Let's not kids ourselves. All phones are basically the same. And once you pay over four or five-hundred dollars, they're actually all pretty good.
They all take a half-decent photo. They all have nice screens to watch video on. They generally have enough storage for those photos and videos. They come in cool colours. They have enough battery life to last the day... mostly.
So if you need a new phone, you may as well throw a dart at a board.
Except...
What if you want one that is genuinely different from the pack? I've got one for you - but you'll need to have your checkbook ready...
Last year's race to launch a phone with a folding screen was a three-way affair, with Huawei's Mate X taking by far the most unusual approach. The Mate X's screen folded around the outside of the device. A lot of people asked why they would do it that way. After I had a little play with one at a Christmas party I started to ask, why wouldn't you do it that way?
Unfortunately, the Mate X was only sold in China, so probably didn't get the international attention it deserved. Now the 2020 version, the Mate Xs is here and I do mean here, for sale in New Zealand. I've been using it as my primary phone for a few days and I can certainly assure you, there's no other device quite like it.
There's no point hiding this phone's greatest trick; the FullView OLED display folds out to a massive, tablet-sized 8-inches. Even when folded, the main screen is 6.6-inches, certainly right in that sweet-spot of useable screen-space versus easy handling and portability. But unfolded, as a tablet, the Mate Xs allows a much bigger viewing area for documents, looking at photos or video and more complicated operations like editing. You can easily multi-task, choosing a Multi-window app from the customisable list that appears with a long swipe from the right of the screen. Any app you select then hovers over the main screen in its own smaller window which you can move around where you want and copy and paste from one app to another.
Obviously this big, square screen takes mobile gaming to a whole new level, leaving your enemies nowhere to hide in first person shooters. There's also a slew of new cooling innovations including the use of something called Bionic Carbon. I have no idea what that is. What I do know is the Mate Xs stays cool open or closed.
The fold-out operation is made possible by Huawei's new and improved Falcon Wing hinge. It feels robust and reliable and snaps into place with a satisfying kerchunk. What's really crazy is how flat the screen is when unfolded. You have to be looking pretty hard, in just the right light at just the wrong angle to see any kind of seam at all. Basically, it has to be used to be believed.
But wait! Where's the selfie-cam? Unfolded, this thing is literally all screen. Big screen. Square screen. Rotating screen - you can hold it whichever way you like... but not a camera in sight. On the back, a whole different story, with the Super Sensing Leica Quad Camera System; Wide angle, telephoto, ultra-wide angle and Time-of-Flight lenses combining to take great shots, near or far, dark or light. Just like Huawei's other flagship devices, the camera on the Mate Xs is superb... and the really good news is it's also your selfie cam.
You see, when folded, the 8-inch display actually becomes two displays, the 6.6-inch screen on the front and a 6.3-inch screen on the back. When you change to selfie-mode in the camera app, you're instructed to flip the phone over and there you are - looking back at yourself on that 6.3-inch screen nestled snugly alongside those four magnificent lenses, as you can see in this image. (That button with the red line is the catch to unfold the phone, by the way. With another comforting click)
So you've basically got the world's highest-specced selfie camera, with access to all the features and effects you've been using on any of your other shots.
There's another cool camera trick the Mate Xs can do no other phone can; Mirror Shooting. When you're taking a photo of someone else, via the main screen, just touch the Mirror Shot icon and your subject will also be able to see the shot on the secondary screen facing them. No-one needs to ever be caught with their eyes closed again.
The other hidden feature is the fingerprint sensor, underneath the side-mounted power button. I've seen this on a handful of other phones and tablets and I love it. Definitely faster and more reliable than any in-display fingerprint reader I've used to date. A shame there's no face-unlock option, due to there being no forward facing camera, but that fingerprint sensor works so well, I haven't missed it too much.
And that's not the only fast thing about the Mate Xs. It uses the same uber-powerful Kirin 990 5G processor we saw on the Mate 30 Pro. In tandem with a respectable 8GB of ram, the Mate Xs flies along - even when resizing apps after folding or unfolding the screen. A huge 512GB of internal storage is standard and the 4500mAh battery is fairly generous too. Combined with the miraculous power-saving abilities of that Kirin chip, I was pleasantly blown away by the overall battery life, especially given the size of the display. Huawei seems to be the battery life authority these days.
I have to admit, I do miss wireless charging here - obviously no reverse charging either. Maybe you can't do wireless charging through a wrap-around display, I'm not sure. Fast charging via USB-C works well though and I was also surprised at how light and slim the Mate Xs is. Even when folded it doesn't really seem to take up an uncomfortable amount of space in my pocket. When unfolded eight inches is just the right size for me to still be able to grip in one hand. The Intersteller Blue colour of the rear casing is pretty classy too.
