Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

Episode: "Does Marques Hate OnePlus?"

Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Marques Brownlee (MKBHD)
Co-hosts: Andrew Manganelli, David Imel, Adam, Christian, Shen (guest)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a whirlwind of hot-button tech topics and personal pet peeves, living up to its tongue-in-cheek temporary rename, "The Crashout Podcast." MKBHD and the crew cover recent updates in weather apps, the controversial YouTube Music lyrics paywall, corporate Twitter beefs in the AI space, privacy-laden Super Bowl ads, and in-depth battery tech debates—capped by an insightful interview with HTC’s Shen. The show also embraces offbeat topics like customer service nightmares and hidden car Easter eggs, wrapping it all in the team's trademark banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weather App Saga & Community Recommendations

• [02:16 – 05:51]

  • Andrew revisits the ridiculousness of inaccurate weather apps, especially Google’s, sparking a segment on alternative app recommendations from listeners.
  • Breezy (via F-Droid) and OverMoro (built by a 14-year-old, available on Play Store/App Store) stand out for their design and feature set.
  • Lighthearted debate over the disappearance of Google’s beloved frog mascot, frozen Northeast cold snaps, and cultural acclimatization to weather.

  “Thank you for all the weather suggestions. Now I just need the weather to not suck so I can look at the apps more happily.” – Andrew [04:32]

2. YouTube Music Lyrics—Now Premium?

• [06:09 – 11:46]

  • The crew reacts to Google’s controversial move: requiring a YouTube Premium subscription to view song lyrics.
  • Poll results: Nearly 28% of users would pay for this feature, shocking the team (“Way more than I expected.” – Andrew [07:35]).
  • Most admit they just Google lyrics and aren’t personally bothered, but recognize it’s a popular in-app feature, especially for impromptu karaoke.
  • Broader conversation about the growing trend of paywalls—“everything is going premium”—and the nature of music discovery.

  “I kind of like just pretending like I know what the lyrics are and mumbling through.” – Andrew [07:54]

3. YouTube Apps: Vision Pro & Platform Expansion

• [12:02 – 13:20]
  • YouTube finally launches a native app for Apple Vision Pro, easing previous hurdles with browser-only access.
  • Brief debate: Is it a big deal? Probably not for most, but some see the potential of “ultimate flight theater.”
  • Noted: Vision Pro’s tiny market, the demise of indie Vision Pro YouTube clients, and playful wish-listing of crazy features.

4. Super Bowl: AI & Surveillance Ads that ‘Crash Out’ the Internet

• [14:25 – 37:18]

a) AI Ads & Corporate Twitter Beef

• Anthropic runs Super Bowl ads mocking the concept of ads in ChatGPT, featuring darkly comedic therapy/AI exchanges devolving into awkward “sponsored suggestions.”
• Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO) responds with an “11-paragraph Twitter essay,” fueling ridicule and the so-called Streisand Effect:

  “He pooped 11 paragraphs of poop.” – Christian [16:32]

• Discussion veers into companies publicly taunting each other in ads (Samsung’s “Notch” campaigns), the trend for AI CEOs to be extremely online, and the danger of giving opponents free publicity.

b) Ads in ChatGPT—What’s Really Happening?

• [19:00+]

• Contradictory messaging: OpenAI claims user data is not shared with advertisers, but press releases (e.g., from Target and Williams Sonoma) boast about 'reaching customers in their decision-making moments' by matching ads to chat context.
• Marques explains the likely “firewall” system, akin to Google AdWords—not direct data sharing, but still deeply targeted based on prompts.
• Christian is sharply critical of Sam Altman, calling him "the biggest liar of all," expressing deep skepticism for corporate promises about privacy.

5. Surveillance Tech Goes Mainstream: Ring, Amazon, Discord

• [29:29 – 45:07]

a) Ring & Flock Cameras: Pet Search or Privacy Invasion?

• Amazon’s Super Bowl ad celebrates pet-finding via networked Ring/Flock cameras, sparking heated critique.
• The real concern: it’s a surveillance network by another name, with default-on 'neighborhood' features and troubling data-sharing with law enforcement.
• Jokes about Seinfeld technology tests: “If it ruins a Seinfeld plot, it’s good tech. If it creates a Seinfeld plot, it’s bad tech.”
• Counterpoint: Tech is sold via emotionally resonant features (finding pets), making people ignore or not understand privacy implications.

“This is an Amazon...that just has security cameras all over the country.” – David [35:12]

b) Discord’s Age-Gating via Face Scan

• Upcoming requirement: “If we think you’re a child, scan your face or upload ID for age verification.”
• Retro-gamer joke: “If you know Teamspeak, you probably won’t have to do age verification.” (Andrew [41:29])
• Everyone agrees: the move is unpopular, likely ineffective, and raises concerns over privacy and potential circumvention via 3D models.
• Teamspeak and other retro alternatives may temporarily benefit from ‘mass exodus’ threats.

6. "Does Marques Hate OnePlus?" – The Silicon Carbon Battery Debate

• [52:04 – 78:41]

a) Why Aren’t All Smartphone Companies Using Silicon Carbon Batteries?

