A thin phone, and a harder question: when does design become the real reason to upgrade?
The episode treats the iPhone 17E as a straightforward value question, with David Price laying out what works, what does not, and who should actually buy one.

Apple talk with memory and judgment.
Macworld Podcast follows Apple news through the eyes of people around the ecosystem. It mixes hands-on impressions, buying advice, old Mac lore, and casual detours without losing the practical question of what any new device is actually for.
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Macworld Podcast is an Apple-watchers’ roundtable with the looseness of a staff conversation and the memory of a long-running publication. It moves quickly. One episode can start with a product review, drift into buying advice, hit an old Apple design mistake, and end in a reader-comment correction without feeling like it has left the room. Recent installments focus on iPhone 17e, MacBook Neo, M4 Max MacBook Pro, M5 MacBook Air, WWDC26, Apple TV rumors, the Mac Pro’s disappearance, and Apple’s 50th anniversary. The center of gravity is practical. The panel cares about chips, screens, cameras, ports, and prices, but it keeps asking what those details mean once someone actually holds the device or lives with it. That gives the reviews a useful texture. A thin iPhone is not treated as automatically better; it becomes a question of feel, tradeoffs, and who would pay for design over a better spec sheet. A lower-cost MacBook is not reduced to benchmark talk; it is compared with the cheaper Windows laptops sitting beside it in stores. The Mac Pro discussion works the same way, mixing lineup strategy with memories of older machines, including the 2013 cylindrical model. History is not decoration here. It is how the show explains Apple’s habits, overcorrections, and recurring product bets. The Apple 50th anniversary episode leans especially hard into that memory, with Jason Snell bringing stories from years around the company. The show also has a running relationship with its audience through Comment Corner, where feedback and corrections become part of the weekly rhythm. It can be messy. Names get mangled, closings get botched, and segments are sometimes shuffled in real time. That informality suits it. Macworld Podcast is best for listeners who want Apple analysis that sounds knowledgeable without being sealed off, opinionated without turning every rumor into a crusade.
Made for: Best for Apple followers who already know the broad news and want experienced conversation around what it means. It suits Mac, iPhone, and iPad users who care about buying decisions, product history, and the texture behind the specs.
What sets it apart: The show stands apart by combining current product coverage with Macworld context. It treats Apple history as working evidence, not nostalgia.
Macworld is the world's leading source for information about Apple and the Apple ecosystem. 882887 www,macworld.com email: [email protected] X: @macworld Threads: @macworld_hq Facebook: Macworld
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Hands-on testing, historical memory, and candid conversation make Apple's hardware and software decisions easier to judge in everyday terms.
Macworld Podcast turns Apple news and product reviews into loose, informed conversations led by Michael Simon, with producer Roman Loyola and recurring contributions from Jason Cross.
Apple anniversary memories meet botched sign-offs, so your tech talk keeps the seams showing.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A thin phone, and a harder question: when does design become the real reason to upgrade?
The episode treats the iPhone 17E as a straightforward value question, with David Price laying out what works, what does not, and who should actually buy one.
A Mac Pro-focused episode that also makes room for Jason's Studio Display XDR impressions.
Apple's removal of the Mac Pro from its site gives this episode its focus, and the hosts use it to ask what "pro" means in Apple's lineup. The discussion covers the Mac Pro's history, the old trash-can design, the realities of power-hungry Intel-era hardware, and how Apple…
A loose, memory-rich look at Apple's first 50 years.
Apple's 50th anniversary gives Macworld Podcast a simple frame for a conversation that leans hard into memory, newsroom history, and the career turns that shaped old tech coverage.
A practical Mac-versus-PC check that lands on feel, not just specs.
This episode treats a hardware chat as a larger consumer argument: Apple still seems to win on feel, cheap Windows laptops can look better on paper than they do in hand, and iPads have not replaced computers.
A year-end Apple check-in that puts Apple TV front and center, with Tahoe's UI quirks close behind.
Macworld's episode 963 looks back at Apple's 2025 software and services year, with Apple TV taking the lead. Tahoe comes up less as a headline and more as a source of UI complaints and small workflow annoyances that longtime Mac users will know all too well.
A grounded Mac review that weighs future-proofing against the upgrades people can actually use.
Macworld treats the M5 MacBook Pro as a purchase decision, not a headline. The discussion keeps returning to the details that still matter once the launch gloss fades: Thunderbolt 4 versus Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 6E versus Wi-Fi 7, and whether a three-thousand-dollar laptop ought…
A careful, practical read on AirPods Pro 3 and how they hold up in use.
Macworld's latest episode looks at AirPods Pro 3 in practical terms, with Jason Cross doing most of the hands-on reporting. The episode stays with everyday questions: battery life, the new heart-rate sensing, and how the buds behave alongside an Apple Watch during exercise.

