Samsung Projects Record $80 Billion in Operating Profit for Q3 2026
Samsung is gearing up for record results. According to Reuters, the company expects operating profit of $80 billion for the third quarter of 2026. That would be the best quarterly result in the history of the tech industry. The growth is dramatic: the chip division posted an almost ninefold increase in profit. The memory shortage triggered by the AI industry has pushed Samsung to the top. But the success is overshadowed by trouble in the mobile division: smartphones are being sold at cost. As a result, losses will exceed $1 billion for the quarter. • DRAM memory prices rose 175% year-over-year (Q2 2026); analysts forecast another 20% increase in Q3 • Samsung is asking partners to cut supplies by 20–30%; smartphone production will fall 30% in Q4 • The annual plan to ship 270 million phones has been cut to roughly 200 million units
AI-processed from vc.ru; edited by Hamidun News
Samsung expects record operating profit of $80 billion for the third quarter of 2026. That would be the highest quarterly profit figure in the history of the tech industry. The company owes this achievement to a memory shortage driven by demand for artificial intelligence.
A historic record of $80 billion
According to Reuters, Samsung has forecast profit of $80 billion for Q3 2026. That surpasses the company's previous figures and sets a record for the entire tech industry in a single quarter. The main driver behind this result is the chip division, which posted an almost ninefold increase in profit compared to the prior period.
Memory shortage drives ninefold growth
Artificial intelligence has created an acute memory shortage in the global market. According to analytics firm TrendForce:
• DRAM memory prices rose 175% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026 • In the third quarter, memory prices could rise by another roughly 20% • Samsung is one of the world's largest memory suppliers
This demand has allowed Samsung's chip division to achieve unprecedented profitability. The company is essentially printing money off a shortage that promises to grow even further in the coming months.
The mobile division is heading into losses
Samsung's paradox: the overall result looks brilliant, but the mobile division is a black hole. High memory prices have made smartphone production unprofitable. Devices are being sold at cost — breaking even at best.
According to South Korean media outlet MoneyToday, Samsung's mobile division "recently" asked partners to cut component supplies by 20–30%. As a result:
• Smartphone production will fall by about 30% in Q4 2026 • The annual plan to ship 270 million devices has been revised down to roughly 200 million • The mobile division's Q3 loss will exceed $1 billion
The company is forced to choose: either keep absorbing losses on smartphones or cut volumes. Samsung has chosen the latter.
Investors aren't convinced of stability
Despite the record profit, Samsung's shares fell after the results were announced. Investors are worried about several things: a slowdown in AI demand, the instability of memory as a revenue source, and losses in the mobile division. The strong financial results had already been priced into the stock, so there was no news to positively surprise the market. The company had already reported a 19-fold increase in operating profit for the second quarter of 2026 — and that only heightened investor concern about the long-term sustainability of the business model.
Key Questions Answered
What are the key details on A historic record of $80 billion?
According to Reuters, Samsung has forecast profit of $80 billion for Q3 2026. That surpasses the company's previous figures and sets a record for the entire tech industry in a single quarter. The main driver behind this result is the chip division, which posted an almost ninefold increase in profit compared to the prior period.
What are the key details on Memory shortage drives ninefold growth?
Artificial intelligence has created an acute memory shortage in the global market. According to analytics firm TrendForce: DRAM memory prices rose 175% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026 In the third quarter, memory prices could rise by another roughly 20% Samsung is one of the world's largest memory suppliers This demand has allowed Samsung's chip division to achieve unprecedented profitability. The company is essentially printing money off a shortage that promises to grow even further in the coming months.
What are the key details on The mobile division is heading into losses?
Samsung's paradox: the overall result looks brilliant, but the mobile division is a black hole. High memory prices have made smartphone production unprofitable. Devices are being sold at cost — breaking even at best. According to South Korean media outlet MoneyToday, Samsung's mobile division "recently" asked partners to cut component supplies by 20–30%. As a result: Smartphone production will fall by about 30% in Q4 2026 The annual plan to ship 270 million devices has been revised down to roughly 200 million The mobile division's Q3 loss will exceed $1 billion The company
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