Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

Episode: Pixel 10 Leak Shows it Has Three Cameras?
Date: July 25, 2025
Hosts: Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), Andrew Manganelli, David Imel, Ellis Rover
Network: Vox Media Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, the Waveform crew dives deep into fresh Google Pixel 10 leaks that show a base model with three cameras, causing speculation about Google’s product lineup. They also cover Apple's new AppleCare One plan, changes to Google Tasks and Keep, a new CMF Watch 3 Pro, the Essential brand’s unexpected return, and the gaming hit Donkey Kong Bonanza. The show wraps with the monthly Crown or Clown segment, trivia, and an exploration into the world of lobsters. As always, the hosts keep the discussion witty, insightful, and relatable for tech enthusiasts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FBI Escobar Phone Scam Update ([02:10] – [05:50])

• Marques provides the final update on the infamous Escobar folding phone scam, where a Galaxy Fold knockoff was sold to consumers, who then never received the product.
• The FBI concluded the case. The main perpetrator, "Olaf," pleaded guilty to multiple fraud counts, facing millions in fines and up to 20+ years per count in federal prison.
  • "Good news is that he won't be doing this again. He won't be scamming people again." — Marques ([02:59])
• Quick reflection on how absurdity sometimes enables scams: "Part of how absurd it was was part of the reason some people got scammed... maybe he's just selling refurbished ones for $500, and they think they get the leg up." — Andrew ([04:41])

2. AppleCare One Subscription Plan ([05:54] – [12:17])

• Apple introduces AppleCare One: $20/month, covers up to three devices, additional devices cost $6 each.
• Benefits: Unlimited accidental damage repairs, 24/7 support, covers products up to four years old (limited-time promo, with health checks to prevent insurance fraud).
• Discussion about cost efficiency and family usability.
  • "You're going to save money." — David, responding to whether the plan covers multiple iPhones ([08:42])
• Apple is shifting further towards monetizing services with more subscription offerings.
  • "This is all part of Apple slowly just becoming more and more of a services company." — Marques ([11:16])
• Future speculation: Will Apple offer "Phone as a Service"? Similar to some carrier plans ([11:37]).

3. Google Tasks, Keep, and the State of Google Services ([12:17] – [16:28])

• Google continues streamlining its productivity tools. Reminders set in Google Keep will automatically appear as Google Tasks.
• Hosts commiserate about confusing integrations, missing cross-link features, and the recurring anxiety that Google will kill beloved products like Keep.
  • "I just want a plea to not kill Google Keep." — (Producer) ([16:36])
• Fun banter on bad Google UI choices, e.g., “generate image” replacing the more intuitive “upload from computer” ([17:17]).

4. Donkey Kong Bonanza: Gaming Hit ([18:37] – [22:38])

• Andrew quizzes Adam about the new Donkey Kong game (Nintendo Switch 2).
• Rave reviews from multiple sources; compared to Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Mario Odyssey.
  • "You could just walk around destroying things and that's it... like when you go to a rage room." — Adam ([19:47])
• The gameplay loop is described as both relaxing and deeply engaging, with open-world elements, puzzles, and destructibility.

5. Essential Brand's "Comeback" (or Not) ([37:34] – [40:43])

• The Essential phone brand posts "hello world" on social media, which excites old fans.
• Turns out, Essential is now used by Nothing for its "Essential Space" key, an AI data organization feature—not a phone relaunch.
  • "You really took a really amazing brand and just used it for an AI feature that nobody really likes." — David ([39:41])
• Brief nostalgia trip about what made the PH-1 phone special (teardrop notch, stock Android, slick design), its Sprint-only misstep, and the legend of Andy Rubin.

6. CMF Watch 3 Pro and the Nothing/CMF Product Strategy ([32:05] – [36:52])

• CMF (Nothing’s sub-brand) releases the Watch 3 Pro: $99 ($79 early sale), 1.43" OLED, 3 color options, dual-band GPS, ChatGPT integration, and AI coaching.
• The team notes CMF's inconsistent product names, dropped modular features, and general trendiness—a mix that is "making you scratch your head."
• The Watch 3 Pro drops the previous model’s swappable bezels and is not backward compatible with older replaceable parts.
  • "This is now CMF going back on a lot of replaceable parts... which kind of sucks. It's just a lot of e-waste." — David ([34:21])