In these turbulent times, it's worth reiterating Huawei phones like this, while still technically Android devices do not have access to certain apps and services... or do they? Certainly, by using Huawei's Phone Clone app, you can port pretty much all the apps, accounts, files, addresses and pictures across from your old phone in a matter of minutes and that works very well. What's more, Huawei's App Gallery is quickly growing into one of the most well populated app stores out there, with more and more New Zealand-based content being added all the time. The only feature I'd like to see Huawei figure out is contactless payments via NFC. I know there's a service called Huawei Pay available in some other markets so hopefully we'll see that here soon enough.
So a totally unique fold-out screen that looks fantastic and feels durable. Tech specs that match up with the very best of the best. An unbelievable camera setup that offers more selfie options than any other. 5G capable in a market with a very limited number of 5G phones available. And an App Gallery that goes from strength to strength every day. How much?
$3999.
Not a typo.
Insane right?
So the question is, do you want to own the most expensive phone in town?
Maybe, for a phone as unique as this, you're prepared to do something crazy.
Click here for more information on the Huawei Mate Xs.
It really is the time of year I look forward to the most.
Oh sure, Christmas is nice. The food and drink. Hanging out with the family. The presents.
And birthdays are okay, I suppose. But the older you get and the more of them you have, the less okay they get. And fast.
No, the special day I'm talking about is when I get to unbox the latest Samsung Galaxy phone.
After few years of my favourite phone getting a bit better every generation, but really staying more or less the same, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G is pretty different. I mean, just look at it.
There's no escaping the fact that camera module is huge. In fact, this is not a small device in any way. Until now, the S-series Galaxies have usually been the more refined, sleek and curvy handsets, while the Galaxy Notes lean more towards the super-functional, industrial look.
The S20 Ultra pretty much blows that theory out of the water. Sure, it still curves in all the right places, although the 6.9" Infinity-O display doesn't fall away quite so quickly at the edges this time round, giving us more control over things like scrolling and Edge Panel shortcuts.
Yes. That's right. A simply enormous 6.9" display with just the tiniest single punch-hole for the forward-facing camera, this year placed in the centre, which is possibly slightly less distracting than the corner punch-hole on last year's Galaxy S10. The screen is sublime. Increase the refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz and it gets even sublimer. Operations become smoother, gaming and video clearer. The settings menu warns the higher refresh rate will cost you some charge but the drain wasn't as bad as I was expecting. This is probably due in no small part to the S20 Ultra's upgraded battery, which is definitely no small part.
Samsung have thrown the kitchen sink at this device, with a 5000mAh battery, one of the biggest you'll find in any phone. This charges surprisingly quickly, with the right high speed charger and of course wireless and reverse-wireless charging are basically standard on Samsung's flagships now. Galaxy phones aren't usually known to be the most economical when it comes to battery life and despite the S20 Ultra's oversized cell, it still isn't the best I've used in this department, no matter which refresh rate I run it at. But to be sure, there's still plenty of gas left in the tank by the end of the day.
Apart from the display, that battery is running a lot of other high-end gear. The very latest and fastest processor of course, teamed up with a 5G modem. Again, just a reminder, not many phones are 5G capable in New Zealand, so if you're wanting to connect to the new network, bear that in mind. 12GB of RAM is probably overkill (or future-proofing, whichever way you look at it) but I feel like 128GB of internal storage is a little on the stingy side given the real hero feature of this phone; the cameras.
From time to time other manufacturers have made certain phones all about their photo performance but I think this is the first time I've seen Samsung make the launch of a device so camera-centric. For sure, Samsung's flagships usually sport some of the best photography options going, it's just that this year, they've really gone over the top.
The selfie cam is a very nice 40MP shooter with a decent 80 degree Field of View, ensuring group selfies fit just as well as solo shots. But it's that rear-facing setup that's just so insane. Ultra-wide, wide-angle, telephoto and DepthVision(Time of Flight) lenses all add up to a four-pronged camera attack that is surely the most comprehensive Samsung has offered to date.
The periscopic telephoto configuration combined with a stunning 108MP main sensor adds up to previously unheard of zoom options. The 10x hybrid-optical zoom is amazingly clear and detailed. What's more, you can actually zoom in 100x digitally if you want. Yes, these images are pretty grainy and without a tripod or ledge to lean on, very difficult to get a steady shot - but let me tell you, you can see things through this camera you can't make out with the naked eye. No wonder Samsung refers to this functionality as Space Zoom. Even 30x shots are perfectly usable, this really is quite ground-breaking stuff for a phone camera.
I'm not a massive video-taker but even I'm impressed you can shoot in 8K, although I'm not sure where I'd play that footage? More useful is the tracking auto-focus and the easily accessible Super Steady mode, allowing even a total amateur like me to shoot decent action sequences. Oh, and if you like it artsy, there's the same bokeh effect to blur the background in your video, just like we all like to do in our portraits these days.
