This week — our hands-on, week-one reviews of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, Ultra 2’s new color + the Milanese loop controversy…

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This week’s stories:

Why you should choose iPhone 16 or 16 Plus over iPhone 16 Pro

• I’d like to save you between $200 and $400. It’s easy: Don’t assume you must buy an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max to get an excellent handset. The more-affordable iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are both brilliant.

iPhone 16 Pro: Not much new, but everything is better

• The iPhone 16 Pro is a much-refined iPhone. All the features that make the it pro have been improved.

iPhone 16 Pro users face intermittent touchscreen problems

• Some users report that their iPhone 16 Pros don’t properly detect all their touches and swipes, leading to a frustrating experience.

Don’t panic: Mysterious iOS 18 update for iPhone 16 is nothing to worry about

• Don’t be alarmed if your brand-new iPhone 16 prompts you to update to iOS 18 even though your phone is already running iOS 18. And also don’t freak out when you see a fear-inducing “Welcome to iPhone” screen after you update.

Apple Watch 10: The best gets gloriously better

• Larger, thinner, lighter and more lushly curvaceous than predecessors, the 10th anniversary Apple Watch is, technically, a redesign.

AirPods 4 review roundup: ANC really works without ear tips

• The first reviews of Apple AirPods 4 are in to answer the question, how well does active noise cancellation work without foam ear tips? The consensus: pretty well.

This week, it’s our live unboxing, hands-on and first impressions of the iPhone 16 Pro! Also, review roundups of AirPods and Apple Watch, and leaked details on the Apple Watch SE and MacBook Pro we didn’t get.

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com

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This week’s stories:

Video: Unboxing the iPhone 16 Pro

iPhone 16 Pro cases

• OtterBoxSymmetry Series Cactus Leather
• OtterBox Lumen Series with Camera Control
• Apple Clear Case
• OtterBox Defender Series Pro XT

AirPods 4 review roundup: ANC really works without ear tips

• The first reviews of Apple AirPods 4 are in to answer the question, how well does active noise cancellation work without foam ear tips? The consensus: pretty well.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 in black is what ‘Batman would buy’

• Rather than Apple Watch Ultra 3, we got the Ultra 2 in a “satin black” titanium finish. This might be more disappointing if early reviewers weren’t raving about the new color.

Apple Watch SE 3 now expected in 2025

• After two years, one might think a new Apple Watch SE is imminent but the Apple Watch Series 10 announcement on September 9 came and went with no mention of a cheaper little brother.

OLED MacBook still at least 2 years away

• Apple’s switch from LCD to OLED in its MacBook line isn’t moving quickly. A pair of respected industry analysts agree that it won’t happen before 2026.

This week, what we like (and don’t!) about the new iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, AirPods 4, AirPods Max and Apple Watch Series 10. AND — who won the event prediction game!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com

1Password Extended Access Management solves the problems traditional IAM and MDM can’t. It’s security for the way we work today. Check it out at 1password.com/cultcast

Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/CultCast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

This week’s stories:

iPhone 16 brings refined design, snazzy new colors and A18 chip

• The new iPhones feature an iPhone X-like rear camera design and upgraded internals for Apple Intelligence support.

Bigger iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max beef up cameras and AI processing power

• The new iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max handsets boast size increases, thinner bezels for larger screens, a leap in battery life and new features, including impressive camera and audio upgrades.
• Tweet showing Desert Titanium in a darker hue

Apple Watch Series 10 gets major upgrade, catches up with Ultra

• The all-new Apple Watch Series 10 is the slimmest Apple Watch yet. With a bigger screen, longer battery life, improved water resistance, and an optional titanium finish upgrade, it’s now a serious alternative to Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 now comes in black titanium, plus new Hermès model

• The Apple Watch Ultra 2 now comes in a new black titanium finish — apparently the only change.

Apple refreshes AirPods with two new fourth-generation models

• New fourth-generation AirPods are the latest models of Apple’s popular wireless earbuds.

Apple changes up AirPods Max colors, swaps in USB-C

• The minor updates include new colors for Apple’s premium over-ear headphones, tweaks to their active noise cancellation feature and the removal of the Lightning port in favor of USB-C.

Extra Ordinary: “It’s Glowtime” Predictions Results

• Congratulations to listeners Lane Gandy, TuckerJJ and Shane Lother.
• Harry Potter and the Stone
• An Open Letter To Steve Jobs — Fix Apple TV

This week, is it gold or bronze? The latest iPhone rumors have us worried… also, what you can expect from AirPods 4, the exciting new Mac mini, and OUR PREDICTIONS for the September event!

This episode supported by:

Listeners like you. Your support helps us fund CultCast Off-Topic, a new weekly podcast of bonus content available for everyone; and helps us secure the future of the podcast. You also get access to The CultClub Discord, where you can chat with us all week long, give us show topics, and even end up on the show. Support The CultCast at support.thecultcast.com — OR at CultOf9to5MacRumors.com

This week’s stories:

Mockup reveals iPhone 16 Pro gold titanium color

• A new render shows the iPhone 16 Pro in a gold titanium finish, rather than the bronze that was rumored previously.

AirPods 4 rumors: Dramatic change coming next week

• Here’s what to look forward to in new AirPods variants when they’re unveiled at the “It’s Glowtime” event on September 9.

M4 Mac mini might give up on USB-A entirely

• Reports suggest the Mac mini could finally get a new design this year. The revamp will make the overall machine much smaller, about the same size as an Apple TV.

More affordable iPad Magic Keyboard is in development

• iPad users can look forward to a less expensive version of Apple’s Magic Keyboard, according to information leaking out of Apple.

The CultCast “It’s Glowtime” Predictions

• Submit your own guesses