Waveform: Phone Prices, Awards and MMO Nostalgia

Phones and Apple’s plans

Phone prices and storage

The hosts discuss Galaxy S26 price increases, which they say bring the starting prices of the models up by roughly $100. They compare high-capacity phone prices and debate whether phones should bring back microSD card slots, noting that extra storage is a way for manufacturers to charge more and that cloud storage is subscription-based.

Rumored Apple home devices

The hosts discuss reports and leaked images of LG-branded home devices, including a smart lock and thermostat, with a doorbell and cameras also rumored. They consider whether these products are an Apple partnership or simply LG devices that will work with Apple’s home ecosystem, and discuss how they might complement a rumored Home Hub.

Foldable iPhone production reports

They assess a report that final assembly yields for Apple’s first foldable iPhone were slightly above 60% at a stated point in time. The hosts say they find it plausible that the phone is difficult to make, but question whether the report signals a new production problem. They discuss anticipated availability, the product’s price and first-generation status, and how a second generation might change.

Android Central and AI’s effect on publishing

The hosts discuss the departure of Android Central’s writers and the site’s continued use of freelance contributors. They worry that AI-generated content could follow and connect the situation to the effects of AI search summaries on publishers’ traffic and advertising. They also consider whether YouTube’s AI features might answer questions without viewers watching videos, and how that fits with YouTube’s focus on viewer satisfaction and time on the platform.

Early smartphone awards discussion

The hosts begin an early discussion of their annual smartphone awards, noting that some phones are not yet available and that they will gather audience views. They consider the difficulty of defining the big- and small-phone categories as phone sizes converge, and discuss whether foldables or small specialist devices might qualify.

They then weigh possible contenders and criteria across several awards:
- Best camera: They discuss the range of image processing styles, Pixel camera looks, ultrawide cameras, and camera collaborations involving Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo. They exclude a separate Huawei camera attachment from consideration because it is not part of the phone.
- Best value: They discuss how rising prices complicate the category, and why the award should recognize the overall experience and distinctive offerings, not only specifications.
- Best battery: They consider battery life alongside charging speed, background-app behavior and convenience.
- Best design: They debate how the category should balance appearance, functionality, durability and compromises, and discuss the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s privacy display as a possible feature worth recognizing.
- Best foldable: They compare the iPhone Duo, Xiaomi and Samsung foldables, considering weight, cameras, screens, software and developer support.
- Bust, most improved and phone of the year: They discuss possible candidates and argue that the final award should account for the year’s broader stories, not just specifications. They also reflect on how safe, familiar phones may be good products without standing out in award categories.

World of Warcraft, RuneScape and MMO nostalgia

The hosts compare announcements for World of Warcraft and RuneScape. They explain how Old School RuneScape returned to an earlier version of the game while continuing to add content without making players’ progress irrelevant. They contrast that with WoW Classic and discuss WoW Forever, described as a return to the original game with updates and a level-60 cap.

They also discuss RuneScape 4, which is in development on Unreal Engine, and whether new players are drawn to the older game through streamers or nostalgia. The conversation broadens into what counts as an end point in an MMO, how players show off their equipment, and a host’s story about playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 on a computer that initially could not render the character’s graphics.

Trivia and closing

The hosts answer trivia questions about Apple display suppliers and the minimum hardware requirements for the 2004 release of World of Warcraft. David joins by phone to guess the answers. A post-recording note from Ellis corrects and awards points for the Apple supplier question after additional research. The episode closes with a brief sign-off.