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Jul 9, 10:59
What China's rumored limited reopening to Nvidia's H200 implies for US-China chip contest and Beijing's drive for self-reliance
China's rumored tentative plan to allow a handful of its largest artificial intelligence (AI) companies to purchase a small number of Nvidia H200 chips has implications that extend well beyond a single procurement decision. The plan is possibly, though not only, for the shifting balance between US export leverage and Beijing's push to reduce its dependence on foreign silicon.
Phison Electronics, a NAND controller maker, said first-half consolidated revenue in 2026 surpassed NT$100 billion (US$3.1 billion) for the first time. CEO Khein-Seng Pua said June mobile controller shipments rose 47% from a year earlier even as global smartphone shipments are expected to decline, while PCIe SSD boot drive shipments jumped 5,600% year-over-year and some AI project orders now extend visibility into first half 2027.

CXMT's STAR Market IPO suggests China's largest DRAM maker is prioritizing commodity memory over an aggressive near-term push into high-bandwidth memory (HBM). This eases concerns that Chinese suppliers are about to challenge the dominance of Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron in AI memory.

Rockchip Electronics has forecast strong growth in revenue and profit for the first half of 2026, citing sustained demand for its AIoT chip platforms despite supply chain pressures affecting the broader electronics industry.

Apple's decision to extend its wireless transmission and RF chip supply agreement with Broadcom through 2031 signals that its shift to fully in-house connectivity is a project measured in years, not quarters. For global consumers, the move suggests Apple will likely continue mixing its own chips with those from outside suppliers to maintain performance and reliability.

South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions is preparing for a domestic listing in the first half of 2027, offering a test of whether investor enthusiasm for inference chips can move from private funding rounds into public markets.
GlobalWafers reported a rebound in second-quarter revenue as semiconductor demand improved across advanced and mature nodes, a sign that recovery trends in the global chip market could matter for manufacturers, cloud suppliers, automakers, and industrial users worldwide. The company said strong AI-related demand and high utilization supported the latest results.
Samsung eyes broader Exynos 2700 use in Galaxy S27
Jul 9, 13:44
Samsung Electronics is reportedly set to expand use of its in-house mobile application processor, Exynos 2700, across the Galaxy S27 flagship series slated for 2027. Money Today and KBench, citing industry sources, reported that Samsung plans to equip most Galaxy S27 standard, Plus, and Pro models in most markets with Exynos 2700, while using Qualcomm Snapdragon chips for the US market. The top-end Ultra model, however, is still likely to use Snapdragon across the board.
Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics Group said its first-half earnings will rise sharply, reflecting stronger chip demand and a recovery in the sector that may matter to global electronics and industrial supply chains. The company also cited gains from product upgrades and an investment valuation boost.

The 2026 smartphone market is facing a dark outlook as memory prices rise and shortages tighten supply, weighing on low- and mid-range handsets and hitting power amplifier (PA) shipments. Supply-chain companies said weaker gross margins are prompting brand owners to cut production and delay new model launches, while consumer caution is also dragging on demand.

SK Group chairman Tae-Won Chey is reportedly set to travel to the US for SK Hynix's American depositary receipt (ADR) listing on Nasdaq, where he will personally attend the celebration in New York. The move is being seen as more than a capital market event, as it marks an important moment in SK Hynix's effort to reposition itself from a traditional memory maker into a core company in AI infrastructure.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix may take longer than expected to adopt hybrid bonding in next-generation high-bandwidth memory, as industry sources cited by ZDNetKorea say the near-term case for the technology has weakened even though its long-term relevance remains intact.