Samsung Electronics' in-house Exynos application processors (APs) are steadily regaining lost ground in the global smartphone market. Samsung's share of the global smartphone AP market rose to 9% in the second quarter of 2026, up 2 percentage points from the previous quarter and 3 percentage points from a year earlier, marking a second straight quarterly increase.
Apple's first foldable phone is drawing worldwide attention because its design choices could shape how future bendable devices are built and priced. But suppliers say one of the industry's oldest durability issues remains unresolved: whether the protective film over the inner display can lift over time, especially at the center crease.
Suppliers in China's AR glasses supply chain see the approximately 2 billion people worldwide with myopia as a potential market and said shipments are set to double year after year, even as the industry continues to sift winners from losers. At this year's China International Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE), smart glasses remained a standout theme alongside optical communications.
Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is drawing close attention as analysts forecast shipments of 5 million to 6 million units by year-end. The device could make Apple the world's second-largest foldable phone supplier, behind Samsung Electronics, and shape how global consumers and rivals view future foldable screens.
Samsung Display is deepening its technology partnership with Vivo's iQOO brand, with the two companies jointly developing display technology and establishing a dedicated production line for the upcoming iQOO 16 as Chinese smartphone makers step up investment in premium hardware.
In 2026, major smartphone system-on-chip (SoC) vendors began moving selected flagship processors to 2nm technology, seeking not only to secure sufficient capacity but also to deliver meaningful upgrades in technical specifications.
Competition in the foldable smartphone market is intensifying as Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple roll out or prepare next-generation foldable phones, each taking a different design path. The three brands are battling over screen size, body thickness, battery life, chips, and AI features.
Apple's latest iPhone launch could reshape premium phone demand, but the bigger question is whether the company can answer growing AI competition. While the new foldable iPhone drew the most attention, investors and channel players are watching pricing, repair costs, and Apple's dependence on Google-backed AI more closely.
MediaTek reported August 2026 revenue of NT$64.183 billion (approx. US$2.03 billion), up 32.41% from July and 44.08% year-over-year. Industry sources said the chipmaker's August performance came in well above expectations and puts its third-quarter revenue guidance within reach, with a chance to beat it.
Apple's foldable iPhone Duo could reshape the global smartphone market, pushing Android brands to move faster on foldable handsets and camera innovation. Suppliers said the launch may revive competition in a niche still dominated by Android, while underscoring the technical limits, pricing pressure, and profit opportunities facing module makers worldwide.
Apple CEO John Ternus used his first major event as chief executive to signal where the company is headed after officially succeeding Tim Cook in September 2026. Speaking at the annual showcase, he framed the iPhone as the personal computing hub for the AI era and suggested Apple is not rushing to replace it.
For years, smartphone processors have competed through a familiar formula: faster CPUs, stronger graphics, and increasingly smaller process nodes. Apple's newly unveiled A20 Pro suggests that formula is beginning to change.
