Early Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems could cause serious damage to your wallet so, understandably, most people opted for a cheaper alternative to cover their dead zones – a Wi-Fi range extender. These devices might seem more affordable but what you save in cash you end up paying back with the time and effort it takes to set them up and troubleshoot the inevitable problems.

Then there’s the issue of introducing an entirely separate device that almost never integrates well with an existing setup. If you’ve ever seen ‘Home Wi-Fi’ and ‘Home Wi-Fi extender’ signals, you’ll know what an issue it can be as you beg your device to switch or have to manually change hotspots for a better signal.

Wrap yourself in a Xiaomi mesh blanket

The Xiaomi AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System erases all of those problems. It creates a uniform blanket of reliable Wi-Fi coverage that supports up to 254 concurrent devices and allows the system to intelligently manage which node your devices connect to. It also leverages the increased bandwidth (up to 2,976 Mbps) and advanced networking technologies that Wi-Fi 6 offers to cater for the increasing amount of connected devices. It’s no good having a smart home if half of the devices can’t connect or are crippled by a slow connection.

When it comes to setting up the Xiaomi AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System, all you need is the Xiaomi Home app. The intuitive interface and straightforward installation process will have your devices connected in no time – and that’s not even the best part.

While some people enjoy tinkering and optimising their network, the Xiaomi AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System makes these optimisations accessible to everyone through features that do it for you. Automatic Wi-Fi optimisation will find and use the least congested channels and frequencies to enhance wireless range and performance.

Through the Xiaomi Home app, you’re able to easily set the bandwidth per frequency band, which results in lower power consumption and means you’ll have internet for longer when Eskom sheds your load and you’re running on backup power. You can also find per-device parental controls in the Xiaomi Home app, which allows you to disable access to specific websites or to the internet entirely during specific times of the day to manage sleep schedules.

If your wallet is crying, you can tell it to hush. Xiaomi has somehow managed to fit all these easy-to-use features into an affordable package, available as a single unit or a pack of two with recommended retail prices of R1,499 and R2,899 respectively.

Upgrade your home or small business network today with the Xiaomi AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System, available from Incredible, Makro, or Takealot.

Let’s first address the elephant in the room. The pinnacle of the Note series, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has had a massive price jump. What once used to cost R11,000 for the best that the Note series had to offer in 2023, will now set you back R16,500. And honestly, it’s worth it — even more so if you get creative with where you purchase the device. From some places, it can be had for R4,000 less than Xiaomi’s official figure. Jus’ saying.

Slippery slopes

There’s no denying that Xiaomi’s assembled a decent-looking phone. While most mid-rangers in the category settle for the bare minimum, Xiaomi put in real effort to help the Note 13 Pro+ stand out from the rest of the crowd. Whether it’s the curved display — a first in the Note family — or simply the Moonlight White coating our review model turned up wearing, there’s something for everybody here. And we haven’t even got to the important bits yet.

Those curved edges aren’t only for show. Disagreeable as you might be toward the idea of a phone without ‘proper’ edges, the Note 13 Pro+ uses them to its advantage, offering a generally more comfortable fit in hand. Sure, those metal-looking rims and a generous coating of Corning Gorilla Glass (Victus) are doing a lot of heavy lifting to up that premium (if [very] slippery) feel, but we’re not condemning that. Team effort and all, you know?

Under that slathering of toughened glass is a gorgeous 6.67in AMOLED display that’s quite capable of hitting a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and a brightness level touting a splendid 1,800 nits all weave together for a display that we found difficult to put down — day or night. That’s saying something.

Don’t expect anything special in the way of ports. Xiaomi has stuck with the basics, such as a USB-C charging hole, SIM slot, and a singular speaker vent adorne the phone’s bottom. Running along the right-hand side is the volume rocker and power button, while the top is home to the speaker’s better half and a lonely IR blaster. A 3.5mm audio jack is sadly absent from the Redmi Note series for the first time. RIP.

Dime-piece Dimensity

If you’re picking up the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ in South Africa, you’ll be “stuck” with the best of the lot, meaning 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Internationally it’s a different story so you’ll need to look in the creative spots if you’re after something a little less capable and lighter on the wallet.

