Google has taken a jab at Apple in its new Pixel advert, with the two tech giants going head to head with their competing smartphone designs.
Although it’s not officially confirmed yet, leaks of the iPhone 17 Air’s design have many fans accusing Apple of 'copying' Google. Instead of the usual square camera bump, the upcoming iPhone 17 model is said to feature a horizontal camera bar, a style that Google Pixel 9 made popular. The rumours caused so much outrage among the Apple community that some users slammed the smartphone as 'the product no one asked for'.
Now, the Alphabet-owned company just dropped a new ad for its Pixel phone, and it’s not-so-subtly throwing shade at Apple for replicating its ideas.
The ad, titled '#BestPhonesForever: Responding to the Rumors' is the latest in Google’s ongoing Pixel vs iPhone series on YouTube. Previous episodes have seen Google and Samsung tearing into Apple for its tech lineups, like the iPhone 14 Pro.
This episode features an AI-voiced Pixel phone and an iPhone acting as if they’re on a talk show. Check out the new commercial below:
"Hi, I'm Pixel and this is iPhone," the Google smartphone starts off talking.
The Pixel kicks things off by addressing the rumors about the upcoming iPhone 17 Air borrowing ideas from the Google Pixel 9. The iPhone plays dumb, replying: "It's crazy. Can you imagine me doing the same thing you did first, years later?"
Then, the iPhone then reminds Pixel of several scenarios where Apple is playing catch up to Google. "There was that one time where you launched Night Sight and then a year later, I got Night Mode," the iPhone described. The smartphone then pointed out how Apple’s CleanUp feature came after Google’s Magic Eraser, and how Apple’s overdue widgets were borrowed from Google’s original lineup.
The show then ends with Google providing the final line: "We want to remind everyone that these rumours are just rumours," before the iPhone repeats every word. The humour is all in good taste, as most Apple fans are shrugging it off and Android fans are loving the roast.
"This reminds me of the ‘You can copy my homework, but don't make it too obvious’ meme," one viewer wrote.
"Bringing back the Coca-Cola and Pepsi war commercials vibe. I love it," another viewer commented, while a Pixel fan cheered: "May this series never die!"
It seems only a matter of time before Google tears into Apple for its upcoming foldable phones which have been tipped to be out of a lot of fans' price range.