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Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024WELCOMEPutting together something like Stuff is far from a solo effort. There are many moving parts, some of which spin far enough away from the final product that you're now holding so as to be almost invisible. Except for right now. What you're looking at above is the whole Stuff team, captured in time on one of the rare occasions when everyone was in the same place The fine chap sitting backward on his chair is Stuff's digital editor, Duncan Pike, but everyone is present in the image above. From publisher Toby Shapshak and business manager Sally Hudson to myself and our digital publisher/general wizard Nic Boerma, all the way to our editorial teams (Duncan, Trent Miekle, as well as Tshepo T. and Tshepo C., who handle much of Stuff's…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024FUJIFILM X-T50R26 000 / fujifilm-x.co.zaHas somebody applied a retro filter to that camera?That's actually a very pertinent observation — because as well as outwardly giving off some serious old-school vibes, the X-T50's commitment to recreating the past runs right through it. Fuji's film simulation modes are nothing new — think of them as a more grown-up version of Instagram filters, with names like Sepia. Classic Chrome and Butlin's Holiday '93 (OK, maybe not that last one) — but here there's a dial on top that lets you twist your way through them. There are 20 in total, with eight presets on the dial and space to add three of your favourites.Why not just use Instagram?Because your phone doesn't have a 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor or X-Processor 5 engine, which…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024FIRST PLAY FATAL FURY: CITY OF THE WOLVESThe new entries of the biggest fighting games may have already arrived, but there's always room for an underdog to show its potential or make a comeback. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves comes in the latter category: it's the long-overdue follow-up to a 25-year-old game that never even got an official release over here.That long gap means the old 2D sprite animations are gone, but the new comicbook art style more than compensates, absolutely popping with vibrant colours. It's best exemplifiedby new fighter Preecha, a trendy scientist and pupil of Muay Thai champ Joe Higashi. You've also got series regular Terry Bogard, whose most recent appearance was as a guest in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and who still asks if you're OK before unleashing his Buster Wolf move.When it…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024The alternative: Apple iPad Air (M2)R13 200 / digitalexperience.co.zaWith the further powering up of the iPad Air via Apple's M2 chip, this is now essentially an iPad Pro just without a few extras such as Face ID support. But it also shares a lot with the 10th-gen base-level iPad, including Touch ID. Once again Apple's tablet range makes sense, with a classic ‘good, better, best' arrangement. Much has been made of the Pro's skinniness, but this Air isn't far behind at 6.1mm. Both 11in and 13in versions are heavier, but not by a great deal: the 13in model weighs a mere 38g more than its Pro equivalent In addition to the processor there are two reasons for going for the Air over the standard iPad. Firstly, like the Pro, it's available in a 13in size…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024COMPUTINGAcer Predator Helios Neo 14Hate the gaming aesthetic? Skip the Helios Neo 14. Otherwise, this is a compact powerhouse with a 14.5in 3K display that laughs in the face of demanding games, thanks to a mighty combo of Intel Core Ultra processors and Nvidia RTX 40 Series graphics.Rtba / acer.comDell XPS 14As its name suggests, the Dell XPS 14 strikes a balance between the XPS 13 and XPS 16. It's 21% lighter than its larger sibling, but you're still getting a Core Ultra brain, a choice of hi-res displays, and quad speakers with Dolby Atmos. For an extra R15 000, you're also getting an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU.R54 000/ dellonline.co.zaTCL Nxtpaper 14 ProThe Nxtpaper 14 Pro is a unique tablet that combines the benefits of an LCD with those of…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024WEARABLESOnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue EditionPeople tend not to talk about the original OnePlus Watch. At least, not kindly. But rather than giving up in shame and slinking into the smartwatch shadows, OnePlus defiantly released a sequel – which has met with critical acclaim thanks to much-improved