The Androids are Coming for the iPhone: A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words of ‘Separated at Birth’

The “iPhone Clone” Era

While Android phone manufacturers have never been shy about drawing design inspiration from the iPhone (as tedious as it has become to see this play out year after year), it seems that 2024-2025 will mark the peak of this trend.

Phone Arena even describes this trend as if Android phones are catching the “iPhone disease.”

However, there are two more intriguing questions to consider. First, why are Android phone manufacturers doing this? Second, how will they balance copying Apple’s design cues while ensuring that consumers still buy their “iPhone-like Android phones” instead of just buying an actual iPhone?

Take a look at the images below to see how the Pixel 9, Galaxy S25, Nothing Phone 3, Oppo Find X8, Vivo X200, Xiaomi 15, and several other top Android flagships are taking the “iPhone clone” trend to new heights.

As we’ve seen, the Galaxy S24 line adopted the squared-off edges of the iPhone—a design trait that first appeared on the Galaxy S22. But, surprisingly, the Galaxy S25 Ultra also seems to be heading in the same direction, marking the first significant design change since the Galaxy Note 20.

Then there’s the Oppo Find X8, which not only features a flat display with flat edges (a first for a flagship Oppo phone in years) but also includes a “Capture Button,” reminiscent of the long-awaited “Camera Button” expected to debut on the iPhone 16 Pro in just a few days.

The soon-to-be-released Vivo X200 line from China is also expected to resemble Apple’s flagship devices with flat edges and a flat display—again, a first for Vivo’s modern flagship devices.

Overall, whether we’re talking about flagships from Korea, China, or the US, it appears that most Android flagships in 2025 want to be like the iPhone.

Even a tech giant like Google has taken the iPhone-copying trend to new heights. Aside from making the Pixel 9 look like a complete replica of the iPhone in terms of aesthetics and feel (except for the camera bump), Google intentionally reduced the weight of the Pixel 9 Pro XL to match that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max—221 grams. This similarity seems too precise to be a coincidence.

According to Phone Arena, Google is attempting a clever psychological trick, making iPhone users who hold the Pixel think they’re holding an iPhone—but with all the features of the Android ecosystem.

It’s a fact that most people who buy Pixel phones are upgrading from iPhones, not Galaxies. In this context, it makes perfect sense for the Pixel 9 to draw inspiration from the iPhone. Whether you like it or not, many Android phones will continue to resemble iPhones because it’s a successful strategy.

Even the iPhone Copies Itself

The question arises: is it worth sacrificing brand identity to attract iPhone users?

From the perspective of an Android brand CEO trying to do everything to catch up to Apple’s market share, the answer is probably yes, and it’s a fair business strategy.

Of course, no one wants a phone that is a blatant “iPhone clone.” So, Android manufacturers always tweak the design to maintain some individuality.

A prime example is the OnePlus Nord 4 or the mid-range offerings from Nothing. The Nothing Phone offerings undoubtedly look and feel like iPhones, but the unique back design of the device is enough to set it apart.

Motorola also deserves a mention as they might be the only manufacturer (in 2025) producing high-end phones with curved screens, a multitude of colors, and diverse materials, including leather and bamboo.

Not to mention, there are plenty of foldable phones on the market that offer a completely different experience from the iPhone, as Apple has never produced such a device.

In the end, it’s not a huge deal that Android phone manufacturers are adopting the iPhone’s aesthetics. Clearly, the iPhone design is so iconic that even the upcoming iPhone 16 is “copying” older iPhone models.