In 2022, Turkey became the stage for one of the most underrated brand wars in recent history. Apple decided to open one of its largest stores in Europe right in the heart of Istanbul, making a bold statement of tech dominance. But guess who decided to set up shop right across the street and claim the high ground? Samsung! 
 

First Move

It didn’t take long for Samsung to crank things up a notch. It all kicked off after the iPhone 15 launch in 2022, which, naturally, caused a media frenzy in Turkey. Apple fans were lined up outside the store like it was the world’s most expensive new pair of sneakers. But Samsung, ever the drama queen, couldn’t just let this slide.
First, they put up a billboard directly across from Apple’s shiny new store, a sign so sly it practically had a wink. The message? "After six years of not having Type-C USB… Finally, welcome among us". Boom. The subtle roast wasn’t just about the iPhone 15; It was about Apple’s long-standing refusal to use the universally loved USB-C charging port. Samsung was basically saying, "You’ve had your fun with your proprietary cables, but we’re ready to play nice with the rest of the world".

The One-Sided Battle Expanded

But wait; Samsung didn’t stop there. They came back for round two with a second billboard, and this one was a masterpiece of trolling. The ad had arrows pointing to the Apple store, teasing you into thinking it was yet another Apple marketing campaign. But plot twist; at the end of the arrows was a "greater than" symbol followed by the bold proclamation: Samsung Galaxy > every other phone. Talk about a flex. Samsung wasn’t just poking fun; they were owning it.
It was like Samsung threw a party and invited Apple to crash it. But rather than silently stand in the corner sipping their drink, Apple was getting roasted in front of hundreds of people every day. And let’s face it; this kind of fun tech war is exactly the type of spectacle we never knew we needed.

Who Won The Battle?

Samsung’s ad game isn’t just about looking cool. It’s also about sending a message. These billboards were a bold statement to both Apple fans and Samsung loyalists alike. "We’ve got your back". Samsung was saying, "And, by the way, we’ve been doing this for years". It’s like the kid who aced the test while everyone else was still stuck on the first question.
So, while Apple fans queued up in front of the sleek new store waiting for their phones to arrive with a helicopter, Samsung was quietly plotting from across the street; armed with billboards, cheeky comebacks, and just enough swagger to make you wonder if maybe, just maybe, they were the ones winning the war.
Apple may have the prestige, but Samsung? They’ve got the wit; and they’re not afraid to use it! And really, who needs Netflix when you have this kind of live-action shade being thrown?