Google and Samsung have raised the bar for smartphones with recent product launches, putting the heat on rival Apple, which will introduce its iPhone 17 series handsets soon. Apple stock has stalled ahead of its event.
On Wednesday, Alphabet's Google showed off its fall product lineup, led by its AI-enabled Pixel 10 phones. Last month, Samsung debuted new AI-powered Galaxy smartphones. Both introduced folding, big-screen devices, something Apple isn't rumored to have until late next year.
Analysts and product reviewers have taken notice of the Google and Samsung smartphone innovations.
"Apple is getting lapped by its Android competitors," Wall Street Journal personal technology columnist Nicole Nguyen said in an article Wednesday. She said the new Google Pixel handsets are "leagues ahead of the iPhone in AI."
The Gemini AI on the Google phones can do real-time voice translation, fast photo edits, and will proactively surface information when a user needs it.
"Google is pushing the boundaries of premium devices — especially in camera and AI integration, leveraging Gemini and showcasing that the promise of a universal agentic AI assistant can actually be in your hands — today," IDC analyst Nabila Popal said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Apple has delayed the release of many iPhone AI features until next year, including an upgraded Siri digital assistant. Apple is due to announce its iPhone 17 family next month.
Apple Stock Gets Price-Target Cut
On the stock market today, Apple stock slid 0.5% to close at 224.90. On Tuesday, it dropped 2% to 226.01.
GlobalData analyst Anisha Bhatia said Google went after Apple in its sales pitch for the Pixel 10 phones.
"Google clearly targeted switchers during the event — the marketing pointedly addressed iPhone users with two key problems — easy transfer of data and inclusive RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging," she said in a report. "While Google hasn't significantly dented Apple's market share yet, its Pixel series loaded with its ever-improving bag of AI magic could give consumers a compelling reason to switch."
Loop Capital Markets analyst Ananda Baruah on Thursday cut his price target on Apple stock to 226 from 230 and reiterated his hold rating.
Follow Patrick Seitz on X at @IBD_PSeitz for more stories on consumer technology, software and semiconductor stocks.
