How Important Is Smartphone Battery Life?

Apple has been busy. Mark and Rob are here to assess which of the new devices look exciting, which might run into some teething issues and which they've actually bought. Is the iPhone Air's battery going to be a major problem? Will that fancy new orange iPhone 17 Pro Max be as eye-catching in real life? And is the Apple Watch SE 3 worth it if it can't save your life on the side of a mountain? All questions answered in this episode!

Mark and Rob are joined by Ben from Lover of Tech this week where he lifts the lid on how he shoots his brutal battery drain tests, why that remains a huge part of what makes or breaks a phone and the lengths creators go to stand out in a crowded market. We also dive into Samsung’s continued stubbornness when it comes to innovating with battery tech and the rather interesting gold statue gifted by Apple to Donald Trump.

In this episode, Mark, Rob, and special guest Alex from Alex Gear & Tech discuss Apple’s potential move to buy an AI company and the future of foldable phones. They also dive into Tim Cook’s legacy as Apple’s CEO and the ongoing challenges with Apple’s Vision Pro. Plus, they dive into Alex's experience of being a content creator on YouTube, including his creative process and the constraints of playing to metrics like views and watch time.

There's a lot to catch up on as we launch Not PC, our new tech podcast now with added guests! This week, alongside Patrick Rambles of YouTube fame, we're digging into Samsung's Z Fold7 and Flip7, the Nothing Phone 3's disputed flagship status, a 'new' Commodore 64 and the logistics of a press trip to New York City!

Eight or Sixteen will return...   If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].   Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com.

In this week’s episode of Eight or Sixteen, Rob and Mark dive into the latest Nintendo Switch 2. Rob’s also spotted a wild £500 Echo Show from Amazon and Mark discovered a new mysterious Vision Pro app! Links ➡️ £500 Amazon Echo Show: https://geni.us/WmW1R ➡️ CLVX1 combined keyboard and trackpad on Kickstarter: https://geni.us/GKtWcE ➡️ Remind Me Faster: https://geni.us/B2lPdOi ➡️ Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K display: https://geni.us/UBG1mX ➡️ ASUS ProArt 5K display: https://geni.us/XG52a ➡️ BenQ 5K display: https://geni.us/iiRba   If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].   Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com

This week on Eight or Sixteen, Mark shares what he calls his best experience ever—an unforgettable visit to a pretty famous racetrack. There's also chat about his ongoing thoughts on the iPhone 16E, while Rob dreams up the ultimate PC build, complete with analogue dials.... Links: MyCarly OBD car gadget: https://geni.us/RBEH Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe: https://geni.us/QGNvygN Chappell Roan Tiny Desk Performance: https://geni.us/IB1qA1h Lola Young – Messy: https://geni.us/pqfZ New Pebble watches: https://geni.us/HK1yJgp Somfy Home Automation: https://geni.us/v3uEz3 Clevetura CLVX1 keyboard/trackpad: https://geni.us/E1sfT LG OLED Ultrawide: https://geni.us/l1nU Streacom DA6 case: https://geni.us/8iGVvH VU1 e-ink analogue dials: https://geni.us/2YrIX Streacom DB4 cube case: https://geni.us/skSuiB Roborock Saros Z70: https://geni.us/poJydZ   If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].   Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com.

In this episode Mark and Rob discuss MWC highlights, a quirky take on World Book Day, and the OnePlus Watch 3. They also dive into Apple's latest launches from the iPhone 16E, iPads with (and without) the AI, and the new MacBook Air colours. Tune in for all this and more! If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected]. Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com

This week, Mark shares his thoughts on the BYD Seal vs. Tesla Model 3, while we dive into Apple's refreshed Powerbeats Pro—are they a real AirPods Pro alternative? Plus, a mysterious Apple event is on the horizon, and Rob has a Valentine’s Day story you won’t want to miss. Links ➡️ Stephen Wilson Jr “I’m a song” live perfomance: https://geni.us/xEUpLXl ➡️ Mark’s BYD Seal vs Tesla Model 3 TikTok: https://geni.us/DMyFc ➡️ Nothing Phone (3a) coming soon: https://geni.us/NYEdqEq ➡️ OnePlus Watch 3: https://geni.us/vjA9x ➡️ Migrate purchases between Apple IDs: https://geni.us/Ci9r ➡️ ASUS ProArt PA27JCV 5K display: https://geni.us/nmYlNZw ➡️ Tapestry app for building your own universal chronological timeline, now out of beta: https://geni.us/KQ60C4 ➡️ Reeder, a less hands-on alternative: https://geni.us/8l71 ➡️ Magnetic goose: https://geni.us/b5BWC   If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].   Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com

Samsung's latest Galaxy S25 lineup, the return of Pebble smartwatches, and Apple's latest financial results—this episode is packed with big tech news! Mark shares updates from Barcelona and his new newsletter, while Rob dives into the fate of Meta Portals. Plus, a quirky macOS Calculator trick you might want to try. 🚀 Sign up to Marks newsletter for access to my free Discord community, weekly behind-the-scenes content & exclusive perks: https://newsletter.markellismedia.uk/subscribe   Astropad Bookcase: https://geni.us/clCUfKr Astropad Rock Paper Pencil: https://geni.us/JQIk   If you'd like to get in touch with Rob and Mark, you can email them at [email protected].   Eight or Sixteen is a Mark Ellis Media Limited production: https://markellisreviews.com