Wonik Robotics is seeking to supply humanoid robots to Samsung Electronics' semiconductor plants.

"We are currently conducting proof-of-concept (PoC) testing of wheeled robots with Samsung Electronics and other major semiconductor companies," Wonik Robotics Executive Director Kim Min-cheol said at the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association's Advanced Sensor Forum held at Josun Palace in Seoul's Gangnam district on Sept. 15.

Samsung Electronics' evaluation consists of three stages. It first checks whether the robot operates properly and then evaluates its reliability. During reliability testing, Samsung examines whether the robot can handle variables that may arise when handling wafers, including minute vibrations and dust. Semiconductor plants are highly sensitive to vibration and dust, creating a high barrier to the adoption of humanoid robots.

Even if the robot passes Samsung Electronics' final evaluation, the initial supply volume is expected to be limited. "If we pass, it will be meaningful in that we will have secured a major corporate customer," Kim said. He did not disclose the expected supply volume or timing.

Wonik Robotics' robot is wheeled. Humanoid robots can be divided into wheeled and bipedal types based on their method of locomotion. Wheeled robots have a human-like upper body but use wheels instead of legs for their lower body.

The robot is designed to transport wafers and other materials inside semiconductor plants, replacing tasks currently performed by workers. Wonik Robotics has previously supplied robotic hands for automation at Samsung Electronics' smartphone inspection lines.

Wonik Robotics develops the robot's body, including its hands, arms and lower body, in-house. The company is considering eventually supplying only the robotic hands while sourcing the remaining components externally. Robotic hands are one of the biggest technological bottlenecks in humanoid robots because they require the most precise movements. They are also among the most expensive robot components.

Wonik Robotics uses a five-finger robotic hand modeled after the human hand. The company also considered a four-finger design excluding the little finger, but opted for five fingers to ensure a stable grip on objects.

A key technology in the robotic hand is artificial intelligence (AI)-based object recognition. Sensors embedded in the hand detect an object's type, material and weight. The robot adjusts its grip strength accordingly, applying more force to heavier objects and less to fragile ones. AI assists in recognizing objects. Wonik Robotics develops its AI models in-house and uses proprietary data accumulated over more than a decade in the robotic hand business to train them.

Wonik Robotics' new plant in Wanju, North Jeolla Province, is expected to serve as its mass-production base for robots. The company has its headquarters in Seongnam and a research center in Anyang, both in Gyeonggi Province. Last month, Wonik Robotics said it would secure 350 billion won in funding from the government for projects including construction of a robotic hand production plant in Wanju.

Apple unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. The company also introduced a variable aperture for the first time on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, while improving computing performance and thermal management.

Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone Duo at a product event on Sept. 10. The Pro models will go on sale Sept. 18, followed by the Duo on Oct. 23. Prices start at $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro, $1,299 for the Pro Max and $1,999 for the iPhone Duo.

Apple did not announce the countries where the iPhone Duo will initially be available.

“The iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are designed to serve as intelligent personal hubs for users,” Apple Chief Executive Officer John Ternus said. “We put powerful performance and features at the center of the experiences users value most.”

The biggest change is the introduction of a foldable form factor. The iPhone Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display. The inner screen offers 50% more display area than the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 80% more than the Pro. Users can operate the device with one hand when folded and use the larger screen for multiple tasks when unfolded.

Apple also changed how iOS 27 works to take advantage of the larger display. Users can run two apps side by side or open two windows of the same app simultaneously, such as reading an email while viewing a document or comparing two webpages. An app running on the outer display continues on the inner screen when the device is unfolded, while content and controls adjust depending on the folding angle.

The iPhone also supports Apple Pencil for the first time. Starting later this year, the USB-C Apple Pencil can be used on both the inner and outer displays, bringing handwriting, drawing and document annotation features previously centered on the iPad to the iPhone.

Apple also detailed measures to improve crease visibility and surface durability. High-strength glass is placed above and below the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel, while a viscoelastic adhesive allows individual layers to move when folded to reduce deformation. A nano-texture surface treatment reduces reflections and glare, making the crease less visible.

The hinge consists of more than 100 precision components. A lower titanium plate and carbon-fiber support plate reinforce the display. During manufacturing, Apple uses a confocal laser to measure the surface profile of each device and applies thin photopolymer layers to correct residual unevenness.

