In 2025, at the MWC conference themed "AI everywhere," MediaTek's president and COO Joe Chen emphasized that AI will play a crucial role in consumer electronics, particularly in the saturated smartphone market, forecasting a major transformation in user experience in the coming two years.
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) is a key event for global mobile phone vendors, especially Chinese brands, to unveil new technologies and products. In the competitive AI landscape, major brands are introducing both innovative product forms and advanced AI and imaging applications.
Apple unveiled its latest iPad lineup, introducing two new models: the iPad Air powered by the cutting-edge M3 chip and an updated entry-level iPad (11th generation). Pre-orders opened immediately following the announcement, with devices set to release on March 12, 2025. The refresh highlights Apple's aggressive push into performance, artificial intelligence, and affordability. It also offers insight into the company's supply chain precision and market strategy.
India, the world's most populous country with a population of over 1.4 billion, has enormous growth potential in the network communications market. In the past, India lagged behind others in 3G and 4G development due to a number of factors, such as a market over-crowded with competitors, weak telecommunications infrastructure, and poor policy implementation. However, the arrival of the 5G era has gradually changed the landscape of India's telecommunications market, according to DIGITIMES's latest report covering India's 5G market.
At MWC 2025, Chinese smartphone brand Honor announced its bold shift from a smartphone manufacturer to a global leader in the AI-powered device ecosystem. In a highly anticipated pre-show press conference, Honor not only revealed its ambitious Honor Alpha Plan and introduced the Honor AI Agent but also showcased several cutting-edge products, signaling its full-fledged entry into the AI and smart technology space.
Xiaomi unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, reinforcing its expansion into the premium market dominated by Apple. Priced at EUR1,499 (approx. US$1,568), the device underscores Xiaomi's push into high-end smartphones.
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 commenced on March 3 in Barcelona, drawing significant attention with Huawei emerging as the most prominent exhibitor at the event. The tech giant occupied half of the available exhibition space and made headlines by unveiling the world's first commercial triple-fold smartphone.
Smartphone shipments in the Chinese market reached slightly less than 79 million units in the fourth quarter of 2024, representing a 14.9% increase quarter-over-quarter and a 0.6% growth year-over-year. Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2025, it is estimated that shipment volumes will experience a single-digit decline, according to DIGITIMES' latest report covering the Chinese smartphone market.
The 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) will run from March 3 to 6 in Barcelona, Spain, serving as the world's premier mobile technology exhibition. The event not only showcases next-generation smartphones but also sets the direction for future telecommunications advancements. This year, AI integration in mobile technology is expected to take center stage, driving innovation across the industry.
Honor Device, one of China's biggest smartphone makers, plans to invest US$10 billion over the next five years to become a contender in the artificial intelligence race.
With non-Chinese markets entering their traditional off-season and the Chinese market lacking a nationwide shopping promotion event, overall smartphone shipments by Chinese brands are expected to decrease by 9.7% on quarter in the first quarter of 2025 after enjoying good sequential growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to DIGITIMES' latest report covering China's smartphone industry.
Apple has signed an agreement with Indonesia to invest in the country, paving the way for sales of the iPhone 16 to resume in Southeast Asia's largest nation.
China's foldable smartphone market surged in 2024, with competition reaching new heights. Huawei led the pack, securing 51.29% market share, well ahead of rivals. Its Mate X5 and Pocket 2 accounted for 38.8% of total sales, while Mate X6 also saw strong demand, reinforcing Huawei's dominance. Notably, Mate X5's sales were over five times higher than the second-place model, underscoring its commanding lead in the segment.
Chinese smartphone application processors (APs) shipments are expected to remain stable in the first quarter of 2025 despite the traditional off-season, supported by China's handset subsidy policy. Mid-to-high-end 5G models will likely appeal more to consumers within the subsidy-eligible price range, according to DIGITIMES' latest report covering Chinese smartphone AP market.
Vivo has unveiled its latest V50 series in Taiwan as part of its strategy to expand its footprint in the competitive smartphone market. The launch, held on February 25, 2025, is underpinned by Vivo's ongoing collaboration with optical company Carl Zeiss, known for its precision in lens manufacturing. The new V50 series boasts advanced artificial intelligence and optical capabilities, featuring a 50-megapixel Carl Zeiss lens on both the front and rear cameras, promising enhanced image quality for users. Additionally, Vivo has upgraded the series' battery capacity, fast charging, and screen specifications to meet heightened consumer expectations.
Samsung Electronics has reportedly started mass production of its Exynos 2500 application processor (AP) and will begin wafer testing as soon as March. Testing will be conducted by Nepes Ark and Doosan Tesna.
Dixon Technologies, India's largest electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, has experienced rapid annual growth and is looking to double revenue, demonstrating that "Make in India" is on the rise.
Apple, seeking relief from US President Donald Trump's tariffs on goods imported from China, said that it will hire 20,000 new workers and produce AI servers in the US.
Apple recently unveiled the iPhone 16e, its first budget iPhone model that features an OLED display. Analysts now speculate that Samsung Display (SDC), once less invested in the affordable iPhone market, may expand its supply, while LG Display (LGD) is betting on strong sales of the iPhone 16e to help drive a much-needed recovery for its business.
A recent meeting between Apple CEO Tim Cook and US President Donald Trump led to the president announcing that Cook plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the US and relocate Apple's production lines from Mexico to the US. However, industry experts suggest this move might be a strategic delay tactic by Apple.
Smartphone development has trended toward increasing camera pixel counts while shaving off device weight. Under these design considerations, industry sources have reported that Apple may adopt metalenses in the iPhone 17 Pro Max this year, which will help reduce lens thickness and device weight, improve scanning precision, and possibly even shrink the size of the phone's Dynamic Island.
China's artificial intelligence sector is gaining momentum. Premier Li Qiang has unveiled an ambitious national initiative to accelerate AI adoption in consumer technology, potentially catalyzing a surge in AI-enabled devices.
President Donald Trump told a gathering of governors that Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook plans to shift manufacturing from Mexico to the US, a move that the iPhone maker hasn't publicly discussed.
Apple has discontinued the iPhone SE and launched the iPhone 16e, raising its entry-level model price from US$429 to US$599, a significant hike of US$170. This strategic move presents a key test for Apple's iPhone lineup in a market dominated by mid-range Android devices.
