A 2020 buyer’s guide to Android phones in New Zealand

Summer reissue: When the iPhone owns less than half the market, what are the best Android alternatives at every budget? First published June 23, 2020. Getting a new phone can be one of life’s little pleasures. Many of us hang onto our handsets for two years or more, so when that magic upgrade day finally … Read more

The best value mobile plans for every budget

Competition for customers is fierce among telcos, but which mobile plans offer the best value for money? We compare them to find out. When I was in high school more than a decade ago, mobile plans were about as simple as you could get. There were just two providers (Vodafone and Telecom, née Spark) with … Read more

A 2020 buyer’s guide to Android phones in New Zealand

When the iPhone owns less than half the market, what are the best Android alternatives at every budget? Getting a new phone can be one of life’s little pleasures. Many of us hang onto our handsets for two years or more, so when that magic upgrade day finally rolls around, no one should be begrudged … Read more

Review: The iPhone SE is the best deal in tech right now

Apple’s newest phone is a great value lockdown tech upgrade, says Henry Burrell. Since its debut in 2007, the iPhone has become one of those purchases that we justify despite its high price. “I need it to do my job!” “I don’t like Android!” “Treat yourself!” A smartphone is an indispensable and necessary utility, particularly … Read more

Broadband and data usage surges as New Zealanders reach out

Whether to connect with friends and colleagues, catch up on news, or stave off the boredom with bingeable TV, we’ve all been on our devices a lot more than normal. Vodafone has released a summary of its traffic stats for the past six days, which compares phone calls, broadband, and mobile data use against the … Read more

What the US Huawei ban really means for you

New Zealand banning Huawei’s 5G network equipment won’t impact you nearly as much as the US’s recent moves against Huawei phones, writes Henry Burrell.  Twenty years ago, you would have shown off your flash new Ericsson or Nokia. How times change. Now, those two entities exist only to provide mobile network equipment, (Nokia’s Android phones … Read more

The rise of the robocall: how to fight back against the scammers

Have you had a scammer trying to get you with a robocall yet? Science and technology journalist Peter Griffin investigates the phenomenon. Remember last year’s wave of tech support scams, where you received calls from a foreign sounding “technician” asking for access to your Windows computer as well as your credit card details? They have … Read more