I bought the iPhone Duo on launch day. Then I did what everyone does: I sat down and watched every review I could find.
None of them answered the question I actually had. Most of them were unboxings, spec sheets, or a first impression recorded a few hours after the box was opened. Fine if you want to know what is in the box. Not much help if you want to know what it is like to live with.
So I decided to make the review I wanted to watch.
Who I am
I’m Mike. I’m a dad, and my free time is basically gone. I work from home, we have a newborn, and my spare hours now come in small, unpredictable chunks. If a gadget needs an hour of tinkering before it works, it is not getting that hour.
I’ve always been the person friends and family text before they buy something. I love tech, and I’m Apple first, but I also shoot video, 3D print and play games when the house is finally quiet. The trouble is that I have no time to waste on gear that looks great in a launch video and then gets in the way.
The one question
Every product I test gets the same question: does it save your time or steal it?
I answer it with three checks. Setup, which is how long it takes to get from the box to useful. Daily life, which is whether it saves time or quietly steals it. And staying power, which is whether I’m still using it a few months later or it’s in a drawer. Then I give you a Dad Verdict: keep it or skip it.
What to expect
This is one dad’s take, and I’ll always say so. I’ll tell you what broke, what annoyed me and what got better with time. No hype, no pretending to be neutral when I have an opinion.
The first full video is the iPhone Duo, the honest version. After that you’ll see long term reviews, nursery and home tech, 3D printing and tinkering, camera and editing gear, and gaming and VR for after bedtime. There will also be 60 second keep or skip shorts for when you just want the answer.
Why now
Honestly, a lot of the coverage around new phones and phone gear feels overblown to me. Everything is either the best thing ever or a total disaster, and neither one matched what I was seeing in my own hands. No hard feelings toward the people making those videos, plenty of them put in real work. I just wanted to add a calmer, lived in opinion to the mix.
I’m not a big outlet. I’m a guy with a camera, a newborn and strong opinions about whether something is worth your money.
If that sounds useful, the best way to follow along is on YouTube, or sign up below and I’ll send one email when a new review goes up. Thanks for being here at the start.
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