After the Samsung explosion, Apple's biggest problem is that it has no god-like opponent

According to technology website CNET, winners are not always worthy of the title, and there are many reasons why they become winners.

With Apple once again named the world's most admired company, I'm intrigued by the lack of "contribution" from competitors to that honor.

There was a time when people thought Microsoft would be able to outperform Apple. It had the potential to dominate the industry if it weren't for its software. When Microsoft first saw the iPhone, it laughed at it, but unfortunately it didn't have the last laugh.

What about Google? It firmly believed that Android could satisfy everyone's needs and that it could convince other companies to develop excellent hardware. Unfortunately, the reality was not as perfect as Google imagined. The software update speed was slow, and mobile phone manufacturers around the world could not keep pace. For this reason, Google once again got involved in the field of mobile phone hardware.

Samsung's strategy seems very wise. Some people may think that Galaxy S7 Edge is a far better smartphone than iPhone 7. But it is a pity that every time Samsung tries to challenge Apple, there will always be problems. Now, Samsung's top priority is to restore its reputation damaged by the Note 7 explosion.

How many times have we heard about the failure of the so-called iPhone killer? How many times has Apple been accused of relying on marketing and lacking innovation? Now, it is once again the world's number one brand. The truth is, no other company can match Apple's comprehensive strength in design taste, software ecosystem and customer service.

This has been going on for a long time. The latest signs of Apple’s complacency — the lackluster iPhone 7, the confusion over ports, and the lack of innovation in the new MacBook Pro — can all be attributed to Apple not seeing a major threat.

Competition makes a company better. For a company, not having a competitor is a big problem, and there is no sense of urgency. Apple allows it to "slide" in certain areas and pursue commercial dominance.

Even if Apple's recent products have often been dull or misguided, other competitors haven't released products that pose a threat to it. The closest competitor to Apple may be Microsoft with the release of the Surface Studio.

Competitors always "allow" Apple to define a category of products. A tablet is not a tablet, it's an iPad. A smartwatch is an Apple Watch - called an iWatch by many. Have you ever seen many people showing off their Samsung Galaxy Gear?

Of course, Apple faces stiff competition in some areas of its business. For example, in the field of voice assistants, Siri is currently no match for similar products from Google or Amazon. Apple also seems to be quite uneasy about PCs, saying that the iPad Pro is better than PCs.

Apple enjoys high loyalty among its customers, who are more tolerant and patient with it.

In the areas that matter most to Apple and its customers—beauty, taste, simplicity, and design—its competitors lag far behind, if not completely rival.

Challenging Apple is not impossible. Tesla is a brand that combines design and technology and is recognized by consumers. Tesla is not an electric car company, it produces cars that people like, but its models just happen to use electric power.

Apple needs rivals more than ever. When Apple feels threatened, it panics. Remember Phil Schiller's frantic, angry emails when consumers and the media were excited about Samsung phones?

Given Apple's complacency and lack of motivation to produce great products, now is the perfect time to challenge Apple.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.