IF / News

Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu expects Apple’s iPhone models released in 2024 to use Qualcomm‘s as-yet-unannounced Snapdragon X75 modem. Like the Snapdragon X70, the X75 is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC’s 4nm process, contributing to power efficiency improvements. Qualcomm is predicted to remain the supplier of modems for all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, suggesting that Apple’s chip will not debut until at least 2025. (Apple Insider, Caijing, MacRumors, Sina)

The CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), Ross Young, reiterated that Google’s foldable device is still in the pipeline for a release in 2023. With panel shipment starting in Jan 2023, the company is reportedly eyeing 1Q23 to release its foldable phone. (Neowin, Twitter)

LG Display (LGD) is showcasing its “Transparent OLED for Subway Trains”, the world’s largest transport technology trade show, where it will be used as a window replacement on a concept train for Deutsche Bahn, the German national rail company. The display is using the show in Berlin to expand sales of transparent panels to North American and European transportation companies. According to LG Display, the technology uses specialized tempered glass to give its transparent OLED displays greater strength and durability to withstand vibration and strong impacts, allowing them to replace standard train windows.(CN Beta, Fudzilla, TechGoing, ET News)

Samsung Display is planning to use a transparent polyimide substrate for its foldable OLED panels by 2024. Using completely transparent polyimide instead of the yellowish ones used now will increase the light penetration through the panel and improve the quality of pictures in under panel camera. Using a transparent polyimide substrate will allow Samsung Display to place more pixels in the lens hole area to match the other areas of the panel. However, the company will need to find a solution to transparent polyimide varnish being less durable and more expensive compared to conventional varnish.(The Elec, CN Beta)

GM Defense, a subsidiary of General Motors, was selected by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop a battery pack prototype for testing and analysis on Department of Defense platforms. GM Defense will leverage GM’s most advanced battery technology, the Ultium Platform, as it works to meet DIU’s requirement for a scalable design that can be used for tactical military vehicles. DIU is a Department of Defense organization that accelerates the adoption of commercial technology across the U.S. military, which aligns with GM Defense’s mission of leveraging GM’s advanced technologies for global defense and government customers.(Engadget, General Motors)

There are plans in place to develop the UK’s Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in three phases: A, B, and C. It will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion, with an installed capacity of 3.6 gigawatts (GW). And it looks likely that it will get a fourth phase, Dogger Bank D, making it even more massive. Dogger Bank, which is located in 78- 180 miles (125-290 km) off the east coast of Yorkshire, is a joint venture between Norwegian energy giant Equinor (40%), British utility SSE Renewables (40%), and Italian energy company Eni Plenitude (20%). A, B, and C alone will be capable of powering up to 6M UK homes once it’s completed in 2026 – and there are approximately 28.1M households in the country. (CN Beta, Electrive)

The Indian government is pushing smartphone makers to sell devices that receive NavIC signals along with GPS. India originally stated NavIC would be required in smartphones sold starting in Jan 2023, but strong reaction from smartphone manufacturers Apple, Xiaomi and Samsung apparently caused the government to push back or remove the deadline. A deadline of January 2023 would not allow enough time for smartphone makers to integrate NavIC-enabled receivers to their devices. Steps include redesign, securing parts, testing and assembly. Many smartphones sold in India by the companies are economy-level devices priced under USD200. The 3 companies met with government officials, seeking an extended target date of 2025. (CN Beta, LightReading, India Times, GPS World, Reuters, Twitter)

AT&T CEO John Stankey has confirmed that the operator is partnering with AST SpaceMobile to provide connectivity in dead zones in the U.S. and said that AT&T is about 18 months ahead of competitor T-Mobile, which announced in Aug 2022 that was working with SpaceX on a similar satellite-to-cellular connectivity service to provide coverage in dead zones. Stankey said that initially the satellite service will be for emergencies, including providing connectivity for FirstNet, the company’s public safety network. But AT&T also plans to launch a consumer application that would incorporate the satellite connectivity. (CN Beta, Fierce Wireless, Bloomberg)

According to a teardown analysis conducted by Fomalhaut Techno Solutions in collaboration with Nikkei, Apple‘s flagship models in the iPhone 14 series revealed that production costs have soared about 20% from its previous model to an all-time high. Short on new functions, the iPhone 14 still reflects Apple’s strategy of showcasing ultrahigh-performance devices such as proprietary 4nm chips and new camera components. Fomalhaut estimates that production of the iPhone 14 Pro Max calculated in terms of parts cost USD501, up more than USD60 from that of the iPhone 13 Pro Max that went on sale in 2021. While parts prices for high-end Max models have hovered in USD400-450 since they debuted in 2018, the latest model represents a steep production cost rise of over USD60. The cost of the iPhone Pro 14 Max is thus the highest in terms of both total and the margin of increase since 2018. (GSM Arena, Asia Nikkei)