functionality, a beautiful design, and seriously impressive battery life.Enter, then, the Nordic Blue Edition of the Watch 2, which elevates things further with a vibrant blue/white dial and a hybrid leather strap that combines the look of pure moo-moo with the durability of rubber. Sharing the same specs as its non-Nordic brother, it's the perfect wrist upgrade for anyone in search of something a little different… for only R1 000 more than the standard model.R9000/ oneplus.com∙ Dual fuelTwin processors run the show: a…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024HOMEEufy 4G LTE Cam S330Dodgy Wi-Fi? No worries. This security cam has built-in 4G connectivity that automatically selects the strongest network in your area - it's an all-seeing, never-sleeping camera system, bolstered by a hefty 9400 mAh battery and bundled solar panel. The 100-lumen spotlight and 4K resolution - in colour, day and night - aren't too shabby either.R10 000 / eufy.comChipolo One PointEssentially an AirTag for Android (only a bit cheaper because, y'know, it's not Apple), this is a compact Bluetooth tracker that helps you locate your lost items with ease. Its loud alarm and long-lasting battery make it good for keeping track of keys or other valuables using the Find My Device app.R800/ amazon.comAnkerWork S600This all-in-one speaker phone strives to be an indispensable companion for your home office.…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Let the bud times scrollR4 550 / amazon.com Clever cases that save you reaching for your phone to change settings might just be the next wireless earbud battleground. JBL's Live 3 models offer three new takes on the touchscreen charging case idea… and the stem-style Beam variant is probably the pick of the trio. The driver housings aren't dramatically sculpted to match your ear shape, but the silicone tips ensured they stayed in place while we commuted to meetings or went jogging – you get four different sizes in the box. They're an entertaining listen through and through. Analytical or subtle they are not, but clarity is very good across the frequency range, with a thumping sub-bass that avoids getting boomy. It's great to see LDAC Bluetooth on board, but enabling it locks you…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Don't dream it's HooverVACS THE WAY I LIKE IT: WHAT TO LOOK FOR∙ Think about your own living space before you get hung up on features. A home with hard flooring throughout may demand a model with a robust mop feature, but for plush carpets you'll be better off with a high-powered vacuum-only model.∙ If you have a furry friend or two, look for a vacuum with strong suction and brushes designed to cope with hair collection. The best also come with pet (and child) locks.∙ The ability to automate your cleaning routine, and therefore minimise your own involvement, is a real gamechanger – but it only work if the robo-vac you choose is clever enough. Look for features such as object recognition and obstacle detection∙ If you're on a budget, don't settle…11 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Grand heft autoR16 000 / incredible.co.zaTwo USB-C ports make it easy to plug in another device while the Legion Go is charging.∙ DAY 01What's more powerful than the Steam Deck, rocks a larger, higher-res display than the Asus ROG Ally, and sports decidedly Switch-like controllers that can double up as a mouse of sorts for first-person shooters? Lenovo's shouty new gadget sounds like the best of all worlds - but that knowledge didn't prepare us for quite how effing big it is.The Legion Go makes a Steam Deck feel diddy. With its 8.8in display, no PC-based handheld fills the vision quite like this does. However, it makes for a seriously chunky, heavy, and not all that backpack-friendly device. We can already tell it won't be very comfy for long play sessions. It's…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Bohemian DAP buddySome body to lugStainless steel looks chic, but you pay a weight penalty: it's 392g, almost 100g heavier than the blue titanium option. Filler queenThe 64GB of internal storage fills up pretty quickly if your library is mainly hi-res files. The microSD slot can take up to 2TB cards, but needs a smartphone SIM tray tool to access it. Time to swap all those small cards for one large one? The flow must go onThe two USB-C ports aren't for charging at double speed: one handles data transfer while the other is purely for power. With an external supply the M23 becomes a meaty desktop DAC, with up to 1000mW output per channel.R19 000 / cplanaudio.co.za Smartphones might've put the iPod out to pasture, but demand for dedicated DAPs never…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024INSTANT UPGRADES SAMSUNG S24 ULTRAFIRST ADD THESE…ONE PITAKA MAGEZ CASE 4Add magnetic mounting and charging to your S24 Ultra without piling on the bulk by sheathing it in this smart aramid fibre case. Perfect for people who hate phone cases, it's supremely thin, comes in three finishes, and feels solid and grippy. Don't be thrown off by the dollar pricing either: Pitaka ships to South Africa for a pretty nominal sum.