rapid, horizontal or vertical, simple or complex.

Sound quality is equally, er, sound. There’s depth and body to the bass, and the sort of direct delivery of the midrange that comes from using the whole screen as a driver. Images and audio are in close alignment.

STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ Everything this Sony TV does, it does to a dizzily high standard – but the world is awash with cheaper rivals 63

TWO WEEKS WITH THE APPLE TV 4K (2ND GEN)

Don’t stream it’s over Can a spec bump and a new remote persuade Stuff that Apple’s TV box still has a future? To find out, we spent a fortnight watching films on work time… from R3 200 / istore.co.za

DAY 01 It’s been four years since Apple first introduced a 4K TV box. That’s so far back its own TV+ streaming service didn’t exist at the time – and nowadays TV+ is baked into many TV’s own smart platforms. You might think that makes this latest version of the Apple TV 4K even less of a must-buy, especially given the most exciting thing about it is the new remote control. We’re talking about an incremental upgrade in a world of affordable Roku sticks and

it’s immediately chunkier and heavier – and has an actual power button, which is universal for your TV and home cinema setup too. You get a mute button, while the Siri button moves to the side. But it still charges via Lightning, not USB-C, which is a shame. There’s still a touch-sensitive centre button for navigating tvOS but now it’s surrounded by an iPod-like directional click-wheel that anyone can get the hang of. Disabling the touchpad functionality is possible too. Oh, this is a nice touch: the wheel can scroll through videos,

The new Colour Balance feature uses an iPhone’s sensors to match your TV’s picture to ‘industry standards’ Chromecasts… but this still promises to be one of the best all-round video streamers. It’s not tall, so it slips into our entertainment unit with ease, and an HDMI 2.1 socket means 4K HDR content at 60fps – a jump from 30fps – only there’s no HDMI cable with it and we need a new one to support the higher framerate. Bugger. This remote, then. We liked the old one, with its clicky trackpad and coin-thin build, but it was also maddeningly easy to lose, and not always intuitive. Unwrapping the new Siri Remote,

slowing down or speeding up at the whim of your thumb. Time for a bit of late-night viewing, but the lack of remote backlighting makes jabbing the wrong button a little too easy, and there’s no input button for switching to a different HDMI source on your TV. We’ve noticed you can’t use the Siri Remote as an Apple Arcade game controller like you could its forerunner either, but was anyone doing that anyway? It’s worth noting the remote can be bought separately if you want to upgrade an existing box.

The Apple TV app offers a fine curated selection of shows across various services… but not Netflix.

LO N G -T E R M T E S T

Donut of Truth™

DAY 02

Tech specs HDR formats Dolby Vision, HEVC, HDR10, HLG OS tvOS 14.6 Processor A12 Bionic Connectivity Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI 2.1, USB, Lightning, IR, Ethernet Storage 32/64GB Dimensions 98x98x35mm, 425g (box); 136x35x9.3mm, 63g (remote)

Diving into some specs, the A12 Bionic chipset is an upgrade, but also iPhone XS-old. Apple claims improved graphics performance; that’s questionable, but it is zippy and Wi-Fi 6 gives connectivity a noticeable boost. We’ve sourced a new HDMI lead, but there’s not much 60fps HDR content and Apple has pointed us towards the Red Bull TV app for review purposes. HDMI 2.1 does mean 120fps 4K support, and even 8K 60fps footage, but content seems way off.

DAY 04 Dolby Vision, HDR10 and Dolby Atmos are a big tick. Apple’s new Spatial Audio upgrade also works, and when tvOS 15 arrives later this year you’ll get Atmos content with virtual surround sound and dynamic head-tracking on AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Ah, that’s interesting: this box supports Thread, the low-power mesh network designed to make it easier for your smart home devices to interact with one another. It’s a significant step for gadgets to function without a hub… but this one will only talk to HomeKit-enabled products. Double bugger.

01 Comes with the excellent new Siri Remote 02 There’s a great selection of apps 03 The 4K picture quality isn’t in question

04 Not the biggest chipset upgrade, though 05 Netflix is here, but not via Apple’s app 06 Not much 60fps HDR content to watch

DAY 08 Having properly gorged on content, we can confirm picture quality is superb across the board, whether you’re watching action or animation. The new Colour Balance feature uses an iPhone’s sensors to match your TV’s picture to ‘industry standards’; the calibrated image seems too warm to begin with, but after a while we prefer it. All the apps are here, of course: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV+, all with 4K HDR and Dolby Vision. You’ll also find support for loads of other apps, if you’re the sort to VPN your media. Apple Music comes with on-screen lyrics, plus there’s Apple Arcade.

DAY 14 We’ve rather enjoyed our fortnight with the new Apple TV 4K, but it’s pricey – and baked-in smart TV interfaces have caught up. Still, if you’re a big Apple user you won’t find a more convenient media hub. All our iTunes files sit alongside a full house of apps and Apple Arcade games, and you can ping anything not there from your iPhone via AirPlay. The 4K streaming is as good as anything out there, while the new remote makes aimless flickery more fun.

STUFF SAYS Only a minor update, but this is still one of the best 4K streamers money can buy ★★★★✩ 65

G R O U P T E S T P O R TA B L E S P E A K E R S

Getting array with it

In what would be an absolutely insane experiment, you can daisychain up to 100 of these speakers. It’d set you back R350 000, but still…

Disco tech

If the Xboom’s mood lighting isn’t hypnotic enough for you, the ring-shaped lights make multicoloured movements when the woofers vibrate.

G R O U P T E S T P O R TA B L E S P E A K E R S

Cheap grilles Behold our eclectic pick of the best sub-R5 000 portable speakers to soundtrack the rest of your year

BEST FOR WILD PARTIES

LG Xboom PL7 What’s the story?

The PL7 is part of LG’s Xboom Go range of portable Bluetooth speakers. It’s the largest of the three PL models, meaning it’s the most impressive when it comes to power, battery life and proper low-end power. It comes with the added clout of having hi-fi wizards Meridian providing proprietary tech for the range, as well as some added pizzazz thanks to party lighting at either end. Download the app and you can customise this or turn it off to save battery, as well as accessing party-linking for doubling up with other speakers. It’ll also work with Google Assistant and Siri via a connected phone. And the repertoire of added features doesn’t end there,

because you can also use two of these speakers as surround channels with any LG TV from 2020 or ’21, which seems like a genuinely smart application.

Is it any good?

Considering its name, you may be expecting the Xboom PL7 to put bass above everything else; but while there’s plenty of low-end warmth, the power it’s capable of in the lower registers doesn’t define its character by any stretch. In fact, if anything, the sound of the PL7 leans towards the bright side, with crisp, controlled treble and expressive mids sitting on top of its solid bass performance. There might not be the soundstage to trouble B&O or Bose, but this speaker

still sounds considerably larger than it is. It’s an exciting listen too, with a strong handle on timing and an energetic nature that’s suited to most genres. We’d take a touch more clarity through the midrange, but it’s not muddy by any stretch. The Sound Boost button does just what it promises, pushing everything louder and more forward. While this might work in outdoor/party situations, for critical listening things get a bit pushed – so best keep it off unless the situation calls for it. Price R3 500 / lg.com/za Key specs ● 30W, 2x 2.3in drivers ● Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm ● Up to 24hrs ● IPX5 ● 245x98x98, 1.46kg

STUFF SAYS Not quite the finished article, but fun and feature-packed ★★★★✩

G R O U P T E S T P O R TA B L E S P E A K E R S

Splash dance

On the back you’ll find a microUSB port for charging, along with the aux input. Both are hidden behind rubber covers for splash-proofing.

BEST FOR A TIGHT BUDGET

Roving dual

The TWS function allows for stereo pairing and playing music in sync, but you’ll be paying R1 500 and there’s no support for aptX or AAC files.

Urbanista Brisbane What’s the story?

Urbanista has been putting in the work to be seen as a decent affordable audio brand with minimalist Scandi design. The Brisbane is the largest of its wireless speakers and comes wrapped in a choice of black or white fabric, with a smattering of controls along the top. Fair enough if you like things stripped-back, but dare we say the Brisbane looks a touch drab with its rectangular form… and while portable it’s also pretty weighty – enough to never go missing in the bottom of your bag anyway.

While it’s not the most rugged speaker we’ve generally abused, it does have an IPX5 waterproof rating for added peace of mind, and also has a line-in port for hardwiring your device – which could be great for stretching out the 10hr battery life. At under R2 000 it’s playing with the big boys here, but just think how many months of premium music streaming that extra cash could pay for…

Is it any good?

The Brisbane is the cheapest speaker on test, and that does show in its performance.

It is an easy listen, though. Some speakers around this price can be harsh and thin, but that’s not the case here. The sound has body and depth, and it’ll go loud without much issue thanks to the two 10W drivers under the hood. It also times pretty well, so you don’t have to worry about it getting all mixed up and messy with fast-paced pop and dance tracks. There’s confidence here, which goes a long way to producing a comfortable, enjoyable sound. However, there is a lack of clarity across the board, so detail is missing. Edges to

STUFF SAYS A near-bargain, but struggles against stiff competition ★★★✩✩ 68

notes are dull, vocals are missing detail and there’s just an overall lack of bite and insight. Even at this price point, that takes away from the performance a little too much to make this a speaker we can truly recommend. For something unusual (and expensive) look out for the Urbanista Los Angeles. Price R1500 / takealot.com Key specs ● 20W, 2x 2in drivers ● Bluetooth 5.0, microUSB ● Up to 10hrs ● IPX5 ● 215x98x52mm, 705g

G R O U P T E S T P O R TA B L E S P E A K E R S

Glowing my way

Above the Sonos logo is a tiny LED displaying speaker status. A second LED indicates when mics are active, and a third glows orange if it’s thirsty.

Season of the switch

BEST FOR MULTIROOM

Connectivity was solid throughout our testing, as was the switch between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, though the claimed 10hr battery life is a stretch.

Sonos Roam What’s the story?

The Roam is Sonos’s first proper portable speaker you can sling a satchel. Sensible proportions, Bluetooth connectivity and a reduced reliance on the Sonos app make it perfect for partying anywhere, but with Wi-Fi too it’ll still play nicely with any existing Sonos kit. A Toblerone-like mini boomer that’s designed to stand either horizontally or vertically, it isn’t exactly eye-catching in the design department, so look elsewhere if you’re after an injection of colour; but the robust Roam

does have a lovely metal, plastic and rubberised finish capable of taking a bit of a battering on the road. What sets it apart from the competition is clever stuff like Auto Trueplay, meaning it’ll tune its soundstage to suit the environment whether you’re inside or out; and Sound Swap, which switches audio to the nearest Sonos speaker in the vicinity. Press play/pause and the Roam pings sound around accordingly – especially useful if you’re listening to music indoors but then wish to express your right to Roam in the garden.

Is it any good?

For a Sonos speaker, the sound quality is just OK… but for a speaker of this size and form factor, it’s impressive. One thing this boombox doesn’t lack is bass. You’ll find anything requiring low-end oomph to come over with incredible impact for a speaker so small – in fact it’s rather overzealous on certain tracks, requiring a tiny bit of wrestling with the EQ. Everything is well balanced in the midrange, although it does suffer in the higher frequencies, lacking a bit of clarity. That aforementioned

low end really is decidedly thumping, though, especially if you jump in the shower with it. There are better-sounding rivals, but few offer this combination of features, and the fact that it plays nicely with any existing Sonos system is an added bonus. The Roam heads up our Top Ten list of speakers for just these reasons. Price R4000 / sonos.com Key specs ● Mid-woofer, tweeter ● Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 ● Up to 10hrs ● IP67 ● 168x62x60mm, 430g

STUFF SAYS An unbeatable blend of versatility and portability ★★★★★ 69

G R O U P T E S T P O R TA B L E S P E A K E R S

Cut me some FLAC

It’s easy to stereo-pair two P5s and its audio file support is impressive: WMA, AAC, FLAC and Apple Lossless are all catered for.

Little black drain

While the P5 is good for up to 18hrs of playback, if you crank it up to full blast that gets zapped down to just 4hrs – so have a power-pack handy.

