Observed Signal · Sep 11, 2026 · Product Launch · Source: Horizont · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Samsung Mocks Apple's First Foldable iPhone with New Ad
Following Apple's unveiling of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, Samsung launched a multi-pronged marketing campaign to mock its rival. This includes a video titled 'Welcome to Foldables' and billboards in Seoul, Tokyo, and London with similar messages. Additionally, Samsung New Zealand created a social campaign featuring a local man named Tim Cook to promote the Galaxy Z Fold8, mimicking Apple's presentation style. The campaign, credited to Madison Hill and Cheil New Zealand, reinforces Samsung's leadership in foldable technology. With Counterpoint Research predicting Samsung will hold 38% market share in 2026 versus Apple's 25%, Samsung's aggressive strategy positions itself as the pioneer, continuing a history of targeting Apple's marketing.
News about Samsung's marketing jab at Apple's new product; not directly impacting AdTech industry operations or technologies.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Apple introduced its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, on September 9, with a starting price of $1,999.
- Samsung launched a marketing campaign titled 'Welcome to Foldables' including a video and billboards in Seoul, Tokyo, and London.
- Samsung New Zealand created a social campaign using a local man named Tim Cook to promote the Galaxy Z Fold8.
- Counterpoint Research expects Samsung to hold 38% foldable market share in 2026, with Apple at 25%.
- The campaign was credited to Madison Hill and Cheil New Zealand, and the article was published on September 11, 2026, by Marco Saal.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone.”
“Samsung released an advertising film to mock Apple's first foldable iPhone.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Xiaomi and Huawei Challenge Apple with Foldable Smartphones
Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi and Huawei have launched new high-end foldable devices—the Xiaomi 18 Fold and the third-generation Huawei Mate XT2—ahead of Apple's anticipated first foldable iPhone. Both devices, priced above $1,500, aim to boost profit margins amid rising memory chip costs and feature in-house innovations: Xiaomi's XRing O3 processor and Huawei's LogicFolding technique. Analysts from Counterpoint Research and IDC view these launches as strategic moves to capture demand before Apple enters the market. Apple could ship 6 million foldable iPhones this year, capturing 25% of the global market in 2026 and 40% by 2027. Currently, Samsung leads the global foldable market, while Huawei dominates China with a 68% share.
Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, AI features
At its September 9, 2026 'Surprise and Shine' event, Apple entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, priced at $1,999 (€2,299), featuring a 5.4-inch external display expanding to 7.6 inches. The device introduces adaptive app layouts and is available for pre-order starting October 16, with retail availability on October 23. The event also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (with a $100 price increase), Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, AirPods 5, the A20 Pro chip (first 2nm processor, 40% faster GPU), and the C2 modem to reduce Qualcomm reliance. New CEO John Ternus showcased AI features, including upgraded Siri (working with 300,000 apps) and Audio Intelligence, as well as Monster Hunter Outlanders running at 120fps. Aimed at expanding the foldable market, the launch faced competition but analysts expect momentum.
Apple Launches First Foldable iPhone Duo with 7.6-inch Display
Apple unveiled its first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, at its 'Surprise and Shine' event in Cupertino. The device features a 7.6-inch inner Retina display and a 5.4-inch outer display, with a custom nanotexture finish to hide the crease. It uses a hinge made of grade 5 aluminum with over 100 components. The iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro chip and C2 modem, and is eSIM-only. It has a dual 48-megapixel camera system with under-display front camera and a smart-take feature. The device runs iOS 27 with multitasking features and supports Apple Pencil later this year. Priced at $1,999 with 256GB storage, preorders start October 16, and availability on October 23. Analysts predict it could gain up to 25% market share in the foldable segment by year-end.
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