June/July 2023

Stuff Magazine South Africa

The world's best-selling gadget magazine

Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Welcome
Welcome to this smartphone special issue of Stuff! Long-time readers will know that once a year we like to get all our phones out on the table and pit them ainst each other in a massive supertest. What’s remarkable this year is just how much you can
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Stuff Magazine South Africa
Making Stuff up Publisher and Editor-in-chief Toby Shapshak toby@stuff.co.za Editor Charles Boffard charles@Stuff.co.za Art Director Susan Gray design@stuff.co.za Digital Publisher Nic Boerma nic@stuff.co.za Digital Editor Brett Venter brett@stuff.co
Stuff Magazine South Africa4 min read
Hotstuff
Hydrogen, helium, methane and neon are just some of the gases that are lighter than air - but if you're looking for a laptop that weighs less than a MacBook Air, there aren't that many options on the periodic table of computers. At just 1kg, the Asus
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Lamborghini Revuelto BABY I NEED YOUR PLUG-IN
Read the many headlines about this car and you might think so. But thanks to the company’s Usual over-the-top Italian styling, and some fearsome performance figures that we’ll come to in a: minute, the Revuelto - successor to the Aventador - seems to
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
News Feed
Having problems with joy stick drift on your Nintendo Switch? GameSir’s colourful T4 Kaleid controller (£35, gamesir.hk) has ‘Hall effect’ sticks and triggers that don’t suffer from the same Issue, so Link won’t start wandering off on his own when yo
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Go Hard Or Go Chrome
Rtba/ acer.com/za Chromebooks used to just be budget laptops that would start wheezing if you asked them to do much more than play a YouTube video, but these days they’re available with just as much muscle as any Windows machine. Acer’s latest Spin 7
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Stream
This dark French drama deals with time, trauma, motherhood Ml the connection between scent and memory. Yes, we’re all moved by the opening of afresh packet of Wotsits, but what if you had a nose so sensitive a whiff of something could send you back t
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
First Play C-smash Vrs
We Know the PlayStation VR2 is an amazing piece of kit, but one games that you can't already problem has been a lack of new play on other, cheaper headsets. So an exclusive naturally has us intrigued – especially when it’s C-Smash VRS, a reimagining
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Happy Days Are Era Gain
The Sonos Era 300 represents exactly what the name suggests — a new Era for Sonos. While the Era 100 is a direct replacement for the tremendous One speaker, the Era 300 drops into anew zone. Sonos claims it doesn’t replace the Five (R15 000), but it
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Stilride 1
THE CHASSIS IS MADE FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF RECYCLED SWEDISH STEEL R310 000 / stilride.com Ouch. That wouldn’t make for a very comfortable commute… but dueto the way it’s made, you’re probably more likely to get paper cuts off the Stilride 1. The chas
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
The alternative: Sonos Era 100
R6 500 / audioholics.co.za How do you replace one of the best wireless speakers out there? One that’s not left the bestseller lists since it was launched over half a decade go? The answer is here. Unlike the Era 300, the 100 is a direct replacement f
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
DROP EVERYTHING & DOWNLOAD
RunwayML Rfree(lAP)/iOS If seeing the Pope in a puffa has inspired you tost art tinkering with Al, Runway’s new vitfeo app is a great place to start. Record or upload a clip and injust over a minute it’ll create a looping five-second video using Whic
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
The Bare Minimum
LOAD-SHEDDING APP Get organised. Check the schedule, charge batteries, plan your day. POWER PACK To charge a phone AND laptop. That’s at least 50W / 20,000mAh. HEADLAMP So you can see where you’re going and keep your hands free. MOBILE WIFI No WiFi U
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Let There Be Light
IN ASSOCIATION WITH GIZZU Decisions, decisions Batteries or solar? p 30 How to go solar And how the market has changed p 31 The bare minimum Or candles and Netfl ix p 30 Next-en batteries We’ve waited a long time. Mostly in the dark p 33 Water sheddi
Stuff Magazine South Africa8 min read
Decisions, Decisions
A Tesla Powerwall 2, would get your household through 12 hours, but if it's not going to be enough just to store electricity - you'd better produce it. Which usually means solar. R225 000 / futurama.co.za Hohm has a simple online tool to determine yo
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Life In The Fast Brain
R21 900 (import) / hihonor.com/uk No offence, Honor, but last year’s Magic4 Pro was a shock to the system. Here was a one-time budget phone brand suddenly competing with the big boys in true flagship territory – and in several respects beating them,
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Gimpy Shelter
from R17 300 (import) / dyson.co.uk Trying to reach a verdict on the Dyson Zone is like trying to catch a falling jelly – you can grasp it, but you won’t catch it. But we need to catch the jelly. Dyson’s recent publicity material has put more emphasi
Stuff Magazine South Africa4 min read