The inner display uses an under-display camera for the first time on an iPhone, reducing the area that obstructs content. The device uses Touch ID integrated into the side button for unlocking. Its exterior is made from Grade 5 titanium and supports IP68 water and dust resistance.

The two displays can also be used for photography. Users can take selfies with the 48-megapixel rear camera while framing shots on the outer display. A preview feature lets subjects see themselves on the outer screen while being photographed.

The iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro and Apple’s C2 modem. A vapor chamber boosts sustained performance by as much as 35% compared with the iPhone 17 Pro. The device manages two battery cells as a single system and provides up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and 44 hours using the outer display.

Storage ranges from 256 gigabytes to 2 terabytes. The device will be available in Star White and Night Sky, with preorders beginning Oct. 16.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max focus on improvements to photography and sustained performance. The key camera change is a variable aperture introduced for the first time on the 48-megapixel main camera. Unlike a fixed aperture, six polymer-composite blades move to control the amount of light entering the lens.

The variable aperture adjusts both light intake and depth of field depending on shooting conditions. It opens wider in dark environments to capture more light and narrows when users want multiple subjects in focus. Apple said it captures as much as 50% more light in dark conditions. Users can also manually select from four aperture settings.

Apple also added the ability to apply cinematic effects to standard video after recording. For photos, Apple Reference Image signs sensor data at capture and stores an unalterable image alongside the edited version to strengthen original-image verification.

The Pro models use the A20 Pro processor built on a 2-nanometer process. It includes a six-core central processing unit (CPU), seven-core graphics processing unit (GPU) and dual Neural Engines with a combined 32 cores. High-performance CPU core performance improves by as much as 20%, while GPU performance increases by as much as 40%.

Apple also redesigned thermal management. The chip and memory are positioned side by side to transfer heat directly from the chip to the vapor chamber, which is three times larger than the one in the iPhone 17 Pro. The design is intended to reduce performance degradation during prolonged gaming and artificial intelligence workloads. Sustained performance improves by as much as 40% from the previous generation.

Video playback reaches as much as 36 hours on the Pro and 45 hours on the Pro Max for eSIM-only models. The Pro now provides battery life comparable to the previous Pro Max. The battery can be charged to 50% in about 15 minutes.

The Pro models will be available in Deep Black, Silver, Glacier and Burgundy, with preorders starting Sept. 12.

Apple is also bringing Siri AI that uses personal context to all three models. It can respond to requests and perform tasks in apps using information from emails, messages, the screen and camera. Korean-language support is scheduled to be added in October.

“The iPhone Duo demonstrates the creativity, ingenuity and dedication of teams across Apple,” Ternus said. “It shows what is possible when we bring together the capabilities of our teams to create products that are meaningful to customers.”

Samsung Electronics has begun developing its first artificial intelligence glasses equipped with a display. The device is designed to show color visual information across the front of the lens.

Samsung Electronics asked Samsung Display last month to develop a microdisplay for AI glasses, according to industry sources on Sept. 9. It provided requirements covering the product form factor, information display area, color and price.

Samsung is expected to evaluate the performance and cost of panels that meet its requirements, including OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) and LED-on-Silicon (LEDoS). Industry officials expect the product to launch in the second half of next year or the first half of 2028, with the timing depending on panel development and product validation.

Samsung has considered an ultra-small panel measuring 0.2 inch or less that can fit inside an eyeglass frame. An optical system would magnify the panel image and deliver it to the user’s eye. The device is intended primarily to display simple information such as text, notifications, icons and navigation arrows. Samsung has yet to decide whether to use a binocular design with displays for both eyes or a monocular design for one eye.

Rather than a high-resolution display capable of finely reproducing colors and contrast, Samsung is pursuing limited gradation of about 4 bits. Gradation refers to the number of brightness levels. Four bits per color channel provides 16 levels, compared with 256 levels for 8 bits. The approach is expected to prioritize easy recognition of text and symbols rather than rich colors for photos and video.

Industry officials consider white OLEDoS a practical option in terms of cost and production yield. OLEDoS is an ultra-small display that forms organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) on a silicon substrate. The white approach combines white OLEDs with color filters to produce colors. RGB OLEDoS does not require color filters but is more difficult to manufacture at high yields and carries higher production costs.

LEDoS combines microscopic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a silicon substrate. Its strength is high brightness, but color reproduction and mass-production yields remain challenges. It also requires technologies such as integrating red, green and blue (RGB) elements or converting light from blue LEDs into red and green.

