Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode ranges from charity fundraising and AppleCare follow-up to a deep dive on the iPhone 11 Pro and Apple Watch Series 5. Hosts discuss accidental phone damage, iMac repair surprises, the value of always-on watch screens, camera and battery gains on the new iPhones, NFC automations, and the persistent quirks of Apple’s hardware/software stack.
Main Topics: St. Jude / Relay fundraising update: They recap the September charity campaign, thanking listeners and Relay for a huge fundraising surge far beyond the original goal. AppleCare and service policy follow-up: Listeners clarify AppleCare Plus refund rules, post-purchase enrollment windows, resale value, and monthly renewal/lapse behavior. iMac repair outcome and hidden costs: Marco reports his iMac’s logic board replacement appeared to be covered at no charge, while the machine was restored from Time Machine with lingering trust issues. Apple Watch Series 5 battery life vs always-on display: A long discussion weighs the benefits of always-on screens against severe battery concerns, especially on the smaller watch, and compares digital vs analog watch faces. iPhone 11 Pro impressions: camera, battery, and controls: The hosts praise the 11 Pro’s battery life and cameras, while noting frustrations with 3D Touch removal, lock-screen interactions, and the limits of Portrait mode. NFC automations and ecosystem convenience: They highlight new NFC-triggered shortcuts in iOS 13.1 and imagine useful physical automations for home audio, car messaging, and AirPods/device switching. Peripheral preferences: mice and trackpads: The episode closes with a lighter discussion about input devices, with one host reconsidering a Magic Trackpad while the other seeks a replacement mouse.
Key Arguments: The Relay/St. Jude campaign deserves credit for the fundraising success; the hosts are mainly amplifiers, not organizers. AppleCare Plus is more flexible than many users realize because refunds are prorated and monthly coverage can continue for some devices, but missed monthly payments can end coverage permanently. The Series 5 Apple Watch’s always-on display is a transformative usability improvement, even if it consumes enough battery that smaller watches and heavier users may struggle to last a full day. Apple Watch battery complaints may be driven partly by iOS 13/watchOS behavior rather than hardware alone, especially after pairing with a new phone or changing watch size. The iPhone 11 Pro’s battery life is dramatically better than prior models, and the camera upgrades are meaningful enough that some users may rely less on dedicated cameras. Removing 3D Touch is a mixed bag: some workflows are worse, but the new long-press/action menus and text selection methods are acceptable or even preferable in places. NFC-based shortcuts are a promising new automation layer that can make common actions feel more intentional and physically grounded than voice commands.
Data Points: Relay/St. Jude fundraising total: $266,000 - Amount raised by the time of recording, far above the original $75,000 goal. Original fundraiser goal: $75,000 - Initial target for the September campaign. AppleCare post-purchase enrollment window: 60 days - Listeners noted AppleCare Plus can be added after buying a device within this period. AppleCare monthly lapse behavior: Permanent stop if a payment is missed - If monthly AppleCare payments fail, coverage cannot be restarted. Battery increase: iPhone 11 Pro: 15% - Corrected estimate versus predecessor battery size. Battery increase: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 25% - Corrected estimate versus predecessor battery size. RAM in iPhone 11 lineup: 4 GB across the board - Consensus from teardowns and system reporting. Geekbench single-core score of A13: 1,332 - Reported as faster than the fastest shipping Mac single-core score. Fastest Mac single-core Geekbench score: 1,262 - Highest score among current Macs cited in the discussion. AppleCare repair cost for iPhone 11 Pro back glass: $100 - Marco’s accidental phone drop led to a cracked back glass repair estimate. No-AppleCare repair cost for iPhone 11 Pro back glass: $550 - Estimated replacement cost without AppleCare. iPhone 11 Pro battery level late in the day: 53% - Reported after extensive use, underscoring strong battery life. Apple Watch Series 5 battery endurance on one day: 0% by 9:37 p.m. - A small cellular Series 5 wore down completely after a full day. Time until phone damage occurred: ~11–12 hours - Marco dropped the iPhone 11 Pro on the driveway the same day he received it. TimeMachine restore duration: Friday late afternoon to Sunday bedtime - Restoration from Synology Time Machine backup took multiple days. Store pickup time: 8:00–8:30 a.m. - Marco’s scheduled iPhone pickup window on launch day. Watch pickup appointment: 10:00 a.m. - Separate watch pickup slot that the store still allowed to coincide with the phone pickup.
Pivotal Quotes: "The always-on display is bigger than cellular." — John: Argument that the Series 5’s screen feature matters more than LTE for most users. "It is absurd how much battery power this thing has." — Casey: Praise for the iPhone 11 Pro’s battery life relative to older iPhones. "Apple cannot design an analog watch face to save their lives." — Marco: Critique of Apple Watch face design and limited customization for watch enthusiasts.
Implications: Listeners should expect major quality-of-life gains from iPhone 11 Pro battery/cameras and Series 5 always-on display, but also be prepared for battery quirks, Apple software bugs, and the practical value of AppleCare and new automation features.