Shiners In Your Hand
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a lot to live up to. Not only did its predecessor pick up where the retired Galaxy Note left off, but it also packed some of the most capable cameras of any Android. What else was Samsung's new hero model to do but continue t
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
ALTERNATIVELY… APPLE iPHONE 14 PRO MAX
If the S23 Ultra is the ultimate Android phone, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is its maxed-out iOS counterpart. From the back it looks almost Identical to the 13 Pro Max, but with those polished metal sides and frosted glass back it looks and feels as premiu
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Now Add Hese
Snap and charge at the same time with this wireless charging camera grip. In addition to giving a secure magnetic hold of your iPhone 14 Pro Max when taking photos or recording video, its 3200mAh battery will add a few extra hours of use, while the s
Stuff Magazine South Africa4 min read
Or Maybe… oneplus 11
If iPhone Pros and Galaxy Ultras are beyond your budget but you still want a seriously specced-out smartphone, the OnePlus 11 is an absolute winner, combining stellar value with top-tier power. It’s available in this smart green but we’d urge you to
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Or Try These
Google yet again proves its algorithms can deliver amazing photos. The Pixel 7 Pro also has the premium build to take on high-end rivals, with swift performance. from R21 000 / connecteddevices.co.za The starting point of Apple's latest iPhone lineup
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Mid-range Marvel honor Magic5 Lite
with styling advice pinched from Honor’s high-end models, you might well mistake the Magic5 Lite for the outgoing Magic4 Pro. Both have curved-edge displays, super-slim bezels and tempered glass rears, each with a sizeable circular module to contain
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Now Add These
The most affordable Fitbit gains a colour screen for its third iteration, while keeping the same comprehensive health and fitness tracking as before. The Inspire 3 is much skinnier than a smartwatch, but has a battery that can last up to 10 days betw
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Or Try These
The step down from the firm's flagship models is marked, but this remains a fine choice for those after rapid charging and a good-sized OLED screen. R10 000 / takealot.com Speedy 80W charging is the GT Neo 3T's main draw, refuelling its 5000mAh batte
Stuff Magazine South Africa4 min read
Alternatively… nothing Phone 1
With its focus on design, you’d be forgiven forthinking the Nothing Phone 1 was all style and no substance, but that would be a mistake. Nothing, whose founder Carl Pei was integral in making OnePlus a household name, has made its debut phone both av
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Budget Banger poco X5 Pro
Xiaomi’s Poco X5 Pro is a great option for anyone out for a low-cost mobile with flagship highlights. An ample 6.67in screen and flat front and back give the X5 Pro an almost iPhone 14 Pro-sized footprint, but it’s slim and light at just 181g. It spo
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Now Add These
With no optical image stabilisation, the X5 Pro's 108MP camera could do with a little help keeping things steady. DJ I’s stylish mobile gimbal (and selfie stick) could be just the ticket, complete with a magnetic clamp, three-axis stabilisation, on-d
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Or Try These
If you like the look of the G82 opposite, the G62 is slightly pared back but still features a 50MP main camera and Moto's trademark clean interface, plus 5G. R4 400 (import) / motorola.co.uk We'd go for the A33 given the choice, but if you're on a bu
Stuff Magazine South Africa4 min read
Alternatively… moto G82
This sub-steal of a phone packs a fast-refreshing OLED screen, a 5000mAh battery and an optically stabilised 50MP triple-cam system — all features you’d expect to find in handsets costing a lot more. Throw in the firm’s trademark clean take on Androi
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Or Try These
While all other makers fold their screens inwards, Huawei's flexible display lives on the outside. Looks great, but you'll still have to manage without Google services. R29 600 / takealot.com Probably the most popular foldable to date, the Z Flip4 ba
Stuff Magazine South Africa5 min read
Fancy Folder oppo Find N2 Flip
Oppo’s Find N2 Flip packs the fastest-charging and highest-capacity battery of any folding phone, and its cover screen is the biggest around. It’s all very promising….and for the most part, the phone lives up to that promise. With its simple styling
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Or Try These
This version of the ROG Phone 6 below switches out MediaTek power for Qualcomm, with 512GB of storage. R22 000 (import) / rog.asus.com A variation on the Black Shark 5 Pro, the F4 GT has a pared-back design, screen and cameras, and a less gamercentri
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Buddy Folly
Magnets stop the buds tumbling out whenever you open the watch, and metal contacts provide wireless charging as soon as they're stowed. They're identical, so no worries about right and left: they'll work it out automatically. Step counting and sleep
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Beta Yourself Sideloading
