In response, Samsung asked a simple question — can anyone create Hollywood-style videos on a Galaxy mobile phone? The answer is the Cinematic Look-Up Table (Cine LUT) feature on the Galaxy S26 series. While the APV codec provides the foundation for cinema-quality video, Cine LUT brings a distinct colour style to the footage.

Cine LUT makes professional-level colour grading — once reserved for experts — accessible to anyone. Samsung collaborated with internal teams and external specialists to bring the feature to life. The Mobile eXperience (MX) Business led final camera implementation, Samsung Research developed core video processing technologies and U5K Imageworks — a colourist studio behind globally recognised productions — helped shape its visual aesthetic.

Following the introduction of the APV codec, which delivers a visually lossless level of image quality, Samsung Newsroom spoke with three key developers behind Cine LUT — Sugon Baek of the Camera Image Quality R&D Group at the MX Business, Bomi Kim of the Reality Media Lab at Samsung Research and Taesik Eom, CEO of U5K Imageworks — to hear the story of its creation.

▲ (From left) Taesik Eom, Bomi Kim and Sugon Baek

Q. What is a LUT? What sets Cine LUT on the Galaxy S26 series apart?

Baek: A LUT is essentially a “map” that transforms one set of colours into a desired look. Unlike conventional filters that simply overlay colour, Cine LUT reinterprets Samsung Log^[1] footage to deliver the depth and look of professional filmmaking.

Kim: It’s optimised for Log video. By leveraging its wide gradation,^[2] the feature precisely reconstructs colour and brightness to preserve subtle tonal details often lost with conventional filters for richer, more natural depth.

▲ Comparison of Log footage in standard settings and with the Thriller LUT and Blockbuster LUT

▲ Taesik Eom, CEO of U5K Imageworks

Q. What challenges did you face during development?

Kim: We needed a large data set to validate performance across diverse conditions. Testing in real-world environments — from natural and indoor lighting to day and night — and close collaboration were key to capturing the nuances of colour.

Baek: Maintaining consistent, undistorted colour in different environments was challenging. Through continuous testing, we developed a LUT that balances subjective preference with objective quality.

Q. What was the key consideration in creating looks optimised for mobile phones?

Eom: Ensuring reliable performance in real-world conditions was key. Since lighting, exposure and white balance constantly vary, we focused on creating looks that remain natural in any situation.

Kim: Quality was our top priority. We analysed each frame and validated performance using tools like colour charts, gray balance and vector scopes.

Q. Why were these four styles chosen for the Galaxy S26 series?

Baek: We analysed the visual language of popular film genres and identified four representative styles. From the high-contrast Blockbuster to the fresh Coming-of-age, warm Romance and moody Thriller, each colour palette was designed to give everyday scenes an instant cinematic look.

▲ Comparison of Log footage in standard settings and with the Coming-of-age LUT and Romance LUT

Q. What led to the development of Cine LUT?

Kim: While Galaxy devices supported Log video for high-quality capture, colour grading remained challenging for users. We aimed to make professional-looking results accessible without advanced editing skills.

Baek: We wanted to create an experience that lets users preview cinematic footage at the moment of capture, then apply a LUT and share the video with a single tap in the Gallery.

▲ (From left) Bomi Kim of the Reality Media Lab at Samsung Research and Sugon Baek of the Camera Image Quality R&D Group, MX Business

Q. How did the collaboration with U5K Imageworks begin? How was Cine LUT developed?

Eom: Our collaboration began two years ago with Rec. 709 LUT advisory work for Samsung Log video, where we refined strong colours into more natural tones — an experience that led to Cine LUT. For this project, we developed multiple versions across three intensity levels — neutral, soft and strong — and tested them in diverse scenes, ultimately selecting four core styles.

Kim: Building on U5K’s colour direction, we validated the concepts against quantitative criteria to ensure consistent performance in different environments, refining them through testing until creative intent and technical quality aligned.

▲ Users can preview Cine LUTs when shooting in Log and easily apply them to recorded footage using editing tools.

