Hot new gadgets that get you instant bragging rights.

Sennheiser Memory Mic
The perfect companion to your video blog set-up, this high-quality cordless mic contains the professional know-how of one of the world’s leading mic specialists, so it’s no toy. It has three noise-level settings, from a quiet interview room to a noisy skate-park environment, which filter out the amount of ambient noise as required. In practice, we found that this worked really well. For journalists, it works more like a dictaphone, so you can place it between yourself and the interviewee and be confident that you’re capturing every word.
4 hours’ recording max, rechargeable, R3 100

Fender Monterey
An iconic brand in the history of rock, Fender has chosen to style its speakers like the amplifiers that have powered decades of rockers, from AC/DC to the freshest indie sounds. Instantly recognisable by the front grille covering, it’s finished with great vintage touches such as analogue-looking lights and switches and classic witch-hat knobs. The 120 watt quad-driver system means the sound is raw, but exciting, and definitely one for the hard-core rock fans. 
R5 000

Apple iPhone XR
Apple’s new X-class phone brings flagship features from the XS for less money, but you would do well to ask if corners have been cut or just rounded. The XR brings the design flair of the X series at a price more people will be willing to pay, but it’s still packed with flagship-level tech from the XS, including the ground-breaking Bionic A12 processor. The biggest change is the screen: Here, you get a 6.1-inch LCD screen (which is easier to use one-handed than the 6.5-inch screen of the iPhone XS Max) that is nowhere near as rich and detailed as the XS, but it’s streets ahead of any mid-range phone on the market.
6.1” LCD screen, 7 MP front / 12 MP wide-angle + 12 MP telephoto cameras,64/128 GB storage, IP67, R16 000

GoPro Hero7 Black
Looking to hold on to its lead in the action-camera market, GoPro’s new Hero7 Black brings a host of new features. The focus is on making videos less shaky. The HyperSmooth tech is built-in electronic stabilisation that enables you to ditch the gimbal and still capture judder-free footage. It now works on all video modes, including 4K at 60 frames per second, and it does its job incredibly well, withoutany of the traditional warping or artefacts found on older GoPro cameras.
12 MP photos, 4K video @ 60 fps max, HDR, waterproof to 10 m, GPS, voicecontrol, touchscreen, R7 500

Iconix anti-theft laptop backpacks
These bags follow the trend for anti-theft designs by concealing the zippers so that they can’t be accessed while the pack is on your back. While there are no vulnerable pockets on the outside, there are half a dozen elasticated pockets on the inside for organising your tech and everything else needed for your commute. Your 15” laptop and your tablet are both cushioned against bumps and drops, and there is also generous padding on the back and straps for a supremely comfortable fit. An external USB port on the side of the bag allows you to charge your phone from a power bank stored inside. 
Max 15” laptop, 6 pockets, R350

For more gadgets that would earn you bragging rights, page through your February issue of Tech.