Night mode is so clear and offers impressive detail and colour reproduction in low light conditions but perhaps the most ingenious photo feature is a new option called Single Take. Line up your subject, push the button and the S20 Ultra clicks off a simultaneous selection of pictures and videos over a few seconds, presenting you with a whole range of shots to choose from - even boomerangs. The phone chooses the one it likes best, or you can save them all. Mayber you prefer the wide-angle shot... or the one with the black and white filter. It's a brilliant way to get the most out of all these zoopy-doopy lenses.
In-display fingerprint sensors have quickly become the norm. Samsung have moved theirs further up from the bottom of the S20 Ultra, making it far more accessible when holding the device in one hand. It works much faster and more consistently than on the previous model which is a relief, because there's nothing more frustrating than having to use a boring old pin to get into your flash phone.
Face unlock has also improved and now works in both portrait or landscape, although not that well in the dark, even when I've selected the setting that brightens the screen. I can't rule out the possibility my face gets unrecognisably scary in the dark, so it might not be all the phone's fault.
Samsung's One UI, based on Android 10 is now my favourite operating system by a considerable margin. Dark mode options, rotating home screen, streamlined - it has everything I want and not much fluff I don't.
This is one of those phones that simply has every option packed into it, even things you didn't know existed and would never have thought to ask for. Mind you, when you're paying over two-grand you'd better be getting all the bells and whistles. With the S20 Ultra, you most certainly are.
Shame about the size. It is truly enormous and pokes out the top of even my deepest pants pockets. The payoff is a genuinely cinematic performance from that massive, beautiful display, enhanced by some decently powerful, well-tuned stereo speakers.
But I can't deny there's an elegance missing here that used to be hallmark of Samsung's previous S-series flagships. That's not to say this isn't a beautiful phone, but this year that beauty is to be found in sheer performance rather than just looking pretty.
Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G.
So you love your Huawei phone.
It's got a fantastic camera. Everybody's always telling you how incredible your photos look.
The battery life is standout. When your friends' phones are all dying at the end of the night (or even just the end of the day) yours is still going strong.
And it's so fast. Like, super fast. Like, you don't even really care about that sort of thing but it really does seem a lot faster than other phones and it keeps being fast. Even after all this time.
But that's the problem; you've had your trusty Huawei for ages and you're due for an upgrade. Or worse still, maybe you accidentally ran yours over in the driveway. Or maybe you're just dying to get on board this 5G phenomenon you keep hearing so much about.
Do you buy another Huawei? Do the new ones actually... you know... work?...
In the immortal words of Taylor Swift, "You need to calm down." The hysteria over what the latest Huawei flagships can and can't do is just that; hysteria. And the Mate 30 Pro 5G is all the proof you need.
I'm an unashamed Huawei fan, have been for some years now. That's due in no small part to something boring but important; the chip. Huawei's own Kirin processors have been quickly gaining an international reputation for incredible speed, reliability and low power consumption. The Kirin 990, which is the Mate 30 Pro's brain, is yet another evolution in speed and power, with the added bonus of 5G thrown in. Unlike other 5G phones on the market right now, the 5G modem is built into the Kirin 990, not a separate chip spliced on. This means yet more speed and efficiency.
What many people haven't cottoned onto yet is 5G is not automatically coming to their phones, only devices with 5G modems built in to the chipset will be able to access the new, superfast network and right now, the Mate 30 Pro 5G is one of the few such phones available in New Zealand.
While we're talking tech specs, the Mate 30 Pro 5G is bursting with them; 256GB of on board storage, 8GB RAM, IP68 water and dust resistance. You get SuperFast wireless charging, reverse wireless charging from the phone itself and then there's that battery... 4500mAh is certainly one of the bigger batteries in any phone out there, but the actual battery life far exceeded my expectations. I don't even bother putting the Mate 30 Pro 5G on to charge at night anymore because it gets more than enough of a top-up via the wireless charging cradle in my car when I'm driving around throughout the day. It may be the longest lasting phone I've used yet. I'm not exaggerating - as I write this I've been up for over six hours and it's still showing 97%.
Oh hey, did you notice how orange this phone is? Yup, super orange. That's actually vegan leather on the back. It feels superb and of course, doesn't show any fingerprints like a glass-backed phone does. Normally when I'm reviewing a phone, I reach straight for the case, if there's one included in the box. I'm paranoid about dropping or scratching a device I don't actually own. With this soft-touch casing though, I'm more comfortable leaving it naked. The edges of the Mate 30 Pro 5G are an eye-catching rose gold, what there is of them, as the Horizon display curves around the sides of the phone beautifully. There's only one physical button on the whole device - the power button. Even the volume controls are now virtual; a double tap of the side of the phone brings the volume slider into view. The in-display fingerprint sensor is one of the fastest and most reliable I have used although I prefer to face unlock - which works just as well in either portrait or landscape.
