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The “iPhone 16 pandemic”: Premium Android phones becoming more like Apple’s flagship - here’s why

Published: Sep 02, 2024, 2:16 PM

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This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.

The “iPhone 16 pandemic”: Premium Android phones becoming more like Apple’s flagship - here’s why

While it’s no secret that Android phone-makers like taking inspiration from the iPhone’s super consistent design (by which that I mean “mostly repetitive and a tad boring"), it’s looking like 2024-2025 might be the tech year of the “iPhone pandemic”.

However, there are two more intriguing aspects of the race to make “Android’s iPhone - the first one is the reason… Why would Android phone-makers do that in the first place?

The second is the sheer length some phone-makers are ready to go to in order to secure a “switch” - meaning an iPhone user buying their Android phone instead of upgrading to the new iPhone.

Let me break it down for you…

Pixel 9, Galaxy S25, Nothing Phone 3, Oppo Find X8, Vivo X200, Xiaomi 15, and more top Android flagships about to take “iPhone lookalike” contest to a new level

A supposed render of the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra design.

Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra might be less Galaxy Note and more iPhone.

The Vivo X200 Pro showing a new design with flat sides and screen.

The Vivo X200 series is getting flat after years of resistance.

An alleged image of the iPhone 16 Pro and Oppo Find X8 Ultra.

The Oppo Find X8 Ultra will share a button with the new iPhone 16. Apple's flagship is coming out first.

As you might already know, the Galaxy S24 series already resembles the iPhone’s square design - in fact, Samsung made the move with the Galaxy S22 series. But what might surprise you is that Galaxy S25 Ultra (formerly the “Galaxy Note”) is about to get less flat and rounder - in a first major design change since the Galaxy Note 20 series.

Then, there’s the Oppo Find X8 series, which won’t just feature a flat screen with flat sides (a first for an Oppo flagship in years), but should even have a “Quick button”, reminiscent of the long-awaited “Capture button” to debut on the iPhone 16 Pro series in just a few days from now.

The upcoming Vivo X200 series from China is also expected to resemble Apple’s flagship with flat sides and a flat screen - again, a first-ever for a modern Vivo flagship.

All in all, no matter if we’re talking about flagships from South Korea, China, or the US, it seems like almost every 2025 Android flagship wants to be like the iPhone. And there seems to be a good reason for it (more on that below).

Google brought iPhone copying to the next level - here’s why Pixel 9 Pro XL weighs the same as iPhone 15 Pro Max

Pixel 9 Pro XL next to iPhone 15 Pro Max.

A Dynamic Island away from identical twins.

iPhone 15 Pro Max and Pixel 9 Pro XL looking similar from the sides and bottom.

Flat out rounding it up.

But of course I can’t gloss over what Google managed to cook up this year…

Apart from making the Pixel look like a total iPhone twin in look and feel (save for the camera island), Google literally nailed down the weight of the Pixel 9 Pro XL to make it exactly as heavy as the iPhone 15 Pro Max - 221 grams. Yes, I do believe this was on purpose…

In fact, I’ll go a step further and guess the vanilla Pixel 9 is heavier than it could’ve been just so it feels more premium. It weighs 198 grams, or just 4g more than the rumored weight of the iPhone 16 Pro, and it also has a 6.3-inch screen. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro is virtually the same slab.

Even if it might seem like a coincidence, I believe Google is trying to pull off a clever psychological trick that gets iPhone users who hold the Pixel to think they are holding an iPhone - but with all the benefits of an Android.

Believe it or not, most users who buy Pixel phones are upgrading from an iPhone - not from a Galaxy (as one might expect). In that context, Google’s iPhone-inspired Pixel 9 makes total sense. I mean - it’s not an excuse but it is an explanation.

Like it or not, more Android phones will keep looking like the iPhone, because it’s a successful strategy - but there are unique alternatives you can buy instead

Motorola flagship, mid-range, and budget phones showing off different colors and materials.

Motorola makes the most colorful phones on the market right now - in glass, plastic, wood, or leather!

More Android phones will look like an iPhone, because it’s a successful business strategy - but there are truly unique Android phones you can buy instead.

Now… the obvious question to answer is… Is it worth trading your brand identity in order to steal iPhone customers?

And honestly… If I’m thinking as a CEO who’s trying to do everything to catch up to Apple’s market share, I’d probably say… It might be a fair (business) move!

Of course, the tech nerd in me would strongly disagree, and if you fall into that bracket, there are phones you can choose instead of the “blatant iPhone copies”. You know - in case you’re in the mood for a quiet protest.

Great examples are the metal OnePlus Nord 4 as well as Nothing’s excellent mid-range devices (the Nothing Phone 3 is also coming next summer). I mean, sure - the Nothing Phone certainly looks and feels like an iPhone, but I do believe the unique back is enough to set it apart.

Motorola also deserves a shoutout, as it might end up being the only phone-maker (in 2025) that makes premium flagships with curved displays and super bold colors and materials - including eco leather and bamboo.

Not to mention there are plenty of folding phones on the market nowadays, which look and feel nothing like the folding iPhone Apple hasn’t made (yet). They are more reliable than ever too.

In the end, I’m not too bothered by the iPhone-inspired designs on Android - although it makes me think about the great phones we might be missing out on, because Android phone-makers decided to go with an iPhone aesthetic.

But hey… Apparently, the iPhone’s design is “so cool” that even the new iPhone looks exactly like the old iPhone!

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Martin, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, brings a unique blend of humor and insight to his work. His fascination with smartphones began with a Galaxy Young and evolved through a series of trades and upgrades, making him a self-proclaimed smartphone nerd. Martin's content often combines current analysis of market trends with historical references and future predictions. Whether it's a deep dive into technical issues or a first-person commentary on industry events, Martin's articles are designed to inform and engage. His critical perspective is driven by genuine curiosity and a desire to keep readers informed, not by any corporate sponsorship.