Samsung’s Jay Y Lee Calls Out iPhones in the Crowd — in the Middle of South Korea!
This week, the titans of tech collided in South Korea. Samsung’s Executive Chairman, Jay Y. Lee, made a splash at NVIDIA’s GeForce Gamer Festival, signaling a powerful partnership brewing between the two tech giants.
During the event, a surprising quip cut through the usual executive polish. Lee, glancing around at the sea of glowing Apple logos, chuckled, "Good grief, is this an iPhone convention?" The offhand remark, delivered with a playful smirk, hung in the air – a fleeting glimpse behind the corporate curtain. It was a refreshingly candid moment.
The tech world collectively raised an eyebrow earlier this week. OPPO, at the global launch of its Find X9 Series, pulled a bold move straight from left field. Instead of the usual tiptoeing around the competition, they went in swinging. Presenting side-by-side comparisons against unnamed, but instantly recognizable, "Competitor Ultra" and "Competitor Pro Max," OPPO effectively called out its rivals without ever uttering their names. It was a calculated gamble, a verbal joust that left everyone wondering: Was it a stroke of genius, or a marketing misstep?
Lee would have been electric, feeding off the energy of a Galaxy-filled crowd in Seoul – Samsung’s kingdom, where their phones reign supreme.
Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong (live): “Why are there so many iPhones here?” pic.twitter.com/Cu4H2xh5ol
Jukan (@Jukanlosreve) October 30, 2025
Samsung and Apple are in tough competition around the world
The smartphone world is a heavyweight title fight, with Samsung and Apple constantly trading blows for the top spot. While the crown bounced between them throughout 2024, Q2 2025 saw Samsung land a solid punch, capturing 20% of the global market, while Apple trailed slightly at 17%. But don’t count Apple out! The upcoming iPhone release is a game-changer. Remember Q4 2024? Apple dominated with 23%, leaving Samsung at 16%. Get ready for the next round; the iPhone could easily reclaim the lead.
So seeing that many iPhones, even in South Korea is really not that much of a surprise.