No matter where you’re getting your device, it’ll come stock with MediaTek’s 4nm octa-core Dimensity 7200-Ultra SoC, including the Mali-G610 MC4 GPU. It’s no flagship chip, but that’s alright. We never once struggled to get the Note 13 Pro+ in the gaming mood, hitting a consistently smooth 120Hz after we’d enabled the feature in the settings.

Having already proved itself a capable gamer, you’d be right to think it’s great just about everywhere else. Multitasking? No problem. Jumping from app to app like an iPad kid looking for his next fix? Easy. The only real cause for concern is a slight tendency to get a little warm around the edges roughly an hour deep into a gaming session — 45 minutes under more duress. Bring on winter, we guess?

Don’t expect anything more intensive than a simple Android 13 affair with Xiaomi’s MIUI 14 skin thrown in to distract you from that fact. The company’s new and flashy HyperOS is absent, but we’re hoping that’s nothing more than an oversight that’ll be fixed by the time the Note 14 arrives. Right, Xioami? In the meantime, you’ll need to put up with a fair amount of bloatware and some settings fiddling to get it un-MIUI-fied.

Battery life was about as standard as it gets. There’s a 5,000mAh battery shoved in there, somewhere, and it’s about as consistent as you’d expect. Pretty damn consistent, then. Keep its tasks simple, and it’ll stretch to accommodate roughly a day-and-a-half’s worth of life. Squeeze in some gaming while you’re at work, and you’ll be lucky to have 10% at bedtime. More exciting is the 120W charger which is about as excellent as it sounds.

No gimmicks here 

The Redmi Note 13 Pro+’s camera bump may not look particularly extraordinary, but the tech it’s packing in the three-sensor array definitely is. You’ve probably heard Xiaomi shouting about the 200MP main sensor from the rooftops, or you’ve got a bit deaf. Either way, it worked so well last time around, so why not now?

Xiaomi hasn’t put all of its eggs in one basket. That 200MP camera is one of three, with 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro sensors filling the gaps. ‘Round the other end is a perfectly capable (often more so) 16MP front-facer. If you were hoping for a depth sensor, you won’t find it here. That’s fine. There’s a whole 200MP sensor to mess around with to comfort you through the loss.

And comfort us it did. You’ll fare better with images in the daytime, providing clear and fairly detailed snaps — even without switching to the dedicated 200MP mode inside the phone’s camera app. Colours can occasionally appear washed out, with a hint of pink overshadowing the image. It’s not constant and felt like an almost random occurrence — seemingly depending on the light levels.

Those secondary cameras are about as average as you’d expect from a mid-ranger who has blown the budget on its main sensor. Still, we didn’t hate the variety. The 16MP front-facer on the other hand was the star of the non-200MP show, pulling some half-decent, Instagram-worthy selfies out of the bag, even if the AI-touting software beautified our faces a little too much for our liking.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5g verdict 

Xiaomi’s taken a rather big bet by setting the launch price as high as it has. R16,500 is certainly a lot to stomach, especially when it doesn’t have what the top billing companies like Samsung or Apple can bring to the table. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the price — it is — with that excellent camera set-up, gorgeous displays and fashionable coating. But we can’t in good faith have you spending R4,000 more than is necessary. The creative avenues aren’t that hard to find.

Xiaomi’s trio of smartphones not only weave together some of the best cameras in the game with absolutely stunning displays, but their excellent price points place the Redmi Note 13 Series comfortably in the race for Mid-Range Smartphone of the Year.

Whether you’re after a bonkers 200MP camera that’ll have you zooming in on your favourite football players from way up in the crowd, or a battery that just won’t quit (even when Eskom does), there’s something for everybody in Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 13 Series.

Going Pro on a budget

Xiaomi’s got plenty to brag about where the Note 13 Pro and Note 13 Pro+ 5G are concerned. Both devices are championing a long list of firsts in Redmi Note Series history, such as curved, 120hz AMOLED displays which ultimately offer a more immersive viewing experience.

