Mac Shorts teardown + AI personas

Data: top 5 most-viewed Shorts for each of 31 channels (148 Shorts), pulled Oct 16, 2026 (PT). Cuts are measured with ffmpeg scene detection, which undercounts zooms inside screen recordings. Scores, notes and personas are estimates.

Top 5 opportunities (est.)

Hardest to copy

AI influencer personas

Policy risks

Channels

Persona	Niche	Look/personality	Format	Hook	Cadence	Tools	Targets
Mac Minute Mia	Daily Mac shortcuts	Warm 20s AI host with a pastel desk, upbeat and precise	Face-cam avatar for 2s, then real screen recordings with zoom-ins, ~25s	'Stop doing X on your Mac. Do this.'	2x/day	HeyGen/Captions avatar + ElevenLabs + Screen Studio + CapCut	macvince, beardfm, macmost
Menu Bar Max	Tiny menu-bar apps	Deadpan AI robot-style 3D character	Character pointing at real app UI; 3 apps per Short	'3 menu-bar apps Apple should've built'	1/day	Hedra/Runway character + ElevenLabs + Screen Studio	HelloYabluko, renzsadiwa
Free-App Frank	'Apps that shouldn't be free'	Energetic AI dad-type presenter	List countdown with app-store screen grabs and real demos	'This app is free and it shouldn't be'	1/day	HeyGen + ElevenLabs + CapCut auto-captions	renzsadiwa (5 FREE apps 4.8M)
Prof. Prompt	AI tools on Mac	Glasses-wearing AI professor avatar with a chalkboard aesthetic	Diagram 'levels' like Jeff Su + live demo	'You're using ChatGPT wrong on your Mac'	5/week	HeyGen + Kling/Veo B-roll + Figma/Motion graphics	JeffSu, toolfinderhq
Nova Notes	Note/productivity app comparisons	Calm minimalist AI woman, beige studio	Top-3 comparisons with screen recordings	'I tested 12 note apps. Only 3 are worth it.'	4/week	Synthesia/HeyGen + ElevenLabs + Screen Studio	toolfinderhq, ShuOmi, BetterCreating
Glitch the Cat	Mac tips told by an animated cat	Cute 3D cat that 'breaks' and fixes Macs	Comedic skit, then a real-screen tip; loop ending	'My human did this wrong again...'	1/day	Pika/Kling character + ElevenLabs character voice + CapCut	beardfm, macmost (entertainment angle none have)
Rumor Ray	Apple rumor/news	Fast-talking AI anchor	News desk + licensed/AI renders, <40s	'Apple just leaked its 2027 lineup'	Daily, same day as news	HeyGen + Veo renders + ElevenLabs	BrandonButch
Silent Setup	Aesthetic Mac desktop/widget setups	No host; ASMR + music	15s music-only desktop customization screen-captures	Visual: ugly desktop to gorgeous in 1s	2/day	Screen Studio + Rotato mockups + licensed music	ByteReview (15s vibe format)
Grandpa Gigabyte	Mac for seniors	Kind elderly AI host, slow and clear	Large-text tutorials with big arrows	'If your Mac does this, don't panic'	4/week	HeyGen + ElevenLabs (slower pacing) + Keynote graphics	TheMacWhisperer, macmost
Speedrun Sam	Rapid iPhone/Mac tricks	Hyper Gen-Z AI host, meme inserts	13+ cuts per 10s, word captions, meme zooms	'The secret button nobody uses'	2/day	Captions.ai + CapCut + ElevenLabs	SamuelHlab, bramdmedia
Dev Desk Dana	Mac apps for coders	Hoodie-wearing AI dev avatar	Terminal/IDE screen recordings, 30s	'Every dev Mac needs these 3 apps'	3/week	HeyGen + Screen Studio + ElevenLabs	stevebuildswebsites, MatthewPCLO
Battery Bob	Mac battery/performance fixes	Mechanic-style AI host in overalls	Problem, fix, before/after stats	'Your MacBook battery is dying because of this'	4/week	HeyGen + Screen Studio + CapCut	MatthewPCLO (AlDente), macwithankit
Calm Tech Kai	Digital wellbeing apps	Soothing AI host, nature backdrops	Mindful prompt + app demo	'Before you keep scrolling, try this'	3/week	HeyGen + Veo nature B-roll + ElevenLabs	SeanOulashin

