In the social media space and fitness world at large, Mapule Ndhlovu, better known as Queen Fitnass, is celebrated for her strength, resilience and ability to inspire others – not to mention her dazzling smile and positive aura. As the face of our ‘Reinvention’ issue, she reflects key values to embrace this year: a fresh outlook, a renewed sense of purpose, and a balanced approach to wellness. Rising from humble beginnings in Alexandra, Soweto, to become one of Africa’s most impactful ‘fit-fluencers’ and an Adidas brand ambassador, Mapule’s journey is truly inspiring.  

Journey to Fitness 

Though she was born in Soweto, Mapule moved around quite a bit during her childhood, circling Alex, Tembisa and Brits. An only child on her mom’s side, she was brought up by strong women like her mother, aunt and grandmother. “I come from a very colourful family! Even with their differences, they tried to raise me the best way they could. I went to seven different schools and lived with various family members,” she says.   

Fitness was the last thing on her mind. “I mean, growing up in Alex, health and fitness is not something that one is really exposed to,” Mapule admits. “Running, to me at the time, was an emotional release, and I decided to also join the aerobics class offered by one of the local gyms just to keep myself active.”  

In 2012, Mapule got a life-changing opportunity when she was sponsored to study exercise science at the Institute of Fitness Professionals (IFP). This then led to her studying sports management too. At the same time, Mapule worked as an instructor at Broadacres Virgin Active in Fourways. Not long after gaining this momentum, the fitness fundi set her sights on personal training. “Gym is my happy place… Because I really love what I do, it’s easier for me to make the time for my clients and training because I’m at the gym the whole day,” she says. 

Mapule has gained recognition as one of the first black female personal trainers to work at the Virgin Active Alice Lane Classic gym in Sandton, and Africa’s first Women’s Health Nextfit star (in 2016). She’s also gained international experience, especially with regards to group training (Group RX). 

We live in a society where people tend to want quick fixes and instant gratification; people don’t have patience any more

Work & Wellness 

Mapule has grown over the years, creating a brand that positions her as one of the most influential trainers in women’s fitness in South Africa. She’s worked with the likes of actor Amanda du-Pont, model Neo Kgolane and Touch Central radio host Rorisang Thandekiso. 

If you visit Mapule’s social-media platforms, you’ll be in awe of all the amazing workout tips and motivation she shares with her followers. Her workouts are approachable yet challenging, catering to everyone from beginners to fitness enthusiasts. She’s constantly reminding her audience that fitness is a personal journey – one that should fit into your life, not the other way around. However, she doesn’t see herself as a content creator per se. 

“I genuinely focus on myself and try not to be or act like someone else. It’s easy to compare yourself with others and lose yourself in the name of creating content,” she says. “Authenticity means everything to me. I’ve started channelling my energy towards things that bring me joy, like focusing on becoming a better version of myself.” For this gym guru, it’s all about listening to her body and giving it what it needs, while maintaining a healthy state of mind and sense of self-worth. 

“We live in a society where people tend to want quick fixes and instant gratification; people don’t have patience any more… I sometimes do blame us trainers because we don’t openly share the truth,” she admits. 

“A healthy lifestyle improves one’s overall quality of life. Once people realise that the physical body transformation is just the cherry on top, I believe we will have more people choosing to make the necessary, holistic lifestyle changes.” 

Partnership meets Purpose 

Mapule has quickly become known as the beauty with muscle, who has the voice and presence to advocate for positive change. Collaborating with brands like Totalsports, Deep Heat, Verve Card, Medshield SA, Powerade, Huawei and Red Bull, she’s been in a powerful position to reshape minds and educate a new generation.  

As an Adidas brand ambassador, Mapule doesn’t just wear the title; she lives it. She aligns with the brand’s philosophy of inclusivity, innovation and pushing boundaries, which is evident in her training style and messaging. 

“The most memorable project I’ve consistently worked on is with Adidas, in various campaigns. Being given a platform to inspire people from all walks of life to elevate themselves and their health means everything to me,” she says. “Now, I even get to travel all over the world, sharing my love and passion for fitness.”  

She’s an integral part of the AdiClub, promoting concepts like ‘More than lifts. It’s a lifestyle’, and keeping her fans in the loop about the latest apparel launches. 

So, what’s next for this busy body? “My big goal for 2025 is to become an online fitness coach so I can help people all over the world.”  

An Empowered Body 

For Queen Fitnass, working out and going to gym isn’t about perfection, but about finding balance, strength and self-love. Her approach to health is holistic, emphasising physical, mental and emotional well-being. This balance is what she most wants to share with others, particularly in an era where wellness can often feel inaccessible or commercialised. She encourages women to listen to their bodies, prioritise rest and fuel themselves with intention. “Don’t make drastic changes. Start small and set realistic goals. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Invest in yourself. You can’t pour out of an empty cup,” she reminds us. 

When it comes to fuelling her own body, Mapule states that having a realistic, logical relationship with food has made all the difference. “With my diet, I try to keep it very simple and consistent. When I stopped feeding my emotions and started learning how to fuel my body correctly, my relationship with food became a game changer.” 

Mapule also prioritises downtime to limit her stress levels, which can take a toll on her, mentally and physically. With a vision to launch community fitness events and online wellness workshops, she aims to push the narrative that ‘fitness is for all’. “I want to create spaces where women, especially young girls in communities like Alex, feel seen and inspired to chase their own dreams.”  

As we step into a new year, Queen Fitnass’s message to us all is clear: reinvent yourself, embrace every challenge, and prioritise your well-being. For her, 2025 is about pushing boundaries and rewriting the narrative around fitness and health so that it’s accessible, sustainable and empowering for all.  

When I stopped feeding my emotions and started learning how to fuel my body correctly, my relationship with food became a game changer

Quick Q&A 

• Style Staples: I love my shorts and crop top matching sets. A new favourite is adding track pants, just for vibes. 
• Favourite snack: Plain yoghurt with honey. 
• Happiness is… Choosing to do the things that bring me joy, peace and contentment. 
• Best training hack: Have a dope playlist – the rest will follow. 
• The mantra you live by: The goal is bigger than the obstacle… Don’t compare yourself with others, and always strive to become a better version of yourself. 
• Favourite book: As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. 
• 3 Things you can’t live without: Music, gym and food! 

