The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Jeff Gamet, Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Ben Roethig. covers Apple's new Vision Pro M5, iPad Pro M5, and MacBook Pro M5, along with reactions to the Apple TV rebrand, AirPods Pro 3 inflight experiences, and iOS 26.1 beta updates. The panel debates upgrade value, trade-ins, and Apple's AI direction—while delivering laughs about blood-test preorders, "no-good sons," and iPads that go "womp-womp."

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com

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Summary

In Episode 391 of In Touch With iOS, host David Ginsburg welcomes Jill McKinley, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet, Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, and Ben Roethig to unpack Apple's October announcements—and crack a few jokes along the way.

The panel dives into the launch of the Vision Pro M5, iPad Pro M5, and 14-inch MacBook Pro M5, exploring how Apple's latest chip is showing up everywhere—from spatial computing to creative workflows. Marty admits to pre-ordering the new Vision Pro while having blood drawn, leading to the episode's funniest moment ("They took my blood, I gave Apple my money"). Jeff immediately volunteers to be Marty's "no-good son" to inherit the old headset, sparking laughter about "device reallocation" policies.

Discussion turns to the Vision Pro's new dual-knit band and Hover headset accessory, which redistributes weight to the crown of the head. Dave likens it to "flipping up granny sunglasses," while Ben compares it to wearing "night-vision goggles." Chuck's wise counsel: "Wait for the M5 Pro—patience beats payment."

MacBook Pro M5 specs are examined in detail—10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24-hour battery life (cue the joke: "if you never touch it"), and no Wi-Fi 7 support. Marty shares his "trade-up philosophy" while Jeff laments his $800 trade-in offer: "It lost that much value that fast?" Chuck recommends Apple's refurb store, calling it "the best deal Apple doesn't advertise."

The crew also explores the iPad Pro M5, agreeing that performance gains are meaningful but most users won't need to upgrade. Jill admits her iPad mostly serves as a "sleep-aid game console," while Eric says Vision Pro has cut into his tablet use entirely.

Other highlights:

• Vision Pro M5's 120 Hz refresh rate and better cooling.

• No Wi-Fi 6E bump—for $3,500, that drew audible groans.

• AI readiness of the M5 chip sparks debate on whether Apple even has an "AI strategy."

• Apple TV's rebranding from "TV+" to "Apple TV," which the panel calls "peak confusion."

• AirPods Pro 3 flight test: Marty's seal so tight it caused ear "pop-pop-pop" moments, while Dave says noise-canceling on planes "kills all sound, including your will to chat."

Topics and Links

Breaking News

Apple Debuts New iPad Pro With M5 Chip, Faster Charging, and More

Apple Announces New 14-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Chip

Apple Updates Vision Pro With M5 Chip, Dual Knit Band, and 120Hz Support

Here's Everything Apple Announced Today

In Touch With Vision Pro this week.

visionOS 26.1 Beta 3 Release Notes | Apple Developer Documentation

Apple Updates Vision Pro With M5 Chip, Dual Knit Band, and 120Hz Support

🧠 Apple Vision Pro: M2 vs. M5 Comparison

Apple Vision Pro - Technical Specifications

Overview

The Vision Pro M5 refines Apple's first-generation spatial computer powered by the M2 chip. While maintaining the same physical design and R1 co-processor, the M5 version delivers faster performance, a higher refresh-rate display, longer battery life, and a more comfortable headband. It's an evolutionary update rather than a redesign, aimed at smoother visuals and greater efficiency.

⚙️ Key Feature Comparison

Feature

Vision Pro (M2)

Vision Pro (M5)

Chip & Architecture

Apple M2 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)

Apple M5 (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)

Memory Bandwidth

100 GB/s

153 GB/s

Display & Rendering

Up to 100 Hz refresh rate

Up to 120 Hz refresh rate with improved clarity

Performance

Excellent for visionOS apps and multitasking

Up to 50% faster in system and AI operations

Battery Life

≈ 2 hours general use, 2.5 hours video playback

≈ 2.5 hours general use, 3 hours video playback

Headband / Fit

Solo Knit or Dual Loop Band

New Dual Knit Band with improved comfort and balance

Design & Weight

600–650 g (excluding battery)

750–800 g, same external design

Storage Options

256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB

Compatibility

Supports all visionOS apps and accessories

Fully backward-compatible with M2 accessories

💡 Summary

The Vision Pro M5 enhances Apple's spatial computing experience with smoother motion, faster response times, and slightly longer battery life. It remains visually identical to the M2 model but offers better ergonomics and efficiency.

For existing M2 owners, the upgrade is optional—your experience remains excellent—but for professionals working with AR creation, 3D rendering, or multitasking, the M5's performance headroom makes a noticeable difference.

No trade-ins for AVP

Apple doesn't offer trade-in option for M5 Vision Pro upgrades - 9to5Mac

Dave and Marty review Hover Headset

New Items

Apple Vision Pro Dual Knit Band Sizing

Well well well, what do we have here… : r/VisionPro

Logitech Muse - Apple

Apple to sell Sony Playstation VR Controllers

Beta this week.

Apple Seeds Third Betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, macOS Tahoe 26.1 and More

Everything new in iOS 26.1 beta 3 - 9to5Mac

iOS 26.1 beta 3 reveals new third-party AI integrations may be coming soon - 9to5Mac

Netflix Shares Fall most Since 2022 as Tax Hit Spooks Investors

Bloomberg Intelligence

AT&T Quarterly Results: Promotional Pressure and Subscriber Growth

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