Jeff Su @JeffSu · 1,920,000 subs

Talking-head explainerEditing 8/10AI ease 6/102.9 cuts/10savg 47.4s

Format: Face-cam + screen inserts/diagrams
Hook: States a bold claim in the first line ('A very unethical resume hack')
Captions: Bold white/yellow keyword captions
Voice: Own voice, very clean delivery

What they do well: Very clear 3-step structure, strong curiosity titles, crisp motion-graphic diagrams (AI agent 'levels'). His top Short (6.7M) is career/AI, not Mac.

Where we can beat them: Posts Shorts rarely and they run ~50s; there's room for faster 20-30s cuts and a daily cadence on AI/Mac app tips.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
A Very Unethical #resume hack	6,668,968	54s	1.9
AI Agents explained in 3 steps	858,996	52s	0.2
Underrated #Gmail Tip for #Productivity	573,679	50s	0.4
LinkedIn Tip for Job Seekers in 2024	543,075	29s	11.6
These 3 People Can Change Your #career	538,771	52s	0.2

Brandon Butch @BrandonButch · 1,440,000 subs

News / rumor roundupEditing 8/10AI ease 7/102.8 cuts/10savg 73.4s

Format: Face-cam + Apple product renders, stock B-roll
Hook: 'Unlocking EVERY iPhone' visual gag; '2026 lineup' teaser
Captions: Single-word centered captions
Voice: Own energetic VO

What they do well: Big top hit (16M) from a simple visual stunt; lineup/rumor Shorts each do ~2M on 100s+ runtimes.

Where we can beat them: Lineup Shorts run 100-112s and rely on renders anyone can license or generate; an AI presenter can cover rumors sooner and in under 45s.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Unlocking EVERY iPhone! 🤩 #shorts	16,192,883	19s	0.5
Apple’s 2026 Product Lineup 👀	2,246,192	109s	4.2
This is the FUTURE of iOS 🤯	2,270,723	28s	4.2
Apple’s 2026 Product Lineup 👀 (Pt. 2)	1,845,168	112s	3.0
Apple’s 2026 Product Lineup! 🤩	1,793,151	99s	2.1

Snazzy Labs @snazzy · 1,270,000 subs

Gadget demo (filmed)Editing 7/10AI ease 3/102.4 cuts/10savg 109.0s

Format: Filmed hands-on product, real locations
Hook: Product-in-action reveal
Captions: Small lower captions
Voice: Own VO, high quality

What they do well: Real-world demos with cinema-grade camera work. Top Short (4.2M) is about a company story.

Where we can beat them: Only 18 Shorts, posted rarely, and long (60-170s). Can't easily be copied with AI, but it leaves the 'weird gadget' story slot open.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
This company makes all the super important little components	4,173,477	140s	2.7
Open your door EASILY with Apple Home Key!	1,553,976	60s	3.7
Apple’s new $9 Polishing Cloth may be worse than it seems… #	789,619	170s	1.8
Weird iPhone MagSafe Accessory!	377,317	60s	1.7
FINALLY! A robotic pool cleaner with REAL mapping capabiliti	144,624	115s	2.0

Sillycorns @SillycornsMedia · 765,000 subs

Gadget showcase (India)Editing 7/10AI ease 4/104.7 cuts/10savg 41.0s

Format: Studio product B-roll, colorful sets, presenter
Hook: Numbered list ('3 viral gadgets') with props
Captions: Yellow/white bold captions
Voice: Hindi/English VO

What they do well: 400+ Shorts, very high cadence, bright colored studio sets, 5-10M views on 'X gadgets' lists.

