Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max - It's Definitely Max

If you were going to build the perfect phone, where would you start?

It's a hard one, isn't it? Everyone has different priorities.

For some people, it's all about the camera. If you can't snap a crystal-clear pic of your kid catching their first wave while you're still dry and warm on the beach, the phone is not the one.

Actually, speaking of waves and sand and sun, many of you want a phone that can take a beating, preferably without heating. A water-tight device with no cracks or scratches? Yes, please.

Other people prioritise more technical things, like processing power and performance. Can your phone edit high definition video AND play the latest AAA-rated mobile games? No? Then go and find me one that can.

Then there are the users who just want decent battery life. So I forgot to put it on to charge last night. Why should that be such a big deal?

Tick all those boxes off and you're really starting to get somewhere.

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max might already be there.

By all reports, consumers are loving this year's selection of new iPhones and Apple is already setting sales records all over again.

I put part of this early success down to the fact there's no doubt the 2025 iPhone range is different to its predecessors and what's more, this year, each model is quite distinct from each other too. (Apart from the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, of course - they're essentially the same phone just in two different sizes)

I was blown away by the performance and sheer slimness of the new iPhone Air. Even my battery life worries were somewhat unfounded - although, as expected, the camera proved to be slightly limited.

Not so much with the base-model iPhone 17 - here the camera array was a big upgrade on previous "vanilla" iPhones. The new A19 chip never raised a sweat and battery life swooped effortlessly into day 2.

So that leaves me with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, wondering how much more could it really have to offer, to justify the significant jump in asking price.

Well, let's just say, it offers a lot.

We'll circle back to the way the new Pro Max feels and looks shortly because the very first thing that really made this handset stand out to me was how fluid and silky smooth it is to use. The A19 Pro chip is, as you'd expect, Apple's fastest and most powerful iPhone chip yet. The Pro version offers more graphics grunt than the A19 in the base model and there's even an extra core in the GPU when compared to the iPhone Air. There's honestly a tangible difference in the way the 17 Pro Max responds to the lightest of touches. Scrolling is lightening-quick. On-screen edits are just that much more accurate. Even AI responses seem to work more promptly.

Speaking of "Apple Intelligence" - it's worth remembering the 16-core Neural Engine does much of its work on-device - meaning both faster response times and better data security.

Not only does all this happen more efficiently than ever, the 17 Pro Max is more likely to keep working at its maximum potential thanks to an entirely new heat management philosophy. This year, Apple has opted for a forged aluminium unibody, forgoing the previous titanium casing. The aerospace-grade 7000-series aluminium is better at dissipating heat and combines with an all-new vapour chamber to achieve the best thermal stability yet. In short, I don't think I've felt this phone get warm, let alone hot.

I'm also about to write something I never thought I would; this iPhone's battery life has got to be one of the best of any phone available - certainly for a handset with this many high-performance, high-drain features. I know I keep going on about how long my day is; during the week I get up at 2:50am for my breakfast radio show and don't go back to bed until around 8:30 each night. The only reason I make that humble brag is to compare how much battery is left on my phone when I pop it on my bedside MagSafe charger.

With the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it invariably shows more than 70%, occasionally even into the 80s. For many years, iPhones were the laughing stock when it came to battery life. Clearly, that reputation no longer applies.

This is also a difficult device to break. The 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display looks wonderful - that's no surprise. It's now protected by Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple claims is tougher than any other smartphone glass. Not only is it more scratch resistant, it also reduces reflections and unwanted glare. The 3000nits of peak brightness adds to the equation, resulting in one of the best displays for outdoor use I've ever encountered.

The camera system has also been totally reimagined, with not one, not two, but THREE 48MP Fusion Cameras on the back and the same, revolutionary selfie-cam we've seen introduced on the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. The performance of that triple-sensor primary array is shockingly good. I've been using this phone a while now and I've barely scratched the surface of what those cameras can do. No matter the lighting conditions, or how far away the subject is, there are just so many options to enable you to shoot pro-level pictures and video.

With an intimidating range of focal lengths to choose from, Apple likes to describe it as having "8 pro lenses in your pocket" and after trying them out, I'm not even sure this is over-hyping it. Your photos are captured at 24MP by default - pretty high-res. But there's nothing stopping you editing massive 48MP RAW files. In fact, this camera is so groundbreaking, Apple has come up with a whole new video codec; ProRes RAW.

Luckily for me, the Camera app in iOS 26 tucks all these expert settings away - unless you desperately want to tweak them yourself - and quite intuitively juggles things around for you. (This is the kind of AI I appreciate the most - the stuff that happens without you asking it to)

As I've already discussed in my iPhone Air and iPhone 17 reviews, the industry-shaking square, 18MP Centre Stage front camera can also be set to auto - intelligently zooming in and out and even changing aspect ratios to optimise your selfie game to a whole new level.

