The anticipated notebook replacement surge in 2025 did not materialize as projected, with the first half disrupted by the United States-China tariff retaliations affecting shipment schedules.

Since the beginning of 2025, despite disruptions from US President Donald Trump's trade protectionism, the AI wave has driven American cloud service providers (CSPs) to continuously purchase AI servers and high-end graphics cards manufactured in Taiwan. This surge has boosted Taiwan's exports to the US by 55%, with information and communication technology (ICT) product exports—primarily servers—increasing by 100%.

Apple has introduced its self-developed vapor chamber (VC) cooling technology for the first time in the iPhone 17 Pro series, aiming to maintain high performance during extended use while ensuring a comfortable hand feel. This marks a significant step as Apple aligns with Android smartphone makers who have long implemented advanced cooling solutions in flagship devices.

Acer Inc.'s European repair service subsidiary, Enfinitec, has recorded steady growth over the past decade, benefiting from the company's expanding brand presence and the growing demand for professional repair services. Tobi Musson, CEO of Enfinitec, stressed that by servicing different product lines for the same client or similar products for a wide range of customers, Enfinitec's consistent quality has enabled it to expand its market steadily.

Nvidia's shift from GB200 to GB300 server racks is anticipated to regain growth momentum in September 2025 after a transitional slowdown in July and August, benefiting ODMs in the fourth quarter. Notebook shipments may also hold steady or improve due to Windows 10's end of support driving replacement demand.

Acer's Pan-Asia Operations have made notable progress in expanding their non-PC business sectors through three subsidiaries—Acerpure, Altos, and HSN—each targeting distinct market segments with significant growth potential.

Apple unveiled the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and the slimmer iPhone Air on September 9, 2025. The company kept prices steady in US dollars compared to 2024, reflecting a cautious stance amid current market conditions.

Apple unveiled its latest iPhone 17 series on September 9, 2025, introducing four new models, including the highly anticipated iPhone Air. The iPhone Air, noted for its thinnest design ever and support for standalone e-SIM functionality, has ignited discussions within China's smartphone industry about the future of e-SIM technology.

LG Electronics is planning to launch the initial public offering (IPO) of its Indian subsidiary in October 2025, aiming to raise approximately INR150 billion (US$1.7 billion). The Offer for Sale (OFS) will involve the parent company, LG Electronics Inc., divesting a 15% stake, or 101.8 million shares, in its India unit, according to KNN India.

Samsung Electronics has reported strong performance in Taiwan across smartphones, tablets, and wearables in 2025, overcoming challenges such as tariffs, exchange rate fluctuations, and geopolitical risks. The company is considering launching AI glasses in Taiwan and plans to introduce its first tri-fold phone in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Political turbulence across key Southeast Asian markets has created both challenges and opportunities for Acer's regional operations.

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) released the manufacturing business climate signals for July 2025 on September 2, 2025, revealing that out of 21 manufacturing sectors, 19 flashed "blue lights" indicating recession in its composite index. However, with 70% of Taiwan's exports falling under tariff-free electronic and tech products regulated by the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA), the strong shipments in electronics and AI servers have softened concerns over traditional industries facing difficulties.

Acer chair and CEO Jason Chen pointed out that in the first half of 2025, the impact of US reciprocal tariffs was significant but has since dulled. Signs of recovery are emerging in Europe; however, operational challenges for PC brand manufacturers continue to increase. The upgrade wave previously driven by Intel's processor updates has become history.

Sony has announced plans to encourage its key component suppliers to use 100% renewable energy in their production processes by the fiscal year ending March 2031. According to Nikkei Asia, this goal is part of Sony's new environmental action guidelines, which include mid-term targets from fiscal 2026 to 2030.

MediaTek's much-anticipated AI PC chip with Nvidia has yet to launch, but the Taiwanese firm is making headway in Chromebooks. Industry insiders argue that if Chromebooks were treated as mainstream PCs, MediaTek's processors would already meet the bar for AI PC chips.

Acer Group's subsidiary, focused on medical imaging and AI healthcare solutions, made its debut at Acer's global "next@acer" event held in Berlin in 2025. The subsidiary, Acer Medical, showcased aiMed, an AI service platform specifically designed for medical environments that can instantly convert healthcare professionals' speech or text into structured medical records.

Ahead of IFA Berlin, Acer held its "next@acer" global product launch event, unveiling a range of new notebooks, tablets, mini workstations, monitors, and Wi-Fi routers. Among these, two major gaming notebook lines—Predator and Nitro—introduced fresh models targeting the competitive gaming market.

Acer is making a strong push into the AI inference market through strategic collaborations with MediaTek and Nvidia. On the eve of the Berlin IFA, Acer held its "next@acer" global product launch event, unveiling for the first time a Chromebook powered by MediaTek's Kompanio Ultra processor. This Chromebook integrates MediaTek's neural processing unit (NPU) and leverages Google AI Pro features to comprehensively enhance AI productivity, aiming to capture opportunities in AI inference.

South Korean manufacturers Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics continue to dominate India's television market, consolidating their positions as leading players in one of the world's fastest-growing consumer electronics segments.

Samsung Electronics announced plans for a Galaxy product launch event on September 4, where the company will introduce a new tablet alongside the Galaxy S25 FE smartphone. This addition marks the expansion of Samsung's flagship S25 series to five models, making it the largest lineup in the series' history and highlighting a strategic shift in the company's approach to the smartphone market.

The appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar in the second and third quarters of 2025 has exerted significant pressure on Taiwan's export industries, with many manufacturing sectors falling into recession, according to a survey by the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER).

India is preparing its most significant tax overhaul in nearly a decade, with plans to cut goods and services tax (GST) rates by at least 10 percentage points on nearly 175 products, according to Reuters, citing two people familiar with the matter. The move comes as the government seeks to counter the economic impact of a steep US tariff hike and stimulate domestic demand ahead of the festive season.

Apple is significantly increasing automation efforts within its manufacturing supply chain, primarily in response to the trade war tariffs initiated under US President Donald Trump.

At its 48th AGM, Reliance Industries unveiled Reliance Intelligence, a new AI-focused subsidiary driving India's artificial intelligence ambitions, alongside partnerships with Google and Meta to scale AI across industries. The company also detailed its renewable energy push, including gigawatt-scale green data centers, solar and battery projects, and green hydrogen production, signaling a transformative blend of AI innovation and sustainable energy leadership for India's future.