241: ‘More Smarter’ With Joanna Stern

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Joanna Stern discusses Apple’s ecosystem through hands-on reviews and personal usage: Apple Watch bands, cellular Apple Watch value, fall detection, iPhone XR’s underrated strengths, battery cases, charging frustrations, and the new MacBook Air’s design tradeoffs. She argues Apple’s marketing often undersells the XR and overcomplicates product decisions, while the new Air is close to the laptop many users wanted despite keyboard and port compromises.

Main Topics: Apple Watch bands and third-party alternatives (Priority: 5/5): The hosts compare Apple’s Milanese Loop to cheap Amazon and Target alternatives, noting that third-party bands often look nearly identical or offer distinct styles at much lower prices. Cellular Apple Watch usefulness and setup hassles (Priority: 5/5): They debate whether cellular on the watch is worth the extra cost, with both agreeing they rarely use it and that carrier activation/cancellation can be frustrating. Fall detection and Apple Watch feature testing (Priority: 4/5): Joanna explains a major review video where she used stunt doubles to test fall detection in realistic scenarios, highlighting both the feature’s reliability and the challenge of demonstrating it in marketing. iPhone XR as Apple’s most underrated iPhone (Priority: 5/5): Joanna argues the XR is the best iPhone Apple has made in years, praising battery life, form factor, and value, while criticizing Apple’s marketing and the lack of emphasis on battery advantages. Battery case behavior and charging strategy (Priority: 4/5): They discuss the new Apple battery cases, their zero-charge shipping state, Qi charging quirks, and Apple’s continued inclusion of the slow 5W charger as a source of frustration. MacBook Air, keyboard, trackpad, and port compromises (Priority: 5/5): Joanna says the new MacBook Air is the laptop many wanted, but the butterfly keyboard, lack of MagSafe, and single-side USB-C layout remain pain points. Trackpads are praised; the touch bar is seen as unnecessary. Webcam security and privacy concerns (Priority: 3/5): Joanna previews a future piece about webcam covers and whether Apple’s mic disconnect guidance suggests broader privacy risks, including how much confidence users should have in closed-lid security.

Key Arguments: Third-party Apple Watch bands are often functionally and visually close to Apple’s versions, making Apple’s premium pricing hard to justify. Cellular Apple Watch is convenient in theory but not worth the recurring cost for most users who keep their phone nearby. Apple’s fall detection is a real safety feature, but marketing it is tricky because Apple avoids showing vulnerable older people falling. The iPhone XR is under-marketed: its battery life, price, and practical performance make it a stronger buy than Apple’s premium models for many people. Apple’s decision to keep bundling a 5W charger is outdated and slow, especially for users buying high-end devices. The new MacBook Air is highly appealing as a form factor, but keyboard reliability and missing MagSafe/dual-sided USB-C still limit enthusiasm. Trackpads on newer Macs are excellent; the haptic click feels close enough to a real click, but the butterfly keyboard remains divisive.

Data Points: Apple Watch band price comparison: $10 vs. $150 - Joanna says her Amazon Milanese-style band cost about $10 compared with Apple’s $150 version. Cellular plan cost: $10/month per watch - Joanna says she pays Verizon $10 monthly for her watch’s cellular service. Family cellular cost: $20/month - She and Amy each have cellular Apple Watches, totaling about $20 monthly. Replacement watch return time: 3 days - Apple sent a replacement Apple Watch after a dead watch failure, but it arrived after a short wait rather than in-store. Verizon support call duration: 57 minutes - Joanna spent 57 minutes on the phone to transfer cellular service to a replacement watch. Fall detection test effort: weeks in the making - Her stunt-based fall detection video required weeks of preparation and legal coordination. iPhone XR battery advantage: up to 1.5 hours longer than iPhone 8 Plus / iPhone X - They discuss Apple’s published battery-life claims for the XR versus prior models. XR internet use battery: up to 15 hours - Apple’s spec page lists XR internet use at up to 15 hours. XS Max internet use battery: up to 13 hours - Apple’s spec page lists XS Max internet use at up to 13 hours. XS internet use battery: up to 12 hours - Apple’s spec page lists XS internet use at up to 12 hours. Work anniversary: 5 years - Joanna mentions her five-year work anniversary at the Wall Street Journal. Video management tenure: almost 2 years - She says she spent nearly two years helping lead the WSJ video department. Friends cast residuals: $20 million/year each - A claim is made that the core cast still earns about $20 million annually from residuals due to Netflix popularity. Friends episode format: 40 discs - A complete Friends box set is described as spanning 40 discs. Phone storage example: 55,000 miles - Joanna notes her 2006 car has just surpassed 55,000 miles.

Pivotal Quotes: "Basically, the $10 Amazon band is just as good as the $150 one that Apple sells." — Joanna Stern: Summarizing her comparison of Apple Watch bands and third-party alternatives. "I think this is the best phone Apple's made in a really long time." — Joanna Stern: Her defense of the iPhone XR amid criticism that it was underperforming in the market. "I think everyone of all ages should have this thing turned on." — Joanna Stern: Her conclusion after testing Apple Watch fall detection extensively with stunt doubles.

Implications: Apple’s strongest products may be the ones it markets least well: XR, Watch features, and the MacBook Air all show real-world appeal beyond spec-sheet comparisons. Listeners should weigh daily usability over premium positioning and beware of recurring carrier/device add-on costs.