The South Korean company’s latest handsets have been so successful this year that they’ve helped it overtake Apple to become number one smartphone maker in the U.S.
Right now, that’s just a small blemish on an otherwise darn near perfect record. But the concern is that it could signal the start of a much greater decline, ushering in an era in which Cupertino is no longer the overwhelmingly dominant force in all things shiny and aluminum.
Should Tim Cook and Co. really be worried about declining demand, and should fans be worried about Apple’s future? Or will our favorite gadget maker be back with a bang?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we throw hands (not literally) over these topics and more!
The looming shutdown of Revolv has some home-automation fans questioning the Internet of Things. Photo: Andrew Stawarz/Flickr CC
Revolv smart hubs will no longer be supported as of May 15. Even though subscribers have known this was coming since February, there wasn’t a lot of attention until an author’s highly critical piece was published on Medium.
That story has spurred conversations questioning investment in the Internet of Things, or IoT, and prompted Nest to consider compensating users who were early investors in the Revolv hub.
Look out, Apple! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of MacLook out, Apple! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Android
Samsung couldn’t have wished for a better start for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.
Not only are sales shaping up to beat expectations, with an estimated 10 million sales during March alone, but according to the latest data, the new handsets helped Samsung crush Apple in smartphones shipments last quarter.
Not rose gold. Photo: SamsungNot rose gold. Photo: Samsung
If you love rose gold but hate yourself for even thinking about getting locked into Apple’s walled garden, you’re going to love Samsung’s new pink gold (not rose gold) color option for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.
Or is its best yet to come? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
You can’t think about Apple without thinking about great design. The two go hand-in-hand, thanks to the company’s incredible ability to churn out hit products that make billions of dollars one after the other, year after year.
But Apple’s design team isn’t perfect. There have been some missteps over the years, and it seems like they’ve become more common under Tim Cook. Its design has also become predictable; even before we get a new product, we have a good idea what it will look like.
Are we worrying about nothing, or is it time Apple invited some fresh blood into Jony Ive’s lair? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we fight it out over this and more!
Apple's diversifying its supplier base for the next-gen wearable. Photo: Eric Heisuman
There may be disagreement over when exactly Apple Watch 2 will arrive, but Cupertino is confident enough about its plans to start divvying up component orders among companies in its supply chain.
In keeping with its recent strategy, Apple is looking to diversify its supply chain for the second-gen wearable by taking on additional manufacturers.
The battle to build AMOLED iPhone displays is on! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Two Apple partners, Foxconn and Samsung, are battling it out to provide Apple with next-gen displays for future iPhones.
Samsung, a leader in OLED display research and AMOLED production, is reportedly “on the fast track” to building a dedicated facility with the sole purpose of supplying the high-quality displays to Apple.
Foxconn, meanwhile, recently acquired money-losing display maker Sharp, with the main impetus being to help Foxconn become a market leader in AMOLED panel production.
Apple is 40 years old today. In that time, the Cupertino company has delivered some incredible products and services, and revolutionized smartphones, tablets, and music players. But is it boring now?
Some say Apple’s innovation has stalled in recent years, and it has become too predictable. The surprises we used to see during its big keynotes no longer show up, and despite its secrecy, you can almost predict its product roadmap for the next year.
Are those claims harsh? Is Apple really past its best, or will it deliver groundbreaking new products again that can shake up the consumer technology industry?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we fight over Apple at 40.
While the iPhone 7 might look much like current models, Apple reportedly is planning a big change for 2017. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The iPhone may finally ditch its metal casing in 2017 in favor of a new curved glass body similar to the one on Samsung’s Galaxy S7 edge.
Apple’s next big redesign of the iPhone is slated for next year, reports KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims in his latest note to investors that Apple will pair the new case design with a 5.8-inch AMOLED display.
iPhone is getting a new companion in Gear S2. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of MaciPhone is getting a new companion in Gear S2. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch will get an update that adds iPhone compatibility by the end of this month, according to a new report.
