[hbn]

They've definitely changed the overall look, but a good amount of their apps are pretty much identical in how you use them from the original iPhone in 2007. Notes, Messages, Contacts, etc are all relatively unchanged, except for additional features. The biggest overhaul was probably the recent change to Safari where they brought the address bar to the bottom, which was a consideration based on how big phones have gotten, and allows you to reach things easier.

And at the very least, these changes come from normal app updates either from the App Store or OS updates. And it's usually a pretty big deal when they change something, and gets a formal announcement months in advance where someone high up gets up in front of the world and pitches why the change is an improvement (not to say it always is). Whereas Google just randomly shunts out new UI updates on a regular basis and enables them for random people. Usually someone posting about their new UI on reddit is the first place you'll hear about the redesigns.

[bjelkeman-again]

At least with Safari address bar, I found a setting to move it back to the top.

[WorldMaker]

I appreciated when iOS Firefox added a setting to move it down to the bottom. As an old WinPhone user, I missed having that key navigation tool at the bottom. It really does make one-handed phone usage easier.