GoKawiilAbout 150 miles south of Seoul sits Samsung’s manufacturing facility in Gumi, where the company produces and stress tests many of its Galaxy smartphones, including its foldable devices.
On a sweltering day in June, I made my way to the Korean production campus (in style via helicopter, I might add), which is dubbed Gumi Smart City. There, I got a behind-the-scenes look at how Samsung manufactures phones including the Galaxy S26, S26 Ultra and the brand-new Z Fold 8 Ultra. I saw the new foldable a month before its debut at Galaxy Unpacked in London, where Samsung also unveiled the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8.
Fresh off the helicopter ride to Gumi. (Forgive the iPhone in my hand. I promise the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is in my bag.) Samsung
The Gumi production plant has operated for nearly 40 years, and is one of around a dozen Samsung factories cranking out phones around the globe. Much of the Korean facility is automated, with robotic arms lifting phones, tightening screws and securing the new devices in their packaging.
Samsung calls its Korean manufacturing campus Gumi Smart City. Samsung
I was struck by how quiet the vast, warehouse-like facility was and by how smoothly each phone progressed from one stage of the assembly line to the next. I was told the production floor’s lighting is usually dimmer because the robots don’t need to see, which helps save energy. But during my visit, the overhead lights illuminated each step of the process, offering a rare glimpse into how our handsets are made.
Here’s a look at Samsung’s manufacturing facility in Korea.
Samsung
These folks sit in a control room near the production floor entrance, ensuring everything runs smoothly. This glass wall can become translucent or opaque with the push of a button.
Samsung
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