Samsung Electronics has announced a record operating profit of USD 61 billion (89.4 trillion won) for the second quarter of 2026, propelled by robust demand for AI-related memory chips, according to a report by The Korea Herald.
Profit and Revenue Surge
The company's preliminary operating profit surged 1,810.3 percent year-on-year, as per a regulatory filing, while revenue increased 129.3 percent YoY to USD 112.9 billion (171 trillion won). The operating profit exceeded the market consensus estimate of USD 55.5 billion (84.16 trillion won) compiled by Yonhap Infomax by 6.2 percent.
AI Boom Drives Chip Demand
As per The Korea Herald, the latest results mark another record quarter for the world's largest memory chipmaker. The report stated, "The latest results mark another record quarter for the world's largest memory chipmaker, underscoring how the AI boom has sharply lifted prices and demand for high-bandwidth memory and other advanced chips."
The company will announce its full earnings report later in July.
Foldable Smartphone Prices to Rise
In a separate development, Samsung Electronics is set to raise prices for its upcoming foldable smartphone lineup as the ongoing AI memory crunch drives up component costs, highlighting how the AI chip boom is reshaping consumer electronics pricing. The upcoming price revisions mark a shift from Samsung's historical pricing strategy.
According to a report by The Korea Herald, leaked pricing data from South Korean telecom distribution channels suggests that the entry-level Galaxy Z Flip8 will be priced approximately 13 percent higher than its predecessor due to a global shortage of key memory components. Citing local outlet Bloter, the report said the domestic price of the 256GB variant of the Flip8 is expected to reach around 1.68 million won (USD 1,100), an increase of about 198,000 won compared with the Flip7.
