Nothing Like a New Macbook!

Summary of Nothing Like a New Macbook!

by MKBHD

1h 49m•March 6, 2026
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Overview of Waveform Podcast — Episode: Nothing Like a New Macbook!

This episode of the Waveform Podcast (hosts: Marques/MKBHD, Andrew, David) covers a high-volume week in tech: Apple’s multi-day product launches, a surprise affordable MacBook (the MacBook Neo), new Studio Displays, iPhone 17e, Nothing’s latest phones and headphones, the shifting headphone market, and a broader industry discussion about AI scraping, SEO decline, and paywalled reviews. The hosts mix hands‑on impressions, practical buying advice, and market-level concerns about how AI is changing incentives for quality journalism/testing.

Key topics discussed

  • Team anecdote: weird Apple Motion save bug (incrementing X position) and in-studio workflow notes.
  • Apple product announcements (over several days): iPhone 17e, MacBook Air M5, M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pros, Studio Display + Studio Display XDR, iPad Air M4, and the MacBook Neo.
  • MacBook Neo: hands-on impressions of the $599 13" MacBook with an A18 Pro (phone chip), 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, four colors, and design/port compromises.
  • Studio Displays: new Studio Display + the new Studio Display XDR (5K 27", mini‑LED, 120 Hz, many dimming zones, cheaper than Pro Display XDR).
  • iPhone 17e: what changed vs 16e (MagSafe added, better storage baseline, Ceramic Shield 2, still single camera & 60 Hz display).
  • Nothing’s new products: Phone 4A, Phone 4A Pro, and Headphones A — specs, price points, and design takes.
  • Headphone market: debate about nothing’s audio, Sony/Bose/AirPods Max, and impressions of other entries (e.g., Fender’s new lossless-capable headphones).
  • Industry meta: ratings site (Ratings.com / Artings) putting deep reviews behind a paywall due to AI scraping and loss of organic search traffic; broader worries about AI overviews stripping incentives from deep testing and reporting.
  • Trivia and lighter banter throughout.

Highlights & main takeaways

  • MacBook Neo (biggest surprise)

    • Price: $599; 13" metal chassis; A18 Pro (phone silicon); 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage (base).
    • Ports: only two USB‑C (one USB‑3, one USB‑2), no Thunderbolt; keyboard not backlit; smaller battery (~36.5 Wh) but Apple-quoted battery life similar to Air when used with Apple apps/Safari.
    • Positioning: targeted at students, education, first-time laptop buyers — web/browser-centric workflows. Potentially disruptive vs Chromebooks and low-end Windows laptops in the sub-$700 segment.
    • Limitations: not for heavy video editing/gaming; 8 GB RAM and storage/swap behavior likely the key bottlenecks over time.
    • Recommendation: cross-shop refurbished M1 MacBook Air or budget Windows/Chromebook alternatives depending on needs.

  • Apple Macs & displays

    • M5 Pro / M5 Max MacBook Pros: significant GPU & AI gains (much higher GPU peak vs previous M4 Max; higher memory bandwidth and up to 128 GB unified memory on M5 Max).
    • Studio Display XDR: replaces Pro Display XDR with a more affordable, 27" 5K mini‑LED 120 Hz XDR model (many dimming zones, high peak nits). The non-XDR Studio Display saw lighter updates (Thunderbolt port) and remains a middling value.
    • MacBook Air M5: spec bumps (512 GB base, Wi‑Fi 7, faster storage) but some price adjustments.

  • iPhone 17e

    • Improvements: MagSafe added, Ceramic Shield 2, better storage options, C1X modem; base price remains $599.
    • Still single camera and 60 Hz display — great for buyers who want a simple Apple phone at a low price, but comparison shopping (refurbs / other phones) can yield better specs for similar money.

  • Nothing Phone 4A / 4A Pro / Headphones A

    • 4A: mid-range $350-ish (regional). Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, solid battery, Glyph design.
    • 4A Pro: $499 global — metal body, larger/bright glyph array, better cameras, 120Hz (sometimes 144Hz), 5,000 mAh battery, 50W wired charging; no wireless charging (metal body).
    • Headphones A: lower‑tier Nothing over‑ears at ~$199; ANC, long runtime claims (135 hours quoted but only in very specific codec/ANC-off conditions), looks polarized — some hosts like the aesthetic, others don’t.
    • Takeaway: design matured, pricing competitive; skip wireless charging expectations and test ANC/sound before buying.

