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Mar 12, 12:14
Apple locks in book-style foldable iPhone, targets fall 2026 launch with 20% production boost
Apple has reportedly finalized the design of its first foldable iPhone, tentatively called the iPhone Fold, choosing a book-style form factor and targeting a fall 2026 launch. As market expectations grow, the company is said to have increased its initial production target by about 20%, a move expected to benefit its primary manufacturing partner, Foxconn.
IC distributor WT Microelectronics reported consolidated preliminary revenue of NT$104.4 billion (US$3.28 billion) for February 2026, up about 29% year over year. For the first two months of 2026, cumulative consolidated revenue reached approximately NT$300.2 billion, marking an 89.1% increase year over year.

Apple significantly expanded iPhone production in India in 2025, increasing output by about 53% as the company seeks to reduce its dependence on China and mitigate tariff risks. Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, said Apple assembled about 55 million iPhones in India last year, up from 36 million in 2024. Apple produces about 220 million to 230 million iPhones annually worldwide, with India now accounting for roughly a quarter of total output.

Vivo unveiled its V70 series in Taiwan on the March 10, aiming to drive continued growth in its 2026 local operations by bringing flagship features to a broader audience. Although Taiwan's smartphone market is expected to slow in 2025 due to high penetration rates and the price of components continues to rise, Vivo Taiwan President Yi-ting Chen said the company plans to boost revenue by 30% and increase shipment volume by 20% through targeted product segmentation and innovative marketing strategies.
Samsung has opened preorders in Taiwan for the Galaxy S26 series, its latest flagship smartphone lineup. The launch comes amid cautious industry sentiment surrounding smartphone demand.
Industrial communication and networking equipment provider Moxa has identified the Middle East as a key fast-growing market over the next three to five years, highlighting the region at its Lunar New Year media event. General Manager Eddy Lin emphasized that geopolitical conflicts remain a concern, but ongoing semiconductor capacity expansion, supply chain diversification, edge AI upgrades, data center buildout, and critical system monitoring will drive double-digit growth for Moxa in 2025.
AI-generated video technology is rapidly disrupting the film and television industry. The recent AI-generated Chinese short drama Huo Qubing has gone viral on social media, sparking discussions with its near-realistic visuals and extremely low production costs.

The global smartphone market is shifting from volume expansion to value-driven competition. Although rising costs have slowed shipment growth, optical specifications remain the main arena where flagship models differentiate themselves.

Bipartisan US lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration to extend Huawei sanctions to its US research subsidiary, Futurewei Technologies, warning that the entity may allow the Chinese telecom group to maintain research activities in the US despite existing restrictions.

Asia's largest professional smart city exhibition, the 2026 Smart City Summit & Expo, is set to open on March 17, with Taiwan's three major telecom operators highlighting AI-driven solutions, network resilience, and sustainability as central themes of their exhibits.
The launch of the US$599 MacBook Neo has sparked a global debate over how Apple managed to hit such a breakthrough price point without abandoning its premium identity. While industry analysts initially expected a return to the plastic "MacBook" shells of the 2000s, Apple has instead doubled down on its signature metal. The company is deploying a secretive new manufacturing process that experts believe could soon redefine the production of the iPhone and Apple Watch.
MWC 2026 placed comprehensive AI integration front and center. The show covered everything from smartphones and wearables to telecom networks and cloud infrastructure. Industry observers noted that AI is reshaping the entire sector's development trajectory.