The global notebook market is entering a new phase of competition as AI-driven products reshape demand, even as the broader recovery has fallen short of expectations. Apple is pressuring the low end with the MacBook Neo, while Nvidia is moving upmarket with the RTX Spark high-end AI PC.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the computing industry is entering an era of "agentic computing," in which data centers, personal computers, autonomous vehicles, humanoid robots, and satellite systems will share a common AI architecture. He framed the shift as a broad reworking of how future devices will operate.

Nvidia's new N1X processor, developed with MediaTek, signals a broader shift in PC computing as AI agents gain traction worldwide. The Arm-based chip could boost supply choices, intensify competition with Intel and AMD, and reshape demand patterns across notebooks, servers, and consumer devices.

Nvidia used GTC Taipei on June 1, 2026, to unveil RTX Spark, also known as N1X, a new AI PC system-on-chip designed for native AI agent workloads rather than mainstream Windows PCs. The chip appears designed to fill a gap in consumer hardware that cannot reliably handle local, autonomous AI tasks.

Nvidia and MediaTek have formally entered the AI PC and Windows on Arm market with the unveiling of RTX Spark at Computex 2026, ending two years of low-profile development. The first products are expected from Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI in autumn 2026.

After sharp swings in the memory spot market in April and May 2026, the industry's tight supply-demand balance has not changed. Spot prices through the end of May have recovered modestly from April, while the third-quarter memory contract price increase is expected to slow from a high base but remain firmly on an upward trend, with quarterly gains likely to stay in the double-digit 10-20% range.

Asus chairman Jonney Shih said the company is extending its AI strategy beyond servers into agentic AI, edge AI, and physical AI, while treating humanoid robots as a major future market. He said the company's AI server shipments are surging and that physical AI has already been made a long-term priority.

Chinese consumer electronics and tech brands have made significant strides in quality and innovation over the past few years, yet trust remains a persistent challenge in Western markets. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and media framing have added further complexity to that dynamic.

Lenovo Group is stepping up its AI infrastructure push. Lenovo chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang said on May 28 at the 2026 World Intelligence Expo that the company will invest in Tianjin to build a next-generation AI computing product R&D and manufacturing center, with mass production planned for 2027, as Lenovo seeks a larger share of the AI infrastructure market.

Microsoft used Nvidia GTC to preview Surface Laptop Ultra and its broader Windows platform strategy ahead of Build, highlighting a shift toward on-device AI agents and developer workloads. The company emphasized deeper Windows 11 integration with Nvidia hardware, aiming to unify performance, security, and AI tooling across next-generation PCs.

MediaTek said it expects artificial intelligence (AI) to move from centralized cloud systems into consumer devices, home servers, and new products such as AI glasses. The shift could reshape global demand for chips, data privacy, and device design, as companies race to build the next wave of AI hardware.

Asustek Computer (Asus) chairman Jonney Shih outlined the company's artificial intelligence (AI) strategy roadmap and also commented on whether Apple's entry-level MacBook Neo could challenge the mainstream Windows notebook market at a company shareholders meeting on May 29.

Facing memory shortages and Sharp's plan to shut down its Guishan K2 plant by the end of 2026, GIS chairman Hsien-Ying Chou said the company faces greater operational challenges in the second half of 2026. However, its transformation strategy is accelerating. Among its new businesses, optical waveguide products used in AI glasses and other applications began small-volume shipments in the first quarter of 2026, while its optical communications business is targeting advanced optical source packaging and testing services. Both new application areas are expected to gradually ramp up in 2027, creating new growth momentum for revenue and gross margins.

Nvidia, Microsoft and Arm posted identical messages on X on Friday, each displaying the words "A New Era of PC" alongside the geographic coordinates of Taipei — a coordinated tease that has sent the market speculating about what the three companies plan to announce at Computex 2026, which opens next week.

At the Nvidia AI Factory MGX Ecosystem Showcase in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 29, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that to meet the strong demand and support the production ramp for the next-generation Vera Rubin architecture, the company will double its artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputer capacity in Taiwan in 2026. He also thanked supply chain partners, saying he could not do it alone.

Compal Electronics said it was scaling up its server business and expects server revenue to reach 8-10% of total sales in 2026 as AI server rack-scale systems ramp and a new Texas plant begins operations in the second half. The company reported that server sales rose to 5% of revenue in the first quarter of 2026 from less than 1% previously, driven by a shift from printed circuit board (PCB) assembly to rack-level and full-system solutions that increase revenue per project.

Xiaomi unveiled new smartphones and wearables in Taiwan on May 29, while its new Taiwan general manager, Chih-sheng Liu, made his first public appearance. He outlined four priorities for the company's next stage in Taiwan, signaling how it plans to compete in a market that also reflects wider global consumer trends.

Qualcomm Technologies is pushing its Windows-on-Arm strategy into lower-cost laptops with a new Snapdragon C platform, betting that PC makers squeezed by rising memory costs will look for alternatives to traditional x86 chips in the entry-level market.

Dell reported a record first quarter for fiscal 2027, with revenue rising 88% to US$43.8 billion and diluted earnings per share climbing 214% to US$4.86. The company said demand was stronger than expected across all businesses and geographies as customers moved to secure supply in a difficult environment.

Dell reported a sharp jump in first-quarter revenue and profit, saying customers moved quickly to secure supply across both traditional and AI infrastructure. The company said revenue rose 88% to US$43.8 billion and diluted earnings per share climbed 214% to US$4.86, both records for the quarter.

Acer chairman Jason Chen said artificial intelligence (AI) is entering a new phase, shifting from early investment in energy and computing infrastructure toward token-based business models, practical applications, and enterprise-ready solutions that are beginning to reshape daily operations and individual workflows.

Lenovo is pursuing a "dual-down" strategy to capture market share as rising memory prices and CPU shortages squeeze PC makers, shifting from hardware supplier to a technology solutions provider that works more closely with customers. Yasumichi Tsukamoto, vice president of R&D for commercial devices and intelligent solutions, said component inflation is forcing the change.

Lenovo is betting that rising cloud AI costs and privacy risks will drive enterprises toward on-device AI, reshaping corporate PC buying and upkeep globally. The vendor's 2026 AI agent system and ThinkPad hardware upgrades aim to cut costs, boost performance, and shape IT strategies across industries and regions.

Apple's introduction of the MacBook Neo has intensified competition in the low-end notebook market, putting pressure on Windows-based manufacturers across both education and consumer segments, according to industry executives and analysts.

Huawei reported that cumulative global shipments of its Watch Fit series had topped 24 million units as of April 2026, signaling accelerating momentum for the vendor's smart wearables business amid continued US restrictions on its smartphone operations. The company said the Watch Fit lineup has become one of its best-selling fashion-sport smart wearables as Huawei pursues growth in Europe, Southeast Asia, and other overseas markets.