Google Fires Back at Apple with Playful iPhone 17 Rumor Ad
The tech world is buzzing as Google takes a jab at Apple over the latest swirling rumors surrounding the upcoming iPhone 17. In a new ad campaign, Google playfully suggests the new iPhone might be borrowing design cues from its Pixel line, sparking a lighthearted debate about innovation and inspiration in the smartphone industry. This isn't just about design; it touches upon a larger conversation about feature adoption and the competitive spirit between tech giants.
Google's new "#BESTPHONESFOREVER" ad, titled "Responding To The Rumors," features a comical conversation between an iPhone and a Pixel, voiced by AI assistants. The Pixel, referencing iPhone 17 rumors, subtly accuses Apple of adopting features years after Google pioneered them. According to an article on 9to5Google, the iPhone responds, quipping about how "wild" it would be for Apple to do "the same thing [Google] did, years later."
The ad humorously highlights instances where the iPhone seemingly adopted features like Night Sight, Magic Eraser, and widgets after Google introduced similar concepts. The ad suggests timelines of 1, 3, and even 9 years between Google's launch and Apple's adoption. While the ad is presented as lighthearted banter, it's a clear dig at Apple's perceived slowness to innovate in certain areas which was noted by AndroidCentral.
According to TechRadar, the largest iPhone 17 series rumor is that these phones will sport a new, more Pixel-like design. The video also notes how the iPhone’s Night Mode landed a year after Pixel’s Night Sight, and how Clean Up on iPhone launched three years after Pixel’s similar Magic Eraser tool.
While some criticize Google's humor, finding it forced or unfunny, the underlying message resonates with many. The question of who inspires whom is a constant debate in the tech world. As TechRadar points out, the rumored iPhone 17 design, with its horizontal camera bar, bears a resemblance to the Pixel, but it's not an exact copy. Additionally, many of the features highlighted, such as auto-reboot, benefit users regardless of who implemented them first.
The playful rivalry between Google and Apple underscores the ongoing competition in the smartphone market. While these companies trade jabs and draw "inspiration" from each other, the ultimate winner is the consumer, who benefits from continuous innovation and feature enhancements.
What do you think? Is Apple borrowing too heavily from Google, or is this just a natural evolution of smartphone technology? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
