https://www.scmp.com/rss/325000/feed STYLE's news and views on the luxe gadgets that are smart and stylish. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple’s new second-generation AirTag is basically a slightly better do-over of the original. At US$29 for a single item tracker or US$99 for a four-pack, it also costs the same. Upgraders can expect slightly better wireless range, a louder chime and the ability to pinpoint an item’s location with their Apple Watch: no iPhone necessary. Considering the original was released almost five years ago, some Apple fans and techies might have hoped for more. But after a few days of testing, the updated... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3342306/apples-new-airtag-tracker-louder-better-connected-it-worth-upgrading?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3342306/apples-new-airtag-tracker-louder-better-connected-it-worth-upgrading?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:15:37 +0000 Mark Andrews Mark Andrews The SCMP is embarking on a six-part series of motoring reviews to focus on Chinese electric vehicles that are made for the export market, either in the right-hand drive versions or their original left-hand drive editions. In the third of this six-part series, Mark Andrews puts BYD’s Dolphin electric car through its paces, concluding that what has been ranked the world’s second-safest car is also the ideal city car for zipping around town. Read the first review of Xpeng’s G6, and the second... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3285754/ev-review-byds-fun-and-capable-dolphin-may-be-ideal-city-car-zipping-around?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3285754/ev-review-byds-fun-and-capable-dolphin-may-be-ideal-city-car-zipping-around?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Nov 2024 02:00:11 +0000 Mark Andrews Mark Andrews The South China Morning Post is embarking on a six-part series of motoring reviews to focus on Chinese electric vehicles that are made for the export market, either in the right-hand drive versions or their original left-hand drive editions. In this instalment, Mark Andrews puts Nio’s ET7 through its paces, concluding that the car’s quality materials make it a rival for German marques – for significantly less money. Read the first review, of Xpeng’s G6. Nio believes that it has the best answer... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3284846/ev-review-nios-et7-rivals-germanys-best-some-aspects-lower-price?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3284846/ev-review-nios-et7-rivals-germanys-best-some-aspects-lower-price?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Nov 2024 03:30:13 +0000 Eight months ago Apple introduced a 15-inch screen MacBook Air that became an immediate hit, particularly with the digital nomad and remote work community because of its “happy medium” screen size. The 13-inch model that had been the standard of the Air series since its 2008 debut, while still an option for consumers, felt cramped. Now that M2-powered 15-inch MacBook Air is to give way to an upgraded edition with the latest Apple silicon, the M3. This model is a so-called spec bump in every... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3254920/m3-macbook-air-review-apples-remote-work-icon-made-faster-and-more-efficient-and-most-powerful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3254920/m3-macbook-air-review-apples-remote-work-icon-made-faster-and-more-efficient-and-most-powerful?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Mar 2024 20:15:16 +0000 Huawei launched it in 2019, and Samsung is better known for it worldwide. Yet the periscope zoom lens – an L-shaped camera placed sideways inside a phone’s casing to allow more room for light to travel – is, in fact, an Oppo innovation. The company, headquartered in Dongguan, southern China, first teased the technology with a prototype back in 2017, more than two years before Huawei and Samsung launched phones with periscope zoom cameras. Fast forward to today, and the periscope zoom lens is a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3247947/oppo-find-x7-ultra-review-first-phone-2-periscope-lenses-takes-zoom-photos-leave-iphone-15-pro-max?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3247947/oppo-find-x7-ultra-review-first-phone-2-periscope-lenses-takes-zoom-photos-leave-iphone-15-pro-max?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jan 2024 08:15:11 +0000 Chinese smartphone brand Oppo has launched the third edition of its Find N foldable phone and, like the first two models, it features hardware that outshines devices from market leader Samsung and is arguably best in class. What makes this release noteworthy, and also a bit confusing, is Oppo’s decision to launch the device globally – including in the United States, a market most Chinese phones makers have stayed away from – and under a different name. In China and throughout most of Asia, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3239083/oneplus-open/oppo-find-n3-best-foldable-phone-you-can-buy-outside-china-light-slim-innovative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3239083/oneplus-open/oppo-find-n3-best-foldable-phone-you-can-buy-outside-china-light-slim-innovative?