ENGADGET Podcast: Touchscreen MacBook Pro and Amazon's New Echo Lineup Explained

Sherin Low is joined by Wired senior gear editor Julian Chokkattu to break down the two big product events of the week — Apple's MacBook Pro announcement and Amazon's hardware launch in New York. They examine what the new hardware actually changes for buyers, where pricing lands, and how both companies' strategies compare. As a bonus, the episode closes with a lighthearted segment on Julian's unusual productivity habit.

■ Apple MacBook Pro with ProLED XDR display
- The first MacBook with a touchscreen, and how that reverses Apple's long-standing position on touch input
- Practical limits of the hinge, app optimization, and the Dynamic Island coming to the Mac
- Pricing tiers, the nano-etched anti-reflective finish, and the return of the glowing lid logo
- The rest of the week's Apple news: OLED iPad mini and the M6 MacBook Pro 14-inch

■ Amazon hardware event
- Five new Echo devices, including Echo Dot with Wi-Fi extender duty and Echo Studio with a camera
- Alexa Photo Frame (photo storage, setup, voice notes), Echo Time bedside device, Echo Show 16 with four new modes, and Alexa Home Map
- Amazon's shift toward premium materials and pricing, and how Panos Panai's hardware direction shapes it
- Amazon's phone prospects, plus a brief look at the newer Kindle editions

Tech enthusiasts and smart home shoppers will get a clear picture of what these releases offer, what they cost, and the trade-offs each company is making. If you are weighing an upgrade to a MacBook, an Echo device, or a digital photo frame, this discussion gives you the context behind the specs and marketing claims.