According to SamMobile, Samsung announced its Q4 2025 earnings, posting a record profit driven by excellent semiconductor division performance. The mobile division also performed very well, achieving double-digit annual profit growth for 2025 through strong flagship sales. The company confirmed the imminent Galaxy S26 series, hinting it will launch next month at an Unpacked event in San Francisco. Samsung stated its mobile division will expand AI smartphone leadership by delivering “Agentic AI experiences” with the Galaxy S26. It also plans to utilize next-gen AI to push other lineups and focus on “slimmer and lighter form factors.” The report suggests the rumored Galaxy S26 Edge model may be shelved, while foldables like future Z Folds could see significant reductions in weight and thickness.
Agentic AI: The Next Buzzword
So, “Agentic AI.” That’s the new phrase Samsung is betting on. It sounds fancy, but what does it actually mean? Basically, it’s the industry’s shift from AI that just answers questions or edits photos to AI that can do things for you autonomously. Think an AI that doesn’t just suggest booking a flight but goes ahead and checks your calendar, finds the best option, and reserves it after a quick confirmation. It’s a more proactive, task-completing assistant. Samsung’s hint here is clear: they want the Galaxy S26 to be the device that makes this feel seamless and useful, not just a gimmick. The challenge, of course, is making it reliable and private enough that users actually trust it to act on their behalf.
The Quest for Thinner and Lighter
Now, the other big pillar is physical design. After years of phones getting heavier with bigger batteries and cameras, Samsung is signaling a pivot back to portability. “Slimmer and lighter form factors” is a direct response to user fatigue, especially with foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold 7’s weight loss in 2025 was a hit, and they’re clearly doubling down. But here’s the thing: this is a massive engineering challenge. Making a device thinner usually means compromising on battery size or camera hardware. For foldables, it’s even tougher—you’re fighting the inherent bulk of two screens and a hinge. Samsung’s promise suggests they believe they’ve found breakthroughs in materials, battery density, or internal layout. It’s a high-stakes bet that consumers value comfort over, say, an extra hour of screen-on time.
What’s Missing From The Picture
Reading between the lines, this earnings glimpse is all about high-end positioning. There’s no talk here of mid-range innovation or capturing emerging markets. It’s a pure flagship play: win the mindshare with cutting-edge AI on the S26 and perfect the form factor on the foldables. The mention of shelving the S26 Edge is interesting, too. It feels like a reaction to the competitive landscape—maybe the ultra-slim “iPhone Air 2” rumors are making them reconsider their own lineup. It shows Samsung is watching Apple like a hawk and isn’t afraid to kill a project if the market moves. Ultimately, this is a strategy focused on margins and prestige. They’re not just selling phones; they’re selling a vision of a smarter, less bulky mobile future. Whether that’s enough to truly “dominate” in 2026, as they claim, depends entirely on execution. Can their Agentic AI outsmart Google’s Gemini or Apple’s rumored on-device AI? And can they make a foldable that doesn’t feel like a brick in your pocket? We’ll find out next month.
