Global Scans · Samsung · Weekly Summary

• [New] Fab 2 construction could begin as early as late 2026, with Samsung holding options on additional land for future expansion worth $27 billion over 20 years. Tech Insider
• [New] Samsung is betting that openness and ecosystem scale will win. BUSINESS 2.0 NEWS
• [New] Chinese brands tend to release phones in smaller batches than companies with wider global reach, like Apple and Samsung, which helps to reduce the likelihood of something going wrong and any associated blowback. CNet
• [New] Buyers should keep in mind that Samsung is expected to unveil new foldable phones in July, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 lines. Yahoo Tech
• Samsung, the world's largest memory chip maker, reported a 49-fold jump in chip income, citing a severe supply shortage that is expected to deepen into 2027. devFlokers
• Samsung is expected to unveil multiple foldables in 2026, possibly up to four devices, and could even introduce a new form factor for the first time with a rumored Wide Fold. Yahoo Tech
• Major chip manufacturers like Samsung, Intel, and TSMC have already announced that they will introduce GAA transistors in their 3 nm and/or 2 nm nodes. imec
• Samsung's Mobile Division Faces Risk of First-Ever Annual Loss Samsung Electronics is facing mounting financial pressure in its smartphone business, with reports indicating that its mobile division could record its first-ever annual loss in 2026. LinkedIn
• There's Google's collaboration with Samsung, which is expected to launch Android XR smart glasses. Yahoo Tech
• Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are all accelerating plans to expand memory and storage production lines-Samsung specifically has started spinning down LPDDR4 production to boost the supply of LPDDR5 - but Nekkei Asia projects that will not be enough. Ars Technica
• Recently, the biggest manufacturers of laptops and phones, including Microsoft, Samsung and Dell, started putting up prices and pulling cheaper models - which is going to make finding budget phones and laptops under £400 much harder. The Guardian
• Samsung Electronics plans to raise prices for the base Galaxy S26 to 1.25 million won and the Ultra model to over 2 million won, with increases also planned for Galaxy Book 6 and foldable phones. Seoul Economic Daily
• Samsung AI will drive significant AI smartphone innovation by 2026, with a continued focus on intelligent features that enhance user productivity and creativity across the Samsung device ecosystem. VERTU
• For 2026's model, Samsung has used its own Exynos 2600 chip in the regular S26 and S26+ outside North America rather than Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is limited to the huge S26 Ultra. The Guardian
• Samsung has officially confirmed that it will shut down its Messages app later in 2026, and users will need to switch to Google Messages. Yahoo Tech
• There could be even more AI treats on the S26 that Samsung has not made itself. Tom's Guide
• In 2026, Samsung could go deeper into skin-based detection, with broader nutrition insights and potentially even noninvasive glucose monitoring - one of the long-standing holy grails of wearable health tech that may finally be showing progress. CNet
• Samsung Electronics has asked a court to block its South Korean labour unions from engaging in illegal activities during a planned strike, as a wage dispute threatens to disrupt operations at the world's top memory chipmaker. CommonWealth Magazine

Last updated: 18 May 2026