‘They named a phone after me’: Duolingo crashes Apple’s iPhone Duo party

Apple launched its first foldable iPhone, but Samsung and Duolingo quickly turned the spotlight into a comedy show, trading jokes over Apple’s late entry into foldables and the name “Duo”.

Samsung sees an opening — and takes it

Apple’s September 9 event was supposed to be all about the new iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable iPhone. Instead, Samsung quickly turned the launch into an opportunity for some social-media trolling.

Samsung Mobile US posted a series of jokes on X shortly after Apple unveiled the device, highlighting Samsung’s earlier entry into the foldable smartphone market.

One post told Apple: “Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers.”

Another post compared an element of the iPhone Duo’s design to the film Groundhog Day, while another suggested that the device looked familiar.

The underlying message was clear: Samsung was reminding Apple that it entered the foldable market years earlier, beginning with the Galaxy Fold in 2019.

Then Duolingo joined the roast

The exchange became even more entertaining when Samsung brought Duolingo into the conversation.

Samsung posted an apology to Duolingo, saying: “I’m so sorry, @Duolingo. They copied us too #Solidarity” — a joke about Apple using the name “Duo” for its foldable iPhone.

Duolingo did not exactly object.

The language-learning platform responded: “they named a phone after me and made it bend over”, turning the iPhone’s foldable design into the punchline.

It followed that with another dig at the phone’s price:

“iPhone Duo: $1999. Duo on your iPhone: free.”

The brand then responded to Samsung’s solidarity message with another joke, calling Samsung an “ugly stranger” after the electronics company effectively treated Duolingo as its fellow victim.

Samsung quickly fired back: “Ugly?? Watch your language.”

The joke became bigger than the launch

The social-media exchange quickly became one of the most entertaining side stories surrounding Apple’s new device.

The iPhone Duo itself received plenty of attention for its foldable design, titanium construction, 7.6-inch display and multitasking capabilities. But the Samsung-Duolingo exchange gave the launch an entirely different viral storyline.

The episode also shows how technology companies increasingly use major product launches as opportunities for real-time marketing. Instead of simply promoting their own products, brands can use humour and quick responses to insert themselves into a rival’s biggest moment.

Why Samsung’s trolling matters

Samsung has long positioned itself as an early leader in foldable smartphones. Its Galaxy Fold launched in 2019, giving the company several years of experience in the category before Apple entered it.

Apple’s arrival therefore gives Samsung an opportunity to reinforce that first-mover narrative.

The strategy is also not limited to Samsung. Rival brands increasingly use major launches to generate attention through memes, jokes and social-media exchanges rather than relying solely on traditional advertising.

For Duolingo, the unexpected mention offered another opportunity to promote its own brand personality, particularly its recognisable Duo mascot and free language-learning offering.

The biggest takeaway from the exchange is that the battle around a major technology product can extend well beyond hardware specifications.

Apple’s entry into foldables is significant because Samsung and other Android manufacturers have already spent years developing devices in the category. Samsung’s jokes therefore serve a strategic purpose: they frame Apple as a late entrant while keeping Samsung’s foldable history in the conversation.

Duolingo’s involvement added another layer by turning the “Duo” name into the central joke. What began as Samsung mocking Apple’s foldable debut quickly became a three-brand social-media moment.

The exchange also demonstrates the value of humour in tech marketing. A product launch can generate millions of views through specifications, but a short, witty post can sometimes dominate the online conversation just as effectively.