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Samsung mocks iPhone’s lack of waterproofing w/ Galaxy S5 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w4Gqt-ljb4]

With just about everyone in the tech industry getting in on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for ALS (including Apple’s own Tim Cook and Dr. Dre), Samsung decided it would also be an appropriate time to mock the iPhone and others in the process.

The latest video posted to Samsung’s Mobile UK YouTube channel shows its flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone taking the Ice Bucket Challenge and nominating the iPhone 5s, HTC One M8, and the Nokia Lumia 930. The S5, of course, comes with IP67 certification waterproofing features that lets the device be submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. The HTC One M8 and Nokia devices advertise water resistance features, but don’t include full-on waterproofing like the Galaxy S5. The iPhone, on the other hand, doesn’t include waterproofing features and that has been one of the differentiating features between the devices that Samsung has called attention to in ads before.

The feature was somewhat of a standout for the device when reviews first hit, and it continues to be something that attracts consumers to the S5 over other flagship devices. 

Samsung said it released the video today in support of the Motor Disease Association and urges people to donate.

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Comments

  1. PMZanetti - 10 years ago

    Fads are the worst.

    • Eugene Kim - 10 years ago

      Especially when they fake it. The phone on the top right shows 2:15 until the water and then the time changes to 2:50, but the clock widget doesn’t change.

      • Good catch!

      • Thats the android thing…. the widget on lockscreen stays same time untill u unlock it

      • cocoanative - 10 years ago

        The battery level drops from 64% to 56% instantly after the water hits it, too.

      • Antonio Perez - 10 years ago

        Also the battery goes from 64% to 56%

      • forrestmaready - 10 years ago

        Also, the pre ice-dump screen has a transparent status bar with 5 notification icons. After the edit, it has a black status bar with 6 notification icons. Battery jumps from 64% to 56%. Probably not a conspiracy though. Those last 2 ice cubes land perfectly on the second half of the edit, so someone wanted to that for art’s sake. Not sure what was magical about the take used for the first half of the spot that required an edit, but you can see either the camera is bumped right or the phone is bumped left for a second right when they make the edit (watch the screen slide to the left for a frame or two).

      • Truffol (@Truffol) - 10 years ago

        brilliant catch…i hate samsung even more now

      • cdmoore74 - 10 years ago

        The phone was in gallery mode viewing a screen shot. When the ice hit the screen it registered as a finger press. You can actually see the picture swipe over when the ice hits. I used a Nexus 7 tab on my motorcycle and just the smallest rain drop would cause a screen touch taking me out of navigation mode. If anything it proves that the phone was on and the transition time from pic to pic is very quick.
        And why would Samsung fake it? I’ve seen the S5 survive a pool drop and washer machine challenge.

      • @cdmoore74 – So why would it be in gallery mode with a screenshot? Why not just regular lock-screen? Weird.

    • haha nice

  2. nonyabiness - 10 years ago

    Gotta hand it to Sammy- They’ve had some pretty clever ads lately.

    • jrox16 - 10 years ago

      Funny thing though, iMore posted a youtube video showing the iPhone 5S taking the same challenge and easily passing it in response to Samsung’s silly ad. Once again, Samsung’s marketing is proved clueless. You don’t need to be waterproof to survive the ice bucket challenge.

      • jeffjewell - 10 years ago

        Funnier thing… either contact with water makes the Samsung leap forward in time 34 minutes… or this video is a fake.

  3. Dimitri Kyriakis - 10 years ago

    Its true tho. Apple does’t have any features or isn’t waterproof. I was in Wasaga beach here in Ontario & so many girls were scared to rop their iPhone’s in the water when taking selfies or pictures while in the lake.

    I threw my phone in the lake so many times & took pictures under water. You wouldn’t believe how many people asked me what phone / how it was able to take pictures under water. Most had a iPhone / HTC one & some had blackberry.

    Samsung is just saying the truth but in a different way which will make Apple fans hate Samsung when they are saying the truth.

    • nonyabiness - 10 years ago

      “Apple [iPhone] […] isn’t waterproof.”

