Samsung appears to be quietly reworking one of the most overlooked parts of its software experience, and this time, it could actually matter in daily use. One UI 9 is apparently upgrading Now Brief with extended Weather details.

According to a new leak from Tarun Vats, the Now Brief in One UI 9 is getting an extended weather view that shows the entire week at a glance.

The latest leak from One UI 9 shows a more practical weather card embedded directly into the Now Brief feed, with the latest version stretching into a full weekly forecast.

Temperatures, rain probability, and visual indicators are all packed into a single card that feels designed for quick scanning rather than deep interaction.

In One UI 7, the Now Brief concept leaned heavily on “right now” data. Weather was present, but it was basic, often requiring a tap into the full app for anything beyond immediate conditions.

One UI 8 refined the layout and added a bit more context, but it still stopped short of offering a true planning tool. One UI 8.5 also improves the experience, but One UI 9 seems to change that mindset.

It may sound like a small tweak on paper, but in practice, this kind of refinement is what separates a good software experience from one that actually sticks.

If Now Brief continues in this direction, it could quietly become one of the most useful features on Galaxy devices, not because it is flashy, but because it gets the basics right.

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Samsung has reportedly begun the firmware development for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. The company is working on two premium smartwatches for 2026, including a Galaxy Watch 9 and a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

The new smartwatches will likely be unveiled alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, and Z Fold 8 Wide in July this year. Galaxy Watch 8 will get a successor as usual, but the Classic model may be on hold in the year 2026.

Previously, the internal firmware of Galaxy Watch 9 was spotted on Samsung’s server, indicating the beginning of development. Now, the initial firmware for Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (BT and 4G/5G) has appeared, via Aptivi.

• Watch Ultra 2 (Bluetooth) – L710XXU0AZDB
• Watch Ultra 2 (LTE/5G) – L715NKOU0AZDB

Qualcomm recently introduced the Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset for next-gen Wear OS devices. The company also confirmed that the next-gen Samsung watches will be equipped with its advanced wearable platform.

Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is said to launch with 5G network compatibility for the first time. However, the availability may be limited and vary by region.

Samsung has been using Exynos W series chips in the Watch for recent years. The company may not entirely dump its evolving portfolio for Qualcomm. That said, we could see the Galaxy Watch 9 adopting the Exynos W platform.

The next Unpacked is rumored to take place on July 22, 2026. The venue could not be Seoul or San Francisco, but London. Samsung eyes the European smartphone market and that’s how the event is considered in the UK.

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You may have been noticing a battery drain problem on Galaxy phones, but never suspected that Samsung Keyboard could be the culprit.

Users of Galaxy phones reported a battery drain problem in the Community forum, and Samsung Keyboard turned out to be the cause. The company’s moderator confirmed it to multiple users, but there’s good news, too.

Samsung phones are decent at battery life, but a software-driven bug can ruin everything. The same happened with the Samsung Keyboard app. Well, the problem has been addressed, and an update is rolling out through Galaxy Store.

The moderator advised Samsung users to update the Keyboard app to version 5.9.30.81. This build carries a fix for the problem that was draining the battery.

This rollout reiterates why Samsung reminds users to keep updating system apps to the latest versions for an optimal experience. Phones don’t just play with operating system, but apps play a key role in providing the experience.

Samsung has also rolled out the April 2026 security update to Galaxy devices. The patch includes fixes for forty-seven CVE and SVE items. Updating the Keyboard app will further elevate security and battery life on Galaxy.

So, whether you’ve encountered a battery drain or not, it’s recommended to update the Samsung Keyboard app on your Galaxy device. Open Settings of Samsung Keyboard or Galaxy Store to install the latest version of the app.

April 30 could mark the beginning of the Stable One UI 8.5 update rollout. It will first appear for the Galaxy S25 series, probably in South Korea, with Global expansion reportedly taking place starting the 4th of next month.

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A new legal challenge in the US is targeting Samsung foldable phones, with claims that could have serious implications if they hold up in court.

Lepton Computing LLC has filed a patent infringement lawsuit (via SeoulWire) against Samsung Electronics and its US subsidiary in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The complaint alleges that Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones, along with its new Galaxy Z TriFold, infringe on a portfolio of nine patents tied to foldable smartphone technology.

The patents cited in the filing cover a wide range of enabling technologies that define modern foldables. This includes hardware structure, hinge design, and display protection, but also software behavior.

One key example is App Continuity, where an app seamlessly transitions between the outer and inner displays depending on whether the device is folded or unfolded.

The complaint also details how internal components are arranged within tight spatial constraints. Sensors, magnets, cameras, and speakers must all coexist with a flexible OLED panel that bends within a controlled radius.

Lepton positions itself as an early pioneer in foldable devices. It also points to a prototype device called the “Lepton Flex,” which it describes as the first foldable smartphone developed in the US.

The company is targeting newer generations, starting from the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and later.

All of these remain allegations and requests. The court has not made any determination yet. For Samsung, this is another high-stakes legal battle in a category it effectively brought into the mainstream.

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Samsung is on the verge of facing an 18-day labor strike over a bonus dispute, which could potentially make RAM and memory even more expensive. Internal estimates put potential strike losses at up to 30 trillion won (about 20.32 billion).

Rising AI demand has already made general-purpose DRAM and NAND flash memory chips pricier, and a potential Samsung labor union strike could worsen the situation further.

The strike

The Samsung Electronics branch of the Samsung Group Super Enterprise Labor Union held a rally at the Pyeongtaek campus on the 23rd, with around 40,000 people showing up.

The union, which now counts more than 76,100 members and represents the first majority union at Samsung, is demanding that 15% of annual operating profit be distributed as performance bonuses.

The potential damage

Here’s the part the headlines aren’t emphasizing: 18 days is probably a floor, not a ceiling.

If cleanroom operations and equipment maintenance halt for any significant stretch, engineers say it takes over a month just to restore normal operating conditions.

During a memory supercycle, when the entire industry is sprinting to ship as much product as possible, a month-long slowdown compounds into something much uglier.

SK Hynix and Micron are watching this closely. If Samsung’s production stumbles, both stand to collect a premium on high-performance server DRAM and enterprise SSDs

Union leader Choi Seung-ho said Samsung would see the production losses in numbers if it kept treating workers like figures on a spreadsheet.

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Don’t be surprised if you see the Galaxy S28 Pro and/or Ultra launching with a curved display, as Apple is reportedly exploring this radical redesign for the iPhone 20.

According to Weibo leaker DigitalChatStation, Apple plans to use a quad-curved display in the iPhone 20 next year, and Samsung might consider bringing it to the Galaxy S28 Pro or Ultra, just an assumption.

Apple surprised the industry with the 10th anniversary iPhone, and the next shock is being planned for the 20th anniversary model. iPhone 18 Pro is coming this year, and Apple will bring iPhone 20 in 2027, skipping iPhone 19.

The Cupertino giant is collaborating with the Korean company to develop a four-sided micro-curved display panel. The idea is currently in an early phase, and we may see a shift too, as the tentative launch is more than a year away.

Apple plans to bring a bezel-less design to the iPhone 20. The company has actively trimmed the thickness of bezels, but the next year’s model may completely eliminate that letdown by featuring quad-curved display tech.

Additionally, the iPhone’s screen may ditch the legacy polarizer layer for a pol-less design. This technological shift could offer extended brightness. Besides, the thickness of the screen will be reduced, and efficiency will improve.

Samsung is accused of blindly copying Apple in recent years. Removal of the charging adapter, adoption, and elimination of titanium frame are recent examples. The display redesign may also be explored for the following Galaxy model.

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Following the initial drop, Samsung’s Tizen 9 update, officially branded as One UI Tizen, is spreading to 2023 TV models across more regions.

The headline feature is a redesigned interface that pulls Samsung’s phone design language onto the TV. Fonts, icons, pop-ups, settings menus, all of it has been reworked to feel consistent with One UI on your Galaxy device.

Every UI element in Tizen 9 shrunk compared to what came before it, and on a modest-sized Samsung TV or from a sofa ten feet back, parts of the interface can become genuinely difficult to read.