I could go on forever. Features like Dual Capture and the upgraded digital stabilisation are further evidence the 17 Pro Max's camera performance probably deserves a review all of its own.

And this is the problem generally, with the top-of-the-line iPhone in any given year; it's so good, and so feature packed, you'd need a weekly serial of reviews to thoroughly cover it all off.

Sounds perfect, right?

Well, not quite.

It's big. Well, huge actually. I mean, if you're buying the Max it's because you want a big screen anyway. I get that. But it really is quite big and bulky and heavy and then there's the "plateau." So the plateau is a new design element the base-model iPhone 17 doesn't share, although the iPhone Air does. Sort of. On the Air, this new body-wide camera bump doesn't seem anywhere near as pronounced as it is on the 17 Pro or Pro Max. Ironically, the Air's plateau actually protrudes further from the back panel but it's not as tall and the phone itself is obviously much thinner. Much, much, much thinner.

The over-thick design of the 17 Pro Max is all about functionality, of course. I get if you want the longest optical zoom of any iPhone camera, an effective vapour cooling system and an unheard-of extension of battery life, you've got to physically put all that somewhere. But I'll just say you definitely know when this thing is in your pocket. And if you add the horrendously thick and unglamorous MagSafe case Apple sent with my review unit to the ensemble, you might not even fit it in your pocket. Luckily, there are other cases out there and as we've already pointed out, as phones go, this one can take a few knocks even without a case.

Not sure if you'd want to risk it though. The 17 Pro Max starts at NZ$2,549.00 and if you're planning to edit some of those huge ProRes RAW video files, you'll need to consider the 1TB model at least - or even 2TB at NZ$4,149.00.

For that kind of money, you'd think you'd have more colour options than just Silver, Deep Blue or Cosmic Orange.

However, as usual for iPhone Pro, it's what's on the inside that really counts. And when it comes to what's inside this year's version, there's never been a phone quite like it.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.

motorola razr 60 - Come for the Bend, Stay for the AI

I know we should probably be taking them for granted by now, but I still find bendy phones a bit of a novelty. And that's coming from a guy who's reviewed a fair few of them.

In many ways, I feel like 2025 is the year they really started to come of age, moving from the category of pricey gimmick, with limited real-world specs, into a more mainstream, well set up, productive tool.

If you're considering a new phone, now's the time to consider a foldable - not just because it bends in the middle, but because it's just a good phone.

A fine example is the motorola razr 60 - a handset I was determined to judge objectively as a phone first, then a clamshell foldable second.

I need to start with the box.

Have you ever heard the expression, "There's nothing like the smell of a brand new phone?" No, of course you haven't. Why would anyone say that? Well, it turns out, Motorola literally adds a "Signature Packaging Fragrance" to enhance the unboxing experience, so the razr 60 definitely makes an impression before you even start flipping and calling.

It's available in Parfait Pink and Gibraltar Sea (dark blue) and you'll find a matching cover/bumper in the box. Initially I used this extra layer of protection but eventually I felt like it made the phone look and feel cheap and plasticky, so I took it off again. Although this means I run the risk of having to explain a damaged review unit when I send it back to Motorola, at least I feel cool when I slip it out my pocket to use it.

Besides, the razr 60 is more durably constructed than ever before; a stronger, titanium-based hinge plate, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protecting the external display and an easy-grip, soft-touch faux-leather back panel, embossed with reflective Motorola and razr logos.

I'm a fan of the Motorola UI, because it's about as close to the stock Android 15 OS as you can get. Very little bloat and the settings are comprehensive without being overwhelming. However, unlike some other brands, I always find setting up a new Motorola is a bit more of a mission. You can transfer some settings, files and apps from your previous device but I was frustrated to discover not all my apps installed automatically and very few were pre-logged in for me when I opened them.

But if you're looking for AI options, you've definitely come to the right place. Motorola parks its own moto ai prompt on screen as a floating button (assuming you decide to use it). This means interactive AI is always just a tap away, no matter which app or browser window you have open. 

As far as I'm concerned, right now there's two types of AI available to you on most premium smartphones; one is this kind - where you consciously have to summon it, like a genie from a bottle. On the razr 60, this option gets confusing quickly because depending on what's on your screen, you're met with several inquiry prompts including the option to use Co-pilot Vision or perhaps to "Ask Perplexity."

To muddy things even more, as an Android device, you also have the option to use Google's AI, Gemini, as your virtual assistant and general font of all knowledge.

So is moto ai it's own entity? Or just a portal to other AI services?

