iPhone 17 leads Apple earnings record, new MacBooks near, and a mysterious $2B acquisition
Thu Feb 05 2026
Benjamin and Chance speculate on Apple’s mysterious acquisition of Q.ai, the company’s second biggest acquisition ever. The iPhone 17 is a veritable smash hit, leading to an all-time quarterly earnings record. And Apple redesigns the order flow for buying a new Mac, with new MacBooks just around the corner.
And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin realizes he has some overdue spring-cleaning to do on his Desktop folder.
Sponsored by Gusto: The online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/happyhour.
Sponsored by Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/happyhour.
Sponsored by HelloFresh: America’s #1 meal kit! Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm.
Hosts
Chance Miller
@ChanceHMiller on Twitter
@ChanceHMiller on Instagram
@ChanceHMiller on Threads
Benjamin Mayo
@bzamayo on Twitter
@bzamayo@mastodon.social
@bzamayo on Threads
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Feedback
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Links
Apple acquires secretive Q․ai startup for $2 billion
Apple reports record-breaking Q1 2026 earnings
Apple revamps how you buy a Mac online
New MacBook Pro release date: Here's when M5 Pro and M5 Max might debut
Latest macOS 26.3 beta adds to signs that new Macs are imminent
Will the Studio Display 2 have this key upgrade?
Studio Display refresh looms with three key upgrades
Apple announces agentic coding in Xcode with Claude Agent and Codex integration
CarPlay Ultra coming to at least one new car later this year, per report
Tesla still working on CarPlay support, here's what we know
More
Benjamin and Chance speculate on Apple’s mysterious acquisition of Q.ai, the company’s second biggest acquisition ever. The iPhone 17 is a veritable smash hit, leading to an all-time quarterly earnings record. And Apple redesigns the order flow for buying a new Mac, with new MacBooks just around the corner. And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin realizes he has some overdue spring-cleaning to do on his Desktop folder. Sponsored by Gusto: The online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/happyhour. Sponsored by Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/happyhour. Sponsored by HelloFresh: America’s #1 meal kit! Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm. Hosts Chance Miller @ChanceHMiller on Twitter @ChanceHMiller on Instagram @ChanceHMiller on Threads Benjamin Mayo @bzamayo on Twitter @bzamayo@mastodon.social @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 happyhour@9to5mac.com Links Apple acquires secretive Q․ai startup for $2 billion Apple reports record-breaking Q1 2026 earnings Apple revamps how you buy a Mac online New MacBook Pro release date: Here's when M5 Pro and M5 Max might debut Latest macOS 26.3 beta adds to signs that new Macs are imminent Will the Studio Display 2 have this key upgrade? Studio Display refresh looms with three key upgrades Apple announces agentic coding in Xcode with Claude Agent and Codex integration CarPlay Ultra coming to at least one new car later this year, per report Tesla still working on CarPlay support, here's what we know