It seems like the tech giants are having a bit of a laugh at Apple’s expense lately! Following Apple’s grand reveal of iOS 26 and its new AI capabilities at WWDC 2025, both Google and its competitors, Samsung and Microsoft, have jumped in with some playful, yet pointed, tech company jabs. The general vibe? That Apple might just be playing catch-up.
Google Takes Aim with a Familiar Tune
Google wasted no time in the Google Apple feud. In their new Pixel iPhone commercial, Google is saying, “We did that years ago!” The advertisement contains a comedic exchange between a made-up actress Pixel 9 Pro and an iPhone 16 Pro. As the iPhone brags about its “new” features such as live Messages translation, Hold Assist, and improved call screening, the Pixel quietly reminds it that these are really existing Android features iOS 26 is only now catching up on. It’s a quiet, but blunt, reminder that Apple is playing catch-up with Android. This shrewd advertisement is a bullseye, with Google taunts iOS 26 features as outdated news for its own.
In particular, the ad puts its finger on three places where Google believes Apple is falling behind:
Live Translation in Messages: Pixel phones, in the ad, have had this since at least the Pixel 6 days.Hold Assist: This is a reflection of Google’s “Hold for Me” feature, which has been around for years, freeing users from annoying hold music.
Call Screening: A feature Pixel phones have had since as far back as 2018.
The iPhone persona even refers to these similarities as “crazy coincidences,” injecting a little sarcasm into Apple’s apparent lag. This is a definite instance of Apple iOS 26 criticism served with humor.
Not Just Google: Samsung and Microsoft Join In
The “Apple-bashing” is not unique to Google. Samsung also jumped at the opportunity to respond to the iOS 26 reveal in a hurry, specifically calling out Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” look and live translation. Samsung pokes fun at iOS 26 design by suggesting that it already had a glass-like interface in One UI, while reminding all and sundry that its Galaxy AI has provided live translation for a while. It’s a characteristic ploy from the Android vs iOS soap opera.
Samsung wasted no time in poking fun at iOS 26 and Apple’s ‘Liquid Glass’ design
Microsoft also weighed in, taking a subtle jab at Apple’s new macOS Tahoe 26 redesign. Microsoft mocks iOS 26 redesign (and by extension, macOS Tahoe 26’s similar design language) by posting an image of its much older 2007 Windows Vista interface, implying that Apple’s “new” look isn’t quite as novel as it might seem.
This collective response from major tech players underscores a clear theme: while Apple’s Apple iOS update always generates excitement, competitors are quick to point out that many of its “innovations” have often been present on Android devices for quite some time. It’s all part of the lively, competitive world of consumer tech!
