Samsung has reportedly started testing One UI 9.5 firmware on four Galaxy S27 models, scheduled to be released in the first quarter of next year.

Galaxy S lineup usually had three flagship models until 2026. Meanwhile, Samsung plans to expand the range further by adding a new Pro variant. That said, there will be a total of four flagship phones in next year’s Galaxy S series.

As spotted by TarunVats, Samsung has “started internal testing” of One UI 9.5 for the Global/European versions of the Galaxy S27 series. The firmware builds have also revealed model numbers, which align with related leaks.

• Galaxy S27 (SM-S952B)
• Galaxy S27+ (SM-S956B)
• Galaxy S27 Pro (SM-S957B)
• Galaxy S27 Ultra (SM-S958B)

Samsung initially planned impressive upgrades for the Galaxy S27 Pro. However, increasing component costs have changed the dynamics. Now, the Galaxy S27 Pro is getting ready as a balanced flagship model.

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Galaxy S27 Ultra may also skip the Variable Aperture camera. That said, the flagship phone will continue to rely heavily on software tricks. Samsung is ignoring the tech despite Apple’s set to launch the iPhone 18 Pro with variable aperture.

Recently, a Galaxy S26 was spotted running One UI 9.5 firmware. The initial set of leaks revealed a native App Lock feature for Galaxy devices. We will have even more early impressions of the upcoming software over the period.

Presently, Samsung is focusing on the sales of its newly released foldable phones. The Galaxy S26 FE is planned to be announced early next month. We can expect the stable One UI 9 rollout to commence after the FE debut.

Samsung’s Galaxy S27 series is still months away from an official reveal, but the leaks are already piling up, and the latest one focuses on something fans have debated for years: the camera design.

New design visuals spotted in the WIPO Global Design Database (via SammyGuru) reveal Samsung may be testing a fresh triple-camera layout for the Galaxy S27 series that ditches the individual ring setup we’ve grown used to on flagships.

A Pixel-style camera bar for Galaxy?

The WIPO filing shows all three rear camera sensors sit side by side inside one horizontal bar, closer to what Google has been doing with the Pixel lineup, or even a callback to Samsung’s own Galaxy S10 days.

• You may like: Galaxy S27 Ultra design to revive the Galaxy S10 era?

The camera module appears to sit almost flush against the back glass, with none of the pronounced bump that current Galaxy S phones carry around, which should translate to a slimmer, cleaner-looking device.

There’s also a practical angle here.

A flatter camera setup means less interference for those magnetic cases, and the telephoto lens won’t be fighting for space the way it sometimes does now.

Away from the camera, the design doesn’t show much of a shakeup. Rounded corners, flat sides, the general Galaxy S silhouette we already know. Samsung isn’t reinventing the whole phone here, just rethinking how the cameras sit on it.

It’s worth remembering that a design patent filing is not a confirmation.

Design patents show up in WIPO’s database fairly often, and companies file multiple concepts they never end up shipping. So this could well be one of several ideas Samsung is testing internally rather than the final call.

Still, paired with other leaks pointing to a “unified camera module” replacing the floating rings, there’s a decent chance the Galaxy S27 ends up looking noticeably different from what’s currently sitting in your pocket.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the newest, most powerful, and stylish foldable phone from Samsung. It has a big folding screen, a slim design, and powerful features. However, a new teardown by iFixit shows that repairing the phone may be very difficult. iFixit gave the Galaxy Z Fold 8 a 4/10 repairability score.

There are a few positive points. Samsung uses common Phillips/JIS screws, so technicians do not need unusual tools. The USB-C charging port is also a separate part and can be replaced without changing the main board.

The battery has also been improved. The new silicon-carbon battery offers about 8.8% more capacity than the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It also has pull tabs that can make battery removal easier. However, reaching one of the two batteries means removing the outer screen. Since the screen is fragile, this repair could easily cause more damage.

The inner folding screen is an even bigger problem. During iFixit’s teardown, the plastic frame around the screen broke, and the delicate OLED display was damaged. The hinge also needs careful attention. Dust, sand, and tiny particles can get inside it despite the phone’s IP4X rating. This could affect the hinge over time.

Another problem is that Samsung combines the inner screen and hinge into one assembly. So, repairing one part may require replacing or removing a much larger section of the phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 may be a great phone to use, but keeping it in good condition could be more important than ever.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has captured the beauty of the Perseid meteor shower over Dangpo Fortress in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

The photograph was taken in the early hours of August 13 using the phone’s Expert RAW mode. It is a combination of three photographs, showing bright meteors moving across the dark night sky.

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most popular meteor showers of the year. It happens when Earth passes through dust and small pieces of rock left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle. When these particles enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, they burn and create bright streaks of light, often called shooting stars.

Image via ETNEWS

The image highlights the camera capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Using Expert RAW mode, the phone was able to capture the faint light of the meteors against the dark sky.

The photograph also shows how smartphone technology is becoming useful for capturing beautiful scenes that were once mainly photographed with professional cameras. With Perseid meteors lighting up the sky, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra captured a striking combination of nature, history, and modern technology.

Apple is flexing its iPhone 18 Pro series supply chain muscle, and this time it’s Samsung Display and LG Display feeling the pressure.

According to a new report, Apple has approached both South Korean panel makers with a request to sharply cut OLED prices for the upcoming iPhone 18 lineup, even as it dangles a bigger order volume as a sweetener.

Is Apple eyeing Samsung’s memory profits?

Apple is reportedly pushing for a price of around $70 per panel for the Pro Max variant, down roughly 36% from the near $110 it paid for the current generation.

Related post: Apple is paying less than ever for iPhone 18 Pro OLED displays

In exchange, Apple has offered to bump order volumes by 30 percent to 40 percent. On paper, that sounds like a fair trade, but the math doesn’t quite add up for the suppliers.

Even with a 35 percent volume increase, a price cut of that scale still translates to around a 14 percent drop in total revenue compared to the previous cycle, and that’s before accounting for higher production and yield costs.

Apple is dealing with a sharp spike in memory chip prices, as vendors redirect capacity toward AI-focused HBM production. The company appears to be offsetting that hit by leaning on displays, an area where it holds significant leverage.

LG Display looks more exposed here since its mobile OLED business is heavily tied to Apple. Samsung Display isn’t immune either, but its broader portfolio spanning IT OLED for tablets and laptops gives it more cushion.

An industry official stated, “The surge in memory prices is spreading cost pressures across the entire smartphone supply chain. Under cost-reduction pressures from major end-device manufacturers, it will be difficult for display makers to reject price-cut demands from a massive client like Apple.”