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Oct 2023 10:15:12 +0000 When Apple announced in 2020 that it was ditching Intel in favour of its own chips for laptops, the personal computer industry raised its eyebrows. Then came the M1 MacBook (2022), which proved not only to be as powerful as Intel’s best machines, but much more energy-efficient. That same astonishing combination of raw power and energy efficiency is taken up a notch in the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, which runs Apple’s latest M2 Max chip. I’ve been using the laptop for the past two weeks on business... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3210852/apple-m2-max-macbook-pro-2023-16-inch-review-all-powerful-machine-creatives-who-want-take-their?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3210852/apple-m2-max-macbook-pro-2023-16-inch-review-all-powerful-machine-creatives-who-want-take-their?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Feb 2023 20:15:15 +0000 Once manufacturers figured out a way to bend a display panel, the technology was quickly adopted for use in smartphones. But arguably, a large screen that can effectively be halved in size by folding makes more sense for a laptop. Who doesn’t want a bigger screen while on the go? Lenovo tried this idea two years ago with a product that had a lot of promise but was very rough around the edges; a supposedly improved sequel is set to launch this year, but Taiwanese electronics maker Asus has beaten... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3208152/asus-zenbook-17-fold-oled-review-super-cool-folding-laptop-ideal-digital-nomads-us3500-spare-battery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3208152/asus-zenbook-17-fold-oled-review-super-cool-folding-laptop-ideal-digital-nomads-us3500-spare-battery?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jan 2023 10:15:09 +0000 A top-notch sound system is the essential base of any audiophile’s home decor choices. Today’s luxury speaker systems are works of art in their own right, encasing state-of-the-art technology in striking designs, often with a price point to match. Here are some of the world’s most sought after luxury speakers. Wilson Audio Alexx V Wilson Audio’s reputation has been more than 50 years in the making. Ever since the arrival of the WAMM (Wilson Audio Modular Monitor) – the world’s first commercial... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3207766/4-most-beautifully-designed-speakers-money-can-buy-bang-olufsens-beolab-90-kef-blade-one-meta-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3207766/4-most-beautifully-designed-speakers-money-can-buy-bang-olufsens-beolab-90-kef-blade-one-meta-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jan 2023 00:00:17 +0000 Google’s Pixel smartphones have never been what one might call “bestsellers”. Since the premiere of the first Pixel in 2016, the company has sold a total of just under 28 million devices. Samsung sells about that many every five weeks. Google may be the leader in smartphone operating systems, but when it comes to smartphones themselves, their contribution is a tiny fraction of what is being sold in the business. And yet the popularity of its phones – or lack thereof – belies their quality, with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3196705/pixel-7-and-pixel-7-pro-review-googles-smartest-phones-yet-trump-competition-ai-and-stellar-cameras?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3196705/pixel-7-and-pixel-7-pro-review-googles-smartest-phones-yet-trump-competition-ai-and-stellar-cameras?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Oct 2022 20:15:08 +0000 In the Apple iPad hierarchy, the Pro is the most powerful but it’s also pricey and relatively large. Further down are the Mini and standard iPad, which are more affordable and lightweight, but perhaps too small to get real work done. The iPad Air is the happy medium: the one machine that truly excels at both work and play. The 2022 update should further cement it as the default iPad option for most – as well as almost make one of the Pro models redundant. Hardware and design The iPad Air 2022 is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3170498/apple-ipad-air-2022-review-decent-price-new-colours-while-m1-chip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3170498/apple-ipad-air-2022-review-decent-price-new-colours-while-m1-chip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Mar 2022 13:00:17 +0000 In the first year of the foldable phone era, 2019, there were questions about which form was superior: Samsung’s Galaxy Fold closed inward towards the user like a book, while Huawei and Royole’s foldables – the Mate X and FlexPai – folded outwards away from the user. Xiaomi teased a tri-fold device that stacked itself in thirds like a business letter. It would appear that Samsung’s idea has won, because since then Huawei and Xiaomi have both followed the Galaxy Fold’s form. Now another Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3161225/foldable-phone-face-oppo-find-n-vs-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-we-put?