Live at SXSW 2026: Can They Convince Marques to Shoot 24fps?

Apple Raises Prices on Everything!

Jul 3, 20261h 18mSummary

The hosts of Waveform dive into the unexpected and broad price increases across Apple's hardware lineup. They discuss how Apple recently adjusted the costs of various products, including Macs, iPads, Apple TVs, HomePods, and the Vision Pro, while keeping iPhone pricing stable for the time being. The discussion explores potential reasons for these hikes, highlighting the global rise in component costs—particularly the high expense of RAM—and the impact of the ongoing artificial intelligence boom on hardware manufacturing. The episode features an engaging debate over whether these price jumps are a temporary measure due to supply chain pressures or a permanent shift in Apple's pricing strategy. The hosts share their insights on why certain devices saw steeper increases than others, noting that products with higher volume may have been shielded while others absorbed the brunt of the cost to maintain margins. Looking forward, the team contemplates how these changes might affect upcoming product launches, including potential folding devices and future iterations of the Mac series. The conversation offers a thoughtful look at the current state of consumer tech pricing and the balancing act between innovation, cost, and market accessibility.

The Steam Machine is How Much?!

Jun 26, 20261h 28mSummary

In this episode of Waveform, the hosts celebrate being back together for their regular programming. The discussion kicks off with a lighthearted correction regarding the release of Android 17, as the team clarifies their earlier confusion over feature rollouts compared to previous versions and recent updates. The core of the episode focuses on the Slate truck, a modular, electric vehicle that has generated significant buzz due to its 25,000-dollar starting price. The hosts analyze the polarizing nature of the vehicle: while some argue that stripped-down features like manual windows and the absence of speakers make it feel overpriced compared to entry-level gas trucks, others appreciate its utility as a customizable, entry-level electric option for fleet work or basic hauling. The conversation touches on the logistical challenges of the design, such as how it utilizes pre-wired pins for modular accessories. Despite the excitement, the hosts remain cautiously optimistic, noting the history of ambitious vehicle projects that face delays before reaching production. The episode rounds out with a brief mention of upcoming game releases and the ongoing anticipation surrounding long-awaited creative projects.

Explaining the NBA in Tech Terms!

Jun 24, 20261h 53mSummary

In this bonus episode of Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast, the hosts step away from their usual tech beat to bridge the gap between professional basketball and the world of technology. Marques and Andrew are joined by fellow team members to explain the intricacies of the NBA using tech industry analogies, specifically tailored for those who may not follow the sport closely. The discussion explores the core pillars of basketball—dribbling, passing, and shooting—by equating them to essential software development processes like managing an IDE, testing code, and shipping final products. The group breaks down the structure of an NBA team by mapping player roles to executive functions, such as comparing a star point guard to a visionary CEO or a reliable defensive player to a key operations leader. They also touch upon the tribalism found in both sports fandom and tech brand loyalty, discussing the history of team movements, expansion, and the concept of "rebuilding." This engaging, lighthearted conversation serves as both a crash course in basketball culture and a creative exploration of how organizational dynamics translate across different competitive fields.

This is the Best Android Update Ever

Jun 19, 20261h 39mSummary

In this episode of Waveform, the hosts dive into a wide-ranging discussion on the current state of technology, beginning with a lighthearted recap of basketball playoffs before transitioning into critical tech analysis. A significant portion of the conversation focuses on recent user interface changes on YouTube, with the team debating the impact of removing visible subscriber counts on video pages and questioning the consistency of Google’s design updates. The core of the episode centers on the evolution of augmented and extended reality. The hosts provide a detailed breakdown of the latest AR glasses, specifically examining the technical advancements and design hurdles of the newest standalone models. They weigh the impressive engineering feat of packing compute and battery into a wearable device against the challenges of comfort, aesthetics, and practical use cases. By comparing these to other industry efforts, the team explores the ongoing industry struggle to balance bulky, high-powered hardware with the desire for human-centric, everyday wearable computing. The episode highlights the gap between developer-focused prototypes and the reality of consumer-ready products, leaving listeners with a grounded perspective on the future of spatial computing.

WWDC 2026: Is Siri Actually Good Now?

Jun 12, 20261h 51mSummary

In this episode of Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast, the hosts dive into the major announcements and atmosphere surrounding Apple’s 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The discussion kicks off by analyzing the shift in production style for this year’s keynote, noting a more natural, human-centric approach that included handheld camerawork and live scenes at Apple Park, contrasting with the sterile, highly polished presentations of the past. The team transitions into a breakdown of the software platform updates, which they characterize as an incremental, efficiency-focused release—reminiscent of the legendary Snow Leopard era. Key highlights include performance improvements, such as faster app launching and optimized file handling, as well as highly requested interface refinements like new transparency sliders for liquid glass elements. The hosts also explore the latest generative photo-editing tools, specifically testing the impressive capabilities of the new cleanup, extend, and spatial reframe features. These tools, which leverage advanced Vision Pro technology, allow users to manipulate perspectives and reconstruct images in ways that were previously impossible. The episode provides a comprehensive look at how these subtle, technical refinements aim to improve the overall user experience across Apple's ecosystem.

Apple Silicon Has Competition!