Where we can beat them: Generic list scripts and stock hype. AI can match the scripts but not real product handling. Beat them on specific Mac software (no physical product needed).

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
You Are Buying Laptops the Wrong Way!	10,621,053	49s	3.5
3 Ultimate Stress Busting Toys..!	8,869,883	16s	6.2
3 Viral Gadgets for Home! 🔥	8,042,418	31s	5.1
JBL Tour One M3: Features That Will Blow You Away!	5,914,075	57s	4.4
The iPhone 17 Series: First Look! 🔥	5,934,876	52s	4.2

macmostvideo @macmost · 513,000 subs

Screen-recorded tipsEditing 3/10AI ease 9/100.6 cuts/10savg 46.2s

Format: Phone/desktop screen capture + small host corner
Hook: Plain title card
Captions: Few/no dynamic captions
Voice: Own calm VO

What they do well: Authority and very practical tips. 2.4M on 'What to do before handing over your phone'.

Where we can beat them: Barely any cuts (0.3-1 per 10s), no captions, dated title cards. An AI tips channel with fast zooms and captions would clearly look better.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
MacMost #Shorts – What To Do Before Handing Your iPhone to a	2,442,732	58s	0.3
MacMost #Shorts – Scan Receipts With Your iPhone	501,727	56s	1.1
How To Access Your Mac User Library Folder #Shorts	250,690	38s	0.0
Use Your iPhone To Measure Physical Objects #Shorts	145,728	41s	0.7
Save Anything As a PDF On Your iPhone #Shorts	136,851	38s	0.8

ThisIsE @ThisIsE · 494,000 subs

Aesthetic unboxing/B-rollEditing 9/10AI ease 4/104.1 cuts/10savg 43.4s

Format: Moody cinematic product B-roll, no face
Hook: Satisfying product reveal
Captions: Minimal
Voice: Mostly music/ASMR, light VO

What they do well: Premium cinematography, 5 cuts per 10s, 2-7M per Short on paper tablets/phones.

Where we can beat them: Needs physical products and studio gear. AI product video risks looking fake or breaking the inauthentic-content rules; not a good target.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
reMarkable Paper Pro Move — Writing, Reimagined	7,204,471	57s	4.6
The Paper Tablet That Fits Anywhere	6,837,602	52s	5.4
NOTHING Phone (3a) Unboxing - White	3,202,942	56s	3.6
This is NOT a desk shelf…🤔	2,305,896	28s	5.0
Oneplus 13 unboxing is NOT the same...	1,553,726	24s	2.1

julia k crist @juliakcrist · 492,000 subs

Lifestyle personalityEditing 7/10AI ease 2/104.1 cuts/10savg 20.2s

Format: Filmed selfie/vlog, sponsor integrations
Hook: Relatable personal line
Captions: Small lowercase text
Voice: Own voice

What they do well: Personality-led; sponsored Mint Mobile Short hit 4.6M.

Where we can beat them: Value comes from her as a real person. An AI influencer could copy the vibe (soft aesthetic, iPhone colors) but would need disclosure.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
monthly resets & budgeting are less stressful with @MintMob	5,299,815	31s	3.9
trying out @MintMobile & as a result i’ve consumed way too m	4,648,545	23s	4.8
iOS 26 is BEAUTIFUL 😭 i love the liquid glass!! (this is the	1,557,122	10s	0.0
a first look at the colors of the iPHONE 18 PRO MAX!! 🤩📱✨ gl	1,026,279	13s	6.3
the ULTIMATE phone refresh: new wireless from @MintMobile #M	1,048,068	24s	5.5

Tool Finder @toolfinderhq · 452,000 subs

Talking-head listicleEditing 5/10AI ease 9/101.3 cuts/10savg 43.8s

Format: Face-cam over app screenshots/whiteboard
Hook: 'Top 3 note takers' title overlay
Captions: Blue boxed keyword captions
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: Clear 'Top 3 apps' format; 600K top Short; app-comparison SEO.

