Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

The iPhone 17 Event!

September 12, 2025

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  • Apple's latest iPhone 17 lineup introduces ProMotion display and 256GB base storage to the standard models, significantly enhancing their value proposition. 
  • The new AirPods Pro 3 boast a redesigned ear tip for improved fit and a claimed 2x increase in Active Noise Cancellation, alongside the addition of a heart rate sensor. 
  • Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 receive battery life improvements and new features like enhanced satellite connectivity and a sleep score, while the SE3 becomes a compelling budget option with many Series 11 features. 
  • Apple's iPhone 17 Pro models embrace a "maximalist" design with an aluminum unibody, a new plateau camera housing, and a vapor chamber for improved thermals, while the iPhone Air prioritizes extreme thinness and battery life at the cost of features. 
  • The iPhone 17 lineup introduces a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera across all models and a 4x telephoto on the Pro models, alongside Ceramic Shield 2 for enhanced durability. 
  • The introduction of the iPhone Air, with its ultra-thin design and reliance on a separate MagSafe battery pack, signals a potential shift towards modularity and a focus on battery optimization as a core design principle for future iPhones. 
  • Apple is strategically moving 'Pro' branded features to non-Pro devices, starting with ProMotion and likely continuing with ProRaw photos, to maintain a tiered product strategy. 
  • The discussion highlights the evolving naming conventions and feature differentiation within Apple's product lines, particularly concerning the 'Pro' designation and its migration to more accessible devices. 
  • The podcast touches upon the potential for advanced filmmaking techniques with synchronized cameras and explores the growing integration of blockchain technology in finance through Ripple's solutions. 

Segments

AirPods Pro 3 Features
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(00:05:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The AirPods Pro 3 introduce a hybrid foam ear tip, a 2x improvement in Active Noise Cancellation, and a heart rate sensor for fitness tracking.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the redesign of the AirPods Pro 3, focusing on the new ear tip, enhanced ANC capabilities, the addition of a heart rate sensor, improved battery life, and the new live translation feature.
Apple Watch Updates
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(00:14:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The Apple Watch SE3 receives significant upgrades, making it nearly as capable as the Series 11, while the Series 11 and Ultra 3 focus on battery life and new health features like hypertension detection.
  • Summary: Discussion covers the updates to the Apple Watch Series 11, SE3, and Ultra 3, highlighting improvements in battery life, display technology, satellite connectivity, and new health monitoring features like hypertension detection and sleep scoring.
iPhone 17 Lineup Innovations
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(00:32:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The standard iPhone 17 gains ProMotion display and a 256GB base storage, making it a more compelling option, while the front-facing camera system is revolutionized with a larger square sensor enabling intelligent wide-angle selfies.
  • Summary: The conversation delves into the new iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and the ‘iPhone Air,’ focusing on the inclusion of ProMotion and increased base storage for the standard iPhone 17, and the innovative front-facing camera with its intelligent wide-angle capabilities.
iPhone 17 Pro Design & Features
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(00:49:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The iPhone 17 Pro models feature a maximalist design with an aluminum unibody, a new plateau camera housing, and a vapor chamber for improved thermals, aiming for a rugged, sporty aesthetic.
  • Summary: The discussion focuses on the physical design of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, including the return to aluminum, the new unibody construction, the camera bump design, and the addition of a vapor chamber for better heat dissipation, with comparisons to an “iPhone Ultra” concept.
iPhone Air: Ultra-Thin Innovation
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(01:09:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The iPhone Air prioritizes extreme thinness (5.6mm) and battery life through component miniaturization and a single camera, sacrificing features like an ultra-wide lens, stereo speakers, and advanced video capabilities.
  • Summary: This segment details the new iPhone Air, highlighting its incredibly thin profile, the trade-offs made to achieve it (e.g., no bottom speakers, eSIM only globally, single camera), and the reliance on a specially designed MagSafe battery pack to compensate for battery life concerns.
Pro Features & New Technologies
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(00:59:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Pro-level features like ProRes RAW video recording and Genlock sync support are introduced to the iPhone 17 Pro, enabling professional filmmaking workflows previously only possible with dedicated cinema cameras.
  • Summary: The conversation delves into advanced features for the Pro models, including ProRes RAW video recording, Genlock sync for multi-camera setups, and the implications of these professional-grade tools for mobile filmmaking and production.
Color Options & Design Choices
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(00:53:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The iPhone 17 Pro’s color palette, featuring orange, silver, and deep blue, is polarizing, with the absence of black or space gray being a notable departure from popular consumer preferences.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the available color options for the iPhone 17 Pro, with a particular focus on the controversial bright orange, and the implications of these choices for consumer appeal and design direction.
Filmmaking Tech & Score Update
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(01:29:58)
  • Key Takeaway: The potential for experimental filmmaking is significantly enhanced by synchronized camera setups like ‘gen-locked’ iPhones.
  • Summary: The conversation begins with a discussion about experimental filmmaking possibilities using synchronized iPhones, followed by an update on the podcast’s scorekeeping, clarifying a previous trivia answer about the Pixel’s DXO mark.
Apple Watch Faces & Trivia
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(01:30:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple introduced two new watch faces for the Apple Watch Series 11: ‘Flow’ and a modern interpretation of a regulator clock named ‘Exactograph’.
  • Summary: A trivia question is posed about the name of a new Apple Watch face, with participants guessing ‘Hermes’ and ‘Waypoint’ before the correct answer, ‘Exactograph’, is revealed.
Pro Feature Migration
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(01:32:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Apple is likely to continue migrating ‘Pro’ branded features to non-Pro iPhones, with ProRaw photos being the next most probable candidate after ProMotion.
  • Summary: The hosts debate which ‘Pro’ named feature is most likely to appear on a non-Pro iPhone next, discussing options like ProRes, ProRaw photos, and ProLog, and considering the naming strategy behind these features.
Blockchain & Culinary Scene
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(01:36:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Ripple is a key player in applying blockchain technology to finance, offering institutions solutions for faster, 24-7 transactions and digital custody.
  • Summary: The podcast includes sponsored segments discussing Ripple’s role in blockchain-powered financial solutions and the expansion of the culinary scene in Greater Fort Lauderdale with new Michelin-recognized restaurants, many accessible by boat.