How is iPhone 17 Pro like Android?

Apple has long been considered an “outlier” in the technology industry. For more than a decade, the company has stuck to premium materials like stainless steel and titanium; kept its operating system closed and largely ignored all trends that Android manufacturers were pursuing. But with the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple seems to have changed.

Apple ditched the glossy titanium shell for a brushed aluminum unibody for the iPhone 17 Pro – a style familiar on Android flagships from OnePlus or Xiaomi. 7000-series aerospace aluminum makes the device lighter, more durable, and has a smooth, matte feel.

Apple switches to brushed aluminum unibody for iPhone 17 Pro.

The “plateau” back design not only creates an aesthetic highlight but also opens up space for a larger battery and heat dissipation chamber. The vapor chamber cooling system helps the device maintain performance when playing games or processing AI – something Android manufacturers have long applied, and now Apple is joining in.

The Cosmic Orange version brings a different personality, making the iPhone 17 Pro look like an Android flagship: Performance-oriented, but still retains the familiar sophistication of Apple.

Software: iOS gets closer to Android

iOS 26 brings the biggest “makeover” in years. The Liquid Glass interface with transparent icons, multi-layered backgrounds, live wallpapers and customizable layouts is reminiscent of Android’s Material You philosophy.

Users can now customize more deeply, from transparent icons to a lock clock that adapts to the wallpaper. Native apps like Safari, Photos, and Camera have streamlined interfaces to maximize screen space. Apple Music also adds a navigation bar that collapses when scrolling – a familiar feature on Android apps.

Liquid Glass icon set, iOS 26 (left) - and Material You, Android (right).

Camera: Head-to-head competition

Apple has made a big upgrade with all three rear cameras using 48MP sensors. Most notably, the 200mm 8x telephoto lens offers the longest optical zoom ever, enough to compete with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The front camera has been changed to an 18MP square sensor, supporting Center Stage to automatically align the group selfie frame. In addition, Apple has added dual-camera video recording mode and macro shooting – a feature that has appeared on Chinese smartphones for many years.

AI: Learning from Google and Pixel

Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 brings AI running directly on the device, supporting message summaries, image creation, custom Genmoji. Visual Intelligence allows direct interaction with on-screen content – similar to Google's Circle to Search.

Amenities like call filtering, hold support, and live translation make the iPhone as convenient as the Pixel. Apple Maps adds trip tracking and location history; Wallet integrates flight notifications, and boarding passes sync with Find My.

Notably, Apple is opening up AI access to developers – a more open approach than traditional ones. Apple Games focuses on the gaming experience like Google Play Games, showing that Apple is willing to connect its ecosystem with third parties.

Thanh Tra

Link: Source: Giz Mochina

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/iphone-17-pro-giong-android-the-nao-ar967005.html