The Vergecast The Vergecast

Apple's new iPhones and Watches are better than the last ones

Sep 17, 2026 · 46m

Summary

Allison Johnson and V Song review the iPhone 18 Pro, noting its new variable aperture camera offers marginal but cool upgrades over the previous model. They also examine the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, highlighting improved health sensors, a new "readiness" score, and controversial AI audio features like Live Rewind that are not yet available. The hosts advise most users to wait for an upgrade unless they have older devices, while discussing the trade-offs of the new AI capabilities.

Topics discussed

Intro: Dual host format and episode overview Snap Specs: $2200 AR smart glasses review Steve Wozniak merch shop and sponsor intro iPhone 18 Pro: Design and hardware changes Color options: Blue vs Burgundy envy Variable aperture: What it is and why it matters Testing variable aperture: Can you tell the difference? Durability concerns with mechanical aperture blades Low light performance and wider aperture benefits New camera controls: Shotter speed and UI issues Siri AI: Practical use cases and trust building Siri AI quirks: Aggressive prompts and Genmoji Upgrade advice: Who should buy the iPhone 18 Pro? Sponsor segments: Justworks and Square Gen Z politics and Gastropod promo Apple Watch Series 12: Design and new sensor array Health metrics: Recovery HRV and ceramic materials Audio Intelligence: Live rewind and privacy concerns Music detection and AI feature availability Public perception vs technical reality of AI wearables Readiness score and daily energy tracking Health Age: Critique of the new metric Watch upgrade advice: Series 10, 11, and Ultra Outro and credits
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