Apple iPhone 15 Plus - You Don't Lose Much

This year I decided to take a slightly different approach to my iPhone reviews. Previously I've started with the base models and worked my way up to the Pros - seemed logical enough.

But for the 2023 offerings, I wanted to try things the other way around; start with all the bells and whistles on offer with the iPhone 15 Pro, then "downgrade" to the iPhone 15 Plus and see just how hard-done-by I felt without whatever it is you get for the extra money.

The results of this experiment really surprised me.

The base-model iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are identical in every way - other than screen and battery size. They both come in Black, Blue, Green, Yellow and now Pink - and this year the aluminium frame (coloured to match) has been slightly rounded at the edges to feel more comfortable in your hand. 

A bigger battery means a longer time between charges and that's definitely true when using the iPhone 15 Plus - with what I consider to be "typical usage" I could easily make it through two full days on a single charge. I don't think I've ever encountered battery life as good as that on an iPhone before.

By now it's been widely publicised all four models in the iPhone 15 range have ditched their lightning ports for USB-C charging instead. This is clearly far more convenient when it comes to how many charging cables you need to keep on hand and it also means a potential boost in charging times and data transfer speeds. Admittedly, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max phones offer even faster transfer speeds but unless you're regularly uploading large video files it won't matter much to you.

You can even use the iPhone 15 Plus to charge accessories like your Apple Watch or AirPods by plugging them directly into the new USB-C port - and with all that extra battery life on board, why wouldn't you?

The 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display is obviously much larger than the 6.1-inch screen on the standard iPhone 15 - and it really depends on the user as to whether this is something you need. Sure it's great to be able to use bigger text and enjoy larger icons and widgets - especially for those of us who've reached a certain age where reading causes squinting. However, this is also no longer a handset that slides easily into the pocket. I don't find it overly heavy but its width and length mean I can still jam it into my jeans... but only just.

If you love gaming - or even just streaming - I'd suggest a display of this size is pretty much essential. It's crisp and clear, ramps up to an impressive 2,000 nits brightness in outdoor conditions and is protected by iPhone's unique Ceramic Shield - claimed to be tougher than any other smartphone glass and in my experience that seems to be spot on.

The only real display drawback with the iPhone 15 Plus versus the Pro is the refresh rate - 60Hz against 120Hz. Funnily enough, I've still found the screen on the 15 Plus to be fluid and responsive and even when racing through the events calendars on Asphalt 9 (my current obsession) I didn't feel like anything was underwhelming, display-wise.

This is probably due in no small part to the A16 Bionic chip running the whole show. Although this is not the chip inside this year's Pro models, it is what the 2022 iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max were built on which means that yes, it's a very powerful and efficient chip indeed. 

That also means the iPhone 15 Plus can do things only the Pro's could do last year, like Dynamic Island - the unique, interactive shortcut accessed by touching the front-facing camera cutout at the top of the screen. We've also seen an upgrade to second-generation Ultra-Wideband. That means better connectivity and greater precision when using Find My.

A great chip usually indicates great photo processing too - and the iPhone 15 Plus stacks up here as well. Although the primary shooter is still only a dual-lens array, you do now get a 48MP primary sensor and a 2x telephoto lens - and it doesn't end there. Just like the Pro models, this year the 15 Plus also lets you take portrait (bokeh) shots even when not in Portrait mode, simply by tapping the little "f" symbol in the bottom of the screen. 

While you don't have the new Macro option, or the ability to shoot and save "raw" images and video like you can with the Pros, you still get excellent low-light performance, Cinematic Mode from both front and rear cameras, a new smoother zoom wheel and Action Mode for pretty good digital stabilisation.

In short, other than not having the different lens and zoom options of the Pro models, I've found the photographic performance of the iPhone 15 Plus to be otherwise great.

In my iPhone 15 Pro review, I already touched on the major improvements Apple has made to the latest version of iOS - things like more interactive home screen widgets, better fitness and well-being apps and features like StandBy mode are of course, all on the iPhone 15 Plus too. However, there are certain limitations. 

For example, StandBy Mode - which automatically turns your phone screen into a bedside clock or media player when attached to a MagSafe charger horizontally - only shows for a few seconds before disappearing. This has something to do with iPhone 15 and 15 Plus not having Always On Display. Why don't they have Always On Display? No idea.

I feel like I asked a similar question this time last year when Apple introduced Dynamic Island - but only on the Pro models. Now we're seeing Dynamic Island on all four iPhone 15s it makes me wonder if AOD will follow suit next year. Who knows?

A cynical person might suggest Apple has kept features like this exclusively for the Pro models so they can justify the extra expense and entice customers to make the jump in price. Or it could just be the base model handsets are physically incapable of performing such tasks with their current hardware and if things change next year that means the nuts and bolts have upgraded too.

Whatever the case, I can honestly say I've thoroughly enjoyed using the iPhone 15 Plus, more or less directly after spending time with the Pro. This means it's difficult for me to mount a convincing argument to choose Pro or Pro Max unless you're super serious about photo and video content - and I do mean super serious because the camera performance of the iPhone 15 Plus definitely compares well in many departments.

