These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories in the week of March 18 – March 22.
Google set to revolutionize smartphones with satcom integration
Tech giant Google is poised to lead the charge in integrating satellite communication capabilities into its Pixel lineup. In a move set to redefine the landscape of smartphone connectivity, Google follows in the footsteps of industry heavyweights Apple and Huawei, who introduced satellite features to their flagship models in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Google's strategic pivot signals a watershed moment for the industry.
Intel CFO admits IC design firms not placing big foundry orders for 18A
Intel CFO David Zinsner recently told investment bank analysts that Intel is still one of the big customers of TSMC and will continue to outsource chip production to TSMC in a conference hosted by Morgan Stanley. In the Intel Foundry Direct Connect Conference in late February, Intel's senior executives repeatedly said the "5 nodes in 4 years" goals have been met, and 18A will start mass production in the second half of 2024.
Samsung rumored planning to buy Continental AG automotive electronics business
Samsung Electronics is reportedly considering acquiring some part of the automotive electronics business of Continental AG. It has been 7 years since Samsung made an acquisition, and the market is keeping a close eye on the latest developments. South Korea media Money Today cited industry sources saying that Samsung is discussing an acquisition of the ADAS and automotive display business from Continental AG. However, Samsung declined to comment on rumors or speculation.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 leaked benchmark scores reportedly outperform Apple's next chip
Just as Qualcomm is poised to unveil an updated Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, leaked benchmark scores for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, a 3nm flagship SoC slated for the second half of 2024, have emerged, surpassing even Apple's forthcoming SoC. This signals a rare instance of Android's mobile SoC outperforming Apple's. While the final specifications of both SoCs remain unconfirmed, it's clear that Qualcomm's CPU architecture demonstrates promising performance under the same manufacturing process technology.
Samsung's AI accelerator reportedly cost one-tenth the price of Nvidia GPU
Samsung Electronics recently announced the launch of its self-developed Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerator, MACH-1. It's reported that Naver has become its customer, with plans to procure approximately 200,000 units by the end of 2024. Building on this, Samsung aims to further target tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, etc., to meet their demand to "reduce reliance on Nvidia." According to reports from the Korea Economic Daily, Samsung's System LSI division will supply MACH-1 to Naver by the end of the year, currently in negotiations regarding pricing and supply volume.
Samsung ranks top Global Innovator while Huawei gets 7th spot
Samsung Electronics is again recognized by Clarivate in its Top Global Innovators 2024 ranking as the world's most innovative company. Despite the US sanctions, Huawei managed to make it to the 7th place. The result somewhat echoes the top patent filer report released by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). Huawei Technologies remained the top filer with 6,494 published PCT applications in 2023. Samsung Electronics of South Korea came in second (3,924 applications).
KLA to exit FPD business by 2024
KLA decided to exit the Flat Panel Display business (FPD) by the end of 2024 and will continue to provide services to the installed base. According to the released files in its 8-K document, KLA's decision stems from various factors, including the termination of its major customer's significant new technology project, leading KLA to investigate alternatives for its FPD business. KLA said exiting the FPD business will not affect its revenue expectation for the quarter.
