10 Things We Want Apple to Copy From Samsung

Foldable Phones

This is probably the biggest thing we want to see from Apple. Nowadays, it seems like all the big phone companies have foldable phones — all the big companies except for Apple, that is.

Apple should copy Samsung's offering and bring two different kinds of foldable iPhones: a smaller one that would look like the current iPhone and a bigger model that could replace the iPad mini.

There have been many rumors over the years that Apple is working on a foldable iPhone. They've quieted down recently, and while some analysts think we could see one by 2026, we'll have to wait to see if Apple copies this concept from Samsung.

Apple Smart Ring

Alongside the similar-looking Galaxy Buds, Samsung also launched a brand new smart ring called Galaxy Ring. 

This smart ring works almost like a smartwatch. You can track your vital signs like your heart rate, respiratory rate, and your skin temperature. You can even use it while you're sleeping and track the quality of your sleep.

What's more, its battery life lasts up to 4 days with a single charge. Now, imagine all of these features in an Apple smart ring. It would be the perfect accessory for people who don't like having a smartwatch that bombards them with notifications throughout the day.

Unfortunately, while Apple seems to be considering the possibility of a smart ring, there's nothing concrete yet. It's only an idea that might become a reality sometime in the future.

Bigger Batteries on the iPhone

It's no secret that the iPhone's battery isn't the biggest one on the market. Pretty much all smartphones in the same (or lower) price range have a bigger battery than the regular iPhone.

But what we would love to see is for Apple to increase the battery and copy Samsung's flagship phones. For example, at the time of this writing, the Samsung Galaxy S24 packs a 4,000 mAh battery, which is way bigger than the 3,349 mAh battery in the standard iPhone 15. 

Simply increasing the battery size would fix a lot of complaints people have about the iPhone. 

To be fair, even with a smaller battery, the iPhone lasts as long as Samsung's smartphones. But imagine how much better it would be with the same battery capacity.

Fortunately, it seems like Apple will actually increase the battery size of the iPhone 16 lineup, so maybe the company will finally make the switch.

Reverse Wireless Charging

One of the coolest features of any Samsung flagship phone is the ability to reverse charge your earbuds, watch, or even another smartphone simply by putting it on the back of the Samsung smartphone.

Samsung phones have had this feature for years now, and we believe it's time for Apple to copy it and use it on the next iPhones. Technically, Apple added reverse wired charging to the iPhone 15, but that's just a result of the switch to USB-C (and it's also something Apple's USB-C iPads have been able to do for years). Still, you can use it to charge your AirPods or another phone.

However, for a company like Apple, which is constantly looking for ways to eliminate cables, reverse wireless charging seems like a much better move. Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack has supported a form of reverse charging since the iPhone 12, so it's not like the technology isn't already in there — Apple just needs to open it up to other devices like AirPods. We hope Apple copies this feature in the future.

Sideloading Apps

This is more of an Android feature than anything specific to Samsung, but the ability to sideload apps from anywhere on the web is definitely something we'd like to come to the iPhone and iPad.

In case you don't know, sideloading lets you download apps from places other than the official App Store. For instance, you could download an app from a third-party app marketplace or even directly from a website.

Thanks to the new Digital Markets Act, folks in the European Union can now sideload apps to their iPhones. However, it still doesn't work quite as freely as it does with Samsung and other Android phones phones. Not only that, but the rest of the world is just waiting for Apple to let us do that.

Unfortunately, we don't know if or when Apple will allow sideloading apps into your iPhone, but we don't recommend holding your breath. Apple only opened up sideloading in the EU because it was forced to, and it likely won't do so elsewhere unless other government regulators follow Europe's lead.

Under-Display Touch ID

A few years ago, Touch ID disappeared from the iPhone for good. Unless you have an iPhone SE, you're probably unlocking your iPhone with Face ID, which does work pretty well.

However, the problem is that Samsung phones have been able to use both facial recognition and fingerprint sensors for years now.

Samsung solved this by adding the fingerprint sensor below the screen, which Apple should copy right away.

We've seen several rounds of rumors over the years that Apple was developing an under-display Touch ID feature. However, more recently, we've heard the under-display Touch ID project is dead, so it doesn't seem likely to be available anytime soon. Apple seems to consider Face ID the way forward, and rumor has it that even the next iPhone SE will make the switch from a fingerprint sensor to facial recognition.

Panels on the Edge of the Screen

Samsung kept the hidden panel on the edge of the screen, a feature that has been used even after it discontinued the curved displays on its Galaxy phones.

This panel can have anything from app shortcuts to your favorite contacts, so you can have them on speed dial. You can access these panels from any app, making it easier to open a new app without having to go back to the Home Screen.

As you probably already know, the iPhone doesn't have anything like that. It would be cool if Apple added a small panel with a list of shortcuts or features you can access from anywhere. 

Sure, you can use the Control Center, which is already useful, but that's not quite the same.

Better Multitasking Features on the iPhone

One thing that the iPhone lacks is multitasking features. Unfortunately, you can only have one app open at a time, making it hard to do multiple tasks at once.

If you want to have two apps open at the same time, you'll need to get an iPad. And if you want more than two apps open simultaneously, you're better off buying a Mac.

Samsung devices, on the other hand, let you open up to two different apps in a split screen. You can also open floating windows whenever you like, change their size, or move them across the display.

It's not like the iPhone isn't capable of doing that, so we hope Apple will copy this feature in a future software update.

A Stylus for the iPhone

Samsung has had an S Pen that works with its premium phones for what seems like forever. And we think it's time for Apple to do the same.

We're not talking about adding support for the Apple Pencil. Instead, creating a smaller Apple Pen that could connect to the iPhone and bring some features exclusive to the iPad would be amazing.

For instance, you could open a note from your iPhone's Lock Screen simply by tapping the iPhone screen. Or create a new Quick Note by dragging it with your Apple Pen from the bottom right corner.

Unfortunately, it seems Apple isn't interested in creating styluses for the iPhone. We can still hope, though.

Apple Should Take More Risks

One thing Samsung has is that it sometimes wants to be the first to test new technologies. For instance, it was one of the first tech companies to make foldable screens popular. 

It also was one of the first to start using and improving the under-display front-facing camera systems. And, of course, it was the first big tech company to create its very own smart ring.

Samsung isn't afraid to try new things, and we'd like Apple to be the same way. The Cupertino company is famous for not being the first but trying to be the best when it comes to new products and features. 

While getting a fleshed-out product and feature is great, we'd like to see Apple take a few more risks and release products and features more quickly. Otherwise, Android users will continue mocking the company for taking years to add basic things like Home Screen widgets.