Where we can beat them: Most Shorts get under 100K. Static, repetitive layout with slow cuts (~1-3 per 10s). An AI avatar plus real app screen recordings can easily match it and beat it on pace.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Top 3 Best Note Takers: All Rounders!	600,428	38s	3.1
Top 3 Project Management Software	88,277	43s	1.2
Top Notion Alternatives	79,837	38s	1.3
What is monday.com in less than 60 seconds	79,439	55s	1.1
Top 3 Project Management Apps	70,245	45s	0.0

Andrew Ethan Zeng @AndrewEthanZeng · 445,000 subs

Aesthetic unboxingEditing 8/10AI ease 3/103.1 cuts/10savg 28.4s

Format: Teal/obsidian color-matched unboxing, hands only
Hook: Satisfying color-matched open
Captions: Minimal
Voice: Music, little VO

What they do well: Color-matched backdrops make strong thumbnails; 4.7M Pixel unboxing.

Where we can beat them: Needs real products and long shots. The occasional AI-tool Short (845K) shows a software angle is open.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Unboxing the Pixel 9a in Obsidian 🖤	4,739,842	39s	0.3
The Stunning 77" LG G4 OLED 😤	1,540,642	15s	8.1
Unboxing the iPhone 16 in Teal 🩵	1,289,689	27s	0.4
The Aston Martin Lifestyle 🏁	932,050	26s	5.4
This AI Tool Searches Everything For You	845,347	35s	1.1

GregsGadgets @GregsGadgets · 420,000 subs

Hands-on demo + faceEditing 6/10AI ease 5/100.8 cuts/10savg 60.6s

Format: Face-cam + device demo, 'APPLE MAGIC!!!' banner
Hook: Big banner text + excited face
Captions: Persistent top banner
Voice: Own energetic VO

What they do well: Vision Pro in public (5.9M); comparison Shorts (13 vs 15).

Where we can beat them: Few cuts (0.5-2 per 10s), long (55-81s). Tighter edits and loop endings would beat him.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Using Apple Vision Pro in Public	5,915,682	55s	0.9
iOS 17 AirDrop MAGIC!	2,825,181	33s	0.0
13” VS 15” M3 MacBook Air! #macbookair #apple	1,189,517	60s	2.2
iPad mini is now a FULL Computer!	647,885	74s	0.5
iOS 26 vs iOS 18!	486,251	81s	0.5

Sab Yang @fromsabyang · 419,000 subs

Lifestyle (med student)Editing 5/10AI ease 2/102.8 cuts/10savg 61.2s

Format: Filmed vlog
Hook: Personal aesthetic moment
Captions: Small text
Voice: Own voice

What they do well: Authentic study-with-me vibe.

Where we can beat them: Off-niche for Mac apps; skip.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
studying non-stop until the candle burns out 🕯️📚 #study #stu	370,568	26s	0.0
what’s in my work bag as a first year resident doctor! 🩺👩‍⚕️	232,088	105s	1.3
unboxing my white coat 🥹🩺🥼 happy match day from figs! #medst	145,587	53s	1.3
grwm while getting to know me ☁️🌟🌷	102,929	94s	3.0
diaries of a 4th year med student vs phd student #study #pro	100,964	28s	8.5

Better Creating @BetterCreating · 268,000 subs

Talking-head reviewerEditing 7/10AI ease 6/103.3 cuts/10savg 61.6s

Format: Face + iPad/Mac B-roll, word captions
Hook: Hand+product opener
Captions: Black-box word captions
Voice: Own UK VO

What they do well: Clean production; 443K top Short.

