Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: No Peeking!

February 27, 2026

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  • The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's standout new feature is the hardware-based Privacy Display, which narrows the viewing angle by selectively turning off wide-emitting pixels, though this comes at the cost of halved resolution when active. 
  • The Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup pricing starts at $899 for the base model (now 256GB minimum), with the Ultra priced at $1,300, leading the hosts to feel the design is less unique than previous iterations. 
  • The Nothing Phone 4A teaser revealed a design aesthetic blending Nothing's clear look with Pixel-like camera placement, confirming a Periscope (Tetra Prism) telephoto lens and featuring an improved Glyph interface with seven stacked, color-coded indicators. 
  • The hosts debated the utility and implications of a touchscreen MacBook, noting that while Apple has historically resisted the concept, cheaper technology might drive adoption, despite concerns about fingerprints and the blurring line between laptops and tablets. 
  • The conversation highlighted the recent launch of Acme Weather by former Dark Sky founders, which offers hyperlocal forecasting with transparency on forecast uncertainty, including alternative possible futures. 
  • Discord reversed its plan to implement mandatory face-scanning age verification, delaying the feature until the second half of 2026 and promising alternative verification methods like credit card addition due to significant user backlash. 

Segments

WhatsApp Bug Report
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(00:03:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Pixel users experience WhatsApp voice messages pausing when the screen sleeps due to proximity sensor issues.
  • Summary: A bug on Pixel phones causes WhatsApp voice messages to stop playing or switch audio output when the screen sleeps, even with headphones connected. This issue is reportedly resolved by keeping the screen active while the message plays before pocketing the device. Listeners are encouraged to blame the app maker, Meta, for fixing this cross-platform behavior.
S26 Ultra Hands-On Impressions
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(00:07:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The S26 Ultra design is nearly identical to the S25 Plus, featuring a new Cobalt Violet color and aluminum rails instead of titanium.
  • Summary: Marques missed the Unpacked event due to a blizzard, but received the review unit via courier; the S26 Ultra looks very similar to the S25 Plus, featuring slightly thinner and more rounded edges. A major new feature is the Privacy Display, which blacks out the screen when viewed off-axis, customizable to specific apps or just lock screens.
S26 Pricing and Feature Comparison
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(00:20:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Samsung removed the 128GB storage option for the S26 lineup, forcing users into higher starting tiers at increased prices.
  • Summary: The base S26 starts at $899 for 256GB, the Plus is $1,100, and the Ultra is $1,300, with charging speeds increasing across the lineup to 60W on the Ultra. Samsung branded the charging speeds vaguely as Super Fast Charging 2.0/3.0 without providing wattage numbers on spec sheets.
S26 AI and Software Features
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(00:24:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Samsung introduced several AI features mirroring Pixel capabilities, including Call Screening and a feature called Now Nudge for contextual keyboard suggestions.
  • Summary: The new Bixby is LLM-powered, and Samsung is heavily pushing AI features like Creative Studio for image generation. The software suite includes features like Call Screening and Now Nudge, which suggests text based on conversation context, though the latter is noted as being poorly implemented on Pixel devices.
Nothing Phone 4A Teaser Analysis
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(00:34:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The Nothing Phone 4A teaser confirmed a Periscope camera and showcased a refined design with a prominent, functional Glyph interface stack.
  • Summary: The design features a desaturated red color option and a camera bar resembling a Pixel, blending silver, white, and red aesthetics. The Glyph interface now features a stack of seven boxes, with the bottom one red, capable of displaying timers and indicating recording status with a blinking red light.
MacBook Pro Rumors and Touchscreens
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(00:43:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Rumors suggest a late 2025 MacBook Pro refresh featuring OLED touchscreens, Dynamic Island, and redesigned macOS controls.
  • Summary: Apple might release M5 Pro/Max models soon, followed by M6 Pro/Max models later in the year with the new display technology. The touchscreen integration is expected to cause the OS to reformat on the fly for touch input, raising concerns about screen wobble and fingerprint resistance.
Touchscreen Laptop Debate
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(00:48:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The philosophical argument against touchscreen MacBooks centers on the potential for an on-screen keyboard to appear, which one host considers an unacceptable intrusion into the macOS experience.
  • Summary: One host primarily uses their laptop in clamshell mode, while others prefer touchscreens for couch or airplane use due to easier scrolling. The appearance of an on-screen keyboard on macOS is viewed as a hard line that should not be crossed. Apple is suggested to release a display coating to mitigate fingerprint issues on potential touch displays.
Quinn’s Polishing Cloth
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(00:50:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Quinn Nelson launched a large version of his polishing cloth, named Cloth Pro Max, capitalizing on the expected increase in screen touching from new touch-enabled devices.
  • Summary: The Cloth Pro Max packaging mimics Apple’s product aesthetic and includes a compatibility list featuring various iPhones, a Nintendo Switch, and even a CRT TV. The hosts acknowledge this as a smart move to corner the market for cleaning touchscreens. The cloth is noted for its brushed metal look and flat back, which is preferred for squeezing controls.
