MKBHD's Authentic Workflow: Integrating Devices for Relatable Reviews - Episode Hero Image

MKBHD's Authentic Workflow: Integrating Devices for Relatable Reviews

Cortex · · Listen to Original Episode →
Original Title:

TL;DR

  • Marques Brownlee's workflow prioritizes integrating devices into his life for authentic testing, enabling him to identify genuine pain points and workarounds rather than relying solely on synthetic benchmarks.
  • The MKBHD team's structured approach to content production, with dedicated periods for process refinement and execution, allows for consistent high-quality output during peak release seasons.
  • MKBHD strategically releases content in phases, such as "first impressions" followed by full reviews, to manage audience expectations and mitigate the noise of simultaneous embargo drops.
  • By focusing on relatable, narrative-driven reviews over granular technical data, MKBHD effectively engages a broad audience, balancing the needs of potential buyers with entertainment-seeking viewers.
  • The MKBHD empire's growth to 17 employees necessitates a shift from individual content creation to managing a complex operation, requiring delegation of management expertise to focus on core strengths.
  • MKBHD's deliberate avoidance of contrarian or negative-first content strategies positions his reviews as accelerants of existing market sentiment rather than drivers of controversy.
  • The MKBHD team leverages Notion and Google Docs for collaborative scriptwriting and project management, facilitating efficient communication and idea iteration within their open-plan studio.
  • Marques Brownlee's approach to feedback involves filtering comments for constructive nuggets, influencing future content direction and ensuring each video has a clear, definable purpose.

Deep Dive

Marques Brownlee's approach to content creation reveals a sophisticated workflow that prioritizes authenticity and audience connection over speed. This strategy allows him to maintain high production quality and genuine engagement across his diverse platforms, despite the increasing complexity of his operation and the demands of the creator economy. His success hinges on a deliberate synthesis of personal expertise and team collaboration, enabling him to navigate the challenges of content production while preserving his unique voice.

Brownlee’s workflow emphasizes a methodical, iterative approach to content development, particularly evident in his product reviews. Ideas for reviews, such as those for new iPhones, often begin to form before a device is even unveiled, drawing on industry trends and anticipated narratives. This proactive ideation is crucial, especially given Apple's practice of not pre-briefing reviewers, which compresses testing and production timelines. To manage this, Brownlee treats the busy fall season as the "playoffs," focusing on executing a well-practiced strategy developed during less demanding periods of the year. His review process involves integrating devices into his daily life as a primary user, meticulously noting observations in his task app, TickTick, which he values for its multi-platform accessibility. This lived experience approach, rather than a purely technical benchmark focus, allows him to connect with a broad audience by balancing specific details with relatable experiences. The structured writing process, where he authors approximately 90% of his spoken script, ensures clarity and coherence, while his ability to deliver it conversationally, rather than strictly reading, maintains viewer engagement. This is supported by a team that now comprises around 17 individuals, who handle various aspects from production setup to editing, graphics, and audio, allowing Brownlee to focus on content strategy and review execution.

The expansion of his operations to include multiple channels like the main MKBHD channel, Waveform Podcast, and Autofocus, is less about diluting his personal brand and more about catering to audience expectations for different content formats. While he remains a central figure across most platforms, the specific role he plays varies, from host to conversational participant. The physical studio space is vital for fostering in-person collaboration, which Brownlee deems infinitely easier for creative back-and-forth than virtual interactions. Tools like Notion and Google Docs facilitate this collaboration, serving as central hubs for project management and script development. His engagement with audience feedback is a critical component of his content strategy; he parses comments and replies across various platforms to understand audience sentiment and identify areas for improvement, which has directly influenced his content, such as advocating for a clearer "point" to each video. This commitment to audience responsiveness, coupled with a deliberate strategy of releasing first impressions videos for highly anticipated products like the iPhone, allows him to manage embargo pressures and provide timely yet thoroughly considered content, differentiating him in a crowded creator landscape.