But perhaps even more striking than orange vegan leather, is the Halo Lens quad camera configuration - a Leica lens "Super Sensing Cine Camera" that takes stunningly clear video and photos in all light conditions. You get 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital. There's also a 3D depth sensor for optimum split-focus (Bokeh) effects. Even the selfie camera includes another 3D sensor so you can achieve the same, professional shots both front and back.
At the end of the day, it's all about those apps though, isn't it? But rather than being limited to what you can load onto the Mate 30 Pro 5G, it turns out there are actually more ways than ever to install the tools, games and social media apps you know and love. This is a four-pronged attack, all very simple.
You start by using Phone Clone, pre-installed on all Huawei devices but readily available for download on any other Android or iOS phone. This is one of the most comprehensive cloning tools I've used for setting up new devices, copying not just contacts, pictures and media files and not just apps either. In many cases, depending on the app, Phone Clone will even transfer your sign in details too, saving you having to look them up in that little notebook you're not supposed to have. As a result, my online banking app opened without a hitch.
Huawei also has its own App Gallery, where you'll find thousands of the usuals; Snapchat, TikTok, etc, all ready to go.
If it's not in the App Gallery, there are plenty of other app stores you can try. Rest assured, even local versions of tools like My Vodafone are easily found and installed.
Then there's a fourth option. While hundreds of apps are being added to the Huawei App Gallery all the time and you can even request ones you can't find, there may still be one or two that aren't quite ready yet. So just browse to their websites instead. If you've heard that YouTube or Uber don't work on the Mate Pro 30 5G, you've heard wrong. Those websites work just as well, especially given how well the Huawei Web Browser functions. It's fast and offers a host of useful functions like private browsing and even dark mode. Love dark mode. What's more, it's so easy to bookmark your favourite sites or YouTube channels directly onto your home screen. Trust me, the functionality is all there.
So what were you worried about?
To recap; the phone looks amazing. All the tech specs match up with the very best of the best. The camera setup is unbelievable. It's 5G. And it turns out, you can actually install almost all the apps you know and love - easily - and the odd one that isn't available right now you can access via one of the best smartphone browsers I've ever seen. Boom.
All I'm saying is, if you're in the market for a flagship phone, get along to JB HiFi or PB Tech and have a decent look at one of these. Don't let unfounded rumours and speculation limit your options.
Click here for more information on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G.
Confession time.
I'm no gamer.
There was a brief moment of Playstation ownership that involved me actually turning it on and using it for more than an hour at a time.
But life got in the way and I've been assured with great certainty there a more important things than video games. Repeatedly.
However. If you haven't been told that yet. Or you have and you've simply chosen to respectfully ignore those assurances, have I got the phone for you...
The ASUS ROG Phone II may be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Or the ugliest. It kind of depends on who you talk to. There's definitely nothing dainty about this phone. The design is spacey. Chunky. And frankly, it's bloody heavy. But best of all, it comes with a whole lot of other stuff you can attach to it, making it even more beautiful. Or way uglier.
There are sharp angles, unnecessary stripes and phrases like, "REPUBLIC OF GAMERS" all over the place. Perhaps the most striking feature of all is the GameCool II heat dissipating system that combines heat spreaders, cooling pads and something called a 3D Vapor-Chamber - you can actually see one of the copper heat spreaders exposed in the image above. It's this kind of inside-out industrial aesthetic serious gamers love.
There's even a massive, in-your-face Republic of Gamers logo on the back that lights up and changes colour. More on that later.
In a world where most phones look pretty much the same, this one pretty much doesn't.
Even the case that comes in the box is kind of crazy; more of a geometric protective frame than a complete cover, leaving plenty of gaps for all the ports and flashy bits.
The ROG Phone II isn't small either. Not only is the 19:5:9 AMOLED display is a generous 6.59 inches, but there's a pair of front facing speakers, complete with bronze highlights of course. ASUS has made uninhibited screen space a priority here - there's no notch or punch hole for the selfie cam - not when that space might be required for an on-screen button or to display your high score.
In short, it probably won't actually fit in your pocket. Unless you have huge pockets. Actually, just start buying pants with huge pockets. Problem solved.
Another reason the ROG Phone II is so hefty is its behemoth battery. I didn't even know they made 6000mAh phone batteries but that's what we're dealing with. I've been using this device as my everyday phone for a couple of weeks now and not once have I seen the battery percentage dip below 70 percent. Trouble is, doesn't a big battery take a long time to charge? Not particularly as there's a 30W fast charger included in the box. Sadly, no wireless charging here but there are some interesting options.
The ROG Phone II has a second charging port on the left-hand side. That's the bottom when you're using the handset in landscape of course. Which means you can keep charging while you play without that pesky cable getting in the way. Now if only you could do something about your headphone lead too...
Buckle in, this is going to get complicated fast.