To Samsung’s credit, an accessibility fix is already baked in (via SamMobile). Go to Settings, then All Settings, then General and Privacy, then Accessibility. From there, enable Zoom Menu and Text, which enlarges most interface elements fast.

Shipping a major UI update where the default experience breaks readability for a chunk of your user base isn’t a proud moment.

Head to Settings, then All Settings, then Support, then Software Update, then Update Now. Don’t expect much, as the rollout has been uneven, with neighbors owning identical TVs reporting wildly different availability.

Worth knowing: Samsung’s 2026 TV lineup ships with a newer One UI Tizen version out of the box, with agentic AI features baked in from the start.

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Ahead of Samsung and Apple, Huawei unveiled a new foldable with a wide display design. Samsung’s reveal is anticipated in July 2026, but a tipster just leaked a design comparison of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide with its Huawei counterpart.

For years, Samsung stuck to a tall and narrow cover display. That approach had its logic, but it never felt fully natural in daily use.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, Samsung is finally stepping away from that identity. When you line it up against Huawei’s latest attempt, the shift becomes obvious – via Ice Universe.

Huawei Pura X Max

• Width 166.5 mm | Height 120.0 mm
• Thickness unfolded 5.2 mm | Thickness folded 11.2 mm
• Folded width 85 mm
• Outer display ratio 4.4:3 | Inner display ratio 4.24:3

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide

• Width 161.4 mm | Height 123.9 mm
• Thickness unfolded 4.3 mm | Thickness folded 9.8 mm
• Folded width 82.2 mm
• Outer display ratio 4.7:3 | Inner display ratio 4:3

Huawei still pushes a wider footprint; when folded, the Pura X Max sits at 85 mm, which is closer to a traditional slab phone than Samsung’s 82.2 mm. The Fold 8 Wide is noticeably wider than older Folds, but it stops short of becoming bulky.

When it comes to thickness, Samsung comes in at just 4.3 mm when unfolded, while Huawei sits at 5.2 mm. This difference changes how the device feels entirely. It feels lighter in the hand, less tablet-like, and more refined.

When folded, Samsung holds the lead at 9.8 mm compared to Huawei’s 11.2 mm. That gap is even more noticeable in your pocket. A thinner foldable is easier to carry, sits flatter, and simply feels less like a compromise.

Samsung’s outer display ratio of 4.7:3 is another big move. Huawei still leans slightly wider with 4.4:3, but Samsung’s tuning feels more intentional. The inner display at 4:3 also signals a cleaner tablet-like experience.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide might not be the widest foldable out there, but it is arguably the most balanced one yet.

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Samsung shared exclusive visuals right from its exhibition at the Milan Design Week. The pictures and videos spotlight artificial intelligence, foldables, and wearables.

The company took over Superstudio Piu with 12 immersive zones built around its “Expressive Design” philosophy, and the whole thing reads less like a trade show and more like Samsung trying to convince you it has feelings.

You walk in, and the first thing that hits you is The Welcome Show. Multiple devices, synchronized across a shared performance, each paired with its own screen.

From there, the exhibition moves into Unfold Your Story, a zone dedicated entirely to Samsung’s foldables displayed across a spectrum of colors.

The Wearable Intelligence and Culinary Intelligence zones are exactly what they sound like. Wearables that track your body and AI that helps you cook.

The Forum zone hosts live discussions with Samsung’s design leadership alongside video clips surfacing perspectives that rarely make it into press releases.

Adjacent to it, the XR Experience zone built on Android XR invites visitors into Galaxy XR territory. Transparent Symphony puts Samsung’s transparent Micro LED displays to work, dissolving the boundary between screen and space.

The exhibition closes with The Goodbye Show, where Luna, Samsung’s AI home device, waves you out.

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After an innovative back step, Samsung appears to be in the mode of course correction. Samsung is developing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 foldable smartphone, and the cover screen features a smaller camera hole than the Z Fold 7.

Samsung insider IceUniverse just revealed that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 selfie camera hole is just 2.5mm (diameter). It’s significantly smaller than the 3.7mm of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, with CAD rendering showcasing the difference.

The source hints at a technological shift inside Samsung, which may have led the hole to shrink. This change will offer even more functional estate on the cover screen of the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold smartphone this year.

Samsung introduced an under-display camera with the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The technology evolved gradually until the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, Samsung removed it, starting with the Z Fold 7, and the Z Fold 8 may follow the legacy.

The CAD image aims to show the difference in the camera hole’s diameter. If other aspects are true, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will feature thinner side bezels. The camera system design may remain the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Samsung is expected to unveil three foldable phones this year. A new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could join the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 this July. The company may hold an Unpacked event on July 22 in London, a strategic shift in venue.

Related article:

• Samsung’s hinge rethink hints at thinner TriFold, Fold and Flip phones

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Qualcomm posted a video on X recapping every Samsung flagship that ran on Snapdragon, which ends up teasing the potential Galaxy S27 Ultra chipset.

Sixteen years is a long time in this industry, and Qualcomm knows it. The video posted by the chipmaker ends with the words, “and there’s so much more to come.”

Samsung has been playing chipset politics for years.

The Galaxy S26 series brought Exynos back to the lineup after a brief exile, though the company kept Snapdragon inside the S26 Ultra. Smart move, given how badly some Exynos launches have gone historically.

With whispers circulating that Samsung could eventually push its in-house silicon into every slot across the S series, Qualcomm clearly felt it was time to speak up, and it chose nostalgia as the weapon.

Earlier reports already pointed toward Samsung using the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, internally tagged as the SM8975, inside the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Samsung won’t unveil the S27 series until early next year, so there’s still runway for plans to shift.

The US chip designer is apparently preparing two variants of its next flagship chip, and the Pro version looks like Samsung’s pick for its top-tier model.

Qualcomm’s posting video at this moment isn’t random. These companies don’t post retrospective timelines out of sentiment. They post them to apply pressure, to signal confidence, to remind a partner publicly that leaving would be a story.

The Ultra has always been where Samsung puts its best foot forward. Qualcomm wants to make sure that the foot is wearing its chip.

Related article:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Pro leak hints at Galaxy S27 performance roadmap

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An alleged Galaxy Z Flip 7 has made its debut on Geekbench with Android 17-based One UI 9 operating system. This is the same software Samsung has been developing for the Galaxy S26 series inside its software labs.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 running One UI 9 atop Android 17 scored decent scores on Geekbench. The device reached 2275 in single-core and 7843 in multi-core. It’s said that the Flip phone was running firmware version F766USQU9CZDF.

Geekbench 6.7.0 scores

• Single-Core Score: 2275
• Multi-Core Score: 7843

Samsung’s SM-F766U entry is live on Geekbench, but it could also be a spoof listing, as mentioned by tipster MohammedKhatri. Judging from the chip specs, it seems a genuine device, powered by a deca-core Exynos 2600 processor.

Geekbench scores are largely identical to the models running Stable One UI 8. As the development progresses, the scores will improve as well.

Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 will receive One UI 9 Beta with Android 17 in the near future. The Beta Program will first arrive for the Galaxy S26 series. Meanwhile, the software will make its official debut with the Z8 series.

Google recently released Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1 for Pixel phones. One UI 8.5 is reportedly built on Android 16’s QPR2 version. The next major upgrade may not be actually major, just like the Android 16-based One UI 8.

Galaxy Z Flip 7’s entry follows the Galaxy S26 Ultra on Geekbench. We are actively seeing early visuals from the internal One UI 9 firmware. The development is going well, with the addition of new features also progressing.

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Samsung Notes app is getting a major update, and that finally adds the long-overdue support for Tables. What makes the update more interesting is the addition of new pen options along with the screen visibility option.

For a long time, Samsung Notes has been solid for quick scribbles and S Pen users, but it lagged behind when it came to structured note-taking.

Tables arrive in Samsung Notes

The biggest addition is table support; it sounds basic, but it completely changes how you can use the app.

You can now:

• Organize study notes in rows and columns
• Create simple schedules or planners
• Compare information without turning your notes into a messy wall of text

Having tables built directly into Samsung Notes keeps everything in one place. Until now, many users had to switch to apps like Excel or third-party note apps just to do this.

