Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

The Apple Release Tier List

March 13, 2026

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  • The hosts strongly criticized the full-screen takeover volume UI in modern car infotainment systems, exemplified by a Subaru, as a significant usability flaw that hinders navigation. 
  • The introduction of Burger King's AI chatbot, 'Patty,' to monitor employee friendliness via headsets was met with strong disapproval, viewed as an invasive and miserable surveillance measure. 
  • In the initial ranking of new Apple releases for *The Apple Release Tier List*, the Studio Display XDR ranked highest for Marques' personal excitement due to its significant upgrade over the discontinued Pro Display XDR, while the MacBook Neo led public excitement. 
  • The Honor robot phone features a complex, articulating four-degrees-of-freedom gimbal camera that allows for anthropomorphic movements like nodding, raising privacy concerns due to its video feed being sent to Kenya for AI data labeling. 
  • Meta's Ray-Ban glasses AI features are enabled by default, sending video and audio context to human data annotators in Kenya, often without clear visual indicators to the user when the camera is actively recording for AI training. 
  • NBA player Bam Adebayo scored an anomalous 83 points, an achievement compared in tech terms to an unexpected, record-breaking benchmark result from a typically mid-tier device like a base Pixel phone, achieved partly by intentionally drawing fouls. 

Segments

Car Volume UI Complaints
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(00:02:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Subaru’s volume adjustment takes over the entire screen, obscuring navigation prompts, and uses an infuriating 38-step scale where the midpoint is 19.
  • Summary: The volume UI in the Subaru Forester is criticized because adjusting it causes a full-screen takeover, potentially hiding critical navigation information like upcoming turns. Furthermore, the system uses 38 discrete volume steps, making the halfway point 19, which the hosts find mathematically and functionally irritating. This poor implementation is contrasted with systems that use a simple side bar without numerical validation.
Adam’s WhatsApp Bug Update
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(00:05:45)
  • Key Takeaway: The proximity sensor issue causing WhatsApp audio problems on Adam’s device was resolved by switching from a Pixel phone to a Samsung S26 Ultra.
  • Summary: Adam provided an update on a recurring WhatsApp issue, confirming that the problem disappeared after he switched phones. The issue was likely specific to the Pixel device, possibly involving the proximity sensor activating incorrectly when Bluetooth headphones were connected. Adam has now switched to using the Samsung S26 Ultra for his weekly phone rotation.
Volume Step Granularity Debate
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(00:07:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite an internal study suggesting 38 steps is optimal for dynamic range, Apple’s 16-step volume system is cited as superior because the lack of visible numbers prevents numerical bias.
  • Summary: A Car and Driver report mentioned that Stellantis determined 38 volume steps provided the perfect balance of fine and coarse adjustment, equating to about 64 decibels of dynamic range. Marques countered this by noting that Apple’s 16-step system is highly effective because users focus on the desired sound level rather than being distracted by specific numbers, which can induce irrational biases.
Burger King AI Monitoring
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(00:13:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Burger King is piloting an AI named ‘Patty’ in employee headsets to monitor and score their friendliness based on phrases like ‘please’ and ’thank you’.
  • Summary: Burger King is testing an AI chatbot named Patty in 500 locations to evaluate employee friendliness by monitoring headset audio for specific phrases. While the AI could potentially help update inventory across kiosks, the primary function is constant surveillance of low-wage workers, reminiscent of the ‘pieces of flair’ concept from Office Space. The hosts believe this monitoring is an unnecessary and terrifying addition to already difficult fast-food jobs.
Apple New Product Excitement Ranking
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(00:20:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Marques ranked the Studio Display XDR as his personal number one most exciting launch due to its superior specs and significant price reduction compared to the older Pro Display XDR.
  • Summary: The hosts ranked the new Apple devices based on excitement, with Marques prioritizing the Studio Display XDR because it offers better specs (5K, 120Hz, Mini LED) for $2,000 less than its predecessor. The MacBook Neo ranked highest for general public excitement, followed by the iPhone 17e, while the standard Studio Display ranked lowest due to minimal changes like remaining at 60Hz.
M5 MacBook Air vs. Neo Advice
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(00:39:02)