7. Google Pixel 10 Leak: Triple Cameras on Base Model ([45:05] – [54:09])

• Google “leaks” its own Pixel 10 design: base model has triple cameras, raising questions about the Pro’s value proposition.
  • "If this is in fact the Pixel 10 and not the 10 Pro, then confirmed triple cameras on the base Pixel 10, which is a nice upgrade..." — Marques ([45:57])
• Ongoing confusion about differentiating base vs. Pro; speculation about whether both models will have the same camera count but better sensors on Pro.
• Discussion of rumored colors: Lemoncello ("piss colored"), Frost (muted blue), Indigo (deep blue), Obsidian (black/gray); the brighter colors are likely reserved for the base models ([50:27]).
• Playful theory crafting on whether Google itself is purposely seeding leaks to sow confusion ([49:41]).

8. Raindrop IO, Save-for-Later Apps, and Google Suite ([44:13] – [44:51])

• Marques shares his migration from Pocket to Raindrop IO after Pocket's decline—both are “save for later” services.
• "Now that [Pocket] is going away, Raindrop IO is essentially that." — Marques ([44:24])
• Brief gripe about Google Suite's untapped integration potential.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This is all part of Apple slowly just becoming more and more of a services company."
  — Marques ([11:16])
• "I just want a plea to not kill Google Keep."
  — MKBHD Producer/co-host ([16:36])
• "I think the real answer is whoever runs the Google India account doesn't talk to the person who runs the Made by Google account..."
  — Marques ([49:57])
• "Android user is such a toxic relationship."
  — Andrew ([53:48])
• "You can't be a pro and have fun at the same time. No, Apple’s proved that."
  — Marques ([51:55])
• "It looks like if piss fell into a nuclear reactor."
  — David, on the Lemoncello Pixel color ([52:30])
• Donkey Kong Bonanza described as a "rage room" experience ([19:47])

Segment Timestamps

• FBI Escobar Scam Update – [02:10]
• AppleCare One Discussion – [05:54]
• Google Tasks & Keep Merge – [12:17]
• Google’s Confusing Task/Reminder Ecosystem – [13:12]
• Fun with Google’s "Generate Image" Button – [17:17]
• Donkey Kong Bonanza Review – [18:37]
• CMF Watch 3 Pro – [32:05]
• Essential Brand’s Not-a-Comeback – [37:34]
• Raindrop IO & Save-for-Later Apps – [44:13]
• Pixel 10 Leak, Three Cameras – [45:05]
• Pixel Colors & Camera Prospects – [50:27]
• Pixel Design Wishlist + Upcoming Event – [54:09]

Monthly Segment: Crown or Clown ([59:20] – [67:00])

• Clown Nominees:

  • Sam Altman (OpenAI): For publicly announcing a data center expansion that will consume as much electricity as 4 million homes. ([59:43])
  • Olaf Gustafson: Escobar phone scammer—did a lot of crime for "not that much money." ([60:46])

• Crown Nominees:

  • Apple’s liquid glass UI progress/backtracked based on community feedback ("Beta 2 and beta 3...").
  • Donkey Kong Bonanza: The surprise gaming hit. ([66:06])
  • 23andMe data bought back from an insurance company.
  • Their own live show: "The live show is awesome." ([65:55])

Trivia & Tech/Lobster Facts ([26:23], [55:08], [71:01])

• Fun interludes with lobster blood ("clear"/colorless), lobster types in US waters, and a phone-reviews-identification game (Essential PH-1).
• Geeky banter about obscure animal facts, classic phone design quirks, and friendly ribbing over high/low trivia scores.

Tone & Language Notes

• The episode maintains Waveform’s trademark combination of deep technical discussion, rapid-fire banter, and pop-culture gaming references. Tech critique is informed but approachable; jokes about product names, colors, and company decisions abound.
• Quotable moments are often delivered deadpan, sometimes sarcastic, and always relatable for a nerdy/techie audience.
• Lobster and animal trivia provides offbeat comic relief, keeping things fun even as topics range from federal fraud to hardware e-waste.

In Summary

This episode captures Waveform at its best: exclusive leak analysis (Pixel 10’s three cameras!), playful banter about service plans, fresh product reviews, and the right amount of geeky humor—plus, all the lobster trivia you didn’t know you needed. If you want to keep up with the state of mobile tech and hear honest, irreverent discussion about the latest gadgets (and sea creatures), this one’s for you.