DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Apple names a 2nm node for the first time since 2024 — and raises prices on every iPhone it still sells

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 23:06:35 GMT

Apple used its 2026 iPhone launch to do two things it had avoided for years: it named the process node in its flagship chip, and it raised the price of phones already on sale. Both moves point to the same pressure. Memory is expensive, the packaging that binds memory to logic has become the hard part of building a phone chip, and Apple has stopped absorbing the cost.

Apple bets on new sensors and S11 chip to differentiate its 2026 watches

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 23:00:56 GMT

Behind the foldable, Apple used the same event to rebuild the sensing hardware in its wearables and to push active noise cancellation down to US$129. Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 in Cupertino on 9 September, and the two watches share the key upgrades: an all-new Health Sensing System and the S11 chip, which Apple calls its most powerful wearable silicon.

Apple's first foldable lands at US$1,999, and the constraint is the panel

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 22:58:21 GMT

Apple has entered the foldable market at the top of it. iPhone Duo, announced in Cupertino on 9 September, starts at US$1,999 with 256GB and goes up to 2TB — above the US$1,899 Samsung charges for the wide-format Galaxy Z Fold8 — and is priced as a halo product rather than a volume one. The interesting question is not whether Apple can sell it. It is who gets to build it, and how few of them there are.

AI servers push Asus' August revenue up 51%

Joseph Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 11:21:40 GMT

Asus reported consolidated revenue of NT$94.96 billion (US$3.02 billion) in August 2026, up 12.87% from July and 51.17% from a year earlier — the second-highest monthly figure in company history. Revenue for the first eight months reached NT$645.19 billion (US$20.5 billion), up 42.3% year over year. The company attributed the gain to AI server and PC demand, with motherboard orders also recovering.

OpenAI's deeper Samsung tie-up lands on a foundry that is running out of capacity

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 10:28:57 GMT

For Samsung Electronics' two loss-making logic businesses, OpenAI's declaration that it is jointly producing and researching next-generation chips with the Korean company matters less as a new logo on the customer list than as a sign of where Samsung's advanced wafers actually go.

AI computing power propels tech sector to US$30 trillion, putting servers at the core of 2027's supply chain

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 09:37:06 GMT

Taiwan's Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) expects servers and data center supply chains to become the primary growth drivers for major information and communications technology (ICT) products in 2027. Global server shipments are projected to increase 12.4% year-over-year to 18.6 million units, with AI server shipments rising 17.8% to 5.4 million units.

Samsung, LG secure roles as key suppliers for Apple's foldable iPhone

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 09:10:11 GMT

Apple's expected first foldable iPhone is set to channel a significant share of its component value to South Korean suppliers, with Samsung Display (SDC), LG Innotek, Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco), Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix securing positions across displays, cameras, substrates, passive components, and memory.

Enterprise AI spending gives Taiwan's Systex a new growth wing

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 09:07:38 GMT

Systex reported consolidated revenue of NT$5.9 billion (approximately US$187 million) in August 2026, up 61.91% from NT$3.64 billion a year earlier. Revenue for the first eight months reached NT$38.01 billion, rising 39.65% from NT$27.22 billion in the same period of 2025. Both monthly and cumulative revenue hit record highs for their respective periods.

Huaqin signs Nanchang projects as robotics push widens

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 09:00:11 GMT

Huaqin Technology has signed two new projects in Nanchang High-tech Zone, expanding the smart-hardware ODM group's local manufacturing base into embodied-AI robotics and data collection, according to Hongguan News reporting on Sina Finance.

Cambricon wins PyTorch Foundation board seat in bid to strengthen China AI chip software ecosystem

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:35:00 GMT

Chinese AI chip developer Cambricon said on September 8 that it has formally joined the PyTorch Foundation as a platinum member, the organisation's highest membership tier, securing a seat on its governing board.

Jin Lian Cheng expands into semiconductor wafer fab UPS battery recycling

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:35:00 GMT

Jin Lian Cheng Resources completed an upgrade to its desulfurization production line as demand increased for lead-acid battery recycling tied to high-spec uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems used by semiconductor plants. The Taiwanese waste lead-acid battery processor said the upgrade restored normal operations while improving sulfur oxide treatment, real-time monitoring, and environmental management.

