Samsung uses New Zealand Tim Cook to mock Apple in Galaxy Z Fold 8 ad

Samsung New Zealand has released a humorous advertisement for its Galaxy Z Fold 8 smartphone, featuring a real estate agent named Tim Cook from Palmerston North, New Zealand. The ad, published on social media on September 11, 2026, was timed to coincide with Apple's September 9 product launch event where the company unveiled its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. The advertisement mimics the cinematic, hyperbolic style of Apple's own product launch videos. The man in the ad, who shares a name with Apple's former CEO and bears a passing resemblance to him, delivers lines such as "the future is here" and "with this phone everything changes." He concludes by saying, "This thing is the best of both worlds. Best phone I've ever had. You can quote me. Tim Cook from Palmerston North." The campaign also includes a pointed reference to the real Tim Cook's recently updated profile picture, adding another layer to the jab at Apple. The ad's opening caption reads, "Tim Cook has an announcement. And for once, it's about Galaxy." The timing of the ad is directly linked to Apple's recent product announcements.