Brownlee's approach to influence and controversy reflects a commitment to authenticity and product integrity. He believes that negative reviews do not kill products; rather, bad products kill themselves, and reviews merely accelerate the inevitable discovery. This perspective guides his critical evaluations, aiming for accuracy and a professional user experience perspective, especially for early-stage products like the Humane AI Pin. He acknowledges the double-edged sword of his influence, where criticism can be perceived as too harsh by some and insufficient by others, but ultimately prioritizes providing an honest assessment based on his usage. This principled stance extends to his content packaging, where strategic release timing and nuanced framing help his videos cut through the noise of simultaneous embargoed content. His ability to surprise even himself with a video's performance, such as the Meta glasses, reinforces his trust in his gut instinct for what makes a compelling video, even when it deviates from expected trends. The celebrity status that accompanies his massive viewership is managed through a developed filter that helps him parse feedback and interactions, focusing on constructive criticism while mitigating the impact of negativity, a skill honed over years of high-volume audience engagement. This mindful approach to content, audience, and influence allows him to consistently produce high-quality, engaging material that resonates deeply with his viewers.

Action Items

  • Audit authentication flow: Check for three vulnerability classes (SQL injection, XSS, CSRF) across 10 endpoints.
  • Create runbook template: Define 5 required sections (setup, common failures, rollback, monitoring) to prevent knowledge silos.
  • Implement mutation testing: Target 3 core modules to identify untested edge cases beyond coverage metrics.
  • Profile build pipeline: Identify 5 slowest steps and establish a 10-minute CI target to maintain fast feedback.
  • Track 5-10 high-variance events per game to measure outcome impact.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"I think the answer is just my laptop. I used to be a like multiple computers and multiple places person like more than I am now, but now I use my laptop a lot in a bunch of different places to get like real work done. I mean, the real answer is my phone. Like, I need my to-do list app everywhere I go and all the time, but I think my laptop has been a nice bonus for a lot of that stuff too."

Marquez Brownlee, a prominent tech YouTuber, highlights the centrality of his laptop for productivity, while also acknowledging the indispensable role of his phone for task management. This indicates a workflow that relies on portable, versatile devices for both content creation and daily organization.

"Apple is basically the last big company in this space that does not pre-brief on devices. So when the device gets unveiled on stage, everyone is learning about it at the same time, basically. And then yes, sometime between that announcement and my review is when I get the device and start my testing."

Marquez Brownlee explains Apple's unique approach to product launches, where reviewers receive devices only after the public announcement. This contrasts with other companies that offer pre-briefings, impacting the timeline and potentially the depth of initial reviews.

"I don't think so. I think what happens is during the rest of the year, in January, February, March, all the like quieter months where we have a little bit more flexibility and a little bit more time, the way I've described it is that is like when we're playing with our processes and production the most. That's when we try new things, that's when we add stuff, subtract stuff, see how it goes. And then once we get to September, October, that's kind of like the playoffs."

Marquez Brownlee likens the year's production cycle to a sports season, where the early months are for experimentation and process refinement, and the later months, particularly during major tech releases, are for executing established strategies. This suggests a structured approach to content creation that prioritizes learning and adaptation before peak seasons.

"I have an app called TickTick, which is my tasks app, but it also has a notes section. The more I hear about TickTick, it's like it actually has everything. It's like its own operating system, it seems like one of these like Chinese super apps or something. It's just it's all going on in there."

Marquez Brownlee details his use of TickTick not just for task management but also for note-taking, describing it as a comprehensive organizational tool. This highlights his reliance on integrated digital platforms to manage diverse aspects of his workflow, from daily tasks to ongoing reviews.

"There are such specific like tech reviewer complaints that I have. Like, I'll be reviewing a phone and I'm four days in and I'm finishing up my thoughts, and then there's a major software update that changes a bunch of stuff that I now have to go back and relearn and retest. That's kind of frustrating."

Marquez Brownlee expresses a common frustration among tech reviewers: the challenge of re-evaluating products due to unexpected software updates. This points to the dynamic nature of technology and the difficulties in providing definitive reviews when product functionality can change post-launch.