$80 (R1 500) / pitaka.comTWO HUAWEI WATCH FIT 3Put off smartwatches by their fearsome pricing and one-day stamina? This little Huawei is a dialled-back delight. It lasts for more than a week, weighs just 26g despite its glass and metal build, and packs GPS, a heart-rate monitor and a crisp, bright, responsive touchscreen. Despite limited app support, it's a winning mix for casual exercisers.R3…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year DoorIt was only a matter of time before this GameCube-only RPG made its way to the Switch. Long considered a cult classic - enough to demand wild prices on the retro market - The Thousand-Year Door swaps Mario's usual platform adventures for turn-based combat and an engaging story.Naturally Princess Peach gets kidnapped again, but rescuing her also involves finding seven Crystal Stars to open that door. Mario is your typical silent protagonist here, but that just means the rest of the cast can poke fun at the trope. Just about every Mushroom Kingdom character has their own unique personality, while the ones that join your party roster also bring special abilities for battle and exploration.Each area you visit is vastly different from the one before. Sure, you'll storm a castle…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024GADGET DOCTORALWAYS ON CALLfacebook.com/stuffsa ∙ @StuffSA stuff@stuff.co.zaMAIL OF THE MONTHQ THIS SECURITY THING IS GETTING OLDSI've been listening to some of the recent podcasts you did about cybersecurity and online fraud. I think more people need to know about the dangers we face in online activity especially senior citizens who don't know about technology. How do you think we could teach them about the dangers and possible scams that are out there? Thank you, JennyA Unfortunately, there isn't really an all-inclusive system or strategy when it comes to protecting yourself online, no matter your age. Your best tool for educating senior citizens on cybersecurity is patience. Once you've got that down, we'd recommend setting up a password manager for them, so they don't have to remember tons of passwords or end…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024SMARTWATCHES, FITNESS TRACKERSTIPS & TRICKS∙ 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 have previously run at least twice.∙ There's a choice of three new bands. We found it hard to get a perfect fit with the Alpine loop; the Trail loop seems more adjustable.∙ Don't be ashamed to whip out the Ultra's Compass app and set a waypoint or two, especially if you're the type to ignore trails or just want some adventure.∙ Don't have a flashlight handy? Yes, you do. The Watch Ultra 2 is housing a flashlight that won't fend off animals bigger than you, but it'll help you…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024CONSOLES / MONITORSPlayStation 5 (Slim)from R12 000 / amazon.co.zaLook, we don't need to tell PS5 owners just how good they have it. The snappy SSD, excellent visuals, 120Hz refresh rate and unbeatable controller are just some of the reasons Sony isn't having trouble keeping these off the shelves. But even Sony's most die-hard fans can't pretend the original model wasn't a repugnant and overly hefty piece of tech welldeserving of a makeover. Sony has finally budged, bringing out a refreshed console that foregoes the disc drive in favour of a lighter, slimmer frame that you can proudly show off to visiting friends. We're not sure why you would but…Stuff saysIt's about time the PS5 shed its mahoosive shell in place for a slimmer, more attractive body that's essential to newcomers in the…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024HOTSTUFFHOT FIVE #1 ACE FOR THE PRIZESonos AceCan you keep a secret? Because Sonos certainly can't. Rumours of an imminent headphones launch have been doing the rounds for years, with various patents, leaks and comments by company bigwigs meaning the arrival of these Bluetooth over-ears is about as surprising as Crufts being won by a dog.That doesn't mean they don't deserve their spot here in the Hot Five, though. Sonos has designed the Ace cans to be as happy at home as they are outside, with