Maybe both. You see, the second type of AI is much less in-your-face. It's the AI that works away in the background, assisting you with your photos and videos without you even realising it. Taking note of your interactions and notifications so when you ask it to, "Catch Me Up" it knows what you mean and is able to sift through the spam, advertising and other fluff to provide you with information you actually need.

I'm sure, in time, I can keep fiddling with moto ai's settings to make it a little less intrusive and a lot more productive.

Let's just say I can assure you the razr 60 has all the AI options you could currently ask for - an then some.

None of that works without the right chip, of course. Although the MediaTek Dimensity 7400X chip is not the latest or greatest currently on the market, the "X" in its name means it's been specifically tweaked to run folding handsets like this one as efficiently and smoothly as possible - and that's certainly been my experience. Features like face unlock and the fingerprint reader work so fast, most times the phone has opened to the home screen before I've thought about unlocking it.

That applies to both displays by the way, and here, I will have to wax lyrical for a bit about my favourite feature on the razr 60; the external display.

While the pOLED outer screen is only 3.6-inches and some of it is obscured by the twin lenses of the primary camera array, you can still use it just like any other phone screen. For some reason, other clamshell folding phone producers insist on limiting the functionality of their external displays to showing the odd notification and giving you a limited choice of device-specific widgets to interact with. 

I've never understood that. If I want to open my browser and scroll down a web page on my 3.6-inch screen, I should be allowed to. After all, it's my screen. If it's not a very satisfying experience, guess what? I probably won't do it again and I'll open the razr 60 up and use the 6.9-inch internal display instead. But I should at least have the choice.

That's exactly what the razr 60 offers; the choice to use the small, outer screen however you want. Rotate it. Put widgets on it. Reply to emails with it. Whatever.

Of course, the true advantage of this form factor is the ability to use that main camera to shoot selfie. The razr 60 has now added a fun "Photo Booth" option that fires off a series of four shots, one every three seconds, then compiles them in a snapshot-style collage. Motorola is also pretty proud of its gesture-based video controls; wave to start shooting, close your fist and hold to pause, or just show your fist to stop recording.

You see? This is that behind-the-scenes AI at work.

The razr 60 is a phone full of little tricks like that; give the phone a little double twist and the camera app opens. Double-tap the back of the phone to launch your choice of customisable shortcut.

But back to the cameras. Those two outside lenses are a 50MP main shooter and a 13MP Ultra-Wide, giving you a selection of 24mm, 35mm or 50mm options for portraits, sharp macro shooting and decent optical zoom. Here are a couple of shots using different zooms and lenses...

Interestingly, the razr 60 is very well equipped when it comes to the internal selfie-cam too. The 32MP sensor provides incredibly clear footage in all lighting conditions. Selfie videos can be taken at 30fps and 60fps in FHD, or 30fps in 4K. 

There are also a few other interesting camera options like Dual Capture and Tilt Shift - the latter creating interesting effects with light and mixed focus. Or you can shoot video in handy-cam mode - with the phone open at right-angles. This is fun to do but despite the more robust redesign of the hinge, I would have preferred one that's a bit stiffer. I found it didn't really stay at the angle I wanted it to, especially if I was on the move.

Battery life from the 4,500mAh battery is terrific. I guess that might be because a lot of time you're using the device, you're doing it on the smaller, external display. I also love that you can charge wirelessly at 15W.

See? There's a lot more to this handset than just the fact it folds - although it does that very well too. If you thought foldables were just a fad, it's time to think again.

    

Click here for more information on the motorola razr 60.

Apple iPhone 17 - As Close to Pro as You Can Go

In the wake of September's massive launch of Apple devices, I sense a trend.

The base model devices and even the "entry-level" Apple Watch SE 3 are almost too good. Not too good for the consumer. Too good for Apple's more premium, Pro and Ultra offerings.

What I mean by that is we now seem to be getting more high-end features than ever for a lot less cash.

The iPhone 17 is a classic case in point.

In fact, for a start, the base model even offers more colours. The iPhone Air comes in four colours, while the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max only come in three.

With the iPhone 17, you get to choose between Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White and Black - that's five options, although as I pointed out in my iPhone Air review, the Black one is more of a reflective gun-metal than plain black.

My review unit is Sage, and I've been reliably informed by my resident Gen-Z consultant that it looks very pretty. Certainly, the new green, purple and blue options lean towards the subtle, pastel end of the scale.

The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display is protected by Apple's latest Ceramic Shield 2, which bonds to the glass at an atomic level. That certainly sounds very impressive and allegedly makes the screen harder to scratch than ever before.

It's brighter - so no problems using outside in the sunshine - especially when there's a new level of anti-reflection built into the screen as well.