BEST FOR SHEER SIMPLICITY

Audio Pro P5 What’s the story?

A bit like Sonos letting the Wi-Fi shackles off with the Roam, the P5 represents Audio Pro’s first foray into properly portable Bluetooth territory. The Swedish firm has a fine record for multiroom speakers, but this truly diminutive boomer has no interest in playing with its sonic mates and is going it alone instead, supported by a 1in tweeter, a 3.2in woofer and a 35W amp. It’s wind/rain-resistant, not fully waterproof, but there is a handy wrist strap to stop it falling in the soup – and to free up your hands for more

important things, like holding a continental lager or texting your mate at the bar. The 18hr battery life is on a par with the more expensive B&O A1 on p71, but at half the size it is also half as powerful. In design terms it’s as inoffensive as the aforementioned Roam – and comes in a choice of black, black or black.

Is it any good?

Listen to the Audio Pro next to one of B&O’s 360° devices (or anything Bose makes) and you’ll hear the difference immediately. The P5 is a forward and authoritative

speaker, throwing the full weight of its performance towards the listener in front. While it might not have the airy separation and insight of its sound-spreading competition, this is still a bigger, wider soundstage than its slender frame would have you guess it to be capable of. Vocals are pushed front and centre, without ever feeling detached from the rest of the track; and there’s a real sense of cohesion to its performance, with all elements of a track sounding equally strong and confident throughout. The decent bassy punch it

serves up ensures a solid sound across the board, although right at top volume it does start to get a bit shouty. It’s at its best around two thirds to max, when dynamics and energy really kick into action to help this speaker get the party started. The only real issue is finding these in South Africa. Price R2850 / audiopro.com Key specs ● 35W, 1in tweeter, 3.2in woofer ● Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm ● Up to 18 hrs ● IPX4 ● 220x97x53mm, 720g

STUFF SAYS A simple ultra-portable speaker that’s surprisingly meaty ★★★★✩ 70

Dance call days

The Beosound A1 doubles as a speakerphone, with three mics for clear hands-free calls when you’re OoO – which might be forever.

TEST WINNER

BEST FOR CLEAR TONES

Bicker conspiracy

As well as 360° sound, the A1 has a feature allowing two people to be connected and controlling the tunes – good luck sorting that one out.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) What’s the story?

B&O can boast a world first with the new A1: this was the first Bluetooth-only speaker to get Alexa voice control built in, hitchhiking on your phone to link to Amazon’s servers. Redesigned audio drivers and Bluetooth 5.1 deliver enhanced 360° sound with a 92dB max loudness when streaming, and if you’re feeling rich you can buy two and pair them for stereo. Sound can be extensively personalised using the B&O app. Design-wise the secondgen A1 doesn’t look any different to its predecessor;

but seeing as there was nothing wrong with the pearlblasted aluminium chassis before, we’ve no qualms about that. Only now there’s a higher IP67 waterproof rating, which extends to the carry string, and a soft polymer base. Since launch the A1 has had a number of seasonal finishes added to the line-up, and for an extra R2500 you can get a rather fancy Berluti special edition, but you won’t find it anywhere in SA.

Is it any good?

The A1 serves up a performance as refined as its

design, with toe-tapping punch and confident but not overpowering bass. The weight that’s served up is impressive from such a petite unit, but it remains controlled, giving you rumble where you want it without weighing down the rest of the presentation. In fact, clarity is the defining feature in this speaker, with vocals and instruments through the midrange sounding crisp, detailed and expressive. Treble is well handled too, creating an overall sound that blends with absolute cohesion. Volume can be pushed

pretty loud without affecting the airy soundstage, though 360° sound is better-realised. If your outdoor speaker needs are more garden picnic than trail hike, this is a premium speaker with a sound to match. It sits unashamedly at the top of this group’s budget, but it’s worth the extra cash if you have it. Price R5100 / amazon.com Key specs ● 60W, 3.5in tweeter, 3.5in woofer ● Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C ● Up to 18hrs ● IP67 ● 133x133x 46mm, 558g

STUFF SAYS Maxes out the R5 000 budget, but you won’t regret it ★★★★★ 71

T E S T E D G A R M I N C ATA LY S T

Baby co-driver To help you harness your inner speed demon, Garmin has created a driving performance analyser to stick in your car on track days

Map of honour Multi-GNSS uses multiple satellite systems co create a precise picture of how rubbish your last lap was.

R19 000 / garmin.com ■ Motorsport is expensive, but track days where you turn up in something mechanically sound for a few laps are increasingly affordable. So this is a circuit GPS that draws on Garmin’s sensor, accelerometer and camera tech to create a virtual racing coach. ■ The 6.95in touchscreen tablet mounts to your windscreen and all interaction is via the large, bright and easy-to-read display – which it needs to be for cursory glances at over 160km/h. A separate camera captures 1080p video and offers overlays of performance data. ■ Garmin’s 10Hz Multi-GNSS positioning tech allows the Catalyst to build an incredibly accurate picture of your line around a circuit. This, coupled with racing-line info from circuits around the world, helps determine the most efficient (read fastest) way to get around. ■ Plopped inside a Porsche Cayman at a local circuit, we lapped until the stomach complaints started, then popped into the pits to throw up a bit as the Garmin analysed our session, mapping an ‘optimal lap’ made up of our slickest sections. ■ Tips are presented to improve lap times by refining apex points and braking. Audible coaching is then added to the next session, and the day ends with tonnes of performance data to pore over, complete with annotated video.

Tech specs Display 6.95in 1024x600 IPS touchscreen Battery life Up to 2hrs (12v lighter socket) Storage 16GB + microSD Connectivity Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm audio Camera 1080p @ 30fps Dimensions 199x122x24mm, 437g

■ Glow, glow, glow!

The Catalyst displays a ‘delta time’ based on your best selected laps; a menacing red glow means you’re losing time, while green means you’re improving. Sadly there’s no virtual racing line to follow like in Gran Turismo.

■ Turn, turn, turn!

Having a car with a Bluetooth sound system is essential, unless you have a fancy racing helmet with a headphone jack, as voice instruction from the unit’s own little speaker gets lost amid the roaring engine and squealing tyres.

STUFF SAYS Great for finessing your skills but not as good as a human instructor ★★★✩✩

An easy way to analyse why you’re not Lewis Hamilton (yet) 72

Does the Catalyst make you a faster driver? Yes and no. It’s great for teaching consistency and gradually eking out better lap times, but there are limitations. It doesn’t know what car you’re driving so won’t adjust its recommendations based on vehicle characteristics… and besides, R20k would buy you decent tuition from a private instructor. But the simple visuals offer some really valuable insight.

TESTED SONY A1

A1 more night The large sensor makes it a good lowlight performer, though night crawlers might get better mileage out of the cheaper Sony A7S III.

Ever A1’s a winner This is Sony’s super-speedy mirrorlesss flagship, built to tackle any photographic task… as you’d expect for over R130k R130 000 / sony.co.za ■ In the noughties a flagship DSLR would have been twice the size and weight of the A1… but stick a smallish lens on this mirrorless machine and it could almost be called discreet. That’s despite chunky dials, an OLED viewfinder, and a grip that feels super-secure with your right hand around it. ■ This weather-sealed snapper is pitched at pros, and it feels solid enough for years of tough shoots… although the rear LCD – which only tilts about 90° upwards or 45° down – feels like a backward step compared to the full flippability seen on some recent models. ■ Considering the sheer amount of data the sensor produces, the A1 feels nimble and rarely sluggish. The setup allows for 8K video at up to 30fps, or 50.1MP stills with AF tracking and auto exposure engaged at a staggering 30fps. ■ Other notable features include five-axis image stabilisation, a battery good for over 500 stills and a heat management system that will let you shoot video clips of almost unlimited length. ■ The A1 produces stunning stills. Whether shooting portraits, wildlife or reportage, it rises to any occasion. And the ability to crop down to a tiny section of a photo and still have a sharp, noise-free image is an undeniable benefit when shooting far-off subjects.

Tech specs ■ A1 moment in time

Filmmakers will love outputting 16-bit RAW to an external recorder, but even internal recording supports 10-bit 4:2:0 footage up to 8K. The choice of framerates allows for some beautiful slo-mo sequences.

■ A1 step beyond

Unless you have a monster of a PC, 8K files can be hard to work with, but detail-wise the value of recording at that resolution then down-sampling to 4K is obvious. Still, the 4K output offers bags of crisp detail and colour depth.

Sensor 50.1MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS AF points 759 phase, 425 contrast ISO range 100-32,000 (exp) Burst speed Up to 30fps Video 8K @ 30fps, 4K @ 120fps, 1080p @ 240fps Displays 3in TFT touchscreen, 16mm OLED EVF Dimensions 1289x97x81mm, 737g

STUFF SAYS The Sony A1 is the ultimate no-compromise all-round camera ★★★★★

All for one, A1 for all… but Sony has better options for specialists

The A1’s price is high, but professionals wanting a do-it-all camera for video and photo won’t be disappointed. The R55 000 A7S III represents a better deal for videographers, while photographers can look to the 61MP A7R IV (R65 000); but for someone wanting all bases covered, plus the ability to shoot stills at an incredible speed, there’s nothing quite like the A1 to fill your portfolio with wonders. 73

T E S T E D A P P L E i PA D P R O ( M 1 )

Chip it up and start again Apple’s M1 processor has found its way into the already-streets-ahead iPad Pro… but there’s more at play in this flagship tab than raw power from R14 000 / istore.co.za The 2018 iPad Pro made good on Apple’s promise of an all-screen device that ‘becomes’ whatever app is running. The 2020 model improved things further, with a better camera setup, Lidar and the lovely Magic Keyboard. This year’s update looks identical, but represents bigger change than you first realise. From a design perspective, it remains a premium and sleek (if slightly weighty) slate, but the key is what’s new to tempt existing iPad users to upgrade… like stuffing an M1 chip inside. It smacks of overkill, but Pro users never tire of more oomph, and apps that demand power will excel on this hardware. During testing, this iPad deftly dealt with everything we threw at it, from video and image edits to sequencers and console-grade games. Performance peaked at M1 MacBook Pro levels and, in some cases, software pushed the iPad ahead. That’s great… but it pays to look past the power.

3 Roles apart The Pro is ready for quick switches between using it on its own, sketching with an Apple Pencil or typing on an Apple Magic Keyboard.

I just diode in your arms Our 12.9in Pro’s display (1) echoes previous models, but everything looks richer. That’s down to over 10,000 Mini LEDs, versus 72 normal LEDs in last year’s model. Brightness hits 1000 full-screen nits and ruins other iPad displays when handling HDR content. The catch: the 11in model doesn’t get the upgrade.

GOOD MEH EVIL

Powerful, fluid and responsive

Display is stunningly good

Follow view, follow me The rear dual-camera/Lidar setup remains, but now it’s all about the front-facing 12MP ultrawide TrueDepth camera with its 122° field of view (2). On video calls, a tracking system called Center Stage keeps you in frame. It’s odd at first, watching smooth, regular adjustments while the iPad is motionless… but it works.

Options can rapidly get expensive

Central reservations Center Stage is intelligent enough to adjust itself for extra people and ignore those passing through. Two minor negatives: the system doesn’t (yet) appear to work when recording, and it might trigger people with vestibular disorders. However, the feature can be disabled in settings on a per-app basis.

Center Stage is fun and useful iPadOS’s flaws do grate

Doesn’t like external displays

T E S T E D A P P L E i PA D P R O ( M 1 )

Tech specs Screen 11in 2388x1668 / 12.9in 2732x2048 Liquid Retina Processor Apple M1 OS iPadOS 14 RAM 8/16GB Storage Up to 2TB Battery life Up to 10hrs Connectivity USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 Cameras 12+10MP rear, 12MP front Dimensions 248x179x5.9mm, 466g (11in) / 281x215x 6.4mm, 682g (12.9in)

And as puck would have it…

AppleAirTag from R500 / istore.co.za

Thunderful life Apple’s penchant for minimalism means the Pro sticks with just one port (3), but this USB-C connector supports Thunderbolt and USB 4. In theory, Thunderbolt unlocks support for large external displays; but in practice, most apps mirror the iPad’s display, leaving black bars left and right. This feels increasingly absurd.

