Apple and Qualcomm are currently in a global patent licensing dispute, and both are going after each other hard. Qualcomm's latest jab comes in the form of a post published Monday, Sept. 11, that lauds itself and praises Android for always being the first at everything.
It's particularly sneaky shade-throwing, especially since Apple is expected to debut the iPhone 8 on Sept. 12. The post claims that Qualcomm and Android partners were both the first companies to achieve industry firsts such as wireless charging, dual cameras, phones with OLED displays, bezel-less designs, phones with 4K resolution, and much more.
Qualcomm Implies Android Is The True Innovator Instead Of Apple
Those following iPhone 8 rumors already know that the innovations Qualcomm mentioned are all things the iPhone 8 is expected to have, or if not the iPhone 8, the other iterative iPhone upgrades Apple might unveil alongside. Keep in mind that some of the features Qualcomm referred to have already appeared on previous iPhones, but regardless, it's calling "first!" on practically everything.
"Qualcomm Technologies has enabled some notable world firsts on Android, and some remain Android exclusives to this day," the post reads. It was also kind enough to provide a column-style chart: On the left is a list of innovations such as augmented reality or water-resistant touchscreens, while on the right is a list of devices that debuted such features.
Apple vs Qualcomm
Apple and Qualcomm are both embroiled in a chaotic legal battle. So this sudden display of admiration for Android just a day before the much-anticipated iPhone 8 reveal seem intentional. That said, Qualcomm never outright mentions Apple, but the whole thing still seems kind of suspicious.
As The Verge notes, the whole list seems like a quick and sloppy Google search at best, but the point Qualcomm tries to make is quite clear. It seems to be saying that whatever Apple unveils on Sept. 12, it won't have anything that hasn't been on an Android phone before.
Though a somewhat petty jab, Qualcomm does have a point. Being the first does entail quite a bit of pride and honor. However, the smartphone landscape is rarely about who's first — it's almost always who copied it and did something marvelous with it. As the saying goes, "it's not where you take things from — it's where you take them to."
Perhaps Qualcomm can make another post about that.
Thrilled for the iPhone 8 reveal? Here's how to watch the Apple event live.
