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Samsung Electronics Reports 55% Drop in Q2 Operating Profit Amid Semiconductor Weakness Samsung Electronics has announced its second-quarter 2025 financial results , posting ₩74.6 trillion in revenue and ₩4.68 trillion in operating profit , representing a 0.67% year-on-year revenue increase but a 55.23% decline in operating profit . For the first half of 2025 , Samsung recorded ₩153.7 trillion in revenue and ₩11.4 trillion in operating profit , with its semiconductor division contributing ₩53 trillion in sales and ₩1.5 trillion in operating profit . Semiconductor Business Under Pressure Samsung’s Device Solutions (DS) division continued to face challenges. Its operating profit has dropped sharply from ₩6.45 trillion in Q2 2024 to just ₩400 billion in Q2 2025 , marking a steep decline over consecutive quarters. While DS revenue increased 11% quarter-on-quarter to ₩27.9 trillion , operating profit fell due to inventory write-downs in the memory business and non-memory operation...

China’s Gotion Challenges NCM Batteries With Low-Cost, High-Density LMFP Tech

Gotion HighTech LMFP Battery Volkswagen-Backed Gotion High-Tech to Begin Mass Production of LMFP Batteries in 2026 Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese battery manufacturer backed by Volkswagen, announced that it will begin mass production of next-generation LMFP (Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate) batteries in 2026 — achieving an energy density of 260 Wh/kg, high enough to replace conventional nickel-based lithium-ion cells. World’s First Passenger Car-Grade LMFP Battery The LMFP chemistry is an upgraded version of LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate), which currently powers over 60% of EVs produced in China. Gotion’s LMFP batteries will be the first in the world to enter mass production for passenger vehicles, offering a major leap forward in both performance and cost-efficiency. Compared to standard LFP batteries, Gotion’s LMFP packs deliver 20% higher energy density, while production costs are only 5% higher. In contrast, the nickel-based lithium-ion batteries (NCM/NCA) used by companies such ...

China’s Figurobot to Launch AI-Powered Doll Robot ‘NIA-F01’ in Korea Next Year

‘FIGUROBOT, ‘念NIA-F01’ Chinese AI startup Figurobot has announced plans to enter the Korean market in 2026 with its first consumer product, a compact humanoid doll robot called “NIA-F01 (念)”. According to Chinese media reports, Figurobot began pre-orders for the model at a price of 9,999 yuan (about ₩1.94 million), with the first deliveries scheduled for late 2025. Standing 56cm tall and weighing 1.2kg, the NIA-F01 resembles a motionless Barbie doll at first glance but is actually a companion robot equipped with artificial intelligence. It can engage in free-flowing conversations, while users can also customize it with interchangeable faces, wigs, and outfits. The robot incorporates 35 ultra-compact digital servos (each 6mm in diameter) within its joints, enabling fluid, lifelike movements. Figurobot claims these are the smallest servo joints in the world, yet capable of mimicking human-like motion with remarkable accuracy. Powered by a multi-modal AI model, the robot...

Goldman Sachs, China’s EUV Lithography Machine Still 20 Years Behind ASML

ASML 2nd generation High-NA EUV machine Goldman Sachs, China’s EUV Lithography Machine Still 20 Years Behind ASML According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs, China has successfully developed its own version of an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine, but the system is reportedly capable of producing only 65nm chips—a process node considered obsolete by today’s industry standards. This places China’s EUV technology about 20 years behind that of Dutch leader ASML, the world’s sole supplier of advanced EUV lithography tools. Goldman Sachs noted that while Chinese foundry SMIC has already demonstrated limited 7nm chip production, it almost certainly still relies on ASML’s older deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines, given that China lacks the ability to manufacture cutting-edge EUV systems domestically. Meanwhile, ASML is advancing into its second-generation High-NA EUV lithography, now being deployed at Intel, TSMC, and Samsung Electronics. Each H...

FuriosaAI Challenges NVIDIA with RNGD Chips in LG’s EXAONE 3.5

South Korean semiconductor startup FuriosaAI has officially signed a supply contract with LG Electronics to provide its proprietary AI inference accelerator RNGD (Renegade) for LG’s large language model EXAONE 3.5 , the company announced on July 22. The deal follows a rigorous 7-month validation process conducted by LG AI Research , assessing RNGD's performance and efficiency in enterprise-scale AI workloads. With this agreement, FuriosaAI becomes a direct challenger to NVIDIA , Groq , and SambaNova Systems in the LLM acceleration space. LG Partnership Seals Furiosa’s First Major Commercial Win The integration of RNGD into LG’s EXAONE LLM marks FuriosaAI’s first large-scale commercial deployment . The company revealed that RNGD offers 2.25 times higher inference performance per watt compared to conventional GPUs, addressing key issues in AI infrastructure like excessive power draw, heat generation, and high TCO (total cost of ownership). The deployment will also extend ...

