ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Some of Apple’s newest features are familiar to Android users.
- Android first had a mechanical camera aperture years ago.
- But even as an Android diehard, I find Apple’s features enticing.
After months of rumors and speculation, Apple pulled back the curtain on its next generation of hardware, including the iPhone 18 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, AirPods 5, and a new foldable, the iPhone Duo.
Also: How to preorder the new iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and everything else Apple announced
I’ve been a dedicated Android user for over 15 years now, and yes, I’ll often be the annoying guy to point out that Android did it first. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that approach, as Apple’s history is built on innovating and becoming the go-to name in categories it didn’t always invent. But again, the Apple event had some prime examples of the company touting new technology Android users have seen before.
1. A foldable phone
The iPhone Duo might be “the foldable phone that finally takes things mainstream,” according to my ZDNET colleague Kerry Wan, and it seems clear that Apple sat back and let Samsung and Google figure out foldables before diving in.
Also: iPhone Duo just made foldables mainstream – 5 reasons why there’s no turning back
The Duo mimics most everything that its Android predecessors got right over the past seven years (Samsung debuted a foldable in 2019 and Google in 2023), and the device does look polished, even if it is thicker and heavier than any foldable before it (heavier on your wallet too, as it starts at $1,999). I’ve never been tempted by any Android foldable, but I’ll admit that it’s intriguing to see what Apple is doing in this category.
2. Pro camera controls and more
A phone’s camera specs are important to me. It’s the biggest reason I joined team Pixel a decade ago. Apple’s big camera upgrades this year, which came with quite a bit of fanfare, were the addition of Pro Controls and a dual mechanical aperture, or a physical hardware device in the camera that changes between two physical openings to control how much light reaches the sensor (essentially an f-stop if you’re familiar with DSLR cameras).
These significant additions reduce the gap between traditional cameras and smartphones, giving users more control over their photographs. However, these features are nothing new to Android users.
Also: I’m stoked about iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture, but it’s missing one key camera feature
While Pro Controls are a big deal for Apple this year, the Samsung Galaxy S7 had most of them a full 10 years ago. Like the iPhone 18 Pro, Samsung’s decade-old Pro Mode let users change shutter speed, control focus, ISO, exposure compensation, custom color profiles, and more. Google would add these controls in 2023 for the Pixel 8 Pro.
The dual aperture is also big news, and while my beloved Pixel has never seen this feature, the Samsung Galaxy S9 had it back in 2018. Samsung also included physical blades on the Galaxy S10 series the following year before abandoning them for non-moving parts. So while Apple now offers the dual-aperture feature, it’s not something new to smartphones.
3. A daily Readiness score
Apple already has a sleep score on its watches to tell you whether you got quality rest, but it’s building on the feature this year with a Readiness score that tracks your day’s activity, your vital signs, and more to tell you how ready you are for the day.
Also: I wasn’t planning on upgrading to Apple Watch Series 12 – these new features changed my mind
The idea of using your health and activity to report how ready you are for the day isn’t new to Android, thanks to Google’s Fitbit platform (including a Daily Readiness Score) and the Samsung Energy Score. Apple has actively encouraged people to “close their rings” through activity, but its tech now encompasses a more holistic view of health. With a proliferation of new smart rings, competition in the fitness space is fierce, so it makes sense that Apple is trying to keep users in its ecosystem.