Starting at NZ$1,849.00, this is hardly an entry-level device, obviously. But its powerful chip, large and stunning display and durable build definitely make it worth the investment.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple iPhone 15 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE - It's All About the Chip

The Fan Edition has always been a bit of a weird concept to me.

What's the idea here? We have these devices everyone seems to like but they'd like them even better if they were cheaper?

This prompts the further question; how do we make them cheaper yet still keep the stuff people like most?

A couple of years ago, despite my scepticism, Samsung nailed this tricky balancing act with the Galaxy S21 FE.

At the time I really felt like I was using a genuine flagship device, despite the cheaper price tag.

However, there wasn't S22 FE in 2022 (sorry fans) perhaps due in part to how late the S21 FE was to hit the market. So late in fact, it ended up competing with the following year's S22 flagships. Whoops.

This year, Samsung has managed to drop a new Fan Edition with plenty of time to spare. What's more, there's not just a phone but a tablet and earbuds too.

Now the question is, will they be just as well received?

So first up, what are we dealing with? Well, basically it's a whole new ecosystem, just for fans; the Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Tab S9 FE+ and Galaxy Buds FE.

I can't tell you much about the Galaxy Buds FE as I haven't seen or tried them yet but I do know they look quite different to other Samsung earbuds, they have Active Noise Cancelling and they're supposed be easier to hold and control.

This last feature looks promising because one criticism I have of the older Galaxy Buds2 Pro I've been using for this review is although they're very low profile, it's virtually impossible to put them in or out or adjust them without accidentally playing or pausing your media. The new FE design should sort this.

The new buds also claim "Seamless Pairing" - the ability to be paired with multiple Samsung devices simultaneously yet magically know which of them you're using at any given time. More on this feature shortly.

The Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ is fabulous. I'm not really a tablet guy but everyone has been raving about the 2023 line of Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 devices and now I have one I can see why. Samsung has pretty much owned the Android tablet space for several years now - combining superior stylus (S-Pen) technology with its desktop-like DeX Mode interface. 

Because Galaxy Tabs are Samsung, you're pretty much guaranteed incredible display quality and impressive audio performance too.

As far as I can tell, the main difference between the FE and FE+ versions of this tablet is screen size - 10.9-inches on the base model and a whopping 12.9-inches of bright, crisp, clear display on the Plus I've been playing with - and I do mean playing.

Not only have I enjoyed streaming video content on the Tab S9 FE+ but I've been giving Ashpalt 9 a pretty good bash too. The game flies along with no issues at all, looking and sounding fantastic. Although the screen only supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 90Hz, I hardly noticed as I nitro-ed my way through the pack to win race after race.

The other thing many people have appreciated about the Tab S9 series is the IP68 dust and water rating - not many tablets boast that kind of durability and I was pleasantly surprised to discover the FE version is equally safe to use poolside.

To be honest, the more I use the Tab S9 FE+, the more I wonder what it doesn't do that its more full-featured and more expensive siblings can. Starting at NZ$849.00 for the base model, it's a great device.

Then we come to the star of the show, the Galaxy S23 FE.

Available in Mint, Cream, Purple and Graphite, it certainly looks the part with its modern, sharp edges and glass-covered back panel. Unfortunately, that makes it potentially less durable than the plastic-backed S21 FE from 2021 - and it's certainly bloody slippery to hold. It's Corning Gorilla Glass 5, both front and back but if it was my phone I'd be slapping a decent case on there before I even lifted it out of the box.

The triple camera array on the back also has a premium look to it - a combination of 12MP Ultra Wide, 50MP Wide and 8MP Telephoto lenses. That means you get 3x optical zoom on a midrange phone - not bad. Of course, you can zoom in even closer but there'll be a noticeable drop in quality - as demonstrated by these pics of the neighbour's cat.

Overall, I've been very impressed by what the camera setup is capable of. Many, if not most of the S23 flagship photo features are to be found on this phone too. Great digital stabilisation, Director's View - which lets you shoot from both forward and rear cameras simultaneously, Auto-Framing - to keep you in shot when streaming or video-chatting and Portrait Mode works just as well when using the 10MP selfie camera as it does with the primary shooter, blurring the background to your personal preference.

While I couldn't ask for more photographic performance - especially at this price, there is an issue. And it's one that holds this phone back across the board.

Many times when I've tried to open the camera app it's crashed or frozen - either from the quick launch icon on the lock screen or by double-clicking the power button (this is a customisable shortcut - a kind of "action button" if you will). This is pretty annoying, given the one thing I like to do with my phone is quickly snap off a few spontaneous pics when the muse takes me.

And it's not just when trying to get the camera going when I've run into trouble. Over the last few days I've encountered several lockups which require closing the app I'm using or turning off the screen and unlocking it again to get the phone to respond. 

It gets mysteriouser.

