CONNECT WITH US
Mar 13, 09:44
Apple prepares for its 50th anniversary with global celebrations as speculation grows over new products
Apple said it will celebrate its 50th anniversary in the coming weeks with events recognizing its history and global user community, while media reports suggest the milestone could also bring new marketing campaigns, software updates, and possibly new devices.
The Taiwanese smartphone market is set to welcome a new contender as Honor plans to open stores and begin selling phones and mobile accessories in 2026. After its flagship model, the Honor Magic8 Pro, received National Communications Commission (NCC) certification, it is expected to hit shelves in Taiwan as early as the second quarter of 2026.
With the ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East creating global uncertainties, Qisda chairman Peter Chen warned that prolonged warfare could trigger inflation and disrupt consumer electronics sales. He pointed out that rising memory prices would particularly impact demand for mid-tier to low-end smartphones more than high-end models.
Apple's first foldable iPhone could introduce iPad-style layouts and side-by-side apps to iOS, according to a Bloomberg report, marking a shift toward larger-screen multitasking as the company prepares its long-rumored entry into the foldable smartphone market.
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.