the ability to switch seamlessly to them from a Sonos soundbar — handy if you're partial to a late-night John Wick marathon but for some reason the other people in your household find it hard to drop off to the sound of gunfire.Support for…8 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024? WTF IS GOOGLE ASK PHOTOS?Ask Photos what?You know that whole thing about a picture being worth a thousand words isn't meant to be taken literally, right? Pictures can't talk. But you will soon be able to ask your Android phone to show you images that match certain criteria, and it'll use Google's Gemini AI tech to look through your photos and pick out the ones that match. Google Photos has been able to do that for a while, but Ask Photos is much smarter: rather than just seeking out pictures of cats, you can use more specific search terms to make it look for the best pictures of cats taken on a Tuesday.l've got loads of those.Who hasn't? It can also understand the context of photographs, so if you throw your cat a birthday…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Mini memeSTOP MAKING TENSE∙ TownscaperA city-building game without the busy work, Townscaper dumps you in an endless expanse Of water and has you tap the screen to plonk down little islands. Depending on where blocks are positioned, oddball structures and features automatically appear, such as lighthouses, gardens, washing lines and — bizarrely — UFO-like buildings improbably suspended by way of gigantic fans.R87/ Android — R100/iOS∙ I Love Hue TooOstensibly a puzzle game, I Love Hue Too avoids smashing out your brains and instead gives a loving massage to your eyes. Each of its many levels scrambles tiles within a colourful mosaic; your job is to rearrange them into perfect spectrums. If you want more of a challenge, tap ‘replay' and try doing the same level in fewer moves. Either way, this one's a…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024PHOTOGRAPHYInsta360 X4This little fiend has the highest resolution in a 360° action camera yet, thanks to 8K video and 72MP photo smarts. Dual ultrawide sensors capture your surroundings, automatically stitching seamless 360° content together. And with its rugged design and 2.5in Gorilla Glass touchscreen, it's built to survive all sorts — even if you're not.R14 500 / 180by2.co.zaProGrace Kidz Digital Instant Print CameraHere's a fun and affordable way for little 'uns to capture memories instantly while, crucially, leaving your expensive camera kit well alone. With its friendly interface, this colourful cam is ideal for parties, events or everyday larks, via simple point-and-shoot operation.R1100 / amazon.comRode Phone CageA gamechanger for iPhone video shooters, the Rode Phone Cage is a sturdy aluminium frame with a MagSafe mount that provides a secure grip…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024GAMINGBoboVR S3 ProThe Meta Quest 3 is an amazing VR headset majorly let down by a strap that's regarded by many as uncomfortable. Some users have resorted to third-party straps for their comfort fix, and the S3 Pro is one of the newest. It's also one of the most expensive, by quite some margin… but boy, is it worth it.It's a halo-style strap, which means its headband-like design takes the pressure off your eyes' surroundings and evenly distributes it across your forehead and the back of your head. Not only does this offer comfort for hours on end, but it also allows you to use the Quest 3 without the eye padding if you so wish, letting it float in front of your eyes. Oh, and did we mention the…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024KITCHENShelfyNot-so-funfact: many households create more than their fair amount of kitchen waste. The average SA home will waste thousands of rands annually on food that ends up in the bin.. Enter Shelfy - a fridge gadget that promises to extend the life of your food by as much as 12 days, white reducing bacteria and eliminating odours In the process.It's pretty low-maintenance, with a filter that never needs replacing and a battery that should last three weeks between USB-C charges. Those with a penchant for stats can also use the Vitesy Hub app to gobble up insights into fridge usage andfood storage tips,and it's compatible with Google Home and Alexa… although you may find that broccoli won't respond to voice commands.R4 100 / vitesy.com∙ Ew-cumberThis little device promises to reduce…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 20243 OF THE BEST Smoothie makersNinja BlastWhat's the story?Ninja's first cordless blender, the Blast makes 470ml drinks and has a simple, sleek design with USB-C