Keep up with Mapule

Instagram: @queenfitnass
Facebook: Mapule Ndlovu
X: @queenfitnass
TikTok: @queenfitnass1

Words by: Charndré Emma Kippie
Photos: Courtesy Images, Supplied 

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After nearly 15 years on the scene, Minnie Dlamini has solidified her position as a household name in South Africa. Starting out as a presenter for LIVE during her student years at the University of Cape Town, it was clear that she had a knack for keeping audiences engaged and entertained.

She has since then hosted everything from local show SoccerZone to the prestigious South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs). She has also added the job titles actress and executive producer to her CV. Her latest on-screen performance in The Honeymoon (alongside Tumi Morake and Kajal Bagwandeen) was vulnerable and unapologetic – something women across the country resonated with.

But it hasn’t been the easiest journey. From struggling with divorce and online trolls to being a businesswoman and a single mother, Minnie has endured much to get to where she is today. Learning to find balance and inner peace, she’s setting out to make the next chapter of her life the best yet.

Keeping unshakeable faith

It’s been two years since her divorce from Quinton Jones (with whom she has a threeyear-old son, Netha) and she has faced much criticism online. However, she remains positive and shares her truth openly, hoping to support others going through the same transition in their own lives.

“It’s hard” when it comes to negative attention, she says. “Most of the time you realise it’s sad people, hurt people [or] people who are trying to get their 15 seconds of fame. “You deal with it as logically as you possibly can. I always tell people I’m still human. I see them, and it does hurt,” she says. “We need to create a movement of being kinder.”

She says of her marriage, “I felt like I had to reduce myself in so many ways and I wasn’t able to live the best version of myself. I feel like a marriage should never be something that clips your wings but should be something that allows you to grow a second pair.”

“Marriage is not easy. You have to choose each other every day. I would say, write your own rules and choose to be happy,” Minnie advises. “I’m just excited; life has become very exciting. It is difficult going through a divorce; it’s incredibly painful. It is like experiencing a death and no one died, but I am excited about what the future looks like. I am excited about the fact that I have a shot at being happy again. There was a time in my life where I didn’t think that was possible.”

Falling back in love with life

At present, Minnie is embracing being a single mother to Netha. “Being his mom is my favourite thing,” she gushes. “This experience is no joke. It’s even more difficult doing it alone. I think, for me, it’s just shout out to single parents everywhere. I don’t think I’ve ever been more insecure or questioned myself more than I do right now.

 

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A post shared by Minnie Dlamini (@minniedlamini)

But I also feel like God gave him to me for a reason. Sometimes, I’ve just got to trust my gut and raise him in a way that I was raised, because I think my parents did a pretty good job.” Motherhood has given Minnie a “renewed sense of purpose”.

In fact, this experience has made her appreciate her body and health so much more than before. “The older I get, the more I love my body! After having my son and seeing the amazing things my body can do, I have an unimaginable appreciation for it. My body is much more beautiful to me than it has ever been,” she exclaims.

“The reality is things aren’t the same, but this is the youngest my body will ever be! I spent my 20s self-conscious and obsessed with meeting societal standards and expectations of what my body should look like. Looking back I’m like, ‘Girl you were perfect and you missed it!’ So I’ve decided to love my body now more than ever before! Falling in love with me.”

Building her legacy

When it comes to growing her company, Beautiful Day Productions, Minnie is excited about creating cutting-edge content. She founded the business back in 2012 and since then it has soared, bringing on board happy clients such as MultiChoice, Jaguar, Disney and Huawei to name but a few.

“I knew that one day someone was going to get tired of seeing me on-screen, but I want to be at the point to continue to create longevity in this business. I can move away from the camera and go behind the scenes and be a part of creating the content that South African and, hopefully, viewers around the world can watch,” she explains.

“I’ve always wanted to produce, to create movies and television. I believe that there’s a way we can shape society through art, whether it’s through having conversations that are taboo or enlightening a community about what’s really going on in a certain space.”

As Minnie continues on her new journey of self-love and personal success, she keeps an open mind, looking forward to all that life throws her way. This year, she’ll be producing, slaying the fashion game, and hosting big events such as Miss World South Africa (for the second time).

I’m excited to unearthing beauty with a purpose, which is what the Miss World organisation is all about, and seeing our South African girls really take that stage and seeing what they can do with the platform.” So, if you’re looking to be absolutely moved and inspired, you might want to keep a close eye on Minnie Dlamini’s socials.

Keep up with Minnie

Instagram: @minniedlamini
Facebook: Minnie Dlamini
X: @MinnieDlamini
TikTok: MinnieDlamini
Website: beautifuldayproductions.com

Words by: Charndré Emma Kippie

The post Minne Dlamini: Making moves appeared first on TFG Media.

However, the built-in apps for these have evolved over time to feature more accurate data gathering and analysis, and are now on par with the market leaders. Huawei says the GT4 can track more than 100 movement types, including some more exotic activities, from skate-boarding to ballroom dancing and, most recently, padel. GPS tracking has been much improved using new antenna tech. All the popular features from previous Huawei Watch models are still here, including the generous on-board music storage and making and taking calls on the watch using Bluetooth. Text messages, alerts and appointments are seamlessly synched from your phone, with one-tap quick responses available.

It is an undeniably classy package with a subtle octagonal case in stainless steel, and a superb AMOLED screen covered in toughened glass. The crown serves as both a button and a scroll wheel while the function of the second button can be customised. The phone app is easier to navigate than ever, with better aesthetics, and access to thousands of paid and free watch faces. But there is one main reason Huawei wearables have always found favour with the Tech team: battery life. In the Watch series, a dual-processor system allows it to use a low-energy chip for its basic functions, and a more powerful one for your workouts or when you need to use lots of data.

The end result is a very impressive 10 days of battery with mixed usage and occasional workouts. Unfortunately, it is no longer the bargain it once was, and it is not a true smartwatch because you can’t add apps to it, but there is truly little this watch does not do straight out of the box.

Step/heart/sleep/stress metrics, 1.43″ AMOLED display @II 326 PPI, 2 GB storage, BT/NFC, 48 g, R7 000

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You can, for example, buy four Fitbit Inspire 3 trackers for the price of a single Apple Watch. Despite that, it still sports a number of the key features required to accurately track general health.  

Traditionally, many fitness enthusiasts would turn their noses up at more affordable fitness trackers due to their limited feature set compared to pricier wearables, such as running or multi-sport watches.  

