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Samsung’s executive chairman, reportedly unhappy with the company’s latest products being seen as Apple rip-offs, has ordered a “management reassessment.”
If you have heard of or seen the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, you are probably also aware of the allegations many have lodged regarding its likeness to Apple’s high-end smartwatch. Similarities include the identical naming, similar watch band styles, and a pinch gesture, which has convinced many on the internet that Samsung has copied the toughest Apple Watch yet. These comparisons have reportedly left Samsung’s chairman fuming over design choices involved in making the company’s first rugged smartwatch.
Lee Jae-yong, the heir-apparent of the Samsung empire and the group’s current executive chairman of the company’s electronics business, was reportedly upset about the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s stark similarities with the Apple Watch Ultra. Besides the Galaxy Watch Ultra, similarities between Samsung’s latest earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 3 and the Buds 3 Pro, and quality issues, including flimsy earbuds, forced the chairman to intervene personally.
Korean news outlet Aju News reports the chairman has ordered a complete assessment of the top management of its mobile experience (MX) division and taken personal actions against some executives. This is despite the soaring revenue of Samsung’s mobile group on the back of AI functionality on the recent set of smartphones and ARM-powered laptops. Notably, Lee had previously expressed discomfort over the relatively “disappointing” Samsung Galaxy smartphones compared to the iPhone.
As per the insider who spoke to Aju News, chairman Lee’s reaction was expected. The sweeping criticism for ripping off Apple’s designs for the Watch Ultra and AirPods from users was echoed online and in internal media, which demanded original designs soon after Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in July 2024.
Samsung and Apple Fans Battle over the Origin of Concept
Samsung attempted some damage control by clarifying the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s orange band is not copied or inspired by the Apple Watch Ultra – despite the uncanny visual similarities. Instead, Samsung told SamMobile, the orange corresponds to a special shade of orange called “Safety Orange” as it is designed for high visibility that makes the watch easy to spot in the wilderness, primarily during rescue operations. Though this explanation could be too little, too late, especially as Samsung’s naming of the rubberized orange “Marine” band aligns closely with Apple’s similar looking “Ocean” band.
The announcement also initiated a battle between Apple and Samsung fans on forums such as Reddit, with one camp disappointed with Samsung’s latest design choices while the other defended it by saying Samsung started using the term “Ultra” or even made square-shaped smartwatches long before Apple.
