For nearly two decades, the experience of using a smartphone has been almost unified: A screen full of colorful application icons, touch operations to open, close, and switch between software. Whether you are an iPhone or Android device user, the difference between the two platforms is largely the design and feel of use rather than the core functions. But that is changing.
This year, with the arrival of iOS 26 and Android 16, two technology giants - Apple and Google - are not simply renewing the layer of clothing on the outside but are gradually redefining how users interact with their devices. While Apple takes care of a transparent interface called Liquid Glass, creating a glass effect that blends into the wallpaper, Google chose a more brilliant color direction with material 3 Expressive, turning Android phones into a Pop Art work.
But the paint job is only the outfit. On the surface, the real revolution comes from artificial intelligence - where Google is accelerating strongly with Gemini, while Apple seems to be still struggling with initial tests of Apple Intelligence. And the difference in the AI application philosophy between the two sides is laying the foundation for a new era: When smartphones are not just devices, but become real personal assistants.
Bringing AI to users
Google is not only refreshing Android with an eye-catching interface, but is also quietly placing a powerful AI machine inside the device - that is Gemini. No longer a disjointed feature, Gemini is becoming the center of the Android experience, acting as an extended arm between users and apps.
With just one hold of the source button, users can call up Gemini in voice or text, thereby creating or handling a series of tasks that have required multiple steps. From creating an ingredient list for beef stew in the notes app, finding a way to the nearest cinema to separating ingredients from cooking videos on YouTube, everything is now done in a few seconds, thanks to AI's powerful language prediction ability.
More importantly, Gemini is not alone. It is gradually penetrating familiar software in the Google ecosystem such as Google Maps, Gmail, Google Photos and even Chrome browser. This deep integration makes the phone experience seamlessly smarter: You no longer have to switch between apps or perform repetitive operations.
Technically, what makes Gemini stand out is its ability to understand context from user data. If users used to need to type clear questions, now Gemini can reason on their intentions based on existing data - from location, web browsing history to app usage habits. This is a big step forward, turning Android phones into a action device instead of a pasible one.
Not only that, Gemini is also a creative support tool. Users can request to write an email, edit photos, or create a shopping list. Especially in a mobile environment, when time and space are limited, having an AI assistant do small things instead of you is an advantage that cannot be ignored.
It can be seen that Google is not simply bringing AI to Android to create impressions, but is building an ecosystem that uses AI as a platform capability. Every small task is a part of the big picture: The phone knows what you want even before you even think about it.
Apple struggles with difficulties
In contrast to Google's initiative, Apple is still stepping in its journey to bring AI to mobile devices. With iOS 26, the company continues to introduce some new features in the Apple Intelligence system - but most still revolve around small improvements, more upgraded than innovative.
One of the notable points is the ability to translate language in real time in some applications such as text messages or FaceTime. This feature allows users to see dichitional subheadings in
when chatting video with a relative speaking in another language. However, this is a feature that Android users have accessed since 2021, making Apple's efforts somewhat lack novelty.
Another plus is the ability to extract data from screenshots. For example, if users save photos of websites with event schedules, the operating system will automatically suggest adding them to their personal calendar. Or if the photo contains a handbag, the system will suggest searching for the same product online. Although it sounds attractive, it is quite similar to the "draw a circle to search" function on Android - a feature that was once considered difficult by users to apply in real life.
However, the biggest challenge for Apple is Siri. Expected to be renewed with AI power, the improved Siri version could not be launched on time due to too many errors in internal testing. The rate of incorrect requests is up to one-third, forcing Apple to delay the release, and users can only use Siri as an intermediary tool to redirect requests to ChatGPT.
This reality reflects two problems of Apple. The first is the gap in AI capabilities between the company and Google. Second is a conservative approach: Instead of launching strong but risky features, Apple chose to go slow and steady, putting stability above the pace of innovation.
Even the beauty of the interface - with Liquid Glass - shows that Apple is placing high expectations on aesthetics to retain users while there is no breakthrough in AI technology. This is a reasonable strategy for a loyal segment of users, but there is also a risk of falling behind if they cannot keep up with the rapid development of the industry.
Users are still the beneficiaries
Although going in two different directions - one is accelerating AI integration, the other is being careful to fine-tune each step - Apple and Google are both contributing to an irreversible trend: Turning phones into truly smart devices.
For users, this opens up unprecedented possibilities. If you choose Android, you will soon experience a digital assistant that knows you from habit to behavior, supporting everything from shopping to entertainment. If you stick with iOS, you will still have a smooth operating system, beautiful interfaces, and increasingly supplemented with AI - even if it is one beat slower.
In the transformative picture of the technology industry, no one can stand still. And although the two technology giants choose two different paths, the ultimate destination is still to bring more convenience, easier to use, and smarter to users. That is the real race.
