Samsung's new Note 3 commercial is a piece of genius

By Jerry Hildenbrand
last updated

Samsung always makes commercials people like to talk about. On that level, they are doing exactly what they need to do, because the first rule of advertising is to get people to talk about your product. But sometimes, a company does it so good we have to comment. With the latest Galaxy Note 3 commercial, this is one of those times.

A great commercial shows just what your product can do, how well it can do it, and shows you why you want a product that can do these things. Samsung hits it out of the park this time. 

There may be no mockery of other products, or over the top acting and production (or lens flares), but this one is real gold in my book. Let's see more like this, Sammy.

Source: SamsungMobile on YouTube

Jerry Hildenbrand
Jerry Hildenbrand
Senior Editor — Google Ecosystem

Jerry is an amateur woodworker and struggling shade tree mechanic. There's nothing he can't take apart, but many things he can't reassemble. You'll find him writing and speaking his loud opinion on Android Central and occasionally on Twitter.

92 Comments
  • That was pretty tasteful. Posted via Android Central App
  • Finally, a Samsung commercial that doesn't leave me scratching my head.
  • I might be the only one but it was "m'eh" to me Posted via Android Central App
  • And that's OK, too. I (and a whole lot of other people who are "tech bloggers") hold Samsung to a pretty high standard. We give them miles of shit when they do something stupid, and expect only the right decision every time. When they do something I think is right, they gotta get their deserved respect for it. I think this was an incredible — simple, whimsical, but informative — commercial that everyone needs to see. 
  • Sometimes the most informative commercials are the ones where not 1 word was spoken. Posted via Android Central App
  • Totally agree with Jerry. Samsung, for maybe the first time ever, has a commercial where it's not bashing another product.
    This showcases the phone and its amazing features in a very tasteful, (incredible — simple, whimsical, but informative —") Not a phone I want, ( MOTO X Rocks!!!) but this ad will make people WANT to go to the store and check it out. Well done.
  • I totally agree Cowboy. I just got one through Sprint's One Up program, along with the Unlimited My All In plan. It's awesome! And I actually saved some $ over my Simply Everything plan (hotspot included). So, with the new phone payments. I actually broke even.
  • I absolutely adore the samsung Galaxy Ad's. Always make me smile. not so keen on the new 'Over the Horizon' though, much preferred the old one on the S4 ad. S4 Ad wins everytime but this is genius in its simplicity.
  • And I'm not the only one that thinks that is one of the best commercials they've made. Good job Samsung. Posted via Android Central App
  • I paid more attention to that guys galaxy gear posting while eating gummybears in your girlfriends bedroom
  • It was cute Posted via Android Central App
  • Cute would be the perfect word. I liked it. Editor in chief of Futureproff.com
  • I think knowing the phone and the features definitely helps make the ad better, but Joe Smartphone buyer isn't going to get much out of it Posted using my Galaxy Note 3 via Android Central App
  • Joe Smartphone buyer will get plenty or of the commercial because it shows the possibilities that can be realized with the device. The add piques curiosity and that's the best way to get a person to take a closer look!
  • IMHO, Jane Smartphone buyer will get much more out of then Joe. This is obviously created by and tailored toward women.
  • That's a bit sexist. Of course, I'm not the "conventional male."
  • sexist? The whole thing focuses on scrapbooking which is predominantly a female activity. It's the same reason you don't see many tampon ads during NBA games, is that saying no women like the NBA, no, it's just common sense of trying to reach a particular audience. Samsung wants more female buyers because Apple has them locked down in a death grip currently and they are a huge market that spends a great deal of money.
  • ...who are still 50% of the market.
  • 50? Last I saw your a bit short. And no, the commercial was not all about scrapbook. Watch again Posted via Android Central App
  • Last time I checked, women comprised 50% of the population. Give or take. I am no marketing expert, but I'd say a single ad that grabs the attention of 50% of your target audience is acceptable. Following that, you merely need to make one that targets the other 50%.
  • What it was "About" has nothing to do with the Theme they chose.
