1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Israel and the crisis in the Middle EastGerman coalition collapseUS election

Samsung

Slowing global demand for memory chips and a sluggish smartphone business are some of the factors South Korean electronics company Samsung has to grapple with. The world's top handset maker is facing fierce competition.

Skip next section All Content on this topic

All Content on this topic

Samsung workers who are on strike shout slogans during a protest near their plant in Sriperumbudur, on the outskirts of Chennai, India, Tuesday, Sept. 24

India: Police detain 600 striking Samsung workers at protest

Thousands of employees of the South Korean company have been on strike since September 9.
PoliticsOctober 1, 2024
Symbolbild China Cybersecurity

China's tech takeover: cause for concern?

What are the consequences of China's tech cooperation agreements with countries around the world?
Digital WorldAugust 9, 202412:36 min
South Korean workers' protest during Samsung strike

Samsung union in South Korea declares indefinite strike

The union said Samsung management did not seem willing to discuss workers' demands.
BusinessJuly 10, 2024
DW Sendung | Planet A

India: Reviving repair culture to fight e-waste

India is reviving its tradition of repairing things to combat the growing mountain of e-waste.
TechnologyJune 24, 202408:55 min
Lee Jae-yong looks subdued as he leaves the courtroom

Samsung chief acquitted of financial crimes over 2015 merger

A Seoul court acquitted Samsung head Lee Jae-yong of financial crimes related to a 2015 merger.
BusinessFebruary 5, 2024
A green lit PC circuit board

South Korea invests big in becoming a global chip leader

South Korea is investing $470 billion in a semiconductor "mega cluster" outside of Seoul.
TechnologyJanuary 24, 2024
Smartphone Reparatur Symbolbild

Why companies harm the planet by hindering phone repair

Apple, Samsung & Co. make it very hard to fix smartphones. The result: a lot of electric waste.
Digital WorldDecember 12, 202303:34 min
DW Shift Sendungslogo

Shift - Living in the Digital Age

Why Apple & Co hinder phone repairs. How to Make AI Work for You. Elon Musk and World Politics.
Digital WorldDecember 8, 202312:36 min
SHIFT Handys

Why Chinese mobile phones are popular in Africa

Smartphones made by Chinese manufacturers are tailored to the African market.
Digital WorldNovember 20, 202302:25 min
DW Business (Sendungslogo Composite)

DW Business

Is flying still safe? The aviation industry which has the highest safety standards is facing significant quality issues
BusinessOctober 5, 202312:34 min
A woman's silhouette holds a smartphone with the Samsung Electronics logo displayed on the screen and in the background. March, 30 2022, Brazil.

Samsung records lowest quarterly profit in 14 years

The Korean tech giant owed the slump in profits to weakened demand for memory chips, amid a slowing demand.
TechnologyApril 27, 2023
PC circuit board made up of semiconductors.

Samsung to build 'world's largest' chip cluster in S. Korea

Samsung and the government in Seoul plan to invest hundreds of billions in a series of microchip-producing facilities.
BusinessMarch 15, 2023
Samsung CEO Lee Jae-yong

Samsung boss receives presidential pardon

South Korea's Justice Ministry said Lee Jae-yong will be "reinstated" to help the country overcome its economic crisis.
BusinessAugust 12, 2022
Symbolbild Computer Chip technology

Europe overhauls its semiconductor strategy

The EU is investing billions in doubling chip production by the end of the decade.
BusinessOctober 26, 202102:49 min
A computer chip on a motherboard

Toyota cuts production amid chip shortage, COVID

The Japanese automobile giant has been forced to suspend operations at some of its plants amid a global chip shortage.
Cars and TransportationAugust 19, 2021
Samsung leader paroled Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong leaves Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang

Samsung leader Lee Jae-yong released on parole

Politicians and business leaders have called for billionaire Lee Jae-yong to be paroled following a bribery conviction.
BusinessAugust 13, 2021
Top Samsung executive Lee Jae-yong attends his trial in January last year

Samsung's Lee Jae-yong to be released early on parole

South Korean authorities have said billionaire Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong will be released this week.
Law and JusticeAugust 9, 2021
The Samsung logo

Samsung heirs donate art trove to pay tax bill

Members of Samsung's founding family believe it is their "civic responsibility" to pay their taxes.
BusinessApril 28, 2021
Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong on his way to jail in 2017

What next after Samsung CEO bribery conviction?

South Korea is again examining the dirty intersection of all-powerful "chaebols" and political leadership.
BusinessJanuary 19, 2021
Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is mum after arriving at the Seoul High Court on Jan. 18, 2020, to attend a sentencing hearing over his bribery scandal.

