Samsung has unveiled its 2027 Odyssey gaming monitors at Gamescom 2026, pushing its display portfolio further into ultra-high refresh rates, OLED panels and unconventional screen sizes. The new range includes the Odyssey OLED G9, OLED G8, OLED G7 and the headline Odyssey G6.

Odyssey G6 reaches 1,100Hz

The 27-inch Odyssey G6 (G60H) is the standout model, becoming the world’s first gaming monitor capable of a 1,100Hz refresh rate.

Samsung has increased the previously announced 1,040Hz limit, while the monitor can still run at up to 600Hz in QHD through Dual Mode. It uses a Fast IPS panel with a 1ms response time, targeting players who prioritize motion clarity and responsiveness in competitive games.

The company is also introducing more premium options for different gaming styles. The 49-inch OLED G9 combines a 360Hz refresh rate with Dual QHD resolution, while the 32-inch OLED G8 supports up to 360Hz in 4K and higher refresh rates at lower resolutions.

Meanwhile, the 42-inch curved OLED G7 brings 4K OLED visuals and a 165Hz refresh rate to a much larger 16:9 display.

The new Odyssey monitors are being showcased at Gamescom, with availability and pricing expected to vary by market.

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• Samsung unveils high-speed P9 and P7 SSDs at Gamescom 2026

Android was about to flag a steep decline in the US and emerging markets worldwide due to a memory crunch, but the Samsung Galaxy S26 series helped the OS mitigate the slump in the second quarter of 2026.

Counterpoint Research reports that global smartphone sales dropped 11% year-over-year in Q2 2026. The slowdown hit entry-level and mid-tier phones the hardest, and it reshaped the balance between the major operating systems.

iOS climbed to its highest-ever June quarter share at 20%, riding steady demand for the iPhone 17 lineup. HarmonyOS added more pressure, growing to 5% of global sales and a striking 24% share within China alone.

Samsung’s role in this story stands out

The Galaxy S26 series outperformed its predecessor, and that improvement did real work in cushioning Android’s overall decline. Without it, the numbers on Android’s side would likely look considerably worse.

Galaxy S26 lineup was released in March 2026, featuring Android 16. The delayed launch of the flagships caused Samsung’s decline in the first quarter, but it benefited in the second, covering the losses of the previous period.

After Galaxy S26, Samsung’s latest foldable phones are now giving Android a much-needed boost. The three foldable devices are selling at an incredible pace, which helps Android mitigate the worst situation amid a memory shortage.

Meanwhile, Chinese Android OEMs are recalibrating rather than retreating. Facing RAM shortages and rising component costs, many are pulling back from budget devices and pushing further into premium and higher-margin territory.

Huawei, running on HarmonyOS, benefited from stronger local component sourcing, which shielded it from some of these cost pressures, with the Enjoy 90 Pro Max playing a notable part in that quarter’s performance.

China’s YMTC is no longer just trying to catch up with Samsung and SK Hynix in NAND. The company now reportedly has a much bigger ambition: becoming the world’s largest NAND flash manufacturer by the end of 2027.

There is a reason the claim deserves attention.

YMTC has already climbed into the global top three by NAND shipment volume.

In Q2 2026, it accounted for 14% of global bit shipments, compared with 25% for Samsung and 22% for SK Hynix. YMTC’s shipments also grew 22% year over year, showing that its expansion is gaining momentum.

The company is also pushing its NAND technology forward.

YMTC is mass-producing 267-layer 3D NAND using its Xtacking 4.0 architecture and developing products beyond 300 layers. Its planned $4.9 billion IPO could provide additional funding for capacity expansion and research.

Still, Samsung and SK Hynix have a significant advantage that shipment numbers alone do not show. YMTC ranked only fifth in NAND revenue during Q2, largely because its business remains heavily focused on consumer storage.

Samsung and SK Hynix have stronger exposure to higher-value enterprise SSDs. That matters even more as AI data centers drive eSSD demand. Enterprise SSDs already represented 48% of NAND bit shipments in Q2.

So, can YMTC overtake Samsung and SK Hynix?

Technically possible, but far from certain.

Closing an 11-point shipment gap while upgrading its product mix and expanding capacity within roughly 16 months is a huge challenge.

YMTC is now a serious threat to Samsung’s NAND leadership, but becoming No. 1 by 2027 remains an ambitious target rather than an expected outcome.

NVIDIA is taking a more direct role in the memory architecture powering next-generation AI accelerators with its new NVHBM technology. The official technical details point to up to 30% higher bandwidth compared with HBM4E.

Announced on August 26, NVHBM is being added to the NVIDIA NVLink Fusion platform, which allows hyperscalers and AI companies to build custom XPUs while using NVIDIA’s high-speed interconnect and rack-scale technologies.

The biggest change is where the memory controller sits. Instead of occupying valuable space on the main accelerator die, NVIDIA moves its custom controller into the HBM base die and uses a redesigned PHY.

This can deliver up to 30% more memory bandwidth, reduce HBM power consumption by up to 15%, and free up to 25% more compute-die area for additional processing resources.

NVIDIA is not planning to manufacture NVHBM itself. The company is establishing a standardized implementation that can be produced by multiple memory suppliers, potentially giving customers greater flexibility in sourcing and qualification.

Amazon’s Annapurna Labs will be the first partner to work with NVHBM alongside NVLink Fusion. Its next-generation Trainium platform is expected to combine these technologies for more efficient custom AI infrastructure.

Samsung reportedly had a Galaxy S27 Ultra prototype in consideration, equipped with 7000mAh battery. To install such a massive battery inside, the company had to dump the S Pen slot, but this prototype is unlikely to go real after all.

X tipster @kro_roe reports that a Galaxy S27 Ultra with a 7000mAh battery was in the works. It was one of the five prototypes Samsung had been evaluating. However, the prototype with an S Pen silo had been pushed to the next phase.

Removing the stylus compartment actually helped Samsung in a big way. Engineers managed to equip the device with a huge battery. Meanwhile, a Samsung flagship with a monstrous battery will still be awaited for a few years.

Galaxy S27 Ultra battery bump is certain

Galaxy S27 Ultra still reportedly gets a decent battery bump. After years of the 5000mAh era, the Korean tech giant is finally bringing a 5700mAh battery to its next big flagship phone, positioning it ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

• Galaxy S27 Pro battery could reach 5200mAh, S27 Ultra 5700mAh

Samsung is widely rumored to utilize silicon-carbon anode tech. It helps the cell improve density while retaining the physical stats. That said, the Galaxy S27 Ultra will remain slim and lightweight while boasting a bigger battery.

S Pen could finally see a departure from Samsung’s phone range. Galaxy S27 Ultra appears to be the last model, as foldables have already removed support. If it happens, the company should utilize the opportunity to bring a bigger battery.