DIGITIMES Asia news

Thursday 16 April 2026

China smartphone market shifts to premium, Huawei and Apple lead in 1Q26

China's smartphone market contracted in the first quarter of 2026, but stronger-than-expected demand for premium devices from Huawei and Apple helped cushion the decline and reshape industry priorities

Thursday 16 April 2026

China tightens rules against foreign supply chain decoupling

The Chinese government has introduced sweeping regulations that authorize investigations and penalties against foreign companies that decouple from China's supply chain. The new rules arrive as global supply chains face mounting geopolitical pressure and China's export surplus continues to grow

Thursday 16 April 2026

China's homegrown GPU startups gain ground in global AI chip race

China's domestic GPU industry is entering a new phase of rapid commercialization, as leading startups post strong revenue growth while intensifying investment in research, patents, and ecosystem development

Thursday 16 April 2026

Samsung System LSI talent exits raise risks for Exynos and image sensors

A wave of departures among core engineers at Samsung Electronics' System LSI division is raising concerns over a potential leadership gap at its non-memory chip unit, particularly in areas tied to Exynos processors and ISOCELL image sensors

Thursday 16 April 2026

Renesas reports accelerated MRDIMM adoption in China

As AI servers rapidly increase demand for high bandwidth and large-capacity memory, Renesas Electronics noted that, driven by strong demand in China and expanding capacity, its Memory Interface Division (MID) business in China is expected to achieve 100% growth in 2026

Thursday 16 April 2026

Samsung targets May HBM4E samples for Nvidia after validation

Samsung Electronics is aiming to produce its first samples of next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4E) as early as May, with plans to deliver the chips to Nvidia after internal validation, according to Chosun Biz

Thursday 16 April 2026

YMTC to ramp Wuhan fab in 2026, new capacity unlikely before 2028, oversupply risks seen limited

China-based Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC) is advancing an aggressive expansion plan that could become the world's third-largest NAND maker by 2026. The company is set to begin volume production at its third fabrication plant in Wuhan in the second half of 2026

Thursday 16 April 2026

Rockchip reports record results, scales AIoT chips across industries

China-based chip designer Fuzhou Rockchip Electronics posted record full-year 2025 results, with AIoT processors driving growth across automotive, robotics, and industrial markets

Thursday 16 April 2026

Humanoid robot half-marathon draws Alibaba, Honor in embodied AI test

Embodied AI is moving into real-world testing, and China's tech giants are stepping in. The Beijing Yizhuang humanoid robot half-marathon on April 19 is set to serve as a high-profile stress test for performance, endurance, and autonomy in next-generation robotics

Wednesday 15 April 2026

YMTC to more than double capacity with new fabs amid China chip push

Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC) plans to build two additional fabrication plants, alongside a third facility nearing completion — a move that would more than double its production capacity once all three sites are operational, according to people familiar with the matter

Wednesday 15 April 2026

Stanford AI report: US-China AI gap narrows as China accelerates industrialization

The Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute (HAI) released its 2026 AI Index Annual Report, highlighting a pivotal shift in the global AI race. The report reveals that the performance gap between China and the US in AI model capabilities has significantly narrowed, with both countries now entering a phase of "parallel competition." However, this progress comes alongside sharply rising capital and resource costs

Wednesday 15 April 2026

China ICT firm Tsinghua Unigroup grows revenue, scales AI infrastructure through H3C

China's Tsinghua Unigroup reported full-year 2025 revenue of CNY96.75 billion (US$13.4 billion), up 22.43% year on year, with net profit rising a more modest 7.19% to CNY1.69 billion, reflecting continued investment in AI infrastructure and cloud platforms

Wednesday 15 April 2026

Japan forges physical AI alliance to challenge US and China

Japan is accelerating efforts to build domestic AI capabilities, with SoftBank and major industrial partners forming a new company focused on physical AI to power robots, vehicles, and factory systems. Referred to as the Japan AI Foundation Model Development, the new venture was established by SoftBank, NEC, Honda Motor, and Sony Group, each holding stakes of more than 10%, according to Nikkei Asia and TechWire Asia. Additional investors include Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, and major Japanese banks such as MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho, reflecting broad backing from Japan's industrial and financial sectors

Wednesday 15 April 2026

China seeks energy self-sufficiency as geopolitical risks rise

China is preparing to shift the focus of its energy strategy from building power plants to transforming how energy is consumed, as leaders seek to reduce reliance on imported fuels and strengthen national security

Wednesday 15 April 2026

Apple supplier Luxshare guides 1Q26 profit up 20%, expands into AI PCs and data centres

China's Luxshare Precision expects net profit for the first quarter of 2026 to reach CNY3.65–3.71 billion (US$507–515 million), marking a 20%–22% year-on-year increase, even as rising component costs and shifting product cycles weigh on near-term operations

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BIZ FOCUS

Feb 9, 08:00

iCatch and DXOMARK Establish Taiwan's First Next Generation Imaging Laboratory

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RESEARCH INSIGHTS

Weekly research roundup: Qualcomm's AI strategy, memory giants and updated 2026 smartphone outlook