Yesterday while out walking, I had the S23 FE in my pocket, playing podcasts to my bluetooth-connected Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Suddenly the connection cut out and when I looked at the phone to see what was going on I was alarmed to see it had put itself into recovery mode and I had to reboot it to get it going again.

I can only put all these issues down to the chip; the Exynos 2200.

Not only is this last year's chip, it's not even the chip found in New Zealand's S22 handsets - they were lucky enough to sport the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 - generally agreed to be superior in most departments.

2023's S23 flagships were fitted with the updated Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 worldwide - more power, better graphics performance and significantly more efficient. So in effect, the Exynos 2200 running the S23 FE is at least two generations out of date... and I'm afraid to say it feels like it.

This is an otherwise cracking device - the screen looks amazing and with its variable 120Hz refresh rate should feel much more fluid than it does. 

I cranked up Asphalt 9 on this device too and again, it sounded very nice through the stereo speaker setup but it did stutter during gameplay from time to time.

The S23 FE has great features like face unlock and an under-display fingerprint sensor - except neither works very well - especially the face unlock. I wouldn't be surprised if this is also due to the same lacklustre chip performance.

As for the "Seamless Pairing" feature when using the phone, tablet and buds together, I've found this works well sometimes and not at all other times. Whether this is due to the chip in the phone or the fact I only have older Buds2 Pro and not the new Buds FE, I can't be sure.

Quick Share is another promising tool, letting you transfer files wirelessly from device to device. It worked every time from tablet to phone but much more erratically the other way.

And that's ultimately how I feel about the S23 FE - so promising but it keeps not delivering at the exact moment I need it to. Yes, starting from NZ$1099.00 it's dramatically cheaper than even the base-model S23 but there might just be too many compromises here for the savings to make sense.

    

Click here for more information on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE.

Click here for more information on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+.

Click here for more information on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro - The Defence Rests

I never thought I'd end up publicly defending the iPhone.

In fact, for a long time, I never thought I'd even use an iPhone.

But eventually, I had to concede I wouldn't be much of a tech reviewer if I was ignoring over 40% of the market out of hand.

What's more, once I actually tried a few iPhones out, I had to concede some of them were pretty damn good.

I'm not denying there are still things about the Apple ecosystem that frustrate the hell out of me but I'm no longer one of those people who hate on Apple as a matter of principle. When I write these reviews and trial these products my opinions are based on honest experience with each device.

That's why I've found the latest furore around the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max so confounding.

First things first; you know those frustrations about Apple products I just mentioned I still have? This year's Pro-model iPhones are significant upgrades if for no other reason than they address some of my personal pet peeves head-on.

Perhaps most well-publicised is the move to a USB-C charging port for the first time. While Apple's MacBooks and iPads have been using the same USB-C standard as everyone else for some time, the iPhone range has been mysteriously holding out, their old-school lightning ports stubbornly incompatible with any convenient USB-C cables lying around the place and also depriving users of the opportunity of shorter charging times and much faster data transfer speeds.

Who knows if the EU regulations to standardise charging formats were the catalyst or if Apple would have made the change of its own accord? I don't care. I'm just happy one cable now charges anything. Although... While all four iPhone 15 models now sport USB-C ports, only the Pro and Pro Max are capable of USB 3.0 speeds. And yet the very nice braided cable included in the box is only USB 2.0. A faster cable will cost you extra. Oh well.

Another feature I've been missing on iPhone over the years is a proper telephoto lens. Again, this year Apple has well and truly stepped up with a 5 X zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 3 X on the Pro I'm reviewing. This seems to be a matter of simple physics; the Pro Max is just plain bigger, so it can accommodate a larger telephoto sensor. Either way, it now means an extra quick setting in the camera app; .5 for Ultra Wide shots, 1 X, 2 X and now 3 X (or presumably 5 X on the Max? Not sure). This is fantastic news and makes a massive difference for both video and stills - crisp clear shots from distance and also, a new macro setting for extreme close-ups. 

Technically, for you pro shooters out there, the rear camera array has had quite the overhaul, now boasting the equivalent of seven pro lenses depending on which focal length, zoom setting and resolution you opt for. While you can manually choose to capture large 48MP HEIF or ProRAW images (perhaps better for post-production editing) when you let the camera do its thing automatically, it will combine a the best of several different shots to bring you the ultimate pic. I've certainly been impressed by how "real" the photos are and I particularly appreciate the uniform colour and quality across all lens options.

You don't even need to be in Portrait mode to shoot portraits either - you can manually select your focus point and blur the background, even after you've taken the shot. Yes, you read that right; it's now possible you've taken the perfect portrait without even meaning to. This works with the selfie camera too - you can change the depth-of-field effect after you've taken the photo.

Another fun trick is the ability to copy your edits from one photo to a selection of others in your library simultaneously. For example, if you want to change every photo you took today to black-and-white, you don't have to filter each one separately, you can do a bulk edit within the Photos app.

This kind of wizardry works seamlessly thanks to the almighty power of the A17 Pro chip and the significantly revamped iOS 17.