charging. Everything about it has been designed to make life easy: the motor base even fits into a car cup-holder, so you can quite literally blend and go. The sip lid and vessel are dishwasher-safe, although you can also clean them with a 30-second blend cycle using water and a drop of washing-up liquid.Is it any good?We got 15 smoothies per charge from the Blast, which is superb. It only has one speed/ power setting, but that proved more than sufficient as it cut though ice and frozen fruit with no lumps. It is truly leakproof, but it's a shame there isn't an extra on-the-go bottle, so unless you decant…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024SigInt ExpertiseR15 000 / duxbury.co.za Some places just have terrible cellular signal. If you live – or work –in one of them, that can get frustrating. It's super expensive to convince a mobile service provider to build a new tower when you want them to. This… is less so. The Cel-Fi Connect C41 is a cellular signal booster that you can install yourself. With a little trial and error. The setup consists of the Cel-Fi booster, a donor antenna, and the cables you need to connect one to the other. Mostly, you've got to worry about antenna placement. It'll help if you know where your service provider's nearest tower is located and orient the antenna in that direction. The app (see boxes) will help there if you're completely unable to spot…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Chromeward boundR13 000 / acer.comChromebooks are some of the best budget laptops around, but they can also be a little lacking on the hardware front. That's not the case under Google's new Chromebook Plus initiative, which mandates minimum specs including an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 7000-series CPU, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Acer's 515 goes even better, with a Core i5 processor and 256GB SSD, but the asking price remains more than reasonable.Buying a Chromebook Plus instead of a regular one also unlocks a few unique features. The bespoke wallpapers and screensavers that change colour to match the time of day are nothing to get excited about, but the automatic file syncing, which means your most recent documents are always available even when there's no Wi-Fi, is…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024TOBY'S TOP TECH TRAVEL TIPSKINDLE SCRIBEI'm an avowed Kindle fan. I have owned just about every model since it first launched. Although long eclipsed by newer models, I will never give up my original Oasis unit, which is just wonderfully compact. The Scribe is the fantasy model that all Kindle-lovers have dreamed of at some point: A Kindle you can write notes on. And you can. It has a large 10.2-inch screen, uses Amazon's Paperwhite side-lighting technology, and has a 300ppi resolution. This is ideal for reading text. The power button moves to the side, a la smartphones, and the USB-C port is next to it. The included pen magnetically clips, and charges, on the opposite edge. To make notes, you tap an icon on the side of the screen, and you can circle…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Lappy go luckyUPTOWN LAPTOP RANKINGWant to play games? Get a computer with a dedicated graphics card. Conversely, don't buy a gaming laptop on a whim: they typically have much shorter battery life, and are heavier and noisier.If you demand a gaming laptop that's also slim and light, there is a solution: an eGPU. This is a desktop PC graphics card in a box that plugs in via USB-C.Don't believe makers' battery life claims. Apple aside, these companies are usually – how to put this? – a bit optimistic.The ideal weight for a laptop you're going to carry around all day is 1.3kg or less… or, for a 16in whopper, more like 1.6kg.OLED laptop screens used to be the stuff of nerd dreams; now they're everywhere, bringing supreme contrast and colour. And touchscreens?…11 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Senua's Saga: Hellblade IIXSX, PC / senuassaga.comSeven years after developer Ninja Theory shone a light on mental health through a narrative action-adventure set in the Celtic Middle Ages, Pict warrior Senua's attention has turned from rescuing the soul of her lover to hunting down the men who pillaged her land.She's still struggling with psychosis, depicted by voices in her head (referred to as furies) and seeing things that may or may not be connected to reality. But unlike the introspective original Hellblade, here there's a wider world of Norse culture, including a much larger cast.The motion-captured actors all put in a good performance, but the real showcase is Unreal Engine 