Google steps up green power purchases in Taiwan for 24/7 carbon-free electricity

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Over the past half-year, multinational companies and semiconductor suppliers have pressed the government to reduce surplus power conditions. To increase the flexibility of green power transfer and matching, Taiwan Power (Taipower) has planned to launch Sandbox 3.0 in October 2026, which market watchers expect will help address TSMC's surplus electricity issue and add flexibility to Taiwan's renewable energy market.

Ledlink Optics posts 21-month revenue high on AI server, auto demand

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Ledlink Optics reported that August revenue climbed on stronger AI server and automotive demand, with consolidated revenue reaching NT$134 million. The figure rose 3.21% from July and 20.42% from a year earlier, as the Taiwan-based supplier said both businesses supported growth heading into the second half of the year.

China expands OLED capacity, challenging South Korea in IT and automotive display markets

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:12:34 GMT

South Korea's long-standing dominance in the global display market is facing an aggressive challenge as major Chinese panel makers—including BOE, China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT), and Visionox—rapidly expand their organic light-emitting diode (OLED) production capacity. While South Korea maintains a firm lead in mobile and TV displays, industry analysts warn that a massive volume offensive from China threatens to erode South Korea's footing in fast-growing sectors, particularly IT devices like laptops and tablets alongside automotive displays.

China reportedly tightens humanoid robot IPO rules as market mania meets reality

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:53:18 GMT

China is tightening scrutiny of initial public offerings by humanoid robotics companies as regulators seek to curb excessive valuations and distinguish commercially viable businesses from a crowded field of startups, according to The Information.

CIOE: Luxshare bets on flat optics to solve AR glasses' weight problem

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:49:59 GMT

At its booth at the China International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE), Luxshare and its camera-module affiliate Luxvisions showcased the components they believe will define the next generation of smart eyewear, pointing to weight and price as among the industry's biggest remaining obstacles.

Samsung turns to Japan for packaging edge, narrows HBM gap with SK Hynix

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:46:21 GMT

Samsung Electronics has opened an advanced packaging research center in Yokohama, bringing development work closer to Japanese suppliers that provide critical materials and equipment for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) as the company works to narrow its market-share gap with SK Hynix.

Getac sees growing drone orders, with 2027 revenue contribution reaching up to 12%

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:23:52 GMT

Getac Holdings is expanding aggressively into drone opportunities on the back of its strong industrial rugged computer foundation, making the segment a continued growth driver in the second half of 2026.

Realtek expands cloud AI push with ASIC and SSD chips

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:23:00 GMT

Realtek chairman Sun-Chien Chiu, who received an honorary fellowship from Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) this week, said in a public interview that the company is already generating revenue from ASIC projects and has started expanding into 3nm products. Although Realtek's ASIC business is still far smaller than MediaTek's, Chiu said it will continue to grow as more projects come in.

Ample Electronic hits 120% utilization as MLCC customers step up copper paste orders

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:15:04 GMT

Ample Electronic Technology said strong demand for passive components and artificial intelligence (AI) server-related products is boosting business momentum, as multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) customers ramp up copper paste purchases.

Kioxia rules out deeper SK Hynix ties, resists further NAND price hikes

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:58:04 GMT

Kioxia has ruled out deeper manufacturing ties with SK Hynix while resisting another round of aggressive NAND price increases, leaning instead on longer customer contracts and disciplined capacity expansion as data-center demand keeps memory supply tight.

Update: US finalizes US$775 million in CHIPS quantum awards, with equity attached

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:55:00 GMT

Washington has converted the largest federal bet yet on quantum computing from a promise into a contract, and it is taking ownership in return. On Sept. 8, the US Department of Commerce announced the signing of final awards with five companies under the CHIPS and Science Act: up to US$375 million for GlobalFoundries and up to US$100 million each for Rigetti, D-Wave, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum, according to five separate announcements posted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Together, the five deals commit US$775 million, and each carries a minority, non-controlling government equity stake as a condition of the money.

Verizon, Corning strike multi-billion-dollar fiber deal for broadband and AI buildout

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:45:00 GMT

Verizon and Corning have agreed to a multi-billion-dollar supply deal that could shape broadband access and artificial intelligence infrastructure well beyond the US. The pact underscores how telecom networks are becoming a shared foundation for consumer internet, enterprise connectivity, and the data-heavy systems driving the next wave of AI services.

