Latest news with #ChoiWonJoon
Phone Arena
6 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Samsung confident ahead of rumored Apple foldable iPhone launch
The foldable market has been growing rather slowly recently, but still, people are starting to get excited about foldable phones, given the early success of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Now, Samsung's main competitor when it comes to phones is Apple, and the company is yet to release a foldable. However, Apple is rumored to be finally joining the foldable game with a foldable iPhone next year. Bloomberg's Shery Ahn asked Samsung President and MX COO Choi Won-Joon how the company feels about the competition in the foldable market and about Apple joining it. When talking about the competition from Chinese companies releasing foldable phones with better cameras, Choi stated that instead of focusing on the competition, Samsung focuses on its buyers and the experiences it can offer them. Choi believes that healthy competition brings innovation and benefits to customers. Despite being quite open to the competition, Choi did highlight Samsung's role in the foldable segment. The executive underlined that Samsung is the company that started the segment back in 2019, referring to the original Galaxy Fold that was launched, now more than six years ago. On the question about Apple joining the market with a foldable iPhone next year, Choi also responded with confidence. He stated that Samsung has accumulated a lot of technology know-how and expertise by making foldables all this time. He again highlighted the benefits for the consumer and the industry by having more competition in the segment. Apparently, the South Korea-based tech giant is confident that it can take on Apple when it launches its rumored folding iPhone. Indeed, Samsung does have the experience now of seven generations of foldable phones . And it believes that this experience will help it keep an edge over Apple. Samsung's Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. | Image Credit - PhoneArena Meanwhile, Samsung will also likely supply the foldable panels for Apple's foldable device. So either way, Samsung will make money nonetheless. At the moment, Samsung's main competitors in the foldable market are Chinese phone makers like Oppo, Honor, and Huawei. Most of these phones, however, are not available in all the markets, while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 are. As for Apple's foldable iPhone , rumors say to expect it towards the end of next year. It is said to be a book-style foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 , and Apple is rumored to have completely eliminated the crease on the display. I have not gotten onto the foldable train just yet. And not because I don't think it's cool – I think a foldable phone is the best of both worlds (portability and huge screens). But I'm looking for a company to get rid of the display crease until I go and buy people say you get used to the crease (the dent where the display folds, in the middle, basically) over time, but I'm rather peculiar about it, and I can't stand the feeling (and there's no getting used to it, I tried). So, if rumors are true and Apple does manage to get rid of the crease completely, this would mean that Samsung may also achieve it (after all, it will most likely be making those panels). And that is something that consumers will definitely benefit from, as I doubt I'm the only one who doesn't want a long dent on a smooth touch-screen phone. Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to rock a 7.8-inch internal display and a 5.5-inch external screen. Meanwhile, Samsung's latest iteration of the Fold series, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 , rocks a massive 6.5-inch external display and an 8-inch foldable screen, so if these rumors are true, Samsung's phone is bigger than Apple's. Nevertheless, Apple may have some surprises for us, and I'm very excited to see where this goes. Switch to Total Wireless and buy 2 months of a 5G Unlimited plan to score the phone free! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
GSM Arena
3 days ago
- Business
- GSM Arena
Samsung wants to expand its phones' AI chops beyond Google's Gemini
Samsung's big AI push came with the launch of the Galaxy S24 series last year, and its Galaxy AI suite has expanded in features ever since, powered by Google's Gemini - for now, at least. Today, Choi Won-Joon, president and chief operating officer of Samsung's mobile division, has told Reuters that the company is very open to alternatives. But, of course, only those that can provide its users with the best experiences. Samsung is already in talks with both OpenAI and Perplexity to integrate their respective AI services into upcoming smartphones, most likely starting with the Galaxy S26 family. Samsung is nearing a deal to invest in Perplexity and integrate both its app and assistant into its phones, a previous report claimed in June. And OpenAI is also in the running, but with no investment from Samsung. Choi said: "We're talking to multiple vendors. As long as these AI agents are competitive and can provide the best user experiences, we are open to any AI agent out there". While speaking about Apple's rumored entry into the foldable smartphone space, which Samsung has dominated so far, Choi thinks this move would be beneficial for the entire industry. The company is also evaluating both the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and the Exynos 2600 for the Galaxy S26 range, and it sounds like a final decision hasn't been made yet.
