Samsung Galaxy Gear ad looks awfully familiar

By Joseph Keller
last updated

When you watch Samsung's first ad for its new Galaxy Gear smartwatch, it might look a little familiar. Samsung has spliced together clips of characters from several movies and TV shows, including Dick Tracy, Knight Rider, and the Power Rangers, using communication devices worn on their wrists. This is very similar to Apple's "Hello" advertisement for the iPhone back in 2007:

So what do you think? Is this a tasteful tip of the hat, or a shameless ripoff? Let us know below in the comments.

Source: Samsung USA YouTube page

Joseph Keller
Joseph Keller

Joseph Keller is the former Editor in Chief of iMore. An Apple user for almost 20 years, he spends his time learning the ins and outs of iOS and macOS, always finding ways of getting the most out of his iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.

27 Comments
  • I won't be interested in any smart watch until it's a standalone device, not just a 2nd screen or remote control for a pad or smart phone. And even then I won't get one, because I already have an iPad and iPhone. And I already have a pretty nice watch. My "interest" will be from a technical and marketing standpoint only.
  • If it doesn't connect to your phone though, it isn't a smartwatch. It's either a watch or a phone. The latter of which will require a cellular plan, so isn't the middle ground we're seeing at the moment perhaps a decent enough idea?
  • I imagine even a standalone would have connectivity options to your other devices.
  • I *HATE* to defend Samsung, but the ads really aren't *that* similar. Moreover, the original Apple ad wasn't exactly all that "original" to begin with. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH5HTPjPvyE&feature=youtu.be&t=1m57s
  • Yep. I read about that earlier too. So to answer the article, it is a shameless rip of a shameless rip.
  • Actually Samsung's is NOT a shameless ripoff of Apple's shameless ripoff. The commercials above have nothing to do with each other except for splicing together scenes from various media. Samsung is showing that we have reached the future that the past has dreamed of for so long. Apple was just saying they make phones now... or something.
  • Yeah, they're different but both follow the style from Telephones.
  • Same basic idea applied to two different products. Not that I have any evidence, but similar advertising campaigns probably occurred when colour TV launched
  • I think it's a shameless rip. Sent from the iMore App
  • In all seriousness, the only reason I want a smart watch is so I can pretend to be a Power Ranger. Clearly Samsung knows who it is marketing too. That said, I would only buy an Apple developed "watch" because I live in their Eco system.
    I don't mind if it's only a peripheral to other Apple devices. I'd love for it to be a notification centre with voice activated actionable responses, or a hands free devices for talking on the phone, or to show turn by turn maps. Better than walking around with my phone or tablet in front of me and a lot harder to snatch and run away with. Sent from the iMore App
  • Not a ripoff at all. Samsung's is so much more creative, actually USING devices it's "similar" to. It shows how the future we've all been waiting for is (kind of) here. Apple's ad was stupid. Why show a bunch of people using old phones, then show you're amazing piece of revolutionary technology for all of a half second, and not even show how cool it is. They were simply being celebrity whores, and hoping we'd all be too. Dumb. Unfortunately, I doubt Samsung's device will be anything we were hoping it would be. But if we're talking originality, Motorola did a variation of it first here:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOkgLQdyQOs
  • Samsung would be a hell of a company if they'd just quit obsessing over Apple. They're like an ex-girlfriend who won't take a hint. Or an ex-girlfriend who got the hint, but just wants to make your life hell because of what you did to her.
  • On the same note, you might say that iMore would be a hell of a blog if they just quit obsessing about Samsung.
  • Meh. I give Samsung a thumbs up for having a little fun at the risk of being caught trying to be clever. Are the commercials similar? Sure, but there's no harm and no foul there. "Hello" is Apple's bit for sure, so I guess Samsung's thing is "I'll be right there".
    xD Sent from the iMore App
  • apple really missed the boat on not developing the first real smart watch. had an iwatch come out this year samsung wouldn't even be on anyone's mind.
  • Still got your Microsoft Spot Watch? That was a real success. At least it didn't look like a brick on your wrist, cost less than the Gear, didn't require a separate phone. I'll stick with my Spot Watch.
  • Love it, I own the iPhone 5S, great device, also had the iPhone 5. My first two Apple devices and can't put it down, saying that I am also a very long time Android hacker from the G1, Nexus 1 days to all the rescent top of the line devices. Just bought the Note 3 in black and must say it is the most powerful and fastest Smartphone made today. This phone is an absolute beast. I build Custom Homes in the Boston area and the idea of the new Gear to go along with the Note 3 is exciting. The Note 3 stays in my truck glove box and I can use the Gear on vibrate to get my messages in a very loud jobsite. Love the ad, I think they did a great job. These two devices working together is just what I need for retrieving my messages and answering phone calls. There is so much use for this watch in my type of work envirement. Great job Samsung.
  • I am in a public place now, and there are various ages, and only one out of the twenty five people are wearing a watch. I have not worn one in years. I do carry a mechanical pocket watch. No battery to replace. It is a great idea, but will it be popular enough to make, or a passing fad?
  • Please allow me to make a comment ... Samsung, STOP COPYING APPLE. You cannot win this ... NEVER EVER! You are also going to lose millions, if not billions, Apple fans who don't even want to buy your other products! Keep messing up and in no time back to --> "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:삼성상회.jpg"
  • I'm gonna have to go with No on this one. The ads have two different ideas behind them. The iPhone ad is "hello" across the board emphasizing that the iPhone can answer calls and such. The Samsung ad is displaying something that we only have seen in movies/fictional things. Super heroes/ Predator/ Spy agents / hell - even the Flintstones. I think the ad is decent because all the cool things we wanted as a kid, specifically the watch, we can now have it. With that being said, I won't be buying one since I haven't worn a watch is probably 10 years and don't plan on starting now.
  • It is no where near as good. The music is all wrong and the editing is totally amateur; poorly timed. If they did set out to copy Apple's commercial, they failed.
  • Its a similar concept, but not a ripoff. If it was a ripoff, most of the ads on TV look like ripoffs of another product nowadays.
  • It's a tip of a shameless hat ripoff.
    Wtfc?
  • Who is the blonde puppet character at the 39 second mark? Anyone know?
  • I believe it's John Tracy from the 60s British TV show Thunderbirds. I was wondering the same thing but was able to find it after a ton of searching.
  • I don't see it as a rip off. I understand that they both clip together a history of there respective devices, but the iPhone commercial was showing a bunch off old phones that actually existed while Samsung was showing clips from movies and TV shows using futuristic devices that at the time were just that...futuristic. I would also have to say that that Samsung commercial is done much better than the older Apple iPhone commercial.
  • It is just a marvellous piece of publicity that hit the goal; appear in an Apple publication.
    Thanks to you.