New pen tools

Samsung has also added two new pen types:

1. Pencil
2. Highlighter

The pencil gives a more textured, sketch-like feel, which is great for rough work or diagrams. The highlighter, on the other hand, is perfect for marking up PDFs or emphasizing key points without ruining readability.

Improved note creation menu: You can now long-press to quickly import PDFs, and there are new note style options. This cuts down a few unnecessary steps when starting a new note.

“Fit to screen” view option: This is one of those features you don’t think about until you need it. Notes now adjust better to your screen, making reading and reviewing content more comfortable, especially on larger Galaxy devices.

Cleaner settings screen: The app settings have been reorganized, which makes navigation less confusing.

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Samsung MultiStar is getting updated, and the latest release enhances the widget list. Enhancements come through version 10.4.06, and the changelog indicates that the update is aimed at the cover screen of foldable phones.

MultiStar is one of those hidden gems inside the Good Lock suite that quietly upgrades how you use your Galaxy phone.

It focuses on multitasking, letting you push beyond Samsung’s default limits with features like better split-screen control, more flexible pop-up windows, and improved app compatibility.

If you’re someone who juggles multiple apps at once, MultiStar makes the whole experience feel faster, smoother, and far more customizable than stock Android.

With the latest MultiStar update, Samsung is addressing the widget list issue, which was preventing accurate visibility in the cover launcher. Users of Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip phones should notice even better functionality.

• To update MultiStar, open Good Lock > Plugins > Download.

Samsung foldables running either One UI 8.0 or One UI 8.5, both based on Android 16. One UI version 8.5 is currently in Beta, which is expected to start rolling out to the Stable Galaxy S26 channel, starting May this year.

The major One UI 8.5 update elevates the Good Lock experience. However, the MultiStar module hasn’t received any notable update, so far. Hope Samsung will consider enhancing the multi-window experience even further.

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Galaxy S26 helped Samsung retain its smartphone share, with Apple entering the top five in India for the first time in Q1 2026.

India’s smartphone market had a rough start to 2026. Shipments dropped 5% year on year to 30.9 million units in the first quarter, according to Omdia.

vivo held the top spot for a seventh straight quarter, shipping 6.3 million units for 20% market share. Samsung came in second at 5.1 million units and 16% share, with the Galaxy S26 arriving late in the quarter and giving the numbers a jolt.

OPPO, excluding realme and OnePlus, grabbed third place with 4.7 million units and 15% share, making it the fastest-growing vendor in the top five. Xiaomi and Apple rounded out the rankings at 3.8 million and 2.9 million units, respectively.

This is the first time Apple has cracked India’s top five in the first quarter. For a market where the vast majority of volumes still live below INR 20,000, Apple’s placing fifth isn’t a curiosity.

Samsung’s performance here tells a familiar story.

The Galaxy S26 landed toward the end of Q1, meaning its full weight doesn’t really show up in these figures. The mid-range A-series got refreshed; entry-level workhorses like the A07 and A17 kept the volumes honest.

Sanyam Chaurasia, Principal Analyst at Omdia, framed it as a phased approach, where Samsung deliberately avoided blanket price hikes to protect channel absorption and demand momentum.

Omdia is forecasting double-digit shipment declines for India across the full year. Entry-level devices are already seeing price increases of 18 to 20% as memory inflation forces a hard reset of the economics.

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On April 24, 2026, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 Family Festa to mark the Family Month in South Korea. It includes offers, cashbacks, and a gaming-themed pop-up on the Galaxy S26 series alongside Kyrene Edition accessories.

According to the announcement, Samsung will give away a KRW 50,000 (~ $35) worth of game item discount coupons. Consumers who make a purchase by May 10 will receive this coupon, which can be redeemed on the Galaxy Store.

Samsung also has a cashback program, which offers KRW 55,000 (~ $38) to Galaxy S26 buyers who subscribe to the “New Galaxy AI Subscription Club.”

Buyers are advised to check the detailed terms and conditions on Samsung.com to ensure their benefits and cashback amount.

As part of strengthening its experiential marketing, Samsung will operate a pop-up store themed around the popular RPG game “Honkai: Star Rail” at Samsung Store Hongdae from April 24 to May 5.

The pop-up is designed as a hands-on gaming experience zone using the Galaxy S26 series. Visitors can take part in various events and stamp missions in spaces decorated with in-game backgrounds and characters.

Additionally, Samsung will also sell 2,000 limited units of the “Galaxy S26 Ultra Kyrene Accessory Edition,” which includes items such as magnet cases, acrylic music boxes, and smartphone stands featuring game characters.

Jung Hojin, executive vice president and head of Korea at Samsung Electronics, said, “To mark Family Month, we prepared a variety of promotions that families can enjoy together,” and added, “We hope you enjoy not only the powerful performance of the Galaxy S26 series but also the additional purchase benefits.”

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The Galaxy S-series smartphones are the highest-selling Samsung devices, accounting for millions of units sold worldwide. The company offers these phones with powerful processors, high-quality cameras, large power backup, long software update support, and more. However, one part of these phones isn’t really appreciated by consumers, and it is the phone’s launch date-based rollout priority.

In the past five years, Samsung has drastically changed its software policy for S Series, Foldables, and non-flagship phones. However, it’s the Galaxy S-series that is at the center of all discussions.

Starting with the Galaxy S24, Samsung started offering 7 major OS upgrades and 7 years of security updates. So, we have three Galaxy S-series phones that are part of the 7 major software updates club:

• Galaxy S24 series (2024)
• Galaxy S25 series (2025)
• Galaxy S26 series (2026)

Not to forget, the Galaxy S23 series is eligible for four OS updates. It means this lineup will also get Android 17 (One UI 9).

All of these phones are well-received and praised by consumers. Yet, the same consumers are also criticising the way Samsung is treating their phones as time passes by.

To be specific, Samsung releases One UI beta for three phones, the most recent flagship. Then expand it to the program to the most recent foldables. The next phase includes the S-series from the year before. And the cycle continues in that descending order for all eligible phones.

Now comes the important part. The first phone to enter the beta also receives the first stable update. Since the latter devices entered the beta program on a separate timeline, their beta program will close later. In other words, the rollout dates for devices will vary.

Previous-gen S-series users criticize Samsung for these practices. They say Samsung has reduced the importance of their phones in terms of OS upgrades, even though they paid the same price as the most recent release. They also suggest that all Galaxy S-series phones should get major OS updates together, instead of different dates.

That’s true, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Ultra cost as much as the S26 Ultra, which makes them as important as the other devices. The S23 Ultra, on the other hand, is only $100 less than these three generations. So, basically, all of these customers have paid a high price to buy these phones.

Yet, the first shot at a major update belongs to the most recent flagships. Then, gradually turns its eyes toward other devices.

Why does it happen?

It’s about the development. Samsung has a process of developing the firmware first for the most recent releases. Then move the development toward previous generations based on their release dates.

Though this is a common software development practice among Android smartphone makers, it doesn’t suit the company that claims to be the top smartphone maker in the world.

In fact, it becomes very crucial at a time when Samsung is directly competing against Apple in markets like the U.S. Apple has a long-standing practice of releasing software updates simultaneously for many iPhones. And they’re consistent on that part.

Some argue that Apple releases only three or four phones a year, but Samsung releases many. That’s true, but you can’t put this logic on consumers who care about their own devices, and why should they care about the company’s overall sales? They are buying phones based on their face value.

For example, I have a Galaxy S26 Ultra, and I want the major software updates as soon as they are released. I don’t care about how many flagships or non-flagship phones Samsung has to cover with the latest update; I will only care about my device, and that’s how it is for the majority of consumers.

In reality, the update priority for Galaxy S26 Ultra will start to decline once the S27 hits the market. That cycle will continue with the following release. This can be seen as a potential case of consumer discrimination.

How to fix this problem?

If Samsung cannot provide updates for all of its devices at once, it should at least release the software update for the S-series and Foldable lineups at the same time. Followed by other price categories. If Samsung is running low on developers, hire new ones to maintain the rollout consistency.

