Mid-Range Price But Not Much Compromise

Well they've gone and done it again.

Mere months after launching its flagship Galaxy S21 series in a surprise mid-January attack on the opposition, Samsung is back with its A-Series of mid-rangers and as we've seen before, they're pretty damn good. In fact, after using one for a few weeks I'd have to say this year's crop are so good, there might be a few people out there who end up with buyer's remorse if they went early on one of those bright and shiny S21's...

The Samsung Galaxy A52 is pretty much slap-bang in the middle of Samsung's mid-tier offerings. Priced at just $599, the challenge here is to figure out which flagship features have been left off to make the handset so affordable.

There's a choice of four colours and they're all awesome apparently; Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue, Awesome Black an Awesome White. I had the violet one and yes, I can confirm, it was fairly awesome.

Unlike the top-of-the-line models which are all about glass and metal, there's definitely more of a plastic feel going on here but I don't mind it. In fact, the way the rear camera module is moulded seamlessly into the rest of the casing is much more comfortable to handle - especially when slipping the A52 in and out of your pocket. The back is smooth but not shiny, so doesn't show fingerprints. The phone is light and feels kind of flimsy but it isn't at all - in fact after more than a week of use and abuse, there are no marks or scratches to be found, even after one particularly spectacular flip off the arm of my sofa, ricocheting off the edge of a side table and clattering onto a hardwood floor. (I mean, you have to test these things out, right?)

If you're used to a massive screen, this might be just big enough. The A52 sports a 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display and as is par for the course for most Samsung devices, the quality is literally brilliant. The combination of a small cutout for the selfie cam and a fast and reliable on-screen fingerprint sensor ensure good screen-to-body ratio although the display is flat, not curved at the edges so it's not quite the infinite viewing experience of it's pricier cousins.

The first thing I was struck by when using the A52 was how easy it was to use - powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G and 8GB of RAM, it positively sails along, running the exact same operating system as the big boys; Samsung One UI 3.1 on top of Android 11. That means you have access to the seemingly endless selection of tweaks and customistations my favourite OS has to offer, from system fonts to a home screen that actually rotates to landscape when you're holding the phone sideways.

The next thing that blew me away was the excellent camera quality - especially for close-up and portrait shooting - not so much for long-distance and zoom shots although ultra-wide does a pretty nice job. As you can see, there's a full quad-cam array on the back and I was surprised how quickly the camera app responded - very fast to focus. Night mode is definitely the way to go for low light shooting - the shutter speed isn't restrictively slow and the results are so much clearer. There's also a new "Fun" mode - featuring a constantly updating selection of filters to streamline your social media uploads.

Because I review a wide variety of phones, I often feel a little hamstrung when dealing with devices in this price range but that just wasn't the case with the A52 - the only feature I genuinely missed was wireless charging. It has decent battery life anyway and I never came close to running out of juice, even at the end of the longest of days when it might be almost twenty hours between plug-ins.

For all intents and purposes it runs like a flagship does; smooth, reliable and no hiccups at all. It's even IP67 certified against dust and water - many far pricier phones fail to include that.

You also get 128GB of internal storage with the option of microSD expansion. This isn't even an option on the S21's and neither is the headphone jack. I don't really care about headphone jacks but then I have a cupboard full of bluetooth earbuds and headphones. As it happens, I was staying at my father-in-law's place recently and he doesn't have smart speakers, so the only way to play music from my phone (you know, something not Rod Stewart) was to plug directly into the sound system. Luckily, I was using the A52 at the time so was able to give Rod the flick.

Even if you don't have something to connect to, the A52 also boasts Dolby Atmos-capable stereo speakers. Honestly, it's really hard to come up with something this handset won't do. Very impressive for the price.

And the violet really is awesome.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy A52.

Why I Love This Phone

I love phones.

When it comes to FOMO, mine is probably more specific... more like PhoneMO. I can't stand the thought there might be a new phone out there I haven't tried.

For some reason, from the moment phones were equipped with cameras and the ability to access the internet, I've been kind of obsessed.

Well, okay. Not kind of. I'm obsessed.

As a result, I've become kind of fussy. There are a lot of phones out there, with a lot of crazy features. Some are essential, some are nice-to-have. Some are totally unnecessary and you have to wonder what the manufacturers were thinking when they added them in.

But it's rare, especially these days, that a phone comes along and turns my head from the moment I take it out of the box, even before I switch it on.

Then, if it continues to impress once powered up... well... that's definitely something to write a review about...

I can't lie. I've kind of been hating this latest trend in smartphone design. I'm no fan of the supermassive camera module. I get that if you want maximum photographic capabilities, there's only so much lens you can squeeze into a flat surface but the last couple of generations of flagship phones have been totally over-the-top.

