These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from January 20 – January 31.
Samsung on high alert as CXMT reportedly adopts 1z process for DDR5 mass production
CXMT has adopted the advanced 1z process for its 10nm-class DDR5 DRAM production, drawing close scrutiny from Samsung Electronics (Samsung). While CXMT's DDR5 performance still trails behind Samsung and SK Hynix, its ability to mass-produce next-generation memory has exceeded industry expectations. This intensified competition in the memory market has impacted Samsung's financial results, with its semiconductor division's profits declining slightly. To maintain its technological edge, Samsung is enhancing its DRAM technology, refining the 1a and 1c nodes to improve yield and performance.
EMS Watch: Chinese firms surpass Taiwanese rivals in top EMS/ODM rankings
The global EMS/ODM industry is becoming increasingly vital due to supply chain shifts, but 2024 revenues varied due to differing trends in AI and smartphones. A DIGITIMES study highlights the dominance of Taiwanese and Chinese firms, which make up two-thirds of the top 100 companies. Chinese firms surpassed Taiwanese in the top 20 rankings for the first time, driven by Longcheer's IPO and Qisda's shift away from volume production. AI server demand fueled revenue growth for Foxconn, Quanta, Wistron, Inventec, and Wiwynn, while late entrants like Pegatron and Compal saw declines. Chinese firms like BYD Electronics and Luxshare Precision expanded their presence in Apple and smartphone supply chains, while Jabil exited China's smartphone market, leading to revenue drops. Overall, the top 20 EMS/ODM firms reported US$585.8 billion in revenue, up 6.5% from 2023, signaling a rebound and highlighting the need for strategic client alignment amid market shifts.
China's humanoid robot stuns Nvidia and SenseTime with human-like walk
Shenzhen-based startup Engine AI recently showcased its SE01 humanoid robot, featuring an impressively lifelike walking gait. The demo video sparked online debate and was praised by Nvidia scientist Jim Fan, who confirmed its authenticity and highlighted its advanced reinforcement learning techniques. With over 100 new humanoid robots launched in China in 2024, Engine AI aims to stand out by improving AI-driven movement and intelligent autonomy, pushing toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Nvidia's strategic shift towards robotics takes shape
At CES 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared that robotics is experiencing its "ChatGPT moment," emphasizing Nvidia's push to build a complete robotics ecosystem. Key to this is Cosmos, Nvidia's generative world model platform, designed to overcome industry challenges like data shortages. SemiAnalysis analyst Dylan Patel predicted that Nvidia will eventually become a robotics company, not just a semiconductor giant. Instead of directly manufacturing robots, Nvidia is focusing on AI, simulation, and whole-body control technologies. By integrating training, simulation, and deployment, Nvidia aims to accelerate robotic advancements from 50 years to just 5. As 2025 marks the start of humanoid robot mass production, Nvidia's AI-driven approach positions it as a key enabler of the next robotics revolution.
Rise of China's memory chip industry challenges the market
China's memory chip industry is expanding rapidly, challenging Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron in the DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market. Omdia data shows that Chinese companies hold over 58.5% of the global smartphone market share. Local device and electronics manufacturers may prioritize DRAM produced by domestic companies.
Taiwan IC foundries face changing business climate in China
The Biden administration's restrictions on 16/14nm technology in China are expected to significantly impact TSMC's Fab 16 in Nanjing, posing major challenges for Taiwan's semiconductor presence in China. The era of Taiwan's technological dominance complementing China's market strength in a symbiotic partnership appears to have ended.
CG Power receives government subsidy to build OSAT facility in India
CG Power and Industrial Solutions has signed a fiscal support agreement with the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to strengthen India's semiconductor ecosystem. This landmark agreement positions India as a key player in global semiconductor manufacturing, advancing self-reliance and innovation in the sector.