Why it should be done

The company should treat these S-series and foldables with equal priority. There are two reasons why it should be done.

First, it provides consumer satisfaction. Seeing their phones getting new updates on time builds brand reputation. It’s an unprompted expression that expands ecosystem awareness from one user to another. That also works as indirect promotion, which is more powerful than paid ads.

Second, if the user has to wait for the release, they will share that experience with other users and other people in their circle. It wasn’t the case before, but consumers have become more aware of what they’re getting for what they’re paying. Therefore, it will leave a bad impression.

Reflecting on the second reason, I’ve seen a bunch of people commenting that Apple provides updates all at once, or my next phone will be an iPhone. These are the most common comments that I’ve come across in different online communities and conversations.

Who knows, they might eventually hold on to their thoughts by the end of their Samsung flagship’s lifespan.

Before that happens, Samsung needs a drastic change in its major updates and release strategy for the Galaxy S-series, its best seller. This is the least improvement consumers are expecting from the company.

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Google debuted The Android Show in 2025, with 2026 bringing the second iteration right before the I/O 2026 event.

The US tech giant has already announced the I/O 2026 keynote scheduled for May 19 and May 20. At this event, Google will introduce the new Android operating system along with many other software and AI advancements.

Now, Google revealed The Android Show is set to take place on May 12 at 10 a.m. PT. The company published a YouTube video, which pulled quickly after, teasing “this is going to be one of the biggest years for Android yet.”

Like last year, this year’s The Android Show will livestream on YouTube. Android enthusiasts will be able to join the event livestream to witness the unveiling live. As said, this is going to be one of the biggest years for Android yet.

This is going to be one of the biggest years for Android yet. Tune in to The Android Show | I/O Edition on Tuesday May 12 at 10 AM PT and be the first to take a look at what the future holds.

Android 16 introduced a major visual upgrade, thanks to Material 3 Expressive. Gemini also received fruitful enhancements to elevate user experiences. Pixel lineup continues to expand depite struggling for market share.

This year, we expect Android 17 to compete with Apple’s Liquid Glass design philosophy. Leaked visuals showcased that Google is on the right path. Quick Share to AirDrop sharing will also be a key highlight at I/O 2026.

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Hey Sammy Fans, I need to get this off my chest. I was a true Samsung Fold fanboy. The first time I unfolded my Galaxy Z Fold (It was Fold3), it felt like I was holding the future of smartphones. The reason was obvious – a big screen for videos, split screen, and cool folding tricks. I showed it off to everyone. “This is the best phone ever.”

After using my first foldable daily for over almost a year, the problems started coming up. The center crease started getting deeper and more annoying. Then one day, when I unfolded my phone, the inner screen was dead. There were no drops, no scratches, nothing crazy. I took it to the service center, hoping for warranty support. The service guy looked at it and said it was “user damage,” and quoted me almost $600-700 for the inner screen replacement. That’s more than half the price of a normal flagship phone. I was shocked.

This isn’t just my bad luck, the same happened with Fold4. I have seen many people in the Samsung community and on X with the same stories. The fold hinges were getting loose or making noise, screens failing after 8-12 months, and dust getting inside somehow.

Here’s another annoying issue. The protective film on the inner screen started peeling off by itself in less than 6 months. I didn’t misuse the phone, the film just lifted from the middle and started bubbling and peeling on its own. It looked ugly and felt terrible while using. I tried pushing it back, but it kept coming off worse. I ended up replacing the film once or twice on both my Fold5 and Fold6, but the same problem kept returning.

Samsung promises about “200,000 folds” or even more now, but in real life, it won’t stand up (my experience is horrible) to the company’s promise. If anything goes wrong, the repair cost is brutal. Many times, instead of repairing the current fold, it feels like the company is pushing you to just buy a new one.

There’s another downside – the battery life. The foldables have average battery life, but not great for such an expensive device. The cameras are fine, but nothing compared to regular Samsung S series phones. The phone feels thick even after Samsung made Fold7 thinner. Multitasking is cool at first, but while watching videos, you notice little bugs and that disturbing crease.

Look, I still love the idea of foldables. With foldable, you can have a big screen when you need it and small when you don’t. But right now, Samsung’s foldable devices are not ready to be a primary phone.

If you really want a foldable, you should wait for a perfect Fold in coming years. Or honestly? Just get a normal flagship like the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The available option is cheaper, tougher, and you won’t stress every time you open your phone. Even the repair cost is also less.

I stopped using my Samsung Fold (Fold3 after 11 months, Fold4 after 6 months, Fold5 in just 2 months, Fold6 in 1 month, and Fold7 after 10 days) and went back to a regular phone. No regrets. The excitement disappeared quickly once I started worrying about the next repair bill.

If you are thinking about buying a Samsung Fold, please read this first. I love the concept, but hate the experience. It is “never again” for me. What about you? Drop your experiences on X handle @thesammyfans.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy S24 FE are getting the April 2026 security update. Users in South Korea can now grab the latest firmware, which is readily available for download.

April 2026 update carries forty-seven fixes for Samsung devices, with those applicable to the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy S24 FE as well. The SMR is rolling out sequentially, so the availability may vary depending on model and carrier.

PDA build version numbers:

• Galaxy S23 FE – S711NKSSEDZCH
• Galaxy S24 FE – S721NKSSBCZD2

Updating software on Samsung phones isn’t a tricky task. Simply open the system Settings, followed by the Software update page. Hit the Download and install button, and the phone will begin fetching the latest firmware from the server.

Samsung updates also wipe out unnecessary and junk files, including cache. Removal of that stuff improves the overall experience of your device. System apps also install alongside the software update for optimal performance.

One UI 8.5 Update

April patch has arrived for users who have not updated through the Beta Program. The patch has already landed on the Fan Edition phones as part of One UI 8.5 Beta, with One UI 8 users can now grab this incremental OTA.

Samsung is preparing to start the Stable One UI 8.5 rollout on April 30. The update may first appear for the Galaxy S25 series in South Korea. Users outside Samsung’s home ground may begin grabbing it, starting on May 4, 2026.

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Mauro Porcini, the chief design officer at Samsung, revealed a Galaxy design manifesto that signals a hard turn away from hardware obsession. After years of winning on cameras, chips, and folding screens, Samsung is now chasing emotion and AI.

The framework Porcini laid out runs on four tracks.

Live Longer covers health and safety through wearables. Live Better hands routine tasks to AI and robotics. Live Loud pushes tools for creativity and self-expression. And then there’s Live On, which is where things get genuinely strange.

Samsung is openly discussing AI systems that build digital versions of people, instead of avatars and chatbots. Persistent, data-trained representations of actual human beings, their personalities, their knowledge, and presence.

Within a decade, Porcini argues, robots could become the dominant interface inside homes. Samsung is playing across three timelines: short term: it’s refining what already exists, mid term: it’s pushing harder, and long term: it’s trying to redefine what a product even is.

Samsung has announced pivots before, but this one’s different.

If the robots-as-primary-interface bet lands, every smartphone company will be scrambling to catch up to a future Samsung spent a decade building toward while everyone was still arguing about camera bumps.

Related article:

• Samsung teases evolving design philosophy at Milan Design Week 2026

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During the Q1 2026 earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that AI4+, the upgraded version of Tesla’s existing AI4 chip, is headed for production by mid-2027, and the company entrusted Samsung Foundry for production.

AI4+, which Samsung Foundry will produce, is also being called AI4.1 internally, though Tesla hasn’t locked in an official name. The specs are meaningfully better than the current AI4: more memory, wider bandwidth, stronger compute.

Samsung already holds orders for both the AI5 and the upcoming AI6. Tesla completed tape-out on AI5 on April 15, and the company is planning to route it first toward Optimus robots and data centers.

Elon Musk said that AI4 is already capable of human-level autonomous driving. There’s no reason to blow up working production lines chasing a chip that cars don’t actually need yet. AI4+ squeezes more performance out of a proven architecture.

As Musk put it, if AI4 hardware gets too outdated, factory continuity becomes the only argument for keeping it alive. Samsung isn’t just making Tesla’s chips, but making Tesla’s decisions possible.