Host Jack Rhysider narrates true hacking, breach, and privacy stories from the people involved.

David Pierce and Verge staffers cover AI industry news, gadgets, and tech policy weekly.

Aria Knight breaks down one AI case study per episode, from Amazon's biased hiring tool to TikTok's voice cloning.

Season-long reported deep dives into one giant company at a time, from Disney to Tesla.

Brian McCullough's daily tech news digest, mixing solo rundowns with reporter interviews.

The panel starts by covering the basics.
The Mac Pro disappears.
Macworld Podcast episode 977 marks Apple’s 50th anniversary by bringing back former Macworld editor-in-chief Jason Snell, who says he has covered Apple for “two-thirds of its existence.” The conversation centers on three live memories: Jeopardy, the original iPod launch, and the first iPhone briefing, including Jason’s detail that the iPhone was “warm” and that the Notes app was only a mock-up.
This episode is a catch-up discussion covering WWDC26 news, Apple TV rumors, and updates on Apple products like the studio display.
Mac reviews come wrapped in old magazine banter.
The hosts discuss Roman's review of the MacBook Neo, covering its features, design, and price, along with other Apple-related segments.
This episode discusses Apple's recent Experience Event, covering new releases like the MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, and M5 Pro MacBook Pro, with hosts sharing their thoughts and experiences.
This episode previews Apple's upcoming March 4 event, discussing expectations and predictions while inviting listener comments for future segments.
This episode discusses Apple's upcoming March 4th event, expectations for new products like MacBooks, iOS 26.4 updates, and AI-related reports from Mark Gurman.
The hosts discuss upcoming Apple product releases and rumors for the next six weeks.
The hosts discuss Apple's history with the Super Bowl, upcoming M5 chip releases, and what to watch on Apple TV.
A roundup of Apple-related news and topics, including recent events, Apple history, and reader comments.
A roundtable discussion about the current state, history, and future of the MacBook and Apple products.
The hosts preview Apple's product lineup for the second half of 2026, including iPhone and MacBook updates, and discuss Apple TV+ shows.
The hosts preview Apple's expected announcements for the first half of 2026, including WWDC and Apple TV+ shows.
The Macworld Podcast hosts discuss Apple's hardware releases from the past year, share listener feedback, and preview upcoming shows.
Episode 963 gets loose almost immediately.
The hosts discuss recent high-profile departures from Apple and their significance, plus an iMac story.
The hosts discuss rumors about a folding iPhone possibly launching next year, along with other Apple-related topics.
The hosts discuss what they are thankful for in 2025 regarding Apple products and services, with segments on Black Friday shopping and listener mail.
The hosts discuss Apple Silicon, including iPhone and Mac chips, and preview segments on Apple history and listener mail.
The hosts discuss Apple Intelligence, AI developments, and upcoming features, along with Apple TV recommendations and listener mail.
The hosts discuss the latest iPhone 18 rumors and listener feedback on the show's format.
Roman is sick, naturally, so the M5 MacBook Pro review comes through as a slightly wobbly but still useful panel chat.
This episode features a discussion with UK editor David Price reviewing the Apple Watch Series 11 and SE 3, recorded shortly after Apple's latest product release.
The hosts discuss upcoming MacBook rumors including touchscreen OLED and new chips, introduce a new segment, and briefly mention watching a Superman movie.
Jason has the buds, so Michael and Roman mostly let him drive.
The hosts share their first impressions of the new iPhone models, including the iPhone Air, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, after testing them for a few days.
The hosts discuss the latest Apple OS updates and await their new iPhones.
The Macworld Podcast team discusses their reactions to the iPhone 17 launch event, including what they liked, disliked, and plan to buy.
The hosts preview Apple's upcoming September 9 iPhone event, discussing expectations for the iPhone 17 and other announcements while sharing their excitement and anticipation.
The hosts discuss their recent vacation schedules and Roman's trip to Hawaii, setting up for tech news and Apple-related topics.
The Macworld Podcast previews Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, discussing expected announcements like new UI, gaming efforts, and Siri updates.
The Macworld Podcast team discusses their hands-on reviews of the new M4 MacBook Air and Mac Studio, focusing on incremental chip updates and minor features.
The hosts discuss the new iPhone 16E, its pros and cons, and who should buy it.