5's remarkable tech. Facial expressions look eerily close to the real thing and the Icelandic geography feels indistinguishable from photos.The gruelling sword combat…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024HEADPHONESSony WH-1000XM5R9 500 / incredible.co.zaFinally, something's knocked Sony's WH-1000XM4s 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 improvement over their predecessor and represent great value. Any negatives are just minor quibbles really - the simple fact is that these are the best noise-cancellers around by almost every measure. You really won't regret buying them.Stuff saysAn unrivalled combination of great sound, active noise cancellation, and all-day comfortSony WF-1000XM5R7 000 / incredible.co.zaIf you're familiar with Sony's game, then it should come as no surprise that its latest set of buds, the WF-1000XM5 are some of our favourites yet. They take the logical next step forward, improving - however slightly - on their predecessors in all…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Maserati Grecale Folgore GREC'S ON FIRERtba / maserati.comGreat, another SUV…Oh, it's more than just that: this is a 4WD all-electric offering that sits at the premium end of the SUV market. Well, that seven-figure price tag does make many of its high-class rivals look like bargains from the middle aisle at Spar.Looks conservative, though.Maserati might be moving in the direction of an all-electric future, but the Italian brand is anxious not to alienate its core customer base. It already has the electric GranTurismo and there's a convertible EV on the way too. All stick to the classic styling of its earlier petrol-powered cars.And the performance?Well, c'mon, this is a Maserati. The electrified Grecale ('folgore' is Italian for 'lightning') is perky enough considering its 2.5-tonne weight, with 550bhp of grunt. It'll get from 0 to 100km/h…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024STREAMThis month's new streaming highlights include My Fancy Beverly Hills House of the Presumed Hit Boys (but not necessarily all at once)Hit ManScrewball comedy? Love story? Crime thriller? All three at once? Richard Linklater's latest film is a genre-mashing true story. Glen Powell plays a contract killer who falls for his client (Adria Arjona). If mixing work and play sounds dicey, it gets more complicated than that: he's only pretending to be a hitman to entrap criminals.Film / NetflixHouse of the DragonAfter an almost interminable wait, the second season of this fantastic and fantastical Game of Thrones prequel is here. You know the drill by now: there's sure to be lashings of fire, blood and backstabbing as the rival Black and Green factions of big—lizard-riding Targaryens clash for the right…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Wishful thin kingIt can't be said by any stretch that this is an underpowered tablet. Packing a chip that's newer than anything in a Mac, Apple is hoping to boost flagging iPad sales with a device that's both super-slender and super-powered.There's also a new Apple Pencil Pro, and anybody who uses an iPad Pro for any kind of art or design work will definitely benefit from it.We're testing out the 13in model; there's also an 11-incher and both are available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions. Size apart, both Pros have the same spec sheet this time.What is particularly stunning is just how thin this tab is. It was pretty thin anyway, but the new 13in Pro clocks in at 5.1mm. It's the thinnest product Apple has ever made… which you…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024SMARTPHONESThe Boring PhoneIt's 2002. Avril Lavigne deals with complications. Tom Cruise catches criminals with psychic precognition. Four years have passed since Opal Fruits were rebranded to Starburst, and you're still bitter. You whip out your flip phone, bash out a T9 predictive text SMS (complete with homemade ASCII art) and go about your day.This is what the Boring Phone encapsulates: anew flip phone harking back tothose days, it'sthe perfect retro-fuelled companion for anyone seeking to break free from the constant distractions of smartphones and social media. With its monochrome display and limited functions, it strips away all unnecessary features, appsand 3am doomscrolling, leaving only calls, text messages and a basic 0.3MP camera.Free / heineken.comDear clearThe translucent case not only reveals the simplicity of the underlying workings but also packs a…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024SPORTForm Smart Swim 2These AR swimming goggles dish up real-time metrics mid-stroke, letting you