STACK #239 September 2024

FEATURE TECH

HOT NEW SMARTPHONES

And now for something completely different! Venture off the beaten track and you’ll find some quirky phones with features that you might not expect. Words Michael Irving

HMD Barbie Flip Phone Chic, sleek, and pink, this old-school flip phone is unmistakably Barbie, but it lets you add your own personal touch too with included stickers, crystals, and a beaded lanyard. While the style is anything but basic, this phone is about getting back to basics and enjoying quality time with friends and family – there are no distracting apps, just calling and texting to organise your next IRL hang. Everything onscreen looks straight out of the Barbie Dreamhouse, and there are

OPPO A80 5G The affordable OPPO A80 5G draws you in with its big, beautiful screen, with both ultra-bright and eye comfort modes. Don’t be fooled by its looks though – this phone can stand up to drops, knocks, and the elements with its special 360° Armour Body. A dedicated portrait camera, plus the all-important selfie cam, back up the 50MP rear main camera, and the OPPO A80 is powered by a beefy battery with lightning-fast 45W SUPERVOOC charging.

even a few hidden surprises to find… Camera: 0.3MP Battery: 1,450mAh Display: 2.8” internal, 1.77” external Performance: Unisoc T107, 64MB RAM Design: Flip phone Internal storage: 128MB

Cameras: Rear 50MP + 2MP, front 8MP Battery: 5,100mAh, 45W SUPERVOOC charging Display: 6.67” HD+ LCD, 120Hz Performance: MediaTek Dimensity 6300, 8GB RAM Design: 360° Armour Body, IP54 Internal storage: 256GB

Nothing CMF Phone Few phones are as customisable as the Nothing CMF Phone. Not only can you switch out the back cover for something more “you,” but you can add on functional accessories too, like a stand, a lanyard, or a card holder. On the inside, you can also boost your storage space up to a roomy 2TB with a microSD card, and double the processing power with the RAM Booster. Camera features are impressive, too – the Sony 50MP main camera captures true-to-life images, while Ultra XDR tech (co-developed with Google) enhances lighting when conditions aren’t the best.

Motorola moto g85 5G The moto g85 packs a gorgeous pOLED display that curves around the edges for a seamless design. The camera array captures everything from close-up detail with the macro lens, to squeezing in the whole crew with the ultra-wide lens, while the Sony LYTIA 600 sensor enhances details in any light. The generous 34-hour battery life will keep you going all day and well into the next, while optional vegan leather finish adds a unique touch of class.

Cameras: Rear 50MP, front 16MP Battery: 5,000mAh, 33W fast charging Display: 6.67” FHD+ Super AMOLED, 120Hz Performance: MediaTek Dimensity 7300, 8GB/16GB RAM Design: Interchangeable, IP52 Internal Storage: 128GB/256GB Expandable memory: Up to 2TB with microSD card

HMD Skyline The HMD Skyline features a better-than-FHD display and is a veritable photography powerhouse, sporting a 108MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 50MP selfie cam that supports hands-free gesture control. And you can get up close with up to 4x zoom for outstanding clarity, and capture shots with a natural bokeh effect. Perhaps the coolest feature of the HMD Skyline is that some components are replaceable. If you crack the screen, want a change of cover, or your battery life is wearing down, you can swap those out yourself via the iFixit DIY service (see page 16).

Cameras: Rear 50MP, front 32MP Battery: 5,000mAh, 30W fast

charging Display: 6.7” FHD+ pOLED, 120Hz Performance: Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, 8GB RAM Design: Silicone/vegan leather, PMMA/Acrylic Internal storage: 256GB Expandable memory: Up to 1TB with microSD card

Cameras: Rear 108MP + 50MP, front 50MP Battery: 4,600mAh, 33W fast charging Display: 6.55” FHD+ pOLED, 144Hz Performance: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, 8GB RAM Design: Repairable, IP54 Internal Storage: 256GB Expandable memory: Up to 512GB with microSD card

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