DIGITIMES Semiconductors news

Apr 20

Samsung reportedly signals exit from LPDDR4 market as memory industry shifts toward LPDDR5

Memory makers are accelerating the phase-out of older mobile DRAM generations, with policies on LPDDR4 and DDR4 increasingly converging toward end-of-life (EOL) management as the industry shifts capacity toward higher-value LPDDR5, LPDDR5X, and server-class memory products.

Analysis: How TSMC avoids memory's boom-and-bust cycle

Apr 20

Chinese conglomerate makes entry into memory sector as AI drive structural shift

Apr 20

Potential Google-Marvell partnership escalates AI chip competition against Nvidia

Apr 20

Commentary: Spain's IC design ecosystem revives as EU chip sovereignty demand grows

Apr 20

MORE NEWS

IC DESIGN, DISTRIBUTIONElectronic system design industry sustains double-digit growth in 4Q25, driven by strong SIP and services demand

Apr 21, 12:42

The global electronic system design industry closed 2025 on a strong footing, with revenue reaching US$5.47 billion in the fourth quarter—up 10.3% year-over-year—according to the latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report from SEMI's Electronic System Design Alliance. The report also showed a 10.1% rise in the four-quarter moving average, underscoring sustained momentum across the sector.

MEMORY CHIPSQualcomm Chief reportedly seeks memory and manufacturing deals in South Korea

Apr 21, 11:56

Qualcomm Chief Executive Cristiano Amon is expected to meet senior executives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix during a recent visit to South Korea, according to industry sources. The discussions are expected to focus on securing memory supplies as well as potential cooperation with Samsung in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, including its 2nm foundry process.

IC MANUFACTURINGTaiwan has more than 260,000 job vacancies, with manufacturing accounting for 32.4%

Apr 21, 11:46

Taiwan's artificial intelligence (AI) servers and advanced-process chip manufacturing businesses are booming, with related manufacturing industries also benefiting. According to a survey by Taiwan's Ministry of Labor (MIL), labor turnover rates in the manufacturing industry are relatively low, while vacancy rates and recruitment periods are comparable to the overall industry average, indicating a stable workforce structure.

MEMORY CHIPSSamsung scales MRAM to 8nm, setting 5nm showdown with TSMC in 2027

Apr 21, 11:15

Samsung is accelerating its push into magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM), positioning the technology as a strategic pillar alongside DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in the intensifying global AI semiconductor race.

MEMORY CHIPSChina amping up DRAM integration: GigaDevice expands into DRAM through CXMT tie-up

Apr 21, 11:06

GigaDevice is moving into DRAM through a KRW1 trillion (US$680 million) related-party deal, combining CXMT's manufacturing capacity with its own sales network in a move that could reshape the global supply landscape.

IC MANUFACTURINGAI demand inflates silicon valuations across TSMC, Nvidia supply chain

Apr 21, 10:44

"Silicon inflation" is no longer a metaphor — it is reshaping Taiwan's capital markets. TSMC and Nvidia are at the center, pulling growth across the entire electronics supply chain. Global uncertainties remain, yet Taiwan's market is outperforming.

IC DESIGN, DISTRIBUTIONGoogle's AI chip push targets inference boom as battle with Nvidia enters new phase

Apr 21, 10:33

Google is accelerating its push into the AI chip market, positioning its custom tensor processing units (TPUs) as a viable alternative to Nvidia's dominant GPUs—particularly as the industry shifts from training large models to running them in real-world applications.

IC DESIGN, DISTRIBUTIONApple puts its chip architect in charge of all hardware as CEO transition looms

Apr 21, 09:46

On April 20, 2026, Apple announced that Johny Srouji — the executive behind its custom silicon revolution — has been elevated to the newly created role of Chief Hardware Officer. Srouji, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, will now also oversee the Hardware Engineering division formerly led by John Ternus, who is set to succeed Tim Cook as Apple's CEO on September 1, 2026.

IC MANUFACTURINGMiddle East transshipment and supply chain shifts double SE Asia freight rates

Apr 21, 07:02

Given the US-China trade war, many Taiwanese businesses and Chinese manufacturers relocated production lines to Southeast Asia, boosting shipment demand from the region. Now, escalating conflict in the Middle East has driven up fuel costs, while international cargo flights are being diverted or crowded into Southeast Asian routes. This phenomenon is causing air freight rates to double.

PASSIVE, PCB, OTHER IC COMPONENTSAPAC advances CPO positioning: ELSFP beings small-volume shipments, in-house COC line set for 3Q26 completion

Apr 21, 07:01

Optical communications company APAC Opto Electronics reported that its inventory digestion phase is nearing completion, with market demand showing a clear rebound. Looking ahead to its co-packaged optics (CPO) strategy, the company noted that its external laser small form-factor pluggable (ELSFP) is becoming increasingly critical within the overall architecture. Small-volume shipments have begun in 2026, with volume ramp-up expected in 2027, positioning the product as a key future growth driver.

IC MANUFACTURINGAnalysis: Amazon's 11-year chip journey crowns Anthropic and OpenAI as top Trainium customers

Apr 21, 07:01

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy declared in his latest shareholder letter that the company's self-developed chip business is booming, surpassing US$15 billion in annualized AI revenue through AWS — a significant milestone for chip efforts that have quietly evolved over 11 years, beginning with the acquisition of Israeli startup Annapurna Labs in 2015.

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