The Pixel 10 and the Galaxy S26 might be the top o...

In the event you’ve been being attentive to Google and Samsung press occasions prior to now few years, you have in all probability seen that the businesses appear unusually shut. There’s an apparent hyperlink — Google makes Android, which Samsung wants for its telephones — however it goes past that. Samsung telephones have featured prominently at Google occasions, and the 2 have collaborated on numerous AI options, together with giving Gemini a distinguished place within the Galaxy S25 lineup. That is regardless of Samsung having its personal AI assistant, Bixby, and Google providing loads of Pixel phones on the market.

Currently, although, rumors have pointed to the 2 corporations drifting aside. Is it a severe chance? Personally, I feel it is too early to inform, however there’s a case to be made that cracks are exhibiting. My very own prediction is that the businesses will keep linked, given their motivations and examples from the remainder of the tech business.

What’s threatening the Google/Samsung relationship?

New alternatives, or perhaps lowering dependencies

The factor that kicked off this op-ed is a latest Bloomberg report, claiming that Samsung could pre-install Perplexity‘s AI app and assistant on Galaxy telephones, probably starting with the Galaxy S26. On prime of that, Perplexity features might be built-in into Samsung’s net browser, and even Bixby. Samsung’s assistant nonetheless handles a whole lot of native system instructions on S25 telephones, however lacks any type of generative AI, which is why Gemini’s arrival was so vital.

Evidently, these items might pose a risk to Google’s plans, particularly if Perplexity turns into Samsung’s default assistant. The majority of Google’s income comes from promoting, which is able to clearly diminish if Perplexity takes over Galaxy net search. Additionally, if Gemini turns into nothing greater than a secondary possibility on Samsung telephones, there might be fewer individuals prepared to pay for the AI Professional tier of Google One.

Samsung is not the one one regarded as pulling away, although. For some time now, rumors have indicated that the Tensor G5 processor within the Pixel 10 will likely be Google’s first chip produced by TSMC as an alternative of Samsung. Shifting past designs rooted in Exynos chips might result in higher effectivity — a typical grievance about earlier Pixels — however at the price of chilly laborious money for Samsung’s chip manufacturing enterprise.

In brief, the businesses appear to be making strikes that won’t solely scale back their dependence on one another, however harm one another financially. You may take that as an indication that issues are about to disintegrate, however I am uncertain for just a few causes.

Associated

This Android-powered e-ink tablet is better than a Kindle, but it’s still niche in my life

You will solely get probably the most out of Boox’s pill for those who’re into sketching and paper notes.

Symbiosis and the character of doing enterprise

Extra to lose than acquire from a break-up

Actually, there’s an excessive amount of at stake for the pair to half methods fully. Samsung is not simply the main Android telephone maker, however the largest telephone maker on the planet, with a 20% marketshare as of Q1 2025, in response to Counterpoint. Google wants the corporate to perpetuate Android and all of the related companies that convey it income, particularly within the US, the place telephone manufacturers like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo are merely non-existent. Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, and Google itself might conceivably fill within the hole — however there’s simply no purpose to fabricate that disaster and threat ceding floor to Apple’s iPhone.

On the flip facet, Samsung would not be the place it’s at this time with out Android. The corporate was fast to use the platform and imitate Apple as soon as the unique iPhone launched in 2007, serving to it outperform rivals like Nokia, RIM, and Motorola. It does have its personal software program — One UI — however that is only a layer on prime of Android. With out Google, Samsung can be pressured to whip up a full-fledged working system, which might simply fail with out the companies customers have come to count on. Think about getting right into a automobile and discovering that your Samsung telephone is lacking Android Auto, Google Maps, and Gemini. You’d rightfully be headed to the shop for a brand new system.

That brings us to a different level, nevertheless, which is that corporations can scale back ties with out absolutely severing them. Think about Microsoft and OpenAI. Whereas the businesses have competing AI merchandise — Copilot and ChatGPT — OpenAI continues to be Microsoft’s largest infrastructure buyer. OpenAI can be left scrambling with out Microsoft servers, and that infrastructure enterprise can be diminished with out the expansion of ChatGPT.

A fair higher instance to level to is Apple and Google. Whereas Steve Jobs as soon as promised to go to “thermonuclear warfare” over Android, arguing it was a rip-off of the iPhone, the businesses finally settled into a cushty relationship. Google pays billions of {dollars} to stay the default search engine on Apple units, and the recognition of iPhones would seemingly plummet if individuals did not have entry to apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps. Certainly, Apple is even poised so as to add Gemini as an extension possibility for Apple Intelligence alongside ChatGPT.

OS

iOS, Android, macOS, Home windows

App

Free, with in-app purchases

Associated

This trick got my Xbox and Blu-rays to play nice with my HomePods

There could also be some hurdles concerned, and you will be extra intently welded to the Apple ecosystem.

What does the long run maintain for Google and Samsung?

Some remaining ideas

Google

At a minimal, we must always look forward to the Galaxy S26 announcement to get a real trace of the partnership’s prospects. If Samsung goes all-in on Perplexity, displacing Google on its telephones, I would not be stunned to see the businesses maintain distancing themselves. Conversely, if Perplexity finally ends up being an addition to Google’s software program and companies and never a alternative, I might count on enterprise as common. Samsung is perhaps upset at dropping a few of its chip gross sales, however that typically occurs, and it is not prefer it will not profit from the Pixel 10 lineup in any respect — Google is predicted to maintain utilizing Exynos modems.

I am betting that Google and Samsung will keep joined for years to come back. That relationship goes to evolve, as an example, emphasizing Android XR, however the mutual advantages ought to proceed to outweigh some diversions in enterprise technique.

You may also like

Everything you need to know about PEVs, or personal electric vehicles

You should utilize PEVs like e-bikes and scooters to discover, run errands, or velocity up your commute.