Samsung’s Exynos smartphone chips are gaining a larger share of the global market. This is happening even though the overall smartphone market is getting smaller.

According to Counterpoint, Exynos chips made up 9% of global smartphone chip shipments in the second quarter. The main reason for this growth is Samsung’s increased use of its own chips in Galaxy phones.

Apple’s chip shipments increased slightly, helped by demand for the iPhone 17 Pro models. However, the overall smartphone market fell 21% year over year. Higher memory prices and lower phone inventories were major reasons for the decline.

Samsung Exynos’s Q2 success was up from 7% in the first quarter and 6% a year earlier. It is the highest share Exynos has reached since Counterpoint began tracking the market in 2024.

The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus used the Exynos 2600 in some markets. Samsung also used Exynos chips in its mid-range phones. The Galaxy A57 came with the Exynos 1680, while the Galaxy A37 used the Exynos 1480.

At the same time, Qualcomm and MediaTek shipped fewer smartphone chips than they did a year earlier. Qualcomm lost some Galaxy S26 business in certain regions because Samsung used its own Exynos chip. MediaTek was affected by weaker demand for both regular and high-end smartphones.

For Samsung, the 9% Exynos share is an important milestone. However, it does not mean Exynos has become the market leader. Much of the growth comes from Samsung putting its own chips into more Galaxy phones.

Samsung is working to protect nature and wildlife around its business sites in South Korea. The company joined hands with the National Honam Regional Institute of Biological Resources to study the plants and animals living near its workplaces.

From September 5 to 17, biodiversity surveys were carried out in Gumi, Suwon, and Gwangju. A total of 125 people joined the activity. They included 112 Samsung employees and their family members, and 13 environmental experts.

The participants looked for different plants and animals and recorded what they found. They studied four main groups: plants, birds, insects, and fish. The collected information was uploaded to a global nature research platform. This data can help scientists and other experts understand and protect nature.

The surveys took place at Gangjeong Wetland in Gumi, Meonae Ecological Park in Suwon, and Songsan Neighborhood Park in Gwangju. During the surveys, participants found a total of 294 species. They also found the endangered White-necked Waterfowl, which shows the importance of protecting these natural areas.

Image via Samsung

The participants also created ecosystem maps using the information they collected. These maps can help protect the environment around Samsung’s business sites.

For employees and their families, the activity was also a learning experience. They enjoyed seeing different plants, birds, insects, and other living things and learned more about nature.

Samsung plans to use the survey data to improve its environmental reports and water management efforts. The company also plans to conduct similar activities at more business sites. Through these efforts, Samsung hopes to protect biodiversity and work together with local communities to build a healthier and more sustainable environment.

Samsung America has found that Generation Alpha wants smart home devices to be more useful and easier to use. The company surveyed 1,000 parents and guardians of children aged 5 to 15 in the US to understand what children expect from smart technology.

The study found that 80% of Gen Alpha children want smart home devices to work together easily. Only 6.7% said connected devices are not necessary. This shows that children expect their devices to connect and work together without making things difficult.

Gen Alpha also wants technology to understand their daily needs. About 42% want their homes to change automatically based on their routines. However, some children want technology to ask them before making changes.

Nearly 72% want technology to respond to how they are feeling. They also want smart TVs and screens to make gaming easier, improve picture and sound, suggest content, and provide useful information.

Safety is also important to children. Nearly 79% said technology that helps families feel safe and gives peace of mind would be very helpful. More than half also want quick alerts when something unusual happens at home.

The study shows that Gen Alpha does not simply want more gadgets. They want technology that is simple, smart, helpful, and easy to control. For this generation, a smart home is not just about having connected devices. It is about technology that understands people, helps when needed, and still gives them control.

On July 22, Samsung launched three new foldable phones worldwide. Today, Samsung experts demonstrated the enhanced Portrait Video feature of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, which recreates the look of professional camera lenses.

Several Galaxy phones support Portrait Video feature. It’s an expanded version of Portrait photography, which offers camcoder like video recordings with blurred or bookeh effect beyond the focussed area or subject.

Samsung brings enhanced Portrait Video

What makes the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series’s Portrait Video better is its connection with My FanCam feature. With the latest Samsung foldables, Portrait Video recreates the distinctive depth and Bokeh of a large-aperture lens.

To make this possible, Samsung Research analyzed the optical characteristics of actual camera lenses and developed AI-powered video processing technology, while the Samsung MX Business optimized it for the device.

Galaxy camera experts proposed the Portrait Video feature during the research stage, just as the MX Business was exploring ways to help users create professional-looking videos more easily — paving the way for joint development.

Key technology behind Portrait Video

The key is technology that recreates the distinctive look of large-aperture professional camera lenses in smartphone video. Samsung engineers have used AI (artificial intelligence) and optical analysis to make this possible.

Samsung engineers combined AI-estimated distance information with boundary information from the original footage, allowing for natural separation between the subject and background even around fine details such as hair.

Meanwhile, there was a technical hurdle. The biggest hurdle was reducing power consumption and heat generation without compromising quality. Engineers preserved the processing essential to image quality while reducing computation.

Experts recommend users to look for scenes with bright light sources, such as sunlight sparkling through leaves, Christmas lights, or streetlights at night can spread softly into circular Bokeh, creating a more atmospheric look.

When filming a person, it’s best to avoid strong light from the front. Position the light source behind or to the side of the subject. This can softly illuminate the subject’s hair and contours while making the background Bokeh more prominent.

Samsung has released a new advertisement that makes fun of the problems people often face when they move from an iPhone to an Android phone. The ad is part of Samsung’s new “Switchers” campaign and mainly promotes the new Galaxy Z Fold 8.

The advertisement uses a fun idea. It shows people in a couples therapy session, but they are actually talking about their problems with switching phones. Dr. Orna Guralnik, who is known from the TV show Couples Therapy, appears as the therapist.

The ad talks about some common concerns of iPhone users. These include the famous “green bubble” messages, AirDrop, sharing photos, and moving data from an iPhone to an Android phone.

Samsung also points out that switching to Android has become easier. Google has improved the Android transfer process. Now, people moving from an iPhone can scan a QR code on their new Android phone. This helps them move most of their important data, including messages, photos and other files.

The advertisement includes several well-known personalities. They include Dr. Orna Guralnik from Couples Therapy, Ciara Miller and Dylan Efron from The Traitors, and Carl Schmidt and Aniya Harvey from Love Island. Former NFL players Nick Foles and Clay Matthews also appear in the ad.

Along with the jokes, Samsung uses the advertisement to show the design of the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The company highlights its new shape and build.