System of mercy The platform remains poor for coding, but other high-end tasks are supported by superb pro apps. For games, this iPad is strong too. Where things fall short is iPadOS itself, which lags behind iOS in some areas (widgets, App Library) and macOS in others (Files being like a Fisher-Price Finder, that flawed external display support).

Filed under ‘gadgets you never knew you needed’, smart tags from Samsung, Tile and now Apple help you locate lost items. Apple’s steel pucks use a U1 ultra-wideband (UWB) chip combined with Bluetooth and NFC to calculate the precise location of whatever item they’re attached to: car keys, wallet, spouse, dog, etc. Setup is as easy as pairing AirPods on iOS, with limited functionality on Android. On iPhone, the Find My app becomes your personal lost-and-found office – and it’s super easy to navigate. The pucks are also discreet for tucking away if they’re not hanging

The 2021 iPad Pro offers a more meaningful update than the last one did. The new display is wonderful and the M1 powerful, with only Apple itself holding things back on the OS front. For newcomers and owners of pre-2020 Pros, we’ve no hesitation in recommending it. Got last year’s model? Maybe hang on for another year.

off your keys; they’re rated IP67 against water and dust, and the battery should last a year. The usage case, then, is clear… but are Apple’s intentions? Gadgets like the AirPods Max and Apple TV remote don’t have AirTag tech built in, but conversely the firm’s implementation of UWB and the U1 chip extends far beyond simply finding things. With AirDrop, Car Keys and tune-transfers to HomePods already using the tech, we can expect to see greater mapping of everything and everyone. AirTags are just the beginning. Stuff says ★★★★✩

STUFF SAYS ★★★★★ This year’s iPad Pro is absolutely the best tablet around, bar none – you’ll pay for the privilege, but you’ll love what you get 75

SMART CITIES FEATURE

SENSOR-TIVE INFORMATION A city of sensors – building blocks of a smarter city

he city of the future will consist chiefly of two things – a vast concentration of people and enough sensors to manage them all. Unless you’re a member of that tribe based near the Bay of Bengal, you’re familiar with the role of sensors in the modern world. Your smartphone and smartwatch include several each, from accelerometers to GPS to blood oxygen to light sensors. Are you comfortable with those? If not, you’d best get used to them quickly – soon they will be everywhere. And it’s because so-called smart cities cannot function without them. Sensors will appear in various guises, and they are, like those cameras that keep appearing on street corners, just going to keep on coming. And if you’re a paranoid sort, we’ve got some bad news. There will be no escaping them.

We built this city…

[ Graphics vecteezy.com and freepik.com]

If you own a smartphone, you already know this. In fact, you already expect the convenience a plethora of sensors brings with it. Your phone knows which way you’re holding it, that you’ve lifted it or slipped it into a pocket, it even knows when

you’re looking at it in the dark so it can avoid blinding you. Imagine if an entire city behaved that way. That’s the promise of a future filled with sensors. ‘Future’ might be an incorrect term, though. Electronic, chemical, biomedical and overall smart sensors exist right now. It’s the installation, implementation and upkeep of a vast network of these devices that’s the challenge. We could alleviate traffic congestion, but every car needs a tracking sensor installed (your phone works just as well – that’s how Waze functions) and

connected to a central point and every parking space must be aware that there’s a car parked in it before that happens. We could regulate electrical supply to certain parts of a city, saving power for where it’s needed most, but that calls for smart electrical sensors, motion detectors, camerabased recognition systems and buy-in by a functional power utility. Eskom’s current situation ain’t gonna cut it in the city of the future. Everything from garbage collection to plant maintenance to air pollution, and more besides, has an associated sensor. They are all suited to different environments, come with their own set of issues and, if this whole smart cities idea is going to work, have to intercommunicate, either with each other or with a series of central processing locations.

SMART CITIES FEATURE

Fast tracking

The coming preponderance of sensors and the resulting tide of information has serious implications for our society. Security and privacy concerns abound, because almost every little thing in a smart city will be tracked in one way or another. Stores will know you’ve entered them. Your home will know when you are home and it’ll also know when you’re just around the corner. The city itself will know exactly when you throw your garbage out, when you go to sleep and exactly which route you take to work. Because all these data points are set to become essential parts of living in the city. Traffic management, the effective deployment of service delivery resources, positioning of law enforcement assets and more will eventually be managed via the data collected by millions of sensors positioned all around smart cities.

This will call for a change in thinking when it comes to what constitutes privacy but that won’t be anything new for us. Humans already happily hand over biometric data to smartphone and wearable makers. Internet search information has been up for grabs for decades. Facebook’s entire business model is built harvesting and monetizing the data the social network’s user base freely volunteer.

Securing a future

An evolution of the places we call home is coming, with pilot projects all around the world. One of the features of that future is the increase in the number of sensors around you daily. But before we see sensors proliferate through a given city, we’re likely to see advances in privacy and security of information. Facebook and other companies who rely on large amounts of data frequently suffer breaches that impact individuals, leaking personally identifying information to places it really shouldn’t turn up. Data generated and collected by a smart city will have to be properly anonymized to compensate and has to be in line with local laws designed to protect citizen’s information. In theory, most of the information generated by the

sensors in a truly smart city won’t be useful for much besides maintaining that city. That may just be because that information isn’t available yet. On an individual level, almost nobody should be affected – but that point rather relies on an accountable government or a wholly-private (and benevolent) company administering that information, as well as legal recourse in cases of abuse. Building and implementing trusted systems of sensor networks is essential to creating an equitable system that cannot be effectively exploited. This may be the hardest part of smart cities to get right, and will call for all those involved – companies, governments and those who wind up living in these burgeoning systems – to do their part to help it succeed.

The coming preponderance of sensors and the resulting tide of information has serious implications for our society

Don’t stop smoothin’ Fresh from last issue’s fly-by-wire thrills with the DJI FPV, Stuff swaps to something a little more sedate that’s engineered to capture ultra-stable content from R21 000 / takealot.com

The included charger takes around 80mins to fill up a depleted battery, so maybe pack a spare.

DJI’s status as overlord of the consumer drone world is pretty much unchallenged, but there’s no sign of laurel-resting from the Chinese company. This is the Air 2S, a souped-up version of the Mavic Air 2 that’s the same shape and size, but drops the ‘Mavic’ while upgrading the camera, obstacle-avoidance systems and transmission range. At R4 200 more than the Mavic Air 2, we’ve got two weeks of

capturing videos and snapping photos to decide whether this is a worthwhile upgrade. At first glance the Air 2S is virtually indistinguishable from the Mavic Air 2: a rectangular block with four fold-out rotor arms and a gimbal-mounted camera on the underside of the nose. But the camera is slightly larger, and a pair of up-facing anti-collision sensors have been added. When folded it’s roughly

The camera is fantastic for a drone this size, turning out super-sharp photos and videos with stunning colour depth

the size of a beer can and tucks away in a backpack. It’s light too, but not so light that you can use it overseas without registering it with the local regulator. It’s also reassuringly sturdy in spite of its folding design and preponderance of spindly bits. The rotor blades fold in so you don’t have to take them off, while the camera and its delicate gimbal can be protected with a pop-off plastic cover. The battery locks in place securely, while flush flaps cover the microSD card slot and USB-C file-transfer port. The controller will be familiar to DJI owners. It’s not new, but

neither does it need to be, with physical controls for gimbal tilt, taking photos or video, and automatic return to your take-off point without needing to touch your phone. The thumb-sticks can be removed for transport, with DJI thoughtfully including a place within the controller to stash them. There’s also a spring-loaded grip to hold your phone and connect via USB-C, microUSB or Lightning. DJI has sent us the ‘Fly More’ package: for R27 800 you get two extra batteries, spare rotors and a carry case. That seems like a decent deal.

LO N G -T E R M T E S T

Donut of Truth™

DAY 02

Tech specs Camera 1in 20MP CMOS Video 5.4K @ 30fps, 4K/2.7K @ 60fps, 1080p @ 120fps Storage 8GB + microSD Max speed 42.5mph Max range 12km Max flight time 31 mins Dimensions 180x97x77mm (folded), 183x253x77mm (unfolded), 595g

Controller and phone hooked up, we tap the touchscreen take-off button. The Air 2S is beautifully easy to fly, zipping around in the default flight mode. It’s limited to 120m altitude to comply with SA law, and those sensors stop it if it detects an obstacle anywhere other than sideways on. Slipping into Cinema mode, flight is slower and smoother, while Sport mode turns off the speed limiters and safety sensors.

DAY 04 It’s breezy today but the Air 2S can handle it despite a warning from the app – flying responsively and stably, picking up some great sample footage. Range and flight time are impressive… but also illegal given you have to be able to see your drone with the naked eye. It beams a solid 1080p feed to the controller, and on the odd occasion of a lost transmission the ‘return to home’ function kicks in. The DJI Fly app has been refined so much that it’s actually enjoyable to use. You can easily access cool flight features like subject-tracking and MasterShots – an automated sequence of dramatic video clips centred around your chosen tracking subject.

01 A smartly compact and portable design… 02 …that plays host to a truly excellent camera 03 This drone is packed with safety features

04 The ‘Fly More’ package is good value 05 Rotors can creep into shot sometimes 06 Slightly less battery life than the Air 2

DAY 06 The 20MP camera is fantastic for a drone this size, turning out super-sharp photos in various file formats and videos up to 5.7K with stunning colour depth and low-light performance, all brilliantly stabilised by its three-axis gimbal. One look at sample photos and videos shows how effective the 1in sensor is. Results right from the camera are impressive, but a bit of tweaking in Adobe Lightroom and DaVinci Resolve never hurts.

DAY 08 The richness of colour in conditions where a smaller sensor would struggle is the real killer feature. That this camera is bolted onto such a stable and easy-to-fly drone just makes it all the better. OK, it lacks the adjustable aperture of the Mavic 2 Pro, and at certain resolutions the lack of a crop means the rotor blades can occasionally pop into the frame. Both are minor issues, though.

DAY 14 The Air 2S may be DJI’s best drone yet: an almost perfect balance of portability, performance and price. It’s ideal for novices but still able to produce nigh-on pro-level results.

STUFF SAYS DJI cranks up the magic once again with the best all-round camera drone on the market ★★★★★ 79

FI R TH ST ES AD E… D

iPHONE 12 PRO

ONE ANKER NANO

TWO DJI AIR 2S

THREE HUAWEI BAND 6

Yes, of course you’ll need a blasted charger – the 12 Pro doesn’t come with one in the box, and if you’ve got an old iPhone charger you’ll be looking at a snail-paced 5W power-up. Opt for an Anker Nano and you can get 20W charging speeds. That means racing to a full battery in around a third of the time compared to an iPhone 11 charger. R400 / takealot.com

The iPhone 12 Pro’s camera is fantastic, but one thing it can’t do is take to the heavens – until you hook it up to the controller of a DJI Air 2S. As the phone’s stunning display streams a view from the drone’s 1in sensor, splice and dice your aerial 4K footage with handheld clips from the phone itself for the ultimate production setup. from R21400 / istore.co.za

If you don’t want to spend a few thousand on an Apple Watch, but still want something that tracks your heart rate, measures blood oxygen levels and tells the time, the new Huawei Band 6 could be it. Despite looking like a proper smartwatch it only costs about as much as a fitness band – and with 14 days’ battery, it puts pricier alternatives to shame. R1 700 / huawei.com/za

NO TH W T IS RY …

TH TH EN ES GE E… T

INSTANT STANT UPGRADES

MEASURE

1 TURN ON THE TAPS

2 SAY ‘LATER’ TO DATA

3 SKIP THE PIP

If you miss buttons and want new ways to shortcut to your favourite features, this iPhone supports two actions triggered by tapping the back of it – with either a double or triple-tap. To set these, find Accessibility within the settings, select Touch and choose what action each sequence fires up. Our winning combo? Screenshots with a double tap, one-handed mode with a single.

