Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Launch and Mobile World Congress Opening

This February in the mobile industry is marked by a contrast between spectacular innovations and structural supply chain problems. Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S26 line, which includes the standard and flagship Ultra models. The main point of interest for tech media has become the innovative Privacy Display, designed to protect against so-called 'shoulder surfing', or the viewing of screen content by bystanders. The device dynamically limits viewing angles when it detects an unauthorized gaze in the user's surroundings. In parallel, the South Korean manufacturer has integrated a new generation of Galaxy AI into the system, which is supposed to offer proactive support in daily tasks, going beyond the previously known functions of voice assistants. The first Mobile World Congress took place in 1987 in Cannes under the name Pan-European Digital Cellular Conference. Since 2006, the event has been hosted in Barcelona, becoming the most important date in the telecommunications launch calendar. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the new products, dark clouds are gathering over the industry. New analytical reports indicate the most serious crisis in a decade in the operational memory (RAM) market. Experts warn that the rapid increase in component prices could make the cheap smartphone segment unprofitable, forcing consumers to choose more expensive models or forgo upgrading their devices. This situation casts a shadow over the presentations in Barcelona, where manufacturers like Vivo, Xiaomi, and Motorola are trying to attract attention with flagship launches, such as the Vivo X300 Ultra. At the same time, an aggressive pricing policy for older models is noticeable in the market; shortly after the S26 launch, prices for last year's Galaxy S25 series have dropped by almost half, which calls into question the profitability of an immediate purchase of the new device. „The tariffs and pandemic crisis seem a joke compared to this: Cheap phones could be gone forever thanks to the RAM crisis” — Statement by an analyst at TechRadar The events in Barcelona, however, are not just about hardware, but also logistical challenges. The city prepared for the influx of thousands of participants by strengthening public transport, which was particularly important after the announced strike by train drivers was called off. Besides smartphones, the MWC trade show brings premieres of accessories, such as the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro headphones, and experimental streaming services. Controversy, however, is stirred by the strategy of the company Hisense, which is testing aggressive advertising formats in its new receivers, forcing users to watch them when changing channels, showing that manufacturers are seeking new revenue sources in the face of rising component production costs.