TRAVEL THINGS
BY
Back in the mists of time, well 1997, the Psion 5 was a groundbreaking personal digital assistant with a mono touchscreen, sliding-clamshell design and a physical keyboard.
Fast forward to today and we have what feels like a genetically modified and fully augmented dual colour screen
Psion for the Android age.
The Cosmo feels well made and is good looking both open and closed, with a 2in touchscreen on the cover which allows you to preview emails, make phone calls and take selfies (for standard pics you need the device open). There’s also a fingerprint sensor.
Open it up and the bright 6in touchscreen offers all the Google apps and functionality of Android 9, with a lovely little backlit keyboard.
It’s a pretty niche piece of 4G/wi-fi kit and it weighs in at a very solid 326g, but you could do a lot with it on the plane or train if you were travelling for work and didn’t want to carry a laptop.
The 4,220mah battery should power you through the day, even if you bunk off work for some well-displayed 007 Netflix flight entertainment.
Cosmo Communicator, £505 (includes 30% discount with current COSMO30 code), store.planetcom.co.uk
Genuinely gobsmacking on first sight – and even the 20th! – the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 feels as if it’s from the 23rd century (or Q!).
The 6.2in cover screen allows extensive Android 11 functionality for Google apps, photos, email and calls, with fingerprint security.
But open it up and the magic happens, with an outstanding double size 7.6in screen with ‘barely there’ seam.
A test using Youtube on wide mode looked like a mini-cinema with fab sound.
For typing, the split keypad takes a little while to get used to. The S Pen is a useful freebie for handwritten notes and sketches you can convert to documents.
It’s tough enough for a travelling spy thanks to the Armour Aluminium-gorilla Glass Victus build, and it has 5G/wi-fi capability. Five cameras and a
4,400mah battery all add up to a pocket-hefty 271g.
It’s also IPX8 water resistant. Brace yourself, if you want it sim-free expect to pay at least £1,599. That win at the Casino Royale will come in handy.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, £62 per month (£49 up front) with free £79.99 starter kit. vodafone.co.uk