In This Issue: The Year-End Wish List Issue

Left your Festive shopping late again? In this issue, Stuff takes the stress out of choosing gifts

In case it’s not obvious from a mere glance at our cover, this year’s most sought-after tech gift is either Sony’s PlayStation 5 or Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. The problem with that is that everybody knows this, leading to hardware shortages both at home and abroad.

But that doesn’t mean the new crop of consoles will stop being desirable long into the new year. Even if you can’t lay your hands on a PS5 or Xbox Series X before the December present-deadline, you’re going to want one in January 2021 (and February, and March, and…). Here’s what you need to know when it comes to choosing one of gaming’s newest greats. But, as a general rule, South Africa tends to be a PlayStation country. 

Perhaps you have more money than you rightly know what to do with. Perhaps you just wish you did. Then don’t neglect our test of three of the fastest (or most expensive) fossil-fuel-burning sports cars on the planet. Whether you’ve got an eye for McLaren, Rolls or Ferrari, you’re going to be pinned to the back of your seat by just how incredibly impressive these vehicles are. Of course, the price is going to do the same thing to your wallet. The best time to start that savings account was fifteen years ago. The second best time is today.

Had enough of this year? Us too. Reality in 2020 has sucked harder than 2019 and 2018 combined (remember when we thought those were bad years?). If you’re keen to escape the end of this year, then you can do far, far worse than Facebook’s new Oculus Quest 2. The worst thing about it is that you need a Facebook account to use the thing. Besides that, it’s golden. Improved specs across the board, a cheaper launch price (at the cost of the fancy headband), and a collection of peripheral purchases that you really, really want to include make it the best wire-free VR experience you can get without dropping R30,000 on a desktop PC and then buying your virtual reality kit.

Yeah, the iPhone 12 is hereabouts. We’ve spent a little time with the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro ahead of the launch (which is the end of this week here in South Africa) and you’re going to be sorely taxed when it comes to making a choice. Do you just want Apple style and substance for the cheapest possible price? The iPhone 12 is the phone for you. Do you want a little extra in the camera department? Then the iPhone 12 Pro wants your attention. But when you factor in the existence of the iPhone 12 Mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max, an already complicated question becomes almost unanswerable. Or does it…? Find out in this issue of Stuff Magazine.

There is, always, more to see. More tech tests than you can shake a shaky thing at, including a crop of new smartphones, smart wristwear (including Apple, Huawei and Samsung’s latest efforts), essential beard-trimming tech, and loads more besides. And then there’s our annual Festive Season Wishlist in the back of the magazine, with collections of gifts for just about every sort of person in your life. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on this list then… well, you probably know some seriously hard-to-buy-for people but it’ll spark some inspiration in your, if nothing else. Of course, if all else fails, you can always try to local a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.