It’s also the first time the Note 13 Series is sporting an IP68 rating and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection, essentially making both devices near-indestructible. All that, while also rocking the brightest and clearest displays and a Note Series-first with an under-display fingerprint sensor. What more could you ask for?

A whole lot, actually. These are the first devices in the Note Series to have a processor built using a 4nm manufacturing process, which leads to improved performance, enhanced efficiency and altogether better heat dissipation. Incidentally, the Note 13 Pro+ has MediaTek’s Dimensity-7200 Ultra chip inside, while its younger sibling uses Qualcomm’s Helio G-99 Ultra processor.

A good processor isn’t much use without an equally capable amount of RAM in the trunk. Both the Redmi Note 13 Pro and Note 13 Pro+ are no slouch in this regard, with both models turning up with more than enough RAM at 12GB and plenty of storage with 512GB.

What’s better than 120W and 67W charging on the Note 13 Pro+ and Note 13 Pro respectively? Not much. But there’s a case to be made for what’s arguably the star of the show: the massive 200MP main camera sensor that comes kitted out with amazing 2x and 4x zoom levels, perfect for capturing those moments that are a little too… far out.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ arrives in two shades – Midnight Black and Moonlight White. The Redmi Note 13 Pro shares the Midnight Black colourway and introduces the Forest Green hue into the mix.

Keeping it simple

If you’re all about getting the most bang for your buck, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 13 should be at the top of your list. Not only does it share many of its Pro-named siblings’ best features, but it’s also carving a name for itself with one of the best cameras on the market at this price point.

We’re of course talking about the 108MP main sensor that the Redmi Note 13 is donning, which is regularly considered the pinnacle of other smartphone brands’ camera tech. That enormous 108MP sensor is just one of three, joined by just as capable 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro sensors. Don’t forget about the gorgeous 16MP front-facer embedded in the 6.67in, 120hz AMOLED display.

Hidden under that display is more than enough power to keep you satisfied, with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

It may only have 33W fast-charging as the more budget-friendly model – the same as what you’d find in some industry-leading flagships – but arrives with a 5,000mAh battery that can be found not just here, but across the entire Note 13 Series.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 makes a case for being the most stylish of the lot, arriving in two shades: Midnight Black and Ice Blue.

You can pick up your Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 today for only R7,799. Or you could take things one step further with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro, selling for R10,999. But if you’re after the best things in life, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ can be yours from R16,499.

The first deliveries of the SU7 have already been made, with the vehicles coming from a pool of 5,000 that were manufactured and ready for shipping. Everyone else on the pre-order list, which numbers well in excess of the 88,898 reported initial orders, has a fair while longer to wait. A little over six months, in fact.

The SU7 queue

That wait time is specifically for Xiaomi’s SU7 Max, the speedier version of the EV that’ll nail 100km/h in a little over 2.7 seconds. It’s also got an increased range (800km on a charge) and top speed (265km/h) over the standard model, so it’s hardly surprising that the vehicle is in demand.

The price point isn’t too shabby either. The Max version of Xiaomi’s first EV starts at about R780,000 (300,000 yuan) while the basic version of the car costs about R560,000 (216,000 yuan). It beats out Tesla’s local pricing in China by a considerable margin while offering similar or even superior capabilities. The only tricky factor is that pesky waiting list, an issue that Tesla also faced when it released its Roadster in 2008. The waiting list… hasn’t really gone away.

Xiaomi seems a little more confident in its ability to deliver. Its vehicle construction is handled by Chinese state automaker BAIC. The Beijing facility where the SU7 is made can output as many as 200,000 vehicles annually. Whether it can do so with a brand new EV remains to be seen but that’s the whole point of this exercise.

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It’s not just that you’ll have a Redmi Note 13, Note 13 Pro, and Note 13 Pro+ to look forward to. Each of these handsets has its own special appeal to suit various sorts of users. ‘Something for everybody’ is sometimes a true statement.

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5 G

The main thing you need to know about this handset, the headliner of the upcoming Redmi  Note 13 series launch, is that it’s the successor to Stuff’s Mid-Range Smartphone of the Year for 2023. Will it secure the same spot for the brand at the end of 2024? That’s a waiting game but you don’t have to wait to get your hands on the absolutely mahoosive 200MP main camera sensor with baked-in optical image stabilisation.