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3161225/foldable-phone-face-oppo-find-n-vs-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-we-put?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Dec 2021 08:15:17 +0000 When Apple announced a year and half ago it would release computers using self-developed silicon based on ARM architecture instead of Intel’s ubiquitous processors, industry insiders didn’t know how to react. It wasn’t that people doubted Apple’s ability to make efficient ARM-based chips – iPhones run perfectly fine on them – it was more the long-held industry consensus that ARM-based chips, which are designed to be energy efficient, can’t quite power a real computer the way Intel’s more complex... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3153555/apple-macbook-pro-review-super-powerful-and-efficient-new-chip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3153555/apple-macbook-pro-review-super-powerful-and-efficient-new-chip?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Oct 2021 13:00:10 +0000 In recent years, Motorola has been a clear winner in terms of the price-performance ratio of its smartphones. Its new mid-range Edge 20 models fall into three price categories. The top-end model is even impressive enough to tempt Samsung fans. Motorola has also managed in the past to bring technological innovations such as 5G mobile communications to the market for less money than Samsung, Huawei or Apple. Design and hardware If you like large displays, you’ll love all three models. At 6.7... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3149114/motorola-edge-20-smartphones-review-144hz-refresh-rate-5x-zoom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3149114/motorola-edge-20-smartphones-review-144hz-refresh-rate-5x-zoom?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Sep 2021 03:15:14 +0000 In just six years, Devialet has literally come from nowhere to become one of the most coveted hi-fi speaker marquees in the market, going head-to-head with Bang & Olufsen with its crisp sounds and revolutionary design. Fans of its products include A-list music artists like power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Will.i.am, and business mogul Elon Musk. So the news that the French brand was finally releasing its first earbuds gave rise to much anticipation. Interestingly enough, the Devialet Gemini made... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3147330/devialet-gemini-earbuds-are-finally-here-after-delays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3147330/devialet-gemini-earbuds-are-finally-here-after-delays?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Sep 2021 02:00:30 +0000 Samsung’s first-generation foldable devices – the Galaxy Fold in 2019 and Galaxy Z Flip in 2020 – were groundbreaking, bleeding-edge devices. Like most consumer technology released to test the market, they were also a bit rough around the edges. The Galaxy Fold’s successor in 2020 brought a significantly improved product that fixed most of the original’s flaws. Now, with what it is calling its “third generation” of foldable devices, the newly unveiled Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 (there was no... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3144674/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-and-flip-3-foldable-phones-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3144674/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-3-and-flip-3-foldable-phones-first?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Aug 2021 15:00:15 +0000 If you are heading to the beach or the pool to stay cool in the blistering heat, we’ve rounded up some gadgets you can take along for your summer outings. 1. Sonos Roam The Sonos Roam is a portable smart speaker that pairs the sound and user experience of Sonos with a lightweight ergonomic design. Support for both Wi-fi and Bluetooth means it is equally at home with the rest of your multiroom Sonos set-up or tied to your backpack as you head out. For the latter, the Roam is not only waterproof... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3143666/seven-gadgets-beach-or-pool-summer-smartwatch-portable-air?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3143666/seven-gadgets-beach-or-pool-summer-smartwatch-portable-air?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 09:45:17 +0000 There’s no better word to describe Sony smartphones than “niche”. The Japanese tech giant sells so few mobile devices that they don’t even crack the top eight phone brands by market share globally, and even in its native Japan, Sony is a very distant second place behind Apple, according to Statcounter Global Stats. But things could be changing. Sony’s mobile division made strides in 2020 by turning a profit for the first time in years, and its newest flagship phone, the Xperia 1 III, set sales... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3137236/sony-xperia-1-iii-review-4k-120hz-oled-screen-camera-shutter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3137236/sony-xperia-1-iii-review-4k-120hz-oled-screen-camera-shutter?