Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast
Episode: “Apple Might Owe You Money!”
Date: May 8, 2026
Hosts: Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), David Imel, Mariah Zaki, Ellis Hamburger
Episode Overview
This lively episode of Waveform features MKBHD and crew discussing the latest Apple and Google news, their ongoing battles with gadget setups, a few user-centric hardware grievances, and a raucous game segment. Key themes include the evolving nature of desktop versus laptop setups, real-world grievances with recent Apple and Google hardware/software, reflections on thin smartphones, hotly anticipated Android updates, and a breakdown of Apple’s new AI model openness. They wrap up with a fun “Newlyweds”-style game and recap some viral internet moments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Marques’ Massive Desk Setup Overhaul (01:31–06:19)
- Motivation: Marques explains why he swapped out his discontinued Mac Pro for a single, powerful laptop.
- Laptop vs. Desktop Dilemma: He weighs the convenience of “one computer does all” (the new 16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro, 128GB unified memory) versus the advantage of keeping a studio desktop and portable laptop separate.
- User Experience: Marques praises the dream of a one-cable Thunderbolt 5 dock setup but bemoans lingering compatibility annoyances—especially his audio DAC not playing nice with the dock.
- Marques: “The dream is to have the one cable setup. I walk in with the laptop, put it down, plug in one cable, everything lights up.” (05:33)
- Marques: “Unfortunately, the Universal Audio DAC is really stubborn and refuses to work with the dock ... So it’s a two-cable setup for now.” (05:47)
- Experiment’s Timeline: Marques will stick with the all-in-one laptop until the next major MacBook hardware redesign, using this period as his “experiment.”
2. Thin Phone Fanaticism & Real-World Tradeoffs (06:26–15:57)
- David’s iPhone Thinness Journey: David recounts attempts to switch back from iPhone Air to Pro before a trip but is “totally radicalized” by the lighter, thinner Air.
- David: “I literally felt like I was using a Motorola track phone.” (07:47)
- Main iPhone Air Complaints: Camera capabilities and battery life.
- David: “The two things that are frustrating about the Air are the camera and the battery.” (07:50)
- Workarounds & Accessories:
- Camera Attachments: David uses a Kyra Camera (micro four-thirds sensor attachment) for telephoto/zoom photography, showing how modular accessories could be a future for “thin” phone fans.
- Battery Workarounds: Both discuss strategies for coping with limited battery life when traveling—including using laptops as battery banks.
- Philosophy: Thin, modular phones may be the way forward—if paired with the right swappable accessories.
3. “Did They Even Test This?” – Rants & Raves (15:58–25:27)
- User Frustrations:
- Google Tasks: Lack of filtering for future reminders.
- X/Twitter DM App: Confusion over why X launched a separate DM app with no security or functional improvements.
- David: “Was there any, like, press statement as to why they did this?” (23:25)
- Mariah: “X Chat is the only secure encrypted messaging app.” (25:38)
- Instagram DM App: Desire for a dedicated DMs app, with Instagram holding off.
- Modular Phones Throwback: Allison Johnson’s Verge piece is referenced, describing iPhone Air as a modern take on a modular phone—echoed by nostalgia for Moto Z’s failed modular ecosystem.
4. New Google & Android Features Incoming (25:28–34:52)
- Android Show Teasers:
- Major Upcoming Updates: Google’s Sameer Samat hypes “biggest Android updates ever” for the imminent pre-I/O Android Show.
- Design overhauls: Leaks of “luminous design”—a neon-esque visual style possibly reserved for Gemini AI integrations—on top of Material You.
- Hardware Rumors: Speculation about future Pixel laptops and new desktop features.
- AI-Gemini Integration in Google Home 3.1:
- Enhanced chaining of voice commands/routines using natural language.
- Improved handling of recurring events and smart home device automations.
- Desire for Deeper Routines and Automations: Hosts praise Samsung’s and Apple’s automations, urge Google to build out its own shortcut/routine ecosystem.
5. Apple News – AI Model Flexibility & Class Action Payouts (34:52–42:24)
- Apple Intelligence Model Choice (34:52–39:32):
- Rumor: iOS 27 will allow users to select which third-party AI model (e.g., Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT) handles which tasks (Siri, writing tools, image generation, etc).
