Samsung criticized for 'cloning' Apple products after Galaxy Unpacked event

It's said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – but numerous tech outlets, YouTubers, and even some Samsung fans seem to think the consumer electronics giant took mimicry a bit too far this time.

On Wednesday, Samsung had its big Galaxy Unpacked event where it unveiled a slew of new products including smartphones, smartwatches, and earbuds. Samsung even announced a whole new line with its Samsung Galaxy Ring health-focused wearable.

However, those who viewed the event via livestream couldn't help but notice a few of the marquee new products looked a little too Apple-like.

Samsung criticized for 'copying' Apple

Social media users had other critiques about the products revealed at this year's Unpacked, bemoaning the lack of substantial updates in the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, for instance.  

However, one common thread in the various analyses, whether it be from consumers, reviewers, or journalists is that Samsung seems to be trying to "clone" Apple's products. 

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"Today was a huge L for Samsung," said YouTuber Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs, a tech review channel with more than one million subscribers. "Watch Ultra is the most shameless copy of an Apple product in ages — and it’s hideous."

"Wait, it gets more shameless," the YouTube creator continued via his X account @SnazzyLabs. "Buds3 and Buds3 Pro are clones of AirPods."

Nelson is referring to Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra smartwatch and its new line of earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 series. It seems obvious that Samsung released these two products to compete with Apple's Apple Watch Ultra and the company's line of Airpods. But, for many, the similarities between the two went beyond competition and into "copycat" territory.

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"Copy and paste," posted the Apple Hub account on X, with nearly one million followers, alongside a photo of Samsung's new smartwatch and earbuds side-by-side with Apple's version of the products.

With the visual of Samsung and Apple's smartwatch and earbuds together, it's hard to deny just how much Samsung seems to have borrowed from Apple. Along with appearing to lift its product naming scheme from Apple, Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra even has a nearly identical watch band.

And it's not just social media users and content creators sharing their disapproval either. News outlets like The Verge and Business Insider also couldn't help but call out Samsung for its Apple clones.

"Samsung's new 'Ultra' watch and earbuds are shameless Apple copycats," reads a headline from Business Insider.

The Verge's article, "Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds are blatant AirPod clones in both form and function," focused on Samsung's new Galaxy Buds 3 and criticized Samsung for its "subtle in-ear design" in favor of the more "Airpods-esque" stems.

Samsung unveiled much more than a few Apple clones at Galaxy Unpacked. The company's foldable smartphone is in a product category of its own, one that Apple doesn't even have its own answer to yet. But, unfortunately, Samsung's new smartwatch and earbuds are such blatant lookalikes that it seems that's what many are focusing on from the event.

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"To see Samsung just release a bunch of Apple clones is disheartening," wrote Apple Insider's Andrew O'Hara on X. "It’s boring and a massive fail compared to where Samsung used to be."

It's hard to argue with that assessment.