Apple's recent price increases for Mac and iPad products are rapidly spilling into the used-device market, as consumers turn to refurbished and secondhand channels to fight inflation. Data from Chinese secondhand trading platforms show that some MacBook models have risen by nearly CNY1,000 (US$147.29) within just 10 days, signaling a new round of price swings in the end-user market.
Amazon is preparing to launch its initial internet service for its low Earth orbit satellite network later this year, marking a key step in its attempt to turn Amazon Leo from a delayed space project into a commercial broadband platform.
Apple's first foldable phone is expected to sharpen competition with Samsung Electronics and Huawei, boost global shipments, and lift average selling prices. The device has yet to launch, but its entry is already shaping expectations for a busier second half, as other major brands prepare new models for global buyers.
The foldable phone market is set for a busy second half as Samsung, Huawei, Apple, and Chinese rivals line up new models. Wider launches, higher prices, and fresh designs could lift shipments in 2026, affecting consumer choices, app development, and supply chains across global markets.
With supply chain inventory normalization largely complete, Sonix Technology (Sonix) has seen business momentum recover. The MCU supplier is benefiting from resilient demand for microcontrollers used in medical monitoring devices and steady shipments of multimedia image-processing chips, giving it better order visibility for 2026 than in previous years. Meanwhile, the company's drone business has entered niche commercial and industrial applications, providing a stepping stone toward higher-end markets.
Taiwan Network Authentication Co. (TWCA) on the 1st joined Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone Telecommunications, First Bank, E.SUN Bank and Bank of Taiwan SME to launch the new-generation MID+ mobile identity verification service. The rollout was presented as part of the government-backed push for technology-led anti-fraud cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Apple's iPhone lost momentum in China in the first five months of 2026, while domestic smartphone brands largely preserved their home-market advantage. The shift came as volatile memory prices, changing pricing strategies and government subsidies made competition in China's handset market harder to predict.
Large-size display driver ICs (DDIs) were a key revenue driver for many DDI suppliers during the first half of 2026. Taiwanese manufacturers said early notebook inventory build-up beginning in the first quarter of 2026, together with television restocking ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, allowed large-size DDI shipments to outperform the traditional seasonal slowdown.
The smartphone market's traditional peak season in the second half of 2026 remains under close watch. However, Android smartphone vendors—particularly Chinese brands—have reportedly begun another round of shipment forecast cuts, reducing projections by 10-30%. Procurement is expected to become increasingly conservative for mid-range and entry-level models, leaving inventory build-up for the peak season largely concentrated on flagship and premium devices.
Fire-Boltt is expanding beyond wearables into smartphones, a move that could shape India's budget-device market and add another local contender to a segment dominated by Chinese brands. The launch may matter globally as rising component costs, local manufacturing, and ecosystem-building become central themes across emerging markets.
Despite rising concerns over memory price hikes, Apple's PCB supply chain has seen little change to the company's 2026 order pull-in schedule as of the second quarter, according to people familiar with the PCB industry.
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