Samsung Electronics will increase production of the Galaxy Z Fold8 by 1 million units in 2026 after strong preorder demand for its wider foldable phone, according to ET News. The move comes as the company prepares for a new round of competition in foldables ahead of Apple's first 4:3 foldable iPhone, which is expected in September 2026.
Google has officially announced that it will unveil its annual Pixel 11 flagship smartphone series on August 13, 2026, with the lineup expected to include the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. As generative AI adoption accelerates and shortages and price increases hit key upstream smartphone components, investors and the market are closely watching how Google will use AI to boost sales and hardware momentum.
Apple has tested DRAM from China's ChangXin Memory Technologies in iPhone and MacBook products as AI-driven memory shortages and rising prices strain global supply, according to reports. The testing has also drawn bipartisan pressure from US lawmakers, who are urging the Commerce Department and Apple leadership to tighten restrictions on Chinese suppliers.
Samsung Electronics is considering opening its flagship Galaxy S display driver IC (DDI) supply chain to an outside supplier, a move that could break System LSI's long-standing exclusive hold on the business.
Apple and its manufacturing partners are rushing to secure mobile DRAM ahead of the expected launch of the iPhone 18 lineup, as about US$1 billion worth of next-generation processors reportedly remain unable to move into packaging without sufficient memory supply.
The global smartphone market is approaching an unusual turning point in the second half of 2026. Artificial intelligence has become the industry's preferred growth narrative, while reports that Apple and Samsung Electronics are considering memory components from Chinese suppliers also reflect a market under mounting strain.
Starlink is preparing to move beyond satellite broadband and direct-to-device coverage into a broader mobile communications business, as SpaceX seeks to combine its orbital network with terrestrial infrastructure and challenge the dominance of established US telecom operators.
Samsung Electronics' latest move to scale back its smartphone retail network in China marks another milestone in a years-long restructuring. The shift has steadily reduced the company's footprint across manufacturing and consumer businesses, highlighting how changing market dynamics have reshaped the Korean technology giant's China strategy.