That's why I felt nothing but relief and admiration when I first saw the leaked renders of the Oppo Find X3 Pro online. Instead of just clumsily slapping a huge rectangle (or circle) of glass and steel onto the back of an otherwise uber-elegant mobile device, Oppo's design team has really pushed the boundaries here and molded the glass surface on the back of the device up and around the quad-cam module in a sleek, totally curvaceous way that only catches the eye because it's beautiful, not clumsy.

That's on top of the fact this is already a sleek, smooth and rounded device, eminently pocketable. It comes in glossy black, which is so glossy, it's basically a mirror finish, or a more matte blue if you're not into leaving endless fingerprints all over your phone all the time. The unique design doesn't end with the handset itself, even the case included in the box is cunningly crafted to snugly encompass that unusual rear camera module, protecting each sensor individually and helping to smooth out the bump even more than it already is.

But these things are all just window-dressing, right? Surely no-one would buy a phone just because of its looks? When it looks this good, don't be so sure.

Luckily, there's plenty of flagship performance to back up the Find X3 Pro's pretty face.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 is 2021's go-to processor when it comes to high-end CPU's. Here it's matched with a beefy 12GB of RAM and 256GB internal storage. The latest iteration of Oppo's U.I., ColorOS V11 is built on Android 11 and it offers a startling selection of customisations and settings which for a tinkerer like me, is an absolute godsend.

You can make major performance tweaks, like enhance the processor performance or adjust the screen refresh rate... (Yes, this'll go up to 120Hz - of course it does) But you can really fiddle about with almost anything - icon styles and sizes, system font, dark mode (now also in Medium and Gentle) - what's you favourite colour? Now that can be the highlight colour on your notification panel. App drawer? No app drawer? What gestures do you prefer? How about a selection of quick-launch shortcuts after you unlock the phone? Do you like a smart sidebar of frequently used apps and tools? Why not? Are you a fan of edge lighting with your notifications. You can have it all.

And I do mean all.

In theory, putting this Formula 1 racecar of a phone into high performance mode and running it at its maximum refresh rate should be quite taxing on the battery – remember, the Find X3 Pro is 5G capable too, so that’s also a bit of a drain. However, I’ve found the charge isn’t affected nearly as much as I was expecting. What’s more, there’s a 65W SuperVOOC flash charger included in the box (yes, actually in the box) which will deliver a full charge in under half-an-hour. Oppo has always led the way when it comes to fast charging but I’ve been left unsatisfied by the lack of wireless charging capability… until now. Unfortunately, I haven’t been given one of the new Oppo AirVOOC flash chargers to try out - that's a shame as it runs at a snappy 30W apparently but the point is, yes, because Oppo has figured out how to do it fast enough, you can now charge the Find X3 Pro wirelessly. I literally no longer have any reason not to use this phone as my personal device.

Well, almost.

Let's get back to that crazy camera setup. I'm not going to spend too long on the 32MP selfie cam; it's great. But then, Oppo's been putting great selfie cams on its phones for years, so no surprise there. It's round the back were things go a bit haywire - not one but two 50MP Sony sensors - wide and ultra wide - a 13MP telephoto lens and bizarrely, a 3MP microlens capable of 60x magnification. Supposedly this last lens helps with FHD video shooting as well as giving you the ability to photograph tiny objects from millimetres away. I'm not making this up - the microlens is surrounded by its own ring flash so it can illuminate objects the phone is basically sitting on top of. It's cool. I just don't know why???

As you may be able to tell from the specs, the zoom options on offer here don't quite match what we've seen lately from other flagships - don't expect any detailed shots of the craters on the moon, for example. However, as long as you're aware of those limitations, you won't be overly disappointed. I still took plenty of mid-to-long distance shots that turned out brilliantly. Low-light, close-up and indoor shooting isn't necessarily world-beating either... but it's not far off. In fact, I've taken some of the best pictures I've ever taken with a phone with this phone. I don't usually give examples as they can be a bit meaningless depending on what device you're reading on but check out this ultra-wide angle pic I snapped off down at the Viaduct Basin during the America's Cup recently...

Just beautiful. I'm assuming that's the Find X3 Pro living up to its promise of delivering up to a billion colours. I haven't had time to count them all but there certainly seems to be heaps of colours.

Video performance is excellent - I particularly like the three different split-screen options on offer, adding a little something extra to your next live-stream or vlog post.

