SoftBank is preparing to commercialize its next-generation telecommunications infrastructure using high-altitude platforms by 2026, marking a pivotal milestone in its UTX (Ubiquitous Transformation) initiative. The company announced that it will deploy a hybrid fleet of solar-powered aircraft and unmanned airships to operate base stations in the stratosphere, approximately 20 kilometers above the Earth's surface. This dual-platform system is expected to support emergency communications first, with plans to expand into broader commercial services by 2027.

Despite a generally negative outlook for the second half of the year, Largan, a key market indicator, stressed during its earnings call that the demand momentum for new flagship smartphones remains largely unchanged compared to previous years.

Apple Inc. is planning an ambitious pipeline of new products for release during the first half of 2026, including a new low-end iPhone, multiple iPads and upgraded Macs.

Taiwan-based lens manufacturer Largan Precision held an online earnings call on July 10, during which it explained that exchange rate fluctuations had a significant impact on the company in the second quarter of 2025. The company previously predicted that the New Taiwan dollar would appreciate by 10%, affecting the second-quarter gross margin by 4-5%. However, pull-ins for new devices had already begun at favorable pricing, resulting in an actual impact of around 2%.

Arcadyan's record-breaking first-half 2025 revenue was fueled by booming demand for Wi-Fi 7 devices, rising Passive Optical Network (PON) adoption, and aggressive restocking by telecom operators. The company is closely watching US tariff announcements before capacity adjustments.

The free trade agreement (FTA) between the US and South Korea has now become irrelevant under Donald Trump's administration. Taiwan's tech products also face the possibility of losing the ITA and ITA 2 tariffs-free benefits granted under the WTO framework. Trump's tariff threat can be understood as a step to force Seoul to share the cost of stationing US troops in South Korea. But what does Trump want from Taiwan in the tariffs game? TSMC is already constructing wafer fabs and an R&D center in the US. Does Trump want AI server makers to set up assembly lines in the US, and for the Taiwan currency to sharply appreciate against the greenback?

On July 9, Vivo officially launched its first foldable smartphone, the X Fold 5, in Taiwan, marking a strategic move to tap into the premium device market, strengthen brand value, and challenge Samsung's dominance in the foldable segment.

Samsung Electronics plans to launch a triple-fold smartphone by 2025, and for its goal in 2025, the Korean brand aims to equip its existing 400 million Galaxy devices with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, according to senior executives. These moves signal Samsung's continued push into both foldable devices and mobile AI technology.

Samsung Electronics has officially launched its new Galaxy Z series smartphones. On the surface, it appears to be just another routine product launch. However, this marks a new era of competition in the foldable phone market.

Samsung Electronics and Vivo's recent foldable smartphone launches have rekindled interest in a segment that had lost momentum. Yet supply chain executives view these 2025 releases as mere warm-ups before Apple's anticipated 2026 debut in the foldable sector, which they expect will trigger genuine market competition.