A French court has substantially lowered a fine against Apple for alleged anti-competitive behaviour to EUR372M (USD366.31M) from EUR1.1B previously. The fine is originally from 2020, and was levied by the French competition authority Autorité de la Concurrence, which accused Apple of manipulating the retail market for its products. (GizChina, The Verge, Reuters, Bloomberg, IT Home)

According to Counterpoint Research, Apple is the leader in refurbished smartphones globally and in the US. The older iPhone models like the 8, X and 11 series make up the majority in the US secondary market. The iPhones’ average selling prices (ASPs) in the refurbished market are going through a transition wherein the older models are quickly losing value due to the newer models on sale. 5G has a big part to play here. As more and more consumers opt for 5G packages, shipments of new 5G smartphones are overtaking 4G handsets in the US. Consumers looking to buy a refurbished iPhone would most likely want to use the saved money on a good 5G plan. This is reducing the demand for 4G LTE iPhones. With the economy in the doldrums, some consumers might opt for the iPhone 13 series in the secondary market instead of a new iPhone 14 series. (Phone Arena, Counterpoint Research)

Tianyancha shows that recently,Gionee was included in the list of abnormal business operations by the Shenzhen Municipal Market and Quality Supervision and Administration Commission Futian Bureau because he could not be contacted through the registered residence or business place. Risk information shows that the company has multiple dishonest persons subject to execution, consumption restriction orders, and final case information, and the outstanding amount exceeds 1.3 billion yuan. Gionee was established on September 16, 2002, the founder is Liu Lirong. (CN Beta, CWW, 163.com)

Walmart has announced that it is stepping into the metaverse with two new experiences on Roblox: “Walmart Land” and “Universe of Play”. The virtual worlds are aimed at younger Walmart customers and let Roblox players collect new virtual merchandise, play games featuring toys and characters, earn toys from a blimp, attend live concerts, win fashion competitions and more. (TechCrunch, Walmart)

Lihong Qin, Nio’s co-founder and President, has indicated that buying a car “is a big decision, so leasing or subscription would lower the barrier to make that decision. Nio will offer 3 models in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. The company will market vehicles via urban stores with subscriptions offers ranging from one to 60 months. Nio is betting that working with LeasePlan, which manages 1.8M vehicles including after-sale maintenance services, will help build awareness of its brand. On an individual subscription basis, the flagship ET7 sedan will be available for EUR1,295 (USD1,267) a month, based on a year-long deal. The company plans to enter five more European countries next year before expanding to 25 countries, including the US, by 2025. (CN Beta, Reuters, Auto News, Bloomberg)

With production strains brought on by COVID-19 easing up in China where Polestar’s EVs are built, the automaker believes it can significantly bolster customer deliveries in 4Q22 and still reach its target volume of 50,000 units. Polestar’s head of design Maximilian Missoni continues to win awards in his field, and his aesthetic fingerprints should be even more prominent on the next 3 Polestar EVs to reach deliveries next, beginning with the Polestar 3 in early 2023. (CN Beta, Electrek)

A group of robotics companies including Boston Dynamics have pledged not to weaponize their most advanced robots. However, the pledge will likely do little to stop the wider weaponization of this technology. In an open letter addressed to the entire robotics industries, the companies said they “believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated … raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues”. (The Verge, Boston Dynamics, Axios)

Crypto exchange Huobi Global, one of the biggest token trading outposts in the Asia markets, has agreed to be purchased by Hong Kong-based investment company About Capital Management’s M&A fund. Huobi Global, a top-10 exchange by trading volume, said About will “control the majority stake” of Huobi once the deal closes; it said the ownership transfer will have no impact on trading operations. (CN Beta, Coindesk, Huobi)

Visa is teaming up with global crypto exchange FTX to offer debit cards in 40 countries with a focus on Latin America, Asia and Europe. The cards, which are already available in the U.S., will link directly to a user’s FTX cryptocurrency investing account. The move allows customers to spend digital currencies without moving those off an exchange. (CN Beta, CNBC, PR Newswire, TechCrunch)