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  • Apple Shares Fall 4% as Rising Memory Costs Threaten Gross Margins

    Apple Shares Fall 4% as Rising Memory Costs Threaten Gross Margins

    Apple shares dropped about 4 per cent in premarket trading on Tuesday, putting the tech giant on track to lose over $170 billion from its $4.94 trillion valuation. The decline followed executive warnings that escalating memory component costs will squeeze profitability.

    Chief Executive John Ternus delivered his first earnings report on Monday, describing the current memory-pricing climate as “unprecedented” and cautioning that cost pressures will extend beyond the quarter ending in December. The company expects gross margins for the period to slip to between 45 per cent and 46 per cent.

    That guidance marks a contraction from the 47.9 per cent gross margin reported for the September quarter, even after factoring in tariff refunds. The cost squeeze comes as Apple exhausts the advantage of earlier, lower-priced memory inventories, leaving fresh hardware manufacturing exposed to higher market rates.

    Component Inventories Diminish

    The hardware manufacturer had managed production costs throughout 2026 by tapping stockpiles of memory purchased under earlier, cheaper contracts. Those reserves are now depleted. Fresh component purchases reflect elevated spot and contract rates, exposing hardware production directly to wholesale price spikes.

    Rising memory bills arrive alongside operational expenses from rolling out generative features across the Siri ecosystem. Apple must now pay more for core memory silicon inside every handset while spending heavily on server infrastructure to process assistant queries. For regional consumer electronics retailers, higher component inputs point toward wholesale price increases across upcoming device cycles.

    Flagship Demand Carries Fourth Quarter

    The margin compression follows a record September quarter for iPhone revenue despite broader consumer spending headwinds. Handset sales reached $57.58 billion, clearing market forecasts of $56.54 billion.

    Apple achieved that total using a staggered device launch that offered only the top-tier 18 Pro models during the final days of its fiscal 2026. The baseline Duo models did not ship during the period. The reliance on premium tiers cushioned top-line numbers, but it narrows the cushion available when factory-gate component bills climb across every tier.

    We see the flagship iPhone as the linchpin of this ecosystem, from which Apple derives pricing power, switching costs, and a network effect

    Valuation Gaps and Supply Chain Risks

    The company enters the holiday quarter trading at nearly 35 times expected 12-month earnings. That multiple sits well above rival tech platforms, with Alphabet trading at 18.23 times and Microsoft at 23.43 times forward earnings. Such a premium leaves little leeway when gross margins contract by two to three percentage points.

    Device vendors across Asia face identical supply crunches, yet Apple commands the balance-sheet scale to secure volume allocation ahead of smaller competitors. If higher retail tags depress consumer upgrade cycles across key Asian markets, hardware revenue will take the brunt of the downturn.

    The immediate indicator remains gross margin execution for the December-ending period, where management must hold the guided 45 per cent floor while absorbing continuous memory cost revisions.

  • Apple Starts Selling US$1,999 IPhone Duo

    Apple Starts Selling US$1,999 IPhone Duo

    Apple began selling its first folding phone, the US$1,999 iPhone Duo, on Friday (Oct 23), betting the device can transform the foldables market after nearly two decades of making only incremental updates to the iPhone.

    The launch marks an early trial for new Apple chief executive officer John Ternus, who unveiled the hardware barely a week after taking charge in September.

    Apple enters a niche segment where rivals such as Samsung Electronics and Huawei Technologies have sold premium foldables for years.

    Channel Allocations and Asian Retail Constraints

    Within minutes of pre-orders opening on Oct 16, Apple’s estimated delivery dates for the Duo had slipped to late January as demand outpaced supply. The company called the response from customers “nothing short of extraordinary”.

    The limited supplies could disappoint Apple fans lining up in front of stores to buy the Duo. Apple told Reuters that walk-in availability would vary by country, with limited stocks in the US, Australia, Canada, Mexico and much of Britain and Europe. In China, France, Hong Kong, India and Japan, units would be available only for customers who had ordered online. In the China-governed territory of Macau, where the iPhone Duo will be available for walk-in customers only, fans already started lining up hours in advance, social media posts and media reports showed.

    Rivalry With Incumbents in Regional Markets

    Early reviews have praised the US$1,999 Duo’s premium design as well as its sturdy and barely visible hinge, a major feat for the phones whose prominent creased screen has long been a major drawback and potential deterrent to buyers. But reviewers have also said that camera compromises including the absence of a telephoto lens and third-party apps that still need to be reworked for the new display size could disappoint some buyers.

    They have noted that iPhone Duo in its smaller, folded state is less handy for the litany of quick tasks that most users carry out each day on standard iPhones, leading several prominent reviewers to recommend against the Duo for many Apple customers.

    “Foldables have been an established category for years, but adoption has remained relatively limited compared with conventional smartphones. Apple’s entry could bring the format to a much broader audience,” said Francisco Jeronimo, vice-president at market research firm IDC.

    IDC expects Apple will take 44 per cent of the foldable value in 2026 on 31 per cent of foldable units. By 2027, it will become the market leader in the category both in value and units shipped, according to the firm.

