Taiwan backlight module maker Coretronic swung to a first-quarter loss and warned of continued pressure in the second quarter, with currency swings, geopolitical risks, raw material costs, and soft demand clouding visibility. A recovery is expected only in the second half, when peak season demand returns.

For more than a decade, the global imaging market has been defined by a clear divide: on one side, rugged, lightweight action cameras built for stability and portability; on the other, professional DSLR and mirrorless systems designed to push the limits of optical physics and image quality. In 2026, that boundary is beginning to collapse.

Coretronic has reported its first quarterly loss since the 2008 global financial crisis, even as revenue reached a multi-year high, underscoring margin pressure and shifting product dynamics across its business.