Shipments of mobile application processors for smartphones and tablets in China are expected to grow 11.6% sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2016, thanks mainly to seasonal factors and inventory build-ups for the first quarter of 2017, according to Digitimes Research.
MediaTek will see its mobile AP shipments in China increase only 4.3% sequentially in the fourth quarter, due mainly to a lack of solutions to support LTE Cat. 7 technology, said Digitimes Research. Demand for its P20 series targeted at mid-range devices has also been weaker than expected.
Qualcomm is expected to see its mobile AP shipments in China hike 19% sequentially in the fourth quarter, buoyed by shipments of products that have already been verified for being able to support LTE Cat. 7 specifications as required by China-based mobile operators, Digitimes Research indicated. Qualcomm has also obtained orders for mid-range and high-end devices from Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi.
Spreadtrum has entered volume production of its 16nm 4G SoC series dubbed SC9860 for the entry-level to mid-range smartphones in the fourth quarter of 2016, Digitimes Research said. The SC98960 supports LTE Cat. 7 technology, but shipments of the chip are still limited and are unlikely to contribute substantially to Spreadtrum's overall mobile AP shipments in China during the fourth quarter. Spreadtrum's shipments are forecast to increase 6.7% sequentially in the fourth quarter, driven mainly by its existing entry-level solutions.
With regard to tablet APs, MediaTek's shipments are forecast to increase 9.1% sequentially in the fourth quarters, Digitimes Research said. In addition to inventory build-ups by clients, new orders placed for devices sold in non-China markets are the other growth driver.
Rockchip Electronics' tablet AP shipments will grow 16.7% sequentially in the fourth quarter, thanks to build-ups by its clients, Digitimes Research said. Meanwhile, Allwinner Technology will see its tablet AP shipments increase 14.3% sequentially in the fourth quarter buoyed by the launch of new 64-bit products.
Intel's tablet AP shipments in China will post a 20% decline in the fourth quarter as it is about to finish clearing out its SoFIA solutions, Digitimes Research said.
This article is an excerpt from a Digitimes Research Special Report (China smartphone AP shipment 4Q forecast). Visit our latest Special reports.