    “Apple has made a convincing case for this form factor,” Jeronimo said after spending a week with the Duo. “Now comes the next test: turning excitement into availability, adoption and a lasting new chapter for the smartphone market,” Jeronimo added.

    Executive Leadership and Product History

    “It’s been a lot of fun trying the Duo out for a week, but it feels like I’ve gotten to use an extraordinarily polished prototype, not a finished product that I’d want to buy and carry,” longtime Apple commentator John Gruber, the author of the blog Daring Fireball, wrote in a review.

    Tech commentator Marques Brownlee, popularly known as MKBHD, said in a YouTube review that “if you’re just a regular person who doesn’t do much more than texting, social media and browsing here and there, then it is probably a no”.

    “But if the US$2,000 doesn’t mean much to you, and you like the idea, after the learning curve and getting used to not having facial identification, it is a really fun phone.”

  • Apple Launches $299 HomeView Smart Display in Siri AI Connected Home Push

    Apple Launches $299 HomeView Smart Display in Siri AI Connected Home Push

    Apple rolled out its HomeView smart display on Tuesday priced from $299. The device aims to revive the company’s connected home division with upgraded Siri artificial intelligence features.

    Shipments of the 7-inch touchscreen begin next month. The hardware incorporates facial recognition to control doorbells, thermostats and digital locks across household networks.

    The display resembles the arm-mounted screen of Apple’s classic sunflower iMac desktop. It displays customized app icons based on which resident stands in front of the camera. Voice control through Siri handles primary navigation rather than manual taps, tying the hardware directly to Apple’s home operating environment.

    Hardware specifications and partner accessories

    Alongside HomeView, Apple updated its HomePod smart speaker and Apple TV set-top box. To solve peripheral compatibility hurdles that stalled previous smart home initiatives, Apple partnered with South Korea’s LG and European industrial group Schneider Electric to release companion doorbells, indoor cameras and smart thermostats tailored for the ecosystem.

    That collaboration aims to widen peripheral distribution through third-party retail channels and regional electronics chains. Apple has struggled to build standalone smart home market share in those venues over the past decade.

    Services revenue and platform competition

    Hardware expansion into residential hubs serves a broader financial target: sustaining subscription revenue across services including iCloud, Apple TV and Apple Pay. Visible Alpha Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence projects Apple’s annual services revenue will rise 12 per cent to $138 billion by 2027.

    Securing the living room countertop is essential for that growth curve. Smart displays act as persistent digital billboards inside consumer households, driving daily engagement with paid streaming and cloud storage platforms.

    Competitors hold an entrenched lead. Amazon expanded its smart hardware lineup last week with dedicated tablets running Alexa, backing an existing base of Echo smart speakers and Ring security systems. Artificial intelligence developer OpenAI is also exploring proprietary consumer devices.

    “Apple needs to demonstrate that its AI capabilities can deliver meaningful benefits beyond basic voice commands, simplifying everyday tasks and bringing greater intelligence to the home,” said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore.

    Upgraded Siri and multi-year AI deals

    Apple overhauled Siri’s underlying software architecture during its Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this year. That work leaned on a multi-year foundation model partnership signed with Google in January 2026. The upgraded assistant processes conversational commands locally and via secure cloud servers, matching query context across connected household devices.

    Retail availability begins across global markets in November 2026. Initial shipments will test consumer appetite for premium smart home displays against lower-cost alternatives.

  • Home Credit Rolls Out Installment Financing for Apple iPhone 18 in Philippines

    Home Credit Rolls Out Installment Financing for Apple iPhone 18 in Philippines

    Home Credit Philippines launched installment plans for Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max on October 2. Daily payments start from 137 pesos.

    The financing scheme covers terms up to 24 months with zero down payment and zero interest rates for eligible buyers. It applies across authorized retail partner networks.

    Terms for Flagship Handset Upgrades

    Pre-orders opened at 12:01 a.m. On October 2 through authorized Apple resellers and physical partner storefronts. General retail availability starts nationwide on October 16.

    Buyers can access the program directly in stores or secure loan pre-approvals through the lender’s mobile application on Google Play, App Store, and Huawei App Gallery. The campaign operates under Philippine trade permit FTEB-242751.

    “A new iPhone launch is always one of the most anticipated moments for Filipino consumers. For many, however, upgrading also comes with the important consideration of how the purchase fits into their monthly budget,” said Puneet Suneja, Chief Sales Officer of Home Credit Philippines.

    Shifting Premium Device Affordability

    Point-of-sale financing drives sales volume for premium smartphone distribution across Southeast Asian retail corridors. High retail ticket prices push middle-income shoppers toward micro-loans rather than cash purchases or traditional credit card lines.

    For independent electronics retailers, integrating instant non-bank credit lines protects footfall against carrier-contract bundles. Retailers avoid carrying customer credit risk on their own balance sheets. This captures store conversions during competitive product launch windows.

