Our top 5 phones and laptops, tested and compared on features, price, and build quality by the experts at tech.
Phones
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
This is the most phone you canget on a tight budget right now.From the unique 120 Hz high refresh AMOLED screen to the 108 MP camera, long battery life and excellent build quality, it’s a clear winner.
R5 000
2. Samsung Galaxy A32
Combining top-performing cameras with extraordinary battery life of over two days makes this the standout performer among the affordable phones. Add in the superb AMOLED screen and solid build quality, and you’ve got a value winner here.
R5 000
3. Nokia X20
The new top-end Nokia brings together a solid set of specs, great cameras and 5G with a strong Nordic design, build quality and ergonomics. It delivers a calmly confident performance that quickly wins you over. Its built to last and quickly feels like a trusted tech companion.
R7 600
4. Oppo A74 5G
There’s not much changed from the excellent A72 that it replaces, but it does just enough to stay on our list, thanks to the 90 Hz high refresh 6.5” screen and the remarkably effective fast-charging abilities.
R7 500
5. Samsung Galaxy A22
This Samsung budget beater includes a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with a 90 Hz high refresh rate, and a quad-camera set-up, which produced superb results whatever we threw at them. Add in Samsung build quality, and you’re winning here.
R4 000
Laptops
1. HP Envy X360 2019
This model ticks all our boxes for a versatile and convertible ultrabook that does not break the bank. We enjoyed the powerful battery-saving AMD CPU and graphics in this revamped model. Stylus included. AMD Ryzen 7, 13.3” screen, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB storage, 1.3 kg.
R22 000
2. Asus Swift 1
This well-built thin and light model weighs just 1.3 kg and has a fanless CPU, which saves your battery but at the cost of some processing power. But it’s a versatile model that will satisfy many kinds of users, and for an excellent price. Celeron CPU, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD.
R7 000
3. Asus TUF Gaming A15
The success of this gaming rig is all about its many possible configurations, all with a sound base of AMD CPUs and Nvidia graphics. The base model starts at R16 000, then add upgrades to suit your budget. AMD Ryzen 7-4800H, Nvidia RTX 2060, 15.6” 144 Hz screen, 16 GB, 1 TB SDD.
R26 000
4. Apple Macbook Air M1
The new MacBook Air comes with Apple’s highly regarded M1 chipset, which brings a huge boost in power and battery life. Although it looks little changed from previous models, the build quality and horsepower means it’ll outlast most competitors.
R17 000
5. Lenovo IdeaPad C340
This well-priced two-in-one won us over with its sturdy yet slimline design, generous 14” screen and low weight. It could have scored even higher with more processing power and RAM. i5 (8th gen), 14” screen, 4 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 1.6 kg.
R12 250
Photography: Courtesy Images