For the first time, the base model iPhone sports a 120Hz, ProMotion display, so you'll get the same, silky smooth response only Pro-users have enjoyed up until now. Not only does this make navigating the new iOS 26 user interface as fluid as its "Liquid Glass" moniker suggests, but mobile gamers will really notice the upgrade.

That also means this is the first base-model iPhone to offer Always On Display - so you can keep an eye on incoming notifications while it's sitting on your desk. Another follow-on effect of the display upgrade is that the iPhone 17 will now display a bedside clock in StandBy mode if you're charging it in landscape.

Surely all this extra screen-on time must seriously eat into your battery life?

Remember when non-iPhone owners used to make fun of "Apple people" for their handsets' appalling battery life? These days, that issue has been well and truly put to bed. Not only will the iPhone 17 coast through a heavy day, with AOD activated - if you use the right charger it'll juice up super fast too.

But perhaps the number one reason this year's base-model iPhone feels so Pro is the camera setup. You get not one but two 48MP Fusion cameras on the back, which means the option of incredible high-res images, not to mention crystal clear 2x telephoto zoom and fantastically well-balanced Ultra Wide shots.

It's the selfie cam that could be the real star here though. This year, all the iPhones feature an 18MP Centre Stage front-facing camera which now houses a square sensor. The squareness gives you the ability to change the aspect-ratio of the shot in real time. This makes shooting a 16:9 landscape selfie video much easier because you no longer have to hold the handset sideways.

Apple has now brought Dual Capture to iPhone too, utilising both front and rear cameras so you can record your reaction to your subject simultaneously.

And as part of Apple Intelligence in iOS 26, the selfie camera will now automatically detect how many people are in shot and adjust the zoom accordingly, to fit you all in. I tested this out at the theatre the other night and it was so refreshing to be able to just line up the shot, point and shoot and end up with a perfectly framed, low-light pic.

That seems to be the way Apple is going with its AI features. Rather than bash you over the head with them, they're just there, quietly working away in the background without you having to physically summon them with a particular button or dedicated app.

That's what iOS 26 is all about; harnessing the sheer power and efficiency of the new A19 chip to run this phone in the way that suits you best. That starts with cosmetic things like the much-vaunted Liquid Glass makeover of the app icons and widgets - I have mine tinted red obviously - then leads to a host of AI tweaks that make your day more productive in countless ways.

For example, take the way Apple Intelligence prioritises things for me. It started by separating my emails into different categories so I could focus on the important ones and leave the fluff till later. Now my messages and notifications are all prioritised, sorted and summarised too. Nothing makes you feel more productive than ignoring a bunch of advertising and subscription updates.

If the base model is this good, I can only imagine what's in store for me with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. But that's another review for another day. In the meantime, I couldn't be happier with the plain old iPhone 17... because there really isn't anything plain about it.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple iPhone 17.

Apple iPhone Air - So This Is New

What I've learned from watching the world of tech pretty closely for a number of years now;

Things generally evolve steadily, bit by bit. Devices gradually improve - honing some features, adding new ones - and while the difference between one generation and the next may be slight, overall, when you compare most gadgets to their predecessors from four or five years ago, the improvements are thrown into stark relief.

But every now and again, a device launches that's more out-of-the-blue - even revolutionary.

Most of the time, that means a lot of excitement and hype - but also a lot of bugs and teething issues for early adopters to deal with.

What's rare is for something genuinely new to come along and for it to just work, straight out of the box.

The iPhone Air might just be the most significant iPhone since Steve Jobs showed off the first one back in 2007.

The way Apple has pretty much started from scratch to come up with the world's thinnest phone is so much more groundbreaking than it seems to be getting credit for.

Okay, at 5.6mm the iPhone Air is not actually thinner than a couple of folding phones out there (when they're unfolded) but for a conventional handset, this is definitely Apple's least conventional yet.

It really is quite breathtaking when you see it and hold it for the first time - in fact, I've yet to meet anybody who wasn't impressed when I showed it to them. It's not just that it's noticeably thinner than other phones, at just 165 grams, it weighs almost nothing. It exudes sci-fi movie vibes - you know; when they pull out a wafer thin piece of glass and use it as a phone.

There are four colours, Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White and importantly, Space Black - making it the only black iPhone you can buy this year. (The "black" base model iPhone 17 isn't really black - looks more gunmetal to me)

The grade 5 titanium frame helps keep things light - and flexible. And this is one of the first big surprises about this remarkable handset; its durability. I've seen footage of drop, water ingress and flex tests that just about made my eyes pop out. The front of the phone is protected by the new Ceramic Shield 2, which offers multiple times more scratch resistance than ever before. There's also a Ceramic Shield coating on the back panel to prevent cracks.