We'll get back to that chip shortly but first, a few fun things about the new operating system - starting with knocking off yet another of my historical peeves; proper widgets. At long last iOS 17 means instead of a handful of lame, static tiles on your home screen, app developers can now make their widgets much more interactive; like being able to play and pause podcasts directly from the widget without having to open the app. Hey Apple users, just so you know, this is not new - not by a long shot - but it's certainly welcome.

Another nifty iOS 17 trick you may have seen publicised is the new StandBy mode. This kicks in automatically when you're charging your iPhone positioned on its side, typically on a MagSafe charging stand. Not only will this convert your screen into an always-on bedside clock and calendar, it can also show other apps and notifications in landscape mode. When I'm driving, I keep my phone on a MagSafe charging cradle and now it shows me the podcast I'm listening to complete with episode art and a progress bar.

In further major upgrade news, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro have replaced the traditional mute switch on the side with the new Action Button. This is a customisable way to fire off actions like Focus Mode or Torch, open the Camera app or access an action you've already set up in the Shortcuts app. And yes, you can mute the phone with it if you like. Unfortunately, not all apps are compatible with Apple Shortcuts but happily for me, I can resume playing my preferred podcast app with a long press.

Now... about this overheating thing. If indeed it is a thing. From the day the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max started shipping to consumers (and reviewers) it was widely reported the new handsets were prone to running hot when put under stress. Apparently playing games with demanding graphics settings or other high-resource tasks like video editing or continuous HD streaming were causing some devices to become uncomfortably hot in the hand.

I read several articles about this phenomenon, from sources I trust and yet, try as I might, I've been unable to replicate the problem or anything close to it. I've tried to push the iPhone 15 Pro to its limits in a number of ways and not once have I detected even a mild rise in temperature.

As I publish this, there has been another iOS 17 update overnight, which is partly supposed to address these issues. All I can tell you is I haven't experienced any overheating whatsoever - either before or after the update. Unfortunately, I believe Apple has fallen victim to an out-of-proportion social media response to a few isolated cases.

The negative Nancies out there have also been quick to criticise Apple's new "FineWoven" cases and MagSave wallets, replacing leather in a more carbon-neutral fashion. Again, I don't get what their problem is. I think FineWoven looks great and feels very luxurious.

All I know for sure is the handset I've been trying out for the last week or so is easily the best iPhone I've used to date. Physical upgrades like the telephoto lens and USB-C charging port combine with software tweaks like StandBy mode and interactive widgets to alleviate the few final frustrations I still harboured when switching between Android and iOS.

For once, don't believe the hype - well, not the negative hype anyway. As far as I'm concerned, this is a very cool phone.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 - Very Nearly Almost There

It feels like the foldable phone market has suddenly become rather mainstream.

Just a few years back, foldables were seen as overpriced, almost experimental devices reserved only for early adopters with too much spare cash to splash around. Now the technology has been steadily refined and the market has expanded and matured.

In fact, I know people who are onto their second or even third foldable handset - they've obviously been impressed enough with the advantages and innovations to ignore any limitations or durability concerns.

Foldables are here to stay; in fact, recent trends in some markets suggest it may not be too long before phones with bendy screens overtake the more traditional models - certainly in the upper price-range anyway.

Samsung has been leading the charge from the start and of course the 2023 Z-Series devices continue to impress.

In New Zealand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 is currently available in Mint, Graphite, Lavender and Cream, with a Blue variant as an online-only offer, stock dependant. This year's colours are not bright and zany but more subtle tints. I've been sent the Mint version to review and its glass-backed rear panel is such a pale green it's almost white. The metal rails around the edge of the device are also coloured ever-so-faintly to match.

All this will tie in nicely if you opt for a new-realease Watch6 model to go with your flip - of course, you can also match up a clock face to display on both devices if you wish.

Because you spend a lot of time unfolding and re-folding the Z Flip5, its shiny surfaces definitely collect up plenty of finger smudges - although there's a pretty natty range of cases available to help potect the phone, including options with rings and stands attached for easy gripping and more display options.

Speaking of display options, probably the most notable upgrade on this year's Flip is the preview screen or "Flex Window" - it's received a significant size bump up to 3.4-inches - now covering one half of the outside surface (camera lenses excluded).

This is a good news / bad news story - although mostly good. A screen of this size is now genuinely useful - previously, the small external display was good for glancing at a notification or two but not much else. Now we can click on those notifications to expand previews from security or doorbell footage or read messages and emails.

Swipe the other way and access any cover-screen widgets you've selected - perhaps your calendar or weather forecast.

But the biggest headline is there are now apps that function pretty much normally on the "Flex Window" as well. However, this is where the bad news comes in; frustratingly there are currently only six apps officially optimised to work on the Z Flip5's outer display; Google Maps, Google Messages, Samsung Messages, Netflix, WhatsApp and YouTube. 

I'm hoping this is merely a temporary limitation and in time all developers will have Flex Window versions of their apps. For example, being able to access the loyalty cards you have stored in your Google Wallet without opening the phone seems like a no-brainer. Surely it won't be long before we can use the outer screen in much the same way we can with the much larger and more full-featured Z Fold external display.

