9to5Mac Happy Hour – Details, episodes & analysis

Benjamin and Chance get hyped for Apple’s upcoming ‘Glowtime’ September event, discussing some last-minute rumors and leaks about the products on deck. They discuss the market for the rumored plastic body Apple Watch SE, the latest on the M4 Mac mini redesign, and the iOS 18 Sports app gets a feature it should have had from the beginning. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin checks in with Chance’s Vision Pro usage and rallies against the narrative that “AI” has somehow supplanted “AR”.

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The September iPhone event is official! Benjamin and Chance break down what they expect to see on September 9. Also, Apple releases iOS 18.1 beta 3 with the new AI photos Clean Up feature, an expansion of notification summaries, and Apple SVP Luca Maestri announces he is transitioning out of the CFO role. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance marvels at how Homebridge is more reliable than the official Matter integration for HomeKit. And Ted Lasso season 4 is all but confirmed.

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Benjamin and Chance answer some Ask9to5Mac questions to celebrate Happy Hour’s 500th episode, with commentary on upcoming Apple products, as well as some meta questions about the podcast itself. They also chat about the fact that Apple Podcasts is now available on the web, and how the rumored brown iPhone 16 is actually be in vogue.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Ask9to5Mac continues with questions about Benjamin and Chance’s career, and what could we imagine we’d be doing if 9to5Mac hadn’t panned out.

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Benjamin and Chance get excited about the news of an enticing Mac mini redesign coming this fall, talk about the changes in the latest iOS 18 betas, and question the appeal of the rumored $1000 table-top HomePod device. Plus, Apple tries to appease regulators with new policies for iPhone NFC and external link outs in the EU.

And in Happy Hour Plus, we debate Apple TV+ movie performance in light of the news that Wolfs is no longer getting a wide theatrical release. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Benjamin and Chance give their feedback on the new features unveiled in iOS 18 beta 5, including Distraction Control and significant Photos app design changes. Apple oversteps the mark with screen recording permission dialogs in macOS Sequoia, the DOJ wins their antitrust case against Google, game developers report frustrations with Apple Arcade, and more.

And in Happy Hour Plus, we speculate on which model M4 Mac will be getting a big overhaul this generation. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Benjamin and Chance react to Apple’s September event, with full coverage of all the announcements from the keynote, including thoughts on the new iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. We try to forget the AirPods Max.

And in Happy Hour Plus, of all the new products, hear what Benjamin and Chance are excited to order for day one delivery. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and tvOS 18 are finally out for public consumption. Benjamin and Chance go through some of their favorite features from this OS cycle, and initial impressions on how the changes are being received. Plus, they react to the iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 reviews that dropped this week.

And in Happy Hour Plus, we anticipate how the average consumer will vote with their wallets this fall, amid some reports that claim the iPhone 16 is underperforming. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Benjamin and Chance share their hands-on reviews with Apple’s latest products, from the impressive noise cancellation in AirPods 4 to the useful — if fiddly — Camera Control on the iPhone 16 Pro, and the redesigned Apple Watch Series 10. The latest iOS 18.1 beta also includes some useful enhancements to Control Center and iPhone Mirroring.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Meta impresses with its Orion prototype, but shipping the AR glasses form factor is another thing entirely. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Benjamin and Chance discuss the latest Apple leaks of the week, headlined by details about Apple’s upcoming smart home display product, expected to launch in 2025. The iPhone SE and iPad Air are also getting refreshes early next year, and component leaks perhaps give us insight into what Apple is planning for its cheaper Apple Vision Pro headset.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin struggles with the trials and tribulations of choosing a new Wi-Fi router to buy. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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Benjamin and Chance get excited for Apple’s upcoming product launches, which we are now expecting for the end of the month. The base model M4 MacBook Pro might even have fully leaked on the web. iOS 18.1 beta 6 brings some nice refinements, and more high-profile Apple execs are retiring from their posts.

And in Happy Hour Plus, the duo discuss Apple’s decision to put TV+ as a channel inside Amazon Prime Video. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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