Elon Musk stated that “It may make sense to transition to AI5 for vehicles at some point, but it’s not urgent right now. If AI4 hardware becomes too outdated, it could end up being the only reason to keep factories running.”

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Leaked changelog reveals One UI 8.5 stable update for the Galaxy S25 series will bring a noticeable visual refresh, leaning into cleaner layouts, blur effects, and more fluid elements that adapt naturally to how you use the phone daily.

Galaxy AI takes center stage with smarter, more practical tools. From screening calls with Bixby to editing photos using simple text prompts, the update makes AI feel less like a feature and more like part of the experience.

Camera upgrades focus on convenience and control, via TarunVats. Document scanning is faster, dual video recording is easier, and real-time color previews remove guesswork, giving users more confidence before they even hit record.

Everyday usability gets a boost across the system. Lock screen personalization is smarter, weather insights are more detailed, and call handling now includes direct voicemail and context-aware quick replies that actually make sense.

Connectivity and ecosystem features continue to expand. Sharing files across Galaxy devices, and even Apple hardware, becomes smoother, while hotspot access and family-based device syncing feel more polished and reliable.

Security, battery, and accessibility improvements round things off. You get clearer battery insights, stronger theft protection, and better assistive controls, making the update feel balanced between flashy upgrades and meaningful daily improvements.

Galaxy S25 One UI 8.5 changelog

Visual Design

Fresh new look: One UI seamlessly integrates into your daily routine by combining immersive visuals with meaningful personalization for a more refined and sophisticated design. Transparent blur effects add depth and make content easier to navigate, while floating elements react organically to your workflow for a more focused experience. Through familiar and intuitive data visualization, One UI delivers a design that feels both personal and relatable, helping you focus on what matters.

Galaxy AI

Screen calls before answering: Use Bixby Text Call to decide if you want to talk. You can let a call assistant answer for you and ask the caller who they are and why they’re calling.

Edit images with text prompts: Image editing has never been easier. Just describe how you want your image to change. You can change the color of someone’s clothes, add something to an empty table, or anything else you can think of.

Add items from one image to another: Photo assist makes it easy to combine elements from different images. Take an object from one picture and add it to a different picture. Galaxy AI smooths it out and makes it look natural.

Add style to any photo: You can now apply fun styles to any photo with Photo assist, not just pictures of people or pets. In thumbnail view, you can touch and hold to reorder your styles and put your favorites near the front.

Continuous image generation: Keep creating without stopping. Photo Assist now lets you generate AI images using different features from the results screen without saving each iteration. When you’re done, you can review all your creations in your history and pick your favorites.

Create images with Creative Studio: Creative Studio is now available on the Apps screen for easier access. You can use creative studio to create custom wallpapers, unique stickers, and personalized profile images that you can use throughout on your phone.

Now brief on the Lock screen: Get more personalized suggestions on your Lock screen. Now brief will show useful information based on your context.

Enhanced AI select: Start AI select instantly by touching and holding the edge handle. Missed something in a video? Use the Rewind button to go back and select exactly what you need.

Auto language detection in Interpreter: Keep the conversation flowing. After you choose which languages to translate, Interpreter will detect when each one is being spoken, so you don’t need to press the Microphone button each time someone talks.

Bixby

Smarter device control: Talk to Bixby in your own words. Bixby is now better at finding the setting or feature you need, even if you don’t use exact commands or feature names. Just say what you need and let Bixby do the rest.

Ask anything, anytime: Whether you need a quick answer or detailed information, just ask Bixby for an instant response. There’s no need to spend time on multiple searches or switching between apps.

Conversation history: Looking back at past conversations with Bixby is easier than ever. You can now access your conversation history from the side panel in the Bixby app.

Camera

Pro-grade document scans: Scanning documents is now faster and more powerful. A scan button will appear automatically whenever you point your camera at a document. You can easily capture multiple pages into a single PDF file, while the new Remove tool automatically cleans up distracting fingers, folded corners, and unwanted moire for a perfect finish.

Auto motion photos: When set to Auto, your camera will only record a motion photo if it detects movement in the scene. Otherwise, it’s saved as a still image to save space.

Capture both sides of the story: Now you can record yourself and the action in front of you. Just tap the dual recording icon in the video mode quick controls to start filming with the front and rear cameras at the same time.

Log video color previews in real time: Take the guesswork out of filming in Log. You can now apply a cinematic LUT preview while you record, letting you see exactly how your final color-corrected video will look before you even start editing. LUT previews are also available in Gallery and Studio.

New portrait filters: Three new filters are available to add vibrant film-like effects to your pictures.

Home and Lock screens

Automatic Lock screen layout: Wallpapers with pictures of people or pets now fit perfectly every time. When you choose a photo for your Lock screen, the photo will automatically be adjusted to best fit your clock and widget layout.

New downloadable wallpapers: Discover new wallpapers featuring interactive elements. Wallpapers are downloadable so they don’t use up your storage space when not in use.

Add weather effects to wallpapers: Bring your wallpaper to life with the current weather conditions. When you choose your wallpaper, you can add weather effects directly from the preview screen.

More customizable clock fonts: Personalize your Lock screen clock. You can now adjust the thickness of more font styles to match your preferred look.

Weather

Enhanced weather widget: Quickly check upcoming precipitation in the Weather widget on your Home screen. The widget now shows a graph if precipitation is expected in the next few hours.

Pollen index: Check how much pollen is in the air to help manage your allergies. You can check pollen levels for trees, grass, and ragweed.

Communication

Direct voicemail: Can’t answer right now? Let callers record a voice message directly on your phone that you can listen to later. The message will appear on your screen as it’s being recorded so you can answer at any time.

Decline calls with personalized messages: When a call is ringing, new quick decline messages will appear based on your calendar events and other activity. You can tell callers that you can’t answer because you’re in a meeting, exercising, or other reasons even without typing.

Clock

Weather alarm backgrounds: Wake up to an alarm that gets you ready for the day’s weather. Your alarm screen can now show the current weather conditions as a background when it rings.

Time zone converter: Compare time zones at a glance. The new slider in the Clock app makes it easy to check the time difference between places around the world.

Connectivity

Storage Share: Access your files anywhere. Files from your other Samsung phones, tablets, and PCs are available in the My Files app on your phone. You can also access your phone’s files on other Samsung devices, even your TV.

Auto Hotspot: Share your phone’s internet connection more easily. You can now share your hotspot with your Samsung account family group, or create your own hotspot sharing group with anyone you choose.

Family device sharing: Easily connect and share files, screens, cameras, storage and more with your family. Family device sharing lets you use features like Quick Share, Camera Share, Storage Share, Auto Hotspot, and Multi control with Galaxy devices that belong to your family members.

Quickly connect to Smart View devices: Connect to your favorite display faster. You can now add a shortcut on your Home screen to instantly mirror your phone’s screen to a TV or other display device.

Enhanced Auracast features: It’s easier than ever to listen to and broadcast sound with Auracast. Options for both broadcasting and listening are now located in the Audio broadcast menu in Settings.

Voice broadcasts: Broadcast your voice to people around you with Auracast. In addition to media sound, you can now broadcast your voice using your phone’s built-in microphone.

Quick Share

Share with Apple devices: Share with even more devices than before. You can now use Quick Share to seamlessly share photos, videos, and other files with iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other devices that support AirDrop.

Avoid unwanted sharing requests: You can now set Quick Share to only receive files from other devices signed in to your Samsung account or Google account.

Photo sharing suggestions: Share photos with the right people faster. When you share pictures that include friends or family, Quick Share can recognize who’s in them and suggest sharing directly with those people.

Samsung Health

Enhanced weekly reports: See a fuller picture of your health each week. Weekly reports now include data from your medication tracker and mindfulness sessions.

Upgraded sharing experience: Share your workouts your way. Mix and match your exercise stats with photos from your workout to create the perfect social media post.

Start meditations from your watch: Find calm right from your wrist. You can now start favorite or recommended meditations directly on your Galaxy Watch without picking up your phone.

