In this episode of Basic AF, Tom and Jeff revisit all the Apple hardware they use every single day, 18 months after their last gear rundown. From Macs to iPads, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePods, and even a brief Vision Pro confession, they break down what’s still great, what’s aging surprisingly well, and what upgrades they’ve made along the way.

Jeff shares updates on his recovery journey, including walking unaided, writing again, and adjusting to double vision, while Tom heaps praise on the iPad Pro M5 and laments the quirks of iOS 26 battery life on his iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Other highlights include:

• Why the M1/M2 Mac lineup still punches way above its weight
• Whether the Studio Display’s nano-texture finish is worth it (spoiler: it depends)
• AirPods Pro 3 comfort after long-term use
• HomePod improvements thanks to quiet-but-solid AirPlay tuning
• Foldable iPhone rumors, realistic upgrade cycles, and what Apple still gets right

They wrap with a reminder to check out the important episode about Jeff’s stroke and recovery, and a tease for the upcoming Favorite Things of the Year show with guest Joe Moyer.

Links:

Support Jeff Battersby's Stroke Recovery

Teaching, B******t Jobs, and AI — Jeffrey Fisher

Stroke!: An Account of Jeff’s Symptoms, Recovery, and What You Should Trust in a Medical Emergency

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Contact Us

• Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com
• You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
• Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
• Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
• Tom has a new YouTube channel
• Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design

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Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.