iOS and iPadOS 26 bring many changes, including Liquid Glass, updated first-party apps, and new multitasking features for iPad users. On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I talk through these changes and share impressions of Apple’s latest iPhones, AirPods, and Watches.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
I’ve heard from a lot of people questioning why the iPhone Air exists. This is common from power users when Apple releases a niche product. In my mind, there are several good reasons why the iPhone Air exists.
1. There are a substantial number of people who want the lightest and smallest iPhone they can get their hands on. Those people are not as concerned with battery life and camera quality as they are with weight, and now there is an iPhone just for them. Just because it’s not for you (or me) doesn’t mean that there isn’t a market for it. While the iPhone Air doesn’t qualify as the smallest, it certainly qualifies as the lightest. Those people are not normally power users, but their money is as good as anybody else’s, and I’m sure Apple is happy to take it to give them what they want.
2. This phone gives Apple the ability to experiment with making the thinnest possible iPhone at scale. That’s an important skill to master because…
3. Apple absolutely wants to make a folding iPhone, and a lot of the technologies they use to make the iPhone Air that thin are going to transfer into that folding iPhone next year.
In this week’s episode: A look at iPhone Air repairability, some new immersive videos for Vision Pro, and the fifth season of one of my favorite shows is here! I also go over another round of Apple product rumors.
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The latest MacSparky Book Club meetup on Dave Gray’s Liminal Thinking had a lot of insightful ideas.
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iFixit has been at it again, and there are a few notes worth mentioning regarding the teardowns of the latest iPhones.
One of the big questions surrounding this phone was durability, but the titanium frame appears to render it just fine on things like bend tests. Moreover, once pulled apart, you can really see that all of the components fit in the body of the phone with the rest of the space dedicated to the battery. Impressive.
I expected the vapor chamber would be full of water, but it turns out that’s not how they work. There’s a single drop of water inside that makes it work.
It looks as if the sharp corner of the camera plateau is susceptible to scratching and losing its anodized color.
iFixit also took its testing techniques to the new TechWoven case. In short, it’s a lot more resilient out of the box compared to FineWoven. However, taking a razor blade to it cuts through the surface treatment, which leads to trouble. It sure is a good thing I don’t keep an exposed razor blade in my pocket.
Today’s sponsor is Fantastical from Flexibits. I want to share why their approach to calendar management continues to impress me after all these years.
You know that moment when you’re trying to schedule something and your brain works faster than your calendar app? That’s where Fantastical shines. I can type “Coffee with Sarah next Tuesday at 10am at Blue Bottle” and Fantastical just gets it. The natural language processing isn’t just a party trick. It fundamentally changes how I interact with my calendar. No more clicking through date pickers and dropdown menus when my brain’s already moved on to the next task.
What really sets Fantastical apart for productivity nerds like us is the depth of customization. Calendar Sets let me switch contexts instantly—I’ve got different sets for deep work days, meeting-heavy days, and weekends. The app automatically knows which calendars I need to see based on where I am or what time it is. It’s like having multiple calendar personalities that adapt to my workflow.
The integration game is strong too. Beyond the usual suspects, Fantastical plays beautifully with Shortcuts, which means I’ve automated calendar creation for recurring project types. The app handles conference calls brilliantly—whether it’s Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, the join button is right there when I need it.
One feature that doesn’t get enough love: the weather integration. Knowing if tomorrow’s meeting requires an umbrella or if that outdoor event might get rained out helps me plan better. It’s these thoughtful touches that make Fantastical feel less like software and more like a really competent assistant.
If you’re ready to stop fighting with your calendar and start working with it, check out Fantastical. They offer a free trial so you can experience the difference yourself.
Cognitive behavioral psychotherapist and author Donald J. Robertson joins Mike and me on this episode of Focused to talk about ancient philosophy as a tool for focus.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
While Stephen is busy with the Podcastathon, Sal Soghoian joins me on this episode of Mac Power Users to talk about the state of automation and the best way to get started with automation in 2025.
This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:
There’s a lot of chatter lately about Apple working on a new entry-level MacBook. The latest report from DigiTimes claims it could feature a 12.9-inch display and, more importantly, a $599 price tag. That’s right, six hundred bucks for a MacBook.
If true, this could mark the return of the plain old “MacBook” branding. Apple retired that line back in 2019, but it has always carried a certain charm. The old 12-inch MacBook was ahead of its time and had the right ideas: ultra-portable, fanless, and light. It was, however, during the Intel era and it was also underpowered, got too hot, and was overpriced. A modern spin with Apple Silicon under the hood could be the redemption story for the name.
The real story here is the price. At $599, this would dramatically undercut the current MacBook Air, which starts at $999. It would also make Apple competitive with Chromebooks, low-end PCs, and even iPads with keyboards. This isn’t just another MacBook, it’s the gateway Mac for first-time buyers, students, and maybe even Windows switchers who’ve hesitated at the $1,000+ threshold.
Think of it as a Mac mini with a screen.
Of course, to get down to $599, something has to give. The screen would be a little smaller than the Air’s, and the processor could be a repurposed A18 mobile chip rather than an M-series. RAM will almost certainly be at the bare minimum. Storage could start at 128 GB. And don’t expect a rainbow of color options; Apple will likely keep this simple to keep costs down.
A $599 MacBook will eat some into Air sales, but Apple may not care if the net effect is pulling in more users. It could also make some would-be iPad + keyboard buyers think twice. For years, the Air has been the entry-level Mac. If this rumor pans out, the Air suddenly has company on the lower shelf.
I’ve long wished Apple would bring back the ultralight 12-inch MacBook. I don’t think this is that machine. This one feels like it’s going to be all about minimal specs at a low price point. But Apple Silicon is that good. Even a “budget” version will likely feel fast and capable for most people. If Apple really does launch a $599 MacBook, I expect they’ll sell a lot of them and their owners will be happy.
In this week’s episode: The new hardware reviews are in, an updated batch of product rumors, and the Relay for St. Jude podcastathon is happening today.
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