Samsung Posts Record $90 Billion Quarterly Revenue as AI Chip Demand Drives 750% Profit Surge

Key facts

• first-quarter operating profit of 57.2 trillion won ($89.96 billion), up over 750% year-on-year.
• Revenue reached 133.9 trillion won, exceeding LSEG SmartEstimate consensus of 132.69 trillion won.
• The quarterly profit alone surpassed Samsung’s total 2025 full-year profit of 43.6 trillion won.
• The chip division was the primary driver, benefiting from AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM).
• Samsung expects server memory demand to remain strong into the second half of 2026 as hyperscalers expand AI adoption.
• President Won-Jin Lee was appointed Head of the Visual Display Business, succeeding Seok Woo Yong.
• Samsung and POSTECH published research on a 2D/3D switchable display in Nature.
• The Galaxy S26 series features an enhanced Audio Eraser with real-time audio control.

Record Profit on AI Memory Boom

Samsung Electronics shattered its own earnings records in the first quarter of 2026, posting an operating profit of 57.2 trillion Korean won — a more than eightfold increase from a year earlier and a new all-time high. Revenue climbed to 133.9 trillion won ($89.96 billion), beating analyst expectations of 132.69 trillion won. The quarterly profit alone exceeded Samsung’s total operating profit for the full year 2025, which stood at 43.6 trillion won. The results extend momentum from the fourth quarter of 2025, when Samsung surpassed its prior record of 17.6 trillion won set in the third quarter of 2018.

Chip Division Powers the Surge

The explosive growth was driven by Samsung’s semiconductor business, which has emerged as a major beneficiary of the global artificial intelligence data center boom. Constrained supply and rising prices for memory chips used in data centers, smartphones, PCs and game consoles lifted earnings across the memory segment. Samsung’s high-bandwidth memory (HBM) business, a key component in AI data center chips, continued to expand. it expects server memory demand to remain strong into the second half of the year as hyperscale cloud providers accelerate AI adoption and demand for agentic AI grows.

New Leadership at Visual Display Business

On May 4, 2026, Samsung Electronics announced the appointment of President Won-Jin Lee as the new Head of the Visual Display Business. Lee, previously Head of Global Marketing Office, is described as an expert in content, service and marketing who played a pivotal role in establishing the foundations for Samsung’s TV and mobile service businesses. He is expected to spearhead business turnarounds and identify new growth areas. President Seok Woo Yong, who previously led the business, will serve as advisor to the Head of Device eXperience (DX) Division, providing strategic counsel on core future technologies including AI and robotics.

Innovations Across Products and Partnerships

Beyond financial results, Samsung continued to advance its technology portfolio. The company and POSTECH published a research paper titled “Switchable 2D-3D display through a metasurface lenticular lens” in the journal Nature, marking progress in next-generation display technology. In consumer products, the Galaxy S26 series introduced an enhanced Audio Eraser feature that supports real-time audio control on content streamed across various platforms. Samsung also launched the Galaxy Book6 Enterprise Edition, powered by Intel Core Ultra processors with Intel vPro, extending the connected Galaxy experience to enterprise IT environments.

Cultural and Hospitality Expansions

Samsung partnered with the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam to bring a curated selection of modern and contemporary art to the Samsung Art Store. The company also showcased its hospitality technology at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, using Samsung Hospitality TVs and LYNK Cloud to deliver a seamless, personalized guest experience. In Europe, Samsung launched the ‘Raise the Bar’ campaign in the U.K. with former footballer Joe Cole to upgrade pub TV experiences, and expanded a fashion-tech collaboration with DOMINNICO in Spain with a new capsule collection. The company’s ‘Design Is an Act of Love’ exhibition was held at Milan Design Week 2026.

Outlook: AI Demand and Strategic Shifts

With record earnings behind it, Samsung faces the challenge of sustaining growth as the AI boom continues to reshape the memory chip market. The company’s ability to meet hyperscaler demand for HBM and other advanced memory products will be critical. The leadership change at the Visual Display Business signals a strategic push to find new growth areas beyond displays, leveraging Lee’s marketing and service expertise. As Samsung navigates a rapidly evolving technology landscape, its first-quarter results underscore the central role of AI in driving both revenue and transformation.

The bottom line

• Samsung’s first-quarter operating profit of 57.2 trillion won was a record, exceeding its full-year 2025 profit.
• Revenue hit 133.9 trillion won, beating analyst estimates by over 1 trillion won.
• The chip division, especially HBM, was the primary growth driver amid the AI data center boom.
• Samsung expects server memory demand to remain strong through the second half of 2026.
• President Won-Jin Lee was appointed to lead the Visual Display Business, with a mandate to drive turnaround and growth.
• Samsung continues to innovate across displays, audio, and enterprise devices, while expanding cultural and hospitality partnerships.