You make a good point, but at the same time, things are a bit stale if you look outside the Apple and Samsung bubbles.
For example, a Vivo X300 Ultra or Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Much better cameras, larger batteries, 90-100W charging, etc.
I think you're looking far too narrowly at technology if you view it only through the lens of a smartphone.
Those examples are still iterative.
OP is alluding to the fact that Apple hasn't created industry changing categories like the iPhone.