Did Apple Just Prove the iPhone Could be Cheaper? - WAN Show September 17, 2021

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Apple’s September hardware event, especially the iPhone 13 lineup and the redesigned iPad mini, while also covering LG’s massive new DirectView LED home-cinema displays, OLED burn-in concerns from using TVs as monitors, a Floatplane update about ending early access, and continued excitement around Linus’s Framework investment. The hosts mix product analysis with practical buying advice, skepticism about luxury tech, and business commentary on platform control and ecosystem lock-in.

Main Topics: Apple September event and A15 chip (Priority: 5/5): The hosts review Apple’s “California Street” event, focusing on the A15 SoC, iPhone 13/13 Pro, and Apple’s incremental performance gains. They note Apple’s comparison against competitors, slower benchmark growth, improved camera features, brighter displays, and ProRes recording on the Pro models. iPad mini redesign and pricing appeal (Priority: 5/5): The new iPad mini is treated as the standout announcement: squared-off design, USB-C, Touch ID in the power button, Apple Pencil support, and a starting price that makes it feel like a giant iPhone alternative. The discussion contrasts it with e-readers and older iPads. Apple Watch Series 7 and Sherlocking controversy (Priority: 4/5): The Watch Series 7 gets a brief rundown—larger display, stronger glass, faster charging, same price—followed by a broader discussion of Apple’s new swipe keyboard feature and the lawsuit accusing Apple of ‘Sherlocking’ a third-party app by copying its functionality. LG DirectView LED ‘home cinema’ displays (Priority: 5/5): The hosts marvel at LG’s ultra-large modular LED displays, their absurd scale, high power draw, and premium installation/support model. They question practicality, pricing transparency, panel failures, and whether such systems make more sense than projectors or even renting a theater. OLED as a desktop monitor and burn-in realities (Priority: 4/5): Linus shares firsthand experience using OLED TVs as monitors, including visible burn-in, auto-dimming behavior, hidden taskbar issues, and the compromises of using consumer TVs for static desktop work. This becomes both a product critique and potential content idea. Floatplane changes and creator support (Priority: 4/5): Linus apologizes for removing early access as a Floatplane perk, explaining they were months behind and failed to communicate properly. He promises more exclusives, behind-the-scenes content, and HDR downloads for members. Framework investment and open laptop philosophy (Priority: 5/5): The conversation revisits Linus’s Framework investment, with both hosts praising the product vision and arguing that modular, repairable laptops matter for the future of consumer tech. They also note ongoing AMD discussions and unofficial Thunderbolt compatibility.

Key Arguments: Apple’s CPU gains are slowing because mobile performance is approaching practical and physical limits; most users already have enough performance for daily tasks. The iPad mini is compelling because it offers near-tablet/phone versatility at a relatively low price compared with premium e-readers or older iPads. ProRes on iPhone 13 Pro is the most meaningful new feature for creative users, but Apple’s storage limitation on the 128GB model undermines full usefulness. Modular framework-style laptops are important not just as products but as evidence that consumers can support repairable, user-upgradeable computing. Sherlocking can be either natural platform evolution or predatory copying, but it becomes especially problematic when a platform appropriates a paid third-party feature after the developer has invested heavily. LG’s direct-view LED home theater products look impressive but are likely impractical for most buyers due to cost, power use, maintenance, dead pixels, and installation complexity. OLED displays are excellent visually but remain problematic as desktop monitors because of burn-in risk and aggressive brightness management on static content.

Data Points: A15 CPU design: 6-core CPU with 2 high-performance cores and 4 efficiency cores - Apple’s new chip in the iPhone 13 lineup A15 clock speed: Up to 3.23 GHz - iPhone 13 Pro A15 performance claim Geekbench single-core: 1728 - Mentioned iPhone 13 Pro benchmark result Geekbench multi-core: 4695 - Mentioned iPhone 13 Pro benchmark result iPhone 13 Pro RAM: 6 GB - Memory configuration on Pro models Other iPhone 13 RAM: 4 GB - Memory configuration on non-Pro models ProRes limit on 128GB model: 1080p only - 128GB iPhone 13 Pro cannot record ProRes at 4K 30fps iPhone 13 Pro peak brightness: 1200 nits - Display brightness increase iPhone 13/mini peak brightness: 800 nits - Display brightness increase iPad mini price: $699 - Starting price highlighted as a major selling point Apple Watch Series 7 price: $399 - Same price as Series 6 Apple Watch Series 3 price: $199 - Still available as an entry model LG 163-inch 4K display power draw: 4000 watts - DirectView LED home cinema spec LG 325-inch 8K display power draw: 16,000+ watts - Massive direct-view LED set spec LG 325-inch 8K display weight: 2,200 pounds - DirectView LED flagship display LG 163-inch 4K display weight: 556 pounds - Large modular display spec LG 163-inch pixel pitch: ~1 mm x 1 mm - Host explained large pixel size and viewing distance needs LG 5% spare modules: Included - Spare parts bundled with the DirectView LED system LG warranty/health checks: 3 years of total care health checks - Includes twice-yearly on-site checks LG health-check cadence: 2 per year - On-site display health inspections LG max brightness: Up to 1200 nits - High-end DirectView LED models FreshBooks claimed time savings: 46 hours/month - Sponsor read FreshBooks claimed payment speedup: 18 days faster - Sponsor read FreshBooks claimed ROI increase: 11x - Sponsor read Mystery water bottle discount: $10 cheaper - LTTStore Gen 1 clearance offer

Pivotal Quotes: "You either have an iPhone or you are some kind of caveman." — Linus: Sarcastic commentary on Apple’s tendency to compare against competitors only when convenient "If you record video on your phone, like now that Apple supports ProRes, giving you the flexibility to grade your footage and post... this is, in my opinion, the biggest part of this announcement." — Linus: Assessment of the iPhone 13 Pro’s most important new feature "I would rather have this iPad for twice as much." — Linus: Comparison between the new iPad mini and premium e-readers

Implications: The episode reinforces that consumers are hitting diminishing returns in mainstream mobile hardware, while niche value is shifting to usability, repairability, and ecosystem convenience. It also suggests premium AV and modular computing markets may grow through enthusiast-driven demand, not mass adoption.