    Balance Sheet Exposure and Underwriting

    Extended 24-month zero-interest terms require strict portfolio underwriting to keep non-performing loan ratios stable across long repayment cycles. Financing uncollateralized hardware exposes non-bank lenders to depreciation risk if borrowers default early.

    Home Credit manages this exposure through credit scoring algorithms embedded in its mobile loan application. Regulatory oversight from the Securities and Exchange Commission and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sets capital adequacy standards for the lender’s consumer credit portfolio.

    Retail Expansion Pipeline

    Consumer lenders across the archipelago continue targeting electronics retail partnerships to expand point-of-sale distribution. The October rollout establishes the financing structure ahead of fourth-quarter holiday spending across regional shopping centers.

    Partner store networks nationwide will handle direct unit distribution when customer handovers begin at 12:01 a.m. On October 16.

  • Apple Pay Enters India with Axis Bank in 16.3 Million Card Rollout

    Apple Pay Enters India with Axis Bank in 16.3 Million Card Rollout

    Apple Pay launched in India on Wednesday through an exclusive initial partnership with Axis Bank. The rollout enters the world’s most populous consumer market.

    Axis Bank is India’s fourth-largest credit card issuer. It held 16.3 million cards outstanding out of 124 million nationwide as of August, according to central bank data.

    How the Axis Bank Rollout Works

    The private lender, India’s third-largest, is the first domestic institution to support the payment service. Cardholders can link eligible Visa and Mastercard credit cards through the Axis Bank mobile app or directly inside Apple Wallet.

    Transactions operate across physical retail checkouts, mobile apps, and online merchant portals using iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad hardware. The service enables contactless checkout without a physical card PIN or a one-time password. Instead, it authenticates charges through Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode.

    Domestic cards issued on India’s homegrown RuPay payment network remain excluded from the service at launch.

    India is home to a dynamic and digitally savvy population that continues to embrace a cashless future while expecting the highest standards of security and privacy, and we’re so excited to bring Apple Pay to users in India today.

    The Battle Against UPI Dominance

    Entering India puts Apple directly up against the Unified Payments Interface. The domestic real-time bank settlement architecture processes 84 per cent of digital transaction volumes. According to a 2025 International Monetary Fund report, the protocol ranks as the world’s largest retail fast-payment network by transaction volume.

    For retailers and consumer brands across India, adding Apple Pay provides a direct checkout route for premium smartphone owners. These shoppers frequently transact on credit rather than direct bank debit. The system shifts point-of-sale interaction toward tap-and-pay hardware readers, bypassing the QR-code scanning routines that dominate local merchant counters.

    Merchant Margins and Bank Negotiations

    Commercial terms have slowed broader adoption among top Indian credit issuers. Apple held talks with larger domestic rivals HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. It has not agreed commercial terms with either institution.

    Interchange fee sharing and integration expenses remain the central tension in a market where UPI merchant transactions carry minimal processing costs. Axis Bank took the opening position to attract affluent device owners. In doing so, it accepted Apple’s ecosystem rules to secure an early advantage in premium card acquisition.

    Next Steps for Indian Card Expansion

    India was one of the last major global economies without local wallet support after earlier rollouts across East Asia and Southeast Asia. The launch coincides with Apple’s widening retail footprint in Mumbai and New Delhi, where direct store openings have accelerated hardware sales.

    Attention now turns to whether HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank resolve fee discussions to link their respective card portfolios. A deal with both lenders would open Apple Pay to more than half of India’s total credit card base.

  • TSMC to Build Five More Packaging Plants at Chiayi Science Park

    TSMC to Build Five More Packaging Plants at Chiayi Science Park

    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co plans to build five additional advanced packaging plants at Chiayi Science Park in southwestern Taiwan, following the start of mass production at Phase I in June.

    The project will bring TSMC’s total advanced packaging facilities at the Chiayi site to 10, creating the world’s largest packaging hub for high-performance semiconductor components.

    Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council has opened a one-month public consultation for Phase II expansion at the park in Taibao City, which local industries view as the launchpad for Phase III development. The planned Phase III zone covers 198.65 hectares, primarily leased from Taiwan Sugar Corp, to support technologies related to artificial intelligence, heterogeneous packaging, silicon photonics, high-speed broadband networks, quantum technology and net zero emissions.

    Scaling Up Advanced Packaging Capacity

    TSMC already operates two advanced packaging lines in Phase I of the Chiayi park, where mass production began in June. Equipment installation is now underway in Phase II. The company intends to complete three packaging facilities in Phase II by 2031, while preliminary site preparation for Phase III has begun.

    Building out Chiayi links the location to existing science parks in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County to the south, as well as hubs in Taichung and Hsinchu to the north. Together, the interconnected parks form an integrated manufacturing corridor across western Taiwan designed to keep advanced fabrication close to domestic engineering teams.

    CoWoS Demand From Global Chip Buyers

    Surging orders for chip-on-wafer-on-substrate packaging from Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Apple serve as the primary commercial engine behind the Chiayi project. Advanced packaging binds multiple silicon dies onto a single substrate, giving AI accelerators and mobile processors the memory bandwidth required for high-density computing workloads without relying solely on smaller nanometer lithography.

