Apple on September 10 unveiled one of its broadest product updates in recent years, spanning the iPhone 17 family, a new thin-and-light iPhone Air, three new Apple Watch models, and the third generation of AirPods Pro. Pre-orders open September 12, with global availability on September 19.
Washington's reciprocal tariffs announced in April have disrupted global trade flows and economic momentum, putting the smartphone industry directly at risk. Forecasts for annual handset demand have been cut, and debate is mounting over whether 2025 will swing from growth back into contraction.
The US has tightened controls on China's semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors under the banner of national security. Yet the surge of generative AI is reshaping industries worldwide, and Beijing is pressing ahead with its ambitions, especially in embedding AI into consumer and industrial devices.
