This week, Apple made quite a few waves by unveiling its iPhone 17 series, which was highly anticipated for its key updates and bold new design choices. The buzz has especially been around the updated camera, fresh design, and longer battery life. Android users, however, might not be surprised by the improvements because some of the new features may sound familiar to those who have been following Android flagship devices for a while. Samsung also recently took a jab at the Cupertino giant's latest lineup with the iCant campaign, consistently mocking the slow arrival of these capabilities that have long been innovated and introduced by the company.
5 things the iPhone 17 series clearly borrowed from Android phones
While Apple has been leading the smartphone industry with its design and aesthetics that resonate with consumers, the tech giant is associated with innovation and experimentation, or that is how it was in the initial days. With the launch of the latest iPhone 17 series, we could not help but notice that some of the major selling points do ring a bell and sound familiar. Today, we will be taking you through five areas in which we believe Apple took inspiration from Android:
48MP Telephoto Camera
One of the major points highlighted for Apple's iPhone 17 series throughout its keynote was the bump to a telephoto camera of 48MP, which seems like a noticeable difference from its predecessor. If this camera improvement is compared with the Android flagship phones from Samsung, Google, or even Xiaomi, the high-megapixel telephoto sensor has been introduced for years now. During its recent mockery campaign against the Cupertino giant, Samsung highlighted how they have moved to 200MP, and Apple still thinks 48MP is a big deal. In Apple's defense, the camera upgrade might have been slow, but this change is being paired with powerful image processing.
Camera Bar Design
Apple's signature camera layout was a square module, but with the iPhone 17 Pro, it seems not only to be experimenting with bold colors but also tweaking the camera bar by stretching it across the back of the device and stepping away from its classic look. For Pixel users, however, the design seems to mirror what Pixel phones have been doing for quite some time, so the approach is not entirely new. Google pioneered the camera bar back in 2021 with the Pixel 6 series, and while a distinct aesthetic is something that Android phones are accustomed to, it is a fresh look for Apple.
Longer Battery Life
One of the biggest selling points of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the claim that the phone delivers the longest battery life on an iPhone. This is a big move for iPhone users, but Samsung's Galaxy S Ultra series and even OnePlus devices have been synonymous with extended battery life and ultra-fast charging, and have already set the standard in this category.
Thinner Bezels
The iPhone 17 series has brought one of the slimmest bezels, measuring around 1.2mm on the Pro models, giving the phone a sleek look, and the display experience feels more immersive. Still, this is not new territory, as Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi's flagship phones have already created buzz for slimmer form factors and narrower bezels earlier in the year. While Apple might add more refinement, the case is more about catching up to industry trends than creating new ones.
High Refresh Rate
Apple has been keeping the 120Hz ProMotion displays limited to the Pro models only, but with the iPhone 17, this approach was changed as the base model would also benefit from the same capability as the premium ones. Android users, on the other hand, have little to complain about in this regard since mid-range phones have been offering smoother scrolling and animations as well, with some flagship phones even going beyond 144Hz. Apple's move is welcome and would help bridge the gap between its top-tier and base phones, but Android had taken this step long ago.
While it is easier for us to frame the iPhone 17's features as being taken from Android, if we look at things more holistically, Apple has never been chasing pioneering features, but believes in establishing the timing and execution, and is more nuanced in its approach. The Cupertino giant ensures consistency and refinement before introducing an upgrade, even if that means letting Android take the lead when it comes to innovation. Apple has been catching up in areas that have remained Android's strong domain, but in its own way, and one that appeals to its loyal user base.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