While 5G has been around for a couple of years now, it’s new to iPhones. But 5G doesn’t just mean faster data speeds; it also means faster battery drain. If you’d prefer a phone that lasts versus a router in your pocket, you can turn 5G off. (This also stops you burning through your data allowance!) In the settings, tap Mobile Data, then select Mobile Data Options, followed by Voice & Data.

With a fancy new screen and crisp speakers, the 12 Pro is a mighty movie player. Jump out of whatever you’re watching to respond to a notification and your video will be squished into a tiny floating video player over the top. Handy, but nothing like a full-screen experience. If you don’t love dividing your attention, go into the settings, select General, then Picture in Picture – and toggle it off.

4 VAMP UP YOUR VIDEO

5 HEAR ME RAW

6 STOP HEIF!

The iPhone 12 Pro’s camera is a gem, not least for its standout video capture. It can even film HDR video at up to 60fps, with support for Dolby Vision HDR. To enable it, go into the camera settings and select Record Video; here you can toggle HDR on or off. Just be aware that, if the main screen you use to watch videos doesn’t support the feature, it’s best to keep HDR video capture off.

The degree to which you can edit a standard ‘Shot on iPhone’ photo is limited – well, Apple’s own auto-wizardry means your shots probably look fab already. Still, if you’re a real photography nut, the 12 Pro can shoot RAW photos. Again in camera settings, select Formats and toggle on Apple ProRAW; an option to toggle RAW shooting will now appear on screen when you use the camera.

If you’ve never heard of HEIF photos, it’s a new format that’s much smarter than traditional JPG. Loaded up with support for over a billion colours (10-bit), photos captured in HEIF aren’t just richer, they’re also smaller in size. But the format doesn’t play nicely with all apps – so if you run into compatibility issues, go to that Formats menu again and switch from High Efficiency to Most Compatible.

A new Lidar sensor means the iPhone 12 Pro reads space better than any Android. Try it out with the Measure app, pre-installed and available through the App Store. Free

3D SCANNER

Stick something from the real world into your phone using 3D Scanner. It does high and low res models, just navigate around your target and tap the camera’s shutter to capture. Free

POLYCAM

Imagine you could grab a 3D photo of any given scene then navigate around it, peering under surfaces and stepping nearer to chosen objects. That’s what Polycam makes possible. Free

BETA YOURSELF

GET ORGANISED The supercomputer in your pocket won’t only rob you of countless hours – it can also give some of them back. Stuff offers tips on using tech to bring order to your life… THE BASICS

■ Collaborate and share

Most people don’t live in a vacuum. Normalise inviting others to your setup, to avoid duplicated effort and wasted time. Share family and social calendars. For shopping, set up a shared to-do list with your household that’s a single source of truth for what’s needed – a deft way avoid accidentally buying seven roasts next Christmas.

■ Get a routine

You need good habits and routines to stay organised, even when armed with tech. If you start using to-do or GTD (Get Things Done) apps like Things, go all-in rather than arbitrarily adding tasks. Deal with documents and emails swiftly. Just because digital doesn’t involve paper, that doesn’t mean there’s no mess.

■ Be consistent

Search engines can (in theory) rifle swiftly through countless documents and bring to the surface what you need. But searches are simpler if you file things properly in the first place. Do so with email and elsewhere, and ensure you give items keywords (including dates) that will help you find them later.

■ Make data accessible

Ensure your files are readily available and secure. Three steps can make that happen. Put your documents – neatly filed – on cloud storage, so you can even get at them using a phone. Back up that storage regularly. And with paper, digitise documents you receive and then organise them alongside your other digital files.

■ Use the right apps

Which apps you use is less important than the principles behind them. Ideally, choose ones that are cross-platform, so you can stay organised and update lists and documents wherever you are. Open source isn’t important, but the means to transfer and export documents is. Most importantly, use systems and apps that work best for you.

MAP YOUR MIND ■ Try Mindly

App-grade

Try to find apps that enhance existing data. For example, Fantastical uses standard calendars but improves presentation and enables faster event creation.

Lists are fine, but freeform organisation can be useful for figuring out more complex challenges. With Mindly (Free, Android and iOS), you kick off with an initial idea and branch nodes from it. The result can be shared as a PDF.

■ Try MindNode

If you’re keen on ‘mind maps’ but think in lists, MindNode (R43/m, iOS) gives you the best of both. You start with a bullet-point list that you convert to a mind map with a tap. You can then switch between outline editor and mind map modes.

APPS FOR LIFE

HABITICA

Organisation can feel like a chore, particularly with tasks you do on a regular basis. Habitica ‘gamifies’ task management, using success to power up a pixelated hero. Suitably equipped with weapons, skills and pets, your little character can then rough up monsters. Free (IAP) / Android, iOS

STREAKS POWER UP CALENDARS ■ Block it all out

TAKE OUT TEXT ■ Chat with Otter

Information lost from meetings and interviews can hamper organisation. But with Otter (Free, Android and iOS) you can record (with permission) and get a live transcription to work with later. Pay and you can import existing recordings.

■ Scan with Adobe

We’ve mentioned the bane of paper, right? Use Adobe Scan (Free, Android and iOS) to turn your smartphone into a pocket scanner. The app tidies up scans, and performs OCR on them so you can save the result to PDF then copy and paste the text.

It’s commonplace to block meetings out in your schedule. Get into the habit of doing this with other tasks, jobs and events during your day as well, to provide a better representation of availability.

■ Book in faffage

PICK OUT PICS ■ Flag your faves

You’re going to spend part of your day on minutiae. If you want to get properly organised, admit this and schedule it: create repeating calendar events to burn through email and social feeds a couple of times per day.

Photos were once precious and rare, shot on special occasions and placed lovingly in albums; today they’re a constant stream. Learn to organise them, flagging favourites to later reminisce over and turn into digital takes on the old-school album.

■ Add regular breaks

■ Use tags and AI

Downtime is important. If you work in a job where you get a fixed lunch break, block it out in your calendar and mark yourself as unavailable. It’s vital to be organised about taking time out, otherwise you risk not doing so.

This habit-former invites you to define up to 12 habits (ideally just six) to track; these can include timed habits and ones you want to break. When done, you prod the big button; when curious, you can dig into the stats. The app’s sense of focus encourages good results. R100 / iOS

Centralise photos and work with apps that let you quickly access and organise them. AI and machine learning can help you access images by theme or date. Try also using manual tagging to build collections of related snaps.

BFT – BEAR FOCUS TIMER

Blocking out time in your calendar to do all of the things is no good if those time-blocks are frittered away. BFT helps you train your brain by turning your phone face-down to trigger work sprints. Bear with us in this. R40 / iOS

TESTED GAMES

PS5 / playstation.com/za

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Going strong since the PS2 era, the Ratchet & Clank series is as synonymous with Sony as the Mario franchise is with Nintendo – and its PS5 debut is exclusive to the new console

atchet & Clank: Rift Apart is, like its predecessors, an exceptionally polished kid-friendly adventure in which our titular intergalactic heroes dart between hostile planets armed with an ever-swelling arsenal of bonkers weaponry. What sets Rift Apart, well, apart, is the PS5. The series has always been a technical showcase for the PlayStation of the moment, and by taking advantage of that vastly powerful hardware (see panel), this latest romp might just be the most

impressive next-gen game to date – even if in many ways it’s as old-school as they come. Ratchet is a cat-like ‘lombax’ who, together with his robot pal Clank, travels through the galaxy thwarting the evil Dr Nefarious. But the not-so-good doctor steals the Dimensionator, a tool that opens other dimensions… After tumbling through a few dimensional rifts, Ratchet and Clank become separated. You’ll spend much of your time playing as new character Rivet, a female

lombax from another dimension committed to taking down her own reality’s Nefarious. The trio soon find themselves working together to fix the universe. This breezy story has the energy of an old DreamWorks flick, with heart and humour in spades. Some voices are exaggerated, but you’re only ever a robot-wisecrack away from being won over again. And there are OTT weapons, of course. The best are the Large Negatron Collider, a giant laser beam for wiping out swathes of

baddies; Mr Funghi, a deployable army of talking mushrooms; and the new Topiary Sprinkler, which fires miniature water-cannons that turn lumbering mechs into bushes. You won’t be shooting all the time, though, and there’s plenty of platforming action. This is the kind of game PS5 owners crave: an old-fashioned single-player adventure but technically a marvel, with a host of wonderfully daft weapons to wreak havoc with. There’s a reason this series has stuck around.

STUFF SAYS Consistently fun and incredible to look at, this is a PS5 must-have ★★★★★ 84

TESTED GAMES

I got PS5 on it

Rivet is a lombax from a dimension where quiffs are acceptable.

This is a lot like Pro Skater, only with a space-cat on a rollercoaster.

Rift Apart was built from the ground up for Sony’s next-gen beast… and from the moment you enter Nefarious City, with spaceships filling the sky while neon cityscapes shimmer in ray-traced puddles, it’s clear this game wouldn’t have been possible on the PS4. Things get even more impressive when you hop between dimensions. Purple portals are all that separate entirely different gameworlds, which require no visible load-in thanks to the console’s SSD. On a half-decent 4K TV it looks quite beautiful, with each planet getting its own distinctive palette. This is also the latest PS5 title to include Sony’s 3D spatial audio capabilities. We played a good chunk with headphones on, and while it isn’t as transformative as Returnal, it clearly adds something to gunfights. Most weapons make use of the DualSense’s adaptive triggers, which could have felt gimmicky but actually makes total sense. If you’re using a throwable weapon, pulling the trigger halfway will display an aiming sight, while squeezing it the whole way releases the ammunition. The pad’s inbuilt speaker can often be heard chirping away too, which just adds an extra layer of charm. Oh, and don’t forget the haptics.

TESTED GAMES

all platforms / residentevil.com

Resident Evil Village

The great horror series celebrates its 25th anniversary with a typically haunting tale that spends most of its time looking back rather than pushing things forward

fter a few awkward years, the Resident Evil series’ seventh main instalment modernised things with a new first-person perspective while returning it to its horror roots. RE Village retains that same style and feel, putting you back in the shoes of RE7 protagonist Ethan Winters… but as the first RE game of the next-gen console era, could this also be a chance to take a bolder step into the future? Well, not really. In recent years, Capcom has tended to stay close

to its past glories – and that’s also the case with this game, which doesn’t quite represent a great leap forward but prefers to pillage from what’s gone before. Village takes place three years after RE7, as Ethan and his wife Mia have relocated to Eastern Europe to start a new life with their baby Rose. But that familial bliss doesn’t last, as their home is suddenly attacked by a military team led by… series hero Chris Redfield?! Before you figure out what the hell’s going on, you wind

up in an eerie village where Ethan spends the entirety of the game in search of his daughter. Village tries hard to make you identify with Ethan, who really gets put through the wringer in some gruesome ways. He’s undergone military training so is more capable with guns now, although combat is still clunkier than your typical first-person shooter. You won’t get attached to any of the village’s survivors, who all meet their demise pretty quickly; as one character remarks, there is

“nothing but blood and death” here. Making more of a lasting impression are the grotesquely exaggerated villains – and the village itself, which is one of the largest environments seen in an RE game and wildly diverse. There’s a terrific time to be had overcoming its monstrosities… but while Village does its best to combine RE7’s first-person frights with RE4’s delights, it’s mostly a pastiche rather than a truly new gaming experience, but don’t let that put you off.

STUFF SAYS Learns from the best of the RE canon but stops just short of greatness ★★★★✩ 86

TESTED GAMES

Village of the crammed

We don’t think this is the real Voortrekker monument – did we take a wrong turn?