This is good news because the iPhone Air is one phone I can't bring myself to hide away in a case.

Which is not to say there aren't cases available, of course. Apple also offers a bumper which protects the Air's edges without obscuring any of its unique design. This can be paired with the new Crossbody strap so you can wear the phone like a tiny handbag.

I usually just stuff it in my pocket - then have to keep checking if it's still there because it really is that slim.

Except for the "camera plateau" of course. This is a new design feature Apple has carried across to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max as well - a raised camera bump that stretches all the way across the upper section of the rear panel. Intriguingly, I understand this new plateau houses more than just the camera; the vast majority of the iPhone Air's components are squeezed in there, with the rest of what's left of the phone mostly filled with battery.

Unfortunately, the camera is indeed one area where obvious compromises have been made to achieve the Air's final form. Although Apple claims the 48MP Fusion camera "puts the equivalent of four lenses in your pocket" in the end, there's only one physical sensor there and like the iPhone 16e camera before it, there are limitations. There's no Ultra-Wide functionality and no real macro shooting for extreme close-ups either.

However, that's not to say it's a bad camera. With the option to shoot at full 48MP, you get exceptional low-light performance and you also get respectable 2X optical zoom.

Action mode offers the stable video iPhone has become famous for and as part of the new iOS 26 upgrade, Apple now joins the Dual Capture club - so you can shoot from the selfie and primary cameras simultaneously.

Speaking of the forward facing camera, there's absolutely no compromise there. Just like the 17 Pros, the iPhone Air boasts an 18MP Centre Stage camera that has a square sensor - a bit like what you find on some dedicated action cameras. This enables you to change aspect ratio from portrait to landscape without having to awkwardly hold your phone sideways - very handy for group selfies. In fact, the new Centre Stage camera automatically senses how many people are in the shot and zooms in and out automatically to compensate.

This is a great demonstration of Apple's brand of AI (Apple Intelligence). Apple has been criticised for being slow off the mark when it comes to AI but I don't think that's the case at all. Instead, many AI features (like the auto-adjusting selfies) are so integrated, so baked-in that you won't specifically identify them as AI in itself.

When you first set up the iPhone Air (or any new iPhone) you're asked if you want to opt in to certain AI options - like prioritised notifications, for example. From that point on, that's exactly what happens; the important stuff is brought to your attention first. It works so well, you might not even realise how many pointless taps and swipes it's saving you. 

As the fourth member of the 2025 iPhone family, the iPhone Air has replaced the absent iPhone 17 Plus by default. It's not a like-for-like comparison of course; the Plus versions were only ever the base models with bigger screens and batteries. Other than the camera, in terms of functionality, the Air works much more like a Pro - it's fast and silky smooth to use. But yes, in yet another surprise, the 6.5-inch display is larger than the 6.3-inch screen on the iPhone 17.

Better chip too - the all-new A19 Pro as opposed to the base A19 version.

For me, the biggest surprise of all is battery life. As part of its new host of accessories, Apple included a MagSafe Battery customised specifically to fit the iPhone Air. Inevitably, most of us assumed this meant the Air's battery life would be terrible and we'd need to supplement it with this magnetised external power supply. Except, I haven't had to use it. Not once.

Typically, I get up at 2:50Am and don't go to bed until around 8:30PM - that's a long day by smartphone standards but the lowest I've seen the Air's battery go is 48%. Apart from one morning when I left Apple Maps running in the background. Then it drained like bathwater down a plughole. For superusers, I guess that MagSafe Battery provides great piece of mind - especially given once its attached, the iPhone Air actually has the BEST battery life of ANY iPhone.

Oh - cool hack BTW; if you plug the Air into a USB-C charger while the MagSafe Battery's attached, you'll charge extra fast, from both sources simultaneously.

So battery just hasn't been an issue for me. Despite how slim the Air is, it still has all the cool buttons - including the Action button for programmable shortcuts and Camera Control for quick access to photo settings.

The only thing that's missing completely is a physical SIM tray - eSIM-only here and as far as I'm concerned, that's a bonus, not a drawback. The sooner we all move to eSIM the better - it's more secure and easier to transfer from handset to handset.

I love this phone. I didn't think I would. I loved the idea of it but when does a great, truly innovative idea like this ever work so well first time out of the gate? Kudos, Apple. You got me.

    

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

Samsung Galaxy A17 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE - For Fans On a Budget

If you regularly read my reviews, you could be mistaken for thinking we all live in a high-end, premium, flagship world where we only have access to the latest developments in tech and only the most powerful, fastest and long lasting will do.

