UK Judge Rules Samsung Tablets 'Not as Cool' as iPad - MacRumors
Skip to Content

UK Judge Rules Samsung Tablets 'Not as Cool' as iPad

With the avalanche of patent lawsuits involving Apple, we try to restrict our coverage to the most significant developments such as issued injunctions, final settlements, and monetary awards.

But while a UK judge's ruling today that Samsung's Galaxy Tab products do not infringe upon Apple's iPad design merely maintains the status quo from a competitive perspective in one of the many ongoing cases between the two companies, what is sure to spark discussion is the judge's assessment that the Galaxy tablets are simply "not as cool" as the iPad. Bloomberg reports:

The Galaxy tablet doesn’t infringe Apple’s registered design, Judge Colin Birss said in a ruling today in London. He said that consumers weren’t likely to get the two tablet computers mixed up.

The Galaxy tablets “do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design,” Birss said. “They are not as cool.”

galaxy tab 10 1 revised
More specifically, Birss ruled that the Galaxy tablets' thinner profiles and "unusual details" on the back of the devices made them different enough from the iPad that they were not too similar to Apple's design.

Apple has 21 days in which to appeal the ruling.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tag: Samsung
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

galaxy fold 7 orange

Samsung's U.S. Price Increases Add to Concerns About Rising Apple Device Costs

Tuesday April 14, 2026 2:47 pm PDT by
Samsung raised the prices of several of its smartphones and tablets in the United States overnight, likely due to increasing costs caused by ongoing memory shortages. As shared by PhoneArena, the 512GB Galaxy Z Flip increased by $80 from $1,219.99 to $1,299.99, while the S25 Edge and S25 FE went up $80 and $40, respectively. Samsung did not increase the cost of its current-generation S26...
tsmc semiconductor chip inspection 678x452

Apple Eyes Intel and Samsung as Backup US Chipmakers

Tuesday May 5, 2026 2:32 am PDT by
Apple has held "exploratory" talks with Intel and Samsung about manufacturing the main processors for its devices in the United States, reports Bloomberg ($). Apple is said to have had early-stage talks with Intel about using its chipmaking services, while Apple executives have reportedly visited a Samsung plant under construction in Texas that will also make advanced chips. The talks are ...
iPhone 18 Pro with a smaller centered Dynamic Island

iPhone 18 Pro's LTPO+ Display Upgrade to Come From Samsung, LG

Wednesday May 6, 2026 5:38 am PDT by
Apple is expected to finalize OLED panel approvals for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max this month, with Samsung Display and LG Display likely to dominate panel supply, reports The Elec. This year, China's BOE has reportedly been closed out of the premium tier supply chain, despite having landed some panel orders for the iPhone 17 Pro models. The setback is said to be down to quality and...

Top Rated Comments

181 months ago
"Apple has 21 days in which to appeal the ruling."

Now if Apple wants to appeal the ruling, they'll have to argue that the Samsung tablet is "as cool" as the iPad.
Score: 103 Votes (Like | Disagree)
181 months ago
Hahahaha... even when you win you lose Samsung.
Score: 74 Votes (Like | Disagree)
caligomez Avatar
181 months ago
LOL.. It's official! Samsung tablets not as cool as iPad.. Now there's precedent!
Score: 62 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dokujaryu Avatar
181 months ago
Classic.

I wish all patent cases were ruled on coolness factor.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kalsta Avatar
181 months ago
The comment is silly and ultimately meaningless. But I am sure it will be quoted infinitely here to the point of tedium.

Can anyone lend this man a sense of humour?
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
181 months ago
Wonder who's more gutted? Lol
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)