Apple has adopted several core Android features, showing Google’s lasting impact on mobile innovation and design.
Google Pixel innovations like Assistant and Live Captions set new standards that Apple eventually incorporated into iOS.
The Apple vs. Google rivalry drives smarter devices, but many "new" iOS features were Google’s ideas first.
The tech industry has long been dominated by two giants: Apple and Google. Each boasts its own ecosystem and philosophy, drawing in millions of devoted fans. Apple is renowned for its sleek design and seamless user experience. Google, on the other hand, is celebrated for its innovative spirit, open-source approach, and pioneering work in emerging technologies.
Despite the competition between the two, Apple has, implemented a fair share of features from Google over time, sometimes almost undetectably, at other times blatantly so. Here’s a look at seven key features Apple has borrowed from Google, thus proving that even giants of the industry can learn from each other.
Android had the first-ever widgets placed on the home screen back in 2009 with the launch of Android 1.5 Cupcake, allowing people to enhance their screen. with live updates, weather forecasts, calendar entries, and the like. The Android platform thus stands out for a feature that people might have taken for granted.
Apple was almost a full decade late in bringing widgets to the iPhone with iOS 14 in 2020. The Cupertino company, however, fashioned its own widget language and user experience, which in and of itself has become an Android icon. Now, iPhone users can bask in weather, reminders, and news in their faces all through their home screens, just like Android users have for a good many years.
Split-Screen Multitasking came into existence with Android Nougat (7.0) in 2016 and provided the much-needed capacity to run two apps simultaneously, a boon to productivity.
It took Apple some time to get its multitasking on the iPad with iOS 9, but it was only really with iOS 17 that the iPhone started seeing real multitasking. With Slide Over, Stage Manager, and an enhanced Split View on the newer models. While surely Apple exploits smooth multitasking transitions better, the idea is an Android one.
Google Assistant was launched in 2016 to become the most powerful and context-aware digital assistant for smartphones. By understanding conversational context, Google Assistant could offer personal suggestions and integrate deeply with Android, thereby giving the search engine company an edge.
Apple's Siri was introduced in 2011 and had been in the shadow, lagging in features for multiple years. But with iOS 12, Apple finally brought Siri Shortcuts to life. Siri Shortcuts enabled users to create their own voice commands tied to specific actions.
Since then, every iteration of Siri has become more aware of its context, given smarter responses, and integrated more deeply with third-party apps, an obvious nod to Google Assistant.
DID YOU KNOW: Launched in 2016, Google Pixel introduced Google Assistant with advanced AI features like context-aware replies and smart home control. This innovation outpaced Siri, pushing Apple to upgrade its voice AI and adopt similar on-device intelligence and photography enhancements.
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With Live Caption, Google would be breaking the wall of accessibility in 2019 while introducing it for Android 10, providing captions for any video, podcast, and phone call in real time, without requiring an Internet connection.
Apple soon followed the lead, introducing Live Captions for iOS in 2022. And while Apple's version is well put together and a part of a larger accessibility offering, it is very clear that the original idea came about because of Google's pioneering work in speech recognition and on-device AI.
An Android hallmark since phones like the Moto X (2013) and later, having the gamut of Samsung and Pixel devices, the Always-On Display shows time, notifications, and widgets without waking the device.
Apple kept away from having the iPhone 14 Pro till 2022 to be implemented with an Along-the-lines-Of display. If we had to compare, really, with its walls darkened and Live Activities in tow, it is nothing but an imitation of what Android users have had for nearly 10 years.
Google Maps had been dominating the navigation scene since 2005, slowly embedding all the features such as offline maps, real-time public transit info, and live traffic updates even before any competitor.
With a fumbled start back in 2012, Apple Maps steadily improved. Only very late did Apple start pushing real-time public transit data and offline maps—actually, offline maps arrived with iOS 17, finally allowing Apple Maps to almost match Google Maps in usability and scope.
An app drawer is a feature that has existed in Android since its inception so that South Asians can all keep their apps in one place, while the home screen remains neat and organized.
In iOS 14, a very similar App Library was launched wherein apps were organized automatically into categories, hiding apps that were seldom used from the home screen. A more curated and refined version, though, the concepts of Android App Drawer and Apple's App Library are basically the same: keep the app storage separate from the home interface.
Google has numerous advantages over Apple, making its products more enticing to the vast majority of mobile customers. Its product and service offerings are intended to improve the total user experience, including personalization, affordability, and superior digital aid and navigation features.
Although they are expensive and have restrictions, Apple devices are undeniably elegant and of high quality. Google conducts product creation in a more open-minded, innovative, and user-friendly way. This approach ensures that its products and services are cutting-edge and easy to use.
So, the next time you find yourself debating with an Apple enthusiast about which brand truly leads the way, keep these seven points in mind—they just might tip the scales in Google’s favor.
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