Q. Which Cine LUT styles do you recommend for different situations?

Eom: There’s no fixed answer — it depends on the situation. Blockbuster suits high-contrast environments like outdoor and urban scenes; Coming-of-age fits soft, trendy settings like cafes or vlogs; Romance adds warmth to character-driven scenes; and Thriller creates a more striking impression.

Q. What stood out to you in user feedback?

Baek: We expected it might be seen as just another video effect, but the response exceeded expectations. Users quickly recognised that combining Log shooting with Cine LUTs expands creative possibilities beyond simple filters. We’re also seeing more users choose styles based on the scene, with high-quality videos widely shared on social media — and even inspiring new ways to create content.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

Baek: We aim to further establish the Galaxy S26 series as a professional-grade camera. We hope to see more content that resonates with both creators and viewers and will continue to set new standards in video creation.

Kim: As the world changes rapidly, our goal is to identify next-generation technologies. Through close collaboration with business divisions, we will work to bring them into products and deliver innovative experiences to users around the world.

▲ Baek, Eom and Kim watch a video with Cine LUT applied.

Born from close collaboration, Cine LUT on the Galaxy S26 series transforms everyday moments into cinematic visuals. Beyond its technical achievements, the feature marks an important step toward making video creation more accessible — lowering barriers once reserved for professionals and enabling anyone to express themselves.

Heesub Han, a commercial and documentary director, shot a series of short films on Galaxy S26 Ultra using the APV codec and Samsung Log. Explore the videos below to discover the possibilities of Cine LUT through the making-of and short films.

[1] The Intel vPro® platform is only available for the 14-inch model of the Galaxy Book6 Enterprise Edition.

[2] UK specific business Service Centre for UK service requirements.

With the acquisition completed in November last year, FläktGroup’s new CEO David Dorney is set to guide the company through an exciting chapter. A seasoned industry executive, Dorney brings more than 20 years of global HVAC leadership experience with a focus on driving growth across key industrial sectors.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with Dorney to hear more about his vision for the future, the opportunities ahead and what the acquisition means for FläktGroup.

David Dorney, CEO of FläktGroup

Q. Tell us about FläktGroup and its biggest strengths.

FläktGroup has deep roots with a story that goes back to 1909. We’ve pioneered ventilation systems for commercial and industrial buildings, clean rooms, marine applications and fire safety.

We are proud of our teams, their expertise in their chosen fields and the immense effort they put into their work every day. We want our FläktGroup employees to grow in the best way possible. We aim to ensure this happens by continually investing in training and developing our people. This will be coupled with the delivery of top-quality solutions from each of our 14 global manufacturing facilities, backed by our field-trained after-sales service engineers, so that our many loyal customers can enjoy continued satisfaction and peace of mind.

One area of deep expertise is in data center cooling — since introducing our first computer room air conditioning (CRAC) unit in 1964, we’ve been delivering solutions for more than 60 years. That experience means we understand every detail, from precision cooling to energy efficiency.

Q. How do you see the HVAC market today and in the future?

The HVAC market is strong and growing, driven by energy efficiency mandates, rising urbanization, adoption of smart technologies such as IoT and AI and increased focus on indoor air quality (IAQ), with projections showing significant expansion through 2030-2035. Key trends include demand for heat pumps, low-GWP refrigerants and smart connected systems.

Obviously, we are seeing rapid innovation in liquid cooling technologies, and globally, demand for energy-efficient HVAC systems is rising in regions like North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The outlook for our industry is positive and we’re ready to adapt and lead.

FläktGroup’s HVAC solution products

Q. What are some of FläktGroup’s recent successful projects?

Our recent important projects span both new-build and turnkey retrofit solutions across a range of essential industries. For instance, we’ve onboarded a number of new data center customers and have provided on-site support for AI and cloud services globally. We have also delivered a turnkey solution in Sweden for a customer building a CO2-free steel production plant, and we completed several defence projects within our marine business, for various countries including India and the US.

