This time of year with iOS and iPhones launching can feel like a holiday. I’m highlighting two of my favorite annual traditions.

iPhone 18 Pro Camera - Austin Mann

Austin Mann does one of the best iPhone camera reviews with each year’s update to iPhones Pro. Austin was one of the early photographers to really treat the iPhone as a serious camera and show how even early versions of the iPhone were capable of great photography in the right creative hands. This year, I think the highlight features for iPhone 18 Pro are 50% more light with the lower f/1.48 aperture, and the focus tracking to lock focus on a moving person or object. Austin does a great job demonstrating both features in his review while showing the beautiful scenery in the Colorado wilderness. If YouTube is more your thing, Austin also made a video version of his review as well. Another one of my favorite photographers, Tyler Stalman, also has a great iPhone camera review.

This week, I have several work events taking me around Chicago for my job. I’m excited to see how the iPhone 18 Pro Max holds up to taking photos and videos for fun in different environments.

iOS and iPadOS 27: The MacStories Review

Every year, Federico Viticci does a phenomenal review of iOS and iPadOS with an attention to detail I don’t see anywhere else. These are book-length reviews that dive into lots of great detail. I’m not done reading his review this year, but every year I learn new things about iOS I didn’t notice using the betas over the summer. If you work on iOS apps, this review is always a must-read.

Aqara FP400

This sensor is very impressive. I think it is everything Aqara dreamed the FP2 could be, before it was mired in bugs and challenges of working in everyday homes. I have an unusual way to use the FP400 that’s coming to my YouTube channel soon. It’s a very powerful sensor that, while it has some shortcomings, lives up to the hype for me.

The Schedule

Last week, I published a YouTube video on Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, looking at their new subscriptions to see if they are worth it. We also returned to our regular live streams.

I hope you have a great rest of your Sunday,

Eric