That's not real for most people, of course. As a reviewer, I get to play with the coolest of the cool toys but if I was shelling out my own hard-earned coin, I'd certainly be prepared to compromise on all sorts of features and addons that aren't what you'd call, "Strictly necessary."

So today, I'll try and go some way to answering the classic question; do you really get what you pay for?

To do that, I paired the almost entry-level Samsung Galaxy A17 handset with the new Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE. At around NZ$229.00, the Buds3 FE are less entry-level than the NZ$399.00 A17 - but both devices are significantly cheaper than their sister flagships.

Of course, in the case of the A17, you can pay THOUSANDS more for the highest of high-end Samsung devices and obviously this particular phone doesn't fold, or come with a stylus inserted into its chassis.

However, it doesn't really look particularly cheap, with its modern, square edges and light-catching back panel. It feels light in the hand and the 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display is certainly a decent size. It'd be pretty unusual to find a Samsung device with a bad screen and this one certainly isn't. It's bright, it's colourful and it's protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus - not the toughest Gorilla available but still pretty tough.

The A17 also carries an IP54 rating which means you'll get away with splashing it although perhaps not dunking it.

The camera setup is a bit hotchpotch - a respectable 13MP selfie-cam paired with a triple-sensor primary shooter on the back; 50MP Wide, 5MP Ultra Wide and 2MP Macro. I guess a 5MP Ultra Wide is better than no Ultra Wide and to be honest, I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the pics and vids I've been shooting. Here's a demo...

The camera also performs fairly well in low light... up to a point.

And here's the main rub with this phone; it's weak. It's run by the same Exynos1330 chip found in last year's A16 and with just 4GB of RAM, the actual operation of taking a pic in low light is hit and miss because of the lag between button press and the shutter actually firing. In fact, I found this was the case when taking most kinds of photos.

This is a frustration that followed through to anything that was even remotely resource-heavy. Apps seem to take an age to load, even native apps like Samsung Health.

So this isn't the phone for me - especially given there's no wireless charging and there's not even a built-in screen recorder.

However, for some users, they're not going to care about that stuff. They just want a durable, reliable phone with good battery life that will keep working after the 3G shutdown. The A17 probably isn't the worst option.

My experience with the Fan Edition Galaxy Buds3 was infinitely more pleasurable.

They're a very similar size and shape to the Buds3 Pro, but without the light-up LED strip along the stem. Samsung often changes up the form-factor for its earbuds but I'd suggest there was a lot of positive feedback to this hybrid sealed-fit/external stem design so they've kept it going here.

As I suggested when I reviewed the Pros, the stem means an extra point of contact which not only leads to a more stable, snug fit but a more balanced, comfortable wear as well.

Alas, unlike the Pro version, the Buds3 FE case only charges via USB-C - not wirelessly. That would usually be a dealbreaker for me except these guys sound rather good.

While I'm not convinced these Buds have quite the dynamic range of the Pros, and I'm certain the ANC isn't quite as effective, there's a lot to love about what I'm hearing.

I tested the Buds3 FE using the new lossless audio option on Spotify and it rocked.

"Wish You Were Gay" by Billie Eilish is already a fantastic track but the production values shine through dramatically when listening on the Buds3 FE. The mix is so stripped back, yet has a lot of elements - from acoustic guitar to crowd sound effects. Each piece of this sonic puzzle has been meticulously placed in the recording and now those pieces are precisely re-placed in my ears.

The gentle L.A.B. ballad, "Monica" also starts with a simple acoustic guitar, accompanied with a lonely cabasa to keep the beat. (Okay, it might be one of those egg-shaped shaker things, but in my mind it's a proper cabasa) Again, the baredboned-ness of this mix is transmitted so accurately by the Buds3 FE. Then, as the song builds and soaring lead guitar and crashing drums come to the party, I can still make out the original components with crystal clarity.

You even get 360 Audio for fully immersive surround sound if you're listening to the right content on the right app.

The pinch and swipe controls mimc those on the Buds3 Pro and the battery life is pretty good too. I love these and if I had to choose between the $229 FEs and the $399 Pros, I'd probably save my money.

So I guess you could say there was a winner and a loser here - the cost-saving compromises were too many on the phone but with the Buds3 FE, the features that have been missed haven't been missed nearly so much.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy A17.

Click here for more information on the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE - Yes, I'm a Fan

Sometimes I find myself thinking, "How much phone do I really need?"

Because I review phones, I'm in the privileged position of being able to use most of the latest and greatest pretty much the moment they hit the shelves - sometimes even before. (Humble brag)

But do I actually need a phone with a terabyte of storage?

Probably not.

Am I going to use that pop-out stylus on a daily basis?

Unlikely.

