Server demand has been strong, but ODMs have seen disruptions to shipments to clients due to components shortages amid the coronavirus pandemic. Curently cables are in serious short supply. In the handset sector, demand remains weak, and 5G smartphone AP vendors are banking on 5G smartphones inject momentum into their businesses. But major mobile AP suppliers, MediaTek and Qualcomm, are lowering prices in their race to win orders from handset vendors. In the foundry sector, TSMC, keen to extend its techological leadership, has already began R&D for its 2nm manufacturing node.
Component shortages disrupting server shipments: Shortages of components caused by the coronavirus pandemic have begun to undermine server makers' shipments to their clients, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.
Qualcomm-MediaTek 5G SoC price competition heating up: 5G AP price competition between Qualcomm and MediaTek is expected to heat up further in the second quarter of 2020 as both chipmakers are gearing up to win more orders from Chinese handset vendors in the upcoming 5G handset replacement boom in China.
TSMC launches 2nm process R&D: TSMC has kicked off its 2nm process R&D, and is progressing in research and exploratory studies for nodes beyond 2nm, the foundry has diclosed in its annual report to shareholders.