It’s not all about the camera, though that is a definite perk. The Redmi  Note 13 Pro+5G also charges up with an excellent 120Hz AMOLED display, powered in the back by a speedy 4nm processor, 12GB of system memory, and 512GB of storage. The 5,000mAh battery with the company’s 120W Hypercharge charging technology and an IP68 protection rating are just the cherry on top of this Sundae of Awesomeness.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G will arrive on SA’s shores in two shades – Midnight Black and Moonlight White.

Redmi Note 13 Pro

Just a step down the ladder is the Note 13 Pro, a strong competitor with its larger sibling in terms of camera tech thanks to its inclusion of the gigantic 200MP main sensor. There’s also a stunning AMOLED and plenty of power behind the screen, with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage to look forward to.

The battery charging tech steps back to a still-speedy 67W but retains that 5,000mAh battery capacity. An IP54 rating means your device stays protected in most situations and there’s an in-screen fingerprint sensor to keep your phone’s contents safe as well.

The Note 13 Pro will feature two colourways at launch – Midnight Black and Forest Green.

Redmi Note 13

It wasn’t so long ago that the pinnacle of smartphone camera tech was a 108MP sensor. It’s still no slouch, as Redmi’s Note 13 Proves. The huge main sensor is part of a three-camera array, capable of displaying its wares on the excellent 120Hz AMOLED display. The panel, as with the Note 13’s bigger brothers, features ultra-thin bezels and there’s 33W fast charging as part of the 5,000mAh battery.

The Redmi Note 13 will be available in Midnight Black and Ice Blue following the 10 April South African launch. Stay tuned for more details on this trio of excellent handsets as it becomes available for our local market. Buckle up, it’s going to be an awesome one.

Reuters reports that the announcement came via Weibo, the Chinese social media service. The company said that nearly 60 stores across 29 cities in China will take orders for the vehicle. A launch event is planned for 28 March, though the Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) has been extensively previewed in terms of specs already.

Xiaomi what you drive

The Chinese company hopes to replicate its smartphone success, which started in 2011 with the Mi 1 handset, with automobiles. Xiaomi head Lei Jun said on Weibo this week, “Xiaomi’s cars are going from zero to one in a very different growth stage and facing very different user expectations compared to when Xiaomi’s smartphones went from zero to one 14 years ago. Xiaomi’s cars need to be different, and the most important aspect is smart technology.”

The SU7 and its subsequent companions are entering a difficult market. Not only are EVs pricey but demand for them seems to be slowing as a result. Some brands, like Mercedes, have tweaked their production plans to continue making internal combustion engines for longer than was expected, suggesting that EVs aren’t a sure bet for everyone.

Xiaomi has faced these sorts of headwinds before, which may be why the company reckons it is on to a good thing with the launch of its own EV. And if you’re wondering how the company has jumped the queue in terms of vehicle production, a notoriously difficult endeavour, that would be because state-owned vehicle manufacturer BAIC is handling the actual production. Xiaomi is mostly sticking its smarts into a vehicle compatible with the smart ecosystem the company has been pushing of late.

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Xiaomi 20,000mAh 50W charger

R1,400 | Makro

For the last few years, the most important thing I looked for on a new power bank was a USB-C port. This upgrade from the old square-shaped USB-A is already three times faster, but add extra wattage and the power bank charges a device much faster. Most smartphones can handle 20W to 30W – while laptops range from 30W to 65W. But what if your power bank had very high wattage and could charge your laptop?

This is the goal of several new power banks, which double as laptop boosters. The Xiaomi 20,000mAh 50W power bank is pleasingly fast – and you can take it on a plane with you (in cabin luggage) because it’s under the 100Wh limit. It’s just as pleasingly well-designed, with a metal casing and two extra USB-A fast-charging ports. It weighs 470g.