I keep reading about third-party apps that are supposed to bring full app access to the Flex Window and I've tried a couple but none of them work anything like as well as the native, pre-installed cover apps so I think I'll wait for more of the real deal.

At least the bigger screen on the Z Flip5 now means we can make full use of the primary camera array to shoot selfie pics and video. Thanks to the significantly larger Flex Window we can now access many more features and settings. While this rear-facing (and yes, sometimes front-facing) dual-lens setup is a significant upgrade from its preceding generations, I have to admit I was a little disappointed to discover the two lenses are both 12MP and there's still no 50MP main shooter like you'd find on other Samsung flagships.

Still, you do get a reasonable quality 10X digital zoom and I really don't have too many complaints about the quality of the photos and videos I've been shooting. One UI 5.1.1 (soon to be 6 in an impending update) is my favourite phone O.S. and it brings with it some excellent camera features on this device, like Auto Focus, Super Steady digital stabilisation and Auto Framing to keep you front and centre in every shot.

I can't really tell you much about the 10MP selfie-cam inside because I've hardly used it. There's really no need when you can opt for the main shooter in combination with the Flex Window to preview your vids and pics.

Oh yeah - that's right; there's an internal screen as well. The Z Flip5 unfolds to a very useful 6.7-inches and as you may have heard, it now folds completely flat, with no gap at all close to the hinge. This is 2023's other major development - no gap means no more pocket fluff all over the screen every time I flip it out. There's still a visible crease you can feel but as I've discovered with all foldables I've used, it's something you get used to quickly then forget all about. In fact, I have to laugh at how much I now take folding screen technology for granted.

Features like Flex Mode - which divides an optimised app into two halves - perhaps video on top and controls below - just seem like every-day operation now. This is as it should be - although the Z Flip5 is a remarkable feat of tech design, it's good to not be continuously worried about durability and limitations. These days there really aren't many limitations.

IPX8 water resistance, Corning Gorilla Glasss Victus 2 on the Flex Window and back cover and Armour Aluminium frames ironically make this phone more hard-wearing than many "normal" handsets.

In saying that, there's always room for improvement and with this phone that means disappointing battery life. It's not terrible - I can get through a long, breakfast radio day on a single charge - but it certainly won't get through two. Happily, the Z Flip5 does charge wirelessly, although I've found my lower-wattage car cradle won't do the job. Only a higher powered Qi charging pad will suffice.

What you do get is the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor - this is the same super-chip that powers all Samsung's other premium handsets so this thing runs like a bullet.

That's why overall, I feel like 2023 is the year the Flip evolved into a genuine flagship. The camera experience has improved just enough to move it into that category, the high end chip is almost unrivalled and the new plus-sized Flex Window is a million times more useful than before - or at least it will be once there's a full suite of apps optimised to run on it.

I've always found the Flip fun to use - right from the first generation. Now with this year's upgrades, it's not just fun, it's a fully-fledged work tool too.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5.

Oppo Reno10 Pro - Looks Great but Ultimately Unremarkable

I still remember the first time I tried an Oppo phone. I'd gone from hardly having heard of one to setting one up and using it in a matter of minutes. That's not even an exaggeration - one thing Oppo has always prided itself on is making the switch from other phones as seamless as possible, then offering some of the fastest charging times around to get you going pretty much straight away.

Above all else, Oppo has always emphasised its camera capabilities ahead of all other features. The first time I encountered a periscope lens, it was on an Oppo. The first time I took a professional-looking group selfie (complete with Bokeh effect) was with an Oppo. For a long time Oppo referred to its own handsets as "Camera Phones" rather than "Smart Phones" - that gives you some indication of where the design priorities tend to be focussed. Pun intended.

Although there will be no "flagship" Oppo handset this year in New Zealand from the top-of-the-line Find X series, if the previously released Find N2 Flip wasn't quite what you were looking for, Oppo now has something else for you to try.

In recent years, Oppo's premium Find X handsets have been standouts for me in terms of physical design so I was most relieved to discover the 2023 Oppo Reno10 Pro has continued the trend. While other manufacturers seem content with flat displays, sharp, thick edges and smudge-prone glossy glass backs, the Reno10 Pro sets itself apart in almost every aspect of its physical design. 

Oppo calls this look the 3D Curve - both rear panel and front display meeting together at the sides to form the narrowest of bezels. (Just 1.57mm in fact) The handset is light, yet easy to hold, thanks in no small part to the matte finish of the back cover - a totally unique, almost sparkley effect that catches the light from every angle yet resists fingerprints and other gross greasiness.

The rear camera module is also eye-catchingly unusual with its three lenses contrasting with a CD-like metallic finish. This is a phone unashamed to set itself apart on the meeting table.

Flip it over and you reveal a 6.7-inch curved OLED display encompassing 93 percent of the available surface with a centrally located punch-hole for the selfie-cam.