      Fixed.

    • iSRS - 10 years ago

      Huge Apple fan since ’83. This is a clever ad. That is a feature that they have that the other’s don’t. Nothing to rip on here. If I was around water enough, it would make me think. But have zero issue with a clearly true comparison pointing out how competing products lack that feature.

    • Michael Weisberg - 10 years ago

      So you want to take the iphone to the beach for the day and use it underwater. The buy a damn lifeproof case and use that for the day.

      http://www.lifeproof.com/en/iphone-5s-fre/proofs/

      It is rated to be submerged for 6.6′ for 1 hour.

      • Dimitri Kyriakis - 10 years ago

        Yes but why pay a extra $80+ tax on a waterproof case meanwhile phones and manufacturers are starting to put waterproofing in their devices? Hopefully Apple adds this on their devices too.

      • Tim Jr. - 10 years ago

        yeah, nothing a Waterproof case can’t solve. Really, WP cases have around for decades for camera’s.. It’s more gimmick to me, since I’ve never had, not once, an issue with water and my iPhone.. lol

      • whatyoutalkingboutwillis - 10 years ago

        Apple shouldn’t include cameras on their phones, instead people should just buy an attachment if they want to take photos.

    • Nick Santos - 10 years ago

      I’m an Apple fan. No doubts about that. But the true must be told: this is the first SameXung video that made me laugh. But again, true must be told: the Galaxy S5 is waterproof, but NOT WATER RESISTANT! That means you can use it with rain and bla bla bla, but you’re not supposed to just use it underwater. It will die! If you really want to use it you have to buy a case just like if you have an iPhone.

      • Nick Santos - 10 years ago

        I think I changed the concepts (waterproof and water resistant), but you guys can understand what I mean.

      • herb02135go - 10 years ago

        Nick, good catch on your correction.
        The S5 ‘ s water resistance is also helpful if someone spills a drink. Not just for going underwater.

    • PMZanetti - 10 years ago

      What is so great about being waterproof? Isn’t that just another word for idiot proof?

      Pretty sad when “Don’t drop your phone in the water” is simply too much for people….we need a programming answer to that.

      I had a chance to hold one of these awful Samsung phones that are allegedly water proof…what a piece of shit it is. Reminds me a Fischer Price toy immersion smart phone. The hardware alone was shockingly cheap and amateur. And of course, Android just ruins the experience from the first touch.

      People that pretend that Android devices are in ANY WAY a suitable substitute for, or even comparable to, and iPhone are totally out to lunch.

      I used to think it couldn’t possibly be that different…until I got to use a few Android devices, and realized it was even worse than I thought…worse than I could have ever imagined.

      • jorge1170x - 10 years ago

        Talk about doing mental gymnastics to attempt to justify the glaring lack of a very handy feature. Even if you’re not clumsy, other people can be and can spill stuff onto your phone or cause you to drop it into say a sink or a toilet. Life happens and water resistance is something you’ll enjoy the day Apple ever catches up to it. And BTW Android gingerbread and earlier were pretty bad but Jelly Bean and newer are excellent OS’s – unless you’re a child or my grandmother, then yeah, iOS it is.

  4. Taste_of_Apple - 10 years ago

    Cute Ad. I hope iPhone 6 comes with water proofing, so I can finally let it take the Ice Bucket Challenge.

    • gnomehole - 10 years ago

      Or fake it like Samesung did in their ad.

      Oh wait, I see iMore already shows the 5 can do the silly challenge. Thankfully Apple had more integrity than Shamesung.

      • Taste_of_Apple - 10 years ago

        Exactly. Apple doesn’t play that low because their products speak for themselves. Water proofing is a nice enough feature, but from my experience iPhone is pretty durable.

  5. Leron Jackson - 10 years ago

    LOL LOL water proof until the little plug fails or salt water gets in it but cute ad though. wonder why all samsung ads talk about iPhones

    • Dimitri Kyriakis - 10 years ago

      Done that on salt water & nothing happened. Where are you getting your facts from?