Then there's the sumptuous 6.7-inch AMOLED display, as good as any I've used. Responsive, smooth, so, so clear... not only can it get very bright when required outdoors in the sun, it can also go very dim - be careful with this; I accidently swiped the brightness right down one day and thought I'd broken the phone - I was looking at a black screen. I just about had to shut myself in the back of the wardrobe to figure out what I'd done.

As a result, the viewing and gaming experience is divine - especially combined with the impressively well balanced stereo speakers - I'm used to the downward firing speaker being much more powerful than the earpiece speaker but not the case with this device.

As you can tell, I'm a fan. The Find X3 Pro ticks every box, from the way looks, to the way it runs and now, yes, even the way it charges. There might be a handful of other flagships out there with slightly better cameras but good luck sliding them into your front pocket the way this beauty does.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Oppo Find X3 Pro 5G.

The Cheapest 5G Handset In Town

There have been many promises made about 5G.

It's going to change our lives, apparently. We're standing at the threshold of a whole new age of connectivity. At last we'll be able to work, play, meet and collaborate with anyone, anywhere in the world.

Our smart devices will become smarter than ever, anticipating our every moves - possibly predicting our hearts' desires and presenting them to us before we even knew we wanted them.

Fantastic advances in medicine, automation, design and manufacturing are all but moments away.

Oh, and we'll be able to download the entire first season of Queen's Gambit in under a minute.

What a glorious time to be alive - if you can afford a phone to access it...

$398.99.

Not a bad price for a phone. That's what Xiaomi's Redmi Note 9T is retailing for right now.

But for a power user like me, there are certain features I've become accustomed to and while I might be prepared to do without one or two, generally the compromises involved in getting a phone down below four-hundred bucks are just too much for me to deal with.

So let's list off some of the things you might find on a high-end flagship that you should never expect to see on a handset in this price range...

Storage. 

Surely one of the first things to go when the price comes down is internal storage space. Long gone are the days when you could get by with 16GB - most of that would be taken up with your OS and app installation files these days. Even 32GB will have you deleting photos and videos on a regular basis just to keep the handset working. Luckily, the Redmi Note 9T comes with 128GB of storage which stacks up nicely with most mid to upper tier devices. What's more, that space is in the form of the brand new UFS 2.2 flash storage which promises faster write speeds than ever. Pretty classy. And unlike many top-end flagships on the market today, you have the extra option of microSD storage too. So no real compromise there.

Processing Power. 

Now this is a bit unusual. While the many of the Android phones available in New Zealand use a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, here Xiaomi has gone with the 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 800U and 4GB of RAM. I haven't come across this configuration before and I've got to say I'm pretty impressed. I've had the odd temporary freeze when I've got a lot of apps open at once but other than that, I've found the Redmi Note 9T to run very smoothly, streaming, downloading and connecting to accessories with ease. Obviously, this is no laptop replacement like some of those multi-thousand-dollar devices attempt to be but it actually chuggs along surprisingly reliably and my usual frustration of having to handle a budget device has yet to manifest.

Design.

When I learned there was a choice of colours, Nightfall Black and Daybreak Purple, I fully expected to be sent a boring old black one - such is the phone reviewer's fate. Not this time though - imagine my delight when I opened the box and discovered the purple variant, not to mention a basic clear case and wall charger too, never a given these days. In fact, I've been a bit reluctant to use the case as not only is it a bit bulky, on top of an already fairly large handset but the rear cover of the phone has a very cool, textured surface that almost feels like leather - quite grippy and fingerprint-proof. Between that and the unusual triple-lens-in-a-circle rear camera module, the Note 9T is quite distinctive compared to many of the anonymous, generic-looking, glass rectangles out there right now. I approve of the fingerprint sensor under the power button on the left side too - it's fast and reliable and totally ergonomic. You have the option of face unlock as well, although this doesn't work as quickly.

Display.

The 6.53-inch screen is big but not quite edge-to-edge. Actually, there's a noticeable chin at the bottom and a reasonable-sized punch-hole for the selfie-cam in the top-left corner. Most of the time the 19.5:9 aspect-ratio display is perfectly adequate - plenty big enough for video consumption although you might want to play around with the colour scheme a bit to get it as vibrant as you like. There's quite a selection of settings to achieve this. Unfortunately for me, I tend to use my phone outside and in the car a lot and the Note 9T's FHD+ DotDisplay does not perform well when viewed through polarised sunglasses. This makes actions like outdoor selfies and in-car navigation quite a challenge. I'd go so far as to say the screen quality is the one feature Xiaomi has skimped on the most to bring the price of this Redmi phone into line.

Battery Life.

