Nowadays, technology has become widely popular and a very important part of each and everyone’s day-to-day life. It has made plenty of lives easier, faster, and more convenient, however, it has also brought a number of negative consequences. Some forms of technology may lead to a variety of physical, mental, and even emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, eyestrain, neck pain, headaches, and much more. It affects the way human beings communicate, learn, think, and act. Looking back over the past years, many people, mostly from the newer generations, still can’t imagine how people lived back in the day without the use of technology. A world with no internet, no gadgets, no machines, no equipment, no cars, just seems nearly impossible to survive in. When they visit houses, most homes they see have a television, a refrigerator, a stovetop, a microwave, and more. These days, a ton of individuals rarely meet someone without a mobile device due to the fact that most people typically have either a phone, laptop, or a tablet they bring along with them. Based on the GSMA real-time intelligence data, approximately 67.03% of the world’s population has a mobile device and about 4.88 billion people own a mobile phone as of July 2021. The first-ever telephone was invented on March 7, 1876, by the one and only Alexander Graham Bell. From that day on, technology has come a very long way. From telephones to feature phones to smartphones, although there are still quite a few people who use a telephone and a feature phone, approximately 3.8 billion people across the world now own a smartphone.
A smartphone is an electronic device with a touchscreen that enables users to make calls, send text messages, and surf the internet. The first-ever smartphone was invented by the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in 1992 and was available to the public in 1994. It was called the “Simon Personal Communicator” (SPC) and sold around 50,000 units after only half a year in the market. Despite its lack of compactness and elegance, the device included some features that became staples to every smartphone that followed. A typical modern smartphone contains a diverse number of apps available for both personal use and business use. They also offer a plethora of features and capabilities that make them unique and extraordinary. The two best-selling smartphone brands are Apple and Samsung. Both these brands have been competitors and in the market for quite some time. Apple Inc. is an American manufacturing company founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs together with Steve Wozniak. They design, manufacture, and sell multiple devices including iPhones, iPads, Macbooks, Airpods, watches, and more. The iPhone is Apple’s line of phones based on its iOS operating system. Apple sold around 57 million iPhones in the first quarter of 2021. On the other hand, Samsung Electronics is a South Korean electronic device manufacturing corporation. It is South Korea’s largest business group. The founder, Lee Byung-Chul first launched the company as a grocery trading store in 1938. They entered the electronics industry in 1969 and began exporting electronic products overseas a couple of years later. Similar to Apple, they produce a wide range of electronics, devices, appliances, and more. Android OS is Samsung’s operating system while their smartphone line is the Samsung Galaxy series. Samsung has sold an estimated 24 million smartphones compared to Apple which sold only 23 million last February 2021. Samsung Electronics has reclaimed the title of the world’s top smartphone manufacturer, surpassing Apple. There has been a conspiracy going around for quite some time, many believe that Samsung copies Apple. As of now, there is no concrete evidence that this theory is true. Nevertheless, numerous people think it is true since both brands come out with similar products around the same time, but Apple usually comes out with it first. In 2010, Samsung released a very iPhone-like product through its Galaxy lineup. After Apple surpassed Exxon Mobil Corporation as the world’s most valuable company in 2011, Samsung tried to incorporate elements of the Apple business model.
Now we’re on to the question a lot of people are curious to know, “which is better?” It depends on a lot of factors including the certain phone model, user experience, product design, performance, and much more, therefore, it is crucial to research when comparing them. In conclusion, it doesn’t mean Samsung sold more phones than Apple, hence Samsung is better and vice versa, it still varies on a lot of different factors. You’ll never know, it may also just be based on personal preference. Both smartphone brands are satisfactory and have high ratings compared to others. Whichever brand you choose, make sure to do thorough research and evaluation beforehand.
By Sophia Allison A. Villafuerte