However, modern variations offer a lot more than they used to, even more basic fitness bands sport what was once considered as advanced tech, such as optical heart-rate sensors, high-res displays and GPS.  

Even then, a decent fitness tracker isn’t just designed to track activities and tell you how many calories you’ve burned. Consistent use will help you to forge a healthier lifestyle through the enforcing of good habits. They can therefore make a huge difference to your overall health and fitness. 

To help us judge which tracker won each category, we took the health-tracking capabilities, design, lifestyle features, battery life and – of course – value for money. If you’re unsure of which fitness tracker to go for, the easiest place to start is the price.  

It’s way simpler to whittle down your shortlist once you know the budget you will be working with. Here are the best trackers we could find at reasonable prices:  

Galaxy Fit2  

Serving up some basic, though effective health-tracking capabilities, all wrapped up in a compact and sleek design, the Galaxy Fit2 is a simple and easy-to-use tracker. Perfect for anyone looking to measure general fitness activities.  

There might be a lack of onboard GPS, but it does still tout some decent features, such as a vibrant AMOLED display and water resistance up to 50 m. And all for just a grand. Bargain! Price: R1 000  

Xiaomi Band 7  

There are a thousand reasons why this is our favourite budget tracker. But chief among those is the price. It offers a beautiful 1.6-inch full-colour AMOLED screen, with well-sized, colourful icons, and a variety of advanced features including stress metrics and decent waterproofing – for less than R1 000.  

The phone app has also significantly improved; finding your key data is easier than ever, placing it almost on par with the market leaders. Battery life is excellent and lasts for nearly two weeks. Unbeatable value for the health-tracking beginner. Price: R800 

Huawei Watch Fit 2  

There’s plenty to like about Huawei’s Watch Fit 2. The feature-rich tracker sports a smartwatch-like offering, large 1.74-inch AMOLED display, smartphone notifications and onboard GPS.  

Packed into a super-slim silhouette, the device is programmed to six different workout types and can rack dozens more – from mountain hiking to martial arts and skateboarding. The running mode is particularly fully featured, with extra metrics and built-in coaching functions.  

It runs for well over a week on a single charge and boasts functionality in line with more expensive watches despite its relatively low price. A big thumbs-up from us, and great value at the price. R3 300  

Fitbit Inspire 2 

If you’re new to the world of trackers and not a super-confident tech user, then Fitbit is the go-to brand. Its wearable devices and accompanying apps are accessible and easy to use.  

The Inspire 2 tracker is a considerable mid-weight option for those looking to build healthier habits. Expect features such as goal-based exercise modes, advanced sleep tools, and menstrual health and food tracking right on your wrist. R2 000  

Fitbit Inspire 3  

Fitbit has given its entry-level health and fitness tracker a little TLC with a colour screen and extended battery life that lasts up to 10 days. It still does well, of course, and now combines stress-management features with mindfulness guidance and breathing exercises. R2 500 

Fitbit Versa 4  

Fitbit’s best tracker now has built-in GPS, doubles its exercise modes to 40 and is equipped with more than six days of battery life and fast charging. It also has many of the advanced sleep-tracking capabilities of the much more expensive Sense 2, and it’s properly waterproof to 50 metres.  

Despite this, it’s a wonderfully thin and light design and looks stylish for all-day work wear. It has lost some of the smartwatch functionality found on the Versa 3, including music storage and playback controls, and also the ability to add extra apps, but for sophisticated activity tracking with plenty of metrics to pore over, it is one of the most advanced trackers on our list. R5 700 

The post Affordable Smart Watches To Match Your Lifestyle appeared first on TFG Media.

Phones

Xiaomi Mi 11T Pro
This is a phone for serious techies and it comes with a superb 120 Hz refresh OLED screen, a quality 108 MP camera, great speakers and masses of processing power. Fast charging is a nice bonus.
R14 000  

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
The best-value phone below R10 000, this has truly outstanding AMOLED screen with 120 Hz high refresh, and an equally impressive triple camera set-up. It has tough Gorilla Glass on the front and is the only phone at this price with 1P67 waterproofing.
R7 499

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 099

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

Honor X8
Thin and light and easy to handle, it feels built for the long road, and that won us over. Despite its large 6.7-inch high-refresh screen, it was a delight to hold and pocket, but there is no 5G and only average cameras.
R5 000

Laptops

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

Acer 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

Asus Vivobook 15 M513
This mid-priced model has a great balanced build with generous storage, loads of ports and, to top it all, a spectacular 15-inch OLED screen. It also comes with a built-in fingerprint sensor. AMD Ryzen 7, 16 GB RAM, 1.8 kg
R15 000

Apple Macbook Air M1
Apple’s highly regarded M1 chipset brings a huge boost in power and battery life to the new Air. Although it looks little changed from previous models, the build quality and horsepower means it will outlast most competitors. Al CPU, 13″ screen, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage
R19 000

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

Accessories

Gizzu 8800 mAh Mini Dual DC UPS
Reduce loadshedding stress with this simple gadget: a powerbank with a variety of cables to power both your internet point and WiFi router, so your broadband keeps going when the power goes down.
R1000

DeskStand Laptop Riser
Save yourself a lot of neck- and back pain by lifting your laptop screen up to the height of your eyes using this simple but sturdy birchwood deck. It’s designed to let you use your full-sized mouse and keyboard below.
R600

Samsung Smart Monitor M5
Adding WiFi and speakers to a large 27-inch monitor means it can download streaming apps and function as a space saver TV or a hi-fi when you’re not doing computer work.
R5 200  

Anker PowerCore 13000
Not all power banks are equal. This one packs a 13 000 mAh battery into space half the size of competitors, but weighs just 250 g. It also has two 3A outputs for fast charging, which is intelligently optimised for any device.
R650

Astrum USB-C to HDMI
For work-from-home, this simple, affordable gadget solves the problem of losing your laptop’s USB-C port to plug in a monitor. It converts erl to HDMI for your monitor but also provides an extra, full-sized USB-A port and another USB-C port.
R270

Best hi deals

Samsung A32
Available in blue, black or purple
Now R4 499  

Samsung A13
Available in blue or black
Now R2 999

Oppo A16
Available in blue or black
Now R2 699

Hisense U50
Available in green
Now R1299  

Itel Vision 1 Pro
Available in blue or Cosmic Shine
Now R1699

Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM5
The new version of Sony’s acclaimed headphones again delivers superb listening, and lifts its noise-cancelling to another level. They’re heart-stoppingly expensive, but for sheer listening pleasure and cutting-edge innovation, they’re almost impossible to beat.
R10 000

Logitech G335
We especially like the fuss-free nature of these cans that offer no USB or surround-sound effects but just get on with the job of delivering great sound and long-term comfort across games, music and movies.
R1200

Sony WF-0500
A downscaled version of Sony’s much more expensive buds, you give up the noise cancelling and some other high-end features, but these are easy to use, fit snugly and will delight music lovers and audiophiles on a shoestring budget.
R1000

Samsung Galaxy Buds+
Our favourite true wireless buds have been upgraded with more refined soundstage, better quality on voice calls and much-improved battery life while keeping the great shape that made them easy to handle and wear.