Historically Oppo ships its handsets with factory-fitted screen protectors and that's the case here too - although I don't understand the benefit of applying a screen protector that isn't anything like as hard-wearing as the screen it's supposed to be protecting. Within just a few days of normal use, this extra layer was littered with small scratches - something I just haven't seen on any other handset for ages. The Reno10 Pro's display is covered by AGC Dragontrail Star 2 glass as opposed to the Corning Gorrilla Glass we see more often on other phones. I don't know much about the Dragontrail product so for now I'm keeping the protector in place.

Durability aside, the screen is bright and clear with a 120Hz refresh rate that can be dialled back either manually or automatically to save on power consumption.

Speaking of which, as usual, the Reno10 Pro ships with its own SuperVOOC charging brick - 80W fast charging and I do mean fast; Oppo claims just 28 minutes for a full charge and from what I've seen that seems about right. Unfortunately - and this is typical for Oppo - they seem to think super-fast charging speeds are a substitute for wireless charging which is a philosophy I've never agreed with. I hate having to plug and unplug my phone - especially recently as I've been recovering from a broken shoulder and a lot of these sorts of actions have to happen one handed. I don't know if you've ever tried to remove a tiny USB-C plug from its port with one hand but it's a challenge. Oppo has often made wireless charging the first "premium" feature to go when stepping down in price from its high-end offerings and this annoys me. It may be of no consequence to you though, so read on.

In terms of real-world battery life, I've been somewhat underwhelmed. The 4,600mAh battery is large enough and I've certainly had no issues getting though a whole day - usually with 50-60 percent charge intact. However, this still isn't as good as other mid-to-upper range devices I've used recently.

This may be partly due to the chip running everything, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G. While it provides a solid, reliable user experience, this is not the latest or greatest Snapdragon SoC out there. This is another area where the Reno10 Pro proves to be not quite as "Pro" as some of 2023's genuine flagships. Bear in mind I'm pretty fussy about phone performance - I usually get to try out the very best of them. As a result I've found using the Reno10 Pro is smooth and fast - but not glaringly so. There's still plenty of oomph for most games and functions, thanks partly to Oppo's RAM expansion technology which can utilise unused ROM storage to beef up the already pretty beefy 12GB of physical RAM. Oppo also has plenty to say about the Reno10 Pro's cooling system and I certainly never felt it warm up while I was using it.

But as I pointed out right at the top, more often than not an Oppo phone is more camera than phone and the Reno10 Pro is a classic example. The rear-facing array features a 50MP main shooter, a 32MP telephoto portrait camera and an Ultra-Wide lens - these all combine for some very detailed, true-colour shooting. Special mention has to made of that telephoto lens - a first for any Reno-series device. Not only does this mean genuine 2 X optical zoom but it brings other benefits to your shots like higher light intake and more noise reduction.

Personally, I like a phone camera I can just point and shoot with - without having to fiddle with too many settings. This is what the Reno10 Pro provides - although those expert pro settings are there if you want them.

Things like low-light photos just work - quickly too. Check out these two shots - one using Night Mode, one just clicked without any adjustments. Good luck if you can pick which one is which - I think they both look great.

However, it's the 32MP selfie-cam that probably steals the show - Oppo phones always take great selfies (and shoot great selfie vids too) but the options here in terms of effects and filters are at a whole new level. Thanks to the front-facer's auto-focus abilities, that split-focus Bokeh effect is now effortless. I've never looked so good on a phone screen... and that's saying something.

If photo and video performance is a priority for you, the Reno10 Pro should definitely be on your shopping list - at NZ$1,099.00 this is a handset that comes in hundreds of dollars under other phones with similar premium camera arrays. It won't match some of those high-end options in terms of sheer power or battery life and it doesn't charge wirelessly - but it does charge in mere minutes and in my opinion, it's probably the best-looking and best-feeling phone I've used so far this year. Excellent value and pretty too.

Click here for more information on the Oppo Reno10 5G.

OPPO Find N2 Flip - Welcome to the Folding Party

As New Zealanders, there's nothing worse than feeling like we're missing out on cool stuff the rest of the world can get its hands on. To be fair, we probably punch above our weight when it comes to our reputation as being a nation of "early adopters."

And yet, until now we've only had access to one brand of foldable phone.

Admittedly, even globally, the smartphone market isn't exactly flooded with foldables, although if you live in China, you've been able to choose from a few different options for a couple of years.

Now one of those options has made its way here and it looks pretty impressive.

The Find N2 Flip is not OPPO's first attempt at a folding flagship - the Find N series launched in December 2021 with its larger, "book-style" handset - but we didn't get that one.

Then, when OPPO embraced the more pocketable "clamshell" form factor, it became apparent it was getting pretty serious about foldables. So serious in fact, this year OPPO is marketing the Find N2 Flip as its New Zealand flagship - if you were hoping for a local release of the Find X6 and Fnd X6 Pro this year, you're out of luck. This makes the Find N2 Flip Oppo's only premium offering for 2023, so it had better deliver. No pressure.

There's no avoiding the similarities between this device and a certain other Flip from a successful Korean manufacturer - that one's been around for about three years now and yes, I've tried each generation and I thought they were surprisingly useful.

