Steve Wozniak says Android will dominate the smartphone market

By Aemon Malone Published November 18, 2010

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Updated 10/18/2010: It seems something was lost in the English-Dutch translation. Wozniak has now claimed that he was misquoted in the interview with De Telegraaf and that he never said that Android’s OS was superior to the iPhone’s. Wozniak clarified his thoughts on Android and the iPhone in a conversation with Engadget earlier today.

Recommended Videos

Apparently, you don’t become an Apple co-founder by being shy and reserved. This time, it’s Steve Wozniak – the other of Apple’s co-founding “two Steves” – making waves with candid comments about the tech industry, specifically targeting the company he helped to launch nearly 35 years ago.

In an interview with the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Steve Wozniak reveals that Apple had collaborated in developing a smartphone with an unnamed Japanese company in 2004. While Apple had been satisfied with the product, the project was eventually dropped. Here’s what he had to say:

“Apple was satisfied with the quality but wanted something that could surprise the world. If Apple comes with a new product it must have a real breakthrough. Companies need to wait to capture a market until they have something extremely strong. A new product was separated from the rest of the group should be developed. In addition, developers must depart from beaten paths.”

Apple, of course, would eventually go on to release the iPhone in Jan. of 2007.

Wozniak also made a prediction that’s sure to irk Steve Jobs: Android will become the dominant smartphone platform and not the iPhone. Wozniak compared the Android operating system to Windows saying that it would succeed in winning over a larger demographic of people in spite of its flaws and inconsistencies. Wonziak indicated Android’s more expansive features and openness as being its primary advantages over the iPhone.

“The iPhone has very few weak points,” he said “There are no serious complaints or issues. When it comes to quality, the iPhone leads the way. Apple has shown the world what direction we’re going. Android phones do come with more options, though.”

The interview concludes with Wozniak taking a swipe at Finnish company Nokia calling it a brand for the “previous generation.”

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Mobile

Forget the iPhone 17 Pro design, the 20th anniversary iPhone could be the boldest yet

Leaked render of iPhone 17 Pro Max rear panel.

There are always plenty of rumours surrounding the next iPhone, with some even appearing over a year before the model in question is due to be announced. For this year it is the iPhone 17 series that is expected to be announced in September, with several reports claiming there will be a design change for the Pro models coming, as well as the arrival if a super slim iPhone.

But the latest report we are talking about here isn't about this year's iPhone, or even next year's. It's for the 20th anniversary iPhone model, that is set to arrive in 2027, alongside a potential folding iPhone. According to Mark Gurman's latest Power On newsletter, picked up by Macrumors, the iPhone Pro that launches alongside the folding iPhone will feature a "bold" design that makes more extensive use of glass.

Apple

Don’t hold your hopes for a fancy design refresh on the iPhone 17 Pro

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's screen.

For nearly half a decade, Apple has sold smartphones that fundamentally serve the same design language originating on the iPhone 11. Later this year, the iPhone 17 series will hit the shelves. If you’ve been expecting an aesthetic makeover, there’s some bad news for you, unless you’re ready to spend big bucks on one of the Pro models.

According to Bloomberg, the iPhone 17 Pro “will look meaningfully different,” compared to its iPhone 16 series counterpart. Alongside the rumored super-sleek iPhone 17 Air trim, these two are reportedly the biggest design refreshes in recent years on Apple smartphones. The approach, however, would still be quite modest.

Mobile

A $2,300 iPhone? The recent tariffs make that a possibility

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max's charging port.

Apple's iPhone might see a serious price hike in response to the recent tariffs, according to a report from Rosenblatt Securities. Analysts suggest the tariffs could result in a price increase of anywhere from 30% to 40%, if Apple chooses to pass the increased costs on to consumers. Neil Shah, an analyst from Counterpoint Research, suggests Apple would need to increase prices by 30% on average, while Rosenblatt analysts say the number is closer to 43%.

To illustrate what that might look like, take a look at the current $799 price point for the iPhone 16. If its price increases by 43%, it would come out to around $1,142. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro Max — currently priced at $1,599 for its base model — could jump to just under $2,300 ($2,286.57, to be exact.)