R2 800

Xiaomi Mi TW Earbuds Basic 2
These buds were a delight, from the proper rumbling bass ending in a well-balanced sound, to the physical control buttons, which we prefer over touch sensors. For the price, these are truly an unbeatable budget buy.
R300

Tablets

Apple iPad mini 6
The iPad still reigns supreme, offering masses of processing power, a superb screen and build quality that sees it easily outlast most other tablets. This smaller size is more affordable. 8.3″ screen, 293 g.
R10 000

Xiaomi Pad 5
The perfect size for learning, gaming and video bingeing, this near-4K screen also boasts 120 Hz fast refresh, so movies look great and socials scroll smoothly. 11″ screen, 511 g
R8 000

Nokia T20
It’s light, cheap and cheerful with a decent screen and solid build quality you can feel in hand. And Nokia promises years of Android OS updates. 10.4″ screen, 465 g
R4 000

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
For reading documents, newspapers and books, the Kindle has no equal, thanks to the pin-sharp, passive, greyscale screen that doesn’t blast hard blue light at your retinas. 6.8″ screen, 208 g
R5 000

Microsoft Surface Go 2
Designed as a full-strength business tablet, it runs proper Windows and has a USB-C port for plugging in add-ons, which road warriors will appreciate. 10″ screen, 544 g
R10 000

Wireless Speakers

UE Wonderboom 2
This party-starting, go-anywhere speaker has multiple full-range drivers and delivers surprising amounts of bass for its size. It’s a rugged construction and fully waterproof, so it’s ideal for the beach, the park or the poolside, and comes in funky colours.
R1500

Astrum BT220 receiver
This tiny, inexpensive receiver connects with your phone over Bluetooth to pipe your music into your hi-fi and there’s minimal audio distortion using the aptX protocol. Or connect to your TV to listen on your Bluetooth headphones.
R380

Logitech Z407
These look fantastic and deliver wonderfully rich sound for a great price. Ideal for music lovers with limited space, the compact subwoofer delivers some real thump. The wireless dial lets you control your music from 20 m away, and you can Bluetooth your phone into the mix too.
R1500

Bitty Boomer
It’s no boom box, obviously, but this pocketable egg-sized dual-driver speaker is the most convenient way to share your tunes. It comes in loads of funky pop-culture designs and you can use the power button to remote-fire your phone camera.
R375

LG Xboom PL7
For rap and dance music fans this ghetto blaster-style speaker does not disappoint. The 30-watt output gets your party started with remarkably undistorted bass that you can feel as much as hear. Then there’s a RGB light show bling and IPX4 splashproofing too.
R2 000

Fitness

Garmin Venu 2
Our top tracker combines tons of detailed, accurate workout data with useful smartwatch functions in a cool, office-friendly design. We especially like the improved Body Battery function, which helps you balance rest and play.
R7 800

Xiaomi Mi Watch
With a very cool design, large colourful screen, solid tracking data (with GPS) and excellent battery life, this watch is a winner. Consider that it costs half as much as most competitors, and you can see why Xiaomi is now the industry leader in wearables.
R2 300

Huawei Watch GT2e
This update to the excellent GT2 has the same extraordinary two weeks of battery life with full GPS support, but it’s more sport focused with VO2 Max and SP02. It’s also a more streamlined shape, and has 4 GB music storage on-board.
R3 500

Xiaomi Band 6
The sharp and colourful screen is the winning feature here, along with exceptional battery life and decent step, heart- and sleep metrics. At this price, the lack of GPS won’t bother casual gym-goers.
R800

Huawei Band 6
Our favourite budget tracker doesn’t have built-in GPS, but the bright and sharp colour screen is a treat, and you’re getting SP02 and stress metrics in the mix. Great build quality at a fantastic price.
R1700

Prices correct at the time of print

Photography: Courtesy Images

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Sony WF-0500

Sony’s WF-0500 buds take everything we love about their top-tier headphones and streamlines them down to a much more affordable price.

Weighing about 5.4 g each, we found them super comfortable, more so than most other wireless earbuds, and they stayed in our ears even through a solid gym workout.

But the reason they’re our buds of choice is that they’re balanced with a wide soundstage, tons of detail and plenty of energy. While the low end isn’t that assertive, it’s still rich enough to cut through, while the treble sounds clear and crisp so you won’t lose out there. In all of that, the mids don’t get lost at all. Some compromises have to be made of course, so there’s no noise cancelling here, but the sound isolation provided by the secure fit is actually quite good.

A single charge gets you 10 straight hours, and the charging case will then provide an extra 10. These show all the hallmarks of Sony’s much more expensive industry-leading earbuds. Up against other similarly priced headphones, these stand out as some of the best, if not the best.
BT 5.0, 10 hours play time, IPX4, R1000

Whiz Vibe Pure ANC Wireless

These may be our favourite headphones of the year. With surprisingly good acoustic range and highly effective, no-fuss noise cancelling, these well-priced headphones have become our new everyday audio wear. They sound great, of course, but, even more importantly, they’re light and comfortable for all-day use at the office with a battery that just refuses to give up. We like that they can be folded up small and placed in their protective carry bag for travelling in our backpack.
BT 5.0, 20 hours play time, R1200

Winz Do Ergo

The all-aluminium design hinges open into a sturdy base with non-slip feet, and a cradle that raises the laptop screen to the level of your eyes. Add in a full-sized keyboard and mouse and you’ve added hours of pain-free productivity to your work life.
R550