Another technical challenge is securing a wide field of view (FOV), which determines the angular range over which users can see the virtual display. Because Samsung wants information displayed across the front of the lens, the viewing angle must also be wide. The product must achieve this while meeting color and cost requirements.

Samsung is planning the AI glasses as a smartphone companion accessory, keeping the smartphone as the primary device while allowing users to view necessary information through the glasses.

Samsung’s first AI glasses, scheduled for release this year, operate without a display and focus on camera and voice functions. They were jointly developed with Google, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, combining Samsung’s hardware engineering, Google’s AI technology and designs from the two eyewear brands.

Meta commercialized color-display AI glasses in September last year. Meta Ray-Ban Display uses a monocular design with a screen only in the right lens. The display has a resolution of 600×600 pixels and a 20-degree FOV. Its full-color screen can display messages, photos, maps and translated subtitles, with the display positioned to the side of the user’s field of vision to avoid obstructing the forward view. Samsung, by contrast, plans to display text and symbols across the front of the lens using limited gradation.

“Samsung plans to evaluate OLEDoS, LEDoS and other panels that meet its requirements before commercializing the product,” an industry official said. “Samsung has not specified a particular panel technology, but RGB OLEDoS presents significant cost and production-yield challenges. Realistically, white OLEDoS is the more likely option.”

Samsung Electronics has expanded heart health management features based on its Galaxy Watch devices and Samsung Health app.

Samsung introduced features including blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement, a heart health score, vital signs monitoring and health data sharing among family members at a media briefing held Sept. 9 at the Taepyeong-ro Building near Seoul City Hall.

Samsung introduced an optical photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor with the Galaxy S5, Gear 2 and Gear Fit in 2014 and has since continued to expand its health management technologies. In 2020, its Samsung Health Monitor app for blood pressure and ECG measurement received medical device approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

In 2021, Samsung introduced the BioActive Sensor on the Galaxy Watch4, combining optical heart rate, ECG and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) sensors. In 2023, its Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature, which alerts users to signs of possible atrial fibrillation, received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 support a heart health score feature. It analyzes health data including sleep, activity levels, vascular stress and body composition to provide a score and health management guidance.

The devices also support a vital signs feature that tracks physical conditions during sleep. It measures five indicators — heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen saturation — and alerts users when changes differ from their usual baseline.

Samsung Health also includes health data sharing. With user consent, data including steps, exercise, sleep, weight, body composition, food intake, heart rate, stress, blood pressure, blood glucose, medication and vital signs can be selectively shared with family members or acquaintances.

Linking family profiles with Samsung accounts allows family members to view one another’s health records.

Samsung also disclosed real-world examples of the features in use. In Jordan last year, a user discovered atherosclerosis and underwent a procedure after receiving an irregular heart rhythm notification. In Brazil, a user who repeatedly received inconclusive ECG readings sought medical attention and addressed the risk of myocardial infarction, Samsung said.

“We are combining Galaxy Watch sensor technology with Samsung Health’s analytical capabilities to help users manage heart health risk factors,” said Choi Jong-min, executive vice president of the Digital Health Team at Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business. “We will introduce smart healthcare services focused on prevention.”

Samsung Electronics is running a “Welcome to Foldables” outdoor advertising campaign featuring its Galaxy Z Fold8 series in major cities around the world.

Samsung Electronics said Sept. 8 that it has been rolling out digital outdoor advertisements since Sept. 2 at six major landmarks, starting with KT Square in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, followed by K-POP LIVE at COEX, Shibuya Station in Tokyo, and Piccadilly Circus and Outernet in London.

The advertisements feature three messages: “Ultra Thin,” “The world’s lightest fold” and “Built to outlast.”

Samsung Electronics has developed its foldable products over eight generations since launching its first Fold model in 2019. The Galaxy Z Fold series has evolved with software optimized for the foldable form factor, artificial intelligence (AI) and connectivity across Galaxy devices.

The latest Galaxy Z Fold8 series set a record for Galaxy smartphone pre-orders in South Korea. The series is currently sold in 106 markets worldwide.

Samsung Electronics has opened a permanent exhibition highlighting the technological and design evolution of its Galaxy foldable smartphones over the past seven years.

The company said on Aug. 11 that it began operating the Foldable Heritage exhibition on Aug. 10 on the third floor of Samsung Gangnam. Permanent exhibition spaces have also opened on the first floors of Samsung Store Hongdae and Samsung Store Cheongdam.

