New figures from Counterpoint Research estimate that the bill of materials (BOM) for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max could rise nearly US$300 compared with the iPhone 17 Pro Max released in September last year. Ballooning memory costs largely account for this increase, although Apple may be better placed than most other smartphone brands to weather such price hikes.

India's smartphone buyers are increasingly turning to financing, a shift that could shape device sales patterns in other price-sensitive markets as well. Higher handset prices and easier installment options are making monthly payments more attractive than one-time purchases, especially beyond major cities, according to Counterpoint Research.

Shipments of smartwatches with edge AI features leaped 70% in the first quarter of 2026, with Apple overwhelmingly leading the charge, according to Counterpoint Research. This market is taking off as health-focused users gain access to deeper insights through AI advancements, and as brands lean on wearables to offset weak smartphone sales.

India's decision to clear a smartphone-manufacturing joint venture between Dixon Technologies and Vivo Mobile India could reset how the country handles Chinese capital in its fast-growing electronics sector, signaling that Beijing-linked investment can pass New Delhi's tightened scrutiny when it is structured under local majority control.

D-Link Corporation has secured supply-chain access to SpaceX and won a separate 4G fixed wireless access order in Germany, underscoring demand for its networking gear across the sensitive aerospace and telecom sectors. The wins could extend the company's global footprint, while highlighting how security, compliance, and resilient connectivity are shaping procurement decisions worldwide.

Samsung Electronics' mobile business has shown signs of improving demand in recent months, prompting the company to increase production of several smartphone models. However, rising component costs and intensifying competition continue to weigh on profitability, highlighting the challenges facing the world's largest Android smartphone vendor.

The 2026 smartphone market is facing a dark outlook as memory prices rise and shortages tighten supply, weighing on low- and mid-range handsets and hitting power amplifier (PA) shipments. Supply-chain companies said weaker gross margins are prompting brand owners to cut production and delay new model launches, while consumer caution is also dragging on demand.

Huawei's next-generation flagship Mate 90 smartphone series has reportedly entered the chip packaging and testing stage, according to sources within China's supply chain. The lineup is expected to launch in September 2026 and will be the first to feature Huawei's new Kirin 2026 flagship processor, which is based on the company's Tau Scaling (τ) concept. The device is expected to be one of Huawei's flagship demonstrations of its post-Moore semiconductor strategy.

Apple's recent price increases for Mac and iPad products are rapidly spilling into the used-device market, as consumers turn to refurbished and secondhand channels to fight inflation. Data from Chinese secondhand trading platforms show that some MacBook models have risen by nearly CNY1,000 (US$147.29) within just 10 days, signaling a new round of price swings in the end-user market.

Apple is reportedly planning to launch at least five new models by this time next year, with the company expanding its foldables' production. Amid surging component prices and a weakening smartphone market, these moves may be a bid to gain market share while rivals are on the back foot.

A public spat between Xiaomi and Huawei over large models has exposed growing anxiety in China's phone AI market this year, while Apple, Google, and Samsung Electronics pursue different routes to seize the AI agent entry point.

Large-size display driver ICs (DDIs) were a key revenue driver for many DDI suppliers during the first half of 2026. Taiwanese manufacturers said early notebook inventory build-up beginning in the first quarter of 2026, together with television restocking ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, allowed large-size DDI shipments to outperform the traditional seasonal slowdown.