Samsung tries turning iPhone users into Android adopters with Galaxy test drive web app

[nanoguy]

In brief: Samsung's Galaxy S21 lineup may be selling better than the previous generation, but the company is also interested in converting some of Apple's less religious devotees to "the other side." To that end, the company has launched a web app that simulates the Galaxy experience on an iPhone and allows users to learn more about its features.

Samsung's Galaxy S21 smartphones are said to be selling three times better than the previous lineup, primarily thanks to offering the same features at a lower price that's more palatable to consumers. When it's not trying to woo its biggest fans towards its exotic Galaxy foldable or experimenting with delivering phones by drone, the company also does its best to convince iPhone users they should switch to a Galaxy phone.

As spotted by MacRumors, Samsung built an interactive website that offers iPhone users "a little taste of Samsung, without changing phones." It provides the ability to "sample the other side" right from the comfort of a mobile browser. The iTest web app first prompts users to save it to the iPhone's Home Screen.

Once there, launching it will bring up a simulated Galaxy smartphone home screen with all the pre-installed apps you'd typically find on a Galaxy phone. The experience is a cleverly designed marketing scheme dressed in a One UI mockup. Opening things like the camera app will play a video with influencer Logan Dodds describing its interface and features. Tapping the Galaxy Store or other apps shows previews of phone features or Galaxy accessories.

While playing with the simulation, messages guide users on a Galaxy-features tour. The app also throws in a bit of humor if users start to go too far off track in thinking they are using an actual Android operating system. A notable example is trying to dig deeper into Settings and being greeted by the message, "We've simplified the settings menu experience, just so our developer could have a lunch break."

The marketing campaign targets New Zealand iPhone users, but anyone is welcome to try it. While it's doubtful Samsung will persuade many iPhone users to switch to a Samsung Galaxy phone, it is a clever attempt and possibly the company's most ambitious yet.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/89251-samsung-tries-turning-iphone-users-android-adopters-galaxy.html

 

[Watzupken]

Interesting way to allow people to try, but essentially utilising Apple's hardware. I am not sure if the experience is going to be similar if people really switches. UI of Samsung's Android skin aside, there are also quite a number of differences between iOS and Android.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

Well I was ready to jump ship and get an iPhone 11 pro max, but Samsung Australia just had the most insane deal on the S21 I got myself a new S21 256GB for over $900 off, a $1349 phone only cost me $424, or I could pay $1.8K for the iphone 12 pro.

 

[Watzupken]

Well I was ready to jump ship and get an iPhone 11 pro max, but Samsung Australia just had the most insane deal on the S21 I got myself a new S21 256GB for over $900 off, a $1349 phone only cost me $424, or I could pay $1.8K for the iphone 12 pro.

This is why Samsung is reporting higher sales than previous S20. I generally will not consider getting an Android phone at the start knowing that prices plunge few months after their release. So while the likes of Samsung are reporting higher sale, I am not sure if they are actually making more profit per unit sold though.

 

[Hexic]

This is why Samsung is reporting higher sales than previous S20. I generally will not consider getting an Android phone at the start knowing that prices plunge few months after their release. So while the likes of Samsung are reporting higher sale, I am not sure if they are actually making more profit per unit sold though.

Regardless of repeated functionality, meager hardware & software updates, and lack of innovation - Apple will always have the highest margins due to their fanbase wanting simplicity and basic functionality, while being petrified of switching to something newer and more complicated.

It's just the market.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Samsung ARE the kings of taking someone else's idea, refining it a bit and reselling it...

I still remember when the Motorola Razr came out... shortly after, a Samsung Blade... hmmmmm....

 

[VaRmeNsI]

Samsung ARE the kings of taking someone else's idea, refining it a bit and reselling it...

I still remember when then Motorola Razr came out... shortly after, a Samsung Blade... hmmmmm....

Take? I think you mean copy.

 

[Shadowboxer]

I’d need to be paid a significant amount to ditch iOS and use Android. It would be an enormous downgrade, Android is a festering heap of garbage.

 

[Adi6293]

Regardless of repeated functionality, meager hardware & software updates, and lack of innovation - Apple will always have the highest margins due to their fanbase wanting simplicity and basic functionality, while being petrified of switching to something newer and more complicated.

It's just the market.

The question is.... how is Android more complicated?

 

[Hexic]

The question is.... how is Android more complicated?

From the skin-level user experience perspective, it isn't anymore complicated to operate than an iPhone. From the technical perspective, it becomes more complicated when the iGuardRails aren't there anymore (side loading apps, apps with permissions Apple won't allow, significantly more system modification).

But the real kicker is, the -perception- that has been mirrored from the iCommunity of, "I just want something that works. Apple is simple, Android is not, so I'm staying with Apple." This of course is not true, but I wish anyone the best of luck convincing this to a teen to twenty-something or elder individual who either think they know it all, or are done with change.