Samsung did launch a program to evaluate Israeli startup technology for possible use in its mobile products. But its 2023 announcement described a startup and proof-of-concept initiative—not a confirmed feature or component in a Galaxy smartphone. The distinction matters: a funded pilot can lead to a commercial deal, but it does not guarantee one.
What Samsung announced in 2023
In March 2023, Samsung Research Israel promoted an Israel-focused cycle of Samsung Mobile Advance (SMA). The aim was to find Israeli startups that could build pilot projects for Samsung to assess for its mobile products and software. The advertised program ran from July 2023 through February 2024.
Selected startups were to receive a $50,000 grant without giving up equity, plus about six months of technical and project support. They were expected to develop a proof of concept showing how their technology might complement or differentiate Samsung products. The program flyer described possible next steps such as partnership, investment, licensing, joint development, or deployment. Those were possibilities, not promised outcomes or a purchase order.
Which technologies were in scope?
The call covered Samsung’s broader mobile ecosystem, not just smartphone hardware. Its areas of interest ranged from imaging and software to wearables and materials.
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- Imaging: camera optics, image-processing algorithms, and camera electronics, with potential relevance to photography and video features.
- AI and software: on-device AI and related capabilities. Samsung separately describes on-device AI as a mobile priority, including generative AI applications; that strategic interest does not establish that an Israeli SMA startup supplied any Galaxy AI feature. See Samsung’s on-device AI overview and Galaxy AI announcement.
- Device technology: power, audio, sensors, connectivity, foldables, and advanced materials.
- Adjacent products and sustainability: wearables, health, extended reality (XR), and environmental or sustainability technologies.
The SMA materials framed the opportunity around mobile products broadly, which can include phones, tablets, watches, earbuds, and foldables. A technology in the program therefore was not necessarily intended for a smartphone.
How a pilot could become a product—and why it might not
SMA offered a route from startup proposal to technical evaluation, not an automatic path to a Galaxy release. The stages are materially different:
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- Application and selection: Samsung considers a startup and its proposed technology.
- Proof of concept: A selected company uses the grant and technical support to build a pilot.
- Evaluation: Samsung assesses feasibility and fit for a product or software roadmap.
- Commercial decision: Samsung and the startup may negotiate licensing, investment, joint development, partnership, or deployment.
- Product integration: A technology counts as confirmed in a shipping Galaxy device only when a product-specific announcement or other reliable evidence establishes that deployment.
A prototype can work in a demonstration yet fall short on reliability, cost, security, regulation, or manufacturing scale. Software may also need to fit Android, One UI, chipset, privacy, or cloud requirements. Samsung may choose an internal solution or another supplier—or decide that a project is better suited to a watch, tablet, or accessory. For a startup, the grant and access to Samsung teams provide support, but do not guarantee a contract; later ownership and licensing terms would need to be agreed separately.
Has an Israeli SMA technology been confirmed in a Galaxy phone?
The sources documenting the 2023 initiative establish that Samsung solicited technologies, supported pilot development, and could evaluate projects for possible future use. They do not identify a specific Israeli startup, completed pilot, Samsung license, or feature or component in a shipping Galaxy S, Galaxy Z, Galaxy A, or other smartphone. On this evidence, it would be inaccurate to say that Samsung had already integrated Israeli SMA technology into its phones.
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Samsung Research Israel says its role includes identifying Israeli companies and academic research and helping Samsung assess them for possible product integration. That is an evaluation function, not confirmation that a particular technology shipped. Samsung’s later Galaxy AI and on-device AI descriptions likewise show its broader interest in those fields, not the origin of any specific feature.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Samsung looked to Israel—and what the wider program shows
Samsung Research Israel, based in Herzliya, was established in 1997. Its stated work includes exploring Israel’s technology ecosystem, evaluating companies and research for potential Samsung applications, and supporting open innovation. That context explains why Samsung might seek specialized startup capabilities there; it does not indicate a plan to move smartphone manufacturing to Israel or a single standardized Israeli platform for Galaxy devices.
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- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Samsung’s broader startup-collaboration model continued in other markets. In May 2026, Samsung announced an SMA edition in India, with a similar proof-of-concept structure and categories including AI, XR, security, health, cameras, audio, and wearables. That shows the model remained in use, but it says nothing by itself about whether the Israeli cohort produced a commercial Galaxy feature. See Samsung’s India announcement.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
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