check upon everything from your pace and stroke rate to distance and heart rate - and more, thanks to compatibility with both Apple and Garmin wearables. You can even get personalised training drills (but no shark warnings).R6 000 / formswimming.co.zaTag Heuer x Malbon GolfA must-have for those who dream of the green, this special edition of the Connected Calibre E4 pulls off a golfy design with confident ease. It has a sleek titanium case and a black ceramic bezel, while the striking green strap and exclusive watch faces add a playful touch.R40 300/ tagheuer.comGarmin Index BPMCan a blood pressure monitor ever be desirable? This one gets as close as possible thanks to its sleek all-black design,…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024People get ZeddyR53 000 / nikonsa.co.zaThe photography world has been hot for retro-styled snappers for a while, but Nikon has only really dabbled… until now.The Zf takes design inspiration from the firm's '80s-era FM2 film camera, but borrows its image processor and speedy autofocus abilities from the flagship Z9. It's almost the spitting image of the Zfc of 2021, only made slightly bigger in order to accommodate the full-frame sensor.Nikon has majorly stepped up its materials game, though, with a magnesium alloy body and matching dials on the top plate that are oh-so-satisfying to twist. The whole thing is resistant to dust and drips, like most similar-priced rivals; and the leatherette finish comes in a choice of six bold alternative colours in case boring old black won't do: blue, brown, red, orange,…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024As below, so aboveFrom R11 875 / digitalexperience.co.zaAstronomy has long been a niche activity. The barriers to entry – gear, memorising constellations, large amounts of money – have kept out all but serious nerds. Celestron's StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ attempts to make stargazing accessible by giving users (almost) everything they need at a fraction of the price it would normally cost to automate their experience.It does this by supplying the optical tube assembly (OTA), a lovely Synta-made five-inch Newtonian reflector, a mount/ tripod combination, and an app based navigation system. The latter isn't a motorised GPS setup. That'll still cost you close to R20,000 with this same OTA. But it is an elegant solution that, when dialled in, is almost as accurate as Celestron's NexStar navigation computers.The resulting lightweight setup – it weighs…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 20243 OF THE BEST Carry-on casesAntler Stamford 2.0 CabinWhat's the story?Although Antler does the Clifton Cabin in several million coburs, this is the fresher and fancier Stamford 2.0 Cabin. You can get it in blue, black, green or red - and this design comes in other sizes too, if you don't mind having your stuff chucked in the hold.Is it any good?With a TSA-approved combination lock (they're the US aviation security people), you won't have to worry about this case being busted open. The finish isn't as premium as it can look in pictures, but it's clearly hardy and the Hinomoto wheels are divine. There's a really well thought out interior too, with a removable divider and compression straps.Price R5 550 / antler.comKey specs∙ 37L ∙ 54.1×40.2×20cm, 2.8kgStuff saysSupremely practical, with stacks of internal pockets…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Towers of songR25 000 / audioholics.co.za If you took a pair of Q Acoustics' excellent M20 powered speakers and stretched them on a rack for a month, you might end up with the M40. This is a self-contained micro tower system with stacks of power - a convenient two-box setup for stereo streaming from your smartphone, a turntable or a streamer… or even your TV. Everything you need is in the box aside from input cables, so there's an interconnector to link the two speakers, screw-in feet and two foam bungs to dampen the bass ports should you wish. These speakers are available in white, black or natural walnut; the grille is always black and can't be taken off. Q Acoustics has decided to make this product Bluetooth-only for streaming rather than…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024A whole 2 worldR8 000 /| zeekonline.co.za∙ DAY 01As we unbox the Watch 2, it's clear this is a premium smartwatch, with a smart round stainless steel case. The original OnePlus Watch was, frankly, a massive disappointment. But that was three years ago and a lot has changed, not least that OnePlus is producing a lot more high-end devices now. So for the Watch 2, the company went back to the drawing board.As