Samsung's New Watch and Earbuds Are Apple Copycats (businessinsider.com) 28
Samsung unveiled new wearable devices at its Unpacked event earlier this week, drawing comparisons to Apple's offerings. The Galaxy Watch Ultra, set for release on July 24, bears striking similarities to Apple's Watch Ultra 2 launched last September. Both feature titanium cases, orange-accented buttons, and specialized bands. Samsung's version, priced at $650, undercuts Apple's $800 model. Business Insider adds: But the strategy has its downsides. If you spot someone wearing Galaxy Watch Ultra, there's a good chance you'd mistake it for Apple's model -- which doesn't help Samsung differentiate itself. In a statement to Business Insider, Samsung said that the design choices for its new smartwatch were "made to ensure comfort, usability, and durability in a variety of use cases." It didn't mention what went into naming the device.
The similarities extend to Samsung's new earbuds. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and the Galaxy Buds 3 -- also announced at Unpacked -- got a revamp that steps away from previous designs to make Samsung's Bluetooth earbuds shaped more like Apple AirPods. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are stemless and come in light purple, but their successor only comes in silver or white. Similar to the AirPods Pro, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro owners will be able to control their earbuds with gestures.
The similarities extend to Samsung's new earbuds. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and the Galaxy Buds 3 -- also announced at Unpacked -- got a revamp that steps away from previous designs to make Samsung's Bluetooth earbuds shaped more like Apple AirPods. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are stemless and come in light purple, but their successor only comes in silver or white. Similar to the AirPods Pro, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro owners will be able to control their earbuds with gestures.
this has to be a joke (Score:5, Informative)
You've got be kidding me. Apple copied off Bragi for their earbuds. Apple copied off SAMSUNG for the Apple Watch, which looked almost identical to Samsung's Gear 2.
Re: this has to be a joke (Score:2)
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RsT3oB9NkTM/maxresdefault.jpg
Look pretty close to me.
Besides, Apple has always been known for its blant copying to the point there is the official term of "Sherlocked". No other company has a dedicated phrase for this beyond Apple.
Re: (Score:1)
the Apple watch looked more like a copy of the Asus ZenWatch. Had one of those back when they first hit the market. When the Apple watch began to get popular, I used to have folks ask me if I was wearing the new Apple watch.
Used to happen a lot when I was sporting the Galaxy Note Pro 12 as well..... was asked many times where to get a pen like that for the iPad.
Imitation is the sincerest form of profit. (Score:2)
Re: this has to be a joke (Score:2)
In reality everyone copies everyone, with a slight adjustment.
Re: this has to be a joke (Score:3)
The Apple Watch has largely been unchanged since the first iteration. Other than screen size, theyâ(TM)ve all had the same design: rectangular screen, crown, button. Thatâ(TM)s it. The Ultra is the most different of all of them and it is mostly just bigger, with a guard on the crown and an extra button. I cannot fathom where you are getting this blather from.
Re: (Score:1)
Samsung Gear 2?
Are you high?
How is this upvoted??
Re: (Score:2)
Gear 2:
https://di2ponv0v5otw.cloudfro... [cloudfront.net]
Apple Watch 1:
https://pisces.bbystatic.com/i... [bbystatic.com]
Re: this has to be a joke (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
And you are a moron! (Score:1)
Does it matter? (Score:3)
Fanbois will be fanbois, and each party will yell "mine is better!"
Meanwhile, those with brains will pick whatever fits their needs better.
Aesthetics do matter on watches (Score:2)
>"Samsung's New Watch and Earbuds Are Apple Copycats"
Meh. So what is the same? An orange plastic band (barf) which is only one of the THREE DIFFERENT colors (4 types total) you can order with it, and an orange accent on center control. Everything else is different- shape, face, bezel, accents, clasp, number of buttons, and even case color.