• Marques addresses accusations of being anti-OnePlus, clarifies that he loves silicon carbon batteries (and uses a OnePlus phone), but made a video explaining corporate risk assessments stalling adoption at giants like Samsung and Apple.
• Criticisms of the video (spicy thumbnail, no direct company attributions) are tackled; intent was to inform, not campaign against new battery tech.

b) Interview: Shen from HTC on Batteries and Corporate Risk

• [55:32 – 70:07]

  • Shen explains complexities: safety testing, risk of “thermal runaway,” charge cycle trade-offs, and vendor sourcing issues for new battery technologies.

  • Not all companies are equally risk-tolerant—market leaders have more to lose and prioritize reliability and risk management.

  • Key trade-off levers: capacity, charging speed, longevity. Every choice impacts the others.

    “Every lever is just a trade-off with something else.” – Marques [68:29]

  • Longevity and safety are non-negotiable for mainstream vendors; emerging tech requires time, data, and multi-sourcing before mass adoption.

c) Aftermath and Evolution

• Improvements in silicon carbon chemistry have happened even in the past two years—once long-term data is available, wider adoption will follow.

• The shadow of the Note 7 battery recalls still haunts manufacturers and narrows their risk appetite.

  “If 1% of Samsung phones have battery issues, that's a way bigger story than 1% of Google phones.” – David [73:15]

7. EV Segment: Rivian R2 Unveiled, Ferrari’s EV Interior, and Easter Eggs

• [81:30 – 97:02]

a) Rivian R2 First Impressions

• The much-anticipated R2 brings R1 performance and personality to a lower price; team praises nimbleness, build, and Easter eggs (hidden maze, smiley faces, fun molding).
• Unclear pricing for top trims spurs speculation.
• Hilarity ensues: the team laments not being shown ALL the Easter eggs.

b) Ferrari’s Electric Interior: Designed by Jony Ive’s Firm

• Gorgeous individual components, but questionable overall interior design—retro-futuristic, Apple Watch-like screens, and lots of buttons divide the team.

• Discussion on “nostalgia poisoning design choices”; skepticism on how well these retro-inspired EVs will actually sell.

  “Each individual piece is sick...I hate the whole thing, though.” – Marques [96:19]

c) The Small SUV Wars: Excitement for Rivian R3

• Adam and David voice anticipation for the Rivian R3 (even smaller, more city-friendly), despite multi-year waiting lists.

8. BONUS: Internet/Customer Service Crash Out

• [97:07 – 112:28]

  • Andrew chronicles his multi-day ordeal with Xfinity after wind/ice knocks down neighborhood cables during the coldest weekend of the year.

  • Universal agreement: Customer service at big ISPs is infuriating, unaccountable, and a shining example of why competition is desperately needed in U.S. broadband markets.

  • Peak absurdity: being told you didn’t get an important email “because your Internet is out,” or promised technician visits for days on end with no-shows and no recourse.

    “Every large company is a bunch of cowards...they use customer service to just deal with all of it.” – Andrew [101:08]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On YouTube Music:
  "I think a lot of people didn't make it all the way through the video and just left with that impression." – Marques [53:12]

• On AI CEO Twitter Crash-Outs:
  "He pooped 11 paragraphs of poop." – Christian [16:32]
  "If I made a joke about one of you guys and you tweeted that long about it, I'd be like, damn I got him." – Andrew [26:25]

• On Batteries and Silicon Carbon Risk:
  “As a big company, whenever you look at new tech you’re going to want to try and second source everything… Sometimes it’s also more malicious. You have competitors in the space that will attack your supply chain.” – Shen [65:27]

• On Surveillance Tech:
  "If you can watch pets, what else can you find through this?" – Marques [31:01]

• On Xfinity:
  "What I would give for Verizon FiOS, who are probably almost just as bad." – Andrew [106:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:16] – Weather apps rant & recommendations
• [06:09] – YouTube Music lyrics go premium; user poll
• [12:02] – YouTube app launches for Apple Vision Pro
• [14:25] – Anthropic vs. OpenAI: Super Bowl ad beef
• [19:00] – ChatGPT ads and privacy/debate over AI advertising
• [29:29] – Amazon Ring/Flock cameras & privacy
• [41:29] – Discord’s face scan age verification
• [52:04] – “Does Marques Hate OnePlus?”: battery video uproar
• [55:32] – Interview: Shen from HTC on batteries and risk
• [81:30] – EVs: Rivian R2 review, Ferrari’s new electric interior
• [97:07] – Andrew’s rant: Xfinity/customer service hell
• [112:28] – Listener trivia and scoring

Episode Tone

Casual, bantering, and irreverent, the hosts oscillate between deep technical breakdowns and comedic takes, tackling internet debates and corporate shenanigans with candor. The mood is unapologetically “crashing out” (venting or going on rants), with gracious doses of self-awareness, playful jabs, and thoughtful dives into why tech products and companies frustrate—and sometimes delight—users and reviewers alike.

Summary in One Line

An episode loaded with personal rants, privacy debates, battery tech mythbusting, and corporate gotchas—plus a crash course in why being a tech customer (or reviewer) is never, ever boring.