In the latest budget, India reduced import taxes for smartphones and components, as well as 25 critical metals to develop local manufacturing ecosystems. India also increased import tariffs on PCBAs for telecom equipment to discourage imports.
NAND Flash memory suppliers are gearing up for robust demand driven by AI smartphones in the third quarter. Some sources suggest that production lines may already be experiencing supply shortages.
Recent rumors suggest that Apple is conducting research and development for its first "foldable iPhone," with a potential release targeted for 2026. Industry sources believe that if Apple officially enters the foldable smartphone market, it could pose a significant challenge to current market leader Samsung Electronics while also potentially expanding the overall market.
The buzz around AI smartphones is palpable, but their widespread adoption and impact on upgrade demand are expected to become more significant in approximately two years.
India-based EMS/ODM startup Indkal Technologies has signed a deal to design, manufacture, and sell smartphones under the Acer brand. Indkal plans to use an omnichannel strategy for its mid-to-high-end smartphones, targeting sales of INR3 billion (US$35.85 million).
A day before India unveils its Union Budget for the current fiscal year, the country is seeing increasing value addition in the global supply chain, exemplified by the rising iPhone manufacturing capacity.
Huawei's patent infringement lawsuit against MediaTek is likely a move to gain bargaining chips in licensing fee negotiations between the two sides, according to industry sources.
The South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is pushing to lead the global race in 6G commercialization by 2029, following its pioneering efforts with LTE and 5G. However, telecom operators, drawing from their 5G experiences, are advocating for a more measured approach, proposing a hotspot-focused strategy for 6G rollout.
Huawei has sued MediaTek in China for alleged 5G patent infringement. This strategic move aims to boost Huawei's HiSilicon by weakening MediaTek and potentially influencing other phone brands. It might also serve as a warning shot to Qualcomm.
Multiple challenges slowed India's smartphone market, as vendors saw a meager 1% growth in shipments. Xiaomi reclaimed its leadership in the market after six quarters.