Thor really let himself go after Disney wrecked the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Although it’s a larger game world, Village’s length matches previous instalments – so expect to wrap things up in about 10 hours. That includes exploring to find all the optional treasures and upgrades. But as with the recent series remakes, there are plenty of incentives to replay, where completing challenges nets you points to unlock new stuff like weapons, figures and loads of concept art. In one especially ludicrous touch, you can hunt animals and give their meat to the Duke to cook up meals that boost Ethan’s stats. The real highlight, however, is Mercenaries – first seen in RE4 – which is unlockable after beating the main game. This arcade-type mode takes you on a silly but entertaining shooting gallery across the game’s different locations under a time limit. It’s a fun diversion, and the challenge is trying to get a decent score based on enemies killed and a kill-combo bonus, as well as taking into account your leftover resources. Of course, there was also meant to be a PvP mash-up Resident Evil Re:Verse, where players pick characters from across the franchise history to fight against each other, but that’s been delayed until some time in 2022.

GADGET DOCTOR

ALWAYS ON CALL

facebook.com/stuffsa ● @StuffSA stuff@stuff.co.za

MAIL OF THE MONTH Q

A PROFESSIONAL DJ, I

I’ve been reading Stuff for years and I’ve always loved your content. I wouldn’t have known about DJI at all if it wasn’t for the magazine. I recently bought a DJI Mini 2 and I noticed in the JuneJuly 2021 issue that there is a mistake on page 98. On top it says DJI Mavic Air 2 and its actually the Mini 2 pictured and then directly

underneath it reads DJI Mini 2 and it is the Mavic Air 2 in the picture. I just thought this was funny. Hope I’m not just going mad. Daniel

You’re not going mad Daniel, but apparently we are. Well spotted. It’s since been corrected (right, Brandon?) so everything is where is should be.

Speak your brains to Stuff and you could win! This letter wins two oversized Funko Pop exclusives.

XIAOMI A BETTER PHONE

I noticed that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 was listed as number 3 on your Budget Phones Top Ten list in the June/July issue. I feel that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G, which I am currently using, is more deserving of that spot. It is a far more superior phone than the Note 9 and packs many more features and better specs (and bloatware, of course). It is at a slightly higher price of ±R4800 but is constantly on sale and currently sits at ±R4200. I recently purchased the Note 9T 5G. I considered the Note 9 but ultimately decided against it because of its inferior specs compared to its 5G cousin. On a side note: I really admire Xiaomi's initiative with their smartphones and how dominant they are with price-to-spec ratios. Shortcut613

You’ve got us there. The Note 9T is the better phone, we just haven’t encountered it (in the office) yet. As it happens, we’ve just had a chat with Xiaomi and you can expect to see a little more from them in the near future – so expect that budget smartphones list (and a few others) to shuffle in short order.

WE GET THIS A LOT

Gambling online is one of the fastest ways to become rich. You can play slots, card games, roulettes and many other types of games online. Don't forget to check the rules before wagering as it might save you a lot of money. Jesus

Stuff gets a lot of online gambling-related comment spam but we’re so effective at

slaying it that they’ve taken to emailing us directly now. We’re not sure what they’re hoping to achieve but it got us to place their spam in the magazine (good for them, we guess) so we could tell you that gambling online only makes the people running the games money (which is bad for you). If you’re gambling online, you’re essentially throwing money away – no matter what that friend’s friend’s friend has apparently won playing poker against bots. Have you met the guy? No. Why? Because he doesn’t exist.

NORMALISE NORMALISING

If you didn't make such interesting content, I would have unsubscribed a while ago. But please guys, you can make your podcast a million times better if you just normalize the audio. Please see this video I made especially for you on how to normalize audio in Audacity: https://youtu.be/JegsD7b8DIc Alexander

Yeah, this time we’re going to blame things on the new guy. Duncan, the newest member of Stuff, has taken over podcast editing duties and he may have been forgetful a time or two. We’ve shown him the video, though, and we’re pretty sure he’s got it now.

A RELIC FROM A BYGONE AGE

I have a large, signed May 2002 Sofia Vergara cover ... someone at Stuff is thanking Sofia for posing. I do not know the signature. Can you help? I can upload a photo of the signature. Drew

Howdy Drew – based on the image you’ve sent; you’ve got your hands on an American issue of Stuff. We’d love to help you out on that one but we’re very unsure who signed that. Mostly we’re marveling over how far the magazine has come – once upon a time, every magazine cover looked like that. But the South African edition was never quite so… ladsy.

FINALLY, A TOUGH ONE

I have an Energizer Power Max P600S that needs a new screen. Can you assist please? Kobus

Unfortunately, we’ve got some bad news for you. A replacement screen isn’t something you’re find in SA. Your best bet is to return it to the retailer you bought it from and hope the distributor is feeling generous. You can also contact puredistribution.co.za, who brought in the last batch of new handsets from Energizer.

TO IN E RITND W WA US

Next month’s mail of the month wins a hamper of Xiaomi products* worth R2 000! 88

*Products may differ in colour from the images shown

OP EN

This gadget leapt straig outta testin and into ou rankings.

OF EVERYTHING

NEW

Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten placings.

HOT BUY BARGAIN BUY UPDATE Searing with techy genius, a product that’s set our hearts aflame.

A solid gold bargain. Worth owning, regardless of cashflow.

Smartphones Budget Smartphones Tablets & streamers TVs Laptops Smartwatches & fitness trackers Budget buys

90 9 1 92 93 94 95 96

VR headsets & games 97 Drones, action cams & 98 compact cameras System cameras 99 Headphones 100 Wireless/smart speakers 101 Consoles 102 Games 103

WHERE TO GET THEM

TOP TENS SMARTPHONES

90 HOT BUY

UPDATE

iPhone 12

The iPhone 12 is a monumental smartphone. While it may not look like much of an upgrade from last year’s iPhone 11, the new A14 Bionic chipset means the iPhone 12 is one of the fastest devices on the market. It now also comes with 5G support, an OLED display, a super safe ceramic shield and an even better camera. It’s also a small thing, but those hardangled corners are just so much nicer to use. We’re diehard fans of the iPhone 5, can you tell?

TIPS & TRICKS The iPhone 12 reportedly has 4x better drop performance. Still, better to be safe than sorry.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Apple’s best smartphone to date, it’s difficult to see how they could top this

Snap a MagSafe wallet to the bac of your iPhone 1 and free up som pocket space.

● NOW ADD THIS MagSafe Charger Why bother plugging your phone in to charge when you could just have it stick to a magnet? So much easier. R800 / istore.co.za

Hope you have a power adapter somewhere as the iPhone 12 w ship with one.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Samsung Galaxy S21+

UPDATE

Samsung Galaxy Note 20

The Galaxy S21 is an improvement over last year’s snazzy Galaxy S20. While the actual features might not be substantially different, the S21 is faster, snappier and features one of the best cameras we’ve seen. Oh, and Samsung is still the undisputed ruler of phone displays.

Are you a hardcore gamer? Do you work hard? What if you’re into pro photography? Or do you just want a pretty phone? The Galaxy Note 20 is a powerhouse with enough cool gimmicks and features to just keep on impressing us. If you can afford it, it’s well worth the price.

Stuff says ★★★★★ A slight improvement on an already amazing blueprint

Stuff says ★★★★★ Large and in charge, the Note 20 is one of our favourite devices of 2021

from 19 000 / samsung.com/za

6 7

Huawei P40 Pro

Apple iPhone 12 Mini

UPDATE

from R17 000 / samsung.com/za

★★★★★ R22 500 / samsung.com/za The Galaxy S21+ is a great phone but for the higher price, it’s not a significant improvement over the S21.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

DATE

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

★★★★★ from R23 700 / istore.co.za The best iPhone but even bigger, shinier and unfortunately much more expensive.

UPDATE

★★★★★ R23 000 / samsung.com/za An excellent upgrade overall but that price tag makes our eyes water.

★★★★★ R17 000 / huawei.com/za Look past the lack of Google apps, and this is a premium device with brilliant power under the hood.

★★★★★ from R13 000 / istore.co.za It’s the iPhone 12 but much cuter. It’s no less powerful but it’s still adorable!

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

★★★★★ from R21 500 / istore.co.za Once again, an amazing phone that’s only this low because of that outrageous price. NEW

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

★★★★★ R15 000 / samsung.com/za Looks like a flagship, very nearly is. But it isn’t quite there yet.

FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS VISIT STUFF.CO.ZA OR STUFFSA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM

● Prices quoted are for handset only unless otherwise stated

from R15 000 / istore.co.za

BUDGET PHONES TOP TENS

HOT BUY

TIPS & TRICKS

UPDATE

Samsung Galaxy A32

You’ll need to manually activate the 90Hz refresh rate… just watch that battery life afterwards.

from R5 000 / samsung.com/za

Given how much you’re paying, the Samsung Galaxy A32 is a snazzy little handheld. While it obviously cuts back on some of the more luxurious features belonging to its beefier siblings, we can’t help but appreciate its 90Hz display, long-lived 5 000mAh battery and solid performance even when under duress. The camera even takes decent pictures above and beyond what is expected at this price point, making the A32 our top budget smartphone.

The Galaxy A32 should handle most games well but you’ll notice the device becoming rather warm. That’s normal. This budget phone comes with passable Night Mode photography thanks to Samsung’s software smarts.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Excellent value for money, Samsung leads the budget smartphone race, for now ● NOW ADD THIS SoundMagic ES18 Wired Earphones The Galaxy A32 features an audio jack. Make good use of it with these excellent budget ‘buds. R150 / sound-magic.co.za

Oppo A15

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

UPDATE

Samsung Galaxy A52

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9

Samsung crafted a very impressive mid-range mobile in the Galaxy A52. It works well and best of all, it doesn’t cost R20K. You get a similar software experience to pricey flagships, plus impressive media creds. It would sit higher if it were a touch cheaper.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is well priced for what it offers. It runs decently, features a competent camera and has excellent battery life. The massive display is also an impressive inclusion at such a low price point. Bloatware holds it back from placing higher on this list.

Stuff says ★★★★★ If you’re looking to emulate that flagship experience, look no further

Stuff says ★★★★★ The value proposition of the Redmi Note 9 outweighs the bloatware

R7 000 / samsung.com/za

R4 000 / takealot.com

★★★★★ R3 000 / takealot.com The Oppo A15 packs in everything you need from a smartphone at an excellent price.

★★★★★ from R9 000 / istore.co.za One of the most expensive phones here. Well, it’s still an iPhone.

Vivo Y30

★★★★✩ R5 000 / incredible.co.za An all-round decent phone let down by the clunky Funtouch operating system.

Xiaomi Redmi 9T

★★★★✩ R4 000 / takealot.com The Redmi 9T gets you to your destination despite cutting corners along the way.

Samsung Galaxy A72

Nokia 5.4

UPDATE

★★★★✩ R10 000 / samsung.com/za A powerful phone that’s less value-orientated than it should be at this price.

★★★★✩ R4 000 / hi-online.co.za Despite the less than stellar display and downgrades from the 5.3, it’s not bad.

Hisense H40 Lite

★★★★✩ R3 500 / takealot.com Local is often lekker, even when it comes to budget smartphones that pack a punch.

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TOP TENS TABLETS & STREAMERS HOT BUY

HOT BUY

UPDATE

Apple iPad Pro (2020)

Xiaomi Mi Box

The old iPad Pro was already our favourite tablet by miles, and the latest update only makes it more desirable. As before, it isn’t cheap; but with its huge and super-slick 120Hz Liquid Retina screen, ludicrously speedy internals and double-lens camera (like the one in the iPhone 11), this is one working device to rule them all. Since Apple added cursor support to iPadOS, it’s also the best tablet to replace your laptop – and a glimpse into the near future of computing.

Buying a TV box in SA is a hit or miss, as most of them are massproduced and run on iffy software. Your best bet is opting for a certified Android box, like the Xiaomi Mi Box S. It’s the second of its kind, and can stream content in 4K from a variety of services on the market. Already have a smart TV? Just add the Mi Box S to up its streaming game. It’s also got Chromecast built-in, with some Assistant chops to improve its desirability. The Play Store offers a variety of apps that should impress any content snob.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Apple’s mega-tablet evolves into an outstanding piece of kit and pulls even further ahead of the pack

Stuff says ★★★★★ Ready to join the Mi too movement? This is by far the best Android box on the market in SA right now

from R14 000 / istore.co.za

UPDATE

Apple iPad Air (2020)

from R1 200 / incredible.co.za

UPDATE

3 4

Apple iPad (2020)

Huawei MatePad T8

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

R23 000 / samsung.com/za The Galaxy Tab S7+ is an excellent device for folks who want a fast, powerful tablet without being locked into Apple’s environment. It also features one of the best displays we’ve ever seen on a tablet. Stuff says ★★★★★ A worthy contender in the high-end tablet wars

★★★★★ from R6 000 / istore.co.za You can’t go wrong with the standard iPad and the 2020 model only proves that.