Astrum 8-in-1 Docking Station

Working from home quickly exposed some laptop limitations that might not have been a problem before. Perhaps you needed to plug in a full-size monitor, or web cams, printers and hard drives, but your modern laptop only offered USB-C. This dock is clad in tough aluminium and offers no less than eight port options, including high-speed traditional USB, VGA for very old monitors and HDMI 2.0 for very new ones, and even a LAN and a headphone port for those tiny minimalist laptops.
260 x 60 x 16 mm, 100 g, R1 100

Samsung T7 Shield

One of our favourite products of the year is this superfast and super tough portable drive. It’s part of a new trend to package entire SDD drives, like those found in laptops, as high-capacity flash drives. This one is about the size of half a smartphone, including the tough rubber housing, which makes it waterproof to IP65 and drop-proof from 3 m on to hard surfaces. It moves data on and off the drive at close to 1 GB per second, so very fast indeed, using USB-C.
59 x 88 x 13 mm, 98 g, R2 500 (1 TB)

Logitech Signature M650

There’s a lot of good surprises packed into this mouse. Its Signature branding means you can get the model that is best suited for you: the regular size, or the larger size for bigger man hands, or the left-handed version with button on the opposite side. The smart scroll wheel is notched to advance your reading line by line, but spin it and it freewheels through half a dozen pages at a time. All versions come with Bluetooth for laptops and a wireless USB dongle for desktop Pcs, and the software lets you customise the button functions.
R580

COMPUTING

Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320)

The power button is also a fingerprint sensor for easy one-touch logins.

The traditional XPS 13, which has long been the choice of high productivity mobile workers, and rated for its reliability and svelte A4 page-sized form factor, looks barely indistinguishable from other leading thin-and-light laptops. But, while the all-aluminium body of the new XPS 13 Plus looks beautifully contoured, and feels fantastic and well balanced in hand, it is what is inside that really caught our eye.

Specifically, the keyboard that stretches the maximum width of the deck, running edge to edge, and displaying full-sized keys. Not only are the keys themselves full-sized and well-spaced for comfort, the key travel and tactile feedback proved second to none — just fantastic to use (and we’re very particular about laptop keyboards).

There’s no trackpad. Well, not visible anyway. Instead, the deck is a continuous panel of hardened Gorilla Glass with the middle section acting as a trackpad with sensors beneath the glass.

Below the skin it’s top tech throughout, as you would expect, from the very latest i7 processor (specially power boosted), 16 GB of RAM, Iris Xe graphics and a pristine screen with no surrounding bezel to speak of. It conforms to the stringent Intel EVO specification, which carefully balances power with battery life so you can expect up to 13 hours of normal use. There’s just two USB-C ports and no headphone jack, but there are adapters for this in the box.

The sculpted keycaps are set flush with the surface of the deck and so, together with the invisible trackpad, the whole effect is very pleasing and a little futuristic. It’s a strong buy for the fashion-forward mobile professional.
13.4″ display, i7 (12th gen) CPU, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD storage, 2x USB-C, 15 x 295 x 199 mm, 1.23 kg, R35 000

Honor X8

Even as we unboxed it, we knew we were going to love the X8. At just 177 g, its one of the lightest phones we’ve ever used and delightfully thin and well balanced. It all adds up to a wonderful tactile experience in hand; physically the X8 is just a delight to use.

But that wouldn’t mean much if it didn’t have performance to match. This price band is highly competitive, and it comes across as a very middle-of-the-road performer. It has an adequate Qualcomm 680 processor backed up by the decent Adreno 620 graphics chip, so it’s good for all the smartphone basics and most kinds of games. The large 6.7-inch screen has high 90 Hz refresh for smoother scrolling, and images are sharp and colours vibrant.

Unfortunately, there’s no 5G, which is unusual even at this budget price. And the cameras felt slightly below average, with some excellent photos mixed with some washed-out pictures.

These limitations take nothing away from the fantastic day-to-day experience of using a thin, light and sturdy handset that’s easy to handle, with a quality screen and ample processing power. We especially enjoyed the shimmering rainbow colours from the frosted back cover, too.
6.7″ display @90 Hz, 6 GB RAM, 16 MP front/64 MP + 5 MP wide + 2 MP macro + 2 MP depth cameras, 128 GB storage, 177 g, R5 000

WINX GO Fast 20 000 mAh Power Bank

This beefy powerbank has enough juice to recharge most phones three times over and, with its 15 watt/3A output, it will do it a good bit faster than most wall plug chargers. You can even charge two devices at the same time, and you can use a regular USB or USB-C out to charge. At 350 g, it’s not the lightest, but the soft-touch rubberised finish makes it much easier to handle. The neat LED display shows your remaining charge capacity.
20 000 mAh, 152 x 58 x 25 mm, R600

MOBILE

Xiaomi 12

There’s a 67 W fast charger in the box, and wireless charging is also boosted to 50 W.

It would be easy to dismiss the latest Xiaomi flagship off as just another high-priced phone. Like the Samsung or Apple equivalent there is a more highly specced Pro version above it, and a less powerful version below it, but we think this model is the unsung hero of this series.

It has a superb 6.3-inch AMOLED screen that is one of the first screens ever to display 12-bit colour which, together with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, makes movies and games explode with colour. The display has a variable refresh rate, so at 120 Hz, you’ll get buttery smooth scrolling but at the expense of some battery, or you can turn it down to a standard 60 Hz.

As you’d expect, it has a raft of top tech including the year’s fastest processor in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and an excellent triple camera set-up boasting top low-light and night-time photographic features. The front of the phone is premium Invictus glass while the back is tough Gorilla Glass 5, and the frame is aluminium. One or two corners have been cut here though: There is no waterproofing and no optical zoom, both of which are considered standard on phones in this price band.

So much for the tech spec, but what ended up mattering more to us had nothing to do with the speeds and feeds of the Xiaomi. It’s a couple of crucial millimetres shorter and narrower than other flagship phones, but that makes it a great deal easier to use in one hand, and it’s far easier to slide into pockets and bags. At 180 g, it’s one of the lightest full-featured phones we’ve tested, and that despite using premium materials like glass and metal, not plastic, for the bodywork.

In the end this is our top phone for gifting because it does everything you expect of a top-tier device, but chooses to not play the speeds and feeds game. It doesn’t try to do too much but instead puts some thought into the practical and tactile experience of the user. Turns out that matters to a lot more users than horsepower and features.
6.3″ AMOLED 12-bit display @120 Hz, 8 GB RAM, 32 MP front/50 MP + 13 MP wide + 5 MP macro cameras, 256 GB storage, 153 x 70 x 8 mm, 180 g, R18 000

GAMING

Nintendo Switch OLED

The Switch was a marvel; the Switch OLED is entirely more marvellous. Nintendo’s revised model is an upgrade that acknowledges and embraces the fact that the does-it-all Switch has attracted the same kind of broad audience that flocked to the Wii — and this time, Nintendo has everyone’s back, hard-core, or not.

