iOS 26.1 beta, iPhone Air thoughts, 17 Pro durability saga

Benjamin and Chance reflect on how Apple describes the unibody in iPhone history. Then, Benjamin shares his experiences with his first week of having the iPhone Air, meanwhile online durability and battery tests show impressive results across the new iPhone lineup. Nevertheless, Apple is forced to comment on 17 Pro ‘ScratchGate’, and the first iOS 26.1 beta adds some new swipe gestures in the Music app.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance tries the new Jupiter environment in visionOS 26, as Apple previews a swathe of new third-party immersive video content in the works. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

• Sponsored by iMazing: iMazing lets you back up, transfer, and manage your iPhone and iPad data like never before — including messages, photos, music, WhatsApp, voicemails, battery health, and more. No cloud required. Use code 9to5mac-20off to get 20% off, exclusively for 9to5Mac listeners. Visit iMazing.com/9to5mac.
• Sponsored by Shopify: Grow your business no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour.
• Sponsored by HelloFresh: America’s #1 meal kit! Get 10 Free Meals with a Free Item For Life at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm.

Hosts

Chance Miller

• @chancemiller.me on Bluesky
• @[email protected]
• @ChanceHMiller on Instagram
• @ChanceHMiller on Threads

Benjamin Mayo

• @bzamayo on Twitter
• @[email protected]
• @bzamayo on Threads

Subscribe, Rate, and Review

• Apple Podcasts
• Overcast
• Spotify

9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus

Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes: 

• Ad-free versions of every episode 
• Pre- and post-show content
• Bonus episodes

Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join. 

Feedback

• Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads
• Email us feedback and questions to [email protected]

Links

• iPhone 17 Pro Max easily beats Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in battery life test
• iPhone 17 battery life test shows strong results across the lineup
• iPhone Air battery pack teardown shows a surprisingly familiar component
• The new iPhone 17 Pro aluminum body may be more prone to scuffs and scratches
• iPhone Air bend test affirms Apple's claim of most durable iPhone ever, front glass scratch resistance also impresses
• Apple responds to iPhone 17 Pro scratch and durability concerns
• Apple releases first iOS 26.1 developer beta for iPhone
• Apple Music in iOS 26.1 adds a new gesture to switch songs
• Everything new in iOS 26.1 beta 1
• Apple working on MCP support on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
• Apple looks set to make two important iOS 26 security changes
• MotoGP documentary shot in Apple Immersive Video races onto Vision Pro today
• Apple reveals seven new Immersive Videos coming soon to Vision Pro
• Here's Apple Vision Pro's new Jupiter Environment