    For hardware manufacturers and consumer electronics brands, packaging bottlenecks have dictated device delivery schedules for more than two years. Concentrating 10 packaging plants in Chiayi addresses that supply constraint directly, giving key enterprise and consumer hardware clients guaranteed assembly allocations through the end of the decade. The concentration of advanced packaging on the island also raises the operational stakes for global electronics supply chains, which remain heavily dependent on Taiwan’s local power grid, water supplies and regional transport networks.

    Taiwan Infrastructure and Regional Competition

    While TSMC expands fabrication operations overseas in the United States, Japan and Germany, its most advanced packaging processes remain anchored in Taiwan. Packaging clusters require tight proximity to the leading-edge wafer fabs that produce raw silicon slices, making domestic expansion far more cost-effective than duplicating complex multi-die assembly networks abroad.

    Competitors such as Intel and Samsung continue to build out proprietary advanced packaging services to win third-party foundry clients. TSMC’s accelerated buildout in Chiayi prevents rivals from capturing unmet packaging demand from top-tier chip designers who cannot secure sufficient domestic capacity elsewhere.

    What Comes Next in the Planning Process

    Capital spending supports the speed of the expansion. In July, TSMC lifted its full-year capital expenditure forecast to a band between US$60 billion and US$64 billion, up from an earlier estimate of US$52 billion to US$56 billion announced in April. The Ministry of Economic Affairs reports that TSMC operates 19 advanced wafer fabs and packaging plants across Taiwan, with 13 additional facilities under construction in Hsinchu, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung.

    Following the conclusion of the public comment window for the Chiayi expansion, the National Science and Technology Council will complete a formal feasibility study for submission to the Executive Yuan. Once the central government approves the plan, the project will advance to statutory urban planning reviews and environmental impact assessments before Phase III construction contracts are awarded.

  • Apple Passes $10 Billion in India Sales as Made-In-India Pro Models Ship Worldwide

    Apple Passes $10 Billion in India Sales as Made-In-India Pro Models Ship Worldwide

    Apple crossed $10 billion in annual revenue in India in fiscal 2026 as local production lines began supplying flagship devices directly to overseas store shelves.

    Revenue rose at a double-digit rate from roughly $9 billion a year earlier, driven by premium handset upgrades and larger contributions from MacBooks and iPads.

    The milestone coincided with the retail rollout of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which started selling on Friday from Rs 164,900 ($1,970) and Rs 179,900 respectively. Foxconn and Tata Electronics assembled the devices locally around the clock, exporting launch-day inventory to the United States and other international markets ahead of the retail debut. Last year, Indian factories assembled only the standard iPhone 17 variants for worldwide launch day, while Pro assembly followed months later.

    Value Gains Defy Falling Shipment Volumes

    Consumer demand in India continues to tilt toward higher price brackets even as overall unit volume contracts. Handset shipments fell 4.1 per cent year-on-year to 31 million units in the first quarter of 2026, according to IDC data. Market value rose 5.8 per cent over the same period as average selling prices climbed 10.4 per cent to a record $302.

    Counterpoint Research data recorded premium devices accounting for 29 per cent of the total Indian smartphone market by volume during the first half of 2026. Apple captured 28 per cent of total market revenue in the first quarter despite accounting for only 9 per cent of unit volume, according to IDC. Samsung and Apple together took the vast majority of premium sales.

    Retailers across major metro markets reported steady traffic driven by structured financing, trade-in allowances, and multi-year credit card instalments that offset upfront list prices. Reliance Digital and Apple’s six company-owned flagship stores saw pre-dawn queues across Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru as shoppers traded in older handsets.

    Contract Manufacturers Expand Pro Production

    For electronics manufacturers across Asia, the shift alters the operational playbook. Apple is no longer using Indian assembly plants solely to bypass local import tariffs or serve domestic buyers with older models. Placing day-one global manufacturing of flagship Pro hardware in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka shifts industrial weight away from mainland China’s assembly clusters.

    Suppliers face tighter technical requirements. Assembling top-tier hardware demands tighter tolerances, specialized cleanroom environments, and faster component turnaround times than entry-level lines require. Foxconn and Tata Electronics have absorbed those requirements, forcing second-tier domestic component suppliers to upgrade production quality or lose supply allocations to global tier-one vendors.

    Industrial Policy Drives Supply Chain Deepening

    The transition reflects years of targeted state incentives designed to build a domestic tech manufacturing base. Total mobile phone production in India climbed from Rs 18,900 crore in fiscal 2015 to Rs 6.27 lakh crore in fiscal 2026. Handset exports rose from Rs 1,566 crore to Rs 2.60 lakh crore over the same decade, making mobile phones the country’s largest single export category.

    Federal support through the Production Linked Incentive program drew more than Rs 20,600 crore in cumulative capital investment by March 31, 2026. Cumulative production under that program reached Rs 11.62 lakh crore, with exports topping Rs 6.53 lakh crore.