Where we can beat them: Moderate reach. Productivity-app explainers for iPad/Mac are easy to copy with screen recordings plus an AI VO.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
⇧ Maximise Your Reading Potential with The iPad in 60 second	443,436	41s	3.2
Here's why the iPad Air M4 is the one to pick... 👀	229,848	104s	3.2
I Make Your iPad Better in 60 Seconds: How To Use Scribble!	222,938	59s	1.5
The MacBook Pro M5 is a beast, but... 👀	204,839	45s	3.5
M4 Mac Mini: A Low Key Best Choice!! 🚀 #m4 #mac	78,137	59s	5.1

Byte Review @ByteReview · 263,000 subs

Aesthetic desk-setup B-rollEditing 8/10AI ease 5/104.9 cuts/10savg 15.0s

Format: Hands + desk setup, no voice
Hook: Instant visual of the setup
Captions: None
Voice: Music only

What they do well: 15-second vibe Shorts doing 4-7M each; 5+ cuts per 10s; very loopable.

Where we can beat them: Needs real hardware, but the 15s music-only format is easy to copy with real screen captures of Mac app UIs (wallpapers, widgets, menu-bar apps).

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
M2 iPad Pro Vibes 🍃	7,519,789	14s	5.7
M4 iPad Pro Unboxing - IT’S SO THIN! 👀	7,023,521	15s	5.3
M2 MacBook Air Desk Setup 🍃	5,155,007	15s	4.8
MacBook Pro Desk Setup 💻	4,365,930	15s	5.4
Unboxing the BEAUTIFUL iPhone 4s 😍	4,045,631	16s	3.1

Reysu @reysu · 262,000 subs

Aesthetic minimal reviewerEditing 8/10AI ease 4/103.3 cuts/10savg 41.2s

Format: Filmed product + face, typewriter captions
Hook: Concept line ('if Apple made a pocket notebook')
Captions: Small monospace captions
Voice: Own calm VO

What they do well: Strong taste/brand; 1.3M top.

Where we can beat them: Tied to his personality and physical stationery.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
if Apple made a pocket notebook…	1,293,746	35s	2.8
January 30, 2026	1,145,318	25s	4.0
Day 5 buy-it-for-life items (Rotring 800)	587,369	57s	2.8
this is the best iphone ever made	377,967	30s	3.6
my two notebook system to stop infinite scrolling	185,416	59s	3.5

Stephen Robles @beardfm · 236,000 subs

Screen-recorded tips (hands)Editing 4/10AI ease 9/100.5 cuts/10savg 16.2s

Format: Hand holding an iPhone over a desk, tip label
Hook: Tip title banner on frame 1
Captions: Colored banner labels
Voice: VO or none

What they do well: Super simple 12-20s tips, 1-1.6M each, 372 Shorts.

Where we can beat them: Almost no cuts. AI VO plus a quick zoom/punch-in edit and better hooks is an easy win.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Select iPhone Photos Quickly!	1,657,525	12s	0.0
Quickly Delete iPhone Apps for More Storage	1,406,690	13s	0.0
Record Video on iPhone without Pausing Music	1,498,220	19s	1.1
iPhone Sound Recognition and Notifications	1,198,438	15s	0.0
Search Google by Image with the iPhone app!	1,027,242	22s	1.4

MacVince @macvince · 216,000 subs

Screen-recorded Mac tipsEditing 5/10AI ease 9/100.1 cuts/10savg 28.0s

Format: Real Mac/trackpad footage with big word captions, check/X icons
Hook: Word captions + X/check
Captions: Big white single words
Voice: VO

What they do well: Mac-specific (trackpad gestures, option-key tricks), 140-510K. Closest match to the target niche.

Where we can beat them: Scene detection found no cuts at all (continuous takes) and only 28 Shorts. Out-post him with daily AI-scripted Mac tips.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Copy and Pasting Trick on Mac #apple	511,224	19s	0.0
Mac Trackpad Gestures #shorts	282,455	26s	0.0
Mac Option Key Secrets 🤫	182,045	30s	0.0
Mac trackpad gestures #shorts	159,815	28s	0.0
How to Schedule WhatsApp Messages on iPhone	137,791	37s	0.5

Christopher Lawley @ChrisLawley · 206,000 subs

Talking-head reviewerEditing 5/10AI ease 5/101.3 cuts/10savg 88.6s

Format: Desk face-cam + B-roll
Hook: Opinion opener
Captions: Minimal
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: Credible iPad/Mac productivity voice.

