Overview of Waveform by MKBHD
This episode is a Techtober roundup focused on three major hardware drops: Apple’s new smart-home hub/display, Microsoft’s high-end Surface Laptop Ultra with RTX Spark, and Google/Fitbit’s new Fitbit Edge. The hosts spend most of the episode debating product design, pricing, ecosystem lock-in, and whether these devices actually solve real problems—or just make existing ones more expensive.
Apple’s HomeView: smart-home hub, display, and speaker
Apple’s new HomeView is the episode’s biggest topic and strongest source of debate.
What it is
- A 7-inch square smart-home display with a camera and speaker system
- Designed to be a central hub for:
- smart-home controls
- security camera viewing
- timers and Siri requests
- music playback
- recipes and Safari links
- Available in:
- a tabletop/base version
- a wall-mounted version
Main reactions
- The hosts liked the idea of Apple entering this category, but felt the execution was mixed.
- The pricing drew heavy criticism:
- both versions cost the same
- the wall-mounted version loses the larger speaker/base hardware
- mounting accessories cost extra
- The design was seen as less home-friendly than competing products:
- big black bezels
- sharp metal edges
- a bulky base
- They felt the product looked more like a small appliance/computer than a cozy smart-home device.
Smart features discussed
- Multi-user switching using facial recognition
- Can personalize content for up to six users
- Integrates with Apple apps and CarPlay-supported apps
- Works with Apple’s broader home ecosystem, including:
- smart lights
- thermostats
- cameras
- doorbells
- Apple TV/HomePod devices
Biggest criticism: the launch commercial
The hosts strongly disliked Apple’s launch ad:
- It felt anxious, chaotic, and overly negative
- Every feature demo came across as a problem or annoyance
- The family in the ad seemed to interact with the product instead of each other
- The ad was trying to show every feature at once, but ended up feeling stressful and unnatural
Overall takeaway
The HomeView seems capable, but the episode argues it’s also:
- too expensive
- too locked into Apple’s ecosystem
- too visually rigid for a lot of homes
- and launched with a commercial that did not make people want it
Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra: Windows goes premium
The Microsoft segment centers on a new Surface Laptop Ultra powered by RTX Spark.
What stands out
- Positioned as Microsoft’s most powerful Surface laptop yet
- Targets:
- AI workloads
- creative work
- 3D graphics
- local model inference
- gaming and heavy multitasking
- Starts around $2,600 and can climb much higher
Hardware highlights
- Magnetic USB-C power connector
- More ports than usual for a Surface:
- USB-A
- SD card slot
- multiple USB-C ports
- HDMI
- headphone jack
- Claims strong battery life even under heavy use
- Repairability is a plus:
- internal repair guides
- replaceable parts
- upgradeable storage
Discussion points
- The hosts see this as Microsoft’s answer to the premium MacBook Pro class.
- They’re especially interested in how it will compare to Apple Silicon in:
- AI performance
- creative workflows
- battery life
- real-world speed
- They also appreciated that Windows search is getting better, which would make the whole OS less frustrating to use.
Overall takeaway
This looks like a serious, premium Windows machine with a lot of power and flexibility—but it’s also clearly built for a very specific, expensive audience.
Fitbit Edge: a more polished Fitbit with a screen
The Fitbit discussion focused on the new Fitbit Edge, which the hosts see as a more modern, more useful Fitbit-form-factor device.
What it is
- A Fitbit-sized wearable with a screen
- Sits between:
- the Fitbit Air-style minimalist tracker
- and the Pixel Watch
- Priced at about $179
Key features
- 1.34-inch AMOLED display
- 7-day battery life
- GPS
- Fitness tracking features
- Google Maps support coming later
- Compatible with the Google Health ecosystem
Why they liked it
- It feels like a better fit in the lineup
- It has a more practical size than a full smartwatch
- The battery life is strong for something with a screen
- The new band options were praised as a major improvement
Confusion around naming
The hosts noted that Google/Fitbit branding remains messy:
- Fitbit and Google Health naming is still confusing
- They joked that a “Fitbit with a screen” is basically just a Fitbit
- They were more interested in the product’s utility than in the brand naming
Overall takeaway
The Fitbit Edge sounds like a smart middle ground for people who want:
- notifications
- health tracking
- long battery life
- and a lighter, less expensive alternative to a smartwatch
Broader themes across the episode
Ecosystems are the real product
A recurring idea is that all three companies are selling ecosystem integration:
- Apple wants HomeView to plug into iPhone, Apple TV, HomePod, and HomeKit
- Microsoft is tying Surface Ultra into Windows, AI tools, and creative workflows
- Fitbit is being folded into Google’s larger health and device strategy
“First-gen” premium products are getting more expensive
The hosts repeatedly noted how expensive these devices are relative to what they do:
- Apple home products and accessories add up fast
- Surface Ultra is clearly premium workstation pricing
- Fitbit Edge is the most approachable, but still part of a larger, fragmented ecosystem
Commercials and demos matter
Both Apple and Microsoft were discussed in the context of how they present their products:
- Apple’s ad for HomeView was seen as actively off-putting
- Microsoft’s demos were viewed as useful but somewhat unrealistic
- The hosts kept asking: Who is this actually for?
Extra segment: trivia and banter
The episode also includes the usual Waveform banter and trivia:
- a long Windows-update rant
- jokes about smart-home weirdness
- a trivia segment about old Microsoft hardware/software history
- some playful back-and-forth about Apple Watch use at weddings
These parts are mostly comic relief, but they reinforce the episode’s broader theme: modern tech is often powerful, but still messy, awkward, and weirdly specific in how people actually use it.