Apple and LG Electronics are reportedly pairing up to create a line of smart home devices, though the devices will carry the LG brand name. The two companies are expanding their reach into the smart home market as both face headwinds in their home product segments.

Rising memory prices are already weighing on 2026 smartphone and notebook shipments, and sustained AI infrastructure investments are expected to keep quotes climbing into 2027. To counter softer buying interest as retail prices rise, hardware vendors like Samsung are pivoting to fresh strategies. Alongside cost controls and broader product line-ups, companies are increasingly prioritizing software differentiation, AI integration, post-purchase services, and aggressive promotion of previous-generation (N-1) models.

Largan Precision will hold its earnings call on October 8, when the optical lens maker is due to report third-quarter results and outline its fourth-quarter outlook. With September revenue recovering and the company stepping up property acquisitions, investors are likely to focus on three issues: progress in co-packaged optics (CPO), capacity expansion and the pace of fourth-quarter customer orders.

SpaceX launched its Starship super heavy-lift rocket on September 28, successfully reaching orbit for the first time and deploying 26 Starlink V3 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Each Starship mission can carry up to approximately 60 Starlink V3 satellites. Although neither stage was recovered, both splashed down at sea and the satellite deployment was successful.

As the global communications industry moves toward the 6G era around 2030, front-end modules supporting frequency ranges such as D-band at 130-150GHz and W-band at 77-95GHz have become major research priorities across academia and industry.

Largan Precision reported September consolidated revenue of NT$5.78 billion (US$181.99 million), up 15% from August but down 7% from a year earlier. Third-quarter revenue rose 15% sequentially to NT$15.65 billion.

Deutsche Telekom expects artificial intelligence and automation to generate around EUR2.5 billion (approx. US$2.8 billion) in indirect-cost savings by 2030 compared with 2023, Reuters reported, as the German telecom group puts measurable financial targets behind both cost savings and revenue growth.

Samsung Electronics said its new Galaxy Z series foldable phones have beaten expectations after launch, with sales in the first month up significantly from the previous generation. The company does not think Apple's upcoming iPhone Duo will derail demand for Samsung's foldable smartphones.

Climax Technology said elevated memory prices are pressuring its gross margin in the second half of 2026, while longer customer validation cycles for substitute memory parts are also dampening its outlook. The wireless communications company said its overall second-half outlook remains conservative.

Meta will link Naver Map's walking-navigation feature to its Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta AI glasses in 2026, as it moves to strengthen its presence in South Korea before rival AI glasses from Google and Samsung Electronics arrive. According to South Korean media outlets Seoul Economic Daily and ETNews, the deal would make Naver the first South Korean company to partner with Meta in the AI glasses category.

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series lifted first-week sales in China by 12% year over year, giving the soft smartphone market a much-needed boost and pushing Apple to the top of weekly sales with a 33% market share. The strong start underscores the brand loyalty that premium customers continue to show toward Apple's flagship phones, even amid market volatility.