Largan Precision chairman Adam Lin has emphasized that specifications for robotic vision applications are not necessarily higher than those of smartphones, particularly noting that 5 plastic (5P) lenses are anticipated to become a future trend.
Major tech companies are gearing up for a surge in replacement demand as government incentives aim to stimulate sales of home appliances and consumer electronics products.
Largan held an earnings call on January 9, where chairman En-Ping Lin discussed future trends in lens specifications and dedicated significant time to unveiling the latest developments in their entry into the robotics market.
Amid the ongoing US-China chip war over the past years, the Chinese government has taken counter-measures, including export restrictions on critical materials such as gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite, aiming to curb the development of America's military and communications industries.
Apple's A-series chips have evolved significantly, with transistor counts rising from 1 billion in the A7 to 20 billion in the A18 Pro. This advancement has driven a transition from the 28nm process used in the A7 to the cutting-edge 3nm node in the A18 Pro, resulting in substantially higher wafer manufacturing costs as semiconductor technology advances.
After launching substantial subsidies for household appliances in the second half of 2024, Chinese officials recently announced a broadening of such subsidies to include computing, communications, and consumer products, such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, to strengthen domestic demand, thereby boosting related IC demand.
Apple plans to introduce variable aperture lens technology in the iPhone 18 when it launches in 2026, according to industry sources. The advancement is expected to significantly enhance photography capabilities, particularly in the depth of field (DoF) control.
While Samsung Electronics (Samsung) can breathe a sigh of relief as Qualcomm's close collaborator following the US semiconductor manufacturer's victory in its lawsuit against UK semiconductor IP firm Arm, concerns are mounting over the company's overreliance on Qualcomm.
While Samsung Electronics has integrated its own Exynos 2400 chip in some models of the Galaxy S24 series, the foldable Galaxy Z Flip6 and Fold6 series are still entirely equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. Currently, Samsung's competitiveness in the application processor (AP) sector remains relatively weak, and whether the upcoming Exynos 2500 can reverse this trend is closely watched.
MediaTek has introduced its new Dimensity 8400 SoC series for light flagship smartphones, with Redmi being the first to release a model featuring this processor.
In a strategic move to diversify its display supply chain, Apple has selected Tianma Microelectronics to provide 7-inch LCD panels for its upcoming screen-equipped HomePod, scheduled for release in 2025. The Chinese manufacturer secured the contract with an aggressive pricing of US$10 per unit, which industry observers note is exceptionally competitive even among Chinese suppliers.
Despite continued weak demand for South Korean displays and components in 2024, an unexpected recovery has emerged near year-end. Analysts interpret this trend as a response to the impending inauguration of Donald Trump, prompting Chinese finished equipment manufacturers to actively build component inventories to mitigate potential escalation in the US-China trade war.
The explosive growth in AI adoption has created opportunities beyond traditional computing sectors, with networking suppliers emerging as major beneficiaries. While Broadcom, a leader in wireless networking chips and prominent ASIC provider, gains attention for its AI ASIC growth, Taiwan-based networking switch makers like Accton and Senao Networks are discovering new growth avenues through AI servers.
Foldable smartphone shipment momentum continues to be strong for certain major mobile phone brands despite their low popularity in the end market. However, as development shifts toward lighter and thinner designs, brand manufacturers are investing in material upgrades, which has raised the technical threshold for the supply chain.
MediaTek has announced its revenue performance for November, reporting a monthly revenue of NT$45.242 billion (approx. US$1.391 billion), which represents an 11.49% decrease from the previous month but a 5.04% year-over-year increase.
LG Display (LGD) and Samsung Display (SDC) dominate high-end OLED technology, but their reliance on Apple orders faces pressure from cheaper Chinese OLED panels supplied to local IT firms.
The US House of Representatives is preparing to vote on the fiscal year 2025 national defense budget, which includes a US$3 billion provision aimed at helping US telecoms completely remove Chinese-supplied equipment. The measure specifically targets Huawei and SMIC equipment to prevent potential network communication attacks from Chinese hackers.
It is highly likely that the iPhone SE 4, set to be launched in early 2025, will come with Apple's in-house developed 5G modem. Still, sources from the upstream supply chain believe it will take some time before the chip's performance can catch up with the competition of leading suppliers.
Recent reports claim that OpenAI is in discussions with Samsung Electronics (Samsung) regarding a collaboration to integrate ChatGPT into their devices, which could mirror Apple's approach. The actual partnership dynamics, along with Samsung's existing relationship with Google, are drawing significant attention.
Wi-Fi 7 shipments have accelerated significantly in the second half of 2024, and industry experts expect Wi-Fi 7 penetration rates to grow in 2025, with upgrades to consumer devices, routers, and even basic infrastructure picking up pace even amid sluggishness in the general economy.
Recent market speculation suggests that AMD has developed an AI processor (APU/NPU) suitable for mobile devices. With its exclusive GPU technology, it is expected to compete in the handset chip business. Despite that, industry insiders have expressed skepticism over this information.
While Xiaomi prepares to launch its first self-developed smartphone system on chip (SoC) in 2025, major chipmakers Qualcomm and MediaTek maintain their composure, expressing confidence in their market positions despite the Chinese manufacturer's entry into the semiconductor space.
Xiaomi is preparing a self-designed mobile processor for its upcoming smartphones in an effort to reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers Qualcomm and MediaTek.
Apple's iPhone SE 4 is set to be released in March 2025, marking a significant milestone with the introduction of the company's first in-house 5G modem chip, reducing its reliance on Qualcomm.