Touchscreen Laptop vs. iPad
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(00:51:15)
  • Key Takeaway: A touchscreen laptop risks blurring the distinct use cases currently maintained between a MacBook Pro and an iPad for users who own both devices.
  • Summary: The hosts speculate if Apple will implement iPad-like screen gestures on future MacBooks, noting similarities to existing trackpad gestures. The argument against a touchscreen laptop is that it removes the need for a separate iPad for many users who want one device for both functions. Steve Jobs’ past keynote comments against touchscreens and styluses are recalled.
Upcoming MacBook Rumors
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(00:52:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts anticipate the announcement of new laptops, including a rumored cheaper MacBook model, next week.
  • Summary: The expected announcements cover a whole range of new laptops and other products previously discussed. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Waveform to catch the coverage of these upcoming releases.
Samsung Trivia Segment
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(00:53:30)
  • Key Takeaway: The first trivia question asks whether the original Samsung Galaxy Z Fold or the original Samsung Galaxy Buds were released first.
  • Summary: The hosts briefly discuss the new Galaxy Buds design, noting the flat back and redesigned look, before moving into the trivia section. The trivia question specifically compares the launch dates of the original Fold and the original Buds. The Galaxy Buds are noted to have a new design with a flat back, which is preferred for squeeze controls.
Anthropic Claude Ad Read
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(00:55:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Anthropic’s Claude AI is positioned as a thinking partner for developers, capable of running code tasks directly in the terminal or handling file organization via co-work, while remaining ad-free.
  • Summary: Claude assists users in complex tasks like understanding chip architecture or debugging code, digging into problems rather than just summarizing. For developers, Claude code runs in the terminal for tasks like writing tests or refactoring modules. Anthropic guarantees Claude will remain ad-free, ensuring conversations are not influenced by paid placements.
Weather YouTuber Comparison
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(00:57:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Tech YouTube and weather YouTube share significant parallels, evidenced by numerous creators live-streaming blizzard coverage with camera feeds and precipitation totals.
  • Summary: Marques compares the content structure of tech channels to weather channels, noting the recent blizzard coverage filled his feed. Ryan Hall, a weather YouTuber, was mentioned for featuring a live feed of someone walking through New York City during the blizzard. The discussion confirms that weather content creators provide detailed, real-time coverage during major weather events.
Acme Weather App Review
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(00:58:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Acme Weather, from the founders of Dark Sky, is an iOS-only paid app that balances good aesthetics with accurate, hyperlocal forecasting data, including a Dark Sky timeline.
  • Summary: Marques received an early TestFlight link from a founder who left Apple, leading him to download the app immediately. Acme Weather features a good-looking interface, similar to the Google weather app, but incorporates accurate data sources. It includes a report feature for crowdsourced hyperlocal data, similar to Waze, and shows possible forecast variations.
Hyperlocal Weather Stations
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(01:05:41)
  • Key Takeaway: The concept of personal, networked weather stations exists, allowing users to contribute data to a localized network to improve forecast accuracy beyond regional models.
  • Summary: The hosts discussed the idea of personal weather stations that measure wind, barometer, and temperature, which can be networked with neighbors. This allows users to adjust data based on their distance from official weather stations, providing hyper-accurate readings for their specific location. One host suggested linking data uploads to cryptocurrency mining, dubbing it ‘Weather Coin’.
Discord Verification Delay
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(01:09:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Discord postponed its controversial face-scanning age verification feature until the second half of 2026 following intense public backlash over privacy concerns.
  • Summary: Discord faced significant heat for planning to scan faces to verify users flagged as children by their algorithms. The platform is now adding alternative verification methods, such as credit card addition, and plans to publish technical blogs explaining the verification systems. This move aims to rebuild trust after a previous data breach.
Samsung Trivia: Ocean Mode
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(01:11:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Samsung introduced a new Expert RAW mode for its phones specifically designed to capture high-quality images of underwater subjects like coral and fish, officially named Ocean Mode.
  • Summary: The trivia question concerned a new camera feature shown during the Samsung event for capturing underwater life efficiently. The correct answer, ‘Ocean Mode,’ was one of several similar guesses like ‘Ocean Pro’ and ‘Pro Mode.’ This mode is intended for use when snorkeling or diving.
Samsung Trivia: Fold vs. Buds
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(01:13:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold was released before the Samsung Galaxy Buds, despite the Buds feeling like the more established product line.
  • Summary: The Galaxy Z Fold launched on February 20th, 2019, while the Galaxy Buds (which succeeded the Gear Icon X) launched on March 8th, 2019. The hosts noted that the Buds felt like the more obvious answer because the Fold was a newer product category for Samsung.