Antioxidant measurements from your watch: Check your antioxidant levels anytime. Measure directly from your Galaxy Watch, even if it’s not connected to your phone. Works with Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.

Battery and power

Revamped battery info: See your battery use more clearly. The redesigned Battery settings screen makes it easier to check remaining time, charging status, and daily usage over the past week.

Improved Power saving: Use Power saving to make your battery last longer without charging. Choose Standard for moderate savings and customizable limits, or choose Maximum to turn off all non-essential features and make your battery last as long as possible.

Security and privacy

Privacy alerts: Stay informed about your privacy. You’ll now get alerts when an app’s permissions could put your personal data at risk along with suggestions for what you can do about it.

Theft protection: Keep your phone and data safe in case it is lost or stolen. Turn on Failed authentication lock to automatically lock the screen in case there are too many failed attempts to verify your identity using your fingerprints, PIN, pattern, or password. Identity check also protects even more settings than before.

Turn off Auto blocker temporarily: If you need to temporarily disable Auto blocker’s security protection, a new option lets you turn it on automatically 30 minutes later so you don’t forget.

Check the security status of your devices: Keep all your devices protected. Knox Matrix now shows when any of the supported devices signed in to your Samsung account need a software update for the latest security protections.

Accessibility

Easily control Bluetooth hearing aids: Access settings for your Bluetooth hearing aids directly from the Accessibility shortcut. A pop-up will appear that lets you change your hearing program, turn Ambient sound on or off, and more.

Control magnification with mouse or keyboard: Keep what you need magnified in view with these new options. You can make the magnified area follow the cursor as you type or move when you change focus using the keyboard. When using a mouse, you can make the magnified area shift as you move the pointer to the edge of the screen.

Dwell action and Corner actions: The Auto action after pointer stops feature has been divided into 2 features. Dwell action lets you set custom actions when your mouse stops moving for a certain amount of time. Corner actions let you set a different action for each corner of the screen.

Dim strobing in videos: A new setting lets you dim strobing effects in videos for more comfortable viewing.

Even more improvements

Continue using apps when folding: Enjoy more seamless app experiences. You can now keep the app you were using on the main screen open on the cover screen when you fold your phone.

More customizable quick panel: Arrange your quick settings just the way you like them. You can now add, remove, reorder, and reorganize controls in the quick panel.

Customize Calendar countdown widgets: Make your countdown widgets look just the way you like. Use Drawing assist to generate a background image, choose an image from Gallery, or go with a solid color.

Early alerts for reminders: Get alerts before reminders are due to make sure you don’t forget important tasks. You can choose how far in advance to get an alert for each reminder.

Insert tables in Samsung Notes: Organize information in your notes with tables. You can adjust column widths, colors, and border designs while the auto calculation feature helps you stay productive and save time.

Redesigned New tab page: The page that appears when you open a new tab in Samsung Browser has been redesigned to help you quickly access the websites and features you need the most. The New tab page now shows the current security status as well as open tabs from Samsung Browser on other devices.

Partial screen recording: Include only what you need in your screen recordings. You can now select only the part of the screen that you want to record.

Calculator nudges: Save time on calculations. Numbers and formulas copied to your clipboard will be suggested when you open Calculator so you can enter them with a quick tap.

Keep window sizes in DeX: DeX now remembers your app window sizes and positions. When you open an app again, it appears just as you left it.

Triple Zero service enhancement: Software enhancement to provide an additional layer of connectivity to Triple Zero services during emergency service outages.

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The Galaxy S26 Ultra camera crop mismatch issue is back in focus, and this time it is tied to Samsung’s Close Focus Enhancement feature. Samsung once again acknowledged the problem, and the fix may take more time to arrive.

Galaxy S26 Ultra users are running into a frustrating camera glitch that refuses to stay subtle. What users see in the Viewfinder does not always match what gets saved after post-processing.

The issue is tied to Close Focus Enhancement

The bug shows up when users shoot ultra-close subjects and the phone switches lenses automatically. Close Focus Enhancement is designed to improve macro shots by shifting to a different sensor and adjusting framing.

You frame a subject tightly, hit the shutter, and the saved image ends up slightly zoomed out or reframed. That inconsistency breaks trust in the shooting experience, especially for users relying on precise composition.

Samsung acknowledges the issue but offers no timeline

A moderator on the official Community forums has now acknowledged the bug, via MojoTrick. According to the moderator, Samsung is aware of the discrepancy and is working on improvements; however, no firmware rollout window has been shared.

Not the first time this problem has surfaced

Many Galaxy S26 Ultra users have already reported the close-up camera problem. Like this time, Samsung moderator acknowledged the problem and pledged to provide a firmware update to fix the glitch upon verification.

For now, users are left to work around the issue. If precision matters, it is safer to double-check framing after capture. Keeping the device updated is also key, as fixes will likely arrive through a future firmware rollout.

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Samsung’s newly unveiled display tech could offer glasses-free 3D viewing on the Galaxy S28 Ultra. The official press release itself confirms the potential adoption of the screen technology in phones, tablets, and other devices.

A newly published paper in Nature details a collaboration between Samsung’s Visual Technology Team and POSTECH. The focus is on a new display architecture built around something called a Metasurface Lenticular Lens.

Instead of relying on traditional lenticular layers, Samsung uses nanoscale structures to precisely control how light is directed toward your eyes. The system can switch between standard 2D and immersive 3D using voltage control.

The display adjusts polarization states in real time; users can toggle depth effects on demand. Samsung claims a viewing angle of up to 100 degrees, which is roughly six times wider than older glasses-free 3D implementations.

This eliminates the rigid head positioning that killed earlier attempts. You are no longer locked into a narrow zone where the effect works. Move naturally, share the screen, and the 3D holds up. The entire optical layer comes in at just 1.2mm thin.

This approach of the South Korean tech giant fits into modern OLED stacks without forcing major design trade-offs. The team has already tested the concept on real OLED panels using a fabricated 50x50mm metalens.

The timing lines up with the Galaxy S28 generation, especially as Samsung continues to push display differentiation beyond brightness, refresh rate and Privacy screen.

A switchable 3D panel fits naturally into that strategy. It also opens doors for the Galaxy Z Fold lineup, where larger screen real estate makes depth effects more meaningful for gaming, media, and even multitasking.

If Samsung gets this right, glasses-free 3D will not feel like a gimmick anymore.

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With the demonstration of switchable 2D-to-3D display tech, Samsung is not just refining smartphones, tablets, and commercial displays anymore. It is rewriting how depth itself is perceived on a flat slab of glass.

In a newly published paper in Nature, Samsung, alongside POSTECH, details a switchable 2D to 3D display built around a metasurface lenticular lens. The reveal hints that it quietly solves the problems that killed 3D on mobile long ago.

The new tech allows the display to decide when to behave like a normal panel and when to bend light into a multi-view field. The switch happens through polarization control, effectively toggling the metalens between concave and convex states.

• In 2D mode, the optics cancel out. Light passes straight through. You get a clean, high-resolution image, no penalties.
• In 3D mode, the same layer reshapes the light field. Depth appears. Perspective shifts with viewing position; no glasses, no tracking.

Samsung is pushing the viewing window to 100 degrees. It means multiple people can view the same 3D scene from different angles. Samsung’s metalens sits at just 1.2 mm, thin enough to integrate into an OLED without redesigning the device.

What this means for future Galaxy devices

Expect 3D to emerge as a premium toggle, not a permanent mode. A glasses-free 3D mode on a Fold could turn it into a portable light field viewer. Tablets could quietly become the first mainstream 3D consumption devices.

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Samsung Sound is a brand-new app from Samsung that facilitates the management of audio devices. The app made its first appearance in February 2026 and is readily available for free download on the Play Store.

After rolling out Hearapy, Samsung followed up with a second app called Samsung Sound. It’s a dedicated tool for controlling Samsung Wi-Fi speakers and soundbars, landing in a slightly awkward spot next to SmartThings.

Samsung Sound looks modern, bringing soft gradients, subtle transparency, and a cleaner layout compared to SmartThings. However, the app hasn’t matched the One UI 8.5 aesthetics yet, which is a major letdown.