In the context of mobile, sideloading means installing apps from outside of an app store - like you've been able to do on PCs and Macs fprever. Apple argues this is a security threat. But sideloading allows you to dodge lock-in and install apps and g
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Games To Sideload
With Epic, Apple and Google taking it in turns to whack each other in the face with lawyers, Fortnite vanished from app stores. The game can be streamed using Xbox Cloud Gaming, but Android owners can also head to fortnite.com and install a native ve
Stuff Magazine South Africa9 min read
Tablets Get Ready To Rumble
As with any Amazon kit, you know you've at least got something reliable here. The Fire HD 10 has a walled garden so there are critical omissions for gaming without a lot of fiddling about (we're looking at you, Xbox Cloud Gaming); but it has a bright
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Fool For A Pretty Case
R5 000 / takealot.com There’s a fine line between groundbreaking and gimmicky. JBL is aiming for the former with the Tour Pro 2s: these true wireless in-ears are the first to take smartwatch-style notifications and controls off your wrist and cram th
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
EAR, THERE & EVERYWHERE
Some people might throw a little party for their 60th anniversary. Audio-Technica decided a high-end pair of wireless headphones with a whole stack of technological highlights, plus some extremely shiny and carefully applied wood, would be more appro
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
True Wireless
The fit is way better and the looks are a lot less gawky than before. Wearing Bose in-ears has never been easier, or less embarrassing. These buds are rated IPX4 against moisture of all kinds - so unless you intend to take them into the shower, you c
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Now Add These
As well as being a delightful object in its own right, the iPhone 14 is one of Apple’s bestsounding music players in ages. And it takes the edge off the fact that the Bose buds only support SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs by only offering AAC itself. R1
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Noise-cancelling
The right earcup has touch controls that let you change track, adjust the volume and pause your tunes with a series of taps and swipes. There are also buttons for power, pairing, summoning a voice assistant and adjusting the ANC. They're easily press
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Now Add These
This portable hi-res music player supports every file format and codec you can think of, including LDAC, aptX HD and LHDC Bluetooth. It packs a Snapdragon 660, 14hrs of listening time, and you can install Tidal, Qobuz and Apple Music apps. R13 000 /
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Now Add These
If you’re using your cans in wired mode with a mobile, that’s one thing. But if you’re using them with a hi-fi, you’ll often find the cable just isn’t long enough. QED’s extensions are some of the best you can get. from R300 / takealot.com Tidal’s Hi
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Over-ears
You might think technology would limit the amount of performance you could eke out of a pair of wireless headphones. You might think that value could only be added by using more luxurious materials or a batter standard of finish, or by incorporating
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Instant Upgrades Kindle Scribe
If you have the cash to splash and want something fancier than Amazon’s own Premium Pen, consider the Marker Plus. With a grippier fi nish, a fancier design and a much less budget-feeling eraser, it works great and magnetically affixes to the side of
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Then Get These…
The Kindle mobile app isn’t just for reading books; it helps you speedily set your Scribe up, and can be used to share documents and web pages for offline reading. Rfree / Android, iOS The Scribe can play audiobooks via your Bluetooth headphones. To
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Beta Yourself Image Editing
When editing, be mindful of pixels. The more you have, the better: blow up a small crop and the results will be bad. Also consider resolution and formats. Screens can be forgiving - you can get away with lower quality and rougher edits for social med
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
EDITORS FOR iPAD
The iPad’s big screen and ambitious apps are geared towards advanced multi-layer editing – for which Photoshop is most people’s default choice on desktop. The tablet app is pared back, but still offers a solid toolset. from R167/m The no-compromise n
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Back in 2017, Nioh came damned close to matching _he punishingly difficult but oh-so-satisfying gameplay pioneergd by Dark Souls (and arguably perfected by Elden Ring). So Team Niifa has smartly built on those foundations for follow-up Wo Long, a hea
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Resident Evil 4
Resi 4 is an all-time classic, with creative variety and pacing that puts most modern blockbusters to shame, It still holds up brilliantly… but given Capcom ported it to every conceivable platform, we’ve had no trouble revisiting it over the years. S
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR
This is Supermassive Games'secondrStab at a horror-themed rollercoaster shooting gallery. Its levels take inspiration from the four Dark Pictures Anthology games, from Man of Medan’s ghost ship to The Devil In Me's murder hotel - but you needn’t have
