Samsung bets on AI foldables to revive smartphone leadership

Samsung Electronics has unveiled thinner, lighter foldable phones as it aims to fend off Chinese competition in the higher-margin, premium segment that remains untapped by arch rival Apple (AAPL.O).

The stakes are high. The South Korean company lost its global smartphone crown to Apple in 2023 and faces growing competition from Chinese rivals like Huawei (HWT.UL) and Honor.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s mainstay chip business has suffered a profit slump stemming in part from its delayed...