At Xiaomi's 2025 annual conference, founder Lei Jun spoke with calm restraint about the company's self-developed Xring O1 chip. Yet beneath that composure were moments of risk and suspense: the US$20 million bill for the first TSMC 3nm tape-out, engineers guarding chip samples in an unmarked paper bag at the airport, and the late-night message, "system lit up." When Lei answered his first call powered by the Xring O1, the wave of emotion was indescribable, the kind only insiders could fully understand.

At its annual Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii, Qualcomm unveiled its latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 processor, setting the stage for a new wave of AI-powered flagship smartphones in 2025. But despite powerful new hardware from industry giants like Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Apple, a clear vision for the "AI phone" has yet to emerge. So far, no company has delivered a breakthrough feature that defines the next generation of smartphones or gives consumers a compelling reason to upgrade.

The combination of 5G open radio access network (O-RAN) technology with satellite communications and private networks has become a key focus in recent years for disaster prevention and emergency communications. Pegatron has been actively developing new 5G business ventures, integrating 5G O-RAN with mobile satellite communications to demonstrate the adaptability of domestically produced 5G O-RAN systems under major disaster scenarios.

Apple has built an internal ChatGPT-like iPhone app to help test and prepare for a major overhaul of its voice assistant, Siri, Bloomberg reported. The app, code-named Veritas, is designed for internal use and is not planned for consumer release. It allows Apple employees to evaluate new Siri features, including searching personal data such as emails and songs, performing in-app actions, and testing extended conversational interactions.

On September 24, Qualcomm staged its annual Snapdragon Summit across Beijing and Hawaii. With US–China trade tensions flaring again under President Donald Trump's second term, the company, earning nearly half its revenue from Chinese customers, moved its China venue from Sanya back to Beijing, signaling the market's elevated strategic weight and influence across the supply chain.

With consumers delaying purchases ahead of Apple's launch of the iPhone 17, smartphone sales in Taiwan slowed down in August 2025. However, with new models from Apple and other vendors hitting the market, monthly smartphone shipments into Taiwan are projected to rebound above 500,000 units in September, with the momentum expected to sustain through the Lunar New Year period in early 2026.

Frank Meng, Chairman of Qualcomm China, believes that in the long run, two emerging categories have the potential to rival, or even eclipse, smartphones in market scale: robots and a wide range of wearable devices, including smart glasses. Meng predicted while speaking to Chinese media outlets Yicai and National Business Daily at the Snapdragon Summit on September 24.

Asustek Computer's collaboration with Microsoft to launch the "ROG Xbox Ally" handheld game console series in October was a major highlight at the Tokyo Game Show 2025 (September 25-28). The partnership underscores both companies' ambitious push to strengthen their presence in the rapidly expanding global handheld game console market.

Qualcomm officially launched its newest flagship platforms for smartphones and PCs on September 24. The company introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as its latest smartphone platform, alongside a preview of an upcoming upper mid-range Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip.

Amid changing geopolitical dynamics, Southeast Asia is becoming a key expansion area for Taiwanese manufacturers. The Philippines' shift from pro-China to pro-US, coupled with its "Digital Infrastructure Plan" to enhance internet networks, is opening new opportunities for Taiwanese network equipment suppliers.