Stuff Magazine South Africa3 min read
Gadget Doctor
ALWAYS ON CALL facebook.com/stuffsa • @StuffSA stuff@stuff.co.za Hey there Stuff team. I am looking for advice around headphones. I work with big live sound setups so I know a lot about audio. I use headphones at loud shows to zone out for a bit. I h
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Stuff TOP TEN OF EVERYTHING
This gadget has leapt straight outta testing and into our rankings. Searing with techy genius, a product that’s set our hearts aflame. A solid gold bargain. Worth owning, regardless of cashflow. Time changes everything, including Stuff Top Ten placin
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Top Tens Smartphones
• You can enable Dark Mode by default to maximise that glorious AMOLED screen. Just head to Settings, Display, and Dark Mode. • Customise your Always-On Display by heading to Settings and then Lock Screen. There are more options than youd expect lurk
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Budget Phones Top Tens
• Go dark - head to Settings, then Display, and then select Dark Mode to save your eyes some trouble. • Easier on the eyes go to Settings, choose Accessibility, then select TalkBack to get audio cues from your phone. • Messed it up? Travel to Setting
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
TOP TENS TABLETS & STREAMERS
From R18 000 / incredible.co.za As we've said before: the sun will burn out and there will probably still be an iPad at the top of this list. 2022's iPad Pro has had a processing boost through its M2 chip. The CPU is now 15% faster than M1, and the G
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
TVs TOP TENS
• Audio is great, but if you’re looking for the best performance, add a soundbar like the one we’ve listed. • Samsung’s Mini-LED QLED screens are brighter thanOLED TVs - better for welllit living rooms with other things going on. Cheaper, too. • Come
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Top Tens laptops
If you can afford it, the 512GB option brings faster flash storage (and more of it, of course). Naturally the M2 Air performs better than the M1 version, but that older model is the value buy From R25 000 / takealot.com With its super-powered new M2
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Smartwatches, Fitness Trackers top Tens
The new Action Button that lets you create quick action shortcuts, like launching straight into a workout or taking a lap split while running or cycling. Use the Race Route feature to pace yourself against any route you’ve previously run at least twi
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Top Tens budget Buys
The neat little screen can display three different kinds of data: current, voltage, and remaining power. Charge it back up to full with a choice of three inputs: USB-C, Lightning, and Micro USB. The 22.5W output might be a little too pap for a laptop
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
TOP TENS DRONES, ACTION CAMS & COMPACTS
R10 000 / capeunionmart.co.za The GoPro Hero 11 Black ain't cheap, but is nevertheless unique and damn good, doing something no other camera can and doing it well. With its unconventional 8:7 output, GoPro also blurs the lines between traditional act
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
VR HEADSETS & VR GAMES TOP TENS
from R13 500 / incredible.co.za Selling your soul is no longer a requirement to own a top-ofthe-range VR headset. Sure, you'll need a PS5 to pair with Sony's PSVR 2, but it's not the PSVR 2's fault. Powering up those two 4K OLED displays with 2000×20
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
System Cameras top Tens
The touch functions can be used to adjust menu options and swipe through the contents of your SD cards. In-body image stabilisation works best in its Active form, which combines sensorshift and digital stabilisation, but that does involve a slight cr
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Top Tens Headphones
R9 500 / incredible.co.za Finally, something's knocked Sony's WFI-1000×M4s off the top spot. The XM5s' new design looks slightly less premium but the noise-cancelling remains absolutely best-in-class, with new smart features too. They're an improveme
Stuff Magazine South Africa1 min read
Top Tens Consoles
from R10 500 / koodoo.co.za Next-gen is finally here and it's looking better than ever. The PlayStation 5 is a behemoth of a console and that size isn't just for show. Games load faster and look better than ever before thanks to the new solid state d
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Games Top Tens
Be warned: your currency of runes will be dropped when you die and lost forever if you die before you recover them. Keep your friends close, but your Flask of Crimson tears closer. You don’t have to do it alone. Call in a friend or summon someone ran
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Wireless And Smart Speakers Top Tens
R13 700 / takealot.com Not the biggest nor most advanced Sonos soundbar, the Beam is still a winning package. Sonos has managed to squeeze some serious tech into a streamlined slab that's small enough to sit beneath screens of pretty much any size. T
Stuff Magazine South Africa2 min read
Apple iMac
Steve Jobs said the'i' in 'iMac' stood for internet, individual, instruct, inform and inspire. And later: "I wish we hadn't started this, ‘i’ thing because now A everyone's at it." Great. Now I'm having flashbacks to when all techy kit had to have a

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