The exhibition is divided into three sections: Galaxy Fold & Flip Story, Design Story and Tech Story.

The Galaxy Fold & Flip Story section showcases the evolution of Samsung's foldable devices and technologies, beginning with the original inward-folding Galaxy Fold, introduced in 2019, through the Galaxy Z Trifold and the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold8. The exhibition also highlights the development of Galaxy AI and other software technologies.

The Design Story section reveals the development process behind the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8, featuring early design sketches, mock-up testing, aspect ratio studies and the decision-making process behind the products' final designs. The Tech Story section focuses on advances in foldable display and hinge technologies, including Samsung's Flex Titanium technology used in the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold8, presented through product displays and video demonstrations.

Visitors can also watch videos of durability tests conducted during product development, including folding, water-resistance and impact testing. In addition, Samsung is displaying disassembled Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold8 devices to showcase their internal components and structural design.

Park Jung-mi, Executive Vice President and Head of Samsung Electronics Korea, said the exhibition was designed to allow visitors to experience the company's accumulated foldable technologies and development process over the past seven years.

LG Electronics has secured an in-house testing qualification for cybersecurity requirements under European wireless device regulations, allowing it to proceed with certification based on its own test results without sending products to overseas testing organizations.

LG Electronics said on Aug. 11 that its Software Testing Center under the chief technology officer (CTO) organization has been designated by TÜV Rheinland as a testing laboratory for cybersecurity requirements under the European Union's Radio Equipment Directive (RED).

The RED requires wireless communication products sold in Europe to meet security and safety requirements. Cybersecurity provisions related to network protection, personal data protection and financial fraud prevention were strengthened in 2025.

With the new qualification, LG Electronics' Software Testing Center can conduct the relevant certification tests internally. TÜV Rheinland will review the company's submitted test results and data and can issue certification without conducting a separate test.

The process allows LG Electronics to reduce the time and cost required from product development through certification and launch because prototypes no longer need to be sent to overseas certification bodies. It also limits the amount of product information that must leave the company. For business-to-business (B2B) operations such as automotive components and HVAC systems, the company expects to shorten certification procedures for products customized to client requirements.

LG Electronics has continued to expand its software regulatory compliance capabilities. In 2019, it obtained international accredited testing laboratory status in the software field from the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) and subsequently broadened its testing scope to home appliances, automotive functional safety and cybersecurity.

The company is also seeking accredited testing laboratory status for the European Union's Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which is scheduled to take effect in 2027. The CRA establishes cybersecurity requirements for products containing digital elements regardless of whether they support wireless communications.

LG Electronics is also strengthening its product security framework. Through LG Shield, the company manages product security from the development stage through post-launch operation. It provides patches for vulnerabilities discovered after release and is applying post-quantum cryptography technologies designed to address future threats from quantum computers.

LG Electronics said on Aug. 10 that it is holding a special exhibition for its next-generation wireless wallpaper TV, the LG SIGNATURE OLED W, at the Brompton Road display windows on the ground floor of Harrods through Aug. 26.

The exhibition is being held in the department store's Brompton Road storefront windows, which attract approximately 1.1 million visitors per month. LG Electronics designed the exhibition route so that visitors who view the product in the display windows can continue to experience it inside the company's retail space within the department store.

The LG SIGNATURE OLED W achieves a thickness in the 0.9-centimeter range by minimizing the size of key components, including the display panel, power board and speakers. Video signals are transmitted wirelessly through LG's Zero Connect Box, which connects to peripheral devices. The company said the Zero Connect Box is 35% smaller than those used with its previous wireless TV models.

The television can wirelessly transmit content at up to a 165 Hz refresh rate in 4K resolution. It is powered by LG Electronics' third-generation Alpha 11 AI processor for image and sound processing. According to the company, the processor delivers 5.6 times greater neural processing unit (NPU) performance and a 70% improvement in graphics processing performance compared with the previous generation.

The LG SIGNATURE OLED W has received Intertek's Reflection Free Premium certification and TÜV Rheinland's True Wireless Low Latency Vision certification.

Samsung Electronics will launch its new Galaxy Z series smartphones and Galaxy Watch models in more than 100 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, India and Japan.

The company said on Aug. 6 that it will begin domestic sales of the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8 and Flip8, along with the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9, starting Aug. 7.

The Galaxy Z series recorded 1.44 million pre-orders between July 28 and Aug. 3. Approximately seven out of 10 buyers chose a Galaxy Z Fold8 model.