Where we can beat them: Long Shorts (130-170s) with low views; easy to beat on pacing.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
24 Hours with the MacBook Neo	271,259	133s	2.3
My Daily Workflow	91,043	44s	2.3
The M4 iPad Air Has Two Big Problems	51,692	173s	1.0
How to Disable Shortcuts Automation Notifications #shorts	42,321	33s	0.6
How to Automatically Change Your Wallpaper Background on You	27,365	60s	0.3

The MacWhisperer @TheMacWhisperer · 171,000 subs

Screen-recorded tips (older audience)Editing 3/10AI ease 9/100.7 cuts/10savg 55.4s

Format: Screen recordings + host corner, arrows
Hook: Title card
Captions: Arrows/labels
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: Serves a senior audience well.

Where we can beat them: Very low views (1-32K) and dated graphics. Easy to beat.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Assign a photograph to your contacts and make them look amaz	32,481	57s	1.2
Mac in a Minute #1: Send Apple Notes to Pages	17,067	59s	0.2
AirDrop can be a total pain if you don’t know this trick!	5,390	53s	1.5
Why is it so hard to find the person I want to text in my Me	3,239	55s	0.0
Karaoke gone wrong? This will help!	1,521	53s	0.6

Renz Sadiwa @renzsadiwa · 122,000 subs

Unboxing + app listsEditing 8/10AI ease 6/104.9 cuts/10savg 39.0s

Format: Hands/product B-roll, app store screen grabs
Hook: Instant product or 'apps that shouldn't be free'
Captions: Small white captions
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: Fast cuts (4.5-8.6 per 10s), app-list Short did 4.8M. This is the format the user first liked.

Where we can beat them: The app-list Shorts need no physical product. An AI version with real screen recordings of each app plus a faster VO can compete directly.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
iPhone Air Unboxing Space Black	6,914,449	16s	8.6
5 FREE iPhone Apps That Should Not Be This Good 🤯 #iphoneapp	4,755,085	62s	4.5
The BEST Budget iPad Keyboard? 🤔	3,611,022	31s	6.1
Apple Intelligence BEST FEATURES! 🤯	2,906,375	35s	0.6
Is the Braun NEVO Shaver Actually Worth It? 🤔	2,854,141	51s	4.5

Steve Builds Websites @stevebuildswebsites · 103,000 subs

Talking-head comparisonEditing 6/10AI ease 7/102.4 cuts/10savg 70.0s

Format: Face + website screen recordings
Hook: 'I tried every website builder'
Captions: Big centered captions
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: Clear comparisons; 361K.

Where we can beat them: Narrow niche; competitors are slow.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
I tried every website builder. Which is BEST?	361,551	60s	3.0
I tried every website builder. Which is BEST?	98,349	113s	2.5
WIX vs SQUARESPACE — Which is better?	77,339	55s	2.6
How to make a website in 60 secs	35,575	60s	2.5
Website Looks Like 1995 (But Works)	33,038	62s	1.5

Shu @ShuOmi_Official · 83,800 subs

App explainerEditing 5/10AI ease 8/101.8 cuts/10savg 26.7s

Format: Screen recordings with bright gradient captions
Hook: App value line
Captions: Colorful paragraph captions
Voice: VO

What they do well: App discovery (Napkin) 28K.

Where we can beat them: Tiny reach; wordy captions.

28,507

1,782

1,065

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
A note app that connects ideas automatically #shorts	28,507	28s	1.4
Create Your Dream Workspace with Xtiles!	1,782	19s	2.7
Apple Note's live transcription is awesome	1,065	33s	1.2

Chris Tomshack @Christomshack · 61,800 subs

Off-nicheEditing 2/10AI ease 1/100.0 cuts/10savg 11.0s

Format: Repost clip
Hook: -
Captions: Burned-in caption
Voice: -

What they do well: -

Where we can beat them: Only one Short. Not a real competitor.

