This week was a whirlwind of surprising comebacks, bizarre product launches, and a very real look at our robotic future. While a robot vacuum company is now making smart rings, the biggest news centered on tech giant Samsung, which seems to be turning its fortunes around, and a humanoid robot that you could own next year.
Let’s get into the biggest stories.
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Samsung Internet Finally Jumps to Windows
First up, Samsung has finally brought its “Samsung Internet” web browser from Android over to Windows. It’s not just for Samsung laptops, either—it’s theoretically for any PC.
Right now, it’s a beta for users in the US and Korea. Since it’s based on Chromium, it should feel familiar, supporting ad blockers and importing bookmarks from other browsers. The real hook is for existing Samsung users: it syncs all your passwords, history, and bookmarks from your phone. It also features a “Browsing Assist” (powered by Galaxy AI) for website summaries and translations. It may have taken them two years to make this happen, but for fans of the mobile app, this is a welcome move.
The “Miraculous” Turnaround of Samsung’s Chip Business
The even bigger news is that Samsung’s chip foundry, which has been deeply unprofitable for years, is reportedly making a “proper turnaround.” According to the Korea Herald, Samsung is locking in massive orders that could make its foundry profitable by 2027.
Who are the new customers?
- Tesla: A massive AI chip order.
- Nintendo: The Nvidia chips powering the upcoming Switch 2 will reportedly be made by Samsung.
- Apple: Samsung has begun joint development on next-generation image sensors with Apple.
Add to this that Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chip will return to the Galaxy S26, and even Qualcomm is reportedly testing Samsung’s 2nm process for a future Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. After years of struggle, this is an amazing set of wins for the Korean giant, and its stock is reflecting the new optimism.
Meet Neo: The $20,000 Humanoid Robot for Your Home
The most futuristic news of the week comes from a company called 1X, which unveiled its new humanoid robot called Neo. It’s designed for domestic tasks, and you could actually own one as soon as next year for $20,000 (or $500 a month).
The launch video is impressive, showing Neo folding laundry, tidying up, and loading a dishwasher. But here’s the catch: almost none of that is autonomous.
Autonomous vs. Remote-Controlled
In a demo with The Wall Street Journal, it was revealed that the only tasks the humanoid robot can currently do by itself are simple ones, like walking to a door, opening it, and fetching a drink.
Literally, everything else in the video was done by a human remote-controlling the robot. This makes sense, as every home is unique, and the robot needs to “practice” to learn. Essentially, 1X is asking early adopters to pay $20,000 to have a human operator virtually walk around their home, training their robot for them.
It’s a cool-looking and promising technology, but with questions about it not being water-resistant and the creepiness of a remote operator, we’d definitely wait for the reviews.
This Week’s Other Gadget Drops
It was also a busy week for new hardware. Here are the quick hits:
- Nothing Phone 3a Lite: A new budget phone from Nothing, but it comes with a very weird catch: pre-installed Meta apps that can’t be uninstalled and (optional) lock screen ads. A strange move for a brand that built its name on “clean” software.
- OnePlus 15 (China Launch): This new flagship is focused on thin bezels and a massive 7,300 mAh battery. Unfortunately, the cameras lost their Hasselblad branding and feature smaller sensors, leading to worries it could be a camera downgrade.
- Dreamy Smart Ring: The robot vacuum company is now making a smart ring. Because, why not? It apparently features vibration and touch input.
- DJI Romo P Robot Vacuum: A $1,700 “blingy” robot vacuum with a transparent design. In early testing, it cleaned well but also got tangled in thin carpets, just like every other robot vacuum.