★★★★✩ from R3 000 / huawei.com/za A slightly chunkier device for games, series and books. Kid friendly features are a bonus.

oogle Chromecast 3.0

m R800 / incredible.co.za e Chromecast is a cheaper option to smart your TV, and it works seamlessly. Plug-in, y and cast from your mobile device thout hassle. Pair it to a Google Nest and n more control using Google Assistant. ff says ★★★★★ st your dreams to the TV

from R11 000 / istore.co.za The iPad Air is still one of the best high-end tablets you can find. The addition of the excellent A14 chip makes this one of the fastest, most powerful tablets currently on the market. Stuff says ★★★★★ Still the go-to all-purpose iPad for most folks

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+

UPDATE

from R1 700 / takealot.com Amazon’s latest streaming stick offers 4K plus a faster processor than its predecessor and comes with an Alexa Voice Remote. It doesn’t have Showmax, but the selection of third-party apps is excellent. Stuff says ★★★★★ This is the best stick you can buy

UPDATE

Apple TV 4K

★★★★✩ from R2 500 / istore.co.za f you’re in the Apple ecosystem, might as well cough up for this one. It works. Well.

Mediabox Maverick

★★★★✩ R1 500 / hificorp.co.za This box packs a punch, winning points for being so easy to install.

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TVs TOP TENS

HOT NEW BUY

LG OLED 65G1 from R55 000 / lg.com/za

LG’s OLED TVs are consistently impressive and the G1, the company’s newest super-slim television, is no exception. It’s ‘merely’ 4K but at just 20mm thick it’s also ideal for sticking on your wall. Which might be why you need to get the feet separately. LG’s thrown all the bells and whistles at this TV, with upgraded webOS 6.0 at its heart, excellent upscaling chops and visual production that will keep your eyes from wandering to 8K screens for some time to come.

Stuff says ★★★★★ As expected, the updated C9 is the closest you’ll get to a tiny home cinema TIPS & TRICKS

The audio can’t match the amazing display. Add an LG SN11R soundbar (R20 000 / takealot.com) to pump up the bass.

UPDATE

● NOW ADD THIS Sony PlayStation 5 If you have a 4K screen you really should be pairing it with the best newgen console on the market. Your games have never looked better. from R10 000 / koodoo.co.za

LG’s OS has upped its recommendation capabilities, but you’ll need to watch for a while to get the best from it.

LG OLED 65C9PUA

Panasonic 55FX435Q

LG 55NANO86 NanoCell UHD

Samsung 75Q950TS

UPDATE

Sony 65A8H

from R60 000 / hificorp.co.za

★★★★★ from R52 000 / lg.com/za Our previous champ has been dethroned, but it still has plenty of love to give.

★★★★★ from R7 800 / brandssa.co.za While rare in South Africa, it’s well worth the effort of tracking this bad boy down.

★★★★★ from R15 450 / raru.co.za We never wanted to tear our eyes away from this gorgeous screen and neither will you.

★★★★★ from R140 000 / samsung.com/za An amazing 8K TV but that price is… well, let’s be honest, if you’re not Jeff Bezos, it’s too high.

Sony 75X90H

from R40 000 / incredible.co.za

The Sony 65A8H might look a bit pricey (because it is) and short of a feature or two (because it is), but that doesn’t mean it’s not a brilliant TV. Because it is. What it lacks in HDR10+ and HDMI 2.1 support it makes up for with amazing image quality, impressive full range sound and an intuitive Android interface.

The Sony 55X90H is no longer available in South Africa but the 75X90H is as good. Our pick from Sony’s 2020 LED range packs in proprietary TV tech to select what it considers the optimal settings for whatever you’re watching. The 75X90H produces some beautiful colours upscaling nearly everything to 4K-esque quality.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Doesn’t do absolutely everything, but what it does it does brilliantly

Stuff says ★★★★★ This smart Sony might be your secret weapon

Samsung The Frame 55in 4K

★★★★✩ R23 000 / samsung.com/za A 4K TV that looks like it belongs in a gallery, even when it’s turned off. Who says television isn’t art?

★★★★✩ from R9 000 / makro.co.za This budget TV delivers everything you need, including a 4K and some stunning colours.

UPDATE

Skyworth 55SUC9300

LG UHD 60UN7100

★★★★✩ R13 000 / makro.co.za A 60in 4K TV with HDR support, and you don’t have to sell a limb to afford it? Sign us up.

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TOP TENS LAPTOPS TIPS & TRICKS

Who needs a Touch Bar? You can log into your Mac with your iPhone’s Touch ID using the MacID app.

The universal clipboard lets you copy text on your iPhone and paste it directly to your Mac.

HOT BUY

UPDATE

Apple MacBook Pro 2020

from R23 500 (13in) / istore.co.za

If you thought the spec bump of the 2019 MacBook Pro was worth your time, then the 2020 version will astonish you. There’s nothing as powerful as Apple’s new M1 processor which runs 2.8x faster than the last model, while the GPU pushes speeds 5x faster. A battery life of 20 hours, Wi-Fi 6 support and a gorgeous 13.3in retina display, this is Apple’s next generation. It’s difficult to see how they’ll improve on this design but we won’t have to worry about that for a while. Let’s just enjoy the MacBook’s efficiency at speeds we’ll soon get used to.

Stuff says ★★★★★ The M1 chip is reason enough to upgrade your Macbook Pro ASAP ● NOW ADD THIS Satechi Type-C USB 3 Combo Hub Two ports not enough? This hub adds loads more and sits snugly against the MacBook Pro’s side. R800 / amazon.com

UPDATE

Asus ExpertBook B9

Dell XPS 13 (2020)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

MSI GT76 Titan

Asus ProArt StudioBook Pro 17

UPDAT

Apple MacBook Air 2020 from R17 000 / istore.co.za

★★★★★ R31 000 / takealot.com It’s always business time when you’re working on this overpowered monster of a laptop.

★★★★★ R37 000 / incredible.co.za An update to the processor and battery continues the XPS 13’s high standard.

★★★★★ from R41 000 / evetech.co.za Gaming has never felt as good (or as metal) as this iron-clad warrior makes the experience.

★★★★★ from R16 000 / incredible.co.za Microsoft’s hybrid is a versatile, portable productivity machine that justifies its price.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 from R19 000 / incredible.co.za

Have we mentioned how much we adore that M1 chip? Cramming all that power into a smaller shell makes for a convenient package. Improved battery, 3.5x faster CPU and much speedier GPU means that it might not boast the power of the Pro but given how much you’re getting for the price, that’s a fair trade-off.

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 3 isn’t going to dethrone the Apple MacBook Pro as the king of the 13in castle but it’s bound to make the brand (at least, in SA) keep a hand to its neck. Slick design, excellent battery life and that excellent Matte Black hue make this one Microsoft royalty. Apple’s design team should be a tad worried.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Most benefits of the Pro at a smaller price. What’s not to love?

Stuff says ★★★★★ We couldn’t be more pleased with our first Surface laptop

UPDAT

NEW

★★★★★ from R59 500 / evetech.co.za It packs a punch with at least an RTX 2070 GPU and up to an Intel Core i9 in a weighty chassis.

★★★★★ from R46 000 / evetech.co.za The best desktop replacement for any creative or designer looking to go portable.

Asus Zenbook Duo 14

★★★★✩ from R31 500 / asus.com/za You’re paying extra for a secondary screen but you’re getting your money’s worth.

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SMARTWATCHES, FITNESS TRACKERS TOP TENS

TIPS & TRICKS Current times demand frequent hand washing. Press the wheel, hit Settings and select Handwashing to turn on your timer.

Stuff says ★★★★★ It’s only logical to upgrade when the Apple Watch continues being the best in the biz ● NOW ADD THIS UPDATE Nike Sport Band Level up your fitness cred by slipping your Watch into one of Nike’s fitness bands. It won’t make you fitter but it can’t hurt. R1 000 / istore.co.za

UPDATE

4 UPDATE

Garmin Fenix 6S

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

Everything the 5S did the 6S does better, with improvements across the board, if you overlook the battery being a little weaker. The range of sports tracking is still off the charts, it’s more compact than ever and still looks better than nearly any other fitness tracker.

A robust piece of tech that’ll probably last longer than you’d expect, with a sturdy build, great design and decent specs. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 doesn’t lack much, and there’s a helluva lot to love about it. And it has that stylish thing going.

Stuff says ★★★★★ You owe it to yourself to upgrade to this model; it’s better in every way

Stuff says ★★★★★ A powerhouse wearable filled with cool features

from R8 000 / samsung.com/za

Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro

★★★★★ R7 000 / huawei.com/za Fast, stylish and suitable for any occasion, the Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro is built to fit any lifestyle.

Garmin Forerunner 945

★★★★★ R10 000 / sportsmanswarehouse.co.za Check temperature and altitude acclimation, make NFC payments, play music and more.

Garmin Fenix 6

Huawei Band 4e

UPDATE

R10 500 / garmin.com/za

Apple Watch Series 6 The Apple Watch Series 6 is the next step forward for all you fashionable fitness junkies. It improves on the Series 5 in every way, enhancing what was already the best smartwatch on the market. With a capacity of 32GB, a battery life of around 18 hours on a full charge and every sensor you could possibly need, there’s just something about the efficiency of the Apple Watch that pulls us back in. It gives you everything you need and looks slick while it does it.

Open the Watch app, select My Watch and then Notifications. You now control which apps send missives through to your wrist.

UPDATE

from R8 000 / istore.co.za

The new Sleep mode has a setting that reminds you to charge your Watch an hour before your bedtime. Set it up. Now.

HOT BUY

★★★★★ from R8 000 / garmin.com/za The best fitness-orientated smartwatch, offering incredible levels of detail.

★★★★★ R700 / huawei.com/za It’s the simplicity and value for money that’s ranked the Huawei Band 4e so highly.

Fitbit Charge 4

Fitbit Inspire 2

UPDATE

★★★★★ R2 900 / makro.co.za The Charge 4 is a fab fitness tracker that doesn’t look like much but does everything.

★★★★✩ R1 800 / incredibleconnection.co.za This budget Fitbit will save your wallet without sacrificing fitness features.

Polar Vantage V2

★★★★✩ R10 000 / sportsmanswarehouse.co.za This little number is packed with features, but that price tag is daunting.

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TOP TENS BUDGET BUYS

HOT BUY

Razer Seiren Mini Microphone R1 200 / evetech.co.za

TIPS & TRICKS

It’s rare that one encounters a microphone this small that works so well. The new Razer Seiren is the microphone for anyone who spends plenty of hours talking at the computer and doesn’t want a clunky mic hanging over their mouth. It’s also adorable, sitting comfortably out of the way while still putting out some impressively clear audio at a reasonable price.

Make sure you’re sitting a comfortable distance away from the mic to avoid distortion.

Stuff says ★★★★★ One of the best sounding mics we’ve ever heard in this price range

Wanna try recording yourself? Download Audacity and give it a whirl!

● NOW ADD THIS Hybrid FM02 - Pop Filter Make sure those plosives aren’t punching your listeners in the face with a proper pop filter. R225 / takealot.com

The Seiren Mini Microphone comes in three colours: Black, Mercury and Quartz.

4 UPDATE

UE Wonderboom 2

While it may be simple, this stylish collectible needs to be on every fan’s shelf. Just holding is enough to whisk you back to the classic Nintendo Game and Watch of the 80s. Plus, it includes the original two Super Mario Bros games and Ball. The only games you’ll ever need.