3,681

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Ricky Bobby Goes Skydiving	3,681	11s	0.0

Feel Productive @FeelProductive · 52,500 subs

Reviewer + app tipsEditing 6/10AI ease 6/101.8 cuts/10savg 45.2s

Format: Face + product, pastel title captions
Hook: Title words over product
Captions: Colored top captions
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: 72K Pencil Short.

Where we can beat them: Low reach and low cadence.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Should you buy the Apple Pencil USB-C?	71,937	60s	1.5
🗣️A must have app for all Mac & iPhone productivity nerds 🤓	5,216	37s	1.9
MOFT Dynamic Folio for iPad Pro. Slim.Smart. 20+ angles!	4,543	42s	1.9
Superlist’s voice feature gets it right every time. No more	2,458	42s	1.7

Sam Hlabangana @SamuelHlab · 30,200 subs

Fast iPhone tricksEditing 8/10AI ease 8/107.5 cuts/10savg 30.4s

Format: Hands + phone, fast word captions, memes
Hook: 'Secret button' in first second
Captions: Word-by-word centered captions
Voice: Fast VO

What they do well: 13.5 cuts per 10s on 'secret button' (2.4M). Only 30K subs but 4.7M on a hit, so the format wins, not the creator.

Where we can beat them: Pure editing-driven format. AI VO plus real screen footage and meme inserts can match it; beat it with Mac-specific tricks and better loops.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
iPhone light switch	4,701,676	19s	6.2
How to actually tell if a video is AI or not!#Sora #tech #n	2,843,096	78s	6.5
How to make your iPhone more aesthetic	2,635,425	23s	0.9
The Secret button on your iPhone!	2,440,166	17s	13.5
How to get animated wallpapers on iPhone (iOS 26) #iphone #l	1,904,497	15s	10.5

Bram D Media @bramdmedia · 26,900 subs

Fast tips + setupsEditing 7/10AI ease 7/104.2 cuts/10savg 38.0s

Format: Face + desk/phone B-roll
Hook: 'Set this up on your iPhone!!'
Captions: Word captions
Voice: VO

What they do well: 2.2M; 394 Shorts; high cadence.

Where we can beat them: Generic hooks; double-exclamation clickbait.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Set This Up On Your iPhone!!	2,246,200	26s	3.1
MacBook Setup Tutorial!!	996,523	28s	6.0
Which iPad Should You Get in 2026??	971,457	46s	5.6
Don’t Buy These Apple Products!!	767,879	44s	1.6
Did you know Apple does this to your old iPhones?!?	727,194	46s	4.8

Plaen Co. @plaenco · 21,900 subs

EDC gadget B-rollEditing 7/10AI ease 4/103.2 cuts/10savg 53.6s

Format: Hands + gear, face inserts
Hook: Gear reveal
Captions: Word captions
Voice: VO

What they do well: About 1M on EDC gear.

Where we can beat them: Needs physical gear.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Come pack, my everyday carry patagonia edition #patagonia #t	1,259,258	77s	1.6
Best mod for your gshock #gshock #watch #edc #everydaycarry	1,168,982	45s	3.3
Would you buy a bougie pen like this over a normal BIC pen 🤔	973,628	34s	3.5
Infinite battery life for AirTags #airtag #apple #tech #find	968,351	52s	2.9
Most compact Everyday carry! #tech #edc #everydaycarry	392,675	60s	4.5

Orbxz @Orbxz · 16,600 subs

Gadget B-rollEditing 7/10AI ease 4/105.0 cuts/10savg 37.4s

Format: Moody gadget shots, quick cuts
Hook: Product hook text
Captions: Labels
Voice: VO

What they do well: Polished but only 3-6K views.

