Samsung Electronics’ foundry business is expected to turn profitable as early as the third quarter of 2026. This would mark the end of four years of heavy losses and signal a strong recovery for the division.

According to Biz Chosun (via @SemiconductorsX), the company has made solid progress. Its 2-nanometer GAA process has already achieved over 60% yield in the first quarter, a key step toward the 70% level needed for efficient mass production.

In addition, major orders are also supporting results, including a large autonomous driving chip deal with Tesla and chip production for Nvidia. Thanks to the high demand for HBM base dies, supplies are already selling out quickly.

Another positive factor is Samsung’s massive Taylor fab in Texas. Once it ramps up production in the second half of the year, it should help cover fixed costs instead of adding to them.

This turnaround is significant because Samsung’s foundry business has been a weak spot compared to TSMC for years. With TSMC’s advanced lines busy serving AI chip demand, more customers, including Apple and Nintendo, are turning to Samsung as a reliable alternative.

If this good momentum continues, Samsung can become stronger in the competitive foundry market and significantly improve its overall semiconductor profits.

Samsung has reinvented the Alarm screen in One UI 9, and it makes the design literally better. The app is getting a major upgrade over the One UI 8.5, and it seems Samsung actually thought “we can do better here.”

One UI 9 Alarm screen brings three changes

Samsung has repositioned the Alarm label at the top. The label is now placed where it should have been years ago. It’s a minor change, but it makes a significant impact on the overall visual approach of the function.

You won’t be confused between Timer and Alarm.

The next major change was applied at the bottom. The button to dismiss the alarm has removed the dual border design in favor of a cleaner design button, which is a little better and simpler.

The double-button system to adjust snooze delay has also been tweaked. Rather than separate buttons accompanied by a prominent pill, the buttons have joined the pill to turn a single hub.

Image – Alarm Screen | Left – One UI 8.5 / Right – One UI 9

Samsung’s decision to bring the Alarm label to the top has increased space among the three central components, including the label itself, clock, and day plus date.

The One UI 9 Alarm screen has increased padding compared to One UI 8.5. This difference offers an even better appearance to the alarm screen, which you wake up to every morning.

Note that you can’t bring back the Alarm label to the bottom. All three available redesigns staple the label on the top, and it’s something Samsung has nailed with.

Image – One UI 9 Alarm Screens

Samsung has made plenty of minor changes across the user interface in One UI 9. These changes collectively improve the overall visibility and aesthetics of the software. Do you like the new Alarm screen redesign? Let us know through X at @thesammyfans.

Google is getting ready to release Android 17 soon, most likely before the end of June 2026. Samsung Galaxy phones that get the Android 17 update will also upgrade to the new One UI 9 software. Samsung has promised 4 to 7 years of major Android updates for many of its phones, so a lot of devices are eligible for this major software update.

Unlike Apple and Google, Samsung won’t send the update to everyone on the same day. Newer flagship phones and foldables will get this major update first. Then we have Mid-range and budget phones, these devices will come later, sometimes after a few months.

The real question is, who is getting this major Android 17 update?

Flagship Galaxy S Series Phones

• Galaxy S23 series: S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S23 FE
• Galaxy S24 series: S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S24 FE
• Galaxy S25 series: S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 FE, S25 Edge
• Galaxy S26 series: S26, S26+, S26 Ultra

Foldable Phones (Z Series)

• Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5
• Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6 (and Special Edition)
• Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7 (and FE models)
• Newer ones like Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, and Z TriFold

Mid-Range and Budget Phones

Samsung’s A, M, and F series have many models that qualify. Here are some important ones:

• A15, A16, A17, A24, A25, A26, A34, A35, A36, A37, A54, A55, A56, A57, and others like A06, A07.
• M15, M16, M17, M35, M36, M55, M56, and similar newer models.
• Many recent F models like F15, F16, F34, F35, F54, F55, etc.

