Ahead of Samsung Electronics' October 22, 2025, unveiling of its first extended reality (XR) headset, Apple preemptively launched an upgraded version of its mixed reality (MR) device, the Vision Pro, powered by the new M5 chip. The refreshed model maintains its predecessor's price, signaling a renewed showdown in the head-mounted display arena.
Apple's iPhone Air, the first smartphone in China without a physical SIM slot, ushers in the country's long-awaited eSIM era. But despite the milestone, eSIM adoption in China remains stuck in a testing phase. Regulatory limits, cumbersome activation steps, cross-province restrictions, and complicated device transfers continue to frustrate users, highlighting the gap between technological readiness and policy execution.
Vivo has launched its X300 flagship series and the upgraded OriginOS 6 operating system, marking a milestone in research and innovation as the company enters its 30th anniversary in 2025. As the global smartphone market matures and demand growth slows, Vivo is reshaping its strategy—placing greater emphasis on ecosystem integration and AI development rather than hardware alone.
On October 16, 2025, Huawei launched several new products in Taiwan, including the WATCH GT 6 Pro, GT 6, and FreeBuds SE 4 ANC. Yong Hai, general manager of Xunwei Technology, Huawei's exclusive distributor in Taiwan, said that Huawei has continued to strengthen its investment in technological innovation and product research and development, achieving significant results in its all-scenario smart life strategy, which covers five major areas of daily living. Huawei plans to further expand its presence in Taiwan's smart wearable market.
Faced with underwhelming demand for ultra-thin smartphones such as the Galaxy S25 Edge and Apple's iPhone Air, Samsung Electronics has reportedly canceled the development of its planned Galaxy S26 Edge, originally scheduled for a 2026 launch. The move underscores the company's shifting strategy amid growing concerns over the commercial viability of slimmed-down smartphone designs.
The global push toward 6G and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) is reshaping the future of communications. As low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology matures and costs decline, a new era of high-resilience global connectivity is emerging—one that Taiwan is moving quickly to embrace.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) announced that Taiwan's government-driven push for 5G private networks and dedicated spectrum has benefited more than 100 enterprises as of September 2025. By significantly reducing frequency usage fees to incentivize site owners, the initiative supports innovative applications despite skepticism about the 4.8-4.9GHz band and the development of 5G O-RAN technology.
Airoha Technology has continued to secure new collaboration opportunities in the international telecom market in 2025, with some of its previously developed markets now entering mass production and shipment phases, driving steady growth in its overall revenue. The company has also integrated MediaTek's Wi-Fi chips into its solutions.
Following Vivo's launch of its X300 flagship earlier this year, Oppo introduced its Find X9 series on October 16, 2025, aiming to strengthen computing power, energy efficiency, and imaging performance. Notably, Oppo increased the telephoto camera resolution to 200 million pixels (200MP) and partnered with Sweden-based Hasselblad to develop the first-ever teleconverter lens designed for smartphones.
The Taiwan Innotech Expo (TIE) opened on October 16, spotlighting over 1,000 innovative technologies with a strong focus on AI. The event continues the theme of major 2025 exhibitions by emphasizing Taiwan's critical role in the global technology value chain.
Vivo unveiled its new flagship X300 series of smartphones this week, followed by the introduction of its new OriginOS 6 operating system, which adopts a two-pronged artificial intelligence strategy to serve both global and domestic Chinese markets.
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