Samsung can't catch a break when it comes to Apple. Now, in the midst of various patent battles, Apple has won a fight over who who has the thinnest smartphone.
The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on Wednesday found that Apple's claims of having the world's thinnest smartphone with its iPhone 4 is indeed accurate. Samsung had challenged that assertion, pointing to its Samsung Galaxy S II.
The problem, according to the ASA, is that while the Galaxy S II is indeed thinner in certain sections, the iPhone 4 is still the thinnest overall.
"The Galaxy S II had peaks and valleys to its design; the thickness ranged from 8.71mm to 9.91mm," ASA said. The iPhone 4, meanwhile, has a uniform depth of 9.3mm. Apple argued that "consumers would not be interested in the thinnest part of the device, but in its overall measurements, as these would, for example, affect whether the device could fit into a pocket or a purse," ASA said.
The organization agreed with Apple, and ruled that "Apple's methodology for making the thinnest claim was reasonable."
"Because the iPhone4's thickest point was thinner than the thickest point of the Samsung Galaxy S II we concluded that the claim 'the world's thinnest smartphone' was not misleading," ASA found.
Apple and Samsung, of course, are embroiled in a far-reaching patent battle that spans multiple states, countries, and continents. It began in April, when Apple sued Samsung for copying the look and feel of its iPhone and iPad in its flagship Galaxy S line of devices; a suit that was later expanded to include 13 more products, including the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Nexus S 4G, and the Droid Charge.
Most recently, Apple countersued Samsung in a U.K. court. For more, see Every Place Samsung and Apple Are Suing Each Other.
Also check out PCMag's review of the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch (Sprint) and the slideshow below.