Samsung made some important improvements with software updates. Even Galaxy phones from 2023 can still get the latest Android version. Upgrading to the latest official version means better security and new features. After upgrading to the latest version, you will notice smoother performance and fresh AI tools in One UI 9.

It is important to know that the exact timing depends on your region and carrier. Always keep your phone updated and back up your data before installing big updates.

Current Status of One UI 9

As of early June 2026, Samsung has already released the One UI 9 beta based on Android 17. The beta program started in mid-May for the Galaxy S26 series (S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra) in countries like the US, UK, Germany, South Korea, India, and Poland. The eligible Galaxy device owner can join the beta through the Samsung Members app to test new features like improved customization, better AI tools, and security updates.

The stable One UI 9 version is expected to launch in July 2026, most likely with the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8. After that, the stable version will roll out to other supported phones like the S25, S24, S23 series, and foldables, followed by mid-range models later in the year. It’s still early, so the full rollout will happen step by step.

Samsung did it again – the company is maintaining the leadership position for another year. According to market research firm Omdia (via @SemiconductorsX), Samsung Electronics secured the top spot in the global TV market for the first quarter of 2026, with a revenue-based market share of 31.3%.

This marks a 1.3% point increase from the same period last year and keeps the company well ahead of its closest competitors, more than double the share of the runner-up.

The South Korean tech giant continues to dominate the premium segment, holding 53.4% of the market for TVs priced over $2,500 and 50.1% for those above $1,500. Samsung also leads in large-screen categories, with strong shares in 75-inch (31.6%) and 80-inch+ models (29.7%).

In the OLED TV space, Samsung posted impressive growth: sales jumped 28.8% year-over-year, achieving a 40.1% global revenue share and 46.1% in North America. Cumulative OLED TV sales have now surpassed 5 million units since launching in 2022.

The company credits its success to AI-powered features and a strong focus on premium, differentiated products. With the “Vision AI Companion” platform, Samsung aims to deliver smarter viewing experiences while defending its long-held No. 1 position amid softening demand and rising Chinese competition.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series is receiving incredible treatment in its Android 17 upgrade, with users gaining access to the brand-new Easter Egg and its hidden connect-the-dots puzzle game. And it’s because of the One UI 9 Beta early access.

Easter Egg is one of the signature features of the new Android 17 experience. Android phones are getting an updated Easter Egg after three generations of continuity or minor tweaks.

When Google initially released Android 17 Beta, it had the old Easter Egg. Pixel phones have adopted the newer version with the fourth Beta update. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 series has added it with Samsung’s very first Android 17 Beta.

One UI 9 brings Android 17 Easter Egg plus its game

If you’re running the Android 17-based One UI 9 Beta on your Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, or Galaxy S26 Ultra, there’s a hidden gem tucked inside your settings, and it’s the most fun Easter Egg Android has offered in years.

Google hadn’t introduced a genuinely new Easter Egg since Android 14. Android 15 and Android 16 kept the same static screen with only minor tweaks.

With the arrival of the One UI 9 Beta on May 13 and its follow-up Beta 2 on May 26, owners of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 are now among the first people in the world to experience the brand-new Android 17 Easter Egg.

Connect-the-dots mini puzzle

This isn’t just a logo screen; Google has baked in a connect-the-dots mini puzzle, a space animation, and a revamped space exploration mini-game, hidden three taps deep in your settings.

When you first land on the Easter Egg screen, you’re greeted by a black background scattered with small, diamond-shaped dots arranged in a loose circle.

You can string them together in any order, any direction, any pattern, but a circle is the obvious choice, but the game accepts anything.

Long-pressing the Android 17 logo triggers a haptic vibration sequence mimicking a rocket launch, and then you’re thrown into the classic space exploration mini-game. The game now includes new exoplanets to discover, new in-game activities, and additional codenames.

The stable One UI 9 rollout is expected to begin later this year. If you’re already on the beta, go give it a try. It takes less than a minute to unlock, and the connect-the-dots moment is genuinely satisfying.