The 7-inch OLED screen is a joy to behold, bigger and (naturally) brighter than before, and the battery is more than big enough to keep up with the increased demands of self-emissive pixels. The redesigned dock, now with an Ethernet port, gives serious garners the chance to compete online at full speed; the much-improved kickstand makes casual out-and-about gaming a far less tenuous experience. There’s more storage, stronger speakers, and even secretly upgraded joycons that do more to reduce the potential impact of controller drift.

The Switch OLED is an impeccable package, but it’s not just the console that wins here: it’s the games. In an era where other consoles seem to struggle to even get a AAA title to market, let alone manufacture enough hardware for folks to play them, the Switch OLED gets to lean on the finest range of first party games we’ve seen.

All that, and the Switch OLED has everything that made the Switch great in the first place: portability, dockability, flexibility. This is the best console Nintendo has ever made.
R8 500

Turtle Beach Recon 70 Xbox

These lightweight cans are styled, and specially tuned, to get the best out of your Xbox surround sound audio, but they’re extremely versatile and will deliver the goods on PC, mobile phone and even on PlayStation. The flip-up mic is a nice touch. The build quality is adequate — Turtle Beach don’t ship junk — but it’s an all-plastic affair and won’t outlast the premium materials found on more expensive headsets. These do shine brightest on Xbox, and they do support the spatial audio system found on Windows PCs, too.
R800

Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless

Ultralight gaming mouses are bang on-trend right now. Logitech started the trend and still leads the pack for build quality among these featherlight rodents and, at 63 g, the understated wireless G Pro X Superlight is the best of the bunch. To achieve this feat without compromising on durability and tactile feel, you’re forfeiting the RGB tiling, and you’re using the internal rechargeable battery, but that’s how the hard-core roll now.
25 600 dpi sensor, R2 500

HEALTH

Huawei Watch Fit

The Watch Fit 2 is one part fitness tracker, one part smartwatch and one part running watch. It’s more expensive than its predecessor, but it offers a lot more functionality and is feature-packed for what is technically classified as a tracker. It’s got a bigger display than most running watches and supports dozens of sports like a multisport watch.

The Huawei Watch Fit 2 auto recognises half a dozen workout types, and can track dozens more, anything from mountain hiking to martial arts and skateboarding, but the running mode is particularly full-featured, with loads of extra metrics and some coaching functions built in.

The Fit 2 now includes preset quick replies and also Bluetooth calling. Huawei’s TrueSeen 5.0 heart-rate sensor has improved dramatically over time and so has the built-in GPS. Aside from the usual step and sleep tracking, the Watch Fit can measure blood oxygen (Sp02), and also stress and respiration rate.

1.74″ colour screen, step/heart/sleep tracking, GPS, 50 m waterproof, Bluetooth music, 46 x 34 x 11 mm, 26 g, R3 300

Under Armour Iso-Chill Laser shirt and Flow Velociti Wind 2 shoes

UA is emerging as the most tech-forward of the activewear brands. Its latest innovation is a new technique for shaping the fine yarn fibres used to produce its Iso-Chill range of clothing. This flattened yarn more effectively distributes the heat from your body during workouts. It also adds titanium oxide to the fabric which, UA says, absorbs and disperses the sun’s UV rays.
R1200

The Flow Velociti Wind 2 combines the mid- and outer sole into one layer shaving roughly 70 g off the weight of the shoe. Despite this we found them to be more stable, and provide better impact protection, than any previous shoe we’d used for road and, surprisingly, for trail running too. And there’s a Bluetooth chip embedded in the sole, which reports details of your run to UA’s MapMyRun phone app.
R3 500

HOME

EcoFlow River Pro

This battery backup is the most complete solution we have found to defeat loadshedding, and we’ve tried a few. For one thing, it’s properly adapted for inserting South African three-prong wall plugs straight in without adapters. For another, it has a whopping nine different power outputs including AC and DC, USB fast charging, USB-C at 100 W and a ‘cigarette lighter’ 12 V socket for your car accessories.

Its whopping 720 Wh battery will power your fridge, TV, PCs and WiFi routers right through a heavy bout of loadshedding, but you can also add on a second battery unit to double your uptime. The River Pro outputs a total of 600 W but the proprietary X-Boost tech allows you to use unusually high wattage appliances like power tools and vacuum cleaners (but only for short periods), and the X-Stream tech recharges the whole package directly from a wall plug in well under 2 hours (or a while longer if you’re using solar).

Campers and adventurers rejoice, this is also a simple solution for powering camping gear, lights and laptops, and for charging cameras, drones and phones. There’s even a powerful light built in, which can also double as a flashing safety beacon.
720 Wh li-ion battery, 4x USB ports, 2x AC ports, lx 12V car charge port, adapter cables, R14 000 + 160 W solar panel, R7 000 (optional) + extra 720 Wh battery, R8 300 (optional)

How much battery power do you need?

Divide the watt hours [Wh] of your battery by the wattage of your appliance to see how many hours it will run. For example, if your battery is 500 Wh and your PC draws 100 W, then you can power it for 5 hours. As a rough guide, light bulbs draw maximum 10 W each, fridges draw 150 W, TVs draw 110 W and laptops draw 50 W, but devices that generate heat [kettles, toasters] or have moving parts (microwaves, blenders] use a lot more power, usually well over 1 000 W. The River Pro delivers 600 W, but can briefly step up to 1 800 W using its X-Boost tech.

Skyworth SUD9300F 50″

Like most Android devices you can issue basic voice instructions to control the TV and search for content, but this is currently still just a novelty feature, and not as useful as it sounds.

Since its arrival in South Africa four years ago, Skyworth has been upfront about its value proposition, which has been largely around low pricing. At R7 000, this is one of the most affordable 50-inch UHD (4K) TVs in the country.

The panel itself is nothing special. To our eye, colours are slightly washed out, and blacks are not as inky as we would like, but you can manage some of this with a bit of picture tweaking. A screen refresh rate of 60 Hz is standard for this price range, which is adequate for all but a must for frenetic UHD action movies. The SUD9300 supports HDMI 2.0 for plugging in modern console games and other UHD devices, and there is Bluetooth 5.0 for hooking up wireless headphones or speakers.

