It seems Samsung is once again trying to copy Apple’s design language, and this can’t be good.
By now, you’ve all seen Samsung’s latest Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
It doesn’t take a particularly eagle-eyed individual to notice that these two latest Samsung devices carry a strong resemblance to what could be best described as their main rivals––the Apple Watch Ultra 1/2 and the ubiquitous AirPods.
Yes, this happened, and the most perplexing detail is that this took place even though Samsung had its own well-established design languages for both wearable lines. Previous Galaxy Watches, for example, had unique design features that definitely set them apart from other smartwatches, like the exemplar hardware rotating bezel.
Instead of building on its existing design language and setting itself apart, Samsung decided to put a swarm of flies in the proverbial ointment, giving its latest hardware event a particularly sour aftertaste that will take too long to wash out.
I, for one, won’t be able to take at the Galaxy Watch Ultra seriously, even though it will likely be a good device. Just looking at it fills me with negative feelings about its lack of originality; if I wanted an Apple Watch Ultra, I’d get an Apple Watch Ultra, not this Androidified imitation.
Two peas in a pod, but not the way you think
You can’t tell me they don’t look the same
Okay, from a visual standpoint, there are some clear differences between the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch Ultra 1&2. The former has a round display and a more squarish case, while the Apple Watch boasts a larger display with a more rectangular case. Still, if we look at the way the Galaxy Watch Ultra has evolved in comparison with the preceding Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, it’s clear where Samsung got the inspiration from.
The squircle case with the raised bezel on the right (although it employs a circular display, the general shape of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is extremely similar to the Apple Watch Ultra 1 and 2);
The customizable Quick Button (in International Orange color, nonetheless) is similar to the Action Button of the Apple Watch Ultra;
The Marine Band is nearly a carbon copy of the Apple Watch Ultra’s Ocean Band, including the name;
The Trail Band is nearly a carbon copy of the Apple Watch Ultra’s Trail Loop, including the name;
The automatic Night mode on the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a carbon copy of the automatic Night Mode on the Apple Watch Ultra 1/2;
There’s an 86dB siren on the Galaxy Watch Ultra, there’s also an 86dB siren on the Apple Watch Ultra 1/2;
Double Pinch gesture is a carbon copy of the Double Tap feature on Apple Watch Ultra 2/Apple Watch Series 9
It’s not only Apple that has been the target of Samsung’s homage, though.