      I wonder why Apple always talked about Microsoft for years on their ads. Or do people tend to forget about Apple doing the same as Samsung?

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      Why does Burger King talk about McDonalds?

    • John (@rjjrjjrjjrjj) - 10 years ago

      It’s because they know iPhones are the best. It’s also why Apple never mentions samsung, because there’s no need to compare it to an inferior product.

  6. Joaquim Inverno - 10 years ago

    this is a clever ad, but they’re always incredibly negative and disrespectful, I don’t want to buy products from a company that has been sued and lost over copying Apple and still mentions them on every single ad they make of their flagship phone and other products, the cool factor isn’t there, this is a smart, witty ad, but I didn’t enjoy it, why did they have to trash the competition? there is no need for this.

    • Dimitri Kyriakis - 10 years ago

      Isn’t this the exact same thing Apple did with Microsoft long time ago for years? I do recall that Apple was bringing out commercials just like this for their mac line up disrespecting Microsoft & being negative towards them. Have people forgot about that?

      • musclecarlover07 - 10 years ago

        Yes it is similar. That’s your only argument. Also there was nothing disrespectful about how apple when about their adds. Also Apple never said anything. Negative about the customers. They compared actual facts. Samsung attacks the users not the company in most ads.

        There is a difference between disrespect and negativity verses factual data

      • People should forget that because Apple isn’t exactly the same anymore. Tim Cook protects the company and culture that Steve made, inheriting his good parts but adding a but of fairness, charity and classiness to the game. I don’t believe Apple (as it is today) would make such ads. Let alone even in those dark times where Apple made these stupid Mac-PC ads, they were smarter and didn’t right away trash the other company or their products. Mac guy was even kind to PC guy.

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      Lame.
      If you want to see Apple’s upcoming features get an S5.
      The difference is that Samsung ‘ s innovations work (unlike Siri, Maps and other Apple fails).

      • o0smoothies0o - 10 years ago

        Idiot alert. Samsung has no innovations.

      • WaveMedia (@WaveMedia) - 10 years ago

        I take it you’ve never tried to use the shitty fingerprint sensor on the S5’s then if you think Samsung crap “works”.

  7. frankman91 - 10 years ago

    HAHA! Awesome ad!

  8. I’ve owned every iPhone since the 3G and never had an issue. Does anyone else feel the need to dump a bucket of water over a phone these days?

    • whatyoutalkingboutwillis - 10 years ago

      You’d be surprised by how many times I’ve had to dump a bucket of water on my phone

      • herb02135go - 10 years ago

        I had to dump water on my iphone charger after it caught fire.

      • o0smoothies0o - 10 years ago

        Hahaha herb can’t even charge his devices right.

    • cdmoore74 - 10 years ago

      Years ago my wife dropped her iPod touch into the toilet. Basically $200 down the drain. I read somewhere that this is one of the most common insurance claims. Having this feature is awesome so why not let Apple know that this is important? Many people use their phones around sinks, while on the toilet and at the beach. Hell; I’m typing this right now while taking a dump.

      • Justin Sage (@JustinSage) - 10 years ago

        That’s why Apple started AppleCare+ over two years ago. Hey, you dropped your iDevice in the toilet, yeah that was dumb, but Apple will get you a brand new one at a fraction of the cost, i.e. new iPhone model retails at $649 without a carrier contract/subsidy, but Apple will give you a new device for $79. You drop your phone in the toilet, you deserve to pay a dumb ass tax, and I’ve had an iPhone since the 3G and have never dropped it in the toilet. I would also add, you want to take photos on the beach/shore, cool, but show me a single DSLR that has waterproofing tech. Tech companies are smart, agile, and typically listen to what the consumer market demands. This isn’t a standard as it is not yet a need. BTW, I watched the World Cup while floating on the lazy river at Disney World on my iPhone 5S with a Lifeproof Case just fine. Did I need to watch soccer while on vacation and sitting on an inflatable raft, nope, but you know what, there’s a case for that. In the meantime, we await the app that alerts you to tighten your grip on your phone before you drop your device in the toilet while taking a dump and posting to a website.

