11-26: Samsung Galaxy A8s reportedly will feature Infinity-O panel, which is an LCD panel produced by BOE; Huawei is reportedly aiming to launch a smartphone featuring a cut-out camera hole display before A8s; etc.
Chipsets
MediaTek may find it a difficult job to score an estimated 10% annual growth in total mobile AP shipments for 2019, given the global smartphone market still facing headwinds in 2019, according to Digitimes. The company has received strong patronage from China vendors including Xiaomi and OPPO for Helio P70. MediaTek still set its mobile chipsets shipment goal for 4Q18 at 100M~110M units as recorded in 3Q18. (Digitimes, press, Digitimes, CN Beta)
Touch Display
According to Central Intelligence Research Institute, China OLED industry is booming rapidly. Since 2016, there are a number of vendors planning OLED strategy. For instance, BOE begins constructing Gen-6 1500×1850mm OLED substrate in Mianyang in 2016 with investment amount to CNY46.5B, which expects to complete by 2019. With more investment coming in and technology maturing, there are few vendors already begin mass production. In 2015, Samsung Display’s “first Gen-6 flexible OLED line” begins mass production. In Oct 2017, BOE’s “world’s 2nd Gen-6 flexible OLED line” begins operation. On 6 Jun 2018, Royale’s Gen-6 flexible OLED production line begins operation. (Kaixian, Ask CI)
According to Central Intelligence Research Institute, China OLED production value has been increasing steadily, from USD530M in 2011 increases to USD10.35B in 2017, with CAGR of 64.2%. With the China OLED application growing, the production value is expected to reach USD13.11B in 2018. (Kaixian, Ask CI)
CLSA says that as OLED displays are too expensive for many smartphone makers and lack enough differentiation to LCDs, the company is lowering its OLED adoption forecasts. CLSA now expects OLED smartphone shipments to total 116M in 2018, 143M in 2019 and 168M in 2020. CLSA has lowered its forecasts by 12%~21%. In terms of penetration into the total Chinese smartphone market, CLSA sees 14% in 2018, 18% in 2019 and 21% in 2020. (OLED-Info, Gogo News)
Samsung’s Infinity-O features a small cutout in the top left corner for the front-facing selfie camera. Samsung Galaxy A8s reportedly will be the first to feature Infinity-O, which is to be launched in early 2019. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, 6GB DRAM, 3000mAh battery, with rear tri-cam and rear fingerprint scanner. (My Drivers, Phone Arena, Slash Leaks)
Samsung Galaxy A8s reportedly will feature Infinity-O panel, which is an LCD panel produced by BOE Technology. BOE will allegedly produce about 300K pieces such panels. Galaxy A8s hole diameter would be about 6.7mm, yet its flagship Galaxy S10 hole diameeter would be about 2mm~3mm. (Phone Arena, Sina, Vtech)
Huawei is reportedly aiming to launch a smartphone featuring a cut-out camera hole display in Dec 2019 before Samsung Galaxy A8s. (GSM Arena, Neowin, TechNode, Sina)
Camera
LG’s new patent involves a smartphone with a main camera setup that consists of 16 lenses with varying focal lengths and characteristics. With a curved setup, these 16 lenses could capture a photo from several different perspectives, and even simulate movement from a still image. (My Drivers, Phone Arena, LetsGoDigital, TechRadar)
Connectivity
Zhiwei Zhang, Head of Marketing, Market Region North East Asia at Ericsson, reveals that first 5G smartphone that complies with 3GPP standard would be launched in early 2019. Till 2H19, there would be 5G smartphone that supports mid-to-high spectrum launched in the market. He emphasizes that 5G is not to replace 4G, and both will co-exist for a while. Currently Ericsson has signed 40 5G trial contracts globally, and already working with 55 institutes, 22 corporate to explore 5G applications in different segments. (CN Beta, C114, 10JQKA)
Phone
Nokia has announced that it has signed a patent license agreement with OPPO. Under the agreement, OPPO will make payments to Nokia for a multi-year license period. (GSM Arena, Nokia, IT Home)
Augmented / Virtual Reality
Canadian start-up North is launching first AR glasses Focals. The company has opened pop-up stores in Brooklyn and Toronto to showcase Focals. Focals can be purchased at North Showrooms following a custom sizing appointment. Focals smartglasses project the image directly into user’s eye, bringing real-time updates for notifications, turn-by-turn directions, and weather information. (My Drivers, CN Beta, Beta Kit, Inc)
Robotics
Microsoft has partnered a number of times with leading China-based drone company DJI, announcing most recently that they will release a new SDK that will bring full flight control and real-time data transfer capabilities to hundreds of millions of Windows 10 PCs. (CN Beta, MS Poweruser)