EPISODE 46: TOUCHED BY MAC? Apple's Touchscreen Mac, M6 Refreshes, and the $400 Upgrade Question Apple finally brought touchscreens to the MacBook Pro, but is this the innovation we've been waiting for, or are we just paying more for something we didn't really need? In this episode of Tek With Josh, I'm breaking down Apple's latest announcements, discussing the problems with its first foldable phone, and looking at whether any of these new devices are actually worth upgrading to. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT: APPLE'S FOLDABLE DUO PROBLEMS Apple's new foldable Duo is already facing complaints about damaged displays, with some questioning whether quality control slipped during production. But could part of the problem be how people are handling foldable devices? As someone who's owned multiple Samsung Galaxy Z Fold models, I discuss the differences between foldable and traditional smartphone screens, why closing a foldable requires some care, and the trade-offs manufacturers make with cameras, battery life, and overall durability. THE OLED IPAD MINI The iPad mini finally gets an OLED display, an A20 processor, and a starting price of $699. It's a welcome refresh, but there's a catch. Despite getting OLED, Apple is still limiting the display to 60Hz without ProMotion. I discuss the new specifications, storage options, nano-texture upgrade, and whether there's enough here to make the new mini worth buying. THE M6 IMAC REFRESH Apple updates the iMac with its new M6 processor, but don't expect a redesign. The familiar colors and display remain, while the base $1,499 configuration still comes with only two Thunderbolt ports. I go over the processor options, memory, storage, and why Apple continues to leave out a larger 27-inch iMac or an iMac Pro. Is this anything more than another specification refresh? THE STANDARD M6 MACBOOK PRO There's a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with Apple's standard M6 chip, starting at $1,999. But should a machine with a base-level processor really carry the Pro name? I compare its specifications to the M5 Pro models, including CPU and GPU performance, memory, storage, and pricing. The newer M6 might have some advantages, but that doesn't automatically make it the better computer for professional workloads. APPLE'S FIRST TOUCHSCREEN MACBOOK PRO This is the big announcement. Apple finally introduces a touchscreen MacBook Pro with a tandem OLED display, improved brightness, Dynamic Island, and the return of the glowing Apple logo. There's also an option for up to 16TB of storage. But here's the problem. The 14-inch starts at $2,899, while the 16-inch starts at $3,399. That's a $400 premium over the traditional models, and you're still getting the same M5 Pro and M5 Max processors. I discuss why I'm not impressed with the pricing, what Apple could have done differently, and why a touchscreen doesn't necessarily improve a professional laptop. I've owned a Microsoft Surface, and even then, I rarely used the touchscreen for actual work. So why would I suddenly need one on my MacBook? SHOULD YOU UPGRADE? OLED looks great, and having a touchscreen might appeal to some people. But if you already own an M5 MacBook Pro, M5 Pro, or M5 Max, what are you really gaining? I discuss the lack of a major redesign, the unchanged processors, questions about heat and battery life, and why waiting for independent benchmarks makes more sense than rushing to preorder. THE BIG QUESTION: Are Apple's latest computers actually delivering meaningful improvements, or are we paying hundreds more for better screens and features that don't fundamentally change how we use our Macs? That's what we're discussing this week. Thanks for listening to Tek With Josh! If you enjoyed the episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss what's coming next. For more from me, including my books, podcasts, and other projects, visit: https://booksbyjosh.com I'll catch you in the next one!