  • Key Takeaway: For a general user like a college student, the MacBook Air remains the safest recommendation, while the MacBook Neo is positioned as the new default baseline for those needing slightly more capability.
  • Summary: The recommendation ladder has shifted: the MacBook Air is still the safest bet for most users, especially when considering parental purchasing decisions due to its lower price point and proximity to Apple service centers. The MacBook Neo is now the new baseline, capable of handling tasks previously reserved for older Pro models, but users must be convinced to spend the extra money for the Neo over the Air.
Honor Robot Phone Details
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(00:47:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The Honor ‘Robot Phone’ integrates a built-in, foldable DJI Osmo pocket gimbal mechanism, which creates a significant physical bump on the device.
  • Summary: Unveiled at MWC, the Honor device features a gimbal mechanism that unfolds from the back of the phone, allowing for four degrees of freedom stabilization. Honor claims this integrated solution is 70% smaller than the competition, likely referring to standalone gimbals like the Osmo pocket. The design involves a complex sliding and flipping mechanism to deploy the camera module.
Honor Robot Phone Gimbal Details
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(00:48:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The Honor robot phone utilizes the smallest four degrees of freedom gimbal in the industry, which creates a deep camera bump.
  • Summary: The gimbal mechanism on the Honor phone is significantly smaller than an Osmo, folding out from a plateau on the back of the device. The camera placement is unusual, with all lenses on the right side of this plateau. Concerns were raised about the physical stability (wobble) and pocketability of a phone with such a protruding, complex mechanism.
Honor Robot Phone AI Features
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(00:50:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The Honor phone is called a ‘robot phone’ because its gimbal acts as an anthropomorphic face that nods and responds to queries with sounds.
  • Summary: The device responds to voice queries by moving the gimbal to simulate nodding or shaking its head, effectively giving it a face. Developers are planning an accessory to clip the phone onto a backpack for POV usage. The phone uses a 200-megapixel camera, likely for extreme video stabilization cropping.
Ray-Ban Meta AI Privacy Scandal
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(00:54:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Meta is allegedly sending video feeds captured via Ray-Ban glasses, often when activating AI features, to data annotators in Kenya who are viewing highly private content.
  • Summary: Human data annotators at a facility in Kenya are reviewing video and audio feeds to train Meta’s AI, seeing intimate scenes, banking details, and private conversations. The indicator light does not reliably signal when the camera is active for AI context, meaning users do not know when footage is being sent off-device. Meta’s terms of service permit this manual review, and there is no opt-out for the AI data collection.
Google Play Store Tax Changes
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(01:05:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Google is reducing its Play Store tax rates, with most fees dropping to 20% or lower, and is launching a Registered App Stores program outside the U.S.
  • Summary: Following legal pressure, Google is changing its distribution fees, moving most developers away from the standard 30% tax. The rollout schedule for these changes spans from June 30th through the end of 2027 globally. This shift includes allowing third-party app stores to be downloaded easily outside the U.S., similar to downloading from Google Play.
Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game Explained
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(01:16:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game, the second most in NBA history, required an unprecedented 43 free throw attempts, highlighting the unique circumstances needed to achieve such a high score in the modern era.
  • Summary: Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards, a team actively tanking for draft picks, which influenced the game’s dynamic. The performance was characterized by an extremely high volume of free throws (43 attempts) and inefficient shooting from three-point range (7/22). This event is analogous to an unexpected, record-setting benchmark result from a reliable but not top-tier device.
WALL-E Acronym Trivia
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(01:33:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The character WALL-E stands for ‘Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth-Class,’ while EVE stands for ‘Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator.’
  • Summary: The hosts engaged in trivia regarding the acronyms for the main characters from the movie WALL-E. The comparison was drawn that WALL-E’s blocky design aligns with Microsoft, while EVE’s sleek design aligns with Apple. The trivia segment concluded with the correct definitions for both characters’ full names.