I've found less expensive phones often out-perform their pricier counterparts when it comes to holding their charge, due partly to less demanding hardware. If the processor isn't pushing the limits and the display isn't offering cutting-edge refresh-rates and resolution, your battery is obviously going to last longer. Sure enough, the Redmi Note 9T is no exception here, especially given we're dealing with a 5000mAh cell; quite respectable, even by flagship standards. Be warned though, some of the power savings come at a cost. Xiaomi's MIUI 12 operating system (built over Android 10) is extremely aggressive when it comes to putting background apps and processes to sleep. Stopping this from happening so you continue to get notifications from certain apps can be a bit of a challenge - there seem to be several different settings accessed from several different menus that affect this and tracking them all down to turn them off is no easy feat. However, if having a phone that lasts you a long day and into the night on a single charge is your main priority, the Note 9T is definitely a winner. No wireless charging option of course but I can't think of a sub-$400 phone that does that so I wouldn't expect it.

Stereo Speakers.

I don't know what's going on here. So much for being a budget phone. Yes, there's a 3.5mm jack for wired headphones if that's your thing but there's also a decently powerful stereo speaker setup, using the earpiece as the left-hand speaker. This won't replace any half decent bluetooth speaker but it's fine for casual Netflixing or a bit of background atmos while you're writing a phone review. Even more impressively, Left and Right swap over automatically if you hold the phone the other way.

Camera.

After the middling performance of the display, camera quality would be my only other major criticism of this device. I'm not saying I didn't take some great snaps - far from it. Some of the portrait shots in particular came out super sharp and poppy - perfect for sharing. It's just that using the camera has been a bit hit and miss, most shots great but the odd one out of focus, over exposed or just... wrong. I've found the best method is to just take heaps of pictures and throw away the bad ones. It's a shame as there are some quite good features on offer within the camera app - sadly, not all of them come off. This even more evident when shooting video - why offer the option of shooting in 4K when the result is simply too choppy and laggy to watch?

Water Resistance.

Yes, the Note 9T is even water resistant - with a liquid-repellent P2i nano-coating to help protect the device against accidental spills and heavy rain. Now, don't confuse this with the submergeable IP ratings of the far more expensive devices, I wouldn't imagine anything good would happen if you accidentally went swimming with the Note 9T in your pocket. However, it should definitely survive splashes or a heavy squall, so feel free to take it on your run with you, no worries.

5G.

Of course, this is the big one, which is probably why it's written on the back in white letters. No other phone in New Zealand offers you 5G connectivity at this price. Yes, our 5G network is still only just beginning to roll out but it is expanding all the time. So if you live somewhere it's expanding to, you may as well take full advantage of it. Download speeds really are quite impressive and I've found even when I've only got a 4G+ connection I'm still faster than my fibre at home. You've got to be happy with that.

Look, I'm not saying there aren't limitations here - that's why the phone sells for less than four-hundred bucks. I'm just pointing out those limitations are ones you might well be prepared to live with. As far as I'm concerned, there are only two that really bother me; display quality and camera performance. If you're looking for a phone to shoot the next low-budget, cinematic blockbuster on, this clearly ain't it. On the other hand, it looks pretty funky, runs surprisingly smoothly and has excellent battery life. If those are the things you care about most, or you're just desperate to jump on the 5G bandwagon, there's no doubt the Redmi Note 9T 5G is the most economical way to do it.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Redmi Note 9T 5G.

SERIOUSLY. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?

Well I'm confused.

There's a fantastic thousand dollar phone on the market.

But they're charging a lot less...

There's no doubt Samsung has hit the ground running in 2021, with its early rollout of the Galaxy S21 range and a new set of earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Pro to go with it. But the high-end S-series isn't your only option. I've been using the Galaxy M51 for a couple of weeks now and I'm more than happy with it... and that's going straight from reviewing the top-of-the-line Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.

Currently on sale for less than $600, I'm thinking the M51 might easily be the best value-for-money handset on the market today - by a lot. The main reasons; screen, performance and battery.

Let's start with the screen; a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus FHD+ Infinity-O display with tiny bezels and a small central cutout for the forward-facing camera. For all those people out there squinting at their phones as middle-age long-sightedness sets in, this is a fantastically large, bright, clear screen; you can customise the colour settings to your preference and because it's basically edge-to-edge, there's plenty of space for whatever app you're using, video you're watching or feed you're scrolling through.

The brains of the operation is an impressively snappy Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 CPU teamed with a very respectable 8GB of RAM and a healthy 128GB of internal storage. There's even an expandable microSD slot in the dual-sim tray, which is becoming a bit of a rarity these days. In short, no compromise here in terms of what this phone can handle on a day-to-day basis. I can stream, download and connect to bluetooth accessories simultaneously without even the merest blip. For example, I can cast HD video files to my TV from the M51, mirroring the screen via Samsung Smart View with no issue whatsoever - this is a resource-heavy task many other handsets have struggled with in the past.