Am I making the most of that folding display or do I just like to casually flip it open and see if anyone notices?

I think we know the real answer. 

So once again, I'm trying out a mid-range handset and I'm thinking, "This would probably do the trick."

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE has fit directly into my daily life, pretty much seamlessly. Like I say, when I'm not actively reviewing a phone, it's a pretty safe bet I'll be rocking on of the best of the best in my pocket as my everyday device.

What I can tell you straight off the bat is the S25 FE has slipped right into that same pocket and I've noticed zero compromises or shortfalls in my regular routine.

Without currently having an S25+ to compare the FE directly with, I think I'd be hard-pressed to spot the difference. Both devices have a 6.7-inch AMOLED display (so larger than the base-model S25). Both feature Armor Aluminium frames and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for durability, although admittedly the S25+ does go one generation stronger with its display glass and the screen is a higher resolution.

However, the S25 FE still sports a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth on-screen response and also boasts a larger vapour chamber than last year's model to keep things running cool - especially when gaming.

Both the FE and S25+ also have the same sized batteries, a generous 4900mAh - which will cruise through even the longest day on a single charge. And yes, the FE charges fast - at up to 45W - and it charges wirelessly too. 

The FE comes in four colours; Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy and White and it's slim and light - just 190 grams.

And here's the kicker; the S25 FE starts at just NZ$1199.00 - $400 cheaper than the least expensive S25+.

To be fair, the S25+ has more RAM, a more powerful processor and the option of 512GB internal storage - but as I keep saying, those are differences I'm just not noticing.

Oh, and just to really pull the rug out, I'm not usually using an S25+, typically its an S24 Ultra I'm pulling out of my pocket - surely one of last year's finest phones.

Honestly, the S25 FE just keeps stacking up - okay, the camera module doesn't quite match that of this year's Ultra but again, it's not much different to what you get with the next model down, the S25+.

The primary shooter is a 50MP Wide sensor, teamed with an 12MP Ultra Wide and an 8MP Telephoto, capable of 3x optical zoom and digital zoom up to 30x.

The selfie cam is a very respectable 12MP lens and there are all the premium video settings you could wish for; 8K UHD recording, slow motion, great stabilisation - it's all there.

The other thing that's all there is Galaxy AI. And Gemini AI. Well, both. I still can't really tell which is which but the important thing is all the clever tools like Circle to Search, the Now Bar, Audio Eraser and Instant Slow-mo can be found on this phone, just like any other late model Samsung flagship.

The best thing is, the latest version of Samsung's operating system, One UI 8.0, integrates all these AI features seamlessly into various apps, settings, options and even the on-screen keyboard. This means when I was discussing when we should walk the dog with the Domestic Manager online yesterday, I was able to send her a picture of him being flown like a kite. (It was very windy and he has large ears) I don't know if it was Gemini, Galaxy AI or a combination of the two. But it was easy as.

Which pretty much sums up my experience using the S25 FE; so easy. No problems. Well, one problem - but it's not my problem.

Is the FE too good? If too many people buy one, are those the same people who might have considered upgrading to an S26 or S26 Ultra when they come along in just a few months time? Is Samsung running the risk of cannibalising its own market?

Perhaps not. As much as we all love these Fan Editions and although they've been regular additions to Samsung's lineup in recent years, there's no guarantee Samsung will release a Galaxy S26 FE around this time next year - they've only been doing FE iterations since the S20 and there wasn't one at all in 2022.

That's the cool thing about it; it really does feel a bit special when an FE release comes along - almost as though there's part of the market who would definitely consider a flagship handset if it was in their budget but usually have to compromise on the latest style, camera capabilities or AI features. This one's definitely for them. And for me, as it turns out.

    

Click here for more information on the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 - A Coming of Age

If ever there was an example of the tech industry presenting us with a product nobody asked for, it's the folding phone.

A flip phone? Sure. That made sense. Having the ability to essentially bundle your phone up to make it half its size was great. Much more pocketable. And you could protect the screen inside. And it made you look a bit like Captain Kirk using his communicator.

But a phone that folded out to be twice as big?

I'm a pretty big sci-fi fan and I can't think of any portrayal of the future where our phones were bigger, not smaller.

And yet...

Because they could, they did. They told us this was the phone that doubles as a tablet and amazingly, some people actually bought them and some of those people even used them that way.

Despite the massive crease in the middle. Despite the terrible battery life. Despite the mediocre (and sometimes even plain bad) cameras. And despite the fact when you folded it up it was like having two phones in your pocket instead of one.

This was what I like to call an Emperor's New Clothes moment; the folding phone was silly but everyone was too afraid to admit it.

