Skip to main content

Feeling the heat? Apple responds to Galaxy S4 launch with new ‘Why iPhone’ webpage

iphone 5With the spotlight in recent days fixed firmly on Samsung and its all-singing, all-dancing Galaxy S4 smartphone, the Apple marketing machine has decided its response should be to remind consumers of why the iPhone should still be worthy of their consideration, even if it doesn’t have Air Gesture capability, Smart Scroll eye-tracking technology, dual-shot functionality, NFC technology and [add Samsung Galaxy S4 feature of your choice here].

Over the weekend the iPhone maker took it upon itself to post a new page on its website extolling the virtues of its iPhone 5 device, a webpage that seemed desperate to be heard above the lively hubbub accompanying the launch of Samsung’s new high-end Android device.

Recommended Videos

The lengthy Why iPhone webpage (come to think of it, it’d be perfect for trying out the S4’s Smart Scroll eye-tracking feature) covers everything from the iPhone 5’s “great” battery life to its “popular” camera.

Titled There’s iPhone. And then there’s everything else, it helpfully informs the reader of a number of the handset’s features, and why the Cupertino company thinks its device is so darn special. It mentions “eight straight customer satisfaction awards” from JD Power and Associates, it informs us that “every detail has been considered”, and it reminds us that “only the iPhone has the Retina display” – even though its ppi comes in at 326 compared to the S4’s 441.

In all, Apple lists 12 points about what it feels makes the iPhone special. The timing of the release of the new webpage has left some Apple watchers questioning the wisdom of such a move. Of course, the Cupertino tech giant has been feeling the heat from rivals like Samsung for some time now, but now it appears to be showing that it’s feeling the heat.

The webpage came just a few days after Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller attempted to belittle Android handsets, saying they were “often given as a free replacement for a feature phone and the experience isn’t as good as an iPhone.”

He added, “When you take an Android device out of the box, you have to sign up to nine accounts with different vendors to get the experience iOS comes with. They don’t work seamlessly together.”

Now all eyes are on Apple to see what it brings to the table with the next iteration of the iPhone….

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
iPhone theft victim sues Apple. It sparks a new hope for others, too
The iPhone 16 sticking out of someone's pocket.

Smartphones are the center of our digital existence. Not just because they open the doors for communication and social connection, but also due to their role as gatekeepers of our financial and professional lives. 

Needless to say, a stolen iPhone can upend your life in many ways, but it’s even harder to recover those precious files stored on the device. A few victims of iPhone theft may finally have a chance, thanks to a lawsuit against Apple over not offering enough help in recovery efforts.

Read more
I tested the Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e’s cameras, and the two almost tied
A person holding the Google Pixel 9a and Apple iPhone 16e.

The Google Pixel 9a’s arch rival, almost regardless of whether you are trying to decide which one to buy, is the Apple iPhone 16e. Just like dogs chase cats, a new Pixel phone will go up against an iPhone in a camera test at some point, and over the past week or so, we’ve worked to answer the question of which phone takes better photos, the Pixel 9a or the iPhone 16e.
The camera specs
Google Pixel 9a (left) and Apple iPhone 16e Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The two phones have very different camera systems. The Google Pixel 9a has a 48-megapixel main camera with an f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS), plus a 13MP wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. On the front is a 13MP selfie camera.

Read more
Motorola Razr 60 Ultra could be the phone that makes me leave Apple
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra rear side.

I haven't used anything except an iPhone as my daily driver since 2015, nor have I regularly used a laptop aside from my MacBook for productivity since then. That's a decade of nearly full immersion into the Apple ecosystem. I wouldn't consider myself a fanboy; I just appreciated the convenience of it all. But after taking a look at the price tag of the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max and the relatively minor upgrades it presents (even over my iPhone 12), the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra has caught my eye.

Its specs aren't confirmed yet, but the leak we saw this morning comes from OnLeaks — a source that is rarely mistaken on this subject. Foldable phones are everywhere now (and Apple is rumored to be working on one, too), but the price tag is the biggest obstacle for most people. The Razr 60 Ultra is expected to start at $1,000 — less than I paid for my current phone — and outclass even the iPhone 16 Pro Max in terms of power.

Read more