In terms of software, we're running just a little behind, with Samsung One UI version 2.5 based on Android 10 - not the latest editions of either platform but I'd expect an update to move the M51 up to Android 11 in due course; Samsung's usually pretty good like that. Regardless, the user experience is modern, smooth, fast and not much different to that of the latest and greatest S-series devices.

Obviously the camera configuration is the main area compromises have been made to get the price down - but only sort of. It's still a four-lens module on the back and to be perfectly honest, I much prefer the way it fits flush with the rear glasstic casing than those more bulky, intrusive modules on the flagships.

There's a 64MP main shooter, a 12MP ultra wide, a dedicated macro lens and something called a "Depth Camera." The result? Actually, very good pics. The best thing about the camera is you get fast auto focus no matter how near or far you are to your subject. No, there's no telephoto lens here but if I have to give that up in favour of quick shooting, it's a price I'm happy to pay. The 32MP selfie cam is feature-packed, with a library of pre-set filters ready to go or you can customise your own. And like most recent Samsung handsets, you have the option of a wider-angle selfie for group shots. The beauty settings get pretty crazy, offering adjustments for smoothness, skintone and yes, even eye size and jawline. I still look horrendous of course, but at least I look horrendous in a different way.

While you might not get fancy-schmancy video features like the all-new, multi-lens Directors View on the S21's, there are still some cool tricks up its sleeve. Like Super Steady mode to keep your action sequences nice and smooth and A.R. face doodles. After all, who doesn't want to draw all over their own face?

Perhaps the M51's strongest feature of all is it's whopping 7000mAh battery. Who knew they even made them that big? Yes it means the phone is a little thicker and slightly heavier than you might expect but if that means days of battery life instead of hours, I can totally live with that. I've been up since before 3AM. It's now 5PM. The M51 is showing 71%. Remember; that's including me casting a one hour episode of the Expanse to my TV in there too. This puppy is a battery beast, make no mistake about it. If you suffer from regular charge anxiety, buy this phone.

Sadly, no wireless charging - although, who cares when it never goes flat? No IP water/dust rating either, which is not unusual in this price range. Nor is there an in-display fingerprint reader so you'll find that under the power button on the right-hand side. Again, this makes no difference to me - in fact, in many ways I find it more convenient there plus it works fast and reliably. As does the face unlock - in so many ways it's hard to tell the difference between this phone and the ones that cost more than THREE TIMES AS MUCH.

Unless you're addicted to wireless charging and you need the very latest and greatest photography options, I'm struggling to think of a reason to not choose this phone. It really does do pretty much all the things... and some of those things, like battery life, it does better.

At least give the M51 a go - this isn't just advice to those of you considering thousand-dollar phones - after all, there's a big saving to be made here - but I'm also appealing to you entry-level, two to three-hundred dollar people; let me assure you, if you can double your budget you'll get at least four times the phone here.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy M51.

SAMSUNG'S HOT NEW PHONE

It's fair to say most of us would prefer to put 2020 in the past and move on as quickly as possible.

Maybe that's why Samsung has been so keen to launch its latest S-series devices, to hit the ground running in 2021 and never look back.

The mid-January launch was many weeks ahead of Samsung's traditional timeframe and meant the new phones could be shown off at CES, the first big consumer electronics convention of the year - usually a exhibition of concepts and hints at forthcoming technologies rather than a chance to see actual hardware just days away from hitting the shelves.

This has given Samsung a massive jump on the opposition.

The question is though, has Samsung rushed its new phones to market too early or has it set the premium flagship benchmark for 2021?...

I'm the first to admit I wasn't a massive fan of how last year's S20 Ultra looked. It was big, bulky and really made no effort to disguise that. The main issue was the enormous, blocky camera module that looked as though it had been welded onto the back of the phone almost as an afterthought.

The difference in design ethic this year is quite a relief, the module on the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is still large (there's a lot of lenses) but it's now pleasingly incorporated into the edge and top left corner of the back of the phone. The rear camera sensors are now protected by an aluminium surround that exactly matches the side rails of the device. Not only does this give the new line of S-Series phones their own unique style, it is actually stylish - the Ultra is available in Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown. The phantom back of the Ultra, while still glass is now a matte finish which seems to be more popular lately as people grow tired of wiping fingerprints off their phones.

Personally, I don't care that much how the phone looks - I tend to love Samsung flagships unconditionally but I can't deny the 2021 handset is much more attractive.