Where we can beat them: Low reach.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
The ANKER Smart Display Hub is insane! #anker #shorts #tech	6,004	56s	6.0
Liquid Cooling In a PowerBank? #UGREENMagFlow #magsafepowerb	4,112	45s	4.4
18 Pro Max is just too clean #apple #iphone #tech #shorts #v	3,647	25s	2.8
This AI Pen Is insane… #tech #shorts #technology #gadgets	3,539	38s	6.3
This case has airbags… @mobosi #mobosi #mobosicase #shorts #	3,440	23s	5.3

Sean Oulashin @SeanOulashin · 16,500 subs

Mindfulness talking-headEditing 5/10AI ease 6/100.7 cuts/10savg 43.0s

Format: Face + phone, sticker titles
Hook: Direct address 'Before you keep scrolling'
Captions: Small captions
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: Distinct anti-doomscroll angle.

Where we can beat them: Low reach; static shots.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Can YOUR body can do THIS?? 👀	8,875	19s	0.0
You look like you’ve been scrolling for a while 👀 #shorts	3,802	47s	1.7
Before You Keep Scrolling… ❤️ #shorts	3,204	48s	0.0
How to get off your phone... for GOOD 📱❌	2,857	56s	1.6
A mindful moment before your scroll 🤝❤️ #shorts	2,824	45s	0.0

Matthew Piccolo @MatthewPCLO · 12,200 subs

Talking-head Mac tipsEditing 5/10AI ease 8/102.0 cuts/10savg 33.4s

Format: Face + screen recordings
Hook: Tip statement
Captions: Big caption over screen
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: Mac app tips like AlDente and Delta (78K).

Where we can beat them: Few cuts and small reach; an AI channel can easily beat it.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Delta GameBoy & DS emulator on your Mac directly from the Ma	78,665	22s	3.6
Tired of your MacBook asking if you want to use your iPhone’	39,425	10s	1.0
Secret Setting to Lower Brightness Even More on iPhone📱 #iph	36,269	60s	0.3
The Seiko 5 SNKL23 looks Awesome!	27,218	15s	4.5
AlDente ensures your MacBook’s battery stays in good health	21,906	60s	0.8

Mac with Ankit @macwithankit · 8,830 subs

Talking-head Mac tips (India)Editing 6/10AI ease 7/102.5 cuts/10savg 31.0s

Format: Face + Mac B-roll, price graphics
Hook: Problem statement
Captions: Bold captions
Voice: Own VO

What they do well: 1.47M on an Apple hardware fix.

Where we can beat them: Inconsistent hits.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
This is how Apple 🍎 fixed a hardware problem with just a sof	1,469,122	34s	3.2
Best Video Player for Mac in 2025 🔥 \| Must-Have macOS Tools	87,225	24s	3.0
Your Account Can Not Be Created At This Time \| Apple iCloud	68,116	28s	1.8
You Can Really Play AAA Games on a Mac? 🎮🔥	66,679	38s	3.7
How Much Does the Cheapest Apple Ecosystem Cost? 🍎	19,999	31s	0.7

Yabluko @HelloYabluko · 864 subs

App screen-recording listsEditing 5/10AI ease 10/102.6 cuts/10savg 31.0s

Format: Screen recordings, 'TOP 3' title cards
Hook: 'Top 3 Mac tips' card
Captions: White pill captions
Voice: AI-ish VO / text

What they do well: Already a mostly faceless format.

Where we can beat them: Under 11K views; weak hooks. Shows the bar is low in faceless Mac app Shorts.

Top Short	Views	Len	Cuts/10s
Alcove - Best minimalistic app for mac #apple #macbook #maca	10,672	34s	1.5
Top 3 Mac Tips #mac #macbook #apple	1,700	25s	4.3
Top 3 Must Have Mac Apps #macbook #mac #macbooktips	1,610	27s	2.6
Top 5 Mac Shortcuts #apple #macbook #mac	1,209	31s	2.9
Top 3 Mac Tips #apple #macbook #mac	1,181	38s	1.6

Mac/tech app Shorts: teardown + AI persona playbook