    New Delhi is now pushing beyond surface-mount assembly into core components through the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the electronics and information technology minister, described the initiative as a deliberate step to build domestic supply lines for precision parts and raw materials. Regulators approved 106 component projects representing Rs 69,548 crore in pledged investment, with 38 factories operational as of August.

    Imported Foldable Tests Peak Price Ceilings

    Apple will test the upper limit of domestic purchasing power next month with the launch of its first foldable handset, the iPhone Duo. That model starts at Rs 299,900 for the 256GB version and rises to Rs 444,900 for the 2TB configuration. Unlike the Pro line, the foldable device will arrive as a fully imported unit assembled outside India.

    Retail networks will monitor inventory turnover for the ultra-premium foldable closely to assess whether local credit appetite can absorb handsets priced above Rs 300,000 without dedicated manufacturing subsidies.

  • Taiwan Telecoms Sell Out Initial iPhone 18 Pro and Foldable Duo Preorders in Minutes

    Taiwan Telecoms Sell Out Initial iPhone 18 Pro and Foldable Duo Preorders in Minutes

    Taiwan telecom carriers sold out initial preorder allocations for Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro series and foldable iPhone Duo within two minutes of opening online reservations on Thursday.

    Preorder volume for the flagship series surged nearly 200 percent compared to last year’s iPhone 17 Pro cycle, Taiwan Mobile reported. Far EasTone Telecommunications saw customer registrations more than double.

    Rising prices did not dampen demand. Next-generation silicon drove cost increases across the lineup. Apple’s base 6.3-inch iPhone 18 Pro starts at NT$44,900 ($1,419), up from NT$39,900 for the previous-generation device. The 6.9-inch iPhone 18 Pro Max entered the market at NT$49,900, up from NT$44,900. Pricing for the foldable iPhone Duo ranges from NT$74,900 for the 256GB version to NT$118,900 for the top-tier 2TB configuration.

    Premium Configurations Drive Carrier Allocations

    Buyer demand tilted heavily toward top-specification models during the opening reservation window. Chunghwa Telecom stated that 70 percent of surveyed subscribers targeted either the iPhone 18 Pro or the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Within that group, 45 percent chose the 512GB storage option. Taiwan Mobile reported that the iPhone 18 Pro Max alone accounted for roughly 50 percent of all new iPhone preorders placed through its myfone online retail channel.

    Shoppers also favored newly introduced finishes. Chunghwa Telecom noted that 46 percent of surveyed buyers selected Glacier, while 26 percent chose Burgundy. Burgundy emerged as the most requested colorway for Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone, followed by Glacier. For the foldable iPhone Duo, Chunghwa Telecom recorded 60 percent demand for Star White, with the remaining 40 percent opting for Night Sky.

    Hardware Pricing Tests Regional Carrier Subsidies

    The sharp price jump tests consumer willingness to absorb higher upfront equipment costs on multi-year 5G service contracts. Taiwan serves as a key testing ground for East Asian smartphone demand, where carrier subsidies cushion high entry prices. Quick clearance of early allotments shows premium buyers remain price-inelastic. They purchased immediately, even as standard models pushed well past traditional retail thresholds.

    Component costs are also squeezing supply chain margins. Vendors passed advanced semiconductor and hinge engineering expenses directly onto retail price tags. Carriers must now manage device inventory financing without eroding retail margins. Replenishment speed poses the immediate risk. If early device allocations stay constrained, subscriber upgrade conversions could taper before the fourth-quarter holiday sales push.

    Launch Timelines Across Taiwan Outlets

    Apple formally unveiled the lineup earlier in the week. Far EasTone opened its official preorder channel at 8 p.m. On Saturday following several days of interest registration. Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile activated bookings immediately after the product announcement.

    Physical deliveries will roll out in two separate phases across the island. Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and Far EasTone outlets will start retail sales of the iPhone 18 Pro series at 8 a.m. On Sept. 18. Store inventory for the foldable iPhone Duo arrives on retail shelves on Oct. 23.

  • Samsung Fights Apple Foldable Push as Counterpoint Projects 25 per Cent Duo Share

    Samsung Fights Apple Foldable Push as Counterpoint Projects 25 per Cent Duo Share

    Samsung launched a marketing blitz across Asia and Europe on Wednesday to protect its premium smartphone business. The campaign follows Apple’s release of its first folding handset, the $1,999 iPhone Duo.

    Apple’s entry puts it in direct competition with the $1,899 Galaxy Z Fold 8. Counterpoint Research expects Apple to capture a 25 per cent global market share this year, cutting into Samsung’s projected 38 per cent share.

    Cupertino designed the Duo with a passport-style layout similar to Samsung’s latest flagship, which runs Alphabet’s Gemini artificial intelligence. Samsung fought back by booking billboards across Seoul, Tokyo and London with slogans like “Welcome to Foldables” and “The World’s Lightest Fold”. It also posted technical notes on its consumer website detailing its hinge and weight reductions.