The move will allow Samsung to compete with the Apple Watch in its own backyard, but some features — such as Samsung Pay — will be lost when the wearable is connected to iOS.
Galaxy S7 beats all. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Countless YouTube videos and reviews have demonstrated just how impressive Samsung’s new smartphone camera is in Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, but just how good is it compared to the rest of them?
According to the experts at DxOMark, it’s the best you can get right now.
Samsung's Galaxy S7 mini could be pretty special. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of AndroidSamsung’s Galaxy S7 mini could be pretty special. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Samsung is already developing a Galaxy S7 mini that will go head-to-head with Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE, according to a new report — and it won’t be a disappointing version of its latest flagship like previous iterations of the Galaxy S mini series have been.
Instead, the new device is expected to pack exactly the same processor — and exactly the same punch — as its bigger brother.
Good luck finding a better phone than this today. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of MacGood luck finding a better phone than this today. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Android
Building a smartphone that beats the Galaxy S6 has likely been Samsung’s biggest challenge so far. How do you improve upon an already stellar design and one of the best smartphone cameras on the market? You build the Galaxy S7.
With its curved glass back, larger battery, Dual Pixel camera and even more powerful internals, the Galaxy S7 is the smartphone to beat in 2016.
Yup, water-resistance is one of them! Photo: SamsungYup, water-resistance is one of them. Photo: Samsung
As the iPhone’s biggest rivals, Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones have to be good enough to convince consumers that they’re a better buy. None do that better than the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.
According to the overwhelmingly positive reviews published today, the duo have a number of big advantages over the iPhone 6s. Here are 7 of them.
Does the iPhone really need to get bigger? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
If the iPhone 6s Plus seems just a little bit too small in your monstrous hands, fret not dear giant friends: Apple may be planning to go even bigger with a super-sized iPhone 7s Pro.
Apple is looking to add a 5.8-inch OLED display to the iPhone in 2017 or 2018, according to a new rumor that claims Samsung is already on board to supply the screens.
We’ve already watched the Galaxy S7 batter the iPhone 6s in a series of camera tests, but how well does it stack up against a professional DSLR? When it comes to phase detection autofocus, surprisingly well, actually.
See Samsung’s new smartphone make the Nikon 70D look bad in the mind-blowing autofocus test below.
Why buy an iPhone when you can get so much more? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
After Samsung and LG announced exciting new iPhone rivals at Mobile World Congress this week, we’ve had heated debates behind the scenes hereover whether Apple’s smartphone can still compete against the big guns in an increasingly competitive smartphone market.
Without features like wireless charging, water-resistance, and expandable storage, will it be harder for Apple to reverse slowing iPhone growth? Or are these things just gimmicks that the iPhone doesn’t need, and will have been forgotten just a few years down the line?
TSMC is keen to gain an advantage over Samsung. Photo: Apple
TSMC is reportedly the only manufacturer set to build A10 chips for the upcoming iPhone 7 — and it’s spending the money necessary to not only fulfil Apple’s orders this year, but hopefully to secure future A-series chip orders, as well.
Give me a Galaxy S7 over an iPhone 6s... please! Photo: SamsungGive me a Galaxy S7 over an iPhone 6s… please! Photo: Samsung
Samsung is under fire again from iPhone fans for its apparent lack of attention to detail when designing the new Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Apparently, the fact that the ports don’t line up on the bottom of these devices automatically means they’re not as good as Apple’s.
Apple doesn’t charge you interest, but Samsung does. Photo: SamsungApple doesn’t charge you interest, but Samsung does. Photo: Samsung
Samsung has launched its own Upgrade Program alongside the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge to make it easier for fans to get their hands on its latest devices.
Mobile World Congress doesn’t officially begin until tomorrow — and yet Samsung has already stolen the show with its new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.
Packing improved designs that are IP68-certified for water-resistance, always-on displays, and stellar specifications, these are the South Korean company’s best smartphones yet.
Read on to find out what you get under the hood, and when they’ll be available.