Among customers who pre-ordered through Samsung.com, people in their teens through their 30s accounted for half of all buyers. The number of female customers in their teens through their 30s who purchased the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra or Fold8 more than doubled compared with buyers of the previous-generation Galaxy Z Fold7.

By color, the most popular options were Graphite and Violet Shadow for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Cream and Graphite for the Galaxy Z Fold8, and Pink and Cream for the Galaxy Z Flip8.

Half of customers who pre-ordered unlocked models through Samsung.com also enrolled in the New Galaxy AI Subscription Club program.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 increased by double-digit percentages from their predecessors during the same period. Female customers accounted for a roughly 15% larger share of Galaxy Watch Ultra2 pre-orders compared with the previous model.

More than half of the customers preordering Samsung Electronics’ latest foldable smartphones are in their teens, 20s and 30s, with the newly introduced passport-style Galaxy Z Fold8 emerging as the most popular model.

Samsung Electronics said on July 31 that customers in their teens through 30s accounted for more than 50% of preorders placed through Samsung.com for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8 since reservations opened on July 28. The preorder period runs through Aug. 3.

Among younger customers, the Galaxy Z Fold8 was the most frequently selected model. By color, Cream was the most popular choice, followed by Pistachio and Lavender, both exclusive to Samsung.com.

For the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Graphite and the Samsung.com-exclusive Green Shadow were the most popular colors. For the Galaxy Z Flip8, Mint, Cream and Pink received the strongest customer preference.

Samsung attributed the higher share of younger buyers to promotional benefits such as storage upgrades and features that simplify transferring data from existing devices to Galaxy smartphones.

Customers who purchase a 256-gigabyte (GB) model during the preorder period will receive a 512GB model. Buyers of the 512GB Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold8 can upgrade to a 1-terabyte (TB) model for an additional 310,700 won.

Preorder customers will also receive a six-month subscription to Google AI Pro, a three-month subscription to audiobook and content platform Welaaa, and discount coupons for Galaxy Watches and accessories. Samsung is also offering its New Galaxy AI Subscription Club program for the new devices, as well as the Flip Youth Subscription program targeted at customers in their teens and 20s.

Samsung Electronics Co. is expanding its foldable smartphone lineup to three models.

​Roh Tae-moon, President, Chief Executive Officer and Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, said at a media briefing held after the Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event at Old Billingsgate in London on July 22 that foldable smartphones have moved beyond introducing a new form factor and become part of consumers' everyday lives.

​"Foldables have moved beyond the stage of introducing a new form factor and have become part of everyday life," Roh said. "We have broadened customer choice to meet increasingly diverse consumer expectations."

​Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip8 at the event, expanding its foldable portfolio from the two-model Fold and Flip lineup it had maintained since launching its first foldable smartphone in 2019.

◇​"We Welcome More Foldable Competitors, but Seven Years of Experience Cannot Be Matched"

​Roh said he expects more companies to enter the foldable smartphone market in the future.

​"As the foldable market matures, more companies will enter," he said. "That means foldables are becoming mainstream and the market is expanding, which we welcome."

​However, Roh emphasized that Samsung's seven years of accumulated user experience will be difficult for competitors to replicate in a short period. Foldable devices are not defined solely by folding hardware, he said, but also require the operating system, user interface and third-party applications to be optimized for different display configurations.

​"The competitiveness of Samsung's foldables comes from integrating hardware innovation, Galaxy AI and the consumer experience into a single product," Roh said.

◇Galaxy AI Installed Base to Reach 800 Million Devices

​Samsung aims to increase the number of devices capable of using Galaxy AI to 800 million by the end of this year, including existing devices upgraded through software updates.

​"The competitive advantage of AI will not be how intelligent it is, but how well it understands users," Roh said. "People do not want to learn AI—they want it to provide practical help in their daily lives."

​He said AI will evolve beyond simply answering questions into agentic AI capable of completing tasks on behalf of users.

​Samsung plans to leverage both proprietary and third-party AI models. The company will use its in-house Samsung Gauss model and Bixby for Samsung applications and device functions, while deploying external models such as Google Gemini for features integrated with Google's services.

​Samsung also plans to expand partnerships beyond Google. The company is already working with Perplexity and is evaluating the adoption of additional third-party AI models.

​"We are not committed to a single AI solution," Roh said. "If an external AI model is suitable for the mobile user experience and services, we will adopt multiple AI models."