- Marques: “Apple would have to basically create an entire additional company within Apple just to keep up… so it makes more sense to just be the compute company that runs the models.” (35:45)
- User Interface Questions: Concerns over practical UI/UX (how easy will it be to configure?).
- Subscription Questions: Usage limits/integration with paid accounts.
- Industry Effect: Apple is positioning itself as a neutral “AI compute” hardware platform.
- Apple Class Action Lawsuit – Siri Not Living Up to Promises (41:17–42:24):
- Settlement: Apple to pay iPhone 15 Pro/16 users $25–$95 each for overselling Siri/AI features that weren’t delivered.
- Marques: “Give me my $12.”
- David: “This is a story from The Verge... Apple spokesperson... said the company decided to settle so they could focus on building innovative products for their users.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Marques, on setup struggles: “It took me four hours to figure out I didn’t like anything other than direct [connection for the DAC].” (06:19)
- Mariah (Sixers’ Fan Energy): “Being a Sixers fan is not about reveling in your endless wins … It’s about reveling in the journey and the storylines and the personalities...” (18:33)
- Debate—Read Receipts or Red Receipts:
- Marques: “Did you read it? No. There’s a receipt.”
- David: “You would never say, ‘This is a receipt of something I buy.’ You would say, ‘This is a receipt of something I bought.’ Because you did it in the past.” (64:06–66:09)
- David, on viral photo backlash: “Visual metaphor... I put it on social media—I said 2026—because it represents the fact that we are no longer playing things in front of each other. Now, everything you do is online.” (98:29–99:44)
Detailed Segment Timestamps
| Segment | Time |
|---|---|
| Desk Setup & Apple Hardware Decisions | 01:31–06:19 |
| Thin Phone Rants, Camera Mods & Battery Stories | 06:26–15:57 |
| Did They Even Test This? Rants & Retro Phone Mods | 15:58–25:27 |
| Google/Android: Next-Gen Feature Teasers | 25:28–34:52 |
| Apple News: AI Model Selection & Lawsuit Payout | 34:53–42:24 |
| Sixers NBA Playoff Glee | 16:50–19:58 |
| Game Segment – Tech Newlyweds | 46:30–94:19 (interspersed w/ ad breaks) |
| Viral Chess Photo and Media Literacy Rant | 97:07–107:44 |
| Trivia, Closing Comments & Outtakes | 107:51–115:12 |
Game Segment Highlights (46:30–94:19)
- Format: “Newlyweds”-style game; teammates try to guess each other’s preferences/habits.
- Memorable Game Banter:
- Guilty pleasure apps: [Pokemon TCG Pocket, Balatro, Twitter]
- Battery anxiety: “I get really anxious when my devices hit 64%.” (59:22)
- Read vs. Red Receipts: Spirited debate.
- Tallying unread emails: Personal shame on display.
- Fun basketball references: “Game seven,” “trip,” “Bibby style.”
Viral Moment – “Chess at the Chessboard” (97:49–107:44)
- David’s Photo Goes Viral:
- Picture of someone playing online chess alone at a physical chess table—captioned “2026.”
- Marques: Calls it a “visual metaphor” for digital disconnection.
- Backlash: Audience misses the metaphor, takes it literally.
- Mariah: “If we lost the ability to process, like, symbolism... that’s a problem.”
- Social media commentary on the erosion of nuance in mass online platforms.
Notable Trivia
- Chromebook Pixel 2013 screen size: 12.85 inches (closest wins)
- Old MacBook glowing Apple logo: Was illuminated by the LCD backlight, not a dedicated light component.
Overall Tone
- Engaging, irreverent, friendly: The group is clearly close, with a lot of jokes, friendly debate, and inside references.
- Tech-nerd deep dives mixed with playful rants and realism about the pain points of modern gadgets.
- Tight focus on real-world usability and pragmatic tech decisions.
Useful for Listeners Who Haven’t Heard the Episode
This episode gives you a sense of how top-tier tech journalists and creators balance hype versus actual product utility, how they grapple with new tech, and how the intersection of hardware, software, and AI is reshaping debates between convenience, openness, and reliability. The episode is loaded with practical stories, a peek into ongoing hardware experiments, and fun games that reveal the hosts’ personalities, quirks, and personal tech preferences.
For further context or detailed quotes, refer to the segment timestamps above.
