The Monthly - September 2023
A new video format, everything we published in August (it was A LOT!), plus hot takes on the gas stove debate, deal alerts, and more!
September Has Arrived! - Buckle Up
This month is going to be packed full of content. Apple has their annual iPhone and Apple Watch event kicking off on September 12th, plus we’ll see the new Meta Quest 3 and a ton of other tech launches from Amazon, Microsoft, Samsung and more!
While the focus of 6 Months Later has always been on how products impact us over the long term, I know many of you have questions about new products right when they come out. So, for select products, we’re trying out a new video format titled “Your Questions Answered!” The premise is that I’ll answer questions submitted by our subscribers on a given product at the start of our review period.
Submit your questions by replying to my post on Threads or to a post on our YouTube channel (those can be found in the Community Tab.):
This month, you can look for a “Your Questions Answered!” video on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the new Apple Watch, and the Meta Quest 3.
Let Techtember begin!
- Josh
Videos We Published - August 2023
Nothing Phone 2 - Your Questions Answered!
Purchase a Nothing Phone 2 (Affiliate Link)
Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds - Your Questions Answered!
Purchase the Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds (Affiliate Link)
Apple HomePod 2 Review - 6 Months Later
Purchase a HomePod 2 (Affiliate Link)
Onyx Boox Note Air 2 Review - 6 Months Later
Purchase a Onyx Boox Note Air 2 (Affiliate Link)
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review - 6 Months Later
Purchase a Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra (Affiliate Link)
Google Pixel Tablet - Your Questions Answered!
Purchase a Google Pixel Tablet (Affiliate Link)
Homey Pro Smart Home Hub - Your Questions Answered!
Purchase a Homey Pro Smart Home Hub (Affiliate Link)
Hot Take:
Quick Takes:
INCOMING! Get ready for complaints about the iPhone’s USB-C port
Every tech reviewer on earth has been waiting for this day for at least five years. Apple is FINALLY switching to USB-C, the port every Android phone has come with for half a decade.
But at the same time, there are going to be a lot of complaints when people who have an iPhone and not much else are forced to upgrade. I can see the comments on our YouTube reviews already: “Why did Apple switch the port?” “The port was fine, this is a MONEY GRAB to SELL MORE CORDS!” “APPLE ARE GREEDY PIGS!”
First, I think it’s important to point out that Apple is actually being forced to make the change due to European regulations. But, I would argue this is a choice they should have just made themselves. Why?
List of items I have with USB-C:
Mac Studio, iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, Kindle Scribe, Kindle Paperwhite, Pixel Tablet, Logi Keyboard, Sony WF1000XM5 case, Sony WH1000XM5 headphones, Sony A7sii camera, SanDisk 4 TB hard drive, Sonos Move speakers, Playstation 5 controller, Meta Quest 2 headset…it goes on from there.
List of items I have with Lighting port:
iPhone 14 Pro, AirPods Max headphones, Apple Magic Trackpad.
USB-C has become absolutely ubiquitous, even among Apple’s other product lines. Having the iPhone move to this port is going to be more convenient for a lot of people — you will only have to have one charging chord around for your iPhone and other devices.
The lightning port had a long reign of 10 years but is now dead. All hail USB-C!
Review Update:
The iPhone 14 Pro’s battery life has not been great
Since our 6 Months Later Review of the iPhone 14 Pro came out, I’ve continued to notice its battery life deteriorating compared to how my 13 Pro was at this time in it’s cycle. I get much closer to running out of battery with this phone by the end of the day with normal use. It is also a bit of an outlier compared to the Android phones I use as my daily drivers from time to time as well.
Let’s hope Apple fixes whatever the issue is with the 14 Pro with the upcoming iPhone models.
🚨Deal Alert!!🚨
Sometimes I see products that I’ve reviewed and recommended go on sale. When that happens, I’ll bring them to your attention in this section.
Sony LinkBuds Open-Ring Design Earbud (29% off) (Affiliate Link)
To view all of the products we recommend, visit our Amazon storefront
🚨Special Deal Alert!!🚨
Roborock Vaccums on Sale (Sponsored)
I've been using Roborock vacuums for a while now and I’ve loved the way they’ve cleaned my apartment and automated my cleaning routine. So when Roborock came to me about advertising a limited-time sale, I agreed. I figured anyone in my audience who’s seen my previous reviews on Roborock might be interested in two of their most popular robots that are now on sale:
The S8 Pro Ultra: Roborock's most advanced robot with a self-emptying, multi-fuctional dock, VibraRise 2.0 mop system, dual brush system, upgraded reactive 3D obstacle avoidance, and 6000 pa of suction.
The Q Revo: A budget-friendly version that uses dual spinning mops and has 5500 Pa of suction power with a multifunctional dock.
Both robots can easily map your home with advanced lidar and obstacle avoidance sensors. You can view the map in the Roborock app to create rooms and set schedules for your robot.
The S8 Pro Ultra is on sale for $1100 US dollars, 25% off, and the Q Revo is on sale for $699 US dollars, 22% off. These deals are only available for a limited time, so click the link below to order yours today!
Access this exclusive sale for 6 Months Later readers:
Recommendations:
The Real Story of Musk's Twitter Takeover
By Walter Isaacson - The Wall Street Journal
In a world full of laptops, is there a place for the iMac?
Apple hasn’t updated the iMac in well over two years, and it sells far more laptops than desktops these days. What does all of that mean for the future of the desktop computer that saved Apple from bankruptcy 25 years ago?
By Monica Chin - The Verge