But the Find N2 Flip differs in several subtle, yet significant ways - starting with its magical Flexion hinge. This allows the Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) screen to unfold with what OPPO describes as "an almost invisible crease." In reality, this is somewhat of an overstatement; depending on the light you can just make out the crease and you can just feel it - but only just. I never notice it at all when using the phone on a day-to-day basis. It's certainly the most crease-free experience I've enjoyed on any foldable device I've tried so far.

OPPO's unique Flexion hinge also means the phone folds together without any gap. This may sound like a small thing but one thing that's really peeved me with other foldable phones I've kept in my pocket is when I get them out and open them, invariably the internal screen is covered in dust and other pocket lint. That simply doesn't happen with the Find N2 Flip as there's no gap for such detritus to penetrate.

Another major win for the OPPO device is its external screen; a 60Hz display that measures in at 3.26-inches - big enough to be genuinely useful - not just a tiny notification window but an auto-rotating AMOLED display that gives you access to large, readable widgets (weather, calendar etc) and most importantly, lets you frame photos and videos at the same orientation you're shooting them in.

This is the big advantage of a foldable like this, of course; the ability to use the primary shooter as a selfie camera, thanks to that external screen. The Find N2 Flip lets you open the camera from that outer screen - you can shoot in Photo, Portrait or Video mode without even opening the phone.

Once you do "Flip" you'll have a full 6.8-inch, FHD+ display at your disposal, featuring a variable refresh rate from 120Hz right down to 1Hz to help preserve battery life. ColorOS 13.0 built on top of Android 13 gives you access to all the options and customisations available on any other OPPO flagship, including special features like Split Screen for multi-tasking, Flexible (floating) windows, Smart sidebar and Kid Space.

Interestingly (well, for me anyway) the Find N2 Flip is powered by the Dimensity 9000+ octa-core chip from MediaTek - not a Snapdragon as other recent OPPO flagships have contained. Although not quite the highest-specced phone brain available in 2023, it's not far behind and I've certainly had no complaints while using the Find N2 Flip. Everything is as fast and fluid as I would expect from any flagship - even when performing unique, foldable actions like swapping apps from an external widget to the full version inside.

The Find N2 Flip has a nice, big battery too; 4300mAh and you're not going to believe this, there's even a fast charger included in the box! How crazy is that? Just as well because there's no wireless charging option here which is a major mark down for me. I've seen this in the past from OPPO - they've always prioritised fast charging over wireless charging and although the last few Find X series handsets have offered my preferred wireless capability, for some reason they've taken a step backwards with the Flip. Boo.

Regardless, battery life is good and I've never had to worry about making it through a long, breakfast radio day.

My main issue with OPPO making the Find N2 Flip New Zealand's only high-end device for 2023 is camera performance. I'm sure you've noticed from the pictures there are only two sensors on the primary array which by my count is at least two less than most other big-name flagships. I have no issue with the performance of the 50MP wide shooter or the 122-degree, 8MP ultra-wide camera - OPPO's continued collaboration with Hasselblad ensures great picture quality - sharp, bright images with true-to-life colour tones.

The problem is, without a telephoto, macro, monochromatic or Time-of-Flight sensor there are things other phones can do that this one simply can't - perhaps most noticeably, decent optical zoom. I can safely say I've never used an OPPO phone that didn't have a great camera and make no mistake, the camera experience on the Find N2 Flip is indeed great - especially with the 32MP selfie shooter; lots of filter and touch-up options - but this phone is no match for the big advances in distance and low-light photography we've seen from other brands lately.

Video is still fun though, especially when using the device half-folded like a handycam - OPPO's latest digital stabilisation efforts are pretty effective too.

Price is the Find N2 Flip's other big selling point. Although at NZ$1679.00 it's only a few dollars cheaper than the entry-level version of "the other Flip," the OPPO has twice the storage, making it a bit of a bargain by comparison.

It comes in a fingerprint-free matte black (Astral Black to be precise) or you can opt for the glass-backed Moonlit Purple and there's even a clear, hard, two-piece cover included in the box. A cover and a charger included? It's like Christmas.

Without a full-featured camera and options like wireless charging, I'm not convinced this is a genuine, high-end flagship but it has most things people want in a phone and what's more, it'll fit in any pocket or purse. Just when you thought there was only one name in foldables in town, OPPO has definitely joined the party.

    

Click here for more information on the OPPO Find N2 Flip.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra - Another Year, Another Best Android Phone Ever

If there's one thing Samsung knows how to do, it's producing the ultimate flagship phone.

For years now, the top-of-the-line Galaxy S-Series handset has set the benchmark for all other manufacturers to match throughout the rest of the year. Not only do they seldom beat Samsung's standard, very few find themselves capable of even meeting it.

The Ultra is the Galaxy with ALL the features; if you can put it in a phone, this is the phone that will have it.

Trouble is, if you already have all the features... And there aren't really any new features coming along... What's actually new about your new phone?

