As Android innovation grows, has Apple misplaced its contact?

Much to the chagrin of a few of the ones within the Android area, Apple has in large part been thought to be the “measuring stick” for each {hardware} and tool. Arguments were made that the likes of Xiaomi, Huawei, and Samsung, amongst others surpassed Apple within the {hardware} division way back. 

The similar cannot be stated in regards to the tool, in spite of Apple locking down iOS and iPadOS in essentially the most irritating tactics. However, after seeing what is took place in 2024, I will be able to’t assist however ponder whether Apple misplaced its contact.

Over the previous 12 months, Apple has entered a brand new product class with the Vision Pro headset whilst liberating refreshes of almost each different software in its lineup. Plus, we are anticipating a minimum of yet another announcement as rumors recommend Apple has an tournament deliberate this month to unveil new Macs and optimistically a refreshed iPad Mini.

Apple has confirmed that businesses do not want to reinvent the {hardware} wheel when liberating a refreshed software. For example, the one primary variations between the iPhone 15 Pro and that iPhone 16 Pro are a brand new “Camera Control” button and bezels which can be ever-so-slightly slimmer than prior to. 

The majority of the point of interest from Apple’s iPhone 16 tournament used to be showcasing the more than a few AI-powered options slated to come back to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. There’s only one drawback regardless that — not one of the thrilling options are if truth be told to be had but. So mainly, Apple simply took the similar way that we used to lambast different corporations in that it introduced options that would possibly not if truth be told be to be had at release. 

Hardly any of those options have been to be had with the overall liberate of iOS 18, which arrived along the iPhone 16 collection. Instead, it kind of feels that Apple might be rolling out options in waves, beginning with iOS 18.1. MacRumors laid out the rumors of when to be expecting options to reach beautiful neatly, and this is how issues are having a look:

If Apple sticks to this rumored timeline, it implies that the corporate’s newest software would possibly not have all the new options till it is already been available on the market for 6 months. There’s additionally the possibility of much more frustration as you’ll be able to’t watch TV for greater than an hour with out seeing an iPhone industrial touting Apple Intelligence. 

Just somewhat bit of excellent outdated deception as a result of we all know Apple does not wish to fail to notice the vacation buying groceries season. 

While delaying options is not nice, it isn’t as dangerous as what iPad Pro house owners have needed to bear. Apple offered and launched the M4-powered iPad Pro again in May 2024. This stays the one software in Apple’s lineup to be powered via the M4 chip, which may be rectified later in October. 

The drawback is that iPadOS 18 used to be launched in mid-September, and the replace used to be got rid of for the ones with the M4 iPad Pro the following day. Some discovered that once putting in the replace, the iPad Pro would necessarily be changed into an excessively dear steel and glass brick. It wasn’t till nowadays (October 4) that Apple launched iPadOS 18.0.1, which must come with the repair for regardless of the authentic factor used to be. 

That’s greater than two weeks with out with the ability to use Apple’s newest tool with its extra robust (and costly) iPad style. As somebody who has an M4 iPad Pro, this has been one of the vital few instances that I’m grateful to be at the “beta educate,” as I have never come throughout any of the ones issues. 

Originally, I assumed this used to be relatively unheard of for Apple, after which I remembered the iPhone 14 release. This is when Apple made the transfer to eSIM handiest within the U.S., however the corporate needed to rush out a day-one tool replace as many have been not able to if truth be told sign in an eSIM. So, I suppose issues were out of whack for longer than I assumed.

I’m now not ignorant of what is took place within the Android area, however I’d argue that a minimum of Samsung or even Google have leapfrogged Apple on the subject of updates. Both corporations introduced a plethora of recent AI options for its respective gadgets, and nearly all of the ones options have been to be had once it’s essential to obtain the replace. The most evident exception to that is Zoom Enhance, a characteristic Google introduced for the Pixel 8 Pro, but it surely did not if truth be told arrive till the Pixel 9 Pro. 

But so far as {hardware} is going, I believe Apple’s mainly run out of concepts. First, the Action Button used to be added, and now now we have a Camera Control button. Besides that, how a lot more does Apple suppose it will probably slender down the bezels and use that as a promoting level? Oh, and I forgot that the non-Pro iPhones now have a rearranged digital camera module. Woo-hoo. 

While Apple is sticking to the slab design, nearly each different Android telephone maker is both operating on or has launched a foldable telephone. Some, like Motorola, have caught to the turn telephone shape issue, whilst the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi, or even Tecno have a couple of foldable telephone choices. 

I don’t have any doubt that Apple already has a foldable iPhone prototype, without reference to whether or not it flips or folds. The drawback is that rumors point out Apple continues to thrust back the discharge of a foldable software. Back in 2022, we contemplated whether or not Apple used to be already ready too lengthy, and recently, the rumor mill issues to 2027 because the 12 months that we will in any case see Apple get into the sport. 

We can handiest surmise that it’s because Apple needs to do the entirety it will probably to steer clear of the backlash that different telephone makers have noticed with folding displays that spoil all of a sudden. Even in 2024, it is nonetheless an issue that now and again plants up with new gadgets and is extra commonplace with older fashions. But sooner or later, when is Apple simply going to take the soar?

Taking a soar is strictly what Apple did with the Vision Pro, its first foray into the sector of VR headsets. Supposedly, that is supposed to be Apple CEO Tim Cook’s “legacy,” and whilst that can be true, the present iteration is solely out of succeed in for plenty of, particularly at a time when you’ll be able to stroll into almost any large field retailer and stroll out with a Meta Quest headset and do not want to promote a kidney to take action. 

The Vision Pro used to be all the time going to be moderately dear, now not simply as a result of the R&D that went into it but in addition as a result of the {hardware} and generation it packs. For reference, the Vision Pro includes a per-eye solution of 3660 x 3200, whilst the Meta Quest 3 is supplied with a per-eye solution of 2064 x 2208. Plus, Apple will depend on micro-OLED shows, while Meta’s headset makes use of LCD shows. 

I understand it’s now not actually truthful to match a $500 headset with person who begins at $3,500. But that is a part of the purpose that I’m looking to make, as Apple is already thus far in the back of in its enchantment to the overall shopper that I do not know if long term iterations will be capable of seize the loads. 

The longer Apple waits to liberate a foldable telephone, the much more likely it’ll finally end up being some distance too dear in comparison to the contest. I shouldn’t have a crystal ball, and we don’t have any concept what the foldable telephone marketplace will appear to be 3 years from now. But it is 2024, and we have already got tri-foldable telephones with the Huawei Mate XT. Plus, corporations were operating on telephones with rollable shows, despite the fact that I believe the ones might be even much less common than the present crop of foldables. 

Part of me thinks that Apple is solely coasting up to it will probably. The corporate most definitely did not be expecting to look the explosion within the approval for AI, so the “mind consider” got here up with concepts and introduced them, despite the fact that they have been nowhere close to being in a position for primetime. 

Another facet is that Tim Cook has been CEO of Apple for greater than 13 years, and there are rumblings that he is also eyeing retirement. With a lot of the point of interest being placed on looking to depart an enduring impact within the type of a {hardware} liberate, I will be able to’t assist however ponder whether we would possibly not see the rest modern once more till after somebody else takes up the mantle. 

As somebody who frolicked as an iPhone fanboy prior to pivoting to Android (and now dual-wielding), I’m simply roughly dissatisfied. There are nonetheless some issues I believe an iPhone and iPad be offering over their Android equivalents, however that listing hasn’t ever been smaller.