Samsung’s recent Galaxy Unpacked event introduced us to the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Buds, two new additions to the company’s lineup of smart devices. However, the design choices for these products have sparked a debate among tech enthusiasts and consumers alike. Samsung, a giant in the tech industry, has consistently been at the forefront of innovation for as long as I can remember. However, the latest Samsung devices, from the Galaxy Watch Ultra to the new Galaxy Buds, and even the S24 that was released earlier this year bear a striking resemblance to Apple’s counterparts.
A Familiar Looking Watch: Galaxy Watch Ultra
When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch Ultra, the immediate reaction was a collective double-take. The watch bears an uncanny resemblance to the Apple Watch Ultra and not to mention that it’s called the Galaxy Watch ‘Ultra’. The similarities aren’t just in the rectangular face and the digital crown but extend to the overall aesthetic and even the orange band. This has led many to question whether Samsung is losing its unique identity in favor of mirroring Apple’s designs.
The problem isn’t just that the Galaxy Watch Ultra looks similar; it’s that it looks almost identical. This design choice has left fans and critics wondering why Samsung, known for its bold and often groundbreaking designs, would choose to emulate a competitor so closely, and that competitor being Apple who they have been mocking for as long as I can remember.
Galaxy Buds: The New AirPods Pro?
Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds also draw heavy inspiration from Apple’s AirPods Pro. The new design features a sleek, elongated stem and a more compact case, almost indistinguishable from the AirPods Pro at first glance. While borrowing design elements from successful products isn’t new in tech, the extent to which Samsung has done this is surprising. Although I might say that the new Galaxy Buds look better than the AirPods Pro.
Looking at their previous generation buds, you can clearly see how big of a leap this was for Samsung. Again, it’s not about the Galaxy Buds being different but about them being too similar. This move seems like a step back for a company that once prided itself on setting trends rather than following them. Following the unpacked event, one creator on X (formerly known as Twitter) even posted a picture of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, humorously claiming it was a new leak of the S25 Ultra. This joke hit a little too close to home for many, reflecting the growing sentiment that Samsung’s design strategy is becoming more derivative.
The S24
This isn’t the first time Samsung has faced such criticism. The launch of the Galaxy S24 fueled the fire. Many creators and fans pointed out that the S24 looks eerily similar to the base model iPhone 15. I for one also saw how the S24’s design was very similar to that of the iPhone . The resemblance is so stark that jokes quickly spread across social media.
When the S24 was launched, the immediate reaction was a series of memes and comments about it being the new iPhone. While it’s true that phone designs often converge on similar aesthetics, the S24’s resemblance to the iPhone goes beyond mere coincidence.
Other manufacturers have also ‘borrowed’ elements from Apple, but they’ve managed to maintain their distinctiveness. Take Nothing’s Phone 2, for example. It drew some criticism for looking like an iPhone 14 Pro Max, with Mrwhosetheboss even calling it a “one-on-one carbon copy.” However, even in this case, Nothing managed to infuse its own unique style and brand ethos into the design.
Conclusion
So, where does Samsung go from here? Are we getting an S25 Ultra that looks exactly like an iPhone, well… never. On a serious note, innovation has always been Samsung’s strong suit, and leaning too heavily into imitation could undermine this strength. After all, it’s the unique vision and daring innovation that have made Samsung a household name in the first place.
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