Jun 5, 20261h 34mSummary

In this episode of Waveform, the hosts gather ahead of the annual Worldwide Developers Conference to discuss the evolving landscape of consumer technology, specifically focusing on the rise of competitors to Apple Silicon and the latest shifts in the wearable market. A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the growing trend of device experimentation and the resurgence of traditional watch aesthetics combined with modern tracking. The hosts analyze the recent surge in popularity of the Fitbit Air, particularly noting the viral social media trend of users attaching traditional timepieces to the tracker’s strap. They delve into the utility of "wrist-maxing"—the practice of wearing multiple wearable devices—and the ergonomic challenges of placing trackers on the underside of the wrist versus the top. The discussion also explores the "Ollie Watch" project, which involves hacking a classic Casio watch to add rudimentary smart capabilities like Bluetooth connectivity and step tracking. Finally, the team touches on their personal experiences with various fitness platforms, debating the pros and cons of data tracking and the ongoing search for the ideal balance between functional smart technology and minimalist, distraction-free design.

Fitbit Air and Ferrari's Luce Fiasco

May 29, 20261h 44mSummary

In this episode of Waveform, the hosts dive deep into the recent launch of the Fitbit Air, contrasting its potential as a compelling fitness tracker with the frustrating software bugs currently hindering the experience. The discussion highlights the device’s appeal to users seeking an alternative to premium, subscription-heavy fitness trackers, while noting that the integration of Google Health Premium often feels intrusive rather than helpful. A major focus of the conversation is the problematic implementation of Gemini AI within the app. The hosts share examples of the AI hallucinating data, offering unwanted summaries, and failing to synthesize basic information from the user’s actual fitness logs. They argue that while AI could provide value, its current placement forces unnecessary text into the interface, cluttering what should be a glanceable dashboard. Beyond the Fitbit discussion, the hosts touch on various tech news items, including the ongoing frustration with Google Maps’ inconsistent speed limit displays and the complexities of review embargoes in the modern tech media landscape. The episode serves as a critical look at how software execution and AI integration can impact the user experience, even for hardware that shows significant promise.

Joanna Stern is PROBABLY Not a Robot

May 26, 20261h 14mSummary

In this episode of Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast, the hosts welcome guest Joanna Stern for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state and future of artificial intelligence. Centered around Stern’s new book, I Am Not A Robot, the discussion explores her year-long experiment living with various AI technologies to understand how they genuinely impact daily life beyond just the hype. The dialogue covers several key themes, including the evolving role of AI in consumer products, the integration of intelligent tools into healthcare, and the ongoing development of autonomous vehicles like Waymo. The hosts share their perspectives on the industry’s shift toward AI, comparing the "positive" potential of pattern recognition in fields like medicine against the legitimate concerns regarding job displacement and the ethical implications of constant digital surveillance. Beyond specific technologies, the hosts reflect on the transition toward a potential "post-smartphone" world. They debate whether wearables and AI-powered hardware will eventually replace our current handheld devices or simply augment them. Ultimately, the episode serves as a thoughtful look at our collective reliance on technology, questioning where we draw the line between useful personal optimization and the outsourcing of our human memory and experiences.

Google I/O: Oops, All Gemini!

May 22, 20262h 1mSummary

In this episode of Waveform, the hosts gather to discuss the latest tech developments, focusing heavily on the recent Google I/O announcements and a controversial trend in smartphone photography. The conversation kicks off with a lighthearted discussion about Google’s Magic Compose feature, with the team sharing successful real-world experiences where the tool effectively surfaced relevant photos from their libraries. The main segment of the show shifts to a critique of computational photography. The hosts analyze recent AI image-editing updates from both Sony and Google, expressing frustration over how modern algorithms tend to over-process images. By aggressively crushing highlights and lifting shadows, these tools often produce flat, unnatural-looking photos that lack depth and contrast. The team debates why manufacturers prioritize this "brighter is better" approach, theorizing that while it caters to users who view their phones primarily as utility tools for reading signs or capturing data, it often compromises the aesthetic quality of artistic photography. They lament the industry-wide move toward "hyper-HDR" looks and discuss the challenge of balancing technological progress with the preservation of natural-looking images in an era where software often overrides hardware capabilities.

The Android Show Recap!

May 15, 20261h 39mSummary

In this episode of Waveform, the hosts dive into the recent Android show, discussing the latest updates slated for the platform. A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the integration of Gemini Intelligence, which Google is positioning as a transformative "intelligence system" for Android. The team analyzes new features, including advanced screen reactions for content creators and deeper native integration with third-party apps. They also explore the controversial addition of a pause feature in digital wellbeing, designed to make users stop and reflect before mindlessly opening specific apps. The hosts also break down the major UI and functionality updates coming to Android Auto, which includes enhanced navigation visuals and the ability to view video content while parked. While they acknowledge the ambition behind these features, they express skepticism regarding certain AI use cases, such as booking concert tickets or ordering textbooks through Gemini. They debate whether such automated processes truly save time or simply bypass the necessary nuance required for significant purchases. The episode balances these tech discussions with the hosts' usual banter, including updates on personal fitness tech struggles and reflections on recent sports events.