According to the latest Canalys research, Mainland China's smartphone market experienced a 10% year-on-year growth in the second quarter of 2024, with shipments exceeding 70 million units, while Apple declined by 4%. For the first time, local vendors dominated the top five positions, driven by the innovative use of generative AI (GenAI) to compete in the high-end segment.
Smartphones are increasingly using AMOLED panels and in the first quarter of 2024, the overall shipment volume of AMOLED panels surpassed TFT LCD panels for the first time, making it the dominant mainstream technology. This shift is also reflected in the pricing.
Samsung Electronics, fresh off its July 2024 launch of new foldable phones, is gearing up to introduce a sleeker, more lightweight model: the Galaxy Z Fold6 Slim. Tae-moon Roh, President & Head of Samsung's Mobile eXperience (MX) division, has directed the development of a foldable phone with the thickness of a standard smartphone, aiming to counteract the slim designs championed by Chinese competitors.
The prime season for the stocking of new products is rapidly approaching, and the outlook for Taiwan's export orders is optimistic, market sources believe.
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.
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.
Apple is set to unveil iOS 18, its latest mobile operating system, which promises a slew of significant updates. Among these, the most notable is the expansion of satellite communication services from emergency-only to a regular feature. This shift means that approximately 375 million iPhone users globally will soon be able to use satellite messaging even in non-emergency situations.
Mobile phone manufacturers are concerned about the increasing competition among chip vendors for advanced process capacity, despite the more optimistic demand forecasts.
Demand for smartphones and other consumer electronics is on the rise, prompting device assemblers such as Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) and Luxshare Precision Industry to prepare for a recovery period.
Following the Acer-Indkal Technologies partnership in the smartphone market, Acer CEO Jason Chen clarified that Acer is not re-entering the smartphone market.
Acer made a bold move by partnering with India-based Indkal Technologies to re-enter the smartphone market. Acer's strategic focus is on harnessing India's potential rather than solely concentrating on the highly competitive smartphone market.
The worldwide smartphone market experienced a 12% increase in shipments during the second quarter of 2024, reaching a total of 288 million devices, according to Canalys. This marks the third consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth.
Chinese smartphone vendor Transsion quietly emerged as China's second-largest supplier by global handset shipments, just behind Xiaomi, in the first quarter of 2024.
Oppo has launched its new AI smartphone series, aimed at the entry-level and midrange categories, to become the industry leader in inexpensive AI smartphones.
Qualcomm has filed a lawsuit against Transsion, an emerging China-based smartphone giant, in India, alleging unauthorized use of Qualcomm's patented technologies. This legal action highlights the intensifying competition among leading mobile application processor (AP) providers and underscores Transsion's successful strategy in emerging markets.