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jun 2021 02:15:00 +0000 Steve Jobs once famously split Apple’s computing categories into four quadrants: desktop and portable machines, with each split into “Pro” or “Consumer” segments. While Apple’s products like the iPad and MacBook Air have increasingly blurred those lines in recent years, the company’s standard iMac series (with no “Pro” moniker attached) has always sat cleanly in the consumer desktop box, aimed squarely at casual users. This new model, despite a sleeker design, new coat of paint and that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3136301/apple-imac-2021-review-m1-chip-super-fast-115mm-width-impressive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3136301/apple-imac-2021-review-m1-chip-super-fast-115mm-width-impressive?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jun 2021 10:15:16 +0000 Apple’s iPads have dominated the tablet market for years – in 2020, Apple sold 161.1 million iPads compared to second- placed Samsung’s 31.3 million – and the 2021 edition of the iPad Pro, especially the larger 12.9-inch model, is looking to stretch that lead thanks to two huge hardware improvements. Design and hardware From the outside, the 2021 iPad Pros look identical to the 2018 and 2020 models. There are still two sizes (11 and 12.9 inches), and they feature the same slim, bezelled edges... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3133864/apple-2021-ipad-pro-review-game-changing-tablet-unbelievable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3133864/apple-2021-ipad-pro-review-game-changing-tablet-unbelievable?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 May 2021 13:00:16 +0000 I have to confess that the new Apple AirTag has managed to surprise even me. When rumours were flying about an “airtag” in the making, many (me included) immediately assumed that its main use was for tracking your luggage. On further thought, it didn’t seem to be very practical, especially if you were in one country and your luggage was in another. Review | B&O Beoplay HX vs Apple Airpods Max – which came out on top? Fast forward to this week when Apple dropped off the AirTag for review and the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3131549/apple-airtag-do-you-really-need-them-cute-wireless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3131549/apple-airtag-do-you-really-need-them-cute-wireless?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:00:24 +0000 When Apple first released the Airpods Max last December, it was a little hard to compare them to similar headphones. Marketed in Hong Kong at a recommended retail price of HK$4,598 (US$592), Apple’s offering was placed in a limbo between more popular headsets such as the Sony WH-1000XM4 – which cost about HK$2,500 (US$322) – and higher-end options such as the Beoplay H95, which rings in around HK$7,000 (US$900). So now, with the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX – or H10 as it is read – retailing at... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3131384/bang-olufsens-beoplay-hx-vs-apples-airpods-max-we-tried?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3131384/bang-olufsens-beoplay-hx-vs-apples-airpods-max-we-tried?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Apr 2021 05:06:49 +0000 Here’s the disclaimer: I’m an iPhone and iOS person and have been for many years. Having said that, I usually keep a second phone which is more often than not an Android, because the flagship Androids tend to have slightly better cameras in my experience. But so far, the overall Android experience has never been strong enough for me to turn my back on Apple altogether. Having spent two weeks with Samsung’s newest flagship, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, my opinion on the camera still stands. Samsung... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3122912/samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra-better-apples-iphone-12-pro?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3122912/samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra-better-apples-iphone-12-pro?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Feb 2021 06:33:05 +0000 Video games often deliver futuristic outlooks, with adventures such as Halo and The Last of Us. But game hardware company Razer has an imaginative vision of how you might play games in the near future: the Project Brooklyn concept gaming chair. Built of carbon fibre, the gaming chair, unveiled at this year’s CES trade show, has a 60-inch flexible OLED panoramic display that rolls out and retracts, surrounding your field of vision. And you will feel the game, too, with tactile feedback built into... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3117907/ces-2021-razer-reveals-smart-mask-and-video-gaming-chair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3117907/ces-2021-razer-reveals-smart-mask-and-video-gaming-chair?