    What it was about was also subtly slanted toward women. But the scapbooking theme was clearly (and blatently) targeted toward women. I'm not objecting to that, after all, digging around for statistics shows a slightly higher ownership of smartphones among women than men. Samsung knows their market. I'm objecting to people who in their rush to political correctness, deny the obvious.
  • Joe Smartphone is going to say wtf did i just watch. For people who arent already familiar with the Note line it doesnt really show you what you can do because there really wasnt much actual usage on the device, doing it all on an actual notebook is confusing and not representative of what you are actually doing on the phone.
  • @atticus14 you play quake 3 too? Awesome! Shame its dying,I Had ALOT Of memories playing it. Posted via Android Central App
  • I just had a go of one of these at bestbuy and I was mighty impressed, the screen is fantastic and it doesn't feel anywhere near as cheap as the S4, if it wasn't for the fact the the Nexus 5 was around the corner I think I would be buying one. Posted via Android Central App
  • Agreed, no way I am not getting the Nexus 5.
  • SHUT UP AND GIVE ME SOME MONEY BACK!! Thanks to a thoughtful AC poster I got $50 Back from Best Buy. Bringing my total down to 249, no activation fee and a 50$ BB gift card. I love this thing....
  • Man, you won the lottery, especially compared to people that are buying the phone directly from Sprint. Posted via Android Central App
  • Yeah lucked out this morning with the tip. I was happy paying 300 Posted from a van, down by the river
  • makes me want a note 3 but im waiting to see whats up with the N5
  • Having owned all models of the Galaxy Note including the international before it came to the US, I like the 5 inch and 4.7 inch sweet spot. Once they passed 5.5 inches even in the same dimensions, I lost interest. I do see a lot of them in the wild though, more so with the ladies. I guess it is easier to carry in those huge bags called purses...
  • Yes, although the screen is fantastic for work and browsing - the device is just that slightly too big to carry comfortably. I agree that 4.7 to 5.0 is the sweet spot for phones. Oh well - gonna have to get myself cargo pants and maybe a man purse.... shudder.
  • Murse!
  • This was a great commercial briefly showing awesome features and how they work. Bottom line this is the BEST all purpose device on the market. From my Tmobile Galaxy Note 3 via Android Central App
  • For you. Posted from my pure Google Nexus 4 using the AC app.
  • Just ignore him. Editor in chief of Futureproff.com
  • Agreed - this is an amazing way of showing what you can do with the Note 3, that you simply cannot do as well or as easily with any other smartphone on the market at the moment. It is almost reminiscent of what Microsoft were aiming at with their Courier tablets that they killed off before they were released. The concept videos of the courier should still be on YouTube.
  • So what am I buying here, a scrapbook or a phone?
  • I am not really a Note fan, so I don't pay much attention to them to know their features. All I got from this is that it's possible to do a lot of cutting and pasting between different apps. Posted via Android Central App
  • Love it, and love the Note 3. I've got the Note 2 now and probably won't go to the 3, but either way it's, IMO, the best device available right now and probably will be for awhile. Just today I made great use of the S-pen features to do something I would not be able to do on any other device, and I just can't imagine being without now.
  • Art Posted via Android Central App
  • Dope Posted via Android Central App
  • Yep. That's a good ad.
  • It makes me wonder what they are putting together for the next Note, they usually seem to come up with at least one big game changer besides updating the specs and supposedly the performance. I wish I had the money to get a Note Posted via Android Central App
  • I love and hate Samsung at the same time... I love Samsung for making android big, I hate them for their bloatware, I love them for some thoughtful commercials. I hate them for making all the money when HTC is losing money
  • I agree Posted via my Moto X
  • This. Posted from my pure Google Nexus 4 using the AC app.
  • My 32 GB HTC One had about 25gb of storage available stock.
    My 32 GB Note 3 has about 24.8gb available storage stock. Posted via Android Central App
  • What is your point? I assume you are trying to say the One doesn't have any less bloatware than your Note, even though there are very few apps on the One that can really be called bloatware as they are actually useful apps, unlike what Samsung put on devices ... The 200mb difference could fit one hell of a lot of bloatware apps, considering they're normally about 4mb per app.
  • ePicness
  • The 8 page spread in the wall street journal on Monday ,I think, was very good. Posted via Android Central App
  • When I see that, my first thought is "Ack! Feature overload!" I'm old.