That thing to the right of this image is the AeroActive Cooler II and it's an actual fan for your phone. As we've already pointed out, the ROG Phone II already has some insane cooling technology built in, but apparently there are gamers out there who push their devices so hard they start steaming in their hands after only a few hours of non-stop play. Enter the AeroActive Cooler II. For less addicted gaming enthusiasts (like me) it's probably overkill, as I've never felt the phone warm up at all - not even when cradled above my car's dashboard in direct sunlight. But the AreoActive Cooler II isn't just a fan - it also has its own charging port and headphone jack at the base so yes, you can move your earbud lead out of the way after all. There are even a couple of stick-on pads included in the box to convert the AeroActive Cooler II into a convenient display stand so you don't have to hold the phone at all while watching video or gaming with a bluetooth controller.
If you're not regularly using the AeroActive Cooler II, it's probably a good idea to use the included rubber bung to keep the side port covered up, as it's about twice as wide as a standard USB-C slot. This insert isn't the best design as it's very difficult to remove and small enough to be easily lost when you do. Just as well a couple of spares are also in the box.
Back to the phone itself. The ROG Phone II is powered by the all-conquering Snapdragon 855 Plus processor and its graphics abilities are pretty much off the charts for a mobile device. Every game I installed immediately defaulted to the highest possible display settings and all functioned beautifully. There's an over-the-top 12GB of RAM keeping all processes running at a hundred percent. If this isn't the fastest, most powerful phone I've used I don't know what is.
It's like a high performance sports car, everything that can be specced up has been. You get a whopping 512GB of internal storage and that storage is the fastest available. Even the WiFi works better because there are four, count them four antennae built in.
Perhaps the only area that doesn't out-perform pretty much any other phone on the market is the camera array - but that's not to say the ROG Phone II doesn't take great pics. The main camera takes wide-angle shots along with excellent images from the 48MP primary lens. All that massive processing power is put to great use right through the camera app, from reducing distortion at the edges of wide angle shots, to speeding up night-shooting, to running all the photo features smoother and quicker than ever. Sadly, the selfies still come out looking like me but what can you do?
So an amazing phone indeed. But how good is it as a dedicated gaming device?
This is where we need to start talking software and we also need to remember ASUS doesn't really make phones at all. It makes notebooks. Motherboards. Monitors. Gaming accessories. So given a smart-phone newbie has completely nailed the phone part, you'd expect the gaming part to be pretty standout. And it is.
You can choose the traditional look of the ZenUI or the new, way cooler ROG UI, which offers both dark and light themes. Whichever you choose, there's basically no bloatware to contend with. The only weird thing about it is my usual landscape mode complaint; why don't the lock and home screens rotate? Especially when sometimes they do?
For example, plug the ROG Phone II into a dedicated accessory like the Kunai Gamepad holder and everything swings into landscape straight away.
Unfortunately, the Kunai Gamepad isn't widely available here in New Zealand but if, like me. you can get your hands on one, you're going to need a box. A big box. There's a lot of bits to deal with. It can be used as a standalone controller, connecting to any gaming device or PC via bluetooth or USB dongle. But it's far more fun to insert the ROG Phone II into the holder and slide the control paddles into place. At that point everything lights up like a Christmas tree and you've converted your phone into a legitimate handheld gaming device. It even comes with a USB-C to mini-jack converter for your earphones but as I've already pointed out, you won't need that if you're already using the AeroActive Cooler II attachment.
Like I say, there's a lot of bits.
Whether or not you're using an external controller, the ROG Phone II automatically stores your games in the Armoury Crate, where you can easily view your games library and access all the settings you need to tweak, creating specific profiles for each game. The Solar Game Engine pops up with each game launch, so you can decide to block notifications and dedicate more memory to the exercise.
Then, while playing or not, Game Genie presents you with a dizzying array of customisation options, from key mapping to adjusting the air triggers... Oh that's right; I haven't even mentioned the air triggers on the right (or top) side of the phone. Believe me, there are more buttons, options, tweaks and dedicated gaming features than you could ever hope to need, no matter how addicted a gamer you may be.
But then, that's what nerds like me love; too many toys. Who cares if we never actually get round to using them?
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the ROG Phone II is the price; one of the fastest, most powerful phones I've ever used, including the AeroActive Cooler II is just $1699 - cheaper than many other high-end flagships that offer far less dedicated gaming functionality and more often than not, a fraction of the battery life.
Still an expensive phone, sure. But what price gaming supremacy?
Click here for more information and pricing on the ASUS ROG Phone II.
It's a CIA plot.
It'll kill the bees.
It'll interfere with the weather satellites.
Oh, and obviously it'll fry our brains.
Perhaps the most talked-about technical advance since the invention of Catch-Up Coronation Street is up and running here in little old New Zealand...
5G.
If you've been anywhere near the tech world this year, you'll know all anybody wants to talk about is 5G. With the exception of A.I., I've rarely heard so many promises made about how the world as we know it is about to change.
2019 has seen the on-switch pressed in many locations around the world and as yet, you'd have to say reality hasn't exactly been flipped on its head. On the bright side, I haven't seen too many reports of mass bee deaths or brain fryings either, so that's good.