Obviously, the minimum expectations for  a phone like this have all been met and in many cases exceeded... IP68 water and dust rating, wireless charging, reverse charging, excellent stereo speakers - none of this is new and by now Galaxy-S fans probably take all that for granted.

The in-display fingerprint reader has been noticeably upgraded - it's faster, more reliable and as it's ultra-sonic, not optical, it works better with damp or dirty digits.

The S21 Ultra's sim slot has been moved from top to bottom - which doesn't make much difference except it's right next to the microphone hole. Make sure you're careful to insert your sim tool (or paperclip) in the right hole - yes, it's a mistake I've made on another handset before. It's a dual sim tray but you won't find any microSD expansion option - no big deal given the base model comes with 256GB of internal storage.

And that's where the bells and whistles are really hiding; under the hood. The 256GB option comes with 12GB of RAM, or if you shell out for the 512GB model, you get 16GB of RAM. Either way, it's all about the chip, Samsung's new Exynos 2100 CPU. Without getting too bogged down on the techie stuff, for some reason Samsung's U.S. phones usually ship with Qualcom Snapdragon processors while we get the in-house Exynos ones. The Snapdragons usually out-perform the Exynos chips, somtimes by quite a margin. This year, Samsung has claimed the gap has been closed considerably.

From the early independent testing I've seen, this is basically the case - up to a point. In terms of silky smooth operation, great connectivity, powerful multi-tasking, fast downloads and snappy app installation, the S21 Ultra can't be faulted - it's at least as good as any other phone I've used. Graphics-wise, there's a small question mark over whether the Exynos setup can compare head to head with the Snapdragon configuration but guess what? You'll probably never be playing the same game side-by-side with someone else using an American version of this phone so who cares? In terms of all-round specs, the other guys have definitely got their work cut out for them this year.

Samsung has been using only the very best displays on its flagship handsets for years now, so it's no surprise the 6.8-inch screen is simply stellar as usual, featuring a variable refresh rate from the all-guns-blazing 120Hz right down to 10Hz if that's all that's required - adapting itself automatically to conserve battery life.

And the cameras... Wow, those cameras.

My only real performance issue with last year's S20 Ultra was the camera - lots of tricky functionality and features but there were definitely snags with some of your more basic requirements... like focus. Later in the year, the Note 20 Ultra fixed most of that up and now the S21 Ultra's photo performance is simply sublime. With the addition of a second telephoto lens and more stability capabilities than ever, swapping focus between different zoom lengths can happen instantly and smoothly - when shooting pictures or video. There's also a new Director's View mode which I've had a great deal of fun with. This is the ultimate vlogging tool, as not only can you record from both rear and forward-facing cameras simultaneously, you can preview three different zoom options while you're filming, swapping instantly between them on the fly. Basically this means you can give your vids a professional, multi-camera feel, even when you're live streaming.

Single Take - the option that snaps off several different pictures and videos with one push of the camera button - has also been souped-up, with more options and the ability to choose which type of shots you want to take each time.

Low light photography is also better than ever - look, I could probably do a whole review about how great the camera setup is on the S21 Ultra and I haven't even mentioned the 40MP selfie cam.

Another interesting new addition is S-Pen functionality. Until now, only Samsung's Galaxy Note Series was S-Pen capable but now you can buy a separate flip case with a dedicated slot for the stylus. This isn't the fully bluetooth-enabled S-Pen Note owners can use as a remote although one like that is coming later in the year apparently.

The only really worrying thing about this device is how hot it gets. In fact, I think this is the hottest phone I've ever used by quite some considerable margin. This seems to be due to how much metal is on the outside, the side rails of course but also the camera module, as I've already described. because the designers have actually widened the rail where it's moulded around to blend into the camera, there's a lot of aluminium to come into contact with. Most of the time this isn't an issue but when you start pushing this device to make the most of its high-performance specs, that aluminium seems to be the first thing to heat up. This may even be deliberate; to act as some kind of external heat sink to keep operating temperatures inside the phone as low as possible - I've come across similar things on high-powered gaming devices before - but it certainly isn't listed anywhere as a feature and it's not very practical if it is part of the design. This morning I was taking some photos while downloading a few files and after a few minutes the S21 Ultra was almost too hot to hold.

I'd like to say this might just be an isolated case but it doesn't take much digging around online to discover quite a few threads discussing the same issue. Hopefully there are some software tweaks Samsung can make to finetune the Exynos 2100 chip to cool things off in a future update. This may not be as far-fetched as you think; when I first received my review device, I found the battery life to be pretty underwhelming, especially given its 5000mAh capacity - not the biggest around but big enough. Then a software update came through a couple of days ago and the battery performance has improved out of sight. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't experienced it for myself. It gives me quite a bit of hope Samsung will be able to sort the overheating issues with a software patch too.