A rugged little wonder that’ll bring a sonic boost to any occasion without breaking the bank. The UE Wonderboom 2 sports full 360° sound, a 13-hour battery life and an “Outdoor Boost” that does what it says on the tin. It’s also waterproof, dustproof and it floats too.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Simple and snazzy, that’s really all you could ask for in a collectible

Stuff says ★★★★★ The perfect speaker for any occasion, out or indoors

R1 300 / store.nintendo.co.za

R1 500 / takealot.com

★★★★★ R260 / pishop.co.za No need for dongles or hubs. With the wireless Pi, your projects can be squeezed into smaller places.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11

★★★★★ R1 400 / takealot.co.za The latest Instax Mini is fun, compact, quirky and perfect for a day out with some friends.

Xiaomi Mi TV Stick

Logitech G403 Hero

Kindle Fire 7in Version

UPDATE

Game and Watch

Raspberry Pi Zero W

NEW

★★★★★ R700 / takealot.com Turn any TV, monitor or projector into a smart TV and stream anywhere with this little TV stick.

★★★★★ R1 200 /evetech.com A fantastic mouse that looks and feels fantastic even if you’re on a budget.

★★★★★ from R1 400 / incredible.co.za With 16GB of storage and an 8-hour battery, the Kindle Fire is perfect for reading, checking emails.

Blackstar AmPlug2 Fly

★★★★✩ from R1 150 / amazon.com It doesn’t have the most features, but you can rock out without rocking your neighbours out of bed.

Wahl Aqua Groom

★★★✩✩ R1 400 / takealot.com Looking for a decent, affordable, compact beard trimmer? Look no further.

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VR HEADSETS & VR GAMES TOP TENS

Oculus Quest 2

Half-Life: Alyx

The Oculus Quest has finally been dethroned by it’s bigger and better sibling, the Quest 2. It’s still the most efficient way to experience VR with the lack of cables and physically tethering to a PC making for an experience that’s like no other. The increased resolution, sitting at 1832x1920, means 50% more pixels than the original Quest, 6GB of RAM and the 90hz refresh rate should hopefully alleviate any nausea. These upgrades mean the system runs faster and smoother than ever.

It’s Half-Life, right? Developers Valve said they’d only go back to the legendary franchise when there was some new kind of technology they wanted to show off and boy howdy, did they succeed with Alyx. One of the most detailed, comprehensive games in VR, Half-Life: Alyx tells a compelling story with riveting combat that shifts from explosive fire-fights to quietly disposing of zombies. Interacting with the environment in virtual space is amazingly done. There’s nothing else like it.

Stuff says ★★★★★ The Oculus Quest 2 is the best even if you have to jump through some Facebook hoops to use it

Stuff says ★★★★★ Valve proves VR could very well be the future because nothing comes close to playing this game

from R12 000 / 180by2.co.za

Oculus Quest

from R19 000 / 180by2.co.za The original Oculus Quest is nothing to turn your nose up at. It’s still just as portable and easy to use, making for an entry into Virtual Reality that’s more streamlined than most headsets (bar one obvious one). Stuff says ★★★★✩ It’s the older model but it's still impressive UPDATE

Oculus Rift S

R10 000 / 180by2.co.za An amazing swan song for VR’s first gen, the Rift S is excellence made more appealing by its accessible price tag. Just because it's cheaper doesn't mean you shouldn't look out for dangling cables… Stuff says ★★★★✩ A fantastic headset despite those unruly cables UPDATE

HOT BUY

HTC Vive Pro

★★★★✩ R23 150 (starter kit) / rebelgaming.co.za This high-end headset offers the best VR experience by a long way. But at a price.

Oculus Go

★★★★✩ from R6 500 / 180by2.co.za/ Go-godance withthe Goonthe go. It’scheaper than the Quest, and a standalone headset.

from R330 / Oculus Quest/Rift, Vive, Valve Index

2 3

Hitman 3

R1 200 / PSVR Don the bald head and red tie of the world’s greatest assassin and take out your targets with clean efficiency or sheer chaos. There’s no better way to play the modern Hitman game than in VR. Stuff says ★★★★★ Why be you when you can be Agent 47?

Star Wars: Squadrons

from R650 / Valve Index, Vive, Oculus The closest you’ll come to sitting in a real X-Wing cockpit and blowing up those dastardly enemy TIE fighters, Star Wars: Squadrons campaign and multiplayer is some of the most fun we’ve had in VR. Stuff says ★★★★★ Nothing like the smell of photon torpedoes

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners

Beat Saber

★★★★★ R220 / PSVR, Oculus, Vive, Valve Index Tense, violent and immersive, this is the best game adaption of The Walking Dead.

★★★★★ from R175 / Oculus Rift, Vive, PSVR Dual laser swords are meant for slicing and dicing blocks to the thumping beat of a song.

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TOP TENS DRONES, ACTION CAMS & COMPACTS

HOT BUY

DJI Mavic Air 2

Sony ZV-1

With the Air 2, DJI has built on the basic platform of a simple entry-level drone and thrown in a heap of pro-grade features, so those dipping a tentative toe into the waters of aerial photography or videography no longer have to put up with mediocre content. The sensor and 48MP resolution produce very sharp imagery, while the ability to shoot in RAW format gives plenty of postproduction options and the DJI Fly app allows for fast image filters, movie edits and social media uploads.

Offering excellent image quality, a great range of video options and features designed specifically for vloggers on the go, Sony outdoes their previous compact camera, the RX-100. Our only issue is the lack of a touchscreen, which still blows our minds, and the battery being inaccessible if the camera is mounted. Yet those are small gripes with a piece of hardware that is one of the best available on the market and an easy recommend for anyone looking at investing in quality, portable cameras.

Stuff says ★★★★★ An easy to use drone for noobs and experts alike – this features some great advancements over the last model

Stuff says ★★★★★ A tremendous compact camera that demonstrates how Sony is still at the top of the photography game

R16 800 / istore.co.za

DJI Mini 2

R9 500 / istore.co.za The follow-up to one of our faves is the Mini, but so much better. It brings 4K to a drone that still impresses with its size. For under 10K, this is an absolute win. Budding drone enthusiasts owe it to themselves to own one. Stuff says ★★★★★ At this price, what you get is staggering

GoPro Hero 9 Black

R10 400 / takealot.com Taking the already excellent GoPro Hero 8 and making it even better, the Hero 9 is GoPro’s best camera to date with a beefed up battery, dual screen functionality and some impressive software improvements. Stuff says ★★★★★ You won’t find a better action camera anywhere

DJI Osmo Action

DJI Mavic 2 Pro

UPDATE

★★★★★ R7 000 / cameratek.co.za Face-optimised metering makes DJI’s action cam an ideal choice for vloggers.

★★★★★ R33 300 / istore.co.za Superbly responsive in the air, this is the gold standard in portable flyers.

R16 800 / ormsdirect.co.za

Sony DSC-RX100 VI

Panasonic Lumix TZ220

Sony DSC-RX100 VII

Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III

UPDATE

R23 000 / kameraz.com Sony is currently dominating the compact camera space. The RX100 VI is a tremendous device that would be even higher on this list if it weren’t for that bulky price tag. Stuff says ★★★★★ Premium point-and-shoot perfection

R16 700 / newworld.co.za This Panasonic compact is a significant upgrade from the TZ110, offering extra reach with the zoom lens, better colour reproduction, and an improved experience when using the electronic viewfinder. Stuff says ★★★★★ Small, neat and not dramatically overpriced

★★★★★ R27 700 / takealot.com A true all-rounder that shoots 24fps at full resolution with a whopping 8x zoom lens.

★★★★★ R13 900 / takealot.com For the asking price, this compact does everything you want and does it well.

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SYSTEM CAMERAS TOP TENS HOT BUY

TIPS & TRICKS

UPDATE

Fujifilm X-T4

It’s easy to set up the X-T4’s customisable Q button: just hold it down for a couple of seconds for options.

R38 800 / ormsdirect.co.za

The Fuji X-T4 might be the high-end mirrorless camera of your dreams. Relatively affordable for a flagship, it excels at stills and video thanks to in-body image stabilisation, high-speed shooting and 4K recording at up to 60fps. Rapid shooting is backed up by fancy AF tricks that feel equally fast and reliable, and even the battery life goes above and beyond the usual standards. There’s no doubting this is a worthy successor to the already fabulous X-T3.

Avoid those wonky horizons by turning on the built-in on-screen level in screen settings. Fujifilm X Acquire is a clever bit of PC/Mac software that backs up all your X-T4’s custom settings.

Stuff says ★★★★★ A superbly capable mirrorless camera for shooting pretty much anything in style ● NOW ADD THIS UPDATE Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 This versatile lens covers a bigger zoom range than most and adapts to pretty much any requirements. R14 700 / ormsdirect.co.za

4 5

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm X-T200

Canon EOS 90D

Nikon Z6

UPDATE

Sony A7 III

It may have been surpassed by the X-T4, but we still can’t find anything bad to say about the X-T3 – it’s just consistently great in so many ways. With pro-level video options, a high-res EVF, and super-fast autofocus and burst shooting, what you’re getting here is an all-round beast of a camera in a small, beautiful form. And now that it’s a last-gen model, it’s also a lot cheaper than it used to be.

The A7 III manages to pack in a lot of technology and desirability for less than R50k. It’s a fantastic all-rounder that’s well suited to a bunch of shooting scenarios, coping well with landscapes, portraits, and even a little bit of high-speed sport shooting. As a camera design it’s admitedly not the prettiest thing we’ve ever seen, but it handles well for its compact size.

Stuff says ★★★★★ An incredible stills shooter with video smarts to match

Stuff says ★★★★★ A fantastic all-rounder that excels in low-light conditions

R28 200 / ormsdirect.co.za

R48 500 / ormsdirect.co.za UPDATE

NEW

★★★★★ R34 500 (body) / ormsdirect.co.za The Sony A7C unites portability and precision into a very appealing package.

Panasonic Lumix G9

UPDATE

Fujifilm X-T3

Sony A7C

★★★★★ R29 300 (12-60mm) / takealot.com The G9 is still the best Lumix to date, with staggering shooting speeds.

★★★★★ R14 900 (body) / ormsdirect.co.za You get the X-T3’s sensor in a cheaper, smaller body with more spare change for buying lenses.

★★★★★ R15 700 (15-45mm) / kameraz.com A compact, lightweight and easy-to-master camera that won’t break the bank.

★★★★ R26 000 (18-55mm) / takealot.com An updated all-rounder, the 90D builds on the 80D with increased power and more megapixels.

★★★★★ R37 000 (body) / ormsdirect.co.za A top-notch and reasonably sized mirrorless camera from the optical experts.

Fujifilm GFX 100S

★★★★★ R117 000 (body) / ormsdirect.co.za Light for a medium-format camera, except maybe in the wallet area.

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TOP TENS HEADPHONES OT

100

UPDATE

Sony WH-

Sony WF-1000XM4

With their perfect balance of wearability, e noise-cancelling prowess and audio performance, there just hasn’t been a better package than the Sony XM3s… until now. The XM4s look and sound almost identical, but a range of new features – including Speak-to-Chat, which stops the music when you start talking – aims to lure you away from your current ’phones. If those are the XM3s, it’s tough to justify the upgrade; but it’s going to take something extraordinary to knock Sony off its perch now.

Sony may catch flack for its phones but its audio gear is second to none. Serious cancellation skills, the inclusion of Speak-toChat and typically well-balanced sound reproduction make the WF-1000XM4s the in-ears to have. But, as with the over-ears, the previous generation was just so good that it’s hard to recommend these if you already own our Number 2 pick. If you don’t have a pair of Sony buds in your ears yet, though, these are the ones to have.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Not surprisingly given their heritage, these are the best all-round noise-cancelling headphones you can buy

Stuff says ★★★★★ Similar innovations to those found in Sony’s over-ears opposite put these wireless buds on top of the pile

from R6 500 / takealot.com

UPDATE

R7 000 / sony.co.za

B&W PX7 Carbon Edition

UPDATE

Marshall Monitor II ANC

UPDATE

Bose NCH 700

UPDATE

Apple AirPods Max

UPDATE

R9 000 / e-piphany.co.za Bowers and Wilken make some fine headphones, but these are up there with some of its best. Stellar sound quality and a comfortable build make these an easy recommendation… if you can afford them. Stuff says ★★★★★ A little pricey but worth every cent

R6 300 / takealot.com Marshall’s amp-inspired design shines through with these headphones. They look fab, fold conveniently away and pump out great sound. Whether you’re a musician or an avid music lover these will see you right. Stuff says ★★★★★ So good, you’ll want to turn them up to eleven

★★★★★ from R9 900 / takealot.com Bose are still the masters of the medium, if comparatively a little overpriced.