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, Awesome smartphones

Samsung Electronics today announced Galaxy Z Fold7, a device that brings together the best of Galaxy design, camera functionality and AI innovation in the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Fold series to date. It delivers the premium performance and experience of an ultra smartphone, while unlocking new levels of efficiency and productivity with a larger, more immersive display when unfolded. And with the new One UI 8 as its foundation, it seamlessly integrates intelligent, multimodal agents optimized for the foldable form factor. “Galaxy Z Fold7 combines Galaxy AI with powerful hardware to deliver our most advanced smartphone experience yet,” said TM Roh, President and Acting Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “This next chapter of foldables brings together design and engineering, with AI built specifically for the foldable form. It gives people the ultra experience they want — powerful, immersive, intelligent, and portable...

Tesla’s Korean Boom: EV Maker Tops Import Sales Amid Global Slowdown

While Tesla struggles in its home markets of the U.S. and Europe, the EV giant is experiencing a dramatic sales surge in South Korea, where it has now become the top-selling imported car brand. According to the July new car registration data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), Tesla Korea sold 7,357 vehicles, up 15.4% from the previous month. This performance allowed Tesla to surpass both BMW (6,490 units) and Mercedes-Benz (4,472 units) to take the top spot in the imported car market. This marks Tesla’s second time ranking No. 1 in three months—previously leading the market in May (6,570 units), and placing second in June (6,377 units). With an average of over 6,400 units sold per month over the past quarter, Tesla’s momentum in Korea continues to build rapidly. For the period from January to July 2025, Tesla Korea’s cumulative sales reached 26,569 units, reflecting a 32.4% year-on-year increase. While this figure still t...

Samsung Delays 2nm GAA Launch to 2026 to Prioritize Yield and Reliability

After securing sufficient yield and cost-effectiveness, Samsung Electronics decided to launch the next generation 2nm GAA process node. Samsung Electronics has reportedly delayed the mass production of its next-generation 2nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) process node, prioritizing yield stability and customer trust over being first to market. According to industry sources, the initial launch of Samsung’s 2nm node—originally expected in late 2024 —has been pushed back to 2026 , signaling a strategic departure from the aggressive rollout timelines set by key competitor TSMC , which has already commenced early 2nm production. Yield, Not Speed Samsung’s decision centers around its current 2nm GAA yield rate , which is said to be in the mid-40% range , well below the industry’s commercial viability threshold of around 70% . While Samsung has made recent improvements, analysts suggest that reaching production-level yields this year will be difficult. The company is therefore opting to ref...

BYD Atto 3 Now Half Price in Japan: A Turning Point for Chinese EVs?

BYD SEAL BYD Slashes EV Prices by Up to 50% in Japan Amid Weak Sales Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has launched an aggressive discount campaign in Japan, cutting prices by up to 50% in an effort to boost sluggish sales in one of the world’s toughest auto markets. Struggling in Japan Despite Global Growth Although BYD entered Japan in January 2023, its sales have remained underwhelming. As of June 2025, total cumulative sales reached just 5,300 units, and the company has yet to surpass 1,000 units in monthly sales. The automaker currently offers four EV models in Japan — the Atto 3, Seal, Sealion 7, and Dolphin — through a network of 45 dealerships nationwide. In contrast, BYD is seeing explosive growth elsewhere. In August 2025, the company sold over 13,500 vehicles across Europe, a 200% year-on-year increase, and continues to post strong results in China, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Korea Shows Similar Pattern BYD’s performance in neighboring South Korea has also bee...

Toyota and Sumitomo Develop Breakthrough Cathode for Next-Gen Batteries

Toyota to Launch World’s First Solid-State Battery EV by 2027 Toyota Motor Corporation has officially declared that it will launch the world’s first electric vehicle powered by solid-state batteries as early as 2027, signaling a major technological leap that could redefine the global EV industry. Partnership With Sumitomo Metal Mining for Breakthrough Cathode Material Toyota announced on October 10 that it has co-developed a durable cathode material for solid-state batteries with Sumitomo Metal Mining, aiming for commercial rollout between 2027 and 2028. While companies such as Samsung SDI and QuantumScape are also racing toward commercialization—Samsung SDI operating the world’s largest solid-state pilot line (“S-Line”) since 2023 with a 2027 target, and QuantumScape developing ceramic-based solid electrolytes for a 2026 debut—Toyota is the first automaker to commit to launching a production EV equipped with solid-state batteries. Overcoming Durability and Efficiency Challenges ...