177: Apple’s 2025 Year-in-Review

Last show of 2025, and we’re kicking off next year together at CES in Vegas with a hotel‑room episode after a short break, then back mid‑January to unpack it all; for now, let’s recap Apple’s roller‑coaster year, starting with iPhone 16e.

The 16e is a solid, no‑frills iPhone, but the name and positioning confused people; it feels like the “cheap” 16, and paired with a low‑key press‑release launch, I haven’t seen much real‑world traction despite good fundamentals.

Price didn’t help; at five ninety‑nine it sits too close to better models, plus no MagSafe, so I tell folks to spend a little more for a 17 if they can, though the 16e is fine if you truly just want an updated iPhone that works.

Agreed, and the upsell is strong when a bit more money gets you a nicer screen, an extra camera, and MagSafe; rumor is 17e brings MagSafe, and while the 16e’s battery and Apple’s first C1 modem impress for the size, the overall package still feels a miss.

March brought iPad and Mac updates; how did the iPad Air, entry iPad, MacBook Air, and that odd Mac Studio chip split land for you?

M4 MacBook Air shines and is an easy recommendation; iPad Air is fine but less exciting, the A16 iPad is just a chip bump without Apple Intelligence, and Mac Studio’s M4 Max versus M3 Ultra split is a weird single‑core versus multi‑core trade.

For most people, get the base iPad or jump to the Air if you’ll use the Magic Keyboard; the Pro’s hardware is gorgeous, but the Air can do almost all the same work for less.

Exactly; the Pro tax largely buys you the display and fancy touches, not a new tier of capability.

WWDC’s new Liquid Glass design got big reactions; six months on, how’s it feel on iPhone and beyond?

I’m split; the media player feels wonderfully dimensional, but deeper layers in some apps get fussy, and the contrast against flat third‑party apps makes the system feel disjointed.

I’ve settled into “it’s fine,” barely notice it on Watch or Apple TV, and I’m more eager for stability and Apple Intelligence next year.

Apple’s AI gap stood out; Siri still struggles with basics while rivals leap ahead, which makes the absence feel bigger.

Give me a private, context‑aware assistant that knows my habits on device; fingers crossed for spring.

Quick hits: live translation?

Cool demo, no real need yet in daily life.

New Phone app and call tools?

I kept the redesign and now place calls on iPad and Mac too; call screening and hold assist work, though I still worry I’ll miss a live pickup.

I want smarter auto‑whitelisting after I talk to someone, and spam filters sometimes bury legit texts.

Photos is cleaner than last year’s one‑page experiment, and spatial parallax shots are a fun flourish, especially on iPad and Vision Pro, though some controls still feel buried.

Photos search needs Apple’s AI to really level up, and the new Games app helps my kids find their stuff.

Workout Buddy?

Too chirpy and shallow; give me a real coach or let me pick a tougher tone.

iPad multitasking finally went windowed and it’s huge, but it still fights me; I want clear modes, Mac‑like behavior, and easy keyboard toggles.

Big upgrade on external displays and more flexible overall, yet it’s easy to spawn windows you didn’t intend; I miss the simplicity of old split view, and I’m glad the blob cursor is gone.

Slide Over and proper split view return with the latest beta, the window “stoplight” access is still clumsy, and Spotlight on Mac finally opens apps fast; I ignore the clipboard since I use a dedicated manager.

Spotlight has power if you treat it like Alfred, but most people will just enjoy the speed bump.

iPhones were the highlight; the lineup’s excellent, and I might try iPhone Air after CES, though 17 is my phone of the year.

The 17 Pro’s camera system is outstanding, battery life is strong despite the thicker build, aluminum dings too easily, and the vapor chamber keeps it running cooler.

The sleeper win is scratch resistance; three months with no protector and it’s pristine, so fix the aluminum next and this thing won’t need a case.

Agreed, and the telephoto has delivered so many great shots for me.

iPhone Air looks and feels fantastic and seems durable, but I rarely see it in the wild and fear it may not last.

It’s thin, comfy, and tougher than it looks with good battery, but it’s under‑marketed, a bit overpriced, and the single camera frustrates owners; adding telephoto would help but risks eating into Pro sales.

Apple Watch was meh; SE3 is the one to buy if you need an entry, the rest felt forgettable.

Series 11 is the year’s biggest miss, sometimes amounting to a bigger battery and 5G on cellular models, with aluminum gaining a tougher front glass; that’s not a compelling upgrade path.

Accessories were quiet; I only used the MagSafe battery with Air when traveling.

Tech‑woven isn’t a disaster story, cross‑body straps are rare to see, and Air’s battery life makes the add‑on pack optional.

AirPods Pro 3 launched hot but the buzz cooled; many stick with Pro 2 unless they want the heart‑rate sensor.

Heart‑rate reads haven’t helped me, fit is worse for my ears, and noise cancelation only feels slightly better; still a good replacement if your twos are tired, but Pro 2 on sale is a great buy.

October’s M5 chips brought fast bumps to iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro; the headset feels meaningfully smoother with higher refresh and more pixels, but upgrades depend on how you use it.

Heavy headset users will notice the responsiveness and new headband, yet I’m holding for the next one after nearly keeping the M5 this time.

Apple TV Plus rebranded to Apple TV, the set‑top box was a no‑show, and if we’re grading the year, I’m at a C plus thanks to an A‑level iPhone lineup despite misses elsewhere.

I’m between a C and a D; too incremental, several misfires, no Apple Intelligence rollout, and lots of internal and regulatory drama.

We’ll call it a C plus, hope next year is calmer, and we’ll see you after CES; happy holidays and happy new year to everyone listening.