Galaxy Phones Attract Young Fans with AI and Design — No Longer ‘Uncle Phones’

Finally, Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones are gaining a lot of popularity among young South Koreans. These consumers previously preferred Apple’s iPhone and even gave the Korean brand the tag “Uncle phone.” Thanks to the introduction of slimmer designs and powerful AI features, the company is now attracting teens, people in their 20s, and 30s in its home market.

Samsung’s Galaxy phones win over young South Koreans

A recent Gallup Korea poll (via Korea Herald) shows that consumers between 18 and 29 are increasingly choosing Galaxy over iPhone. Among 1,002 respondents, 46 percent in this age group said they would pick a Galaxy as their next smartphone, up from 36 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, the preference for iPhone declined from 60 percent to 50 percent. This suggests that younger people are leaning towards Samsung’s latest designs and technology.

Social media and viral content have greatly helped build a new perception of Samsung among young people. In a YouTube video (reached over a million views in a month), a female singer praises Galaxy phones for their features and design. In her song, To all friends using Galaxy, she sings, “From SE to 15, I’ve used all the iPhones you haven’t. Don’t mock me, I know everything about iPhones. But now I use Galaxy. You call me tteulttak (oldie), but I like the 16:9 cinema screen.”

Another viral clip highlighted Samsung’s latest foldable innovations. “You don’t need an umbrella because it does not get wet when it is folded, you don’t need a tripod wherever you are, my two hands are free,” she sings. The book-style foldable is no longer a bulky device — the new Z Fold 7 features a thickness of just 8.9 mm when folded and 4.2 mm when unfolded, with a weight of 215 g. A Samsung executive said the company is seeing a strong response from customers in their teens, 20s, and 30s.

Furthermore, Samsung’s powerful Galaxy AI features and integration with Google’s Gemini have played a major role. The company captured 82% of the domestic smartphone market between January and July 2025, while Apple secured only 18%.