    The Margin Fight at Two Thousand Dollars

    A narrow $100 price gap shifts the fight to hardware refinement and software ecosystems. For telecom carriers and electronics retailers across Asia, having two players at the $2,000 price point turns foldables from a show into a high-volume margin driver.

    Heavy risks sit with Samsung’s mobile division, which faces margin erosion if affluent buyers in South Korea, Japan and Greater China defect to iOS. Samsung Display supplies the folding screens for the iPhone Duo and collects component revenue on every unit sold. Even so, the handset division loses its most profitable hardware moat.

    Rivalry in Component Supply and Social Media

    Online, Samsung went on the offensive. It ran posts on X describing the Duo as “reheating our leftovers” and “So far, so same”. Apple chief executive John Ternus fired back, calling earlier foldables “like two phones awkwardly stuck together.”

    Industry analysts note that Apple waited for screen mechanics to stabilize before entering the segment. “Apple is good at getting its timing right and entering the market when a product reaches a certain level of maturity,” said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.

    Seven Years of Category Building

    Samsung created the commercial category in 2019 after display failures delayed the original Galaxy Fold release by several months. Over the next eight device generations, the Suwon-based company improved screen durability and expanded global distribution while battling Chinese rivals like Huawei in domestic and regional markets.

    Stores begin stocking the iPhone Duo later this month. That starts the first direct quarterly sales clash between Apple and Samsung during the peak year-end shopping season.

  • Apple to Unveil First Foldable iPhone as Sector Shipments Grow 30%

    Apple to Unveil First Foldable iPhone as Sector Shipments Grow 30%

    Apple is expected to unveil its maiden foldable iPhone at its Cupertino headquarters later on Wednesday, entering a product category where Asian rivals hold a combined 70 per cent share.

    Samsung leads the global foldable smartphone sector with a share of about 40 per cent, followed by Huawei with 30 per cent, according to research firm Counterpoint.

    The new handset is expected to adopt a wider passport-style aspect ratio geared toward video and media consumption, arriving as supply-chain advances make flexible displays more durable and less prone to creasing.

    Asian Rivals Defend Premium Dominance

    For Samsung and Huawei, Apple’s entry turns a high-margin hardware niche into an open battleground across Asian retail channels. Both manufacturers spent years refining flexible hardware, using early technical missteps to improve hinge durability and lock down premium market share in China, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

    Asian component suppliers and display manufacturers stand to gain volume as Apple scales production. The primary risk sits with Android hardware makers in the upper price tiers, who lose their sole hardware differentiator once iOS software is available on a flexible screen.

    The Long March from Early Hinges

    Chinese display maker Royole shipped the first commercial foldable device in 2018 with its outward-folding FlexPai. Samsung launched the US$2,000 Galaxy Fold in 2019, withdrawing initial review units to redesign the display before releasing refined models such as the Fold 8. Huawei followed with the Mate X in 2019, before pushing hardware boundaries further in September 2024 with a US$2,800 tri-fold model.

    Apple’s entry will surely increase competition at the premium end. However, foldables are still a very small part of the overall smartphone market, so there is room for the category to grow well beyond current volumes.

    Growth Divergence in Handset Shipments

    Foldable devices account for a single-digit percentage of total handset sales, constrained by high retail pricing and consumer doubts over long-term screen durability. Google entered the segment in 2023 with the US$1,799 Pixel Fold, while Microsoft discontinued its dual-screen Surface Duo line.

    Research firm IDC expects global foldable shipments to grow nearly 30 per cent this year, outpacing an estimated 1.4 per cent decline in standard smartphone sales as Apple unveils its device later on Wednesday.

  • Geely Hosts CCC Digital Key Trials in Ningbo as China Penetration Hits 58%

    Geely Hosts CCC Digital Key Trials in Ningbo as China Penetration Hits 58%

    Geely Holding Group opened the Car Connectivity Consortium Plugfest in Ningbo on September 7, 2026, testing cross-device vehicle access specifications across global hardware makers.

    Digital keys reached 13.3 million passenger vehicles in China in 2025, taking factory installation rates to 58.1 per cent, according to ResearchInChina.

    The four-day event runs through September 10, bringing engineers from Apple, Volkswagen Group China, Leapmotor, and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology together to validate CCC Digital Key Version 3 and Version 4 implementations. Testing focuses on Bluetooth Low Energy, Near Field Communications, remote keyless systems, and relay-server architectures built for Chinese mobile platforms.

    Standardizing Access Across Mobile Ecosystems

    Hardware and vehicle makers face a fragmented user base where device compatibility dictates owner satisfaction. Chinese electric vehicle makers built proprietary smartphone-to-car links early to differentiate their cabins, but scaling across export markets requires uniform global protocols. Aligning with CCC protocols reduces development friction for Chinese auto exporters targeting Europe and Southeast Asia, where multi-brand phone compatibility is mandatory.

