Apple iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max and AirPods 5 review, Snap Specs, MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro, travel tech showcase, and more with Josh Kirschner of Techlicious

It's time for episode 497 of the Mobile Tech Podcast with guest Josh Kirschner of Techlicious -- brought to you by Mint Mobile. In today's show, we review Apple's iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max and AirPods 5. We then showcase some of our favorite travel tech (see affiliate links below), and discuss Snap Specs and the state of smart glasses in general. Finally, we cover rumors, leaks, and news from Apple, Samsung, MediaTek, Vivo, Oppo, Honor, and Microsoft... Phew!

Episode Links

- Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tnkgrl

- Donate / buy me a coffee (PayPal): https://tnkgrl.com/tnkgrl/

- Support the podcast with Mint Mobile: https://mintmobile.com/mobiletech

- Josh Kirschner: https://twitter.com/joshkirschner

- Apple iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max review video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohqxP8EEumo

- Apple iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max review: https://www.theverge.com/tech/995945/iphone-18-pro-max-review-camera-aperture

- Apple AirPods 5 review: https://www.theverge.com/tech/995273/airpods-5-wireless-charging-case-review

- Apple iOS 27 now available for select iPhones: https://www.gsmarena.com/ios_27_now_seeding_here_are_all_the_iphones_getting_it_-news-74617.php

- Samsung One UI 9 now available for Galaxy S26 series: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_officially_releases_one_ui_9_based_on_android_17_for_the_galaxy_s26_s26_and_s26_ultra-news-74642.php

- Snap Specs eyes-on: https://www.theverge.com/tech/996422/snap-specs-hands-on-ar-glasses

- MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro: https://hothardware.com/news/mediatek-dimensity-9600-pro-30b-ai-up-to-185fps-gaming

- Vivo X500 Pro Max coming Sep 21 with Dimensity 9600: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x500_pro_and_x500_pro_max_will_be_the_first_to_use_mediateks_dimensity_9600_pro-news-74632.php

- Oppo Find X10 Pro Max coming Sep 22 wih Dimensity 9600: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_oppo_find_x10_pro_max_is_one_of_the_first_dimensity_9600_pro_phones_will_be_available_globally-news-74621.php

- Honor Robot Phone teardown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnWmuc-J8i8

- Honor teases Magic9 design coming Sep 28 with 11,000mAh battery option: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_reveals_magic9_series_designs_and_colors_super_edition_to_get_11000mah_battery-news-74601.php

- Microsoft event Oct 7: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_announces_october_7_windows_and_surface_event-news-74635.php

Affiliate Links (If you use these links to buy something, we might earn a commission)

- Anker Soundcore Sleep A30: https://link.amazon/B0dx85Zwe

- Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro: https://link.amazon/B0cAYV3pe

- INIU SnapGo Air: https://link.amazon/B0aHXYq1i

- Anker Nano 45W with display: https://link.amazon/B0gtSnXyG

- Shokz OpenFit Pro: https://link.amazon/B0jcOJk1s

- Samsung Galaxy Buds4: https://link.amazon/B02kl1BC2

- Apple AirPods 5: https://link.amazon/B06UmJ2YQ

- Sony WH-1000XM6: https://link.amazon/B0blkhz5a

- Samsung Gala