Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

iPhone 17 Reactions Live From Apple Park!

September 18, 2025

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  • The new iPhone Air's thinness and glossy sides are a significant design departure, aiming for a premium feel that surprisingly appeals to users despite potential battery compromises. 
  • Apple's introduction of 'Ceramic Shield 2' and the 'iPhone Air' highlights a strategic marketing approach of incremental improvements and new product categories that resonate with consumers. 
  • The discussion around the iPhone's overheating issues and the introduction of a vapor chamber suggests Apple is prioritizing thermal management for demanding tasks like video recording and gaming, addressing a long-standing user concern. 
  • The new iPhone 'Air' model is surprisingly light and thin, drawing comparisons to the Samsung S25 Edge, and its design is described as feeling like a 'control panel' or 'cockpit'. 
  • The introduction of the iPhone 'Air' and the expanded Pro lineup signifies Apple's diversification of SKUs, potentially simplifying recommendations but also introducing complexity. 
  • The satellite connectivity feature on the Apple Watch is highlighted as a potentially life-saving safety feature for niche activities like kite surfing, even if not a primary daily use case for most. 
  • The new iPhone 17 Pro's design language, particularly the 'plateau' camera bump and the new orange color, elicits mixed reactions, with some appreciating the aesthetic and others finding the color unappealing. 
  • The introduction of advanced features like potential cooling improvements for video recording and the integration of health monitoring in AirPods and Apple Watches are seen as significant advancements, though their practical benefit without an Apple Watch is debated. 
  • The discussion highlights a trend towards more integrated and potentially redundant health tracking features across devices, prompting users to consider their existing wearable ecosystem and personal preferences. 

Segments

iPhone Air Design & Appeal
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The iPhone Air’s ultra-thin design and glossy sides, reminiscent of older Pro models but in titanium, are surprisingly appealing to users, even with potential battery life trade-offs.
  • Summary: The hosts and guests discuss the new iPhone Air, focusing on its thinness, glossy sides, and overall aesthetic appeal, with some expressing a desire for it despite potential battery concerns.
Pro Model Design & Overheating
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(00:04:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The Pro iPhones’ new matte finish, aluminum body, and vapor chamber are designed to address overheating issues, particularly for demanding tasks like video recording, a significant improvement over previous models.
  • Summary: The conversation shifts to the Pro models, discussing the new design language, the return to aluminum, and the implementation of a vapor chamber to combat overheating, a problem experienced by users during intensive use.
Live Translation & Practicality
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(00:32:44)
  • Key Takeaway: While Apple’s new live translation feature is a significant technological advancement, its practical application and widespread adoption remain questionable due to its niche use cases and the historical unreliability of similar features.
  • Summary: The hosts and guests express skepticism about the practicality and effectiveness of Apple’s new live translation feature, questioning its real-world utility and comparing it to previous, less successful attempts by other tech companies.
Browser Wars & RAM Usage
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(00:37:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Safari’s efficient RAM usage and customizable interface make it a compelling alternative to Chrome for users who prioritize a clean, performant browsing experience, especially on Macs with ample RAM.
  • Summary: None
iPhone Air Design & Appeal
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(00:49:30)
  • Key Takeaway: The iPhone ‘Air’ model’s thinness and plateau-like design are polarizing, with some finding it ‘cartoonish’ while others appreciate its ‘cockpit’ or ‘control panel’ aesthetic.
  • Summary: The discussion revolves around the design of the new iPhone Air, with participants debating its aesthetic appeal, comparing it to other phone designs, and noting its striking lightness.
Live Translation Skepticism
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(00:52:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Skepticism persists regarding the practical utility of the new live translation feature, with concerns about awkwardness, latency, and artificial demos overshadowing its potential.
  • Summary: The conversation delves into the perceived effectiveness and implementation of the live translation feature, with participants sharing experiences and doubts about its real-world application beyond staged demos.
Short-Form Creator Insights
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(00:57:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Authenticity and genuine excitement about a product are crucial for short-form tech content creation, outweighing technical quality and focusing on what creators are truly passionate about.
  • Summary: A short-form content creator shares their journey and advice, emphasizing the importance of passion and relatable content over polished production for success on platforms like TikTok.
Smart Home Automation & Thread
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(01:11:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The integration of Thread protocol in new modems offers greater accessibility for advanced smart home automation, bridging the gap for users without dedicated hub devices.
  • Summary: The discussion explores smart home automation, focusing on the benefits of Thread protocol for easier setup and the potential for future wireless communication advancements, alongside the technicalities of Wi-Fi based location detection.
AirPods and Health Features
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(01:25:56)
  • Key Takeaway: New AirPods are rumored to include health features like blood pressure monitoring, sparking discussion about redundancy with Apple Watch and the evolving role of earbuds.
  • Summary: The conversation begins with a guest expressing excitement about AirPods and the iPhone 17, specifically mentioning a ‘woke out feature’ and blood pressure monitoring for the AirPods, leading to a discussion about whether these features are redundant for existing Apple Watch users.
iPhone 17 Design and Color
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(01:28:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The new iPhone 17 Pro’s design language, particularly the ‘plateau’ camera bump and the new orange color, elicits mixed reactions, with some appreciating the aesthetic and others finding the color unappealing.
  • Summary: The discussion shifts to the design of the new iPhone, focusing on the ‘plateau’ design and the new orange color. While some guests like the orange, others express a preference for more neutral colors like black or silver, and the design’s impact on the phone’s stability is also debated.
iPhone Air and Future Design
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(01:44:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The iPhone Air, a new thinner model, is perceived as a potential stepping stone towards future foldable phone designs, despite initial concerns about its feature set compared to Pro models.
  • Summary: Marquez introduces the iPhone Air, highlighting its thinness and lightness, and comparing it to previous thin phone attempts. There’s speculation that this design might be a precursor to thinner foldable phones, with discussions about its single camera, potential battery life trade-offs, and the inclusion of a Pro chip.
Flight School Tech Usage
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(01:39:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Flight school students utilize iPads with specific apps like 4Flight for navigation and performance calculations, emphasizing the importance of screen brightness and cellular models for GPS functionality.
  • Summary: The conversation briefly touches on flight school, where iPads are used with an app called 4Flight for navigation. The discussion covers the use of 11-inch Pro iPads for their brightness and the necessity of cellular models for their built-in GPS, even without a cellular plan.