LG Uplus has launched the Galaxy Buddy5, an exclusive value smartphone priced in the 500,000 won range, targeting consumers seeking reasonable spending. It is the fifth model in the U+ exclusive 5G Galaxy Buddy series introduced in 2021 and is based on Samsung Electronics\' Galaxy A17 5G. The phone features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, a 50-megapixel rear camera with optical stabilization and a 5,000mAh battery.

Prices for SD and microSD cards, long seen as cheap and stable storage, are surging in 2026 as AI expansion boosts memory demand, an analysis says. TechRadar links the increases to a global memory crunch driven by production line changes, strategic output cuts and higher component costs. With chipmakers focusing on higher-margin AI memory, SD-card memory output has fallen. Analysts expect pressure to last into mid-2026 or longer.