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.
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.
AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs) are built on software-defined vehicles (SDVs), and Tesla is arguably the world's most representative company at integrating and commercializing these technologies. Yet the market rarely hears Tesla emphasize or explain the AIDV concept.
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.
Analog Devices (ADI) announced that it has completed its acquisition of Empower Semiconductor, a move it said is designed to bolster the company's role as a comprehensive power partner spanning the entire AI ecosystem, from grid infrastructure to core computing systems.
AI servers are tightening Taiwan's power component supply chain, lifting demand for MOSFETs, PMICs, cooling motors and power management products even as weak PC demand limits suppliers' ability to pass on higher costs.
Alan Wei Zhaolun, an executive at Aperia Group, pleaded not guilty in a fraud case alleging that he and three others illegally misrepresented themselves to obtain servers containing Nvidia chips before rerouting them to China. He has been accused by Singaporean prosecutors of money laundering and other charges, as Singapore emerges as a hub for illicit AI chip flows to China.
Sercomm reported record June 2026 revenue of NT$7.27 billion, up 12.2% from May and 70.8% from a year earlier, as AI-related network traffic and broadband infrastructure upgrades lifted demand. The telecom broadband equipment maker said the strong performance also pushed second-quarter and first-half revenue to all-time highs.
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.
Following recent reports of significant management changes at Turvo International Co., Ltd, President Steven Tsai addressed investors ahead of the company's earnings conference on July 2. He said representatives of the company's major shareholder, ZENG HSING Industrial Co., Ltd, were not present, and therefore he could not comment on their behalf. While acknowledging that the major shareholder has the legal authority to make such decisions, Tsai said the matter should be handled in a manner acceptable to all parties in order to avoid unnecessary controversy and disruption.
Taiwanese power management IC (PMIC) design houses have been expanding into new applications and broadening their product portfolios in recent years, aiming to move beyond consumer electronics into higher-spec, more stable markets as the AI boom accelerates.