This year, we achieved our first cross-selling success in the US, where we delivered FläktGroup Air solutions together with Samsung modular chillers^[1] for controlling the environmental conditions in an aerospace application.

Q. Where do you see synergies between Samsung and FläktGroup?

We are looking at cross-selling opportunities, supply chain integration and joining forces when it comes to R&D, to accelerate the time to market with our key new product introduction (NPI) roadmap.

By combining FläktGroup’s HVAC expertise with Samsung’s technology leadership, we can create smarter, more connected solutions. For example, integrating our HVAC systems with Samsung’s SmartThings Pro and b.IoT platforms will open doors to advanced energy management and smart building solutions. Samsung also brings strong AI capabilities, which we can use to optimize performance and efficiency.

FläktGroup’s office in India

Q. Which regions or industries will you focus on next?

Our priority is to build on our new partnership with Samsung and continue the collaboration between our teams that started in 2025. We’re focusing on coolant distribution unit (CDU) technology and expanding our FläktEdge smart control systems, while investing in R&D to speed up delivery and support partner projects.

The planned plant in Korea will be a template for all future FläktGroup factories, and it is essential to the expansion of our presence in the wider region. We’re also investing in new production facilities and field services in India and the US, where we see significant growth opportunities in data centrs and indoor climate solutions.

A truck tour named “Fläkt on Wheels” was held across 18 countries and 45 different locations, introducing FläktGroup’s solutions to over 1,200 customers.

Q. What is your vision as CEO, and what are your key goals?

Our vision is clear: we want to move forward with Samsung in 2026 and beyond, becoming a global leader in HVAC. That means working closely with our customers and partners alike, addressing their key challenges such as reducing their carbon footprint. It’s a big mission, especially with climate change and its impact on wellbeing.

Our goals focus on innovation, quality and sustainability. We’ll keep developing energy-efficient solutions and smart technologies that make buildings healthier and safer. FläktGroup has already been doing this for more than 100 years, leveraging our broad product portfolio and also investing in new solutions, and now we are taking it to the next level.

Q. Looking ten years ahead, where do you see FläktGroup?

I see FläktGroup, together with Samsung, as a global leader in HVAC and a trusted name everywhere. We’ll be known for sustainability, smart technology and energy efficiency.

Some examples of our current focus areas are expanding environmental product declaration (EPD)^[2] coverage to 95% of products by 2026, launching FläktEdge specifically for key mission-critical vertical markets and embedding circular economy principles into design and packaging.

Through these efforts, we hope that FläktGroup will establish itself as a company that contributes to creating a more sustainable global society.

[1] A modular chiller system consists of multiple smaller, independent chiller units that link together and operate as a single, scalable system, offering a stable supply of cooling and heating loads for buildings or facilities.

[2]An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is an independently verified document that provides transparent and comparable information about the life-cycle environmental impact of a product.

Redefining Next-Generation Communication System as We Know It

Samsung Electronics was among the first to realise the commercialisation of 5G. Now, the company is set to accelerate research for 6G with the vision of bringing the next generation of hyper-connected experiences to every corner of our lives in the future.

Wireless communications technology has developed from the first-generation analog communication, in which only voice calls were supported, to the ultra-fast 5G of today, and the generation change of this technology is now progressing even more rapidly.

When asked to define communications technology, Choi summed it up as “technology that offers the infrastructure needed to enable people and things (i.e., devices, places, etc.) to connect and interact with one another across physical and virtual spaces.” As Choi explained, “It is the basis for the foundation of a smarter age in which AI and robots will become a common part of our lives.”

Today, communications technology connects not just people but also devices and other things all together, and it will keep evolving so as to allow the exchange of content and ideas in new and exciting ways. “Compared to the previous generations, current communication technology can process more data in shorter time,” Choi explained. “Network equipment is also undergoing evolutions to handle more demanding requirements of this technical trend.” Eventually, the industry is heading towards automation that can adapt to the complexity of advancing communication technologies and their operations to be able to raise the quality of service provided.

