Samsung, on December 3, confirmed its next-generation Exynos 2600 mobile processor in an official teaser video, signaling a renewed commitment to in-house silicon for the upcoming Galaxy S26 smartphone lineup despite lingering consumer frustration over performance disparities in international markets.

Despite Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and many industry veterans arguing that former TSMC senior vice president Wei-Jen Lo joining Intel will not materially affect TSMC — given the sheer complexity of modern semiconductor manufacturing and the impossibility of any single "hero" reshaping the field — the market is now weighing a more strategic angle behind Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan's unusually strong public endorsement of Lo.

Driven by strong AI demand, TSMC continues to expand its advanced process capacity. To meet long-term needs from customers like Nvidia, TSMC is not only ramping up 3nm production at its Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) wafer fabs but also planning three new 2nm fabs in the same area. This capital expenditure increase over the next three years will boost the entire supply chain, including factory engineering, equipment, and materials suppliers.

Amid surging demand from artificial intelligence (AI) servers and high-end personal computers, prices of DRAM and LPDDR5 memory have soared, placing heavy cost pressures on budget smartphone makers worldwide. South Korean industry insiders warn that the "low-price strategy" that once fueled rapid expansion in the smartphone market may be losing its effectiveness.

Chinese smartphone manufacturers are leading the race to increase battery capacity. Recent reports indicate that several Chinese smartphone makers are aiming to launch devices with ultra-large 10,000 milliampere-hour (mAh) batteries, which is roughly double the capacity found in flagship models from Samsung Electronics and Apple.

Samsung Electronics has reportedly launched mass production of its latest mobile application processor, the Exynos 2600, sparking increased activity across South Korea's semiconductor ecosystem. Local test and assembly firms, including Doosan Tesna and Hana Micron, have begun increasing utilization rates in response to the new production phase.

Chinese panel maker Visionox's 8.6-generation OLED production line is reportedly set to bring in several types of South Korean equipment, including machinery related to flexible OLED panels used in smartphones and other mobile devices. According to ET News, citing data from the China Government Procurement Network, South Korean equipment companies AP Systems, ICD, and Synus Tech have all been selected for Visionox's 8.6-generation equipment procurement tender list.

During Genius Electric Optical's (GSEO's) online investor conference on November 19, 2025, chairman Jones Chen reported that demand in the smart glasses market is strong. He stated that development of variable-aperture smartphone lenses is progressing smoothly, and the company is aiming for customer certification in 2026. Driven by smartphone lenses, AR, and VR, Chen hopes 2026 revenue and profit will outperform 2025.

Samsung Electronics planned a US$1.9 billion investment to upgrade its wafer foundry in Austin, Texas, aiming to produce Apple's next-generation CIS chips starting late 2026. The Austin City Council will vote on extending Samsung's eligibility for local tax incentives by November 20, 2025.

China's BOE has reportedly lost its planned OLED panel supply for Apple's iPhone 17 due to unresolved quality issues. Samsung Display will take over the supply, increasing shipments to 90 million units, while BOE's contribution is expected to fall below 40 million, highlighting ongoing challenges in the Chinese panel maker's entry into high-end smartphone displays.

Taiwanese PCB makers Zhen Ding Technology (ZDT) and Compeq Manufacturing posted solid third-quarter 2025 results, lifted by stronger-than-expected sales from Apple's iPhone 17 lineup and steady consumer electronics demand.

Samsung Electronics is reportedly confirmed to officially launch its new flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S26, in February 2026. Although earlier reports suggested a possible delay to March 2026 due to product line adjustments, the company is said to have coordinated across its divisions to shorten the timeline and proceed with the launch as scheduled.

At the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, the China Internet Development Report 2025 showed that as of the first half of 2025, China accounted for about 40.3% of global 6G patent applications, ranking first in the world. In the field of AI patents, China also leads globally with a 60% share.

The surge in AI computing has led to a significant price increase in DRAM and NAND Flash, with major manufacturers raising prices by up to 30% in late 2025, putting cost pressure on Chinese smartphone brands and retailers.

Every year's new flagship phones bring questions regarding pricing. This year, Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is expected to see a price increase from its predecessor. As the memory market heats up and core component prices increase, smartphone makers are facing cost pressures.

Since early 2025, global memory and storage chip prices have surged past industry expectations. Analysts say booming demand for AI infrastructure and high-performance servers is driving the rally, pushing costs quickly down the supply chain. Smartphone and PC makers are already under mounting cost pressure, a trend likely to extend into 2026.

Apple's iPhone 17 series has surpassed sales expectations, with South Korean manufacturers dominating the supply of its crucial OLED panels. Meanwhile, China's largest panel maker, BOE Technology Group, has struggled with quality issues, disrupting its deliveries and likely forcing further cuts to its originally planned supply.

Silicon Motion Technology's president and CEO, Wallace Kou, has highlighted a severe and ongoing memory shortage, driven by structural changes in the memory industry caused by artificial intelligence (AI) growth. Speaking at a charity event co-hosted with the Chung Yi Social Welfare Foundation, Kou said this shortage surpasses even the semiconductor scarcity seen during the pandemic and is expected to continue through the end of 2026.

Asia Optical announced its third-quarter 2025 financial results, reporting consolidated revenue of NT$7.15 billion (US$232.35 million), up 4% from the previous quarter and 5% year-over-year. Gross profit rose 14% quarter-over-quarter and 7% year-over-year to NT$1.57 billion, driven by sustained revenue growth that boosted gross margin. Operating income hit a new high for the period at NT$878 million, increasing 30% from the previous quarter and 16% year-over-year. Net profit attributable to the owners of the company reached NT$520 million.

US radio frequency and power amplifier manufacturer Skyworks Solutions announced it will merge with Qorvo. The combined company is estimated to be valued at US$22 billion, with plans to integrate both companies' radio frequency front-end (RFFE) product lines, strengthening technological advantages in smartphones and wireless communications.

Samsung Electronics currently leads the foldable phone market and holds the largest share of foldable phone sales in the US, alongside Motorola and Google. However, Apple is expected to enter the competition by the end of 2026. With foldable hardware design, component durability, and supply chain maturity improving, Apple is expected to challenge Samsung in the US market and potentially compete with Huawei for the top shipment position in China.

Samsung Electronics will reportedly equip its next-generation Galaxy flagship series with its own flagship mobile SoC platform, the Exynos 2600, resuming a shared chip supply with Qualcomm. This shift is largely due to Samsung's latest 2nm GAA process, which has finally demonstrated acceptable manufacturing results.

Samsung Electronics will begin mass production of its next-generation mobile application processor (AP), the Exynos 2600, in November 2025, according to several South Korean media outlets. Reports indicate the Exynos 2600 is highly likely to be used in the upcoming Galaxy S26 series smartphones. Notably, the neural processing unit (NPU) performance of the Exynos 2600 is reportedly more than six times faster than Apple's A19 Pro.