Peak Design Tech Pouch

R2,200 | Futurama

Everyone needs a way to store all the cables, chargers, and accessories that go with travelling. Peak Design is a smart outfit who have been making photography-related gadgets like tripods and backpacks. They have a very useful Tech Pouch that holds all of these odds-and-ends, but Peak’s designers have really thought about optimising the space inside.

The so-called Origami-style pockets do indeed “create enormous spatial efficiency, letting you pack more into a smaller space while keeping your items neatly organised and easy to find”. If you are on a film set, for instance as a sound engineer, you can use Peak’s clever camera straps with the tech pouch as a gear bag. Size-wise, it’s 15 x 24 x 10cm and has a 2L capacity. It weighs 288g.

Anker Soundcore Mini 3 Bluetooth speaker

R900 | HiFiCorp

I’ve been taking the smallest Bluetooth speaker I can find for years but it’s been, and I say this knowing it sounds absurd, too big. I’ve been a big fan of UE’s Wonderboom 2 but I’ve discovered that Anker makes one even more compact — the Anker Soundcore Mini 3 Bluetooth speaker. The cylindrical speaker gives good all-round sound, has 15 hours of battery life and, crucially, charges with USB-C. It weighs 227g.

Read More: Travel gear you should never leave home without

Wacoco Minipresso NS2 Nespresso capsule coffee maker

R1,500 | Takealot

If you’re a coffee lover (notice I didn’t say junkie) there’s nothing more disappointing than going away on holiday (especially and bizarrely to five-star game lodges) and getting sachets of a certain local dried coffee brand. I bought the Minipresso NS2 from Wacoco, which is a clever upgrade of the first model, and we never leave home without it. It creates another pressure to make an espresso – using, as the name implies, a Nespresso pod. You pour hot water into it and pump the side handle. Add more water for an Americano. Wacoco also makes similar presses for coffee grounds. We can all thank American campers for their inability to survive without good coffee. It weighs 290g.

Samsonite C-Lite Spinner 75cm (hold) + C-Lite Spinner 55cm (cabin)

R9,000 + R10 600 | Samsonite

I have been using the same suitcases for about a decade (which shows you how good they are). Made by Samsonite, I like them because they are light and tough – and withstand whatever the throwers at OR Tambo can inflict on them. The most important other feature is the four wheels, called spinners. Why does it matter? Because you can push the bags on a smooth floor with just one hand. These two Samsonite bags I use cleverly have the same height for the handle no matter what size the bag is. The cabin suitcase weighs 2.1kg and the hold bag is 2.8kg.

ADD THIS: Samsonite packing cubes – set of three

R1,500 | Samsonite

Another profoundly unsexy, but very useful, thing to take on your travels is packing cubes. You pack your clothes into, as the name implies, the packing cubes and then pack those into your suitcase. I have been using a range of these for decades.

Read More: Google Maps’ handy offline travel feature

Not everyone will have the means to, but whether you receive a significant business supplement to buy yourself new gear, or use it as a tax write-off for the home office, there are ways to acquire the newest tech.

That means you can look past the price tag – sometimes it is worth looking at the price tag. But not this time. We’ll look at a variety of gadgets and office tech that will either streamline your workflow or make you look like the coolest minion in the rat race. Things like the full Adobe Acrobat Pro – for what? If you’re not a designer, it’s still worth having access to Adobe Acrobat to sign documents.

We’ll look at the most ergonomic peripherals, desks and even top-of-the-line laptops. So locate your wallet and ready your driveway for deliveries. It’s about to get techy.

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC | R5,260

PDFs are the unsung heroes of the digital world, but editing them can feel like navigating a labyrinth. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC comes in at a whopping R5,260 for a year’s access but allows you to create, edit, review, and secure your PDFs with unmatched power. If you’re hunting for a cheap way to do a similar thing – check out Canva. But we’re in a spending mood.

Xiaomi Mi Computer Monitor Light Bar | R1,060

For those battling the glare of screens and squinting through the haze of reflections, the Xiaomi Mi Computer Monitor Light Bar is your eye-friendly saviour. Priced around R1,060, this device clips onto your monitor, saving precious desk space while illuminating your workspace and saving your eyes. This isn’t essential for a desk setup, but if you’re splurging, definitely opt for one of these.

Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk | R10,000

For the sedentary souls glued to their chairs, meet the Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk – a true game-changer. Priced at R10,000, this desk isn’t just a pretty frame with a bamboo top; it’s the height-adjustable standing desk your body craves. Bid farewell to back pain and embrace the freedom to work standing or sitting. Your body will thank you for this, trust us.

MacBook Pro 14in M2 Pro | R56,000

In the realm of laptops, the MacBook Pro is widely regarded as supreme. Priced around R56,000, this powerhouse is armed with an M2 Pro chip, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It’s not just a workhorse; it’s a sleek companion for your daily tasks. From word processing to web browsing and basic tasks, to more power-hungry tasks like design or rendering, you’re sorted. You won’t really get anything better for your money if you’re after a do-all workhorse.

Read More: Still at the office? Try some free browser-based games

Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse | R1,600

We’ve all seen these vertical peripherals and wondered ‘does it work?’ Well, why not try it out with the Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse? These guys are designed with natural hand shapes in mind to keep your hands and wrists happy and healthy. It connects via wireless, Bluetooth or something called the Logi Bolt USB receiver. For R1,600 you get quiet clicks, 4 buttons, and hopefully the most comfortable mouse you’ve ever used.

Ergo K860 Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard | R3,800

If you’re after ergonomics, why not go all out? This keyboard is only available as a grey import but offers probably the most ergonomic experience on a keyboard ever. Or that’s what we hope. Here you’re getting a split keyboard design, along with an included wrist rest that claims to offer “over 54% wrist support and reduces wrist flexion by 25%”.

Apple Airpods Max | R6,500

If you’re going to wear over-ear headphones for the serenity and calm, you may as well look cool while doing it. There really isn’t a more stylish set of over-ears than the Apple Airpods Max. Thanks to active noise cancellation and Apple’s custom-built driver, you’re getting great audio quality that’ll make your subordinates come through loud and clear during video calls. They also feature Apple’s head-tracking spatial audio for even more immersion, serenity, and calm.

Bottom line, though, is you’ll probably struggle to afford one. It’s not just that the launch is likely to be confined to China, at least at first, and that EVs are inherently expensive. Xiaomi hasn’t gone small with the SU7, serving up a vehicle around the same size as a BMW 5-series but with a sportier look than the conservative Germans would dream of offering.

SU7 is pronounced ‘soo-chee’

You can expect similar prices to those demanded by the German brands, too. There were veterans from BMW and Mercedes on the design team, so the vehicles should look the part. The revealed specs — all claims for right now — suggest that performance will attain luxury EV standards as well.

There are two SU7 models — a stock version which uses Xiaomi’s HyperEngine motors on the rear wheels only and then a Max version that offers all-wheel drive. The 668km range and 210km/h top speed for the standard EV is plenty attractive on its own but Xiaomi’s Max version should go further and faster, accelerating to 100km/h in under three seconds. At least, that’s what the marketing material says.

The SU7 Max should support 800V charging for its 101kWh battery. The standard version tops out at 400V charging with a 73.6kWh battery. Some of that power will be directed toward the in-car systems. Being Xiaomi, with its focus on smart home tech, that experience promises to be substantial.

In-vehicle tech for the SU7 uses Xiaomi’s HyperOS system for control and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 processor, an automotive-specific chipset, for power. There’s a main 16.1in display that’ll control everything from media playback to your home appliances and optional magnetically-mounted screens behind the driver and passenger’s seats. Other smart functions include autonomous driving (again, unsurprising) thanks to Xiaomi Pilot, LiDAR, and Nvidia chips. The company will conduct autonomous driving tests across China sometime this year.

Xiaomi, in addition to announcing the SU7 and its Max counterpart, also teased a new HyperEngine V8s electric motor that’ll supposedly give Tesla’s own tech headaches. First, though, we’ll wait for pricing and availability for this lot. It’s probably going to sting.

Then comes the task of finding a smartphone with a long-lasting battery life, which is especially true now that Stage 6 load shedding is back. Luckily, many readily available smartphones with beefy batteries are just waiting for new homes.