The Android operating system, now standard on many TVs, is a big advantage because all the apps in the Google TV Playstore are available here. That means that almost every streaming service will work, from Netflix and Disney+ to Apple TV+ and Showmax, but it has Chromecast built in, which allows you to cast easily from your Android phone to the TV.

If you’re a serious movie snob, this is likely not the TV for you. But if you’re taking your first steps into streaming TV and UHD picture quality, and you don’t want to put a huge dent in your wallet, then this entry-level set will score you points with the whole family.

The built-in digital TV tuner (DVB-T2) lets you watch all the new free digital TV channels coming on stream in SA, without the need for a decoder.
50″ UHD/4K display, LAN/WiFi/BT 5.0, HDR10/Dolby Vision, 3xHMDI, 2xUSB, Android 10, R7 000

Photography: COURTESY IMAGES  

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Astell&Kern AK UW100

If the words ‘balanced armature driver’ and ‘32-bit DA’ mean anything to you then you’re probably surprised there’s a picture of true wireless stereo buds with this story. While the UW100s lack the highest possible quality Bluetooth codec, the aptX stream is upscaled through A&K’s proprietary audio circuit amplifier tech before being accurately reproduced by the Knowles Balanced Armature Driver. These buds will also continue to deliver that sound for 24 hours.

Philips OneBlade First Shave

The marketing says that this OneBlade is designed for teenagers to tame the first errant whiskers but those rounded cutter tips, protective plate and razor-burn-reducing micro-glass beads, which differentiates it from the grown-up OneBlade, are great for getting a clean shave in a hurry. The only downside of the extra convenience is a 30-minute runtime (from 45 minutes) of the rechargeable battery, but it’s a small price to pay for not having to concentrate so hard while shaving. 

Ikea Vappeby

No, it isn’t a new vape to replace your hookah pipe, but it will make those frosty evening grooves around the fire pit slap harder. Scandinavian sensibility meets modern tech with this combination lantern and Bluetooth speaker that has one-touch integration with Spotify to serve up just the right music. Water resistance and a long-lasting rechargeable battery means it’s good for camping too.

Huawei Watch GT Runner

With mass participation races back in full swing, you probably need some new running gear. Huawei has tailored its excellent Watch GT to guide runners from training to race day with a built-in scientific running programme (Huawei TruSport) and AI-powered coaching to adapt to your specific needs and advanced GPS technology. Oh, and it weighs less than 40 g and has two weeks between charges.     

Oppo Reno 7 5G

Oppo entered the Mzansi market under the shadow of pandemic restrictions, but quickly showed why it’s a global top three smartphone manufacturer with impressive budget handsets. Reno 7 5G sees the brand’s premium AI camera technologies come to South Africa in a stylish device that ticks all the boxes. On the specifications side you’re getting a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with 90 Hz refresh rate, 256 GB internal storage, 8 GB RAM, a 64 MP main camera flanked by an ultra wide and macro snapper, 32 MP selfie shooter and a powerful Mediatek Dimensity 900 processor. Oppo’s close relationship with Google means the Android updates come fast, which will keep you up to date with the latest software innovations.

Words by Lindsey Schutters
Photography: Courtesy Images; Héctor Martínez on Unsplash

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1. Garmin Venu 2
Our top tracker combines tons of detailed, accurate workout data with useful smartwatch functions in a cool, office-friendly design. We especially like the improved Body Battery function, which helps you balance rest and play.

2. Xiaomi Mi Watch
With a very cool design, large colourful screen, solid tracking data (with GPS) and excellent battery life, this watch is a winner. Consider that it costs half as much as most competitors, and you can see why Xiaomi is now the industry leader in wearables.

3. Huawei Watch GT2e
This update to the excellent GT2 has the same extraordinary two weeks of battery life with full GPS support, but it’s more sport focused with VO2 Max and SP02. It’s also a more streamlined shape, and has 4 GB music storage on-board. 

4. Xiaomi Band 6
The sharp and colourful screen is the winning feature here, along with exceptional battery life and decent step, heart- and sleep metrics. At this price, the lack of GPS won’t bother casual gym-goers. 

5. Huawei Band 6
Our favourite budget tracker doesn’t have built-in GPS but the bright and sharp colour screen is a treat, and you’re getting SP02  and stress metrics in the mix. Great build quality at a fantastic price. 

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1. Huawei Watch 3
We’ve been fans of the Huawei Watch series for some time, but the new Watch 3 changes the game. It still has all the features we enjoyed from the previous models: a big, bright and colourful AMOLED screen, excellent data tracking across dozens of activities (with GPS), accurate heart- and sleep information and an extraordinary two-week battery life. The tough stainless-steel body has a ceramic underside to minimise skin irritation and there is a choice of four straps but, for bragging rights, the Pro model has a lightweight titanium body and a sapphire screen that’s almost as hard as diamond! These features alone make this a great buy, but the Watch 3 promises something new. It runs Huawei’s own HarmonyOS. To understand why we think this is important, see our sidebar about this new operating system.

HarmonyOS, originally planned to run on phones, TVs, PCs and more, is indeed full-featured, but that comes with some issues. Falling somewhere between a tracker and smartwatch, the Watch 3tries to satisfy every kind of user. It’s jam-packed with exotic features, from live mapping your movements to taking air-pressure readings to making calls directly on the watch without your phone. Because the watch can function almost fully as a phone, it can also notify emergency services if it detects you have fallen down, or if you have any other kind of emergency. Aside from LTE cellular, it also offers both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, ideal for downloading or updating apps on the go, and for streaming music. HarmonyOS does its best to surface all these features using a 5 × 5 grid of tiny icons.

This dashboard works well, but every function comes with a complex set of drill-down menus, and that may prove just too onerous for the average user. For example, the audio player offered so many options for getting music that we never quite got everything to work properly. The rotating crown is new and proves somewhat useful for scrolling through menus. Making the transition from an advanced tracker to a smartwatch means Huawei must have apps available for download to the Watch 3, but we found little of interest in the AppGallery. Clearly it will take some time for Huawei to catch up to the likes of Samsung, Garmin and Apple.