From my point of view, there are two main reasons 5G hasn't really taken off yet; the inventory of 5G-enabled devices is still reasonably limited and although it's operational all over the world, in many places, just like here in New Zealand, the 5G network isn't really a network yet. Instead, it's more of an interconnected system of 5G islands, privileged zones where your Samsung A90 or enabled Note 10 might show that coveted 5G symbol in the notification window at the top of the screen.
2020 will undoubtedly see a massive uptick in 5G handsets being launched, but it's important to remember this new era of better data coverage isn't just about phones.
The theory is more and more smart devices will be designed to connect directly to the 5G network, instead of taking up space on your WiFi. Ideally this means exponentially faster speeds, wider bandwidth and less network congestion.
All of this sounds very exciting, but it's very early days and there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
One of these is how we will be charged for it. Despite the fact they're the only game in town right now (and by in town, I only mean parts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown) Vodafone isn't actually charging anything for it. If you're already on an eligible plan, there's no extra charge till at least June 2020. We've seen some interesting cases overseas, particularly in the U.S., when telcos try to change the conditions of their 5G plans - especially since customer data demand obviously skyrockets as a result of the faster, fatter network.
I've been accessing the Vodafone 5G network with a Samsung Galaxy A90 (very good phone, by the way) and it's certainly pretty crazy to see download speeds well in excess of 200Mbps. In saying that, my 4G speeds seem to be pretty good in those same locations; sometimes as fast as 150Mbps. I don't understand enough about how the new 5G towers work to explain this, but it's cool.
The most useful benefit I've experienced so far is being able to download large files and to stream high quality video but again, I'm glad someone else is paying the data bill. If that's something you do a lot when you're on the move, then it could well be time to investigate a 5G upgrade but remember, it's far from working everywhere yet.
Here's a rough idea of the Auckland coverage right now...
What's really crazy is I can get a strong connection at my desk at work, but if I walk the 15 metres into our on-air studios, I'm back to 4G just like that.
So it's still very new and exciting but us Kiwis are well known for being early adopters, so I'm sure there are many people out there who can't wait to jump on the 5G train. As far as being able to have open-heart surgery performed on you remotely by a surgeon on the other side of the world, that doesn't seem to be a reality just yet. Cool to be able to download a whole TV series in just a few minutes though.
Click here for more information on Vodafone 5G.
There are plenty of things out there that aren't technically worth what they cost.
Take art for example.
While I'm sure good paint, decent brushes, a high quality canvas and frame all don't come cheap, I'm just as sure they don't cost thousands. Or hundreds of thousands.
And yet, the right picture by the right artist at the right time can be "worth" millions.
Luxury cars are kind of the same.
Of course a high-performance automobile is expensive to design, test and produce - but that's not really what makes it the most expensive car in the parking lot, is it? It's because somebody wanted to own the most expensive car in the parking lot.
That's pretty much how I feel about the Samsung Galaxy Fold...
There's no doubt this is one of the most talked-about phones of the year... and for good reason.
It's not every device that's launched, almost immediately un-launched and then re-launched months later. How the well-publicised issues with the Fold's hinge and screen were not anticipated by Samsung in the first place is unbelievable. However, after the week I've spent using the device, I can assure you I've encountered none of the faults so widely splashed across the tech media earlier in the year.
In fact, my first impression of the Galaxy Fold was how solid everything felt. It's certainly heavy - after all we're dealing with two separate screens here, one of them the giant 7.3inch Infinity Flex Display. There's also a lot of battery packed into both sides of the device so you'll definitely be well aware this thing is sitting in your pocket.
Yes, you can actually put it in your pocket - but probably not your back pocket. When closed, the Fold is very narrow for a modern phone but of course, it's also very thick; exactly like two long, narrow phones on top of each other.
It's available in Space Silver or Cosmos Black and while the silver is nice, if it were up to me I'd probably stick with the black, because the outer-screen half of the phone is black anyway. I'm not explaining this very well and I fear that's going to be a trend in the rest of this review. The Fold is wonderfully complicated that way.
Let's get straight into that controversial folding screen. It works and works well. It really is quite amazing. Pretty much every single person who's seen me using it has said something like, "Wow. That is actually pretty cool." And I mean everyone. Even people who usually give me a hard time about all my "dumb" gadgets. Yes, even tech-skeptics are impressed by the Fold.
Its greatest trick is the way you can have an app open on the smaller, 4.6inch front screen, then open the device to have the same app instantly resized on the much larger internal screen. That's the show-offy operation that makes checkout operators exclaim, "What kind of phone is that?" when you take it out to pay for your groceries via tap-and-go.