    The technical risk sits in the handoff between mobile operating systems and vehicle transceivers. Proprietary app-based keys often suffer from background process throttling and latency on Android devices. Standardized Near Field Communication and Ultra-Wideband protocols shift authentication directly to device secure elements, eliminating reliance on third-party companion apps.

    Regional Expansion and Certification Pipeline

    Earlier in 2026, the consortium certified its first batch of Chinese vehicles across Geely brands including Volvo, Polestar, Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Smart, and Lotus, alongside standalone approvals for Nio and Xpeng. Regional momentum extended into India with Mahindra & Mahindra and South Korea through Hyundai Motor Company.

    Testing in Ningbo directly addresses local technical conditions, including cross-platform key sharing via relay servers. Test equipment suppliers including Comprion, Dekra, and Ellisys are running validation benches for Bluetooth sniffing and updated NFC test suites alongside software provider GosuncnWelink.

    “As digital key adoption grows, a common global standard is essential to ensuring interoperability across vehicles and devices,” said Alysia Johnson, President of the Car Connectivity Consortium.

    Testing China-Specific Architecture

    Participating laboratories are using authorized IDL hardware and Comprion validation software to check device compatibility against published automotive test cases before production rollouts. These trials will establish the technical criteria for the next round of device-to-car certifications across Asian component supply chains.

    Engineering teams conclude the Ningbo trials on September 10, 2026, with the validated test cases feeding into updated consortium validation tools as China’s passenger car digital key penetration passes 60 per cent before year-end.

  • Xiaomi Launches 18 Fold Smartphone at 10,999 Yuan with Custom Silicon

    Xiaomi Launches 18 Fold Smartphone at 10,999 Yuan with Custom Silicon

    Xiaomi launched its flagship 18 Fold smartphone in Beijing on Monday, pricing the device from 10,999 yuan (US$1,639) to compete directly with high-end foldables from Huawei and Apple.

    The phone carries Xiaomi’s proprietary Xring O3 processor and LPDDR6 memory from ChangXin Memory Technologies, with sales opening on Thursday at 10am across mainland retail channels.

    Founder and chief executive Lei Jun detailed the hardware specifications at the Beijing presentation. The device includes a 7.58-inch inner display, a reinforced hinge mechanism, an aluminium chassis, and strengthened cover glass. The 24-billion-transistor Xring O3 artificial intelligence processor raises central processor performance by 60 per cent over the prior Xring O1 generation while cutting energy consumption on select workloads by 25 per cent. Lei said Xiaomi has earmarked 50 billion yuan specifically for custom chip development, part of a wider 200 billion yuan research and development budget planned over the next five years.

    Silicon Independence and Electric Vehicle Pricing

    Alongside the phone, Xiaomi rolled out its Pad 9 Pro Max tablet starting at 4,799 yuan, also powered by the Xring O3, and priced its extended-range Skynomad sport utility vehicles. The five-seat N70 Pro SUV starts at 209,900 yuan, while the seven-seat N90 Max begins at 269,900 yuan. Both undercut Tesla’s Model Y L, which retails from 339,000 yuan in China. The extended-range powertrain uses an auxiliary petrol engine to charge the battery pack, delivering a driving range exceeding 1,000 kilometres on a single cycle.

    For consumer tech retailers and premium device vendors across Asia, Xiaomi’s dual offensive in mobile silicon and electric mobility tightens pricing pressure across two categories simultaneously. By pairing domestic memory from CXMT with proprietary processors, the company shields its bill of materials against international component shortages that are squeezing entry-level hardware margins. The aggressive SUV pricing also demonstrates that Xiaomi is treating hardware margins as secondary to ecosystem lock-in, forcing traditional carmakers and handset specialists to defend their retail territory on compressed margins.

    Premium Tier Resists Smartphone Downturn

    The product blitz lands during an intense competitive window in China. Huawei unveiled its Mate XT 2 trifold handset on Monday starting at 19,999 yuan, using its Kirin 9050 Pro processor. Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, confirmed that Huawei has sold more than 1 million trifold devices worldwide. Meanwhile, Apple is scheduled to present its product line-up on Wednesday in California, where analysts anticipate the launch of a foldable model priced above US$2,000.

    This surge in premium launches contrasts sharply with the broader consumer hardware environment. Counterpoint expects global smartphone shipments to contract 12.4 per cent this year, hit by surging memory costs and lengthening replacement cycles among budget consumers. Premium foldables remain an exception. Counterpoint projects cumulative worldwide foldable shipments will cross 100 million units by year-end, with annual category shipments set to expand 37 per cent in 2027.

    Xiaomi built up to this release after spending 105.5 billion yuan on research and development over the past five years and first previewing the Skynomad vehicle architecture in late July. The group had previously rolled out the first-generation Xring O1 chip last year to test its custom silicon pipeline in select devices.

    Market attention now shifts to Thursday morning retail sell-through figures for the 18 Fold, followed by initial delivery volumes for the Skynomad SUV series ahead of fourth-quarter earnings.

