Google's New Ad Humourously Critiques Apple's Rumored iPhone 17 Camera Bar Design

There’s nothing quite like a good tech rivalry, and Google seems to be leaning all the way in with its latest ad.

As rumors swirl around the iPhone 17 series adopting a redesigned camera bar, Google couldn’t resist throwing a little shade Apple’s way. And honestly? It’s kind of hilarious.

A Familiar-Looking Camera Bar

If you’ve been keeping up with the leaks, you’ve probably seen the CAD mockups of the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple seems to be going all-in on a horizontal camera bar that stretches almost entirely across the back of the device. For long-time Pixel fans, that design is going to look oddly familiar.

Google’s latest ad, part of its tongue-in-cheek #BestPhonesForever series, takes direct aim at this potential design shift. In the clip, a Pixel and an iPhone—brought to life with voices and personalities—banter back and forth about how Apple is "borrowing" design elements from the Pixel lineup. Google points out that the Pixel has rocked this camera-bar look for years, and it’s just now that Apple seems to be catching on.

Majin Bu  

But here’s the kicker: while Google is out here poking fun, it’s not exactly the same. Apple’s rumored design is bigger, bolder, and more...well, Apple. In fact, some people are saying it looks more like Poco’s older designs than anything Google has ever done. But in the world of tech rivalries, details don’t matter as much as the narrative.

Is This the First Time? Not Even Close

Google didn’t stop at just the camera bar. The ad took it a step further, calling out features like Night Sight and Magic Eraser, both of which were Pixel-first features before Apple rolled out its own versions—Night Mode and Cleanup. Even the introduction of widgets on iOS, which Android users had been enjoying for almost a decade, made the list.

And while Google’s having its fun, it’s not like Apple’s the only one inspired by its rivals. Let’s not forget that Android’s latest auto-reboot feature is something iPhone users have had for a while. Inspiration flows both ways in the tech world; it just usually depends on who does it better.

Copying or Innovating?

The real question is, does any of this actually matter? When you strip away the marketing banter, what you’re left with is a simple truth: good ideas deserve to be shared. Night Mode is great—if it takes inspiration from Night Sight, then all the better for iPhone users. Magic Eraser? That’s a solid tool. If Apple’s Cleanup feature makes it easier for people to touch up their photos, is anyone really complaining?

Sure, Google can poke fun all it wants, but the reality is that tech evolves collectively. Apple borrows from Google, Google borrows from Apple, and we, the users, end up with better features because of it. If a camera bar design makes for better photos and a cleaner look, maybe it's not about who did it first, but who does it best.