Samsung's Lee sentenced to 30 months in jail

The prison sentence could severely complicate the succession process at the consumer electronics giant.
BusinessJanuary 18, 2021
MADE Sendung Obsoleszenz

Beyond repair: Planned obsolescence

Smartphones often give up the ghost right after their guarantees expire. Is it a coincidence?  
BusinessNovember 10, 202007:48 min
external

Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee dies after long illness

Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee died on Sunday. He transformed Samsung from a cheap TV maker to a top brand.
BusinessOctober 26, 202001:53 min
Samsung head Lee Kun Hee

Samsung icon Lee Kun-Hee dies at 78

The death of the chairman comes at a time when his son, Samsung's de facto leader, is grappling with legal issues.
BusinessOctober 25, 2020
Jay Y. Lee in Seoul

Samsung heir indicted over merger

The multiple charges are the latest legal blow for South Korean businessman Jay Y. Lee.
BusinessSeptember 1, 2020
A person walks past a Huawei ad

Huawei now sells more phones than Samsung

Huawei may be facing trouble on the global market, but the Chinese firm is now selling more smartphones than Samsung.
BusinessJuly 30, 2020
Südkorea Seoul - Lee Jae-Yong zu Korruptionsvorwürfen

Samsung heir avoids jail, for now

Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong is accused of being involved in stock manipulation to gain control of the firm.
CrimeJune 9, 2020
Anti-Samsung protester Kim Yong-hee

Fired Samsung worker ends year-long tower protest

Dismissed in 1995 for union activism, the man took on South Korea's most powerful firm and finally reached a settlement.
SocietyMay 29, 2020
Huawei Logo

Huawei tops 2019 patent application ranking

The telecommunications giant from China topped the EPO list ahead of electronics firms Samsung and LG.
TechnologyMarch 12, 2020
DW Business Africa Sendungslogo

DW Business Africa

Boeing 737 Max Lion Air crash caused by various failures - Africans pay highest prices for internet access
BusinessOctober 25, 201912:23 min
DW Business Asia Sendungslogo

DW Business Asia

Rebranding Bangladesh in business - Seoul drops special WTO designation
BusinessOctober 25, 201912:21 min
Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Electronics

S. Korea's top court orders retrial of Samsung heir

The decision is another blow to Samsung as it struggles with falling profitability and a trade spat with Japan.
CrimeAugust 29, 2019
A woman walks past a Huawei store

Huawei's loss is Samsung's gain

A US clampdown has effectively barred Huawei from making phones and tablets for sale outside China.
BusinessMay 21, 2019
USA - Samsung Galaxy Fold Event

Samsung woes unfold as Huawei looms

Samsung’s new folding phone was supposed to break the mold. Turns out it’s just broken.
BusinessApril 26, 2019
A Huawei Mate X on display

Huawei launching foldable phone to compete with Samsung

Huawei has unveiled its Mate X foldable smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
BusinessFebruary 25, 201902:23 min
Apple Homepod

Sexy Siri, you made a fool of everyone

Some say it's sexist, some say it's science. Is there any solid reason why speech assistants are a default female voice?
ScienceFebruary 11, 2019
Computer Chip technology

Chip 'supercycle' to fizzle out?

After Samsung flagged a massive drop in earnings, concern is mounting that the semiconductor boom may fizzle out.
BusinessJanuary 9, 2019
external

Samsung apologises for cancer illnesses and deaths

Samsung admitted it failed to create a safe working environment at its computer chip and display factories.
BusinessNovember 23, 201801:32 min
Hwang Sang-gi, a founding member of advocacy group Banolim, holds a picture of his daughter Yu-mi

Samsung deal to compensate factory cancer victims

The company agreed it had failed to manage health threats to employees who developed forms of cancer.
HealthNovember 23, 2018
IFA 2018 in Berlin

The best tech gadgets on display at IFA 2018

IFA is the showcase event for tomorrow's devices and gadgets. DW lists some of the best new tech on display in Berlin.
TechnologySeptember 2, 20187 images
Samsung logo

Samsung looks for fresh growth opportunities

South Korea's Samsung Group has announced its investment plans for the next three years.
BusinessAugust 8, 2018
external

Samsung opens world's biggest smartphone factory

India saw a 14 percent spike in smartphone sales last year. Now Samsung has opened a huge factory there.
BusinessJuly 10, 201801:12 min
Samsung phone and an iPhone side by side

Apple, Samsung settle iPhone patent battle

Samsung has chosen to settle rather than challenge a ruling that awarded Apple more than $500 million last month.
TechnologyJune 28, 2018
Typing on a keyboard

Samsung Securities raided over share blunder

Prosecutors have raided the headquarters of Samsung Securities amid a probe into a massive stock issuance error.
BusinessMay 28, 2018
Apple iPhone 4s and a Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung to pay Apple $539 million in iPhone patent case

The two tech giants have been tangled up in a design patent lawsuit for seven years.
ScienceMay 25, 2018
Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak

S. Korea: Ex-President Lee arrested for corruption

Prosecutors have accused the former president of taking bribes from business groups and his own intelligence agency.
Law and JusticeMarch 22, 2018
external

Samsung's new smartphones in Barcelona

Samsung hopes better pictures and augmented reality will help it keep its title as the world's biggest smartphone maker.
BusinessFebruary 26, 201801:30 min
Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung’s S9 product launchreimagined

DW's MWC reporter Kate Ferguson takes a closer look at Samsung's new smartphone.
BusinessFebruary 26, 2018
Baidu Mobile search app

What to expect at this year's Mobile World Congress

Next week, tech enthusiasts will flock to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to discover the latest gadgets.
BusinessFebruary 23, 2018
Made in Germany Batterie

German-made electric car batteries

With carmakers in Germany buying electric car batteries from abroad, is the country missing the bus?
BusinessFebruary 14, 201804:09 min
Choi Soon-sil heads to a Seoul courthouse with her mouth covered with a white mask

Ex-president Park Geun-hye's friend jailed for 20 years

The verdict against Choi Soon-sil sets the stage for a longer jail term for Park, who is facing similar charges.
PoliticsFebruary 13, 2018