Ben is an independent tech writer covering the latest gadgets - as well as reviewing the occasional film - for the South China Morning Post. Prior to this, he spent five years with the company, first as a culture writer, then as a sub-editor. He's also held staff writing positions with the Village Voice and Sports Illustrated in New York, and has been published in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
Latest from Ben Sin
A breathtaking 100x zoom camera, 120Hz Quad HD resolution, industry-best screen brightness and S-Pen stylus support make the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as refined a smartphone as you can get.
A breathtaking 100x zoom camera, 120Hz Quad HD resolution, industry-best screen brightness and S-Pen stylus support make the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as refined a smartphone as you can get.
We pitch the first over-ear headphones from Apple and Huawei against each other. Can the AirPods Max justify their eye-watering price?
We pitch the first over-ear headphones from Apple and Huawei against each other. Can the AirPods Max justify their eye-watering price?
From Motorola’s retro clamshell Razr 5G to the Samsung Z Fold 2, foldable phones made big strides in 2020. Apple’s iPhone 12 came in more varieties than ever, its ARM chips are a game-changer for mobile computing.
From Motorola’s retro clamshell Razr 5G to the Samsung Z Fold 2, foldable phones made big strides in 2020. Apple’s iPhone 12 came in more varieties than ever, its ARM chips are a game-changer for mobile computing.
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is not just the most versatile model in 28 years of Thinkpads, but perhaps the most versatile portable computer yet. For the first time, it is as useful at home as in the boardroom.
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is not just the most versatile model in 28 years of Thinkpads, but perhaps the most versatile portable computer yet. For the first time, it is as useful at home as in the boardroom.
There’s not much substance, but watching Uhm Jung-hwa and Park Sung-woong trying to foil a plane hijack led by North Korean agents (including Lee Sang-yoon) makes the film one to watch anyway.
There’s not much substance, but watching Uhm Jung-hwa and Park Sung-woong trying to foil a plane hijack led by North Korean agents (including Lee Sang-yoon) makes the film one to watch anyway.
Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro Max adds a new camera system that the company promises will be the brand’s best yet – but is it worth spending more than US$1,000 on?
Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro Max adds a new camera system that the company promises will be the brand’s best yet – but is it worth spending more than US$1,000 on?
A housewife who learns her husband is an alien and hatches a plot to kill him, and narrative strands that are just left hanging – this film doesn’t even try to make sense. It does offer some laughs, thankfully.
A housewife who learns her husband is an alien and hatches a plot to kill him, and narrative strands that are just left hanging – this film doesn’t even try to make sense. It does offer some laughs, thankfully.
Huawei has produced an amazing smartphone despite US sanctions. Its hardware is first class, and includes a camera that beats the iPhone 12’s, but the lack of Google services is a problem.
Huawei has produced an amazing smartphone despite US sanctions. Its hardware is first class, and includes a camera that beats the iPhone 12’s, but the lack of Google services is a problem.
Apple’s latest iPad Air is cheaper than the iPad Pro, but has a more powerful processor. It doesn’t have as many features, but with similar looks and performance, it makes the Pro redundant.
Apple’s latest iPad Air is cheaper than the iPad Pro, but has a more powerful processor. It doesn’t have as many features, but with similar looks and performance, it makes the Pro redundant.
Apple’s first 5G phones all run on the new 5nm technology, they look squarer than the iPhone 11s, and they have unrivalled image processing power. Another handy upgrade are the widgets on the home screen.
Apple’s first 5G phones all run on the new 5nm technology, they look squarer than the iPhone 11s, and they have unrivalled image processing power. Another handy upgrade are the widgets on the home screen.
Suzu Hirose plays the daughter of an eccentric scientist (Shinichi Tsutsumi) who fakes his own death, yet reappears as a ghost in this nonsensical comedy with echoes of Stephen Chow films.
Suzu Hirose plays the daughter of an eccentric scientist (Shinichi Tsutsumi) who fakes his own death, yet reappears as a ghost in this nonsensical comedy with echoes of Stephen Chow films.
Multitaskers will love the LG Wing, a smartphone that deploys a second screen and becomes a T-shaped device, meaning it can multiple apps at the same time. Best of all, it doesn’t force the user into compromises to use both screens.
Multitaskers will love the LG Wing, a smartphone that deploys a second screen and becomes a T-shaped device, meaning it can multiple apps at the same time. Best of all, it doesn’t force the user into compromises to use both screens.
Apple focused on the new Apple Watch Series 6, Watch SE and iPads at its September event instead of the iPhone 12 – one of the 6’s new vaunted features is the ability to track blood-oxygen levels every 15 seconds.
Apple focused on the new Apple Watch Series 6, Watch SE and iPads at its September event instead of the iPhone 12 – one of the 6’s new vaunted features is the ability to track blood-oxygen levels every 15 seconds.
Samsung’s latest folding phone is an all-round upgrade from the first, with a bigger, tougher, faster inside screen, a hinge that lets you use it like a mini laptop, or make hands-free video calls. The folding screen also lets you take hi-res selfies with the main cameras.
Samsung’s latest folding phone is an all-round upgrade from the first, with a bigger, tougher, faster inside screen, a hinge that lets you use it like a mini laptop, or make hands-free video calls. The folding screen also lets you take hi-res selfies with the main cameras.