So just the one tick on the con side but an endless number in the pro column, which should give most high-end users the confidence they need to fork out well over two grand for this amazingly full-featured phone. If this is the standard for the other flagship handsets to come in 2021, it's going to be quite a year.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.

PHONE CAMERAS HAVE CONQUERED THE NIGHT

It's official; I now see no reason whatsoever to buy a camera.

Unless you're a professional photographer shooting pictures for magazines or billboards, why would you spend the money on a camera (and decent cameras cost a lot of money) when you can get a phone that delivers all the shots you need? Even in the dark...

Especially when you can pick up that phone for around $1000 and it'll do 5G too...

The OPPO Reno4 5G is one of the new class of phones offering most of the flagship features at a more affordable mid-tier price.

If you're done with those overrated, glass-backed handsets that basically mean you're risking a cracked phone front and back, the Reno4 will be right up your street. The "Reno Glow" finish on the back cover looks and feels a bit like frosted glass but it's much lighter and far less susceptible to fingerprints... and in Galactic Blue as pictured above, it's just damn pretty. There's a prismatic shimmering across the back highlighted beautifully by the coloured metal rails around the edges.

Alternatively, you could go with Space Black but seriously... why would you?

What's more, my review device arrived with the coolest case I've ever seen - designed by local artist, Chippy. If you're quick, you might be able to snatch one from the OPPO website - Natasha Vermeulen has created one too.

But there's a lot more to the Reno4 than just good looks. The rear-facing Ultra Clear Triple LDAF camera is one of the less obtrusive camera modules around right now but it certainly has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. There's a top-notch 48MP Sony IMX586 for the main shooter, teamed with an 8MP ultra wide camera and a 2MP mono lens.

I'll start by saying I'm impressed by the wide-angle shots - hardly any distortion at the edges with good detail and contrast. Of course, OPPO's marketing around the Reno range is all about low-light shooting - most camera's will do a good job outside in golden sunshine but when the lights go out things can get noisy, blurry and just plain bad pretty fast - not with the Reno4 though. Even without using Night Mode, the pictures are colourful and sharp. Night Mode slows things down a bit but if you have a second or two the wait is worth well worth it - really good pics even in very dark locations.

The selfie-cam rises to the late-night shooting task too. Great selfies are just my minimum expectation from any OPPO phone - they've built their brand on it - but the Reno4's combination of 32MP main sensor and 2MP dedicated bokeh lens really does provide some absolute crackers. You can also use Night Mode for selfies and the handset will brighten the whole screen to work as a flash if required. I took selfies in my wardrobe with the door closed and they still came out clear and colourful. I then had to explain what I was doing in there.

Unfortunately, because the front-facing camera is a double-lens array, the cutout is a bit bigger than I'd prefer in an otherwise lovely 6.4-inch OLED display. At least that cutout is in the top left corner which becomes bottom left when watching full-screen content in landscape - probably the least intrusive position on the screen.

If what you're watching is your own video, it'll look more professional than ever thanks to OPPO's miraculous Ultra Steady Video 3.0 - which works both front and rear. OPPO's definitely thrown the kitchen sink at video quality, developing features like Laser Detection Auto Focus and its Ultra Night Video Algorithm.

None of this is going to be any use if there isn't the processing power to make it all happen. I've used a few phones this year with plenty of fancy photo features but if everything freezes or crashes when you're changing picture modes, what's the point? Not an issue for the Reno4. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865G CPU, combined with an Adreno 620 GPU, 8GB of RAM and a respectable 128GB of internal storage keep this handset singing along. It's smooth and fast to use - especially in High-Performance mode.

I was a bit worried about switching to High-Performance because when you do, the Reno4 warns of extra battery drain. I needn't have worried - battery life on the Reno4 is standout, using High Performance or not. This is thanks to the 4000mAh dual-cell setup which coasts through even the longest day of heavy use without breaking a sweat. OPPO has also developed quite the fast-charging reputation and you'll find a 65W SuperVOOC charger in the box. Yes, a charger included in the box - what's more - a genuinely fast charger. How quaint.

You get earbuds and a case too, adding even more value to what's already looking like a fanatastic buy. This is one of those phones I've found so easy to use; it runs well, has great battery life and totally over-delivers in the photography department - especially at night.

Don't forget to check out those artist-designed cases too, very cute.

Click here for more information on the OPPO Reno4 5G.