  • When I see that, my first thought is "Ack! Feature overload!" I'm old.
  • That was an awesome spot. Very clever.
  • I don't really like the ad. They tell you what can be done but not how you do it. Why not just show the features using the actual phone. Simple ads are always the best ads Posted via Android Central App
  • That advert makes me want to trade in my Note 3 for a scrapbook.
  • It makes me want to curl up in the fetal position, have a good cry, then fire up my old flip phone...
  • Lmao Editor in chief of Futureproff.com
  • I always loved pop up books. HTC + high end Quad-Core Power= Happiness
  • Just played with the Note 3 un a T-Mobile store and damn it's a really good piece of hardware i just wish it wasn't made of plastic just my preference, but if i had an opportunity to get a deal on it I'd get it anyway. Posted via Android Central App
  • I might play with one to see if touchwiz has improved. I actually had an order for a note2 but when I played with one at a store went straight home and cancelled.. It was unusably bad. Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm starting to like that phone.... Just wish Touchwiz did not look awful and then I would be sold. Editor in chief of Futureproff.com
  • They have great marketing the best in the game right now but I'm getting a nexus 5 lol Posted via Android Central App
  • Great commercial. I had no idea what the scrapbook feature was for and this commercial did a great job demonstrating it. I like it even more now. Although I still see no use in dropping $299 for the Galaxy Gear.
  • This commercial did a pretty good job of showing off the phone's useful features. The note series seems great for using the pen. However, it's just too big for my taste. Posted via Android Central App
  • Started from the button now we here
  • They also did something similar with GN2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g_PYt6vz7w
  • 1st time samsung Advertisement looked better than the product itself! Kudos to the team.
  • Great ad, makes me wanna check out that big a$$ phone, I'm good with my s4 though. Posted via Android Central App
  • I instantly thought of Job's "If you see a stylus, they blew it." comment - which was so SO wrong. The note targets creative users or people who will push the system further. Its a great advert for the Note specific features; and makes me want one even more. I wonder if they will do an advert for the 10.1 Note, or is this really a Note concept Ad for both? Awesome A C
  • I agree. This ad is genius. Google and Apple are good with commercials but this is even better.
  • HTC should take notes Posted via Android Central App
  • Can't: no stylus.
  • Pun intended? LOL!
  • Samsung should stick to ads like these, they are brilliant! And they are FAR SUPERIOR to the ones where they try to roast Apple/Apple users. ;)
  • I like when they roast Apple users.
  • Commercials should never compare their products. They should act like no competition exists. Posted via Android Central App on a Nexus 4 running CM10.1.3
  • Doesn't fit in my skinny jeans.
  • Great commercial for a great phone. I wish more commercials from more companies (Samsung included) were like this. More focus on the product they are trying to sell and less on bashing the competition. Posted from my Note 3
  • Atleast they didn't copy it like this one....well I don't think so anyway. http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/10/07/samsung-ad-gets-applause-for-c...
  • Nice commercial, wish my upgrade was coming up. Posted from my Galaxy Note 2 via Android Central App
  • Neat commercial. Still liking my note 2 though. Posted via Android Central App
  • They had me until they tried to sell Galaxy Gear integration.
  • A very clever ad. Really liking it. It transmits the vibe of the phone very well. Posted via Android Central App
  • Did anyone else pause it to read the silly e-mail from "Emily Blunt?"
  • Trying to decide between note 3 and kg g2..i have a HTC one now..and will be keeping it along with this new edition...what do you guys think?..G2 or Note 3? posting while eating gummybears in your girlfriends bedroom
  • Nice to see them taking a page out of Google and Apple's book. Posted via Android Central App
  • What?
  • All the note 3 adverts I've seen all seem to be emphasising the Samsung gear as a companion device Posted via Android Central App
  • I need one. That phone looks so cool. I want one that is 4.0.1. Posted via Android Central App
  • Verizon note 3 have root! Xda for details! Posted via Android Central App
  • Verizon note 3 have root! Xda for details! Posted via Android Central App
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has come up with the new feature of S-Pen Stylus( air command, air memo). This is a Great information.......http://www.sgn3.co.uk/