During Apple's earnings call on October 31, senior executives emphasized the company's commitment to quality, which has influenced the pace of the Apple Intelligence launch across regions. Additionally, favorable foreign exchange developments benefited Apple, helping the company maintain stable performance in China
With SiC production capacity rising in China, prices have fallen dramatically, potentially leading to a restructuring of China's SiC industry and prompting Taiwan-based players to seek differentiation, according to industry sources
John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and China, has recently written to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin regarding China's subsidies for LCD and OLED displays. In his letter, he argued that these subsidies have driven non-Chinese companies out of the market, strengthening China's dominance in the display sector
The era of advanced process inflation has arrived, with the price of 3nm processes continuing to rise. Key system-on-chip (SoC) components such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite and MediaTek's Dimensity are seeing significant price increases, leaving downstream smartphone manufacturers in distress, lamenting that the inflation from "advanced processes" is causing smartphone prices to rise instead of fall, making business increasingly difficult
GaAs foundry house Win Semiconductors (WinSemi) has offered a weak outlook for China's Android phone market in the fourth quarter of 2024, but expects significant results from satellite, Wi-Fi 7, and AI-driven optical communications applications
Samsung Electronics achieved a historic high in revenue for the third quarter of 2024. Yet, overall operating profit fell short of market expectations, primarily due to one-time expenses including incentive bonuses in the Device Solutions (DS) division and foreign exchange fluctuations
Xiaomi, entering its fifth year in the high-end smartphone market, has once again rolled out its annual flagship phone, the Xiaomi 15, setting itself as a contender against Apple. Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi Group, aiming to deepen its focus on its foundational technologies with the slogan "AI x OS x Chips", announced the company plans to up its R&D spending from RMB 24 billion (approx. US$5.34 billion) in 2024 to RMB 30 billion in 2025
SK Hynix has demonstrated impressive performance, attracting former employees who had moved to Samsung Electronics (Samsung) back to its ranks. South Korean media analysis indicates that this trend reflects the enhanced position of SK Hynix within the semiconductor industry
According to informed sources, TSMC has suspended supplies to at least two chip developers due to suspicions that these companies are attempting to circumvent the US government's export restrictions on Huawei. The two companies had placed orders for 7nm process chips from TSMC, and the gradual increase in order volume raised alarms within the company
DIGITIMES Research observes that China is rapidly advancing in the field of LLMs. Major technology giants such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent have launched their self-developed LLMs. Chinese-developed LLMs are continuously improving in terms of parameter count, functionality, and application scenarios, according to the latest report on China's development of AI chips
Samsung Electronics is expected to launch its flagship Galaxy S25 series in early 2025. Reports indicate that Samsung Display (SDC) will supply OLED panels using a material combination known as "M13.
According to DIGITIMES Research's report on cloud ASIC accelerators, the global shipment of self-developed cloud AI ASIC accelerators is projected to reach 3.45 million units in 2024, with Google's market share expected to grow to 74%
The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) recently announced that industrial electricity rates will rise on October 24, while residential rates remain frozen. Industry leaders criticized the policy, suggesting it prioritizes electoral outcomes over sustainable energy management, describing it as "energy populism.
Oki Electric Industry and Nisshinbo Micro Devices have announced the development of an analog IC for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in vehicles, reports Nikkei
The Chinese government has significantly tightened restrictions on foreign companies, especially semiconductor manufacturers, making it much more difficult to acquire various rare earths and other minerals that are primarily mined and refined in China