  9. ibitebcareful - 10 years ago

    Clever Ad? Is no one going to point out how this ad is in complete poor taste? Yes, Samsung has a feature that the iPhone doesn’t have and that they didn’t copy or steal from Apple. But really? Taking advantage of the current ALS spotlight, and pointing it towards yourself instead, is in really poor taste if you ask me.

    • Bruno Fernandes (@Linkb8) - 10 years ago

      Everything Samsung does is in poor taste. Their death throes started last year and this year it’s become evident to anyone looking at their financials. They’re at the point now where their creative accounting can no longer hide the truth and no analyst can spin false numbers to prop them up.

      They’re going to lose their number 1 Android spot and all relevance sooner rather than later. And that’s before any external company does anything to further that along, such as pulling supply contracts. They’ve been on a tightrope, for their sake they’d better hope there’s a net down below.

      • blacksamurai30 - 10 years ago

        Ugh, you’re completely missing the point. Nobody gives a damn about Samsung’s financials, there is no global consequence to them copying the iPhone or not, not is there real consequence to everybody using macs instead of pcs. ALS has real consequences that far outreach the stupidity of this fanboy war and the fact that you guys are missing that entire point reflects badly upon the intelligence of not only tech fans, but us as consumers in general.

      • Even Samsung doesn’t care about the profitability of their phone business. It’s just a marketing wing to them. They make so much money selling chips and screens and refrigerators it doesn’t even matter. They’ll keep making phones just to have their name in another market.

    • jas_ (@jas_) - 10 years ago

      indeed. if they happened to follow up this ad with a huge check to the ALS foundation i would cut them a little slack, but somehow i doubt that will be the case. poor form.

      • herb02135go - 10 years ago

        No Jas.
        You would not cut Samsung any slack. If you had that much of an open mind you wouldn’t have posted what you did.

        More fake rage from the Apple Corps.

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      Samsung isn’t exploiting ALS. They are using a current humorous trend to show an area where they rise above the competition.

      Take your fake rage elsewhere.

      • o0smoothies0o - 10 years ago

        No not exploiting it at all. My god you are cluelessly in bed with Samsung and want to be in bed with Apple, hence why you visit this site constantly. Stop cheating on Sammy

      • yuniverse7 - 10 years ago

        talk about slanted view, herb.

  10. Gregory Wright - 10 years ago

    One proofing would be nice but it is not a deal breaker.

  11. paul55br - 10 years ago

    Waterproofing is nice as long as the touch sensitivity/weight/design is not affected. With that said, I prefer my iPhone like I have it now.

  12. blacksamurai30 - 10 years ago

    You’re kidding right? This ad is in poor taste, co-opting a well intentioned fad to raise awareness into a marketing campaign. Whether Samsung has waterproofing or apple doesn’t, this isn’t clever. It’s offensive.

  13. Brian Ramage (@BJMRamage) - 10 years ago

    so, if the iPhone doesn’t complete the Ice Bucket Challenge then they make a donation to ALS.org, correct. Sounds like a good move Apple. Just donate money.

  14. rafalb177 - 10 years ago

    And that’s what their phones are for. Just flush them down the toilet. Shame on you again, Shamedung.

  15. George (@georgemag) - 10 years ago

    This is douche move.

  16. Pierre Calixte - 10 years ago

    that was brilliant.

  17. herb02135go - 10 years ago

    This is a great ad.
    It touches on a current fad that people are taking about.
    And it’s 100% accurate.

    Hey fanboys! I hope you don’t wet yourselves in your rage. Remember: your phone IS NOT water resistant nor urine resistant.

    My S5 has a larger screen and better battery life than ANY iphone I’ve owned.

    I’m sure you will now attack me, while also criticizing Samsung for attacking iphobe users.

    • Eli Matar - 10 years ago

      No. No one will attack you. Just go away.

    • o0smoothies0o - 10 years ago

      I’d attack you, but it would be in worse taste to attack a mentally handicapped person than even Samsung using the ALS challenge to attack iPhone.

