Following the significant impact of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US, the chip inventory status for two major consumer electronics products—notebooks (NBs) and mobile phones—has shown distinctly different trends.
TDK Corp. is readying a new generation of batteries to power smartphones through AI tasks at a time that major client Apple is also preparing to launch a slimmer handset.
According to data from Counterpoint, global foldable phone shipments grew by just 2.9% year-over-year in 2024, with warnings that the market may see negative growth for the first time in 2025. However, this is not a sign of market saturation but rather a buildup toward a breakout in 2026. With Apple entering the foldable segment, the market is projected to achieve double-digit growth in 2026.
MediaTek introduced the newest member of its Dimensity flagship smartphone chip series on May 14, 2025, named the Dimensity 9400e. This chip features MediaTek's advanced All Big Core architecture, which provides outstanding performance and energy efficiency for gaming, artificial intelligence, imaging, and connectivity for smartphone users. The first smartphones powered by the Dimensity 9400e are expected to launch later in May.
US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook earlier on Monday, just as the iPhone maker was reported to be considering price increases later this year.
Taipei-headquartered networking equipment manufacturer Planet Technology is experiencing financial challenges due to recent fluctuations in the New Taiwan Dollar (US Dollar equivalent missing). The company reported that significant changes in the exchange rate against the US dollar have adversely affected its cost structure and profitability. With most of its global transactions settled in US dollars, the currency turbulence has added an extra layer of uncertainty to Planet's financial outlook.
Apple Inc.'s silicon design group is working on new chips that will serve as the brains for future devices, including its first smart glasses, more powerful Macs, and artificial intelligence (AI) servers.
Pegatron Corporation has inaugurated a new factory in Batam, Indonesia, marking a significant milestone as the world's largest 5G smart factory. This facility is notable for being Pegatron's most advanced manufacturing base in Southeast Asia, operating fully on a standalone 5G network architecture.
Recently, the two major Android SoC brands, MediaTek and Qualcomm, have shared their market outlooks. Both companies maintain a positive view of their non-smartphone business performance and future growth potential. Regarding financial forecasts for the next quarter, MediaTek expresses more optimism than Qualcomm, anticipating possible growth quarter over quarter.
Once Taiwan's second-largest PC maker, First International Computer (FIC), has reinvented itself as a top-three global supplier of optical modules. Leo Chien, Chairman of parent firm FIC Global, Inc. (FICG), said the company plans to double its optical communications capacity within three years by expanding a new facility in Malaysia. "Customer orders suggest the AI boom is absolutely insane," Chien told DIGITIMES.
Primax Electronics Ltd. delivered strong first quarter 2025 results, driven by early PC order pull-ins and rising shipments of AIoT and professional acoustic products. Despite the upbeat quarter, the company warned of limited visibility in the second half due to unresolved tariff uncertainties. The growing contribution of new AIoT projects is helping strengthen its long-term growth outlook and improving margins.
Murata Manufacturing anticipates its profit for fiscal year 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) to hit an eight-year low, citing stagnant demand for smartphones and automotive components, along with currency headwinds from a stronger yen.
Xiaomi is expected to launch its in-house smartphone SoC in 2025, with the latest reports pointing to a potential debut in late May. According to Wccftech, the Chinese tech blog "Fixed focus digital" reported on Weibo that Xiaomi's internally codenamed "Xring" chip—officially named "Xuanjie"—is tentatively set for release around May 2X, though the timeline remains subject to change.
FIC Global, Inc. (FICG), a leading optical communication module provider, is accelerating its Southeast Asia expansion as momentum builds around the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). The company has announced plans to establish a new production base in Johor, Malaysia, to meet customer demands for diversified manufacturing locations and capitalize on the zone's first-mover benefits.
Pegatron Corporation has officially launched its new smart factory in Batam, Indonesia. This facility marks a key step in Pegatron's advanced manufacturing strategy and will serve as a flagship location for its 5G business.
At its 2025 North America Technology Symposium, attended by over 2,500 industry leaders, TSMC unveiled a suite of technologies that complements its 1.8nm (18A) process. From advanced packaging for AI to power-efficient solutions for smartphones and IoT, and reliable nodes for autonomous vehicles, TSMC's announcements underscored its role as a linchpin in the global semiconductor supply chain.
US-China competition remains fierce despite tariff stalemate, with technology decoupling accelerating behind the scenes. Taiwan's MediaTek may find unexpected opportunities amid this conflict, according to market analysts.
Genius Electronic Optical (GSEO) has unveiled its operational results for March 2025, revealing consolidated revenue of NT$1.893 billion (US$0.06 billion). This represents a strong 36.21% rise from February's NT$1.389 billion. However, when compared to the same period last year, there is a slight decline of 3.44%. For the first quarter of 2025, the company's total revenue amounted to NT$5.321 billion, marking a modest 1.6% growth over the corresponding period in 2024.
China is facing a 125% tariff imposed by the US due to an inability to reach consensus, placing significant pressure on related supply chain businesses. Luxshare, which assists Apple with iPhone assembly and AirPods production, recently stated during a conference call that tariffs have had minimal impact on its profits and revenues since the volume of finished products exported to the US is quite low.
Following the announcement of the reciprocal tariff policy by US President Donald Trump, South Korean companies are thoroughly reviewing their supply chains and formulating countermeasures. Enterprises with production bases in China and Vietnam may face direct impacts, raising public concern.
In late March, Google announced its lightweight Pixel 9a model, but reports suggest that some component issues have delayed its release schedule. Google has confirmed that one of the "passive components" did not meet its quality standards, causing the delay. It is understood that the new device has yet to reach consumers, and units from various warehouses must be sent back to the factory. An estimated 400,000 to 500,000 Pixel 9a units will require rework.
Following the Lunar New Year holidays, the mobile panel market has officially entered its traditional off-season. While China's subsidy policies have sustained demand for end-user devices, elevated channel inventory has prevented a noticeable surge in first-quarter demand for mobile panels. Consequently, panel prices have remained stable throughout March.
Samsung Electronics is considering a major overhaul of its semiconductor division as Exynos chip losses mount. Reports suggest the company may transfer its Exynos application processor (AP) division from System LSI, under the Device Solutions (DS) unit, to the Mobile eXperience (MX) division within Device eXperience (DX). This shift would follow Apple's model, giving Samsung's mobile division full control over chip development to enhance integration and performance.
Universal Scientific Industrial (USI), a global leader in electronics manufacturing services (EMS) and original design manufacturing (ODM), has published its February 2025 revenue report. With a strong presence in consumer electronics, automotive technology, industrial applications, and telecommunications, USI leverages technological innovation and advanced manufacturing to strengthen its position in the competitive global electronics market.
