Samsung & Duolingo Troll iPhone Duo Launch, Says Apple 'Copied Us'

Apple's introduction of the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, was overshadowed by a humorous exchange between Samsung and Duolingo on social media. The high price tag of the iPhone Duo and its foldable design were the main talking points during the official keynote on September 9. However, it was the online banter between Samsung and Duolingo that drew the most attention afterward.

Samsung mocked Apple's late entry into the foldable segment, posting sarcastic remarks on X about the company reusing its own technology. The comparison to Groundhog Day highlighted Apple's foldable debut as a case of playing catch-up rather than being truly innovative.

Duolingo, in turn, referenced Samsung and apologized for Apple copying its branding, referring to the iPhone Duo's name echoing Duolingo's green owl mascot, Duo. The back-and-forth continued with Duolingo joking that Apple had named a phone after it and made it bend over, drawing a comparison between the device and its own free app feature named Duo.

The exchange between Samsung and Duolingo dominated social media conversations about the iPhone Duo, overshadowing the device's own features such as its titanium build, 7.6-inch foldable display, and multitasking capabilities. The humorous marketing rivalry between Samsung and Duolingo overshadowed the actual hardware, leading to much of the post-launch conversation focusing on the brands' interactions rather than the iPhone Duo itself.

This strategic social media marketing has become a recurring pattern for Samsung, asserting its first-mover advantage in the foldable segment whenever Apple enters a category later.