    • yuniverse7 - 10 years ago

      I would attack you in writing, not for your S5, but for your immaturity.

      • herb02135go - 10 years ago

        … and from the safety of your mom’s basement, of course.

    • It is 100% accurate that the status bar changes to show 34 minutes pass, yet the imd in the display doesn’t. Which means that at least some of the video is fake.

  18. Mildred Pierce - 10 years ago

    Samsung – water proof yes — but still a droid product … Yuck….

  19. Eli Matar - 10 years ago

    Good one.

  20. rahhbriley - 10 years ago

    Ya…but have they donated to ALS?

  21. yuniverse7 - 10 years ago

    Nice to use the ALS for their own benefit, Samsung. Classy.

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      Clueless.
      Samsung wasn’t exploiting ALS.
      Give up on the fake rage. Apple isn’t paying you for that.

      • gnomehole - 10 years ago

        Nice try, but this is a hugely classless (and FAKE, as we now know it) ad. Samesung is shameful no matter what they do lately.

        Only a clueless fanboy would support what they failed to do here.

  22. herb02135go - 10 years ago

    Underwater for an hour? So you can take selfies as you drown!

  23. Nicholas Chan - 10 years ago

    what’s up with the status bar changing?

  24. Lars Pallesen - 10 years ago

    I’m a staunch iPhone owner and have been ever since iPhone 4, but as far as snarky TV ads go, I’ll have to say that this one was actually pretty clever and funny. Credit where credit is due.

  25. cardboardguru76 - 10 years ago

    The video is a fake. At the start of the video the phone status bar clock says 2:16PM, the same as the main screen. After the water, it says 2:50pm, and is different from the main screen. Well, either it’s a fake or the water broke the clock…

  26. mrhaineux - 10 years ago

    “Sandwich size” zipper-lock bag. Works great. Takes almost no space. Easy to buy wherever you go. Costs almost nothing.

  27. luciofm - 10 years ago

    If you look closely, you will notice that this is an screenshot in fullscreen mode, and when the Ice cube touch the screen, it almost swipe to the next image in the gallery and also reveals the device status bar…

    Nothing fake here, just lame…

  28. Jim Hassinger - 10 years ago

    Samsung: a company totally without integrity.

  29. balderoine (@balderoine) - 10 years ago

    Just buy a waterproof case.

  30. Shameless… maybe Samsung can use Cancer, Alzheimer’s, or some other disease in its next product ad.

  31. t1mber - 10 years ago

    Clever idea, but it took a few replays for me to even understand what the heck it was saying towards the end. Maybe they can focus on voice fluidity now that the phone is “water resistant”…

  32. Fake Sound (@Secrxt) - 10 years ago

    Finally, a good Samsung commercial.

  33. Laughing_Boy48 - 10 years ago

    I find it hard to understand why Apple with all of its money doesn’t have water- and dust-resistance as a standard feature on the iPhone. Would it really hurt their bottom line all that much for such a somewhat simple thing. One would think it would be a no-brainer for them to protect their high-end products from at least some water damage.

  34. compumd - 10 years ago

    Have you noticed how the same video could be posted on 9to5Mac and 9to5Google but only one page fills the comments section with hate – worry much?

  35. I have never, ever, ever, ever, never, never, ever, never used my iPhones near water. Not so important feature to me then.

  36. Shukla RK (@shuklark) - 10 years ago

    Iphones are always problematic phones. If Iphones are made waterproof, then Apple customer centre can not make people fool by charging heavily on repairs. Even within guarantee period also they will tell that device is damaged as water got through, but most of the time that is not the case. They are cheating peoples on repairs and it is very certain that Apple will never make the IP ratings phones, as their service revenue will decline.

  37. magu1 - 10 years ago

    I Wonder why samsung didnt put the sony experia on this ad????. wait i know, becuase they copied this feature from Sony . I Prefer iphone over any other phone on the market. And sony xperia over any other android. Samsung sucks, the battery is so lame that it makes you want to cry.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.