Apple is facing significant challenges in China, where its smartphone sales have been hit hard. Despite the launch of the iPhone 16 series in October 2024, the brand is under increasing pressure from domestic competitors. While Apple still managed to secure nearly 20% of China's market in October, this is a far cry from its previous dominance. Industry experts forecast that upcoming premium releases, such as Huawei's Mate 70, along with AI-driven devices from Oppo, Xiaomi, and Vivo, will further erode iPhone sales.
China's satellite navigation ambitions are accelerating, with plans for a next-generation BeiDou system taking shape amid growing commercial adoption of the technology. The expansion comes as Chinese tech giants leverage satellite capabilities in their latest devices, exemplified by Huawei's satellite-enabled Mate 60 smartphone and its new Mate X6 foldable flagship, which features innovative three-network satellite connectivity.
Global smartphone shipments have slowed in recent years due to high inflation, market saturation, and extended replacement cycles. However, the surge in generative AI (GenAI) has injected new life into the stagnant market, with global smartphone demand projected to grow 5% year-over-year, reaching nearly 1.2 billion units in 2024.
Recently, Huawei's executive director and chairman of the board of directors of the consumer business group (BG), Richard Yu, announced that the new foldable flagship smartphone, Mate X6, will feature a triple-network satellite version. In addition to supporting two-way satellite messaging and two-way calling, the device will now also incorporate low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet.
HMD Global has strategically designated India as a crucial export hub for Nokia phones in response to the evolving dynamics of the global trade environment. The persistent trade tensions between the US and China have prompted the search for alternative supply chains, with India increasingly becoming a favored manufacturing location for numerous companies, including HMD.
As inventory stockpiling of midrange and entry-level smartphone panels increases, the demand outlook for LCD TDDI chips shows promise, according to industry sources.
Recent reports claim that OpenAI is in discussions with Samsung Electronics (Samsung) regarding a collaboration to integrate ChatGPT into their devices, which could mirror Apple's approach. The actual partnership dynamics, along with Samsung's existing relationship with Google, are drawing significant attention.
In 2024, AI smartphones remain a central focus for major brands and chipmakers, aimed at advancing AI to create all-in-one mobile assistants and revolutionize human-device interaction. Sales during the year's peak season exceeded supply chain projections, signaling sustained consumer interest.
During a recent investor conference in New York, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon emphasized that since 2021, the company has been actively expanding beyond mobile phones. The company's aggressive execution over the past few years has yielded significant results, a strategy that will continue moving forward.
Huawei will launch its flagship Mate 70 smartphone on November 26, powered by its proprietary HarmonyOS Next. The company is mobilizing developers to build 100,000 applications within the next 6 to 12 months, aiming to establish itself as the third major mobile operating system alongside Apple's iOS and Google's Android.
Apple's attempt to delay a report indicating it violated competition laws in India has been denied by the nation's antitrust authority, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), according to Reuters, which cited an internal order from the regulator. The decision permits the proceedings against Apple to advance.
Recent market speculation suggests that AMD has developed an AI processor (APU/NPU) suitable for mobile devices. With its exclusive GPU technology, it is expected to compete in the handset chip business. Despite that, industry insiders have expressed skepticism over this information.
The US trade ban has prevented Huawei from competing with other smartphone vendors in 5G mobile chip performance, but the Chinese tech giant is still staying in the smartphone sector, committing resources to the development of operating systems and chips.
On the afternoon of November 26, Huawei held a celebration for its Mate brand, unveiling the Mate 70 series products along with the Mate 70 RS Ultimate. Additionally, they introduced the foldable device Mate X6 and the first sapphire gold smartwatch, which is also part of the Ultimate series.
Xiaomi is preparing a self-designed mobile processor for its upcoming smartphones in an effort to reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers Qualcomm and MediaTek.
DIGITIMES Research, by synthesizing supply chain information, regional market conditions, and analyzing global political and economic trends, forecasts that global smartphone shipments will reach 1,181.4 million units in 2024, marking a growth of 4.9%. Looking ahead over the next five years, there is an anticipated demand for feature phone users in regions such as India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa to upgrade to smartphones, while the ongoing deployment and expansion of 5G networks in these markets are expected to further drive their smartphone shipments. DIGITIMES Research estimates that the global annual shipment growth rate will range between 3% and 4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%.
Huawei's product launch event took place on the afternoon of November 26, showcasing what it claims to be the "most powerful" Mate in history, along with the fourth iteration of Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance—"Maextro," developed in collaboration with JAC Motors. This announcement comes just before the US is expected to announce an expansion of its restrictions against China, drawing significant attention from the public and industry observers.
Apple CEO Tim Cook joined more than 20 corporate leaders in discussions with China's premier Monday, as global companies grapple with potential trade disruptions and economic uncertainty.
According to the Mint, Business Standard, and the Times of India, Tofler cited Apple India's corporate filing with the Registrar of Companies of India, disclosing that, driven by rising iPhone sales, the company's revenue reached INR671.216 billion (US$7.95 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 2024, a 36% increase compared to the previous year. The company's net profit rose from INR2.229 billion in fiscal 2023 to INR2.745 billion.
At its 2024 Investor Day, Qualcomm unveiled its latest five-year outlook, highlighting growth expectations for automotive and PC sectors as part of its non-mobile market expansion strategy.
Donald Trump's expected return to the White House on January 20, 2025, has intensified speculation over his trade policy plans. Liu, Director of the Regional Development Study Center at The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), emphasized that while tariffs have not yet been applied to foreign-made notebooks and smartphones, Trump's actions remain unpredictable. Known for his strong support of tariffs, calling them "the most beautiful word in the dictionary," Taiwanese supply chains must proceed with caution and develop contingency plans.
Xiaomi will replace its GetApps store with PhonePe's Indus AppStore in India starting January 2025 to improve user experience, addressing concerns about intrusive ads and privacy. The Indus AppStore offers a wider range of apps, supports multiple languages, and has a more developer-friendly model. However, questions remain about its uninstallability and potential to replicate past issues.
The foldable smartphone market is set to expand significantly in 2024, with a projected growth rate of 22%, far surpassing the overall smartphone market's estimated 5.8% growth, according to IDC. This rapid growth underscores the increasing consumer demand for innovative mobile technology.
MediaTek is intensifying its efforts to challenge Qualcomm's dominance in India's premium 5G market. As the company gains traction with Chinese smartphone manufacturers for their high-end models, it is strategically positioning itself to expand its footprint in this competitive space.