★★★★✩ from R11 000 / istore.co.za Sounds great but that price and their Applecentric nature keeps them from greatness.

Sony WF-1000XM3

R3 000 / everyshop.co.za Despite the age of Sony’s XM3’s it’s miraculous what these buds are capable of. They still feature some of the best noise cancelling in the business and continue to output some of the best audio in its field. Stuff says ★★★★★ Amazing build and mind-blowing sound

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

from R7 500 / samsung.com/za As so often happens, bigger, better features have knocked these ‘buds down the list – not that there’s a fault with these excellent, if bulky, in-ears. Noise cancelling is brilliant, but that price has got to come down. Stuff says ★★★★★ The best sounding beans we’ve ever heard

★★★★★ from R3 000 / samsung.com/za Samsung may have given up on the design, but we still love these comfy li’l beans.

★★★★★ from R4 000 / samsung.com/za While they sound great, the Buds Pro lack the smart design of the Buds Live.

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101

WIRELESS AND SMART SPEAKERS TOP TENS HOT NEW BUY

HOT BUY

Sonos Roam

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

Look, the Sonos Roam isn’t the very best speaker you’re going to encounter at this price point, but it’s certainly one of the most skilled. Integrating with your other Sonos kit but equally capable on its own, the Roam loves to do just that. Well-rounded audio is a given and the battery is ample, if not the full ten hours Sonos claims to offer you. Sound Swap hands off to nearby speakers, Trueplay tunes to your space and it supports both Alexa and Google Assistant.

While this magic orb of a smart speaker looks like something you might see in an older Star Trek episode, the latest Echo from Amazon wins because it’s just so efficient. Setting up connections between devices has never been simpler, thanks to an integrated Zigbee hub, and it’s helped along by Amazon’s excellent Routines app. It may not have omnidirectional speakers but that doesn’t matter – you were just going to stick it in a corner anyway. Isn’t that right?

Stuff says ★★★★★ Sonos finally got a Move on, but even that has to make way for this portable powerhouse

Stuff says ★★★★★ While smart speakers are growing in popularity, Amazon is still way ahead of the pack

R4 000 / takealot.com

UE WonderBoom 2

R2 000 / superbalist.com

UPDATE

Sonos Move

Apple HomePod Mini

UE Megaboom 3

Sonos One

from R9 500 / takealot.com Sonos’ first mobile effort is still worth your time and money but the advent of the Beam means a Sonos portable is within reach for considerably mess money. And money talks, they do say. Stuff says ★★★★★ Beamed down to third, but still great

★★★★★ R4 000 / takealot.com You’ll struggle to find a better, longer-lasting or more feature-laden portable speaker. UPDATE

Google Nest Audio

R4 200 / superbalist.com Google has refined its smart speaker with a sound that may be fuller but is still better suited to casual listening. It’s fast and efficient but you should be aware that compatibility can be a problem. Stuff says ★★★★★ While a little finicky, it’s still an impressive device

from R1 500 / takealot.com These speakers are so good that they consistently sell out in South Africa; if you see one available, you should jump on it! Excellent sound, fantastic battery and super portable, this is one of the best value options out there. Stuff says ★★★★★ A rugged little wonder with a sonic boost

JBL Xtreme 2

★★★★★ R5 000 / takealot.com The updated Xtreme offers all the bass for 15-odd hours.

from R4 000 / takealot.com While Siri is growing more competent with more and more updates, it’s still not as advanced as Alexa or Google. Still, this smart speaker will do what you need and look good while it’s at it. Stuff says ★★★★★ Apple still has a way to go before it’s competitive

4 NEW

★★★★✩ R5 000 / takealot.com Easily the best speaker quality available, we’re just not fans of the chunky design.

Google Nest 2nd gen

★★★★✩ R2 650 / bigapplebuddy.com Sleep Sensing is cool, but that does mean you’ve got to stick it in the bedroom.

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TOP TENS CONSOLES

102 UPDATE

GOT EARS? THEN CHECK OUT…

PlayStation 5 from R12 000 / koodoo.co.za

Next-gen is finally here and it’s looking better than ever. The PlayStation 5 is a behemoth of a console and that size isn’t just for show. Games load faster and look better than ever before thanks to the new solid state drive and the actual machine is quieter than ever. Then there’s the DualSense 5 controller which is just… monumentally cool. Alongside a stellar lineup of launch games, Sony has really outdone itself with its latest console, justifying that price tag. The PS5 is an amazing console all round.

Stuff says ★★★★★ An amazing controller and some solid launch titles make for a great kick off to next-gen gaming Xbox Series X

R12 000 / incredible.co.za Microsoft’s next-gen offering isn’t too shabby either. It’s a beast of a console with some impressive hardware to boot. The reason it’s not in first place is a disappointing controller and lack of launch games. Stuff says ★★★★★ It’s good but could be better UPDATE

Nintendo Switch

● BITING COMMENTARY ● BRILLIANT INSIGHTS ● (BAD) JOKES! ● GADGET HANDS-ONS

PlayStation 4 Pro

FIND IT ON iTUNES, SOUNDCLOUD OR YOUR PODCAST PLAYER OF CHOICE SIMPLY SEARCH FOR “STUFFED”

from R8 000 / store.nintendo.co.za Nintendo’s console earned a promotion in our list after it impressed us with a growing list of fantastic games. Plus, no other device here offers the joy of portable gaming. Long journeys will never be boring again. Stuff says ★★★★★ This 2-in-1 console is the real deal

★★★★★ from R6 800 / koodoo.co.za A great all round console with one of the best libraries of games in recent memory.

YOUR ESSENTIAL AUDIO GUIDE TO WHAT’S HOT IN GADGETS

Nintendo Switch Lite

★★★★★ from R5 000 / store.nintendo.co.za Yeah, it’s a tiny bit smaller. But it’s also cheaper and just as powerful as its big bro.

www.stuff.co.za/hubs/podcasts-videos/

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103

GAMES TOP TENS

HOT NEW BUY

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart R1 370 / PS5

This PS5 exclusive is compared to the best that Pixar and DreamWorks can field, and with good reason. The rip-roaring tale that scoots players around the galaxy (back and forth through the titular rifts) looks every inch as good as pre-rendered animation. The series’ frenetic energy, insane weaponry and tight-designed platforming action are all present, offering players an experience they won’t forget for an age.

TIPS & TRICKS Keep moving. A stationary Lombax is a dead Lombax so jump, dash and keep your enemies off-balance while in combat.

Stuff says ★★★★★ So much fun that you’ll feel like you travelled to a parallel universe ● OR PLAY THIS The Outer Worlds As whacky, with more RPG features, only it’s Fallout. In space. R900 / PC, PS4, XBO, Switch

Don’t play favourites. It’s tempting to stick to what you know but Rift Apart’s entire arsenal is worth exploring.

UPDATE

Hitman 3

Monster Hunter: Rise

Demon’s Souls

The Last of Us Part II

UPDATE

Returnal

R1 300 / PS5

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Tight controls, excellent art design, stunning visuals and a compelling narrative characterise Returnal ’s AAA rogue-like gameplay. It’ll make you come close to snapping your DualShock 5 but you’ll also keep on coming back for more.

Take one of the best PS4 games, Marvel’s Spider-Man, ramp up the graphics, throw in some haptic feedback, a banging soundtrack and a rad new protagonist in this gem of an open-world title. The story hits as hard as combat does.

Stuff says ★★★★★ Returnal should be on every PS5 owner’s console

Stuff says ★★★★★ Easily the most fun we had in 2021, a must-buy for any PS5 owner

R1 200 / PS5

8 9 10

★★★★★ R420 / PC, PS, Xbox The end of the line for 47, but the end of the line for many, many victims first.

★★★★★ R1 100 / Switch Monster Hunter is back to its handheld roots with excellent combat and polished loot grind.

★★★★★ R1 400 / PS5 As difficult as it is beautiful, Demon’s Souls is a joy to play and eventually defeat.

★★★★★ R850 / PS4 An emotional story punctuated by savage gameplay; this is still the best recent PS4 title.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

★★★★★ R1 200 / Switch An excellent port and expansion on one of the most underrated Super Mario games.

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

★★★★★ from R700 / PS4, PS5, XSX/S, XBO, PC You wouldn’t think crafty assassins and vikings would mix but they do. Oh boy, they do.

Doom Eternal

★★★★★ from R310 / PS4, XBO, PC, Switch Slaying thousands of demons with a shotgun and a laser greatsword… Need we say more?

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Dumb ass It’s often been assumed that the game’s name arose from a mishearing of Monkey Kong. In fact, ‘donkey’ was a synonym for ‘stupid’ in Shigeru Miyamoto’s Japanese-English dictionary.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES 1981

Donkey kong 980s arcade gaming meets 1930s cinema. Double retro overload! It does feel like that when you first set eyes on Shigeru Miyamoto’s legendary design. This was one of the earliest ‘climbing’ games, laying the foundations for the platform genre. And it’s packed with film tropes, from the damsel in distress to the giant ape – too packed, according to Universal City Studios, who filed a lawsuit against Nintendo alleging trademark infringement of King Kong. Universal lost; Nintendo won; gamers and everyman carpenters everywhere erupted in celebration. Probably.

Carpenters? Duh, Mario’s a plumber! Not at first. He wasn’t even called Mario – he was an unnamed everyman, trying to rescue the generically named Lady, avoiding deadly barrels and removing rivets from towers in a flagrant breach of health and safety regs. He was at various points dubbed Jumpman and Mr Video, before Nintendo’s US staff renamed him Mario after their warehouse landlord, Mario Segale. That worked out pretty well for the character… but his quest in the game itself was tougher, not least due to a bug that gave him just four seconds to complete the 117th screen.

Yikes! Bet that made Mr Segale furious. Indeed – and in sequel Donkey Kong Jr, Mario acted in uncharacteristic fashion, squeezing the giant ape into a tiny cage and unleashing psychotic critters on DK’s son when he attempted a rescue. There were helicopters too – this was big-budget revenge. Eventually the apes won, booting Mario across the screen and leaving him to forever take out his aggression on tortoise-like creatures instead. As for DK, he took refuge inside a greenhouse in Donkey Kong 3, annoying a pest control officer but – this time – no major film studios.

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Aliens, from space? Seriously? This hideous abomination of pixels was once the most feared invader from space. Destroying them required a pocket of change, or a black and white TV (those were a thing), directional dexterity, nerves of steel and the ability to make your own sound effects.

Gaming has evolved. At its pulse is the StuffPlays team with the latest (and retro-est) in all things gaming. Expect weekly reviews, new releases, esports updates, with the latest gaming tech, live game play, strategies, tips and tricks, in real-time and played on every console imaginable.

Let’s play Streaming on YouTube and Twitch, all week, every week.

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Articles inside

Laptops

Tablets, streamers

TVs

Budget smartphones

Smartphones

Games

Instant upgrades iPhone 12 Pro

Long term test DJI Air 2S

Beta yourself Get organised

Tested Sony A1

Tested Garmin Catalyst

Group test Portable speakers

Long term test Apple TV 4K

Tested Sony XR-55A90J

Tested Huawei Vision S 65in

Tested Huawei Watch 3

Tested Apple iMac 24in

● Honor

Cover feature 100 best apps

First test Sony WF-1000XM4

Stream

Mini meme To-do list apps

Best of E3

Vital stats HTC Vive Pro 2

Wheels Mercedes Concept EQT

● Huawei MatePad Pro 12