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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