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has packed some amazing features into its 10th anniversary model, including one of the best zoom lenses, an incredible screen, super fast burst charging, and a unique transparent case option.
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has packed some amazing features into its 10th anniversary model, including one of the best zoom lenses, an incredible screen, super fast burst charging, and a unique transparent case option.
Probably the last Apple computer to run on an Intel chip, the 2020 update of the iMac 27-inch has an amazing 5K resolution display, the webcam is world-leading, and the audio incredible.
Probably the last Apple computer to run on an Intel chip, the 2020 update of the iMac 27-inch has an amazing 5K resolution display, the webcam is world-leading, and the audio incredible.
The OnePlus Nord has the specs of the flagship OnePlus 8 Pro – with a few compromises – but costs half as much. Its main front and back cameras are incredible.
The OnePlus Nord has the specs of the flagship OnePlus 8 Pro – with a few compromises – but costs half as much. Its main front and back cameras are incredible.
Whether your goal is internet privacy or just to get different Netflix content, we break down five popular VPNs and look at their pros, cons, security and transparency, including those that function in China.
Whether your goal is internet privacy or just to get different Netflix content, we break down five popular VPNs and look at their pros, cons, security and transparency, including those that function in China.
The Sony Xperia 1 II has a unique take on photography, with a shutter button on the side, Sony’s best-in-class autofocus system, burst shooting mode, and camera app where everything’s adjustable like on a DSLR camera.
The Sony Xperia 1 II has a unique take on photography, with a shutter button on the side, Sony’s best-in-class autofocus system, burst shooting mode, and camera app where everything’s adjustable like on a DSLR camera.
The biggest selling point of the Vivo X50 Pro is its main camera, which sits on a miniaturised gimbal, or stabiliser, and captures perfectly fluid videos. However, its benefits are only noticeable in extreme conditions.
The biggest selling point of the Vivo X50 Pro is its main camera, which sits on a miniaturised gimbal, or stabiliser, and captures perfectly fluid videos. However, its benefits are only noticeable in extreme conditions.
The latest Apple Watch features include a hand washing detector that tells you if you stop too soon. Also included: a sleep detector and a ‘hearing’ mode that protects your ears from audio that is too loud.
The latest Apple Watch features include a hand washing detector that tells you if you stop too soon. Also included: a sleep detector and a ‘hearing’ mode that protects your ears from audio that is too loud.
Apple’s iOS 14, coming to iPhones this autumn, is a major upgrade – it introduces an App Library and floating video on the home screen, and Siri gets a redesign.
Apple’s iOS 14, coming to iPhones this autumn, is a major upgrade – it introduces an App Library and floating video on the home screen, and Siri gets a redesign.
The top-of-the-range Huawei phone has a world-leading 10x lossless optical zoom lens and the best performing camera system overall, but at US$1,600 it will be out of most consumers’ price range.
The top-of-the-range Huawei phone has a world-leading 10x lossless optical zoom lens and the best performing camera system overall, but at US$1,600 it will be out of most consumers’ price range.
Hong Kong iPhone users rejoice – a new software update brings two major features: Octopus card integration for Apple Wallet, and real-time MTR and bus schedules for Apple Maps.
Hong Kong iPhone users rejoice – a new software update brings two major features: Octopus card integration for Apple Wallet, and real-time MTR and bus schedules for Apple Maps.
The Zhiyun Smooth X, the smallest powered smartphone gimbal on the market, is ideal for shooting selfie videos. It easily tracks a moving object, and can be started with a gesture.
The Zhiyun Smooth X, the smallest powered smartphone gimbal on the market, is ideal for shooting selfie videos. It easily tracks a moving object, and can be started with a gesture.
The newest phones from the Huawei sub-brand look like high-end flagship handsets, but cost much less. With a main camera second to none, the Honor 30 Pro Plus’ only downside is the absence of some Google features.
The newest phones from the Huawei sub-brand look like high-end flagship handsets, but cost much less. With a main camera second to none, the Honor 30 Pro Plus’ only downside is the absence of some Google features.
5G is one of the key tensions in the US/China trade war; it is said to be 100 times faster than 4G, and one conspiracy theory about it is that it causes the coronavirus
5G is one of the key tensions in the US/China trade war; it is said to be 100 times faster than 4G, and one conspiracy theory about it is that it causes the coronavirus
Despite its attractive design, impressively small selfie camera and great battery life, the Meizu 17 Pro’s camera shortcomings leave it lagging behind other smartphones from Huawei, Xiaomi and Samsung.
Despite its attractive design, impressively small selfie camera and great battery life, the Meizu 17 Pro’s camera shortcomings leave it lagging behind other smartphones from Huawei, Xiaomi and Samsung.
The flagship handset from OnePlus is the Chinese brand’s most well-rounded device yet, and its first with wireless charging and IP68 water resistance.
The flagship handset from OnePlus is the Chinese brand’s most well-rounded device yet, and its first with wireless charging and IP68 water resistance.
Scholars Programme coding winners used to be flown to California to attend Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. This year’s event will be virtual, and online contest replaces the programme.
Scholars Programme coding winners used to be flown to California to attend Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. This year’s event will be virtual, and online contest replaces the programme.
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