This week on the channel +333K views this week

Proper Honest Tech puts Apple's upgrade ladder under the microscope

His only new upload traces how modest MacBook upgrades can turn into a much larger purchase, then offers three stopping rules.

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Proper Honest Tech Story of November 6, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.

The $500 Mistake Apple Wants You To Make

Things we can learn from the video

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0:40MacBook Air chip, memory and storage tiers form the pricing ladder he examines.
3:17He explains how decoy pricing and persuasion tactics can make a further upgrade seem reasonable.
9:42Recurring iCloud+ storage payments create a second spending ladder after checkout.
11:00His rules prioritise memory, limit upgrades and favour external storage over internal SSD upsells.
12:52Storage settings and Activity Monitor reveal actual storage use and memory pressure.

When does a sensible laptop upgrade become money spent on something you won't use? Proper Honest Tech follows that question through Apple's MacBook Air configurator in "The $500 Mistake Apple Wants You To Make", which has drawn nearly 97,000 views.

The argument is about small steps rather than one extravagant decision. A little more memory, extra storage, then a configuration close enough to the next model to make another jump tempting: the presenter describes a pricing ladder that encourages buyers to keep climbing. His sharpest observation concerns future-proofing: "We pay for the storage we're afraid of needing, not the storage we actually use."

The video includes a sponsored TP-Link segment. Beyond that break, it follows the spending into recurring iCloud+ subscriptions before setting out his rules: prioritise memory, stop after the second upgrade, and use external storage rather than paying Apple's internal-storage prices. He finishes by showing where to check actual storage use and memory pressure on a Mac.

Viewers supply some recognisable checkout memories. One bought a high-capacity iPhone expecting to shoot far more video than they ultimately did; another recalls starting with a MacBook Air and ending up buying a Pro. Refurbished purchases and comparisons with car upgrades recur too.

The channel added 1,000 subscribers over the week, while daily views are currently above their usual level. Among similarly sized tech channels, SAMTIME had a much busier viewing week; MacRumors added no subscribers.

The new buying guide is now Proper Honest Tech's main source of daily views. The iPhone Duo setup guide also remains active, alongside the full CarPlay tutorial: practical help for devices already bought, balancing a week devoted to what not to buy.

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A different discovery todayVideo taking off 43x its usual first dayJimmy Kimmel answers Trump's midterm defense: "You're like dog hair"A White House statement attacking his monologues becomes part of the next one, alongside ballroom marble and an "I DID #2" sticker.Channel: Jimmy Kimmel Live · Story of November 6, 2026

What viewers say

When I bought my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I got the 1TB option because I had visions of recording lots of video floating through my head. I did shoot some video, but it turns out I'm not the creator I thought I'd be.
@camerastoogeSee it on YouTube
Hahah that is how I went from buying MacBook Air to Pro! Great video
@filipthefirstSee it on YouTube
Not just Apple. Ever bought a new car?
@macbitzSee it on YouTube

4 more comments

I always buy refurbished. Still get one year warranty which I have never to had to use. Not regrets and I saved a lot of money in the process.
@ToastandJam52See it on YouTube
I went through the same thing when I specced my M4 MacBook Air. I went for the 16GB/512GB version and justified the price increase because it came with the ‘free’ upgrade to a 10-Core GPU. But I now wish I got the 24GB/256GB version and an External SSD
@mikeybajanSee it on YouTube
I can see you have the same external drive enclosure as me. Quite loud but solid as a rock.
@emergencjaSee it on YouTube
Bought both of my MacBook Pro and my MacBook Air off eBay,reconditioned,they work brilliantly 🤷🏻‍♂️
@shanehumberstone5262See it on YouTube