Well I'm here to tell you, things have changed. Now the only silly thing about it is the price.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is available in four colours; Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jetblack and Mint. It comes in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options and has an RRP ranging from NZ$3,249.00 to NZ$4,099.00 - although whether anyone will ever end up paying over $4k for a phone is unclear as pre-orders of the 1TB variant are currently being discounted by $300 on the SamsungNZ site and there are some incredible bonus bundles out there too.

Still, a lot of money - as the Galaxy Fold always has been. However, this year, finally, you might almost be getting what you pay for.

Let's start with the size; The Z Fold7 is both bigger and considerably smaller - in all the right ways.

The main display (unfolded) is now a full 8-inches - last year's was only 7.6. Because of that, the cover display has also expanded out to 6.5-inches but more importantly, it has a more familiar aspect ratio, no longer unnaturally tall and skinny in the hand.

The even bigger headline is how slim Samsung has managed to make this thing; just 4.2mm when unfolded. It's lighter too; only 215 grams which means it amazingly now weighs slightly less than its S25 Ultra stablemate - and not much thicker, even when closed.

Despite this incredible new slimness, there's a new feel of durability about the device - not only are the displays protected by some of the latest developments from Corning Gorilla Glass, Samsung has made the Armor Aluminium frame even tougher and has completely redesigned the all-important hinge mechanism, now rebranded as the Armor FlexHinge.

This, in turn, has led to the least-visible crease on a Samsung folding display yet. In fact, the folding technology is now so good, I honestly don't even notice it. If I want a bigger screen, I just open the phone. It seems much more natural than ever before.

Another significant, tangible upgrade is the camera configuration, both inside and out. I've been highly critical of the cameras on Samsung's folding phones from the very beginning. I just couldn't understand why you'd hamstring your most expensive phone with average photo performance. Then, to add insult to injury, they made the camera on the Fold3's main (internal) screen even worse. The under-display sensor was covered up (sort of) by larger pixels, rendering it (sort of) invisible - but at the cost of terrible quality photos and videos.

Thankfully, at last Samsung has seen the error of its ways and reverted back to a decent 10MP punch-hole sensor, just like we're used to on any other handset. Now, if they could just move it to somewhere more practical, like the centre of one of the edges so we can actually look people in the eye when we're on a video chat.

To be honest, I seldom use that internal camera for anything other than unlocking via facial recognition, not when now, finally, the primary camera array outside is so good.

It's only taken seven generations but now we have a 200MP wide camera, a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto module that really stands out - both figuratively and literally. This is a classic illustration of the reality check Samsung has given itself; Yes, you can have one of the thinnest phones ever - but if you want great photos and videos, you'll have to put up with a big camera module. That's just physics. And I'm pretty sure Fold fans will be fine with that compromise.

The 200MP main camera doesn't just mean incredible detail, it also does some cool stuff with light - as demonstrated by this twilight shadow shot...

Meanwhile, the ultra-wide also performs like a flagship camera should...

While the ability to zoom in on these crazy cloud formations above Mauao worked a treat.

As an Android device, Gemini AI is pretty baked in. Sporting the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, the Z Fold7 is more than capable of supporting AI functions like Google Gemini, not to mention all its native Galaxy AI tricks too.

Do I know the difference between Galaxy AI and Gemini AI? Nope. Does it matter? Nope. Do things like multi-screen translation, Circle-to-Search and Object Eraser work better than ever? Of course. So who cares what it's called? Rest assured, there's plenty of NPU power to turn my dog into a 3D cartoon and more than enough graphics ability to play the latest and greatest mobile games on either the cover screen or primary display.

A bit like how I said I no longer really notice the crease, the Galaxy Z Fold7's OneUI operating system has now evolved to a point where the transition from using an app like Outlook on the cover screen to the much more user-friendly wider version inside happens so smoothly and instantaneously, I don't even think about it.

And that's the ultimate test of great tech; when things work so well, you don't notice them.

I was shooting a video yesterday for a forthcoming review of a cooking appliance. I had an expert explaining how to use it and part of that was through the associated app. At which point, quite organically, I simply opened the Z Fold7 to see the recipe suggestions in their full, wide-screen glory. It wasn't until my guest commented on how cool that was I was reminded that yes, indeed, that really is pretty cool.

Which it would have to be - remember, this phone is more expensive than most people's computers. Hell, it's more expensive than a lot of people's cars. In saying that, with the latest and greatest mobile chip, up to 1TB of storage and up to 16GB of RAM, this device could put a lot of other computers to shame.

If you've been an early-adopting Fold fan from the start, it's probably more because you saw the potential of the device rather than being super satisfied with the reality of those first few iterations. Now all of that potential has been realised, so it might be time to upgrade and start living the dream.

    

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7.