Is Apple Stealing Google’s Design Playbook with the iPhone 17 Pro?

Google’s latest ad throws shade at Apple’s camera redesign—but is this rivalry heating up, or just marketing noise? Rumors of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max adopting a horizontal "bar-style" camera layout have sparked a fiery response from Google, which claims Apple is copying its Pixel design legacy. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Air’s the trend, leaving the base iPhone 17 as the odd one out. Let’s unpack the drama, the history, and what it means for your next upgrade. Let’s dive in.

📸 The Copycat Controversy: Why This Design Feud Matters

• Camera Bar Wars: The iPhone 17 Pro’s rumored horizontal camera bar mirrors Google’s Pixel design—but with a twist. While Google’s Pixels use a distinct rear strip, Apple’s version reportedly extends nearly edge-to-edge, drawing closer to older Poco phones than modern Pixels.
• Feature Déjà Vu: Google’s ad cheekily reminds viewers that Night Mode (2019), Magic Eraser (2021), and widgets all debuted on Android first. Apple later introduced similar tools like Night Sight (2020) and Cleanup (2023).
• Selective Adoption: Only the iPhone 17 Air mimics the Pixel’s single-camera bar design. The standard iPhone 17 keeps its traditional square module, hinting at Apple’s tiered design strategy.
• Underlying Tension: This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a battle for innovation credibility. With smartphone sales plateauing, both giants are leveraging design and software to differentiate.

✅ Google’s Counterattack: Humor as a Marketing Weapon

Google’s response? A lighthearted ad campaign starring anthropomorphized Pixel and iPhone characters. Here’s why it works:

• ✅ Brand Recall: The ad series humanizes tech, making Google’s innovations feel relatable—and Apple’s moves seem derivative.
• ✅ Nostalgia Factor: Highlighting past features like Night Sight (2018) reinforces Google’s role as an AI photography pioneer.
• ✅ Market Positioning: By framing Apple as a follower, Google aims to sway undecided buyers ahead of the Pixel 9’s rumored October launch.

⚠️ Why Google’s Strategy Might Backfire

• 🚧 Design Nuance: Apple’s camera bar isn’t a Pixel clone. Its edge-to-edge layout and multi-lens integration differ significantly from Google’s approach.
• 🚧 Ecosystem Loyalty: Apple users rarely switch brands over hardware design alone. iOS’s walled garden and services like iMessage keep fans hooked.
• 🚧 Innovation Stalemate: Both companies borrow ideas—Google’s Material You drew inspiration from iOS, and Apple’s Dynamic Island wasn’t entirely original.

🚀 Final Thoughts: Who Wins the Design Arms Race?

This feud isn’t ending soon. Success hinges on:

• 📈 Consumer Perception: Will buyers care if Apple “copied” a camera bar? History says no—see the notch and flat-edge design trends.
• 📈 Software Supremacy: Google’s AI tools (e.g., Magic Editor) need to stay ahead of Apple’s computational photography to justify claims of leadership.
• 📈 Timing: If the iPhone 17 Pro’s redesign drives sales, Google’s ads risk looking petty rather than playful.

What do you think—is Apple borrowing inspiration, or blatantly copying? Does design originality even matter anymore?

Let us know on X (Former Twitter)

Sources: GSMArena. Google makes fun of Apple's rumored iPhone 17 Pro redesign, June 2024. https://www.gsmarena.com/google_makes_fun_of_apples_rumored_iphone_17_pro_redesign-news-67665.php