◇CEO-Led Organization to Accelerate Robotics Commercialization

​Samsung is also moving its robotics business from research and development into commercialization. The company recently established the Robotics Experience (RX) Business Promotion Office, reporting directly to Roh, bringing together robotics technologies and personnel that had previously been spread across multiple organizations.

​"We created a dedicated organization to properly begin the full-scale commercialization of the advanced development and investments we have made in robotics over many years," Roh said. "Robotics is one of the key future growth drivers for the DX Division."

​Samsung previously became the largest shareholder of Rainbow Robotics and has operated its Future Robotics Task Force. The company plans to first deploy robots in manufacturing facilities to verify the technology before expanding into enterprise and consumer markets.

​Samsung is also preparing a successor to the Galaxy Ring.

​"We will not release new products mechanically according to a fixed schedule," Roh said. "We will launch them when innovations that satisfy consumers are ready. We are preparing Galaxy Ring 2 to deliver a new wearable experience."

​◇Cost Increases Beyond Supply Chain Efforts May Be Reflected in Prices

​Roh said Samsung will work closely with supply chain partners to minimize the impact of rising memory and key component costs. The company said it coordinated supply volumes and delivery schedules in advance with strategic suppliers to ensure stable production of the Galaxy Z Fold8 series.

​However, Samsung left open the possibility of reflecting cost increases in product prices if they exceed what can be absorbed through supply chain optimization.

​"We will not pass 100% of higher production costs on to consumers and will work with our partners to minimize the burden," Roh said. "However, if cost pressures exceed a manageable level, we will have no choice but to reflect part of the increase in the product's launch price."

Samsung Electronics unveiled its next generation of Galaxy devices—including foldable smartphones, smartwatches and AI-powered smart glasses—laying out a broader vision for an agentic AI ecosystem in which smartphones, wearables and eyewear work together to anticipate users' needs.

At its Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event in London on July 22, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8, alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, Galaxy Watch9 and its upcoming Intelligent Eyewear, which is scheduled to launch later this year.

The company expanded its foldable smartphone lineup from two models to three by adding the flagship Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The Fold8 Ultra features an 8-inch main display, a 200-megapixel camera and a 5,000mAh battery. It measures 4.1mm thick when unfolded and weighs 215 grams.

The standard Fold8 is designed with media consumption in mind, offering a 7.6-inch main display and a 5.5-inch cover display while weighing 201 grams. The Flip8 emphasizes portability with a weight of 180 grams and a thickness of 6.1mm, allowing users to access major apps and AI features directly from the cover screen without opening the device.

Both the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra are the first Samsung smartphones to incorporate Flex Titanium, a structural technology combining a titanium alloy film with a reinforced titanium plate. Samsung said the redesigned internal support structure and hinge reduce thickness while improving durability and minimizing display creases. Peak display brightness has also increased 15% from the previous generation to 3,000 nits.

The new devices feature Gemini Intelligence, jointly developed with Google, enabling contextual AI interactions across multiple applications. The system understands both on-screen content and conversations, allowing users to perform tasks such as searching for a restaurant, making a reservation and adding the appointment to their calendar in a single workflow. Samsung said the AI currently integrates with more than 40 applications, including food delivery, shopping and reservation services.

Samsung also introduced Now Nudge, an AI feature that proactively recommends next actions based on context. For example, it can suggest creating a calendar event when users make plans during a conversation or recommend saving a location after it is searched. On larger foldable displays, users can simultaneously view their conversation with the AI assistant and the progress of ongoing tasks.

Samsung is also expanding AI beyond smartphones through its Intelligent Eyewear platform. The smart glasses integrate cameras, microphones, speakers and sensors into the frame, allowing them to recognize the user's surroundings. They can translate foreign-language menus into spoken audio, capture meeting documents and whiteboards, and automatically organize the content in the Samsung Notes app.

The Intelligent Eyewear runs on the Android XR platform and is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor. Samsung said the device provides up to nine hours of battery life on a single charge. Eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker collaborated on the industrial design, and Samsung has revealed four design variants to date.

Samsung also strengthened the health monitoring capabilities of its smartwatch lineup. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 features an 800mAh battery—35% larger than its predecessor—and a display with peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits. It adds dedicated trail running and diving modes while upgrading durability with an IP69K rating for water and dust resistance.