  • HarmonyOS Hits 24 per Cent Share in China as Global Smartphone Sales Fall

    HarmonyOS Hits 24 per Cent Share in China as Global Smartphone Sales Fall

    Huawei’s HarmonyOS captured 24 per cent of China’s smartphone sales in the second quarter of 2026, squeezing Android down to 58 per cent. The domestic operating system expanded its footprint as overall worldwide smartphone shipments dropped 11 per cent year on year.

    Global handset demand contracted faster than the 4 per cent drop recorded in the first quarter, with the sharpest drops hitting budget and mid-tier devices across developing markets. Android felt the brunt of that pullback. Its worldwide sales share dropped four percentage points to 75 per cent, even with stronger sales from Samsung’s Galaxy S26 lineup.

    Shifts in Component Sourcing and Pricing

    Huawei insulated its handset business from rising component prices by sourcing more parts from domestic suppliers in mainland China. High demand for the Enjoy 90 Pro Max alongside steady sales of legacy models helped HarmonyOS reach a 5 per cent global volume share.

    Chinese Android manufacturers took a different path. Pinched by memory chip shortages and higher bill-of-materials expenses, brands scaled down their low-cost phone lineups to focus on higher-margin premium devices. That pivot opened room for Apple at the top end of the market.

    Apple Takes Record June Quarter Share

    Apple captured 20 per cent of worldwide sales during the three months ending June, its highest second-quarter share on record. Deliveries were anchored by the iPhone 17 family and the entry of the iPhone 17e, supported by trade-in programs and retail installment plans.

    In India, Android maintained a dominant 91 per cent volume share, leaving iOS with 9 per cent. In the United States, Apple took 51 per cent of sales against Android’s 49 per cent.

    For retailers and hardware distributors across Asia, the product mix is shifting upmarket as low-end volumes shrink. Brands are preparing their product allocations for the fourth-quarter holiday cycle, where component pricing will dictate whether entry-tier production rebounds or stays constrained.

  • Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple Chief Executive and Hands Reins to John Ternus

    Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple Chief Executive and Hands Reins to John Ternus

    Tim Cook will step down as Apple chief executive to become executive chairman, handing control of the 4.5 trillion dollar company to hardware chief John Ternus.

    The transition ends a 15-year tenure that increased Apple’s annual sales from 108 billion dollars to 416 billion dollars, with net profit surging fourfold to 112 billion dollars.

    Cook will guide Apple’s government relations and trade strategy between Washington and Beijing starting September 1. A regulatory filing shows Ternus receives a base salary of 3 million dollars and an annual equity target of 55 million dollars beginning in 2027. Cook will draw an annual salary of 2 million dollars effective September 26, alongside a 45 million dollar target award in restricted stock units.

    The Asian Manufacturing Pivot

    Ternus inherits a hardware empire undergoing its biggest geographic realignment since the launch of the original iPhone. Apple is shifting assembly lines outward from mainland China to insulate its retail pricing from tariffs and geopolitical disputes. The company plans to manufacture the majority of US-bound iPhones in India by the end of 2026, while routing AirPods and iPad assembly through Vietnam.

    Cook built Apple’s initial dominance on Chinese factory scale, but the post-pandemic supply map demands distributed capacity. For electronics retailers and component suppliers across Asia, the succession confirms that Apple’s diversification away from single-country manufacturing will continue under a hardware-focused chief executive.

    Hardware Strategy and Artificial Intelligence

    Beyond factory logistics, Ternus faces immediate product hurdles across consumer markets. Wearables generated 35 billion dollars in fiscal 2025 sales from devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods, yet the 3,499 dollar Vision Pro headset struggled to capture high volumes. Apple also scrapped its decade-long electric vehicle program in 2024 and continues working to catch rivals in artificial intelligence features and voice assistance.

    The new leadership team must now execute the late-2026 India iPhone production target without eroding gross margins across the 2.5 billion active device base.

  • John Ternus to Take over as Apple CEO as Tim Cook Becomes Executive Chairman

    John Ternus to Take over as Apple CEO as Tim Cook Becomes Executive Chairman

    Apple chief executive Tim Cook will step down after 15 years, handing leadership of the US$4.5 trillion tech company to hardware head John Ternus.

    Cook expanded Apple from a US$350 billion business into the world’s most valuable hardware maker before preparing to shift into the executive chairman role in September.

    Hardware leadership and AI priorities

    Ternus takes charge as Apple faces growing pressure across artificial intelligence development and device assembly. Having run Apple’s hardware engineering division, he oversaw major product portfolios across iPhone, Mac, and iPad product cycles.

    Cook built Apple’s post-2011 growth on rigorous manufacturing coordination and deep consumer distribution networks. His operational playbook turned the brand into a retail powerhouse across China, Japan, and newer retail growth corridors such as India and Southeast Asia.

    Production footprint and next steps

    For electronics supply chains in Asia, the executive change lands as hardware brands reshape procurement and expand production footprints beyond mainland China into India and Vietnam. Regional competitors are simultaneously pushing rapid consumer AI deployments to test Apple’s premium smartphone sales.

    Ternus takes the top post this September as Cook moves into the board chairmanship.