There's no denying it; even when placed side-by-side, it's extremely difficult to tell the difference between last year's and this year's Ultras - not physically, anyway. I even tried putting the S23 into the S22's case and it fit - except for a slight bulge in the bottom left hand corner.

To be precise, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the tiniest bit longer and wider - I'm talking a mere millimetre or two - and the only real discernable difference is the sides of the 2023 version are ever so slightly squarer, making this large, heavy, slippery device just a tad easier to hold.

The colour choices have been tweaked too - don't worry, Phantom Black is still an option (albeit a boring one) but this year's green is much more subtle and all three S23s now come in Lavender and Cream as well.

Obviously, the display is still the same large size - 6.8 inches - although Samsung now refers to this superbly bright and colourful screen as an "Edge" Quad HD+ display - presumably alluding to the fact that although the new, even tougher, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 still curves over at the edges, it doesn't do it as much. This is an ongoing aesthetics-vs-usability battle many phone makers seem to have been fighting with themselves for years now; a curvy display is so sexy. Yet a flat-screen eliminates the numerous false touches you often make when holding a curved screen along its edges. By landing somewhere in between, the slightly boxier S23 Ultra goes a long way to solving this issue.

I mentioned the Victus 2 glass - very tough - as are the Armor Aluminium rails running around the edge of the handset. I'm not just taking Sumsung's word for it, either. I've dropped this large, heavy, slippery phone out of my pocket and onto my hardwood floors several times now - not in the interest of a comprehensive review, I'm just a klutz. However, I'm pleased to report there's been no discernable damage. So no need to tell Samsung - let's just keep this between us.

Especially given how outrageously expensive this thing is. The S23 Ultra starts at NZ$2,299.00. That's a lot of money in anybody's book. Luckily, it might even be worth it.

Like I said at the top; the Ultra is the phone with ALL the features. When you choose Ultra, things like industry-leading water and dust resistance, large storage, big RAM and fast charging - USB-C or wireless - are just minimum expectations. You want a built-in stylus? No worries. Just like the S22 Ultra, this year's model keeps the S-Pen and in doing so, keeps all those power-using, note-taking, sketching and editing-on-the-fly customers happy.

Speaking of charging, although the battery hasn't actually got any bigger, with the right charger (wireless or not) the S23 Ultra not only juices up mighty quick, the battery life is off the charts too. Most nights when I pop it on to charge there's still 70% if not 80% left in the tank. In my experience, this is unheard of when it comes to the high-performance Ultra models of the past.

The credit for this golden new age of power preservation goes mostly to the chip; the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. At the risk of geeking out a bit, it's only in the last two years we've seen New Zealand S-Series phones ship with Snapdragon chips rather than Samsung's own Exynos versions. The Snapdragons have always been widely considered to be superior to their Exynos counterparts so that's good news for us.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is effectively the most advanced phone chip available today and the fact this version of it seems to have been customised specifically to Samsung's new S23 range suggests even an even further bump in performance. As I keep saying, premium performance should be a minimum expectation from a $2K+ handset but the S23 Ultra doesn't just meet the benchmarks, it blazes past them.

This makes it a phenomenal mobile gaming device, especially when you take its first-class display and finely-tuned audio system into account. I daresay the variable refresh rate - from 120Hz right down to 1Hz helps preserve battery life too.

The other major headline here is the camera setup. For the first time, Samsung has included a 200MP wide-angle sensor alongside the 12MP ultra-wide and the 10.0/10.0 telephoto shooters. The importance of that whizzy processor can't be ignored here as well of course - it takes a whole heap of brainpower to instantly compare thousands of pixels to come up with the most detailed, accurate and sharp photos ever seen on a phone camera - even in questionable lighting conditions.

Samsung calls this "Nightography," and the all-new Adaptive Pixel sensor does an unbelievable job of bringing photos shot in near-darkness to life. The selfie camera on the S23 Ultra has also lifted its game, now featuring fast auto-focus and upgrading front-facing video from 30fps to 60fps. Yes, that means you can now shoot instantly uploadable, professional-looking content from your front-facing camera.

Every year Samsung seems to boost the Ultra's digital stabilisation abilities and 2023 is no different. I'm not sure I'd recommend using such an expensive phone to film action content when running, biking or even motoring - but as you'll see from the video below, thanks to the doubled Optical Image Stabiliser, now even cyclones won't shake things up too much.

In short, if you thought the S23 Ultra looked just like the S22 Ultra, you're not wrong. If you thought there weren't significant upgrades between the two, you are. Battery life, camera performance and the sheer power and efficiency from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy are instantly impressive - but that's not even the point.

There can't be too many people who can afford to swap out a high-end performance handset like this every generation. In fact, recent data suggests most people are hanging onto their phones longer than ever before upgrading; for three or even four years. Compare this phone with an S20 Ultra 5G or perhaps even an S10+ from the year before that and you'll find they're worlds apart. In terms of durability, battery life, camera options and out and out performance, what the S23 Ultra brings to the table puts it in a whole other league - and perhaps justifiably, in a whole other price bracket too.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.