The Galaxy Watch9 monitors heart rate, respiratory rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen saturation during sleep to detect changes in users' health conditions. It also provides a heart health score based on sleep quality, physical activity and body composition, along with personalized exercise and recovery guidance.

Samsung said each Galaxy device has a distinct role within its AI ecosystem: smartphones understand user behavior and digital content, smartwatches monitor physical health and AI glasses perceive the surrounding environment. By combining information gathered across all three devices, the company aims to deliver proactive AI experiences that recommend actions before users issue commands.

"As AI continues to evolve, mobile devices will become the products that understand users best and integrate most naturally into everyday life, serving as the closest point of interaction with consumers," said TM Roh, president and head of Samsung Electronics' Device eXperience (DX) Division. "The Galaxy Z series will further advance the mobile experience through highly refined foldable devices while delivering personalized AI services that usher in the next era of intelligence."

LG Electronics will halt production at its manufacturing plant in Huizhou, China, after October, bringing operations at the group's first manufacturing subsidiary in China to an end after 34 years.

According to industry sources on July 21, LG Electronics plans to cease operations on the production lines at LG Electronics Huizhou (LGEHZ) by the end of the year. The company has already informed local employees that manufacturing will stop after October.

The Huizhou facility has primarily produced speakers for LG Electronics' XBOOM audio brand. The company is understood to have decided to reorganize its manufacturing footprint as competition from Chinese manufacturers intensifies and its audio business shifts toward premium products.

LGEHZ was established in October 1993 as a joint venture among LG Electronics, LG Electronics China and TCL Group, becoming the LG Group's first manufacturing subsidiary in China. LG Electronics currently owns an 80% stake in the venture.

The Huizhou factory began operations in October 1994, producing home theater systems, Blu-ray DVD players, smart printers and beauty devices. More than 90% of its output was exported, primarily to North America, Latin America, Europe and Central Asia.

The plant has an annual audio production capacity of 2.6 million units and annual production value exceeding 2 billion yuan. Profitability has declined over the past three years, with net profit falling from 12.5 billion won in 2023 to 10.9 billion won in 2024 and 9.2 billion won in 2025.

"We plan to close the Huizhou plant this year and have already informed local employees that production will stop after October," a person involved in LG Electronics' China operations said.

The company has not yet finalized how it will handle the legal entity or the factory after production ends.

"Production at the Huizhou subsidiary is scheduled to stop by October this year," an LG Electronics spokesperson said. "We are reviewing various options for the future operation of the subsidiary and the factory."

Possible options include transferring production to LG Electronics' manufacturing base in Hai Phong, Vietnam, expanding contract manufacturing with Chinese partners, or liquidating the subsidiary.

LG Electronics previously liquidated its Kunshan manufacturing subsidiary in China in 2020, transferring automotive infotainment production to its Hai Phong plant. The Kunshan facility had produced automotive audio, video, navigation and telematics products.

LG Group operates the LG Hai Phong Campus in Vietnam, which houses manufacturing facilities for LG Electronics, LG Display and LG Innotek. Hai Phong has become one of the group's key overseas manufacturing hubs.

LG Electronics Vietnam Hai Phong (LGEVH) reported consolidated revenue of 5.97 trillion won in 2025, up 5.9% from 5.64 trillion won in 2024. Net profit increased 17.8% to 204.9 billion won from 173.9 billion won. LGEVH is the company's second-largest overseas manufacturing subsidiary by revenue, after its US subsidiary.

LG Electronics could also outsource production previously handled at Huizhou to Chinese manufacturers. The company already uses a joint development and manufacturing model for some entry-level refrigerators, washing machines and robot vacuum cleaners, with Chinese partners responsible for product development and manufacturing while LG Electronics oversees product planning and quality standards.

Depending on product positioning and target markets, the company could shift Huizhou production to external manufacturing partners.

Another possibility is the complete liquidation of the Huizhou subsidiary without relocating production. LG Electronics previously shut down and liquidated its Tianjin subsidiary, which manufactured kitchen appliance components, after the need to maintain local production diminished amid growing competition from lower-cost Chinese brands.

Industry sources said the closure reflects a manufacturing efficiency strategy rather than a retreat from the audio business.

LG Electronics has been expanding its premium audio lineup, particularly premium speakers and soundbars, while targeting annual audio business revenue in the trillions of won over the longer term. Market research firms forecast the global consumer audio market will grow from $58.1 billion in 2024 to $70.1 billion in 2029, driven in part by new product categories such as AI-powered speakers.