Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have officially reached stores, but early demand signals are giving analysts something to watch.

Jefferies (via WSTAnalystApe) says shorter delivery windows in several major markets point to weaker demand than last year, raising the possibility that Apple could reduce production orders as soon as October.

It’s said that Jefferies tracked delivery estimates across markets including the US, UK, Germany, and Japan.

Before launch, the iPhone 18 Pro Max was showing wait times 5 to 11 days shorter than the comparable iPhone 17 Pro Max period, while the iPhone 18 Pro also had shorter lead times in most markets. The US even showed availability for some configurations, which is unusual for a fresh Pro launch.

China and Hong Kong are different, with longer delivery windows. However, Jefferies believes those figures are harder to interpret because speculative buying and channel activity can inflate apparent demand.

The iPhone Duo factor

Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, is scheduled to enter pre-orders on October 16. Its premium positioning overlaps with the customers who typically buy the Pro Max, potentially encouraging some buyers to wait.

That makes October particularly important for Apple. If demand remains below expectations after the initial launch period, Jefferies expects the company could adjust supply-chain orders rather than maintain its earlier production ambitions.

The iPhone Duo’s October launch could ultimately reveal whether consumers are avoiding the iPhone 18 Pro lineup or simply waiting for Apple’s more radical new form factor.

Samsung appears to be preparing a major change to its premium LCD TV strategy, with its Quantum Dot (QD) technology potentially on the way out by 2028.

According to ETNews, Samsung is expected to cut QD TV production by around 80% this year, reducing output from roughly 10 million units in 2025 to just 2-3 million.

The company has introduced dedicated Mini LED TVs below its Neo QLED range, while continuing to position Neo QLED as a premium Mini LED option. Samsung’s current Neo QLED models still use quantum dots for color reproduction.

Neo QLED could be next

Samsung appears to be shifting its LCD strategy toward Mini LED, where precise backlight control can deliver stronger contrast and brightness without relying on the same QD positioning.

The company has also been investing heavily in Micro RGB. Samsung says its Micro RGB TVs use individually controlled red, green and blue LEDs, while its 2026 strategy places Micro RGB and OLED at the premium end and Mini LED further down the range.

If the reported production roadmap holds, Neo QLED volumes could be reduced further during 2027, with manufacturing potentially ending as early as 2028. That would mark a notable shift for a technology Samsung helped establish as a defining feature of its premium LCD TVs.

For consumers, however, this does not mean QD TVs are disappearing immediately. Samsung is still selling Neo QLED models in 2026, so the transition appears likely to happen gradually rather than through a sudden product cancellation.

Image via Samsung

Samsung is increasing prices across the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra in India. It doesn’t come as a surprise move as the industry was expecting such a price hike after Apple raised the prices of its existing flagship iPhones.

According to the info, Samsung hiked prices of Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra by up to Rs 20,000 in India. Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 1TB storage variant is seeing the biggest price jump, pushing it beyond the Rs 200k price range.

The boom in AI infrastructure is requiring more memory than ever. To utilize the opportunity, memory manufacturers are prioritizing high-profit server DRAM and HBM solutions, making mobile DRAM and NAND more expensive.

While Samsung didn’t specify the reason, it’s largely due to the surge in component costs. The company has already absorbed much of the price hike, but it can no longer completely bear the cost of rising memory prices.

Galaxy S26 series revised prices

Galaxy S26 5G

• 12/256GB → Rs 1,07,999
  12/512GB → Rs 1,27,999

Galaxy S26 Plus

• 12/256GB → Rs 1,39,999
  12/512GB → Rs 1,59,999

Galaxy S26 Ultra

• 12/256GB → Rs 1,59,999
• 12/512GB → Rs 1,79,999
• 16/1TB → Rs 2,09,999

The Korean tech giant has recently brought refurbished Galaxy S26 flagships to India as part of its Certified Re-Newed Program. These models offer the same warranty and support as a brand-new device, while being relatively cheaper.

Memory crunch isn’t going away soon, as Apple reportedly accepted Samsung’s proposal for DRAM and NAND for 2027. Memory chip solutions would see a price jump of up to 35%, and the impact won’t be limited to the iPhone.

AS I TOLD YOU ALL, THE GALAXY S26 SERIES HAS BEEN HIKED NOW. 📈💰

Samsung has increased the prices of every S26 series variant by ₹20,000 in India, effective September 18.

S26 12/256GB → ₹1,07,999
S26 12/512GB → ₹1,27,999

S26+ 12/256GB → ₹1,39,999
S26+ 12/512GB →… pic.twitter.com/3Uqd1bzejt

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) September 17, 2026

Samsung Display believes South Korea still has an advantage in the race to develop and manufacture advanced foldable OLED panels, even as Chinese manufacturers rapidly expand their capabilities.

Speaking ahead of Korea’s 17th Display Day ceremony (via SEDaily), Samsung Display President Lee Chung said Korea remains ahead in foldable technology. He acknowledged the growing pressure from Chinese companies, which are benefiting from significant investment and government support.

Samsung wants to avoid another LCD setback

Lee also warned against repeating Korea’s experience with LCD panels, where Chinese manufacturers eventually established a dominant position.

He called for closer cooperation between industry, government, academia and research institutions to protect key technologies and develop the next generation of displays.

Samsung Display is entering a new phase of foldable OLED competition as demand expands beyond Samsung phones. Recent industry estimates put its Q3 2026 foldable OLED shipment share at 83.5%, while the company is also supplying panels for Apple iPhone Duo.

Samsung has continued pushing materials and panel construction forward, including its Flex Titanium technology aimed at improving durability, thickness and crease performance.

Chinese rivals are narrowing the technology gap, but Samsung’s accumulated manufacturing experience and premium-panel capabilities give Korea a substantial base to defend. The next battle will likely focus less on simply making displays fold and more on durability, thinness, efficiency and mass-production quality.

Starting September 18, the Samsung TV Plus service will stream Front Office Sports Tonight on Samsung Television Network (STN), its flagship channel.

Samsung TV Plus is expanding its sports programming with a new daily show focused on more than just scores and highlights. The 30-minute program comes through an exclusive FAST partnership between Samsung and Front Office Sports Studios.

New episodes will air every weekday at 11 p.m. ET, with an additional weekend airing. Samsung says the show is the first daily sports news program to join STN.

Hosted by Matt Iseman, Front Office Sports Tonight looks at the business, entertainment, and cultural side of sports alongside traditional news and analysis.

Additionally, Samsung TV Plus will make episodes available on demand starting September 30. That gives viewers another way to catch the program instead of relying solely on its scheduled broadcast slot.

With over 100 million monthly active users globally and thousands of on-demand titles, the service is adding more news, sports, and other timely programming to its free, ad-supported lineup.

For Samsung TV Plus users in the US, Front Office Sports Tonight adds another daily option to keep up with the business and culture surrounding sports without needing a separate streaming subscription.