The app is arguably cleaner than SmartThings, but the lack of visual consistency stands out. Samsung Sound mirrors the soundbar controls inside SmartThings. You can tweak sound modes, adjust equalizer settings, and manage audio sync.

Meanwhile, there is no IP control, no Auto Power Off toggle, and no Tap Sound shortcut. ou cannot turn the soundbar off from the app. You can power it on remotely, but once it is on, the option to turn it off disappears.

Samsung has placed a large “Open music app” button right on the main screen. However, the button simply launches third-party apps like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music if they are installed.

Samsung Sound is an interesting addition. It offers a cleaner interface and a more focused experience for managing audio devices. For users who prefer a dedicated app over the broader SmartThings ecosystem, there is some appeal here.

• Samsung Sound on Google Play Store – Download

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Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 are entering Samsung’s official refurbished smartphone portfolio in the US. As part of Certified Re-Newed program, Samsung is bringing its latest foldables at a reduced price (not really this time).

On April 22, 2026, Samsung announced the refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 in the US. The two foldables can now be purchased in like-new condition at a reduced price, with exclusive availability on Samsung.com.

There’s no doubt on the genuineness of the products. Samsung says its Certified Re-Newed devices have been serviced by specialists and repaired with 100% genuine parts. You also get Samsung’s one-year manufacturer warranty.

Every refurbished device ships with a brand-new battery, regardless of the previous condition, which ensures the buyer will have maximum battery life. Other parts are repaired/replaced as per the requirement upon inspection.

Price

• Galaxy Z Fold7 Certified Re-Newed starts at $1,699.00 for the 256GB storage model.
• Galaxy Z Flip7 Certified Re-Newed starts at $939.00 for the 256GB storage model.

Save through trade-in

Samsung lets you save up to $580 on a Certified Re-Newed Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Z Flip 7 when you trade in an old qualifying phone.

Samsung Care Plus

Beyond manufacturer’s warranty, you can extend the protection by subscribing the Samsung Care+ plan.

Samsung’s Certified Re-Newed smartphones are eligible for Care+, safeguarding your device against unlimited drops, spills, mechanical breakdowns as well as theft and loss.

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The development cycle of Android 17 has just taken a major turn, with Google starting to roll out QPR 1 Beta 1 update to Pixel phones.

Android 17 has been in Beta status since the beginning of the year. Google released the fourth Beta merely six days ago, and today the QPR 1 Beta 1 of Android 17.

Regarding the QPR 1 Beta 1, Google says it continues to update the platform with fixes and improvements. Changes and improvements deployed throughout the QPR 1 Beta will be provided as part of the September Feature Drop.

Unlike major OS releases, QPR builds don’t include app-impacting API changes. However, this Android Program is limited to Google Pixel phones. Samsung is expected to utilize it as a base for its One UI 9 Beta or Stable release.

Android 17 QPR 1 OTAs and downloads are available for the following Pixel devices:

• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
• Pixel 6a
• Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
• Pixel 7a
• Pixel Tablet
• Pixel Fold
• Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
• Pixel 8a
• Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold
• Pixel 9a
• Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL
• Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Top Issues fixed in Beta 1

• Fixed a crash in the Default Print Service occurring during low ink conditions that prevents users from completing print jobs.
• The Terminal app triggers an Application Not Responding (ANR) error that results in the application and device becoming unresponsive.
• Resolved an issue where uncontrollable hardware audio processing on the voice communication path caused distortion and phase cancellation in VoIP applications.
• Direct audio output may fail to open on devices using the AIDL audio HAL when playing audio streams longer than five seconds.

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Adaptive Clock was one of the most significant additions of One UI 8, and Samsung’s One UI 9 appears to be bringing a new font style.

Samsung is internally working on Android 17-based One UI 9. It will follow the One UI 8.5 rollout, which is expected to start later this month. Users can expect a Beta Program sometime in the latter half of May 2026.

X user Kailash shared an image, showcasing a new Adaptive Clock in One UI 9. With the current iteration adapts to a wallpaper with an object, the newer applies to landscapes and regular wallpapers as well.

The clock appears in HH:MM format, with the new font showing application to the two characters in the middle. However, the newly added clock font design would adopt the appearance based on the wallpaper.

Design-wise, the new Adaptive Clock font has a similar appearance to an already available clock style, but that’s static. It’s clear that the company is bringing even more ways to tailor the lock screen per your preference.

The new font has been added in the internal version of One UI 9. Since it’s functioning well, its debut in the official version seems sure. Meanwhile, changes can be made throughout the Beta testing program.

One UI 9 is based on Android 17 and it will first debut on the Galaxy S26 series. It will be available as Beta Program and the Stable version will land with the next-generation foldable phones, including the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8.

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Samsung is reportedly leasing 140,000 square feet warehouse at the Park79 Commerce Center, an industrial park sitting right on US 79 near its chip plant in Taylor, Texas.

According to TaylorPress, the source had direct knowledge of the deal, while Samsung declined to comment. That’s 40% of the entire Park79 development, locked up by a company that officially won’t admit it’s the tenant.

Samsung’s Taylor fab is inching toward full operation, anchored in part by a reported $16 billion chip contract with Tesla running through 2033.

The Taylor plant was announced in November 2021 with an initial $17 billion investment. By the end of 2026, it’s expected to directly employ around 1,500 people, with hundreds more supplier jobs trailing behind.

Samsung has operated in Texas since breaking ground in Austin back in March 1996. It knows how this state works. Now it’s quietly stitching together real estate around Taylor before the doors are even fully open.

The warehouse lease isn’t a footnote; it’s a signal that Samsung is building something permanent here, and doing it without asking anyone’s permission first.

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Apple wants internal documents from Samsung to help fight its antitrust case, but the US DOJ just made that a lot harder.

Earlier this month Apple asked a US court for permission to pull documents directly from Samsung Electronics. Apple wants to show that users can jump freely between iPhone and Android, that the so-called walled garden isn’t actually trapping anyone.

US DOJ fired back (via 9to5Mac) in a new court filing, and the core complaint isn’t really about Samsung. The US regulator pointed out that Apple has known for months just how central Samsung’s data is to this case.

Here’s where it gets awkward for Apple: the process required to obtain documents from a foreign company runs through the Hague Convention, a slow-moving international legal mechanism that nobody confuses with fast.

There’s a real chance the Samsung data arrives after the discovery phase has already closed. The DOJ is essentially saying Apple knew all this and stalled anyway.

The DOJ explicitly told the court not to extend deadlines or push the trial back just because Apple is scrambling for evidence. The DOJ’s position is narrower: keep the schedule, don’t let Apple turn a late evidence request into a delay tactic.

Samsung sits at the center of a case it didn’t ask to be in, watching Apple and the US government argue over whether its internal data can arrive on time to save Cupertino from itself.

The irony is that Apple needs Samsung to prove it doesn’t need anyone.

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Samsung’s mobile business could be heading into unfamiliar territory this year. TM Roh, who leads the company’s Device eXperience division, has internally warned of a possible full-year loss for the MX unit, according to industry sources.

According to MoneyToday, TM Roh internally warned that Samsung’s mobile unit could face an annual loss. If that happens, it would mark the first annual loss since Samsung reorganized its mobile operations under the MX business.

Samsung has already hiked the price of the Galaxy S26 series. The company is also rising prices of existing products that were released in the past. Future products don’t seem to be safe from a price bump, given the current scenario.

At the center of the issue is LPDDR, the low-power memory used in nearly every smartphone. For years, it was a mobile-first component designed for efficiency.

Smartphones ship in millions, but each device uses relatively small amounts of memory. AI infrastructure, on the other hand, consumes massive quantities in a single deployment. As a result, suppliers are prioritizing high-value AI demand.

LPDDR costs nearly doubled in the first quarter compared to the previous one, with expectations of another steep jump in the current quarter. DRAM and NAND are both rising together, amplifying the pressure on manufacturers.

An industry official said, “As the AI industry absorbs even mobile memory, smartphone manufacturers are struggling to secure sufficient supply. Prices have already increased, and further hikes may occur in the second half of the year.”

