--- title: "Samsung Responds to the Foldable iPhone: a 'Lookalike' of Tim Cook Stars in Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ad" description: "Samsung's New Zealand division featured a person named Tim Cook in a Galaxy Z Fold 8 ad in response to the launch of the foldable iPhone Duo. Sources disagree: some claim it is an ordinary citizen, others — Apple's CEO himself." date: 2026-09-13T07:08:18.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-ad-tim-cook-lookalike-iphone-duo tags: [samsung, galaxy-z-fold-8, apple, iphone-duo, tim-cook, foldable-smartphones, marketing] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Samsung Responds to the Foldable iPhone: a 'Lookalike' of Tim Cook Stars in Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ad ![Tim Cook lookalike holding a foldable Galaxy Z Fold 8 in a parody Samsung ad against a Tim Cook text backdrop](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/13/samsung-reklama-galaxy-z-fold-8-tim-cook-iphone-duo/samsung-reklama-galaxy-z-fold-8-tim-cook-iphone-duo-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Samsung's New Zealand division released a Galaxy Z Fold 8 ad featuring a person named Tim Cook in response to the launch of the iPhone Duo - The Galaxy Z Fold 8 (201 g, 7.6-inch internal display) is positioned as Samsung's lightest foldable smartphone - The iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams, which is 53 g more than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 - Sources contradict each other: some claim an ordinary citizen appeared in the video, others — Tim Cook himself Samsung's New Zealand division took a bold marketing step in response to the market debut of Apple's first foldable smartphone — the iPhone Duo. In a promotional video for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the company featured a person named Tim Cook; however, according to the primary sources, this is not the head of Apple, but an ordinary citizen who happens to share the same name. The video opens with an intriguing line: "Tim Cook has an announcement, and for the first time he's talking about Galaxy," after which the new foldable smartphone is introduced to the protagonist. This move instantly captured the audience's attention and sparked a wave of discussion on social media. ### The Marketing Battle for the Foldable Device Segment Competition in the foldable smartphone niche has intensified since Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo — its first foldable gadget, which hit the market in 2026. Samsung, which has dominated this segment for years, decided not merely to compete on technical specifications but also to play on an emotional level. The ad is aimed not only at showcasing the capabilities of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 but also at an indirect comparison of the two brands' experiences: Samsung has been releasing foldable devices for several generations, while Apple is only taking its first step in this direction. ### Galaxy Z Fold 8: Technical Specifications The Galaxy Z Fold 8, which went on sale in July 2026, is positioned by Samsung as the lightest member of the Fold family. The device features a 5.5-inch external display and a 7.6-inch internal folding screen, weighing just 201 grams in total. By comparison, the iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams, giving Samsung a notable advantage in the portability category. It is precisely these parameters — weight, display size, and years of experience in the segment — that the company places at the center of its marketing message. ### Contradictory Data There is a significant discrepancy between sources over who exactly appeared in the promotional video. The main text and the zamin.uz publication (12.09.2026) state unequivocally that on camera is an "ordinary citizen with the same first and last name," not Apple's CEO. However, the 3dnews.ru outlet claims in its headline: "Samsung hired the real Tim Cook for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 ad." The Ukrainian resource ukrmedia.news, for its part, uses the phrasing "Tim Cook switched to Galaxy," without clarifying whether this is the actual Apple CEO or his lookalike. Thus, the version that Tim Cook (Timothy Donald Cook) himself appeared in the video and the version that it was a private individual with the same name remain in open contradiction, and no final confirmation from Samsung or Apple itself has been obtained as of the time of publication. ### Audience Reaction and Market Significance Regardless of who exactly ended up on camera, the marketing impact of the video was substantial. The video quickly gained reach on social media, and hashtags related to "Tim Cook on Galaxy" became the subject of widespread discussion. For Samsung, such a campaign is a classic example of so-called "troll marketing," in which a brand earns free media coverage through provocation. For Apple, the situation is more complex: the launch of the iPhone Duo followed immediately by a competitor's ironic ad creates a dual information backdrop in which the foldable iPhone risks being perceived not as a breakthrough but as a belated move. Experts note that in 2026 the battle for the foldable segment has shifted from a purely technical plane to one of narrative and brand, and Samsung, it seems, has chosen a more aggressive strategy in this round. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Samsung used a different Tim Cook in its new ad – Zamin.uz, 12.09.2026](https://zamin.uz/ru/tekhnologii/220995-samsung-ispolzovala-drugogo-tim-cook-v-novoy-reklame.html) - Подтверждает факт рекламы и утверждает, что в ролике — другой человек с тем же именем, не глава Apple. Дата публикации 12.09.2026. - [Samsung brought in Tim Cook for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 ad after the iPhone Duo launch](https://mobidevices.com/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-tim-cook-ad) - Подтверждает связь рекламы с выходом iPhone Duo и факт использования имени Tim Cook в ролике. - [Samsung hired the real Tim Cook for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 ad](https://3dnews.ru/1148348/samsung-nanyala-nastoyashchego-tima-kuka-dlya-reklami-galaxy-z-fold8) - Заголовок утверждает, что снялся именно Тим Кук (CEO Apple), что противоречит версии zamin.uz и основного текста об "обычном гражданине". - ["Tim Cook switched to Galaxy": Samsung cleverly trolled Apple](https://ukrmedia.news/science-tech/samsung-tim-cook-galaxy-z-fold-8-apple/) - Подтверждает факт рекламы и маркетинговый контекст, но не уточняет, кто именно в кадре. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who exactly appeared in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 ad? **A:** Sources disagree. Zamin.uz and the main text claim it is an ordinary citizen named Tim Cook, not Apple's CEO. 3dnews.ru, on the contrary, states that Samsung hired the "real Tim Cook." No official confirmation from Samsung or Apple had been received as of the time of publication. ### Q: What are the specifications of the Galaxy Z Fold 8? **A:** The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a 5.5-inch external display and a 7.6-inch internal folding screen. The device weighs 201 grams, making it the lightest in the Fold lineup according to Samsung. ### Q: How does the Galaxy Z Fold 8 differ from the iPhone Duo in weight? **A:** The Galaxy Z Fold 8 weighs 201 grams, while the iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams. The difference is 53 grams in Samsung's favor. ### Q: When did the Galaxy Z Fold 8 go on sale? **A:** According to the provided data, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 went on sale in July 2026.