I’ve been using Raycast since 2022. All those years it has been my absolute productivity beast of an app and the core functionality is what kept me using it to this day: hyper-native, incredibly lean, and blazing fast. For me, the magic wasn't in the flashy updates. It was the flawless execution of the fundamentals: Clipboard History that just worked; Snippets & Quick Links that streamlined my entire daily workflow; Window Management that eventually replaced dedicated tools.

When the hype train arrived and features like AI, focus mode, and timers were introduced, I understood the decisions behind them. They were clever features aimed at widening user reach. While they felt a bit gimmicky to my specific workflow, the core functionality kept getting incrementally better, so I stayed and never complained, because to each his own, at the end of the day.

The recent architectural shift in Raycast v2 changes the equation for me. Moving from a pure native macOS AppKit framework (because end of the day that's what I was using on a daily basis, never was a fan of the plethora of extensions and rarely trusted them apart from the ones developed by Raycast) to a hybrid Rust/Node/React stack to support multi-platform (Windows) growth is a smart business move. It unlocks massive developer velocity. But as a Mac user who doesn't care about cross-platform unity, it means trading away the very DNA that made me fall in love with the tool—its lean efficiency and native soul. What further tipped my scales is the ever bigger surface that node touches in the app, which disturbs me greatly in the context of how the industry looks May 2026 with no signs of getting better.

What I write next is a hypothesis as I don't work at Raycast and am not affiliated with them but I presume that v2 will be becoming the standard, in the near future and eventually it will replace v1 fully. I’ve made the decision to stick with v1 for as long as it lives, and start working on filling the gaps with alternative, Apple developed tools, fully knowing that I will make serious productivity sacrifices. Still, I hold out a sliver of hope that a security-patched version of v1 might be maintained, though I know that’s a tall engineering task for a fast-moving startup.

I wish the team nothing but the best, and I’ll be watching their journey from afar.

It’s been a little over a month since I first posted about switching to the iPhone Air, and after living with it as my daily driver, I wanted to circle back with some deeper thoughts. The "honeymoon phase" with a new design usually fades by now, but this transition from the 16 Pro has been a much more interesting shift than I initially expected. Here is how it has actually held up in the real world.

The "Wow Factor" is Permanent 

After a month of daily use, the novelty of the iPhone Air’s 5.6mm design hasn't worn off. There is a persistent "wow factor" every time I pick it up from my desk. In fact, handling my wife’s 16 Pro now feels like holding a heavy brick. The drop to 165g has completely recalibrated my expectations of what a smartphone should feel like.

The Pro Trade-offs: Calculated Sacrifices 

Coming from a Pro, I was worried about the move to a single 48MP Fusion camera. For "point and shoot" moments, it does the job, but let’s be clear: if you need a versatile camera for anything beyond the basics, this isn't it. However, the superior front-facing camera was the nail in the coffin for me—it is a noticeable upgrade over the 16 Pro.

The real "thinness tax" comes down to audio and video:

• The Mic: The transition to a single microphone is tough to get used to when shooting video.
• The Speaker: The mono speaker is a significant step down. It’s subpar for indoor listening and virtually impossible to use effectively outdoors.

Display and Thermal Performance 

As someone who mainly reads emails and watches videos, the larger, brighter display is a massive plus. I’ve never liked "Always-On" displays, so I don't miss that feature at all. Surprisingly, the Air runs cooler than my 16 Pro. While the Pro would get "toasty" under strain, the Air stays cool, only warming up slightly near the internal "plateau" during 30+ minute video calls.

Battery & Lifestyle Fit 

My current lifestyle fully accommodates the Air. With 1.5 to 3 hours of screen time (depending on the day), it easily lasts from wake-up to bedtime. I am fully aware, however, that the moment I step out of my routine or go on a trip, a battery bank will be a mandatory companion.

Bonus: The Minimalist Catalyst 

The most unexpected benefit is how this phone supports my journey to detach from my device. It strikes a perfect balance: it provides the high-end Apple performance I need for work and communication, but its physical profile and specific compromises make it feel like the "minimalist" version of a smartphone I’ve been looking for. It’s the high-tech "dumb phone" alternative for those who still need the ecosystem.

The Verdict

The iPhone Air isn't for everyone. It requires you to accept clear compromises in audio, battery, and camera versatility. But for me, these are trade-offs I’m willing to take every single day in exchange for the most incredible industrial design Apple has produced in years. I don’t miss the 16 Pro at all.

Hey everyone,

I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has run into issues with the referral system recently.

I have two referrals who successfully signed up using my link, but they haven't been credited toward my account yet. And three others signed up and got credited. I’ve double-checked with them and they’ve completed the setup, but my progress hasn't updated.

Is there a specific sync period I should wait for, or is this something the team needs to look into manually?

Thanks in advance for the help!