PERFECT FOR MY POCKET

The gap between what your average punter needs from a phone and what manufacturers end up putting in their devices seems to be growing all the time.

Sure, we all want a handset that looks great and runs well but how often are we really going to use that 100x zoom or shoot an 8K video?

So maybe you can save a few bucks by forgetting the flagships and perusing what's available mid-tier. Trouble is, some of the compromises made to save a few hundred are often the few features you liked best.

Tricky...

 

I was a fan the second I picked it up, so I guess the name is appropriate. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) is my kind of phone.

It's light, for starters, primarily due the the matte-finish, metallic-looking rear casing - I assume it's polycarbonate of some kind but it still has a premium sheen to it. In New Zealand the current colour choices are Cloud Navy (as pictured), Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint and Cloud Red. Fantastic to see some genuinely different options for a change - especially red. I can't understand why there aren't more red phones out there, given it's most normal people's favourite colour. Right? Pity I got stuck with the blue one. Oh well.

In fact, I'd better point out the review unit I'm using is actually the 5G version which isn't on sale here yet. That means it has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 CPU, as opposed to the Exynos 990 chip in the Kiwi models. In theory the performance from both chips isn't massively different and the point is, the original S20 flagship devices from earlier in the year have the same chips. 

That doesn't automatically mean the S20 FE runs at the same, high-end level - not quite. It only has 6GB of RAM installed as opposed to 12GB in the S20 Ultra. This is more than enough for most tasks but I have noticed things can get a bit laggy when launching resource-heavy apps like the camera. Generally speaking it sails along pretty smoothly, downloading, streaming, browsing... I'm not much of a mobile gamer but I've been told the device actually does a perfectly good job thanks mostly, once again, to the high-end Adreno GPU.

That's the thing with the S20 FE - most of the places you expect Samsung to have skimped, they simply haven't. While other phone makers lose things like IP68 water and dust resistance the moment they need to save a buck, the FE is still toilet-proof. Many other flagships still don't do wireless charging. This $1099 phone does - even reverse wireless charging ("Wireless Powershare") for accessories like Samsung's earbuds and smartwatches.

Oh, and yes, there is a charger included in the box! How old school.

The battery is big - 4500mAh - without being so big it adds excessive bulk and weight to the device. This guarantees enough charge to coast through even the longest days.

The screen is where Samsung has cut corners... but not many. Physically, you'll immediately notice the 6.5inch Super AMOLED display is flat - no curvy edges here like its more expensive predecessors. However, there may be more positives than negatives to this, especially given the screen is still outstanding and still capable of that magic 120Hz refresh rate ensuring super smooth scrolling and response. A flat screen is a lot cheaper to replace and lately I've had issues using some apps with on-screen controls that stretch right to the edge of the display. Those problems disappear on this phone.

I really feel like there's a bit of an "Emperor's New Clothes" moment going on right now in the smart phone market. We thought we needed that shiny glass back because the phone-makers told us it was a premium feature. Yet in practice, glass breaks and attracts endless smudges and fingerprints. We were also convinced curved screens were the best thing ever... but why? Swapping out features like these definitely appeals to me and presumably the other Samsung fans this handset is being marketed to.

Obviously, not every compromise is an improvement. While you still get a triple-lens rear shooter on the FE, there's no question it's not quite the camera quality we've seen from the very top of  this year's S20 and Note 20 ranges. You get 12MP ultra-wide and wide-angle lenses combined with an 8MP telephoto sensor. This means very good long and wide-angle pics, ideal for outdoor use. Samsung has also stepped up its low light performance, something many brands seem to be emphasising right now. Close-up shots is where it all falls down a bit though - you tend to get clearer shots by zooming in from a distance, not ideal. As I've mentioned, using the camera is where the FE seems most underpowered RAM-wise, possibly because the app still offers high-end features like Single Take - Samsung's multiple-shots-in-one option - to make sure you capture the perfect shot. Ironic if the app takes too long to launch and you miss it. Don't worry, the finished pics are generally fabulous, it just takes a while to swap between camera modes when you're taking them.

The 32MP selfie cam is great though, peeping through the tiniest cutout in the centre-top of the display.

Samsung's recent flagships have done an excellent job of providing decent stereo sound reproduction by using the top ear-piece as the left-hand speaker. This is another feature that usually goes west the moment you cut costs. Yet this is another feature the FE still has.

That's the main message here; this really is a phone with most of the useful bits and without much of the silly stuff you don't really care about. At $1099, it's certainly at the upper end of the "mid-range" market but with so many flagship features on board, it's undoubtedly the best value-for-money phone we've seen this year. And it comes in red! What more can you ask for?

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.