Y.S. Tech's Renwu plant lifts August sales

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:33:34 GMT

Y.S. Tech reported August 2026 revenue of NT$331 million, up 2.36% year-over-year, as new capacity at its Renwu plant helped offset the traditional summer shipment lull for automakers and support steady growth in a weak season.

Amkor expands Arizona chip campus with phase 2 plan

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:32:31 GMT

Amkor Technology's latest Arizona expansion underscores how advanced packaging capacity is becoming a strategic issue for the US semiconductor supply chain. The larger campus aims to meet rising demand for advanced packaging, strengthen domestic production, and support next-generation devices worldwide.

China's up to 99.2% anti-dumping duty on Japan DCS boosts local chip material suppliers

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:30:37 GMT

China has imposed provisional anti-dumping measures on Japanese dichlorosilane (DCS), a semiconductor material used in thin-film deposition, potentially accelerating Chinese wafer fabs' shift toward domestic suppliers.

CXMT's 10% DRAM share intensifies debate over South Korea's 52-hour workweek

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:30:00 GMT

China's rapid advance in DRAM is intensifying debate in South Korea over whether rigid working-hour rules could make it harder to preserve one of the country's remaining technology advantages over China.

Ability Enterprises August revenue hits 10-year high on AI vision, drones, robot cameras

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:25:00 GMT

Ability Enterprise reported August 2026 revenue of NT$1.313 billion, its highest monthly level since December 2015, as three new product lines entered volume shipments. The Taiwanese optics and imaging maker said the gain followed a first-half earnings jump and reflected progress in its shift from traditional imaging manufacturing toward AI-enabled visual systems.

LG Display wins Sharp OLED TV supply deal for 2026 turnaround

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:20:00 GMT

LG Display has reportedly become Sharp's sole OLED TV panel supplier in 2026, a shift that could help lift the South Korean maker's large-size OLED business into profit for the first time this year. According to The Korea Economic Daily, the deal comes as Sharp expands OLED use across its premium television lineup and deepens its reliance on LG Display.

JD.com's real target with 3 million robots: physical AI

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:15:31 GMT

JD.com is accelerating its expansion in physical AI, announcing a new "Physical AI Acceleration Plan" at the 2026 JD Global Technology Explorers Conference on September 9. Over the next five years, the company plans to establish 80 RoboBase robotics industry hubs across China, while JD Logistics intends to procure 3 million robots, 1 million autonomous vehicles, and 100,000 drones to advance automation across its logistics supply chain.

Weblink posts record August revenue on AI, premium computing demand

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:10:00 GMT

Acer subsidiary Weblink International reported record August consolidated revenue of NT$3.246 billion in 2026, up 41.52% from a year earlier, as demand for mid- to high-end computing and graphics products strengthened. The distributor also said revenue for the first eight months climbed 36.44% year-over-year to NT$25.604 billion, with both periods setting records for their respective periods.

Foxtron clears another hurdle in the race to make SDVs globally compliant

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:06:21 GMT

Foxtron has obtained ISO/SAE 21434 certification for road-vehicle cybersecurity engineering and ISO 24089 certification for road-vehicle software-update engineering following an assessment by independent testing, inspection and certification provider Dekra. The certifications strengthen its cybersecurity and over-the-air (OTA) software-update management framework for increasingly intelligent vehicles.

Sysgration expands Taiwan, US drone manufacturing as procurement plans advance

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 05:58:58 GMT

Sysgration said in August 2026 that rising demand for artificial intelligence, industrial PCs, and drone systems continued to expand its operating scale, while Taiwan's government moved closer to large-scale drone procurement. The company said the policy push is shifting into budget and purchasing stages, positioning 2026 as a key year for domestic drone buying in Taiwan.

Smart applications boost AOPEN, Acerpure revenue

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 05:57:21 GMT

Acer subsidiaries AOPEN and Acerpure both posted strong revenue growth in August 2026, driven by rising demand in the smart applications market.

Thailand pauses 49 data center projects

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 05:56:04 GMT

Thailand has suspended construction on 49 data center projects while stressing that it is not trying to "close the door" to investment. The move comes as the government works to draft a regulatory framework amid public concern over energy use and environmental impacts, Bloomberg reported.