Wanzhou Meng has resumed her role as Huawei's rotating chairwoman, further cementing her position as the company's top leader, second only to founder and CEO Zhengfei Ren. Her reappointment underscores her continued ascent within Huawei's leadership structure.
As the second half of 2024 enters the peak sales season for consumer electronics, supply chains have gradually entered the peak season cycle starting from the third quarter. However, the peak season effect has experienced some delays due to China's National Day holidays,
Qualcomm is set to unveil its next flagship mobile platform, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, along with other products at its annual launch event scheduled for late October. However, new products in its Snapdragon X Elite series for PCs will have to wait until the second half of 2025, according to sources. The launch event is expected to focus primarily on mobile chips and automotive electronics, as suggested by the invited media attendees.
From January to August 2024, Taiwan's exports grew by 10.94% compared to the same period in 2023, while imports increased by 9.34%. The trade surplus for this period reached US$52.45 billion, marking a growth of 19.47%. Notably, integrated circuits (ICs) and information and communication products accounted for a significant portion of this growth.
Despite mixed reviews globally for Apple's iPhone 16 series, strong support from telecom companies, retail distributors, and e-commerce platforms has driven sales of the iPhone 16 series in Taiwan to new heights. Estimates suggest that fourth-quarter shipments could increase by 15-20% compared to the iPhone 15, outperforming the global average.
Asus Group president Jonathan Tsang has announced his retirement, effective November 2024, with Asus vice chairman Ted Hsu set to succeed him. On 27 September, Asus employees held a heartfelt tea gathering to express their best wishes to Tsang as he embarks on this new chapter.
Apple's iPhone 16 series officially launched on September 20. Driven by the boost from generative AI and notable processor upgrades, telecom operators, e-commerce platforms, and physical retailers are generally optimistic about the iPhone 16's sales outlook. Some industry players have even predicted that the fourth quarter of 2024 will see the largest iPhone upgrade cycle ever.
Despite its premium price tag, Apple's top-tier iPhone 15 Pro Max reportedly emerged as the best-selling smartphone globally in the first half of 2024, continuing the strong sales performance of its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, from the same period in 2023.
AI PCs will bring new opportunities to component manufacturers. Battery module manufacturer Simplo stated that due to AI PCs requiring larger battery capacity, the average selling price (ASP) will increase as well. This is expected to become apparent in the fourth quarter of 2024 and growth momentum is expected to become stronger in 2025.
French optical equipment company EssilorLuxottica has announced a new long-term agreement with Meta Platforms extending beyond 2030, expanding their collaboration in the smart glasses sector.
Meta has revealed a prototype of its Orion augmented reality (AR) glasses, featuring a customized chip co-developed with MediaTek, according to industry sources.
Google's internal projections indicate a substantial increase in Chromebook Plus shipments compared to conventional Chromebooks, according to market sources. These high-end models, updated in 2024 to feature Google's own Gemini AI model, suggest that AI-equipped PCs are gaining traction in the market, contrary to widespread assumptions.
According to Guang-Peng He, Acer's senior director of its fixed-point computing business sector, the overall PC monitor market has been impacted by weak TV sales, leading to revenue with either a flat or small increase. However, Acer expects to outperform the average, particularly in the desktop computer market, which is anticipated to see a boost following the release of new NVIDIA graphics cards.
As Generative AI (GenAI) technology matures and its functions improve, businesses are exploring new applications beyond traditional devices. While GenAI has already made inroads into televisions, wearable devices, and smart speakers, innovative products continue to emerge.
Formula One, commonly known as Formula 1 or F1, has expanded its partnership with Lenovo Group due to their shared ideas regarding artificial intelligence (AI) applications, according to F1 director of IT Chris Roberts.
Sahasra Electronics, an India-based electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider eyeing the semiconductor packaging business, is set to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on September 26, aiming to raise INR1.86 billion (approx. US$22.3 million).
With the launch of Apple's iPhone 16 in major global markets, various media outlets have begun releasing their reviews. Opinions on the new Camera Control button and the upgraded photo and video recording features of the iPhone 16 series are rat her mixed.
As artificial intelligence (AI) applications become widespread, products like AI smartphones and AI PCs are emerging in the market. However, supply chain operators indicate that while there is significant interest in AI, the end market has not seen an increase in consumer purchasing intent due to a lack of compelling applications.
Apple's iPhone 16 series officially launched on September 20. While the initial inventory for telecom operators and retailers sold out instantly, the sustainability of this sales momentum remains a key indicator for market watchers.
IC design firms report a sharp slowdown in PC shipments in the third quarter of 2024, following a surge in the second quarter. While the decline is not drastic, the usually robust growth in the PC market has been noticeably weaker. The anticipated lift from AI PCs has fallen short of expectations, further dragging down the already sluggish consumer market. With customers increasingly placing short lead-time orders, the industry is losing confidence in a strong performance for the second half of 2024, with hopes now pinned on last-minute orders to support IC design sector recovery.
The escalating tensions between major powers are reshaping global investment and trade patterns, leading to a surge in companies facing divestment, relocation, and investment shifts. This trend suggests an impending rise in production and trade costs, coupled with intensified competition for localized investments. Nations that previously benefited from global supply chain shifts should remain vigilant, as they may become potential targets in the United States' evolving trade strategies.
Microsoft recently announced that its AI assistant, Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot, has entered its second development wave. By integrating functions from software including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, Copilot is evolving into a unified AI interface for productivity applications.
Data from the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy indicates that computer exports surged by 183.2% in August 2024, while maritime vessel exports rose by 80%. Additionally, exports in network communication increased by 50.4%, in biotech healthcare by 39%, and in semiconductors by 38.8%.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Qualcomm has approached Intel for a potential takeover, a story later verified by CNBC. While the news initially sparked a 3% rally in Intel's share price, significant doubts remain about the feasibility of such a deal.
