Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: Phones Will Cost More, but This Camera Is Free?
Date: January 16, 2026
Hosts: Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), Andrew Liszewski, David Imel, Ellis Hamburger, David Pierce

Overview

This Waveform episode tackles pressing changes in the tech landscape, focusing on rising costs in smartphones, unique trends in camera and software markets, and an in-depth look at Apple’s surprising partnership with Google for AI. The hosts break down the economics, user experience, and repercussions for consumers, also injecting pop culture tangents, memorable analogies, and lively banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Golden Globes Add Podcast Category

(02:00–04:44)

• New “Best Podcast” award at the Golden Globes; winner: “Good Hang” by Amy Poehler.
• Hosts riff on the unclear process of podcast nominations and metrics.
• Quote (Ellis, 02:44):

  "Listen, it's been my dream ever since I was a little boy to win the Golden Globe. So I think we need Waveform to win a Golden Globe in 2027."

2. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: A Camera Phone or a Camera With a Phone?

(04:47–08:57)

• Xiaomi 17 Ultra is discussed as more of a Leica camera with phone features than a typical smartphone.
• Leica branding is nearly omnipresent on the device, overshadowing Xiaomi itself.
• Hardware: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 6800mAh battery, 6.9" 3500-nit 120Hz display, 90W fast charging.
• Camera ring with haptic feedback: a unique, tactile, fun (if slightly impractical) camera control tool.
• Hosts note the camera isn’t the “best” by technical measures but is a uniquely fun experience.
• Discussion of features like Leica's "Live Cinematography," “Ultra HDR Live," and the legacy of Leica's collaboration in mobile.
• Quote (David Pierce, 08:31):

  "I think it's a B+ camera. Weirdly, maybe not as good as the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. But it has way more fun stuff that you can do with the camera."

3. Apple Creator Studio Suite: Subscription vs. One-Time Purchases

(11:03–18:19)

• Apple bundles apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic, Motion, and Keynote into a subscription suite (Creator Studio) at $13/month or $130/year.
• Infinite updates policy for single-app buyers is retained "for now," unlike Adobe’s all-subscription model.
• Students get a significant discount: $3/month or $30/year (including iPad versions).
• Some AI features and content exclusives will be subscription-only, notably in productivity apps, not creative ones.
• Comparative costs to Adobe Creative Cloud (which is $25/month for students), and App value proposition.
• Quote (David Pierce, 13:10):

  "I'm giving Apple the credit now because...you can just buy one app and get infinite updates forever and that's still a thing. So I'm happy about that."

4. Tesla's FSD (Full Self Driving): Subscription Only

(19:21–20:53)

• Tesla will soon only offer FSD via subscription ($99/month), eliminating lifetime purchase options.
• Subscription noted to be 'transferable' between cars—previously, ownership was tied to the vehicle.
• Secondary market effect: cars sold with FSD retain value, but buyers can’t carry FSD license to a new vehicle.
• Quote (David Imel, 20:22):

  "If you bought it permanently, it was locked to your car. So if you sold the car...you couldn't get it on another Tesla."

5. Apple Partners With Google Gemini for Siri's AI Foundation

(21:56–29:02)

• Apple will use Google’s Gemini LLM to power new Siri and AI features, following a 'blind test' for model quality.
• Private Cloud Compute ensures personal data is processed with Apple’s privacy safeguards.
• Raises the fate of OpenAI/ChatGPT integrations in iOS.
• Discussion: Why is Apple licensing, not building, its own LLM? Is not controlling this “core” tech a strategic risk?
• Most users won't notice or care which backend powers their AI if it “just works.”
• Quote (David Pierce, 23:48):

  "If you're getting a Gemini foundation model and Siri gets this huge LLM reboot...why would we have the OpenAI partnership anymore at all?"

• Quote (David Imel, 28:55):

  "It's just a statement that Google's the best one and that's the one they picked."

6. Phones Getting Pricier: The RAM/MEMORY Squeeze

(38:41–41:17)

• Carl Pei (Nothing) warns that memory (RAM) price hikes will force phone prices up or specs down.
• Memory costs could jump 5x year-over-year for “top tier” devices.
• Previous similar predictions re: tariffs didn’t materialize fully, big brands can absorb shocks better than indie players.
• Companies like Samsung can offset with profit from other divisions (e.g., memory sales); smaller brands are most exposed.
• Quote (David Pierce, 40:00):

  “Phones forever have relied on prices going down for these things...this year, 2026, that’s not true.”

