The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition Welp, I bought an iPhone again
Mar 24, 2026
Allison Johnson, senior phone reviewer with hands-on smartphone testing experience, joins to dissect modern phones. They debate flip versus fold hardware and software. They compare Android and iOS strengths, from notifications and spam handling to app quality. They explore AI like Gemini for automations and whether AI can simplify device use.
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Episode notes
Gemini Makes Assistant Interaction Useful
- Gemini on Android transformed how David used voice assistants, making info lookups and phone orchestration natural.
- He began asking Gemini instead of opening browsers and praised its calendar, app control, and personal intelligence gains over Siri.
Use AI To Automate Small Repeated Tasks
- Try AI task automation for small real tasks like ordering food or scheduling rides to save taps.
- Allison uses Gemini to order Starbucks and schedule Ubers, noting it's slow/wonky but genuinely useful in beta.
Tiny Android Nudges Reduce Task Friction
- Android's subtle AI nudges (like detecting event details in messages) reduce friction by offering actionable shortcuts.
- David cited Pixel's suggestive 'add to calendar' badges that auto-populate Google Calendar events.
