Samsung has decided to lean into a bit of corporate mischief following the debut of Apple’s highly anticipated foldable device, the iPhone Duo. Just one day after Apple unveiled its new hardware, Samsung released a cheekily crafted advertisement featuring a man who looks and sounds remarkably like the former Apple chief. However, viewers quickly realized that this was not the tech titan they expected, but rather a resident of Palmerston North, New Zealand, who happens to share the name Tim Cook.
Dressed in attire and glasses reminiscent of his famous counterpart, the New Zealander spends the short clip praising the Galaxy Z Fold 8. He mimics the polished, hyperbolic tone often found in Apple keynotes, claiming the device is the best of both worlds and urging viewers to quote him directly as Tim Cook from Palmy. The stunt serves as a playful jab at Apple just as the company attempts to enter a market that Samsung has dominated since launching its first foldable back in 2019.
The timing of the campaign is strategic, coming right as analysts predict that Apple’s entry will accelerate general consumer adoption of foldables. Currently, these devices make up only about two percent of the global smartphone market according to Counterpoint Research. While Apple CEO John Ternus described the iPhone Duo as the most transformational change to the lineup since the original phone, Samsung seems confident that its head start in refining folding screens gives it a competitive edge.
Despite the rivalry and the clever marketing wars, both companies face a significant hurdle regarding accessibility. With price tags hovering around 2,000 dollars for these premium devices, experts suggest that high costs may limit their appeal regardless of whose version wins over critics. For now, however, Samsung appears content to let a random citizen from New Zealand handle their public relations offensive against Cupertino.