Even better – many of the devices listed below feature fast-charging capabilities, making the necessity of charging between load-shedding slots an afterthought.

Battle of the big battery bois

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G

• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Charging: 120W
• Price: R8,800

This Xiaomi mid-ranger boasts a substantial 5,000mAh cell and supports a lightning-fast 120W charging speed. This combo ensures longevity in usage and rapid refuelling for uninterrupted enjoyment, whether that’s work or play.

Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G

• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Charging: 67W
• Price: R7,500

Another one from Xiaomi, but this time from its powerful but affordable sub-brand Poco – the X4 Pro 5G. It comes equipped with a 5,000mAh juice bottle and 67W charging capabilities. It doesn’t feature the 120W fast charging of the Note 12 Pro+, but still admirable for its price.

Asus ROG Phone 6

• Battery: 6,000mAh
• Charging: 65W
• Price: R18,500

One of the more expensive, but cooler devices on this list – the Asus ROG Phone 6 is a powerhouse, not just for gaming but also for its massive 6,000mAh battery. Paired with 65W charging, it promises longer use without the fear of running out of juice during gaming marathons.

Xiaomi Poco F4 GT

• Battery: 4,700mAh
• Charging: 120W
• Price: R11,900

Tailored for gamers and heavy users, the Poco F4 GT features a slightly smaller 4,700mAh battery but is paired with an impressive 120W charging capability. This smartphone is designed for users who demand both stamina and quick recharges during the day.

Realme GT NEO 5

• Battery: 4,600mAh
• Charging: 240W
• Price: R15,500

Sporting an eye-watering 240W charging capacity and a respectable 4,600mAh cell, the Realme GT NEO 5 is an absolute beast. While you won’t find this one on contract in South Africa, it’s available from a third-party store for a decent mid-range price. The claimed nine minutes for a full charge is one of the fastest available anywhere.

OnePlus Open foldable

• Battery: 4,805mAh
• Charging: 67W
• Price: R46,000

The OnePlus Open foldable is the most interesting device on this list. If you’re set on adopting the foldable smartphone lifestyle but don’t want to limit yourself to the mainstream slow-charging options, this is a good alternative. While it has a decently sized battery, you might find yourself relying on that 67W charging speed more often, thanks to its power-hungry display. To be fair, if you can afford to buy the OnePlus Open foldable, you can afford a good quality fast-charging power bank to keep it juiced up in a flash.

VIVO IQOO 11 Pro

• Battery: 4,700mAh
• Charging: 200W
• Price: R22,000

The VIVO IQOO 11 Pro and its 200W charging prowess slot in as the second fastest charging device on the list. Its 4,700mAh battery is slightly bigger than the Realme’s, it doesn’t charge quite as fast, and it’s pricier. But it makes up for it in other areas, like supposedly decent camera chops. So it’s still a valid option for those lucky enough not to have to worry about losing power when they need it.

Contract options

Buying a phone with straight cash is a form of privilege in SA, and most people will opt for a contract option. Locally, contract options are typically reserved for a handful of smartphones for the bigger brands – Apple, Samsung, and Huawei.

We’re now seeing more brands join the major mobile networks as contract options – like Oppo, Honor, and Xiaomi. It’s offering a wider selection, and more affordable options to people.

We’ve listed a few contract options for devices with large battery cells (or great power efficiency in the iPhone’s case), just for you:

• iPhone 15 Pro – 3,274mAh battery + 27W charging
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G – 5,000mAh battery + 120W charging
• Honor X7A – 6,000mAh battery + 22.5W charging
• Oppo A76 – 5,000mAh battery + 33W charging
• Honor X9a – 5,100mAh + 40W charging

As South Africans continue to prioritise a smartphone that lasts longer, these options offer a compelling solution to the perpetual struggle of finding a device that can keep up.

However, while battery life is undeniably a crucial factor, it’s essential to consider other features like camera quality, performance, and design that align with your preferences and lifestyle.

The above devices excel in the battery department and, we believe, bring a holistic approach to meet the diverse needs of South African smartphone users.