  • Headphone/audio market

    • Ongoing debate: consumer preferences (comfort, ANC, battery) vs audiophile/reference quality. Many flagship ANC models have gotten pricier and mixed on sound; alternative brands (e.g., Fender’s new repairable/lossless-capable headphones) are interesting to watch.

  • Industry & journalism shift (AI scraping / SEO changes)

    • Ratings.com / Artings moved in‑depth lab reviews behind a paywall ($10/month or $45/year), citing:
      • Plummeting organic search clicks.
      • AI systems scraping and reusing test data without attribution or context.
      • High costs of testing and maintaining lab data (buying products, repeatable methods).
    • Broader concern: AI overviews can cannibalize discovery and revenue for sites that do expensive testing; many outlets are exploring subscriptions or new business models to survive.
    • Hosts pressed listeners: support the review journalism you value (subscriptions/memberships), cross-shop intelligently, and be wary of blindly trusting AI‑generated overviews without checking original sources.

Notable quotes & insights

  • “This is the Safari book” — MacBook Neo is built for Apple ecosystem/browser-first use (Safari/Apple apps optimize battery & UX).
  • “Please cross-shop a bunch of stuff” — on the non-XDR Studio Display and buying monitors.
  • “If you were thinking of buying a Pro Display XDR, this (Studio Display XDR) is what you buy instead” — about the new display replacing the previous $5k+ model.
  • Ratings.com statement summarized by hosts: AI scrapes lab results “often without attribution and without the context needed to interpret them correctly” — a central pitfall for longform review businesses.

Who should consider which product (practical recommendations)

  • MacBook Neo ($599): students, schools, first‑time Mac buyers, parents buying a simple, supported laptop for kids; people who mainly use browser, email, docs, iMessage and Apple ecosystem apps.
  • Refurbished M1/M2 MacBook Air or used higher-tier models: buyers who want better multi‑core/tablet performance, more RAM, or long-term “power” for heavier tasks.
  • M5 Pro / M5 Max MacBook Pros: professionals who need heavy GPU/AI/video performance or large unified memory pools.
  • Studio Display XDR: creative professionals who need accurate color, high peak brightness and 120Hz for pro workflows; the regular Studio Display remains a convenience buy (plug-and-play) but less of a value shift.
  • iPhone 17e: buyers who want an inexpensive Apple phone that makes sense in the lineup; not for those who insist on multiple cameras or higher refresh rates.
  • Nothing Phone 4A Pro ($499): buyers who value design and a unique aesthetic and want a strong mid-range smartphone; cross‑shop Pixel 10a and other $400–$600 phones for cameras and chip expectations.
  • Headphones A ($199): value-seeking buyers who want Nothing’s style and a basic ANC set — test ANC and sound; don’t trust headline battery numbers without context.

Action items / practical checklist

  • If you’re laptop-shopping at the $500–$800 range:
    • Compare MacBook Neo vs refurbished M1 Air vs best Windows/Chromebook options for your workflow.
    • Consider what apps you use (Safari ecosystem vs Chrome-heavy workflows — swap/perf differs).
  • If you’re buying a monitor:
    • For pro color/work: evaluate Studio Display XDR (5K, mini‑LED, 120Hz) vs alternatives; verify workspace real estate needs (27" 5K vs previous 32" 6K).
  • If you value deep, instrumented product testing:
    • Subscribe/support the review outlets you trust (memberships help preserve in‑depth testing).
    • Cross-check AI overviews against original test data when possible.
  • If you want headphones:
    • Try ANC and chosen codec (AAC/LDAC) in real life; ask for ANC demo and real playback hours with your common settings.
  • Stay skeptical of big headline spec claims (e.g., “X hours” battery or “Y× zoom”): check the fine print and test conditions.

Closing notes

  • The episode blends product-first hands‑on impressions with bigger questions: is Apple’s new $599 MacBook Neo a category disruptor? Are AI overviews and scraping destroying the incentive to do deep testing and longform reviews? The hosts recommend thoughtful cross-shopping, considering refurbished options, and supporting review outlets you trust.
  • If you value deep test data (printers, blenders, monitors, etc.), be prepared for more paywalls or membership models as review sites adjust to AI and SEO shifts.

If you want, I can create a one‑page comparison table (specs + who‑should‑buy) for the MacBook Neo vs M1 Air vs low‑end Windows/Chromebook options to help a quick buying decision.