Qualcomm has introduced its new 5G SoC lineup - the Snapdragon 865 series for smartphone vendors' flagship models and the 765 series for midrange to high-end ones. But it is the midrange smartphone market segment that is expected to see the most intense competition among chip vendors in the upstream and among phone vendors in the end market. Around 70% of over 200 million 5G smartphones to be shipped next year are estimated to be midrange to high-end ones. The smartphone market, after a year of sluggish demand in 2019, is heading towards recovery thanks to the arrival of 5G. Foundry house Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing (PSMC) expects smartphone-use sensors to help keep its 12-inch fabs running at full capacity in 2020.
Qualcomm intros new 5G SoC lineup: Qualcomm has introduced its new Snapdragon 865 and 765 seies SoC chips designed for 5G-capable Android smartphones slated for launch in 2020. TSMC and Samsung Foundry reportedly are both being contracted to manufacture the chips.
Midrange 5G handset chips market to heat up in 1H20: The main battlefield in the 5G mobile chip market is expected to shift from flagship models to mostly midrange ones in the first half of 2020, as around 70% of over 200 million 5G smartphones to be shipped next year will be midrange to high-end ones, according to industry sources.
Powerchip seeing strong demand for smartphone sensors: Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing (PSMC), a foundry subsidiary of Powerchip Technology, has enjoyed robust demand for smartphone-use sensors which is filling its 12-inch fab capacity.