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Leak season for the next Galaxy S lineup has already begun. A new leak sheds light on specs and features of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 6 Pro that will potentially power the Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra globally.

Weibo leaker DCS revealed key specs of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, and the chips powering the Galaxy S27 series may be made by TSMC.

TSMC’s 2nm process node means better efficiency, sustained performance, and improved thermal behavior. Qualcomm is also considering a 2nm Snapdragon chip, but it seems unlikely to be from the 6th generation.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (SM8950) configuration:

• 2 prime cores
• 3 performance cores
• 3 efficiency cores

The Pro variant keeps the same layout but pushes it harder. Higher clocks are expected, but Qualcomm is also stacking more resources around it.

The standard chip reportedly uses 16MB L2 + 6MB SLC cache, while the Pro bumps system-level cache to 8MB SLC. It may sound minor, but SLC plays a big role in reducing memory latency during heavy workloads like gaming and AI tasks.

Graphics processing unit:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 – Adreno 845, 6 slices, 12MB graphics cache
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro – Adreno 845, up to 18MB graphics cache

Memory support:

• Gen 6 – LPDDR5X
• Gen 6 Pro – LPDDR6 (quad-channel 24-bit) or LPDDR5X (quad-channel 16-bit)

LPDDR6 is not just about speed; it is about bandwidth efficiency and power scaling. Both chips still share the essentials: integrated 5G with sub-6 and mmWave, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, UFS 5.0 storage, and 10Gbps USB-C.

The Galaxy S27 and S27+ are expected to use Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2700 in most markets. Meanwhile, regions like the US, Canada, and China could get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.

Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra are tipped to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro globally, which at least brings some consistency at the top end.

Samsung may launch the Galaxy S27 series early next year.

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Google Wallet may start showing live flight and travel updates on the Samsung Now Bar. This update will make tracking travel status easier than ever.

Recently, the Google Wallet app silently rolled out support for Live Update. Pixel phones running Android 16 (and Android 17 Beta) have started showcasing flight updates on the lock screen and always-on display.

Android’s Live Update is quite similar to Samsung Now Bar, so expect an imminent Google Wallet support rollout to the latter system.

A flight ticket stored in Google Wallet will trigger tracking of the flight and display status in real time. It will go beyond the existing notification system that alerts you with updates like boarding time changes.

On Pixel phones, the Status bar displays the Google Wallet logo for flight tracking. Expanding it shows the estimated arrival time and airline. On the AOD and lock screen, you see a progress bar that shows flight duration.

The alert is interactive too; when you tap the pill, the system takes you to the Google Wallet app. It’s the usual functionality of Live Update and the Now Bar system to stay linked with roots.

Samsung’s Now Bar should feature a similar appearance. When it arrives, Google Wallet will join the existing services, including Sports from Google, Google Finance, and Google Maps.

Google and Samsung closely work to tailor Galaxy experiences. Like existing ones, Google Wallet will be integrated into Now Bar, but the timeline is not known yet.

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You may not have minded that your Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds haven’t received a new firmware update lately. Well, Samsung hasn’t forgotten, bringing a new update with stability and reliability improvements.

Galaxy Buds Able are in development with an open-clip design. Samsung has Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro as the latest hearable offering. Meanwhile, the company is also making sure older products function pretty well.

Earlier, Samsung rolled out new firmware to the Buds 3, Buds 3 FE, and Buds 3 Pro. Now, the company is rolling out (via TarunVats) the April 2026 update to the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (and probably for the Buds 2 as well) in India.

The update carries PDA build version ending with AZD1. Samsung keeps security patches limited to mobile devices; that said, the earbuds are getting “stability and reliability” improvements.

Samsung’s update changelog says these OS-level tweaks improve the device behaviour. Expect an even more fluid experience while accessing your Buds 2 Pro settings through Galaxy Wearable, along with better listening.

The update weighs nearly 6 megabytes, and you can get it through the Galaxy Wearable app. Open the application to access connected Samsung wearables. Here, you need to access Buds settings, followed by Buds software update.

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Samsung has announced that it will enter the 2026 World IT Show in Seoul to showcase its Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy Buds 4 series, Galaxy XR series, and other products. The event kicks off on April 22 to April 24, 2026.

Samsung has installed Spatial Signage, a glasses-free 3D screen, at the entrance of its exhibition hall to provide guidance on products and the experience program for each section. The exhibition also includes Micro RGB for visitors to experience the immersive picture quality.

Electronics

A dedicated space will showcase the Galaxy S26 series with an upgraded camera and Galaxy AI features. Visitors are allowed to test the camera quality with the main and telephoto cameras. People can also test the Super Steady with Horizontal Lock for super stable video recording.

Visitors can check the upgraded photo assist to edit images with generative AI and view the result on a large display in the exhibition area.

Furthermore, Samsung is hosting a special AI session, “Galaxy AI Live Show,” to help people understand the Galaxy AI features that come with the Galaxy S26 series. The show consists of two segments – Creative Show to walk through creative and editing features. The privacy show will focus on security features such as call screening and privacy display.

Additionally, the Galaxy Buds 4 will demonstrate high-quality sound, and the Galaxy XR has a dedicated section for an on-site XR experience.

Gaming zone

A Cross-Platform Zone will enable visitors to enjoy top games on Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S11 series tablets, Galaxy Book 6 series PCs, OLED smart TVs, and Odyssey gaming monitors.

Additionally, the FreeStyle+ AI portable projector and Vision AI companion are coming to Samsung TVs.

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Samsung Art Store has launched 22 art collections by Tamara de Lempicka, a Polish painter and preeminent artist of the Art Deco movement, renowned for her highly polished, glamorous, and sensual portraits of aristocrats, celebrities, and wealthy socialites.

Her art style fuses classical tradition with machine-age modernism. It is often described as “soft cubism”, bridging the gap between decorative and the fine arts.

The latest collection on the Samsung store includes the iconic Autoportrait from 1927, a self-portrait painted in Paris and commissioned by the German fashion magazine Die Dame to celebrate women’s independence.

Another art is St. Moritz, which depicts a skier, likely her muse Ira Perrot, embodying 1920s liberation. The painting is recognized for its vibrant red sweater, which contrasts with a geometric alpine landscape.

“At the heart of Tamara de Lempicka’s work is a powerful sense of identity, elegance, and modernity,” said Marisa de Lempicka, President of the Tamara de Lempicka Estate. “It is important for us to continue sharing that vision in ways that resonate with contemporary audiences. This collaboration with Samsung Art Store enables her work to enter new spaces.”

“Tamara de Lempicka’s work has a timeless quality that feels especially relevant as Art Deco comes back into focus,” said Marta Di Gioia, Curator for Samsung Art Store Europe.

The newest Tamara de Lempicka art collection is now available on Samsung Art Store for Frame TV lineup, Neo QLED, Micro RGB, Micro LED, and OLED TVs.

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Samsung Electronics is seeing massive progress with the Harman audio unit, which is becoming a core pillar of Samsung’s automotive electronics business. According to reports, this subsidiary has recorded 15 trillion won ($10.1 billion) of sales in just 10 years after Samsung’s acquisition.

In 2025, Harman reached 15.7833 trillion won from sales, with an operating profit of 1.5311 trillion won, marking a record high. Compared to this, the company had 7.1034 trillion won in 2017. So, its sales revenue has doubled in the past decade.

Samsung acquired Harman in November 2016 and finalized all of the acquisition process in March 2017 for 9.4 trillion (about $8 billion), which was the largest merger and acquisition of a foreign firm by a South Korean company at that time.

Since then, Samsung has integrated Harman in all of its electronics products, including home appliances, smartphones, semiconductors, telecom devices, smart TVs, and electronics. However, the most notable application was Smart Car’s cockpit and in-car audio systems.

The Korean tech giant is planning to put more investment in the audio business to improve its technologies. In December, Harman acquired ZF’s ADAS division in Germany for 1.5 billion euros to harness an autonomous driving smart camera module.

It also purchased Marvell’s audio brand for 500 billion won. The next plan in line is to invest 131.18 million euros in Hungary to improve Harman’s automotive production base and set up a research and development center for autonomous driving software and hardware.

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