In a moment that will be remembered long after the final whistle, Samsung transformed Loftus Versfeld Stadium into a global stage for mobile innovation, delivering the world’s first stadium-wide crowd cam fully captured on a single smartphone — the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
With over 50,000 supporters packed into the stands and millions more tuned in around the world, Samsung didn’t just showcase a product — it showcased a future where professional-grade content creation sits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
This unprecedented live activation — created in partnership with SA Rugby and the Vodacom URC — marked a defining chapter in Samsung’s mission to use technology to elevate the fan experience in ways previously thought impossible.
A Four-Minute Stadium Takeover — Powered by One Device
At halftime, the stadium MC issued a challenge:
Take out your phones and take a selfie.
What followed was a spectacle of scale and simplicity. Without extra equipment, cranes, or broadcast cameras, the Galaxy S25 Ultra became the heart of a stadium-wide cinematic moment.
From the field to the highest stands, the device captured live content, processed it on the spot, and delivered a full-stadium visual reveal — all within minutes.
Former and current Springboks — including Cameron Hanekom, Jaco Kriel and Dewald Potgieter — kicked off the moment by taking selfies with fans and celebrities on the pitch, turning the field into a playground of instant memories.
Then the Galaxy S25 Ultra swept across Loftus, capturing the energy of the crowd in real time with the ease and clarity of a DSLR — except this DSLR fits in your pocket.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra Becomes the Stadium’s Camera Crew
The showcase was engineered to spotlight four core strengths of Samsung’s flagship device:
1. Impressive clarity
Every frame — from ultra-wide crowd scenes to razor-sharp closeups — displayed crisp detail and vivid colour thanks to the device’s ProVisual Engine, which uses AI to refine textures, colour, and contrast instantly.
2. Long-range zoom
With 100x Space Zoom, the S25 Ultra captured supporters seated hundreds of metres away with clarity that rivaled broadcast-grade optics.
3. Low-light excellence
As the stadium shifted into evening tones, the device handled changing light conditions effortlessly, balancing shadows and highlights without losing detail.
4. Instant sharing and pro-level workflow
Everything — shooting, viewing, editing and broadcasting — happened on-device, without additional hardware.
Features like Expert RAW and Log Video gave creators professional control, while real-time Galaxy AI processing ensured the footage was ready for display in seconds.
Fans weren’t told how powerful the S25 Ultra is —
they saw it live, unfiltered, unedited, and larger than life.
A Moment Created for the Supporters — And Owned by Them
At the heart of the activation was a simple truth:
This moment belonged to the fans.
As the camera glided around the stadium bowl, supporters waved, posed, shouted, and lit up the stands with unfiltered joy. The stadium wasn’t watching a demonstration — it became the demonstration.
The winning selfie was selected in real time and instantly transferred to a massive 7m x 4m LED screen on the field. The clarity of the reveal sparked cheers across the stands — a living, breathing proof of the S25 Ultra’s processing power under pressure.
Even after the showcase ended, supporters continued submitting selfies during the Bok Watch Party, extending the joy and participation beyond the moment Samsung had orchestrated.
Deepening Samsung’s Connection to South African Rugby Culture
As a proud partner of SA Rugby and the Vodacom URC, Samsung didn’t just sponsor a moment — it embedded innovation into a ritual that South Africans cherish.
The crowd cam activation mirrored the spirit of rugby culture:
community, identity, unity, and pure passion.
By placing the Galaxy S25 Ultra at the centre of a fan-first stadium experience, Samsung reinforced its commitment to giving supporters real, functional tools that make the matchday experience richer, more connected, and more meaningful.
A Finale That Went National
The activation ended with a powerful closing gesture:
Samsung awarded the Galaxy S25 Ultra to the winning supporter right on the pitch — a celebratory peak that landed just before the second half kicked off.
But the celebration didn’t stay within the stadium walls.
Across South Africa, #SelfieBySamsung surged into national trending status on X for an astonishing 23 hours, as supporters shared their selfies, videos, angles, and reactions to the historic moment — creating a wave of community-generated content that extended the reach far beyond the stands.
What began as a four-minute activation became a national conversation, cementing Samsung’s belief that technology’s true purpose is connection.
