Skip to main content

Samsung mocks Apple devotees (again) in possibly its oddest smartphone ad yet

Samsung Ad
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Samsung has rolled out a few ads mocking Apple devotees in the last couple of years as it seeks to boost sales of its Galaxy handsets, but the one it released in Iceland recently will for many viewers be quite possibly the oddest yet.

Trumpeting the Galaxy S4’s support for the Icelandic language, the 56-second ad kicks off with a man in the middle of nowhere (ie. somewhere outside Reykjavik) sitting on a rock holding an apple. Judging by the way he’s tapping and swiping on the fruit, this confused-looking fella has been tricked into thinking it’s a handset – Apple’s handset, one assumes. Things go from bad to worse for the hapless protagonist when he tries to make a call on it.

Disappointed that it doesn’t appear to be functioning in the way he thinks it should, the guy gives a look of despair before throwing his head in his hands.

A message then shows up, which, according to Google Translate, means “Get a phone that understands you”. You might think you know what’s coming next, but the reality is, there’s no one on the entire planet who could possibly guess what’s coming next. Suffice to say, it involves more apples, some dancing ninjas and a bemused-looking ram (I know, I wasn’t even aware rams could look bemused until I saw this). A Galaxy S4 also appears.

The tagline is “Galaxy S4 understands Icelandic”, a language that would leave an iPhone feeling as confused as you after watching this ad. Specifically, the iPhone has no language or dictionary support (for predictive text and auto correct) for Icelandic, though it does have keyboard support.

Translated, the blurb that accompanies the video (below) on YouTube says, “[The S4] can control various functions and also allows you to write emails and text messages by speaking to the phone in Icelandic. Get a phone that understands you.”

Launched at the end of April, Samsung’s flagship handset has reportedly been selling well, crossing the 10-million mark in less than a month. However, whether the Korean tech company’s latest ad for the device results in a spike in sales in Iceland remains to be seen.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: Which one is best?
Renders of the Galaxy S24 Ultra next to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Digital Trends

Samsung has released its flagship 2024 smartphone lineup in a surprisingly early Galaxy Unpacked event. While the usual assortment of rumors left us with few doubts about what was coming in the Galaxy S24 lineup overall, the premium Galaxy S24 Ultra is still the most exciting update as it packs in some fascinating changes from last year’s model.

Read more
The OnePlus 12 has one big advantage over Samsung and Apple
Gray Samsung Galaxy S24 (left), Rose Gold Google Pixel 8, Flowy Emerald OnePlus 12, Green iPhone 15, Titanium Gray iPhone 15 Pro on a pink and red heart blanket.

Samsung Galaxy S24 (left), Google Pixel 8, OnePlus 12, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Pro. Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

When you look at smartphones these days, the selection has grown a bit … stale, to say the least. You’ll see phones from top brands like Samsung, Apple, and even Google, but most options look the same — they’re glass slabs.

Read more
How to connect your iPhone or iPad to a Samsung TV
A beach scene on a Samsung S95C OLED TV.

Casting content from the tiny screen of your smartphone to a big, beautiful TV makes for a much better experience for viewing photos and watching videos. You can mirror whatever is on the screen of your handheld device. With Apple's AirPlay system, casting audio and video from your iOS device couldn't be more streamlined — especially for Apple ecosystem devotees. But did you know that you can also use AirPlay 2 with an assortment of compatible smart TVs?

Read more