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Jan 2021 10:45:15 +0000 It’s not just the CES trade show that has tech fans buzzing this month. Samsung finally revealed its latest Galaxy smartphones. On January 14, the electronics giant announced the Galaxy S21, along with the Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra. Pricing starts at US$799.99, and all models arrive January 29. Samsung’s Galaxy has positioned itself as one of the most popular Android phones available on the market, rising to become a notable rival to Apple’s iPhones. So how does the latest Galaxy compare to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3117990/samsungs-galaxy-s21-vs-apples-iphone-12-how-2021s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3117990/samsungs-galaxy-s21-vs-apples-iphone-12-how-2021s?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Jan 2021 01:33:37 +0000 Following a somewhat below-par showing last year, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S series – the most mainstream Android phone series in the world, according to global sales figures – returns with a new eye-catching design, new Qualcomm 5nm chip, a much improved zoom camera, and a trick borrowed from its sibling, the Note series. We spent some time with the new S21 series – mostly the top dog S21 Ultra – ahead of Samsung’s official launch. Here are the early impressions. Design and hardware Having an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3117703/samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra-first-look-stunning-100x-zoom-camera?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3117703/samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra-first-look-stunning-100x-zoom-camera?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:00:08 +0000 The smartphone world isn’t just Apple, Samsung and Huawei. OnePlus has long been regarded as an insider tip, and the Chinese manufacturer has entered the top five in European markets. The company promises top technology at a fair price. Modern and well styled, with an extremely thin screen and a high-quality aluminium frame, the OnePlus 8T is one of these. Its main camera now protrudes as a rectangle at the top left on the rear of the phone – as with most other current smartphones; previously... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3116724/oneplus-8t-review-120hz-display-fast-charging-camera-struggles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3116724/oneplus-8t-review-120hz-display-fast-charging-camera-struggles?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Jan 2021 06:15:15 +0000 The AirPods Max, Apple’s first over-ear headphones, have been the talk of the consumer tech space over the past few weeks for both their eye-watering price tag and because they are actually an excellent product. But they aren’t without competition. Huawei, too, released its first pair, the FreeBuds Studio, in November. Which one is better? We put them to the test. Design Looks are usually subjective, but in this specific comparison we can say objectively that Apple’s AirPods Max have a unique,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3116368/apple-airpods-max-vs-huawei-freebuds-studio-which-headphones-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3116368/apple-airpods-max-vs-huawei-freebuds-studio-which-headphones-are?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Jan 2021 12:15:07 +0000 Rumours about Apple’s new over-ear headphones had been around for some time. But, even then, the sudden release of the new Airpods Max in mid-December took diehard fans by surprise and left many scrambling to get their orders in despite the hefty US$549 price tag. Interestingly enough, that price tag – and I promise we won’t dwell on that for much longer – has placed the AirPods Max into a segment of no man’s land. They’re not really high fidelity enough to be in the company of the audiophile... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3116313/apple-airpods-max-review-great-battery-life-and-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3116313/apple-airpods-max-review-great-battery-life-and-best?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Jan 2021 05:11:11 +0000 Since their debut in 1992, ThinkPad portable computers – sold by IBM until it was acquired by Lenovo in 2005 – have been marketed more for business use in the boardroom than for casual or entertainment use at home or coffee shops. But the latest ThinkPad, the X1 Fold, is as much a machine for play as it is for work. It’s not just the most versatile ThinkPad in history, but perhaps the most versatile portable computer yet. Design and hardware The X1 Fold is essentially a 13.3-inch tablet with a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3114899/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-fold-review-most-versatile-portable-computer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3114899/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-fold-review-most-versatile-portable-computer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Dec 2020 02:45:05 +0000 If technology is baffling and you need help in choosing the perfect Christmas gift. We’ve got you covered. Tech reporters from the South China Morning Post have spent all year “playing” with some of the latest, greatest gadgets and gizmos.  Here are their favorites (all prices are for reference only): This Macbook Air has hit a winning nerve with our staunchest PC-loving editor. I have only ever owned two Apple products – a MacBook Pro and iPad Pro – until the new M1 Macbooks were announced.