I'm slightly confused by the outer, smaller screen - it works flawlessly although obviously it's a bit cramped being so narrow - only three icons wide. You can still add weather and media widgets to it and access all your other apps just like any other home screen. I don't understand why it has to have curved corners though. Given it's already small, they just make it feel even more constricted. My major problem with the small display is it doesn't rotate and I have no idea why not. There's no quick access icon from the pull-down menu at the top of the screen to make it do so and I couldn't find any other setting anywhere else. I even tried downloading apps that force screens to rotate against their will. No joy. Why does this matter? Primarily for navigation purposes - in my case anyway. My phone is my GPS. I have a Samsung wireless charging cradle in my car. I was pleasantly surprised to find not only does the Fold fit securely in it when closed, it also charges no problem. However, my navigation apps are rendered virtually useless as they will only display in portrait. I can't read maps sideways. Annoying.
But once you open this thing up, it's a whole different story. There seems to be nothing the large screen isn't capable of. Admittedly, the 4.2 x 3 aspect ratio is unusually square, especially for a phone, but when it's open, the Fold isn't really a phone anymore, it's definitely a small tablet. Despite being told many apps wouldn't be customised for the Fold's unique format yet, I experienced no problems with anything I ran at all. Video, browsing, documents, games all worked first time, whichever way I held the device. Yes the seam in the middle is visible - more so from acute angles and using apps with light backgrounds. And yes you can feel it. But you know what? It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. To anything. Open the Fold and you have a massive screen at your disposal. There's a new function that let's you choose multi-screen apps by swiping from the side - a bit like the edge-screen shortcuts on other Samsung handsets. These multi-screen apps can be resized to your preference and you drag them to your desired position on the screen, opening up to three at once. Strangely, not all apps could be used as multi-screen apps at the time I was reviewing the device but most could - I assume this is something the individual developers have to add into their code.
It really is a wonderful device to watch video on. Yest there's a massive multi-lens camera display taking up a lot of space in the top right-hand corner, but remember, there's space to burn here. The display is awesome and the stereo speakers on this thing are next level. Frankly, the best I've heard on a phone ever.
It took a bit of getting used to taking a call on the Fold, as you can't use it as a phone unless it's closed. This is explained to you on screen when you see the call come in - you can answer it, but then you need to shut everything up so you can hear the ear speaker on the outside. There are a fair few things that work differently on a truly ground-breaking device like this.
The fingerprint sensor for example. It's not built into the power button like it is on some phones, but is positioned on the edge just below the power button. This is similar to how things are set up on recent Samsung tablets. A bit confusing, but more or less in the right place to be accessed in either folded or unfolded modes and the good news is, it works fast and consistently.
Another oddity is the included case. If you've spent the price of a small, second-hand hatchback buying this thing, you probably want to take care of it. But how do you put a cover on something that folds in half? Samsung's answer is a slim, classy looking two-piece. Each half clips in place and is kept extra snug with a non-marking adhesive strip. Seems weird when you put it on. Actually looks pretty elegant and business-like once you do.
Nothing odd about the cameras, there are just so many of them! Three lenses on the back, a selfie cam on the front cover and a dual lens front-facing camera including a depth sensor on the main screen. I could go into long and intricate detail about the Fold's photo functionality but seriously, what did you expect here? No corners have been cut. Given the Galaxy 10 and Note 10 both sported some of the best photo tech we've ever seen built into phones, obviously the Fold was going to perform at least as well and it certainly does. So many options and I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed shooting pics from the rear camera with the handset closed - it just felt more like an old-school digital camera somehow and the small screen is still plenty big enough to preview your pics with a dizzying array of shooting options including great wide-angle and zoom functionality. Samsung's intelligent photo features are definitely genuinely helpful too - not just the Scene Optimiser and Shot Suggestions but there's also Flaw Detection to alert you to blurry shots, blinking subjects and even smudges on the lenses. (Very important on a phone with six cameras)
One of my favourite photographic features on high-end Samsung devices is Tracking AF - auto focus that stays on the intended subject even when they move around the frame. This even works while shooting video which makes a big difference when recording things like sports events from the sideline.
With all this insane screen and camera functionality, it's easy to forget the Fold is still a phone - but surely one of the most powerful I've come across. The 64-bit octa-core processor is teamed with an impressive 12GB of ram and 512GB of storage. Samsung has clearly put a lot of work into the operating system as well and let's just say, as far as the user experience goes, it flies.
With two high quality screens to run, one of them giant, I was a bit concerned about battery life but those fears were utterly unfounded. The 4380mAh battery spreads its dual cells over both halves of the device and I never even came close to running it flat over the longest of days. As I've mentioned, wireless charging is all in there too. Name a feature, the Fold has it.
Well, almost.
When you first fire it up you're presented with quite a list of "don'ts" to keep the Fold in one piece. Obviously there's no water or dust-resistance rating here and you're not even supposed to poke the screen too hard. Oh, and for god's sake, don't drop it.
After all, you've just paid $3399 for this phone, right?
No, that's not a typo. But that does entitle you to 24/7 customer support and a pair of Galaxy Buds included in the box.