"I'm talking to obviously a bunch of people who are thinking about buying this device, but I'm also talking to a bunch of people who are just watching this for entertainment and have no intention of buying the device. And it's a sort of a broader audience. And the challenge in speaking to both is not losing one of them."

Marquez Brownlee articulates the challenge of catering to a diverse audience in his tech reviews, balancing the needs of potential buyers seeking detailed information with those who watch for entertainment. This emphasizes his strategic approach to content creation, aiming for broad appeal without alienating specific viewer segments.

"I write 90-something percent of what you're hearing me say. You know, the way it's delivered is sometimes a little bit wandering around what I've written, but I've written everything. Like, I have a whole bunch of things that I'm I need to say and especially in the order that I want to say them so that it flows and that it moves from point to point to point."

Marquez Brownlee reveals the significant amount of writing involved in his video production, stating that he scripts the vast majority of his content. This underscores his commitment to structured storytelling and precise delivery, even when the final presentation feels conversational.

"The only like influence I guess I really mostly see is in other coverage of the same things that I choose to cover. So if I am not one of the first, but if I'm somebody who who jumps in on a product and realizes it has this really unique application and highlights it, then I will actually see other people notice that too and highlight it, which is cool. And if it's the other way around, if it's negative and I review something and everyone starts to realize how bad of a deal it is or how bad the product is, and I do sometimes see that ripple effect as well."

Marquez Brownlee discusses his perceived influence, noting that it primarily manifests in how other creators cover the same products. He observes that highlighting unique applications or critical flaws can lead to a ripple effect in subsequent coverage, demonstrating the impact of his reviews on the broader tech discourse.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "The State of the Workflow" by Marques Brownlee - Mentioned as the series title for the podcast episode.

Articles & Papers

  • "The Verge" - Mentioned as the source for David Pierce, who was a guest on the show.

People

  • Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) - Guest on the podcast, producer of tech-focused YouTube videos.
  • Andrew - Mentioned as Marques Brownlee's producer.
  • Maria - Mentioned as an editor on the MKBHD channel.
  • Harper - Mentioned as the head of production for Marques Brownlee's team.
  • David Pierce - Mentioned as a guest from The Verge.
  • John Gruber - Mentioned as a tech writer whose written reviews come out later but are still highly anticipated.
  • Walt Mossberg - Quoted regarding his focus on products rather than stock prices.
  • Jimmy - Mentioned in relation to Mr. Beast's explanation of subscriber count impact.
  • Mr. Beast - Mentioned for his explanation of subscriber count impact on celebrity status.
  • Adam Savage - Mentioned as a potential collaborator for a hypothetical CES video.
  • Miles - Mentioned as a collaborator on the Autofocus channel.
  • Rich - Mentioned as a team member available for shooting.
  • Mike Birbiglia - Mentioned for his podcast "Working It Out."

Organizations & Institutions

  • YouTube - Platform where Marques Brownlee produces videos.
  • Apple - Company whose products are frequently reviewed by Marques Brownlee.
  • Samsung - Company that sometimes provides devices for review beforehand.
  • NFL (National Football League) - Mentioned in the context of a previous podcast episode's examples.
  • Pro Football Focus (PFF) - Mentioned in the context of a previous podcast episode's examples.
  • New England Patriots - Mentioned in the context of a previous podcast episode's examples.
  • Netflix - Streaming service mentioned for shows like "Black Rabbit" and "Carry On."
  • The Verge - Media outlet where David Pierce works.
  • Cortex - The podcast series hosting the interview.
  • Relay - Mentioned as a supporter of the Cortex podcast.
  • Humane AI Pin - Product that was negatively reviewed.
  • The Verve - Mentioned as the source for David Pierce.
  • Meta - Company whose glasses Marques Brownlee reviewed.
  • Google Docs - Collaboration software used by Marques Brownlee's team.
  • Slack - Communication tool used by Marques Brownlee's team.
  • Squarespace - Sponsor of the podcast, an all-in-one website platform.
  • Sentry - Sponsor of the podcast, a developer-first app monitoring platform.
  • Fitbod - Sponsor of the podcast, a fitness planning app.
  • MKBHD (Marques Brownlee) - YouTube channel and brand.
  • Autofocus - A channel associated with Marques Brownlee.
  • Waveform Podcast - A podcast associated with Marques Brownlee.
  • Westminster Dog Show - Event featured in the "Seven Days Out" Netflix series.
  • 11 Madison Park - Restaurant featured in the "Seven Days Out" Netflix series.
  • Kentucky Derby - Event featured in the "Seven Days Out" Netflix series.
  • League of Legends - Esports team featured in the "Seven Days Out" Netflix series.
  • South Park - Mentioned in relation to the documentary "Six Days to Air."
  • Food Network - Television channel mentioned for holiday baking shows.
  • HGTV - Television channel mentioned as an alternative to Food Network.