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/last-minute-christmas-gift-guide-tech-lovers/article/3114958?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/last-minute-christmas-gift-guide-tech-lovers/article/3114958?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Dec 2020 11:02:42 +0000 Louis Vuitton was the latest luxury lifestyle brand to jump into the fashion x tech fray with their Horizons earbuds, developed in collaboration with high-end audio experts Master & Dynamic in 2019. Better than Apple’s AirPods? 3 new gadgets for awesome audio Now the French fashion house has released a new neon green version of their 2020 Horizon 2.0 wireless earbuds. It puts them in a completely different league than Apple’s AirPods Pro and costs a cool US$1,180 (HK$9,200) a pair. You know... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3113443/what-do-louis-vuitton-horizon-20-earbuds-have-over-apples?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3113443/what-do-louis-vuitton-horizon-20-earbuds-have-over-apples?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Dec 2020 22:00:08 +0000 What: Magico M9 flagship loudspeaker How much: US$750,000 per pair Why: Everyone has their own idea about what makes great sound quality. Depending on who you ask, it could hinge on a number of things, like how big your space is, what genre of music you’re playing, or – for the serious audiophile – more particular markers such as whether the output is “warm”, “bright” or “neutral”. Perhaps like all art, it’s subjective. But, at US$750,000 a pair, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3109767/want-feel-beyonces-serenading-you-live-us700000-magico-m9?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3109767/want-feel-beyonces-serenading-you-live-us700000-magico-m9?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Nov 2020 04:00:15 +0000 The Apple HomePod mini is marketed as having Chinese language recognition ability that sets it apart from other smart speakers. The device is said to be able to support Mandarin and Cantonese dialects. So we put the HomePod mini to the test to see if Siri can understand different Chinese accents as well as dialects. https://www.scmp.com/tech/homepod-mini-can-apples-smart-speaker-handle-chinese-accents-and-dialects/article/3109673?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/homepod-mini-can-apples-smart-speaker-handle-chinese-accents-and-dialects/article/3109673?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Nov 2020 10:40:37 +0000 With wireless earbuds now firmly established as both a fashion must and the ultimate on-the-go audio convenience, tech brands continue to up their game and jostle for position in a frantic bid to upstage Apple’s trend-starting AirPods. The latest challengers to enter the ring include Devialet, the luxe audio name known for the Phantom wireless speakers. Now the brand is packing that trademark French craftsmanship into its first wireless earbuds, Devialet Gemini – a hi-tech contraption which... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3109246/better-apple-airpods-devialet-gemini-3-and-master?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3109246/better-apple-airpods-devialet-gemini-3-and-master?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Nov 2020 10:00:17 +0000 Huawei’s latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 40 Pro, could mark the end of an era. With US sanctions shutting off its access to high-end chips and the Chinese company’s recent announcement that we will see at least one smartphone in 2021 running on its in-house HarmonyOS operating system, this could be the last Android-powered Huawei smartphone with a cutting-edge chip. Until then, the Mate 40 Pro is yet another hardware powerhouse. Design and hardware The Mate 40 Pro continues the design... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3107206/huawei-mate-40-pro-review-great-hardware-no-google-software-what?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3107206/huawei-mate-40-pro-review-great-hardware-no-google-software-what?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Oct 2020 12:30:11 +0000 Apple’s recent iPad Pros have been excellent machines for both work and play, and perhaps no other similar portables on the market can perform as well. But as the name implies, those devices are meant for “professionals” and carry more bulk and a heftier price tag. Apple’s new iPad Air 2020 aims to bring that same experience to the masses: it’s lighter, cheaper, and ironically, packs more processing power. Design and hardware If we’re just comparing this new 4th-generation iPad Air to its... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3107065/ipad-air-2020-review-updated-design-it-lighter-cheaper-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3107065/ipad-air-2020-review-updated-design-it-lighter-cheaper-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Oct 2020 06:15:14 +0000 Compared to rival Android brands, Apple has traditionally refused to rely on raw numbers on a specs sheet to market its phones, because to the company, all that mattered was real-world performance. It’s hard to argue with that, considering how well iPhones perform, but with this year’s iPhone 12 series, it’s hard not to focus on at least one number: five. It is, after all, Apple’s first foray into 5G – which should be a game changer – and these phones run on Apple’s new chip that’s the first in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3106222/apple-iphone-12-and-12-pro-first-impressions-5g-ready-widgets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3106222/apple-iphone-12-and-12-pro-first-impressions-5g-ready-widgets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Oct 2020 13:00:20 +0000 Ushering in a new era for smartphones, the iPhone 12 – featuring iOS 14 – is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. Now Apple has finally unveiled the iPhone 12, along with the iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Mini. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, said in a press statement that “the arrival of 5G marks the beginning of a new era for iPhone and we’re thrilled to bring these impressive new capabilities to our customers with iPhone... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3105681/are-apples-new-iphone-12-models-any-different-iphone-11?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3105681/are-apples-new-iphone-12-models-any-different-iphone-11?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2020 10:17:57 +0000 With improved Bluetooth and Wi-fi solutions reaching every corner of the consumer market, wireless gadgets have become an essential part of our daily lives. Here are three that you might want to consider for yourself or for gifts – without breaking the wallet. Tranya T10 Waterproof Wireless Earbuds This year it seems everyone is switching to wireless earbuds. Of course, it helps that Apple and Samsung have dropped headphone jacks from most phones. The Tranya T10 earbuds have a 12mm Graphene... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3105102/wireless-technology-three-best-value-gadgets-reviewed-computer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3105102/wireless-technology-three-best-value-gadgets-reviewed-computer?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2020 12:45:08 +0000 Even from early reviews, we knew the US$2,190 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G would be a technical wonder to behold. After the shortcomings of the first generation Galaxy Z Fold that was released in February 2019, Samsung has upped its game to improve on everything you can think of – from the more polished metallic casing to the ultra-thin glass, as well as a sturdier hinge mechanism. To get the nerdy stuff out of the way, the new Galaxy Z Fold comes in two colours – Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3104884/samsung-galaxy-z-fold2-5g-phone-weve-all-been-waiting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3104884/samsung-galaxy-z-fold2-5g-phone-weve-all-been-waiting?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2020 08:00:12 +0000 The coronavirus pandemic has made more of us point cameras at our faces. Typically they have been webcams for videoconferencing with friends, family and colleagues. But let’s be honest, we were all taking selfies and conducting video calls long before Covid-19. Cue the Hero9 Black (US$349.98), the first GoPro action camera to work out of the box as a webcam and to include a front-facing screen for framing yourself in the shot. Add a new sensor, a removable lens guard and some of GoPro’s most... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3103442/gopro-hero9-black-review-action-camera/webcam-has-5k-resolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3103442/gopro-hero9-black-review-action-camera/webcam-has-5k-resolution?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2020 06:45:11 +0000 Whether intentional or not, the latest tech from hi-fi manufacturers slots perfectly into the new household normality during the pandemic. To make a night in more appealing, there are new cinematic headphones so you can finish the film while others are sleeping, while a garden TV screen makes sure you get some fresh air while you binge Netflix. “When people spend more time at home, then the demand for technology that makes life more productive, more entertaining and more pleasant increases,” the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3102137/best-entertainment-tech-pandemic-tv-you-can-watch-your-garden?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3102137/best-entertainment-tech-pandemic-tv-you-can-watch-your-garden?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2020 12:45:08 +0000 LG is no stranger to quirky-looking handsets – and its latest, Wing, is one of the South Korean electronics giant’s weirdest releases yet. This is a smartphone with two screens, but instead of being connected side-by-side like some of LG’s previous models, one screen sits directly on top of the other, covering it entirely most of the time and resembling a typical slab smartphone. A push in a certain spot of the top layer screen will have it swivelling, locking into a T-shape. Now the second... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3101868/lg-wing-first-look-swivel-phone-dual-screens-perfect-multitasking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3101868/lg-wing-first-look-swivel-phone-dual-screens-perfect-multitasking?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2020 03:00:20 +0000 Ahead of its traditional post-Labour Day product reveal, Apple has released the beta version of Siri, the company’s digital assistant, which is part of the iOS mobile operating system upgrade. This year, Siri will tout a “completely new look”, with “over 20x more facts than just three years ago”. Yes, Apple actually says this, on the promo page for the iOS 14 upgrade, which has traditionally been made available in September. (We first met Siri way back in October 2011, on the iPhone 4s.) I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3101599/hey-siri-you-are-still-behind-alexa-and-google-assistant-apple?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3101599/hey-siri-you-are-still-behind-alexa-and-google-assistant-apple?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2020 17:15:05 +0000 Microsoft’s original Surface popularised the idea that a tablet computer could replace the traditional laptop following its 2012 launch. Now, the tech giant is hoping to make similar waves in the smartphone market with the launch of the Surface Duo, a US$1,400 Android smartphone that, as its name implies, has two screens. The company has clearly thought about how to optimise those dual screens, rather than just doubling the size of the display. The way certain apps, like Microsoft News and the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3101397/microsoft-surface-duo-review-foldable-phone-looks-good-and-lasts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3101397/microsoft-surface-duo-review-foldable-phone-looks-good-and-lasts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2020 11:15:04 +0000 New products for a new normal. That’s one way to sum up the “special edition” of this year’s IFA, Europe’s biggest tech trade show, and the world’s only such event since the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Normally visited by 225,000 people, the Berlin venue had only 6,100 attendees and 150 exhibitors during the three-day event last week. Organisers created an online “Xtended Space” and a “virtual market place” for companies to present their latest products, and deliver keynote speeches, without... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3100545/ifa-2020-best-gadgets-pandemic-sex-toys-operate-remotely-lockdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3100545/ifa-2020-best-gadgets-pandemic-sex-toys-operate-remotely-lockdown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2020 21:15:08 +0000 The new Samsung Galaxy Buds Live (US$169.99) are Samsung’s answer to Apple’s AirPods Pro. I have a pair of AirPods Pro and I really like them, so this Buds Live review is more a comparison of the two. The first thing I noticed about the Buds Live is the design, which is unlike any other. They are shaped like beans and there is no silicone or foam tip to fit into your ear canal. They are smooth and are made to sit snugly in your ear. They do make a seal, but not as much of one as the AirPods Pro.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3099223/samsung-galaxy-buds-live-review-unique-design-and-better-sound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3099223/samsung-galaxy-buds-live-review-unique-design-and-better-sound?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2020 12:45:17 +0000 I love that Samsung throws everything it has into a phone like the Galaxy S20, but then a few months later releases the Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra 5G, which take things up a notch. Today we are looking at the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G. It checks all the boxes for a top-of-the-line flagship phone with a stylus, and it’s really big. Design and hardware The first thing you notice about the Note20 Ultra 5G is the size. Like the Galaxy S20 Ultra, this phone has a 6.9-inch display. It has... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3098335/samsung-galaxy-note20-5g-ultra-first-look-improved-s-pen-wireless?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3098335/samsung-galaxy-note20-5g-ultra-first-look-improved-s-pen-wireless?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Aug 2020 09:15:13 +0000 To mark the Chinese smartphone brand’s 10th anniversary, Xiaomi has unveiled a new version of its Mi 10 series, the Mi 10 Ultra. Does the flagship handset live up to its impressive specs sheet? Design and hardware A more apt name for this phone would have been Mi 120, because this phone has a trifecta of features that hit that number: the 6.44-inch OLED screen refreshes at 120Hz; the main camera can zoom up to 120 times; and the 4,500 mAh battery can be charged at 120W speeds. The latter two are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3097668/xiaomi-mi-10-ultra-review-phone-full-powerful-features-its-120x?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3097668/xiaomi-mi-10-ultra-review-phone-full-powerful-features-its-120x?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2020 10:45:12 +0000