Of course the Fold is not actually worth that much money. No phone could be. But this is more than a phone. It's an exciting new step towards a whole new category of smart devices. It's a head-turner, a showpiece and it'll probably be the only one in the room.
It's a sports car. A work of art. No longer just a phone.
Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Fold.
There's something about a Nokia, always has been.
And by always, I mean always. Almost as long as there have been mobile phones, there have been Nokia mobile phones. Well, since 1987 anyway. Given most people in the world are aged under 30, that's always.
I've certainly owned a few and to be honest, they've never let me down.
My very first smart phone was a Nokia. It was a Windows phone. Great phone. Pity about the lack of content to use on it but in terms of hardware, amazing. Incredible camera, hard-wearing yet modern design and believe it or not, wireless charging! And that was 2012.
It's been kind of a rocky road for Nokia since then. Obviously Windows phones aren't really a thing anymore (well, not till next year's new Surface devices from Microsoft anyway). That means the last few Nokia phones have been Android-based, or AndroidOne to be precise.
While there has been a range of handsets available in different price brackets, generally this new breed of Nokias has been praised for squeezing good performance out of an average engine room, thanks to the way the AndroidOne operating system divvies up the phone's resources.
But man, there's a lot of competition out there. Nokia hasn't quite come up with something truly great. Yet...
Straight off the bat, the Nokia 7.2 is definitely different - almost a combination of something old and something new.
The old? A durable, tough-feeling polymer composite body available in Charcoal or Ice. It's twice as strong as polycarbonate but half the weight of aluminium - very reminiscent of the seamless casings on the first Lumia phones back in 2012. I have no problem with that at all. Sure those fancy-schmancy glossy, glass-backed phones may look pretty, but it's hard enough keeping a screen in one piece without having to worry about smashing the glass on the back as well. The Nokia 7.2 still feels premium and you don't smear it with fingerprints every time you pick it up.
The new part is pretty obvious from the image above; Nokia's making an ambitious run at bringing high-end camera hardware to the mid-tier price market. There aren't many sub-$600 handsets on the market offering a triple-camera rear-facing setup and again, Zeiss Optics has come to the party with a 48MP main sensor, a 5MP depth sensor and an impressive 118° lens for wide angle shots. A wide lens is something some of Nokia's competitors have left off even their highest end devices, yet here it is, for $549.
This all sounds very impressive, but other Nokia devices I've reviewed over the last year or so have come up a bit short in the camera department - not because of the hardware but due to a lack of processing power to drive the software. I'm pleased to report the 7.2 is a significant improvement in terms of camera usability. It's still not perfect and really the only major lags, stutters or crashes I've encountered have happened while trying to take a photo. But the good news is, I've taken some pretty great photos. Here's a comparison between the wide angle and normal zoom...
Yes, if you look hard enough, you can see a little bit of distortion at the edges, but this is pretty standard for most wide-angle lenses I've tried on phones this year. I was generally happy with the detail and perspective otherwise.
I had a bit of a play with the night settings to get this shot...
...took me a while because the shutter speed is very slow, so you need to make sure you're resting the phone on something to keep it steady.
Portrait mode puts the depth sensor to good use. This is actually one of the superstar features of the Nokia 7.2's camera setup. The detail around the edges of the foreground subject matter really is impressive from a phone in this price range.
I've actually found the 6.3" FHD+ display quality to be excellent too - not just for reviewing photos but video looks sharp, clear and colourful.
The selfie camera performs very well - shame (as usual) about the subject. Again, the foreground details are spot-on in comparison to the artsy background blur.
While the 3500mAh battery is comparatively small by recent standards, thanks to AndroidOne's intelligent power optimisation, I had no issues getting through a long day with plenty of juice left in the tank. No fast charging here though.
I'm a fan of the AndroidOne UI generally. I like how stripped down and streamlined it is, free of bloaty, unnecessary apps. I particularly love the way the home-screen rotates from portrait to landscape. Frustratingly though, the face unlock doesn't work in landscape so when the phone's locked into my car cradle, the only way to open it is via pin or pattern, given the fingerprint sensor is inaccessible on the back.
Interestingly, the Nokia 7.2 features a dedicated Google Assistant button. I'm not sure about these sorts of keys - there's usually a number of other ways to launch voice assistants, including with, ah... your voice. I find I usually push the assistant button by mistake far more often than I'm likely to deliberately.
But maybe if you're a Nokia kind of person, you're a dedicated Google Assistant button kind of person. I feel like you're definitely a headphone jack, FM radio, NFC, dual sim card kind of person. Luckily, the 7.2 offers all of this versatility.
And that's my lasting impression; if you're a "Nokia kind of person" this is the handset that offers enough 2019 tech, especially around the cameras, but still harks back to that hard-wearing, hard-working Nokia ethic we've seen in the past.
Click here for more information and pricing on the Nokia 7.2.
