> Apple does not actually have a monopoly
This is like saying water is not an essential liquid, there is coca cola and pepsi.
This is like saying water is not an essential liquid, there is coca cola and pepsi.
More likely, I think you thought the comparison sounded catchy, despite the fact that it has nothing to do with the situation.
A smartphone might be (big stretch)... of which there are plenty of choices.
This is like saying Dasani (Apple) is the absolutely ONLY water brand out there, when you can get Aquafina (Android) and get nearly the same product. Yes, Dasani is only bottled at certain places (exclusive features like iMessage, FaceTime), but Aquafina has minerality (rooting your phone, deep integration with Google services) as well that make it unique.