“Advances of communications technology have gone beyond simply facilitating the exchange of information,” Choi continued. “Now, it’s about advancing this technology in consideration of what types of businesses and services it can provide.”

A Commitment to Innovation

From a peak data rate of 20 Gbps (i.e., ultra-high-speed) to an air latency of 1 ms (i.e., ultra-low latency) and a reliability of 99.999 percent (i.e. ultra-reliability), it seems nearly everything is becoming “ultra” in the 5G era. Indeed, you could say that we’re no longer talking about the evolution of wireless communications technology, but rather the beginning of a whole new world of “ultra” experiences.

This shift in perspective has been made possible thanks in large part to collaboration amongindustries, academia, and research institutions. Through its commercialisation of 5G, and through collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU–R), Samsung has played a key role in developing the standards that define this new era of “ultra” experiences.

“Samsung Electronics has always innovated with an eye toward the future, continuously preparing for the next generation,” said Choi. “Now, we are witnessing the results of our long-term investment in the development of wireless communications technology. Not only do we lead the smartphone market, because we also possess a comprehensive portfolio of communication technologies, including smartphones, network equipment, and semiconductor chipsets, we’ve been able to see the market from various angles.”

The Advanced Communications Research Center at Samsung Research is working tirelessly to chart a bold new future for wireless communications technology. One way that the center is achieving this, Choi explained, is by expanding its global capabilities. “Research centers in various regions across the globe are drawing from their strength of expertise to develop and standardise major core technologies.”

In order for Samsung to maintain its leadership in the development of communications technologies, he added, “The company must continue to nurture talents and take a long-term approach to the development of the next-generation communications technology.”

Going beyond 5G

Today, 5G technology is being applied to the core infrastructure of a wide range of industries, and is utilised to support everything from high-quality communications services to smart factories, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and a raft of other new services. Looking ahead, Choi described how taking this technology to the next level will require a great deal of research and development.

The path to overcoming some of the current technological challenges facing communications technologies, Choi explained, lies in enriching software’s capabilities and advancing AI. Networks of the future will demand capabilities that can process enormous amounts of information, which means that more powerful network equipment will be required, and the softwarisation, which can make equipment more flexible and less costly, will become increasingly important. Furthermore, developing core technologies for 6G with long-term vision and driving global standardisation are important.

More information on Samsung’s efforts to usher in a new era of wireless communications technology may be found in the company’s official 6G white paper, which is set for release today. The white paper covers various aspects related to 6G, including technical and societal megatrends, new services, requirements, candidate technologies, and an expected timeline of standardisation.

Making the Impossible Possible

The communications industry is evolving faster than any other, and there is fierce competition to define the future of this technology. As Choi pointed out, however, the focus for researchers in this field should not be the competition, but the long-term goal. “It’s important to conduct research with a long-term view,” Choi explained, noting that several communications technologies that have changed life as we know it ultimately took decades to commercialise.

“We are currently conducting research on technology that may seem difficult to realise now, but may have potential in the future,” added Choi. “In particular, by focusing on services that have not yet been explored and that Samsung is uniquely qualified to deliver, we’re constantly thinking about the types of services that users of the future will need. As a global leader in wireless communications technology, we will continue to design technology that can contribute to the advancement of mankind.”

Choi has worked in this field for over 30 years, and has spent the last 17 years advancing communications technology in academia. Today, Choi remains as fascinated by this technology as he’s ever been. He’s pleased to work with experts at Samsung Research who share his passion, and he’s committed to nurturing the talents of his world-class team, having vowed to “continue to support the growth of our team members, who already rank among the best engineers in the world.”

The next 10 years, Choi continued, will be particularly exciting, as we will witness the “beginning of a world in which the impossible becomes possible.”

“Going forward, the future of communications technology will be defined by its ability to bring the next hyper-connected experience for all,” said Choi. “As we aspire to become the best in the industry, our world-class engineers will continue to strive to realise a world, where the impossible becomes possible.”