This guy let his intrusive thoughts win, and he has no regrets.
A playful act of brand rivalry took a humorous turn when a user, zTomma, engraved “SAMSUNG” on their Apple AirPods Pro case. This unique customization choice didn’t just highlight the ongoing competition between Apple and Samsung. It also sparked a wave of diverse reactions from the online community.
The Deeper Meaning Behind This Playful Engraving
As the user explained in his responses, zTomma’s choice to engrave a rival brand’s name on an Apple product was not a decision made in jest alone. It stemmed from a longstanding skepticism towards Apple.
He initially disliked Apple products. He believed they offered nothing new or particular to their clients compared to other manufacturers, yet charged more.
This perspective was partly influenced by his childhood observations. In one comment, he noted how rich kids used to brag about their Apple devices when he was younger, with no money.
However, his viewpoint shifted when he finally decided to give Apple a chance by purchasing their best phone with his own money when his old one broke. To his surprise, he found himself appreciating the Apple ecosystem more than he anticipated.
Despite this newfound admiration, zTomma retained a critical stance towards Apple’s business strategies. This is focused on its approach to product improvements and customer lock-in tactics.
zTomma specifically critiqued Apple’s camera strategy. He questioned why all cameras on a device weren’t upgraded to the highest available megapixels, implying that incremental upgrades are a strategy to ensure consistent sales.
He also expressed frustration over Apple’s reluctance to adopt USB-C. The user interpreted it as a tactic to make it difficult for customers to switch to other brands.
Fueled by these criticisms and a desire to challenge Apple’s control over customer feedback, zTomma chose to engrave “SAMSUNG” on his AirPods Pro case. He saw this as a way to critique Apple in a manner that couldn’t be silenced or ignored, describing his action as “controversial, wrong, and kinda funny.”
Community Reactions
The Reddit community’s responses varied widely, with most users finding humor and creativity in the act.
Others echoed similar sentiments, calling it “Genius”, “hilarious”, “wild”, and “funny”.
A user humorously remarked, “Next time I get new AirPods I will put ‘SMASNUG’ on it”. Another suggested, “Should have gone with SMASNUG”, playfully engaging with the idea of mixing up brand identities.
However, not all responses echoed this sentiment.
Some users pointed out the irony in zTomma’s action. They highlighted the fact that, despite his attempt at humor or critique, Apple still profited from his purchase.
Others were even more critical or skeptical of zTomma’s actions and the reasons behind it.
These suggest that the engraving was a bid for attention or approval from others rather than a meaningful statement or a genuine form of self-expression.