Xiaomi's latest breakout products, the YU7 electric vehicle and AI-powered smart glasses, are making waves not just for their functionality, but for how they're being positioned and sold. In today's digital-first consumer economy, tech is no longer just about utilities; it's a lifestyle marker. Analysts are increasingly framing this shift as "hype-driven tech consumption," with some even likening it to the rise of "tech collectibles.

Huawei has pushed back against claims that its newly open-sourced Pangu Pro MoE 72B model plagiarized Alibaba's Tongyi Qianwen (Qwen-2.5 14B), after a technical analysis flagged unusually high parameter-level similarities between the two large language models (LLMs)

Apple supplier Luxshare-ICT (also known as Luxshare Precision) has called on the Vietnamese government to address ongoing skilled labor shortages and bureaucratic inefficiencies in Nghe An province, warning that unresolved issues could limit its future investment plans in Vietnam

Following the announcement of a preliminary tariff agreement framework with Vietnam, US President Donald Trump recently told the media that letters would soon be sent to several related countries outlining subsequent tariff regulations. Regarding the scope of tariffs, Trump's statements were ambiguous, indicating some countries would face rates between 10-20%, while others could see tariffs as high as 60-70%, a significant disparity

China launched a "de-involution" campaign targeting solar, energy storage, and electric vehicle sectors since mid-March following the Two Sessions, focusing on industries hit by US trade restrictions under the Inflation Reduction Act

The US and Vietnam recently agreed on tariffs up to 40% on certain goods transshipped through Vietnam, targeting origin washing used to evade US duties. This move is part of a broader US effort against China and others, creating uncertainty for trade and impacting China-Vietnam relations and Taiwanese firms in the area

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from June 30 to July 6, 2025. This week's highlights include Samsung's strategic licensing of Intel patents to avoid global IP battles, Intel's executive shakeup, and Apple edges closer to launching a foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, China's domestic AI chipmakers face steep uphill battles, while Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem formed a new alliance backing TSMC's international expansion

President Donald Trump's administration plans to restrict shipments of AI chips from the likes of Nvidia Corp. to Malaysia and Thailand, part of an effort to crack down on suspected semiconductor smuggling into China

South Korea's exports to the US have declined due to growing protectionist measures under the Trump administration, raising concerns about the competitiveness of South Korean products in the US market. A recent Korea International Trade Association (KITA) report highlights the impact of tariffs on key export sectors and warns of further challenges ahead if reciprocal tariffs are fully enforced

As global competition in artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies, the US-China rivalry has expanded beyond chips and models to include the competition for talent and education integration

Australia has filed a lawsuit against China-backed Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company for violating foreign investment laws, demanding it divest from rare earths producer Northern Minerals, as rare earths become a focal point for geopolitical and technological competition

South Korean president Lee Jae-myung has pledged to invest KRW100 trillion (US$73.9 billion) in AI development to make the country the third-largest AI power after the US and China. Lee is also turning to technocrats for three of the key positions in his new administration to lead his AI campaign

Due to the slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) demand and intensified competition in the battery market, South Korea's major battery manufacturers LG Energy Solutions (LGES), SK On, and Samsung SDI have shown lackluster performance. However, as global IT and automotive companies actively invest in the humanoid robot industry, batteries dedicated to humanoid robots are poised to become a key factor in reversing this trend

Apple and Xiaomi are doubling down on efforts to develop in-house 5G baseband chips, joining a race long dominated by tech heavyweights like Qualcomm and MediaTek. Both companies signaled their ambitions in 2025 to break away from reliance on third-party modem suppliers and take fuller control of their mobile silicon strategies

Yamaha Motor is accelerating its pivot into the semiconductor equipment space with the launch of Yamaha Robotics, a newly established division focused on robotic systems for electronics manufacturing. The company aims to position the business as its third major revenue pillar, alongside motorcycles and marine engines