Tools & Software

  • MacBook Pro (14-inch M4 Max) - Marques Brownlee's primary laptop.
  • Mac Pro (M2 Ultra) - Computer used by Marques Brownlee at his studio for video editing.
  • Mac Studio - A potential future computer for Marques Brownlee.
  • Pelican Case - Used to carry an iMac Pro.
  • TickTick - Task management and notes app used by Marques Brownlee.
  • Notion - Collaboration software used by Marques Brownlee's team for shared tasks and project management.
  • Superhuman - Email app used by Marques Brownlee.
  • Arc - Browser mentioned as a past tool, now primarily using Chrome.
  • Chrome - Browser used by Marques Brownlee on desktop.
  • Apple Watch - Smartwatch mentioned for integration with Fitbod.
  • Wear OS Smartwatches - Smartwatches mentioned for integration with Fitbod.
  • Strava - Fitness app mentioned for integration with Fitbod.
  • Fitbit - Fitness app mentioned for integration with Fitbod.
  • Apple Health - Health app mentioned for integration with Fitbod.

Websites & Online Resources

  • getmortex.com - Website for Mortex subscription with a discount code.
  • mkhd.com - Website for Marques Brownlee's merchandise.
  • sentry.io - Website for Sentry, an app monitoring platform.
  • squarespace.com - Website for Squarespace, an all-in-one website platform.
  • fitbod.me - Website for Fitbod, a fitness planning app.

Other Resources

  • Techtober - A period of the year known for tech releases.
  • "State of the Workflow" series - A series of podcast episodes focusing on workflow.
  • "Black Rabbit" (Netflix) - A dramatized thriller series.
  • "Carry On" (Netflix) - A movie starring Jason Bateman.
  • "Building the Band" (Netflix) - A reality show about forming a band.
  • "Blown Away" (Netflix) - A reality show about glass blowing.
  • "Great British Bake Off" - A baking competition show.
  • "Great British Bake Off: Professionals" - A specialized version of the show for professional bakers.
  • "The Great Pottery Throw Down" - A pottery competition show.
  • "Kids Baking Championship" (Food Network) - A children's baking competition show.
  • "What Went Wrong" (Podcast) - A podcast discussing the difficult making of movies.
  • "It Was a Short Show" (YouTube Channel) - A YouTube channel discussing the difficult making of movies.
  • "Six Days to Air" - A documentary about the making of a South Park episode.
  • "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" - A web series featuring comedians.
  • "Working It Out" (Podcast) - A podcast by Mike Birbiglia.
  • "Seven Days Out" (Netflix) - A documentary series following events leading up to major occasions.
  • "Installer" - A platform for recommendations and good vibes.
  • "Techvember" - A period of the year with tech content.
  • "Techtober" - A period of the year known for tech releases.
  • "AI Agent Monitoring" - A tool offered by Sentry.
  • "Structured Logs" - A tool offered by Sentry.
  • "Error Monitoring" - A tool offered by Sentry.
  • "Distributed Tracing" - A tool offered by Sentry.
  • "Session Replays" - A tool offered by Sentry.
  • "AI Agent" - A tool offered by Sentry.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - A tool that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI debugging agent.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI agent that can automatically generate fixes.
  • "AI Agent" (Sentry) - An AI

---
Handpicked links, AI-assisted summaries. Human judgment, machine efficiency.
This content is a personally curated review and synopsis derived from the original podcast episode.