Apple might stay silent on rumors about its upcoming products, but that doesn’t stop its competitors from weighing in. The iPhone 17 series has been circulating in tech news with speculation that it might borrow some design cues from Google’s Pixel lineup—specifically, the camera bar. And it looks like Google has decided to have a little fun with the gossip.
The search giant just dropped a new ad poking fun at what it sees as Apple’s habit of playing catch-up. In the stop-motion spot, a Pixel and an iPhone have a conversation, with the iPhone listing off features it introduced years after Google—like Night Sight versus Night Mode, and Magic Eraser versus Apple’s Clean Up. The ad wraps up with a self-aware jab as the iPhone parrots the Pixel’s line: “Anyway, just a reminder—these are all just rumors!”
Google isn’t the first tech brand to take shots at Apple in its advertising. Both Intel and Samsung have tried similar tactics over the years. But while many of those attempts felt a bit forced, this one seems to be landing better. People are nodding along—especially since that rumored horizontal camera bar looks unmistakably like something straight out of the Pixel playbook.
“This gives off major Coke vs. Pepsi ad energy—and I’m here for it,” one viewer commented on the video. Another wrote, “It’s a spot-on take about how Apple’s innovation has really slowed down.” (And they’re not wrong—we’ve also pointed out Apple’s recent lack of bold moves in both design and features.)
That said, when a brand spends this much time talking about its rival, it often hints at who’s really leading the market. Google’s ad works well for now, but if Apple ends up unveiling something truly unexpected later this year, the joke might end up falling flat. Only time will tell—so for now, let’s wait and see.