• Debates over whether Apple/Samsung will eat the cost or pass it to consumers, and if supply contracts insulate Apple for now.

7. Fujifilm X Half Camera: From Fad to Freebie

(48:11–51:48)

• Fujifilm X Half: retro-inspired, intentionally "bad" fun digicam for the Gen Z/Alpha aesthetic.
• Launched at $850 (“camera made to be bad”—includes light leaks, plastic build, portrait LCD).
• Because it flopped, retailers now bundle it free with the XT5 or sell it for $650.
• Commentary on how tariffs and shifting fads spike or crash device prices.
• Quote (David Imel, 50:11):

  “It’s so expensive. Really cool camera, really fun, really cute. But $850.”

8. Grok/Picture Manipulation & Platform Responsibility

(52:20–56:09)

• X (Twitter)’s Grok LLM enables easy AI image manipulation; immediately abused for deepfakes.
• Regulators in the UK/EU moving to force X to retain related records.
• Legislative moves: UK criminalizes malicious deepfakes; US introduces right to civil action.
• Hosts call out Apple & Google for not pulling the app in response.
• Quote (David Imel, 54:44):

  "Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook should have pulled this from their app store. As soon as this started happening."

9. Car Analogies: Corvette ZR1X’s Outlier Status

(63:03–70:35)

• The new Corvette ZR1X is the fastest American production car ever, with supercar performance at a fraction of the price.
• Tech analogy: Like a $550 OnePlus 15 with the world’s best camera, easily outperforming devices costing 4-10x as much.
• Side discussion on what enables such a leap in performance for the price.

10. Bonus: Fun Segments and Tech/Basketball Analogies

(70:59–79:57)

• Translating sports trades (“Trey Young trade”) into tech terms—comparing NBA player trades to hardware swaps among tech companies (e.g., trading the OnePlus 15 for a CMF Phone 2 Pro and accessories).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Apple’s Subscription Apps:
  “Honestly, like it feels crazy that we are even able to buy software once anymore. Like that seems magical that you can buy Final Cut one time for 300. It is a lost art.” – David Imel (14:41)

• On Apple's Gemini Deal:
  “It just means that's where it came from... Apple still retains the user. They control the user interface... So how much does it actually matter outside of the financials that they picked Google?” – David Pierce (26:56)

• On Carl Pei's ‘Phones Will Cost More’ Tweet:
  “I think Carl just taking the time to write this super long paragraph... is proof that the Nothing Phone is going to get more expensive this year and he's already making excuses for it.” – Ellis Hamburger (44:26)

• On the Leica-Badged Xiaomi:
  “It says the word Leica more than it says the word Xiaomi... That says a lot about what's going on here.” – David Pierce (05:09)

• Fujifilm X Half Analysis:
  “This camera feels like the R&D and design people—all of the money went to that. Because the app is also very good. When you transfer the photos... you can see the negatives and then they develop and then they turn into positives.” – David Imel (49:24)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-----------|----------------| | 02:00–04:44 | Golden Globes podcast category, nomination process | | 04:47–08:57 | Xiaomi 17 Ultra “Leica Camera” deep dive | | 11:03–18:19 | Apple Creator Studio subscription & software economics | | 19:21–20:53 | Tesla FSD moves to subscription-only model | | 21:56–29:02 | Apple Gemini partnership, LLMs, fate of Siri & ChatGPT | | 38:41–41:17 | Discussion of RAM shortages and implications for phone pricing | | 48:11–51:48 | The Fujifilm X Half “bad camera” and its wild pricing trajectory | | 52:20–56:09 | Grok LLM abuse, regulatory responses, and app store responsibilities | | 63:03–70:35 | Corvette ZR1X as tech analogy for value per dollar | | 70:59–79:57 | Translating NBA trades to tech world analogies |

Style and Tone

The episode embodies Waveform’s classic mix of deep industry insight, skepticism, and humor, often poking fun at both themselves and the absurdities of tech marketing and media coverage. The hosts highlight both user-centric and industry-level impacts, using rich analogies and listener-focused explanations.

For New Listeners

Expect an informative and lively discussion, spanning new product quirks, the economics underlying your favorite gadgets, evolving tech industry business models (especially around subscriptions), and topical AI/ethical dilemmas. You’ll come away with context for upcoming changes in product pricing, insight into what’s driving trends in smartphone and software markets, as well as some fun “if tech companies made NBA trades” thought experiments.