[Edaily Reporter kim mi-kyung ] SamsungElectronics(005930)wittily took a jab at Apple’s launch of its first foldable phone by featuring a New Zealander who shares the same name as Apple CEO Tim Cook.

On the 11th (local time), the official Samsung Mobile New Zealand Instagram account posted a photo of a Namsung holding the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with the caption, “Big news! Tim Cook has switched to a Galaxy phone.” It continued, “Yes, that’s the Tim Cook. The Tim Cook from Palmerston North,” and added, “Which Tim Cook did you have in mind?”

The person in the photo is not Apple CEO Tim Cook, but an ordinary citizen named Tim Cook who lives in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The account captured attention by using the CEO’s name—familiar to Apple users—to create a twist. In a second post, they wrote, “Tim Cook from Palmerston North introduces the Galaxy Z Fold 8,” along with the hashtag “#SwitchToGalaxy.”

This promotional campaign is seen as an extension of the online battle SamsungElectronics has been waging immediately after Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the “iPhone Duo.” Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the “iPhone Duo,” at a new product launch event held on the 9th (local time) at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. This marks the first foldable iPhone introduced in 19 years since the launch of the original iPhone in 2007.

SamsungElectronics entered the foldable phone market ahead of Apple. Since launching the first Galaxy Fold in 2019, it has expanded its foldable phone lineup by introducing the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series. This past July, the company unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8. Last December, it expanded its form factors by introducing the “Galaxy Z Tri-Fold,” which folds twice to create three panels.

In response, SamsungElectronics set out to gain the upper hand. Through Samsung Mobile USA’s official X account, the company fired a jab, saying, “So far, so same,” and “You’re making us wait? Fine. We’ll be here folding it three times,” in a jab at the competition. Even after Apple unveiled its iPhone duo, Samsung posted, “Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers,” indirectly criticizing Apple’s foldable phones for following in the footsteps of technology Samsung had already pioneered.