Twenty features you didn't know Android and iOS stole from each other

Apple and Google's operating systems: A history of borrowed features

Steve Jobs famously admitted to borrowing good ideas, and with iOS 14's release, the conversation around Apple adopting features from Google's Android has reignited. However, the exchange of ideas flows both ways; Android and iOS have significantly influenced each other over time, resulting in remarkably similar operating systems. While pinpointing the precise origin of every feature is challenging (some appeared on iPads or in customized Android versions before the standard releases), here are some notable examples:

1. Home Screen Widgets: Android pioneered widgets, offering customizable home screens beyond the standard app grid. iOS, after initially featuring widgets in the Today view, finally adopted them for the home screen with iOS 14.

2. Gesture Navigation: The iPhone X's gesture-based navigation (swipe up to go home, etc.) inspired a similar system in Android 9 and 10.

3. App Drawer: Android's app drawer, allowing for organized app storage separate from the home screen, is now mirrored in iOS 14's "App Library."

4. Notification Badges: iOS introduced notification badges on app icons. Android later incorporated this feature in Android 8.

5. Swipe to Type: Android users enjoyed swipe-to-type keyboards for years before iOS 13 integrated this feature.

6. Granular Privacy Controls: Apple's detailed app permission controls, allowing users to restrict data access, were later replicated in Android 10.

7. Back Button: Android's system-wide back button eventually inspired Apple to add a similar feature to iOS 9.

8. Blue Light Filter (Night Mode): Apple's Night Shift (iOS 9.3) predated Android's Night Mode (Android 8.0 Oreo).

9. Picture-in-Picture Mode: iOS 14 introduced picture-in-picture, a feature present in Android since 2017.

10. Do Not Disturb Mode: Apple's Do Not Disturb (iOS 6) was later adopted by Android (Android 5.0 Lollipop).

11. Over-the-Air Updates: While a significant advancement for its time (iOS 5), Apple's over-the-air updates were already established in Android.

12. Digital Assistants: Apple's Siri (iPhone 4S) preceded Google Now (Android 4.1 Jelly Bean), which evolved into the Google Assistant.

13. Notification Drawer: iOS 5's notification drawer, a more user-friendly approach than earlier pop-up notifications, followed Android's established design.

14. Screenshot Annotations: iOS 11's screenshot annotation tools were later mirrored in Android 9.0 Pie.

15. Native Mapping App: Apple Maps (iOS 6) emerged years after Google Maps was the default on iPhones, and continues to catch up in features.

16. Selfie Camera: The iPhone 4 (2010) had the first front-facing camera, shortly before Android 2.3 Gingerbread officially supported them.

17. Set Default Apps: iOS 14 will allow users to set default apps for email and web browsing, a long-standing feature in Android.

18. Screen Recording: While a long-standing feature on iOS, Android is reportedly preparing this functionality for Android 11.

19. Low Power Mode: iOS 9 introduced low power mode, a feature already available in Android.

20. Emergency Contact Information: Apple first introduced emergency contact access from the lock screen, later added to Android Nougat (7.0).

This list showcases the continuous exchange of ideas between Apple and Google, highlighting how competition and innovation often lead to improved user experiences across platforms.

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