The Galaxy watches have always had the correct face- round. Just last night I decided to buy a newer Galaxy watch and rejected the Galaxy Ultra (7) *IMMEDIATELY* a
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, but does it come in cornflower blue [youtube.com]?
LOL @ watch (Score:2)
Shares the same name? What because they put "ultra" on the end of one model? Striking similar looks? Because it is available in a not very similar shade of orange? Must be a slow news day. The two devices look nothing alike. Shit the watch face doesn't even have rounded corners.
The earbuds are a blatant ripoff though.
Apple and Samsung copy each other!! (Score:2)
What. (Score:1)
There are only so many sensical ways to design a wrist watch. Oh no, it's square, with a rotating crown and buttons on the side! Copycats!
How about we celebrate that designs that we've found to be functional and still attractive are flourishing? And if you want a circular housing for your watch, those options are still available too (in the Android universe, at least).
What a dumb ass "story".
Being a copycat is Samsung's thing. (Score:3)
Throughout most of the 1990s, their favored target was Sony. You could take it to the bank that whenever Sony would release a new TV with new features, Samsung would be a month behind with an almost-equivalent. Once Sony's Trinitron patent expired that became even more brazen and blatant. Once cell phones took off in the US in the late 90s / early 2000s, even before the iPhone, they were copycatting every trendy phone design that anyone else launched. Like the old Nokia bricks? There was a cheaper Samsung. Samsung's RAZR clone was another one that looked so similar to the real thing I would bet that, as with the iPad, their own people would have a hard time telling the difference. And when they decided to move on to ripping off RIM; they actually had the chutzpah to name their Blackberry copycat the "Blackjack." What's going on here is just Samsung being Samsung... more of the same.
The laughably plagiarized naming and branding notwithstanding; design-wise that watch is actually one of Sansung's less brazen fakes. There are several design elements to it that are distinctive enough from the real thing that I doubt there'd be any similar courtroom embarrassments with this one. In fact, if they'd gone with a fully-round case to match the screen, it would actually be a pretty good-looking watch with a bit of a Seamaster-ish vibe to it. And while I'm unabashedly an Apple fan, if you're going to copycat *anyone's* watch designs, Omega is the one to ape. One doesn't wear an Ultra for the styling.
Those AirPod clones though... they could easily be another "our own people can't tell the difference" embarrassment.
Re: (Score:2)
The laughably plagiarized naming and branding notwithstanding
This just in, Apple invented the term "Ultra" to define a product.
Re: (Score:2)
Apple copied Samsung with the iPad. Samsung released an almost identical photo display device a few years before the iPad. Same shape, same black 90% screen slab with minimalist look.
Steve Jobs said "great artists steal", and he did it a lot. Most of Apple's designs under his leadership were ripped off, particularly from Braun. Even minor things like slide-to-unlock were copied from rivals, LG in that case.
That's not a criticism necessarily, that's just how product has always design worked.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, yes... I already know... you've made it perfectly clear often enough in the past that you're an Apple hater. So rather than fly off on another "Apple is Satan" narrative; how do you justify Samsung also ripping off my other examples: Sony, Motorola, and RIM? Or the various other companies, not based in Cupertino, that Samsung has also copycatted?
Standard MO from Samsung, not just Apple products (Score:2)
Samsung does this all the time, and not just to Apple. The corporate policy across all their product divisions is to copy what is popular and then if they get sued, drag out the lawsuit until it is no longer relevant and settle for something much less than the profits they made by copying. They did it to LG in the home appliance space (clothes washers, iirc?) and obviously they do it across the tech sector. They have no shame and no design team worth thinking about. It is as inevitable as the seasons changi
This is click-bait (Score:3)
It goes on the wrist, displays data and has a touch interface (buttons) on its side. Nearly everything else (physical) is trimming/bling: In that regard,the only similarity is the orange colour in the decoration. The Samsung watch even uses a double-pin buckle (unnecessarily rare and expensive for some reason), very unlike an Apple strap.
This article is click-bait and worse, it worked.