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Jun 17, 11:42
Apple's foldable iPhone launch may slip to early 2027

Apple's first foldable iPhone could arrive later than some market expectations, with supply chain sources indicating the device may not reach consumers until early 2027, pushing back the launch schedule for the company's entry into the foldable smartphone segment.

After Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote, online rumors claimed that only premium devices with 12GB of memory could run on-device AI, but DIGITIMES analyst Luke Lin said on a podcast that that was just Apple's messaging. Most on-device AI features only need 8GB of memory; only the Apple-defined advanced on-device AI requires the higher 12GB spec.

INPAQ Technology, a unit of PSA Walsin Technology, reported that revenue and profit in the first quarter of 2026 fell year on year, citing a supply-demand imbalance in the memory market and sharp raw material price increases. The company said it expected a gradual recovery in the second half of 2026 as industry inventories normalized and new products and customers began contributing. INPAQ also outlined a strategic shift to deepen its antenna businesses and expand passive components for AI servers and high-performance computing.

Samsung Electronics announced that its Exynos 2600 mobile application processor delivered more than double the on-device AI performance of the Exynos 2500, according to benchmark results released in June 2026. The company said the chip, manufactured on a 2nm foundry process and slated for Galaxy S26 standard and Plus models in early 2026, showed broad gains across natural language processing and image-generation workloads.
The EU's new eco-design, energy labeling, and battery rules for smartphones and tablets may do more than improve environmental performance. They could change how device makers compete, design products, and manage product lifecycles.
AI server and cloud data center growth is boosting demand for high-speed switches and optical communications, with global supply chains feeling the strain. Taiwan networking equipment maker Accton said on June 11 that customer demand is stronger than before, while supply shortages and capacity limits are making the outlook harder to balance.
5G upgrades, AIDC projects boost Taiwan telcos in May
Jun 12

Strong 5G upgrade momentum, Mother's Day handset promotions, and a wave of enterprise ICT projects tied to AI data center buildouts and cloud computing infrastructure helped Taiwan's three major telecom operators post solid results in May 2026. Chunghwa Telecom logged record-high revenue and EBITDA for the month of May, while Taiwan Mobile kept its lead in profitability with EPS of NT$0.50, and Far EasTone continued its growth in mobile services with the industry's highest 5G penetration among monthly-plan users.

Taiwan's next-generation communications program, one of the Five Trusted Industry Sectors designated by President Lai Ching-te, is helping companies position early for the 6G market as global standardization moves into a critical phase. International targets point to 2030 for 6G commercialization, while the international standard is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2029.
Sercomm Corporation said its revenue for the first five months of 2026 hit a record NT$30 billion (US$950 million), up 55% from a year earlier, signaling continued momentum in telecom and networking markets that could matter for global broadband customers, suppliers, and investors. The company said growth is being driven by AI-enabled applications, new products, and expansion into additional markets.
Transsion Holdings, Africa's long-time "king of mobile phones," is turning to energy storage as smartphone profits weaken. The question is whether its African channel empire can become a real energy business, or whether it will become just another low-margin hardware extension.
The artificial intelligence boom has created clear winners among semiconductor and memory manufacturers. Shares of companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron Technology have climbed as demand for AI memory chips continues to surge.
Apple's new Siri AI has finally arrived, but its absence from China threatens to weaken the company's artificial intelligence (AI) strategy in one of the world's most important smartphone markets.