I know a lot of people are talking about the iPhone 17 Pro versus the newest Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra phone. But for me, I’m still having trouble trying to wrap my head around how it’s better than the previous model, the S25 Ultra. The math just doesn’t add up, and the same core things that have plagued the iPhone for years against Samsung’s smartphone lineup still exist.
Even from the standpoint of accessories like the AirPods versus the Buds 4 Pro, you still see the same things. The sandbox that Apple keeps you in is just starting to show its age. They continue to ride too long on the same thing over and over until everyone is either better or matched.
And one of the biggest and most hurtful spots in all this is the AI and virtual assistant area. This was once ruled by Siri, and now Siri and Apple are rushing to try and play catch-up with Samsung and Gemini. Even when apps are available for them, it’s not the same connection as it plays within the ecosystem of Android, and Apple knows this. This is why they are seeking a partnership with Gemini to use Siri to process their workload faster and more efficiently. But this is still not ready, so for the last couple of years, nobody talks about Siri in a positive light the way they once did.
Even in pictures, the iPhone, while great and considered one of the best, still hasn’t made things so different that others like Samsung can’t compete in this space, especially with AI integration built in, making photography whatever you want and without any real limits that would truly make someone have to have an iPhone to take great shots.
Even the precious green bubble craze has died away thanks to innovation and AI’s focus. People don’t care anymore thanks to software adjustments in the Android space, and everyone is happy and wowed about how many AI gimmicks their phones do, making work and life more effortless.
If it’s not better sound and accessories, it’s better-looking phones with more advanced features and wowing gimmicks. Samsung is just killing it and matching Apple’s own magic with a dose of its own medicine. So Apple will very soon need to change the game again if they wish to remain competitive in the coming years. Perhaps this comes in the form of a widescreen foldable and a partnership with Gemini in the future. I don’t know for sure. You would think with the money and assets they possess, this would be a foregone conclusion by now. But it doesn’t seem to be. And I think more and more Apple fans are more concerned about the direction of their favorite obsession.
Tech-N-Things 