Samsung trolls Apple with 'Tim Cook switched to Galaxy' post — with a twist

Samsung Electronics has been drawing attention online for a witty jab at Apple following the iPhone maker's unveiling of its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo.

Samsung Mobile New Zealand's official Instagram account posted a photo Friday (local time) with the caption: "Tim Cook just switched to a Galaxy phone."

The photo shows a man named Tim Cook sitting in a chair holding a Galaxy Z Fold 8 — but he is an ordinary resident of Palmerston North, New Zealand, not the Apple CEO.

The post played on the fact that the man shares his name with Apple's chief executive, turning the coincidence into a tongue-in-cheek marketing stunt.

Samsung Electronics' New Zealand operation captioned the post: "Big news: Tim Cook has switched to Galaxy."

It then added: "Yes. THE Tim Cook. Tim Cook from Palmerston North" — before cheekily asking, "Why? Which Tim Cook did you think we meant?"

Samsung Mobile has kept up a steady stream of social media barbs aimed at Apple since the iPhone Duo's debut.

Shortly after Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, Samsung Mobile's official US account on X posted: "Let us know when you're done reheating our leftovers."

When Apple's foldable announcement was pushed back in the event's running order, Samsung fired off another post: "Making us wait? Fine. We'll just be over here folding in three."

The volleys drew reactions from users abroad, with one comment going viral: "The best thing about Friday's Apple event wasn't the iPhone Duo — it was Samsung absolutely losing it on Twitter."

Meanwhile, Apple CEO John Ternus unveiled the iPhone Duo on Wednesday (local time) at Apple Park, the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California. The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone in the 19 years since the company launched the original iPhone in 2007.