Skip to main content
Tech Radar Tech Radar TechRadar The source for Tech Buying Advice
Subscribe
RSS
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
Technology Magazines
(opens in new tab)
Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)
Why subscribe?
  • The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12.99
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)
  • News
  • Best
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • How To
  • Deals
  • More
    • Versus
    • Appliances
    • Audiovisual
    • Cameras
    • Car Tech
    • Computing
    • Coupons
    • Downloads
    • Entertainment
    • Fitness
    • Laptops
    • Phones
    • Smart Home
    • Tablets
    • TVs
    • Wearables
    • About Us
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • iPhone 15
  • ChatGPT
  • Wordle hints
  • Best phones
  • Best VPN
  • Best air-fryers

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Mobile Phones

The best and worst Christmas mobile device ads

By James O'Malley
published 24 December 2015

Tis the season to be jolly... or really upset

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Buy buy buy, sell sell sell

Buy buy buy, sell sell sell

For advertisers, Christmas is the busiest time of year. When else is there an event that makes almost everyone happy that you can tie your brand to?

Better still, Christmas is in the public domain so it isn't like Santa or Jesus can sign an exclusive deal with McDonalds or Coke for the rights each year (although there are some conspiracy theories...)

So we thought it was about time to take a look back, at some of the best and worst festive TV mobile device adverts. But here's the thing… we're leaving it to you to decide which is the best and the worst.

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Chuck Norris for T-Mobile

Chuck Norris for T-Mobile

To paraphrase the well known meme, infamous 1980s hardman Chuck Norris doesn't mortgage his dignity for a quick buck… he had no dignity in the first place.

And so we start in the Czech Republic where the action star appeared in a campaign for T-Mobile (which still exists outside of the UK). In the below advert, someone tries to demonstrate their dominance over Norris… with predictable conclusions.

The campaign ran across a number of adverts - each as presumably hilarious in Czech as the last.

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Samsung Galaxy Gear Snowboarding Advert

Samsung Galaxy Gear Snowboarding Advert

If you're looking to meet someone special this Christmas, then make sure you've got a stupid massive phone strapped to your wrist. The Samsung Galaxy Gear will make you irresistible, according to this video from Samsung's 2013 "Are you Geared Up?" campaign.

Want a woman's number? Why not secretly ask for it under the false pretense of demonstrating a feature on your smartwatch? But of course, if you really want to endear her to you, then don't forget to take crappy secret photos of her from behind as she snowboards downhill.

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
The Hoff for T-Mobile UK

The Hoff for T-Mobile UK

What is it about rubbish 80s celebrities and T-Mobile? In this video for the company that now forms half of EE in the UK, a group of acapella singers (who apparently featured in an earlier ad), for some reason visit David Hasselhoff in his pantomime dressing room, and sing a medley of Christmas songs together.

At least this was 2010 - if it had happened a couple of years later it would have been the grimly inevitable Christmas Gangnam Style parody.

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Christmas Poem for T-Mobile US

Christmas Poem for T-Mobile US

We didn't mean to feature quite so many contributions from T-Mobile, but say what you will about the company but it knows how to make a Christmas impression. And this might be the weird one yet.

This video features actual US CEO John LeGerre sitting in a big chair in front of a roaring fire - Jackanory style. But then his Christmas tale takes a rather more polemical turn than you might expect - attacking rival phone networks and ending with a sweary crescendo. Merry Christmas… we guess.

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Samsung's oppressive Christmas

Samsung's oppressive Christmas

This ad from Samsung's "Christmas round ours" campaign last year features the bulky Gear S hidden in between twee family scenes suggesting you should submit to the power of Samsung and all of its many, many products.

But what's more remarkable is that it literally features guys in the pub joking about how heavy and massive the Gear S is - and how strong you have to be to use it. Self burn?

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Samsung Sexy Santa Advert

Samsung Sexy Santa Advert

Another Samsung advert and this one is a rather risqué approach to promoting the Galaxy's NFC file transfer functionality on the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.

In the video, the elves transfer a video for Santa to watch while on his sleigh… and then Mrs Claus does the same, and recommends he probably not watch it while at work. Filth.

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Apple

Apple

Apple's 2013 Christmas advert is a surprisingly wholesome affair. No ultra-trendy hipsters dancing here - this time it is all about family. In the ad, we see a family sat around a TV watching clips that had been shot on an iPhone - with all of the emotion that entails.

Of course, what it doesn't show is the 20 minutes of hassle while they have to work out how to pair the iPhone with the Apple TV, and then the Wi-Fi dropping out after streaming demands too much bandwidth.

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
James O'Malley
Social Links Navigation
See more Mobile phones news
More about mobile phones
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

Foldable phones are set for some major growth

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra on grey background with lowest price text overlay

Pick up a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with twice the storage for less at Amazon

Latest
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving his Red Bull Racing car on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Australia in Melbourne.

Australian Grand Prix live stream: how to watch F1 online from anywhere

See more latest ►
Most Popular
Foldable phones are set for some major growth

By Sead FadilpašićMarch 30, 2023

Google is making sure its ads are actually worth clicking on

By Craig HaleMarch 30, 2023

It looks like PSVR 2 probably won't outsell its predecessor

By Rhys WoodMarch 30, 2023

Xbox vice president promises “10 more years” of support for indie devs

By Cat BussellMarch 30, 2023

The FDA now requires medical devices be secured against cyberattacks

By Craig HaleMarch 30, 2023

HBO Max's streaming successor will be revealed very soon

By Tom PowerMarch 30, 2023

Google - these serious security threats are targeting both Android and iOS devices

By Sead FadilpašićMarch 30, 2023

ChatGPT in your pocket: Palm-sized external Nvidia GPU weighs only 250g - but who will use it?

By Desire AthowMarch 30, 2023

Google denies that Bard AI copied ChatGPT’s homework

By Darren AllanMarch 30, 2023

Microsoft Teams wants to help you beat this super time-consuming task

By Mike MooreMarch 30, 2023

Netflix Games could be coming to your TV, and I can’t believe I'm excited about it

By Hamish HectorMarch 30, 2023

  1. Best Xbox Series X accessories
    1
    The Xbox Series X receives visual update, but not the one we've been waiting for
  2. 2
    Apple TV 4K gets promised Quick Media Switching feature to eliminate 'HDMI bonk'
  3. 3
    Leaked screenshot could be an early glimpse of the Windows 12 desktop
  4. 4
    ChatGPT has passed the Turing test and if you're freaked out, you're not alone
  5. 5
    Microsoft’s mission to make Windows 11 worse continues with ads in the Start menu
  1. Apple TV 4K 2022 and Siri remote on white background
    1
    Apple TV 4K gets promised Quick Media Switching feature to eliminate 'HDMI bonk'
  2. 2
    ChatGPT has passed the Turing test and if you're freaked out, you're not alone
  3. 3
    Microsoft’s mission to make Windows 11 worse continues with ads in the Start menu
  4. 4
    Windows 12’s RAM demands could spell doom for older PCs
  5. 5
    OPPO Find N2 Flip is here to disrupt the Indian foldable smartphone market
Technology Magazines
(opens in new tab)
  • ●
Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)
  • The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews
From$12.99
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Contact Future's experts (opens in new tab)
  • Contact Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
  • Web notifications (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.