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Samsung's next Galaxy phones could bring more AI choices, in addition to Google's Gemini
Referential image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. | Image credit — PhoneArena Samsung is planning to bring more AI options to its upcoming Galaxy phones. Right now, the company uses Google's Gemini AI on devices like the Galaxy S25 and Z Fold devices, but that might change soon. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Samsung is talking to other AI companies — including OpenAI and Perplexity AI — about working together on future Won-Joon, who runs Samsung's mobile division, told Bloomberg that the company is in talks with several AI providers. His goal is to offer Galaxy users more choices. He explained that Samsung is open to using any AI agent, as long as it offers a strong experience. Samsung already uses Gemini for many features on its Galaxy devices, like Circle to Search and AI-powered editing tools. But as reported back in June, the company has been exploring ways to rely less on Google. That includes looking at outside partners like Perplexity AI, a company that blends AI chat answers with real-time web results. Samsung is reportedly close to investing in Perplexity, which could lead to deeper integration in upcoming Galaxy models. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. | Image credit — PhoneArena The Galaxy S26 is expected early next year and could be the first to showcase this expanded AI strategy. Samsung may also be considering OpenAI — the company behind ChatGPT — as another possible partner. This would be a big move and would follow Apple's recent decision to let users choose between AI providers like ChatGPT and Gemini on iPhones. Beyond software, Samsung is also reviewing its hardware plans. The Galaxy S26 may feature either Qualcomm's next Snapdragon processor or the company's own Exynos 2600 chip. Samsung often uses both, depending on region and model. For example, its flagships might use only Snapdragon chips, while other models used a mix of the two. By working with multiple AI companies, Samsung hopes to offer a more flexible experience for users. It's part of a larger trend across the tech industry, where companies want to give people more control over which AI tools they use. That approach could make Samsung phones more appealing to people who want AI to feel more personal or transparent. Still, the challenge will be figuring out how these different AI systems work together on the same phone. Whether it's Google, OpenAI, or Perplexity, Samsung will need to make sure the overall experience stays smooth and easy to use.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Samsung pushes for diverse AI agents in Galaxy mobile devices
SAMSUNG Electronics is in talks with the likes of OpenAI and Perplexity AI to integrate more AI services in upcoming Galaxy devices, seeking a wider range of offerings beyond Google's Gemini. South Korea's largest company aims to give customers more options on its upcoming Galaxy S26 smartphone line next year, according to Choi Won Joon, president and chief operating officer of its mobile division. Samsung's current lineup features Alphabet's AI model, like much of the rest of the field of Android devices. 'We are talking to multiple vendors,' 54-year-old Choi said in an interview at Samsung's headquarters in Suwon. 'As long as these AI agents are competitive and can provide the best user experiences, we are open to any AI agent out there.' Samsung is nearing a deal to invest in Perplexity and integrate its app and assistant, Bloomberg News reported in June. Like archrival Apple, the Galaxy phone maker is looking to augment its own efforts at artificial intelligence with the best available from outside providers. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Beyond AI, the mobiles-to-chips conglomerate is also evaluating new application processors for the Galaxy S26 and considering both Qualcomm Inc. products and its in-house Exynos 2600. For the recently released Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung used the Exynos chipset in a foldable for the first time. The company has sought to reduce reliance on Qualcomm and allay doubts about the efficiency and thermal performance of its Exynos line. Apple plans to introduce its first folding iPhone next year, which will be built around a similar design as Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line and use many of the same core components, including foldable OLED screens sourced from Samsung Display, Bloomberg News reported. 'This is just the beginning of making these phones go mainstream,' Choi said about Samsung's latest generation introduced this summer. Another global company entering the category would be beneficial for the industry, he added. BLOOMBERG
Business Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Samsung's bet on foldable phones faces major test with slimmer new model
[SEOUL] Samsung Electronics on Wednesday unveiled thinner, lighter new foldable phones as it aims to fend off Chinese competition in the higher-margin, premium segment that remains untapped by arch rival Apple. The stakes are high. The South Korean company lost its global smartphone crown to Apple in 2023, and faces growing competition from Chinese rivals like Huawei and Honor. Meanwhile, Samsung's mainstay chip business has suffered a profit slump stemming in part from its delayed supply of artificial intelligence chips to Nvidia. Samsung's mobile president and chief operating officer, Choi Won Joon, said his most important mission was to make Samsung a leader in AI-powered smartphones. 'I believe that foldable phones, integrated with AI features, are ready to become mainstream by offering unique, differentiated experience,' he told Reuters in his first media interview since being promoted in March. He said Samsung aims to take a leadership position in AI by enhancing cooperation with external partners like Google, unlike Apple, which has been using in-house AI technology that has faced delays in adding key features. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Samsung also in New York unveiled its first smartwatches equipped with Google's AI voice assistant, Gemini, which can make recommendations to the owner such as good locations for a run, as an example. Premium halo Samsung said in April that it was pushing ahead with a premium product strategy, as US tariffs threatened to dampen demand and raise component costs. The smartphone maker increased the US price of Galaxy Z Fold 7 to US$1,999 by 5 per cent from its predecessor Fold 6, while introducing a less expensive version of its Galaxy Z Flip 7 clamshell phone, Flip 7 FE, priced at US$899. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 unveiled in New York, US, July 9, 2025. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG Galaxy Z Fold 7 is equipped with Qualcomm's fast processor, Snapdragon 8 Elite, while Galaxy Z Flip 7 is powered by Samsung's in-house Exynos chips. Analysts said Samsung's new models tackled some of the issues with foldable phones such as bulkiness, and would create a premium halo around the brand. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 weighs 10 per cent less than its predecessor and is 26 per cent thinner. But high prices and a lack of use cases mean foldable phones are likely to remain a niche segment, the analysts said, with data from research firm IDC showing they account for just 1.5 per cent of the total smartphone market. Research firm Canalys predicts Samsung's foldable shipments, which peaked in 2022, will remain flat or slightly declining in 2025, in line with the broader market's flat growth, according to data provided to Reuters. Samsung's foldable smartphones account for 4 per cent of its total phone sales but 16 per cent of those priced over US$800, Canalys said. Its data shows Samsung's dominance of the foldable phone segment is being eroded by Honor and Huawei, which are enjoying strong sales, especially in China. Samsung, which held its unveiling event in New York on Wednesday, will focus on the United States, Europe and South Korea for foldable phone sales, Choi said. Choi said Samsung is 'working hard' to develop tri-foldable phones, which users can fold three ways, without elaborating on the launch date. In the meantime, Choi said Samsung accelerated output and shipments of smartphones bound for the US to mitigate the impact of looming US tariffs, without giving details. Samsung produces its smartphones in Vietnam, which accounts for more than half of its phone output, as well as in South Korea and India. He also said Samsung has been tackling China's export curbs on rare earth and rare earth magnets by diversifying suppliers beyond the dominant supplier and significantly increasing its own internal stockpiles. REUTERS
