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.

Source – Ice Universe

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.

Image – Z Fold 7 (Top) | Z Fold 8 (Bottom)

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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