it boots up we can see it's running Google's Wear OS 4. The smartwatch market is full of options with proprietary operating systems but Wear OS is what powers the key rivals to this watch, in the form of the Google Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch6.Using a second, lower-power chip for all the easy background stuff means the watch…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024BETA YOURSELF PRIME VIDEOTHE BASICS Nuke the adsThe big new Prime Video feature for 2024 was ads. ‘Yay.' In terms of annoyance factor, they're about halfway between YouTube and ITV. They're not a thing in South Africa just yet but that doesn't mean that won't change. If ads do turn up, Amazon will likely launch a pricier plan that does away with them. Stash your showsAssuming you're happy to pay up (or put up with ads), use the Home tab to explore what's on offer. If you find something you like, add it to your watchlist from the button on the show/movie's page. Your watchlist is later found under My Stuff on platforms that have that tab, or under your profile. Check the qualityIf you're on your phone, or just somewhere with limited…4 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024Top Spin 2K25Even TopSpin pros can expect to be soundly thrashed on their 2K25 court debut. No matter how long you spend designing your custom character - from their playing style and celebration to the diaphragm grunt they emit when hitting the ball - either Naomi Osaka or Andre Agassi will humble you with the kind of serve that would knock out a horse.The game's career mode charts progress over multiple calendar years, with attributes that need levelling up and fitness levels that must be maintained to stand a chance at Wimbledon, the US Open, Casablanca Stadium, or a handful of other fantastical venues from across the globe. Think FC 24's Ultimate Team and you're not far off the amount of grind involved. It gets rather repetitive… and yet 2K25's underlying gameplay…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024BUDGET LAPTOPSLenovo IdeaPad 1 (i3-1215U)R9 000 / incredible.co.zaThere will always be trade-offs with budget-focused laptops - less memory or a less capable screen to keep the price in check - yet this IdeaPad manages to offer impressive specs (even though it pushes up against the ‘budget laptop' limit rather closely). The 12th-gen Intel Core i3 CPU offers decent entry-level performance, 8GB of RAM means you'll survive opening an extra tab or two, the 15.6in FHD display won't hurt your eyes, and a 512GB SSD provides snappy storage.Stuff saysNothing specific stands out as noteworthy but a good-value package emerges when you assemble the pieces this way.• NOW ADD THISLogitech M220 Silent Wireless MouseLong-term trackpad use is never fun. This wireless critter is silent, so you won't disturb anyone. Not even yourself. R350…3 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024WIRELESS AND SMART SPEAKERSSonos Move 2R13 000 / takealot.comWe were slightly reluctant fans of the first Move but that reluctance eroded with Sonos' improvements to the Move 2. While it is slightly bigger and more expensive than its predecessor, that's to be expected with improved audio performance and double the battery life - up to 24 hours. It somehow still weighs the same so you'll get a workout lugging it around but your fellow listeners will appreciate the effort. As before, this unit is surprisingly rugged and should survive most things you can throw at it. Except lava. Don't throw lava.Stuff saysBeefier audio and a long-lasting battery make this a winner.Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)R1 300 / makro.co.zaThe newest iteration of the popular Echo Dot (with or without clock) promises twice the bass…2 min
Stuff Magazine South Africa|August/September 2024GOOGLE CARDBOARDC ost-of-living crisis or not, are you really going to talk about cardboard tech?Not all of Cardboard was cardboard. The original kit included lenses, magnets, Velcro and a rubber band! And on its debut at the 2014 Google I/O conference, this DIY slot-in-your-own-smartphone headset grabbed all the headlines. This was Google making a play for the future, saying VR didn't need specialised hardware beyond your phone: it could be accessible to everyone, encouraging developers to build a new generation of immersive digital experiences.Like a VR stationery store so you could buy more tape when your headset fell apart?Ah, stop being so cynical. Many Google Cardboard apps transported you into outer space or plunged you into the ocean depths. We recall quite a few rollercoasters and a trippy VR Bohemian Rhapsody…2 min
