Tech journalist and frequent traveller Nafisa Akabor looks at new tech you can use on your travels and shares her experiences in magical Moscow.
We’re already a quarter way through the year and this month we’re playing with the dual-screen LG G8X, a more affordable handset, the Vivo Y11 and Apple’s new 10.2-inch iPad. We’ve been impressed with Huawei’s FreeBuds 3 and the revamped Stash app. Here is all the latest tech for your travels.
LG G8X
If you travel often and need to work on the go, consider LG’s dual-screen G8X. The cover accessory brings a new way to interact, from toggling between screens, moving stuff to the other screen or launching a specific app. The cover display has basic notifications. Ideal for content consumption, gaming and productivity.
Price: R15 999.
Stash
Looking for new ways to fund your travel adventures? The Liberty Life Stash app is a digital piggy bank that lets you save daily and can be linked to meeting fitness goals or the weather app for sunny days so it saves automatically when that happens. It is tax-free up to R33 000 per year.
Free: Android; iOS.
Vivo Y11
Traveller on a budget? New to the market is Chinese brand Vivo with affordable handsets, like the Y11. It features a 6.35-inch screen, dual-rear cameras (13MP+2MP), a selfie-cam with AI, and a fingerprint sensor. It is bound to last all day with its massive 5000mAh battery. Who needs a power bank?
Price: R2699. Contact: Hi-Online.co.za
Huawei FreeBuds 3
Wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling (ANC) is a traveller’s dream. Say hello to Huawei’s FreeBuds 3 that come in a compact little battery case, available in black or white. It has a comfortable fit, offers good quality audio, and suited for working out. ANC feature available only on Android.
Price: R2999. Contact: HuaweiStore.co.za
iPad 10.2-inch
Apple’s newest entry-level 10.2-inch iPad 32GB is ideal for entertainment and productivity on the go, especially if you travel a lot. It features fingerprint unlocking, front and rear cameras, and an all-day battery life. If you require a mobile office set-up, it has Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support.
Price: R5999. Contact: MyiStore.co.za
Magical Moscow
Experiencing Russia over the festive period was quite magical. The country’s biggest celebration is over the New Year, which is where I found myself ringing in 2020.
Moscow’s Red Square is turned into a winter wonderland with ice-rinks, carousels, and plenty of hot drinks.
Most buildings were also heavily lit up, and for the year 2020, the city focused on space exploration themed activities, held on its main Tverskaya Street adjacent to Red Square.
Celebrations aside, one of the biggest challenges I’ve had during all my travels was in Russia due to the language barrier.
Google Translate became my new best friend. Most of the locals do not speak English, even at popular hotels and restaurants, so translating with audio became an essential on my trip.
I was most proud of being able to order off a food delivery app, entirely in Russian, using Google Translate for each step. A recommended destination but go prepared.
