Samsung has taken a playful dig at Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo. In a new advertisement, Samsung compares Apple’s phone with its Galaxy Z Fold 8 and highlights its own phone’s design.

The video was shared on Instagram as a paid partnership with Samsung. It shows a green apple cut into two halves. The halves try to fold together, making fun of Apple’s foldable phone. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 then appears, showing its slim and lightweight design.

According to the ad, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is 1.6mm thinner and 53 grams lighter than Apple’s foldable phone. The video ends with the message, “Years ahead in Foldables,” suggesting that Samsung is ahead of Apple in foldable phone technology.

The advertisement has received mixed reactions. Some people enjoy Samsung’s humour, while others think the company is being childish. Samsung has often made ads that point out the weaknesses of Apple’s iPhones. Google has also used similar advertisements to compare its phones with Apple’s devices.

The ad comes after reports of cracked screens and possible durability problems with Apple’s first foldable iPhone. Some people have started calling the issue “crackgate.” However, it is too early to say whether these reports show a major problem. Samsung is using this opportunity to promote its experience in making foldable phones.

Samsung has joined hands with Turkcell, Türkiye’s largest mobile network operator, extending their strategic partnership through 2027 to target the local 5G market by supplying 650,000 5G-powered Galaxy phones.

Turkish outlet Yenidevir Newspaper reports that Samsung plans to solidify its dominance in the Turkish 5G device market, led by its lineup of premium foldable phones.

Samsung and Turkcell signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Samsung’s Suwon headquarters, agreeing to supply 650,000 5G-powered Galaxy smartphones to customers in Türkiye through the end of 2027.

This marks an expansion and restructuring of the cooperative framework the two companies have maintained over the past two years. Out of the target supply volume, around 200,000 units will consist of the latest flagship and premium models. The supply portfolio encompasses Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8.

Large-scale trade-in program starting in November

To accelerate 5G adoption, Samsung and Turkcell agreed to launch a large-scale device trade-in program starting in November, allowing users to return their existing devices and upgrade to the latest 5G phones, operating it throughout 2027.

In addition, the two companies will jointly develop and deploy a specialized consulting training program for staff at official Turkcell dealerships and major retail stores to boost their product guidance capabilities on the ground.

Ali Taha Koç, CEO of Turkcell, emphasized, “Supplying 650,000 Samsung 5G devices by the end of 2027 is our key goal. By launching an aggressive device trade-in program, we will swiftly guide Turkish users through their transition to the 5G network.”

Samsung is trimming the production of Galaxy A series phones and shifting focus to premium models to fight rising chip costs. The company is also doubling down on refurbished offerings to keep sales and revenue in its favor.

Recently, Samsung has notified its supply chain of a strategic pivot that will see fourth-quarter production for its volume-driving Galaxy A series reduced by approximately 20 percent.

According to industry reports from Electronic Times, the move translates to an annual reduction of roughly 10 million units, underscoring a sharp departure from Samsung’s historical reliance on sheer shipment volumes.

Industry insiders note that component orders have been significantly dialed back, and preliminary outlooks for the upcoming year point to ongoing production cuts exceeding 10 percent for the mid-to-low-end portfolio.

“Component orders for the fourth quarter have been reduced by around 20% compared to the production plan set earlier this year. On an annual basis, this translates to a decrease of about 10 million units.”

At the root of this contraction is severe “chipflation” and an acute squeeze on raw material supplies. As memory prices surge, mobile DRAM and NAND flash now consume over half of the total BoM for budget handsets.

Another industry official shared, “Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business Division is on high alert after facing losses this year. The stance moving into next year is also to cut Galaxy A series production by more than 10%.”

By reallocating constrained components away from margin-thin devices, Samsung is banking on flagship lines like the Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series to salvage profitability.

If component constraints persist, consumers should expect upward adjustments on factory prices, potentially forcing budget buyers to pay more for hardware featuring downgraded specifications.

Samsung smart TVs may continue sending tracking-related data even after users turn off the tracking option, according to a new study by researchers at Northeastern University. The findings raise concerns about how smart TVs collect and use viewers’ information.

Smart TVs use a technology, Automatic Content Recognition, to identify what people watch. It can detect content from cable TV, gaming consoles, antennas, and streaming apps. Companies may use this information to understand viewing habits and show targeted advertisements.

Researchers tested 12 TVs from 10 brands. They found that Samsung and Vizio TVs continued sending internet traffic linked to tracking after ACR was disabled. However, the traffic was encrypted, so researchers could not confirm exactly what information was being sent.

Image via Samsung

The study also uncovered a privacy problem with VIDAA OS. Researchers found a publicly accessible server containing more than 57 million viewing records linked to over one million TVs. The data was not encrypted, meaning others could potentially access viewing information. The server was later secured with a login, but the data was still being sent without encryption.

Viewing history can reveal people’s interests, daily habits, and sensitive personal information. If exposed, this data could create serious privacy risks.

To protect your privacy, turn off tracking in your TV’s settings, disconnect your TV from the internet, or use an external streaming device. You can also use the researchers’ blocklist to block known tracking servers.

Samsung counters Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro campaign with K-Pop Group “RESCENE x Galaxy Z Fold 8” partnership in South Korea.

Beyond simple celebrity marketing, this collaboration is analyzed as the result of Samsung’s thorough market analysis and strategic execution, aimed at solving the Galaxy series’ long-standing challenge of expanding its young and female customer base, while keeping pace with rival Apple in the “K-pop star showdown.

Korea’s Yonhap reports that Samsung released a black-and-white silhouette teaser image on its social handles, featuring five women presumed to be RESCENE holding the Galaxy Z Fold 8 alongside the caption, “Shall we get started?”

In the past, the Galaxy Z Fold series struggled with the stigma of being an “old man’s phone” or “Dad’s Phone” due to perceptions of being heavy and clunky.

However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 successfully turned the tide by adopting a sleek “passport-style design.” In fact, during the pre-order period, its sales significantly outperformed the Flip 8, with consumers in their 10s to 30s accounting for half of the total buyers, and the number of female customers surging more than twofold compared to the previous model.

Samsung aims to build on this momentum by featuring RESCENE at the forefront, dismantling the stereotype that “Folds are large-screen phones for men” and further stimulating buying interest among young female consumers.

Following the teaser release, expectations are mounting across online communities, with speculation that a RESCENE signature edition, exclusive special edition, or dedicated custom colorway might be launched.

Countering Apple’s ‘iPhone 18 Pro’ campaign with Rosé

Apple recently brought in Blackpink’s Rosé as the key face of its latest smartphone, the “iPhone 18 Pro,” capturing the minds of young consumers worldwide.

Samsung has countered by choosing RESCENE, a group known for its fresh and stylish appeal, to frame a direct rivalry of “iPhone vs. Galaxy” and “Rosé vs. RESCENE.”