Taiwan-based networking solutions provider Zinwell Corp reported a dramatic revenue rebound, with September 2025 sales soaring 216.6% year-over-year and accelerating to 319.8% in October. The company credited the surge to successful product validations and a shift toward mass production for major international clients.
Apple's iPhone 17 series has achieved strong sales following its September 10 launch, with the standard iPhone 17 maintaining its price despite upgraded specifications. This contributed to sales initially surpassing expectations and sustaining momentum through October, leading the iPhone 17 to capture over 20% of the market share in China during that month.
The global telecommunications equipment market is entering a period of profound change. As the technological roadmap for 6G increasingly points toward non-terrestrial networks, or NTN, the future of base stations may no longer be grounded on Earth. Instead, they could be deployed in space, mounted directly on satellites.
Apple is poised to surpass Samsung Electronics in global smartphone shipments in 2025, marking its first return to the top spot in 14 years. Meanwhile, Samsung's smartphone business, once a key revenue pillar during downturns in its semiconductor division, is reportedly showing signs of strain amid rising costs and intensifying competition.
According to Yonhap News and The Korea Herald, Samsung Electronics has posted a full specification sheet for its mobile application processor (AP), the Exynos 2600, on its official website. The Exynos 2600 was designed by Samsung Semiconductor's Device Solutions (DS) division under the System LSI business unit and manufactured using the company's most advanced 2nm process based on Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology. With the specifications now public, the industry's first 2nm mobile AP is expected to attract increased attention from the tech sector.
As memory shortages and price increases extend through 2026, smartphone companies are considering downgrading memory capacities in their devices. Despite this, Jacob Chen, president of Samsung Taiwan's Mobile Communications Division, stated that Samsung's vertically integrated structure across the supply chain allows the company to benefit from memory shortages, supporting stronger smartphone sales. He expects Taiwan's smartphone sales volume in 2026 to continue growing and confirmed that Samsung currently has no plans to reduce memory capacities in its devices.
Research institutions predict that global smartphone shipments could decline by 1–2% in 2026 due to memory shortages, with mid- and low-range devices expected to be most affected. Based on the Bill of Materials (BOM), the proportion of memory in total component costs varies by device tier. High-end smartphones allocate roughly 15% of component costs to memory, while mid- and low-range devices account for approximately 25–35%.
China's 3C market has been reporting successive price hikes despite a sluggish macroeconomic environment and deflationary pressure. Xiaomi, followed by Honor, Lenovo, and Dell, have increased prices, demonstrating the impact of memory shortages on the 3C end market.
The smartphone market is expected to contract in 2026 as rising costs for memory and advanced process wafers drive manufacturers to reconsider pricing and specifications, according to research firm Counterpoint Research. The firm forecasts a 2.1% decline in smartphone shipments next year, with entry-level models anticipated to experience the sharpest drop due to heightened consumer sensitivity to price increases.
Apple is widely expected to mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone in 2027 with a redesigned model, and South Korea's two dominant display makers—LG Display (LGD) and Samsung Display (SDC)—are already positioning themselves for the project. But industry watchers in South Korea say the two companies are doing so with noticeably different levels of commitment.
Samsung Electronics' newly launched tri-fold smartphone, the Galaxy Z Tri Fold, has generated robust initial demand despite concerns over its steep repair fees. The device sold out within five minutes of going on sale on Samsung's official website and is currently available only through restock notifications.
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