The Huawei Health app has been steadily improved over time, with masses of personal data such as stress levels,SPo2 and even skin temperature now easily accessible, with plain English guidance about what it all means. Naturally all your usual workout figures (including GPS tracking) and sleep- and heart-rate data is offered upfront. It’s a handsome package overall, and it’s available with different straps that are easy to swap out. It also now offers wireless charging. The legendary two-week battery life of previous models has now been cut to a few days when all the smart features are active, but that’s still better than most competitors.
Step/heart/sleep/sports, 1.43” AMOLED screen, stainless steel/ceramic body,
GPS, LTE/WiFi/Bluetooth/NFC, 5ATM waterproof, 49 g, R7 300 (Watch 3 Pro
R8 000)

2. Samsung A52s 5G
If you’re looking for a phone with high-end performance but with a mid-range price tag, it would be hard to overlook the Samsung’s A52. Now the Korean electronics giant has expanded on this popular model by quietly upgrading its core chipset to the potent Snapdragon 778G 5G, which delivers more power and better graphics in the new A52s 5G. And there is 5G too, obviously.You’re still getting a large 6.5-inch AMOLED screen, but now operating at a flagship-grade 120 Hz fast refresh, which makes it ideal for gamers and for heavy social scrolling. Although these are very substantial tech upgrades, Samsung have kept the same 4 500 mAh battery to power the new chips and screen, but there doesn’t appear to be much impact on your battery life, which is a bonus. 

The quad-camera set is superb across all the sensors. The 64 MP main camera produces pin-sharp 16 MP images with excellent colour balance, the 12 MP wide angle shows almost no distortion around the borders of your photos, and the 5 MP macro lens captures more than double the detail of a budget phone. Going with Pro Mode allows you to shoot full-resolution 64 MP photos, which is a nice touch. Video hasn’t been neglected either. You can shoot 4K video up to 30 frames per second, and it has optical image stabilisation too. The soft-touch back panel feels classy, very comfortable and secure in hand, and even the camera group is integrated seamlessly into the back cover.

The A52s is waterproof to IP67, just like a flagship phone, and it even has a headphone jack for the cable headphone diehards. What you have here is a mid-range phone with a bunch of high-end features offered at a mid-range price. Of course, it also feels like a Samsung phone through and through, from the polished frame to the curvature of the corners and the almost-gone screen bezels.
5G, 6.5” FHD AMOLED screen @ 120 Hz.
6 GB RAM, 32 MP front/64 MP + 12 MP +2 MP + 2 MP rear cameras, 128 GB
storage, 4 500 mAh battery, 5G, 6.5” FHD AMOLED screen @ 120 Hz.
6 GB RAM, 32 MP front/64 MP + 12 MP +2 MP + 2 MP rear cameras, 128 GB
storage, 4 500 mAh battery, R9 000

3. Garmin vívoactive 4
Although the vívoactive 4 would be classified as a sports watch, it’s also bristling with useful smartwatch features. Garmin watch screens are a point of some contention. Where most sport watches in this price range use colourful and high-contrast OLED screens, Garmin has stayed with its relatively dull and drab screens. There are two reasons for this: the specific screen tech Garmin uses makes it easy to read the watch in direct sunlight, important if you do workouts outside of the gym, and it also extends your battery life. Making the screen more efficient means the battery can be smaller, and the watch lighter. The face is covered with tough Gorilla Glass 3 and Garmin now also includes two different light sensors on the underside: green for all-day heart monitoring, and a new red sensor for Pulse Ox, or the rate at which your body is able to absorb oxygen.

Customisation is key throughout, and you can adapt many aspects of this watch to suit your specific health regime and lifestyle, from something as simple as swapping (and even creating your own) watch faces, to deciding which widgets you want to see and the order in which they should appear. Otherwise, it does all the standard step-, heart- and sleep-tracking, and can measure well over a dozen sport types. Like other watches, it can echo alerts coming from your phone and can display incoming messages with the option to fire off a quick stock response. You can store hundreds of songs and complete playlists on the watch to play back through Bluetooth headphones during your workout.

The only obvious shortcoming of the vívoactive 4 is that it delivers a huge amount of very detailed personal health data into the Garmin IQ app, but fails to help beginners understand the meaning and context for the data. But that’s easily forgivable since the vívoactive 4 is not really wearable for beginners. It’s best suited to those who live an active and outdoor lifestyle, and who enjoy poring over their personal performance data, but stop short of calling themselves athletes.
Step/heart/sleep/workouts, 1.3” screen, stainless steel/polymer, GPS, 5ATM waterproof, music, Pulse Ox, 51 g, R7 000

4. Astrum BT220 Bluetooth receiver
This matchbox-sized gadget neatly solves two living room-sized problems. The BT220 works as both a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver, and does both more effectively than your phone. Not only can it transmit and receive data more efficiently than your phone, but it can also do so over greater distances too, using Bluetooth 5.0. Hook it up to your old-fashioned hi-fi or amplifier using RCA or 3.5 mm aux jack and it will receive music wirelessly from your phone or PC, to be played out through your stereo speakers. It even supports the aptX protocol, which preserves music quality over Bluetooth. Otherwise, connect it to your TV’s audio outputs and it will transmit the TV sound to your Bluetooth headphones. That makes it ideal for late night binge watching without disturbing your household.
Bluetooth 5, aptX, 3.5 mm jack and RCA input/output, mains/battery (5 hours), cables included, R380

5. D-Link DCS-930M portable router
Portable WiFi routers have come to be essential for the mobile worker. Known charmingly as ‘mifi’, these cordless hubs connect to the 4G cellular network usinga SIM card, and then share their connection with any devices connecting over WiFi, from computers to tablets, phones,and basically any device that needs a data connection. The DCS-930M has a 3 000 mAh battery and can connect up to eight devices, so it could service your household during load-shedding, or a small team of remote workers on the move. It supports the latest security WPA2 protocols and has easy one-touch set-up for each device using WiFi Protected Setup (WPS).The plastic casing is extremely light but tough, with indicator lights showing signal strength, battery life and more. The connection speed tops out at 150 mbps for downloading data and 50 mbps for uploading, which is not blazingly fast, but average for 4G around SA. The mifi can be powered using a standard microUSB phone charger, or powered by a laptop or a powerbank and the battery lasts up to 12 hours.
4G, 802.11n/g/b WiFi, 150 mbps up/ 50 mbps down, 103 × 63 × 13.35 mm, 80 g R950 

Photography: Courtesy images, Pexels

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