MediaTek and Xiaomi Group have deepened their collaboration. On July 2, Xiaomi China’s Vice President of Marketing and General Manager of the Redmi brand, Wang Teng, announced on Weibo that the joint laboratory between Xiaomi and MediaTek has officially opened at Xiaomi’s Shenzhen R&D Center, with the new “Redmi K70 Supreme Edition” being the first product from the joint lab.

According to a report by etnet, the joint laboratory between Xiaomi and MediaTek covers five core capabilities, focusing on three major technological parts: performance, communication, and AI.

MediaTek, a global leader in smartphone chip shipment, maintains close cooperation with its brand clients.

Wang noted that following the Post-Performance Era Launch event last year, the cooperation between Xiaomi and MediaTek has reached another notch with a  goal of creating the strongest product performance experience and realizing the pre-research and implementation of the latest technologies.

A report from ithome revealed that Xiaomi and MediaTek have already entered into several collaborative agreements in the past, in which Xiaomi was often the first to launch new Dimensity processors. The two companies have also co-developed several Ultra versions of Dimensity processors.

Wang described the K70 Supreme Edition as the “performance demon” and the most sincere value-for-money product, offering a more comprehensive flagship experience. It is a gold standard for Dimensity performance jointly created by Redmi and MediaTek, aiming for three number ones: highest performance scores, best game frame rate/energy efficiency, and longest concurrent operation of super frame rate and super resolution.

Wang also mentioned that especially for the third goal, MediaTek, based on Dimensity 9300+ chip, has equipped the K70 Supreme Edition with the new-generation gaming discrete GPU and its self-developed dual-chip scheduling technology. “Not only to achieve super frame rate and super resolution in original/iron mode but also to realize the longest concurrent operation time, allowing users to enjoy games for longer periods.”

MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ is part of the Dimensity 9300 series of chips, launched in May this year. It is built using TSMC’s 4nm process and features an eight-core CPU with four Cortex-X4 super cores, reaching a maximum frequency of 3.4GHz, surpassing the level of Dimensity 9300.

Read more

• [News] China’s Xiaomi and Unisoc Claim Domestic 4nm Mobile Processors Coming Soon
  

(Photo credit: MediaTek)

Apple is reportedly pushing the boundaries of AI with the upcoming iPhone 16 series, which is expected to have computational power that surpasses industry expectations. According to a report from Economic Daily News, it has suggested that Apple is developing the A18 chip for this year’s iPhone 16 models, with performance potentially exceeding that of Apple’s current most powerful AI chip, the M4. This advancement means the iPhone 16 series will be more capable of running AI models on-device, adapting to various AI tasks.

While these applications are primarily aimed at high-end smartphones, the sources cited by the same report have shown optimism that TSMC and Foxconn, as parts of Apple’s supply chain, are likely to benefit from this development.

The same report further cites the rumor that the A18 chip developed for the iPhone 16 series will feature a highly powerful neural engine, crucial for handling generative AI functions. To keep up with the AI trend, Apple introduced its proprietary AI application, “Apple Intelligence,” in collaboration with OpenAI at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). This application is designed for high-end models like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, with hardware capabilities exceeding expectations.

The iPad Pro which unveiled in May is the first to feature the M4 chip. Compared to its predecessor, the M2, the M4 chip boasts up to a 50% increase in CPU speed. Built with TSMC’s second-generation 3-nanometer technology, the M4 chip includes Apple’s fastest neural engine to date, capable of supporting up to 38 trillion operations per second.

If the A18 chip is equipped with an even more powerful neural engine, its computational speed will surpass that of the M4 chip. This means the iPhone 16 series will be able to run AI models locally with greater efficiency. Reportedly, TSMC is the exclusive supplier for the iPhone 16’s processors, therefore expected to be benefited from the strond demand of A18.

On the other hand, Foxconn, historically the largest assembler of iPhones, has recently focused on high-end models. As Apple intensifies AI functionality in new devices, the market anticipates a new wave of device upgrades, enhancing Foxconn’s performance in consumer electronics in the latter half of the year.

Read more

• [News] Apple Unveiled M4 Chip for AI, Heralding a New Era of AI PC
• [News] Battle in AI PCs: Exploring Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm Chips’ AI Computing Power

(Photo credit: Apple)

According to a report from South Korean media outlet The Financial News, MediaTek, Taiwan’s largest smartphone IC designer, has the opportunity to enter Samsung’s Galaxy S25 supply chain as one of the main chip suppliers for the next generation flagship smartphone. Samsung’s S series smartphones have traditionally adopted a “dual-track” strategy, using both in-house Exynos chips and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon. MediaTek, on the other hand, has declined to comment on this matter.

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 is said to be equipped with MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300+ application processor, marking the first instance of MediaTek’s AP being adopted by Samsung’s flagship tablet, according to a report by the Korean media outlet The Chosun Daily.

The latest report by the Financial News further highlights that MediaTek’s APs have primarily been used in Samsung’s mid-to-low-end smartphones. The decision to use MediaTek’s AP in the Galaxy Tab S10 series, instead of Qualcomm’s or Samsung’s own APs, is a significant shift for Samsung.

The report indicates that Samsung’s Galaxy S25 smartphones will not only use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips and Samsung’s own Exynos 2500 chips but may also use MediaTek’s Dimensity chips in some regions. It is speculated that the chip in discussion is the yet-to-be-announced Dimensity 9400. If true, the S25 could be available in versions with Exynos 2500, Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, and Dimensity 9400 chips.

The report cites sources, suggesting that this rumor is not entirely without merit, as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip is expected to be 30% more expensive than its predecessor. Currently, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is rumored to cost around $190-200 per unit, while the 8 Gen 4 could be priced at $260. Samsung’s consideration of incorporating MediaTek chips, or at least using this possibility as leverage in price negotiations with Qualcomm, is plausible.

Qualcomm has been releasing new flagship mobile chips annually and designing custom versions for Samsung’s high-end phones. For instance, the current Samsung S24 series, including the S24 Ultra and some regional versions of the S24 Plus and S24, use Qualcomm’s tailored Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, designed specifically for Galaxy phones and featuring advanced AI capabilities.

It is worth noting that there is a close collaborative relationship between Samsung and Qualcomm. Some of Qualcomm’s chip manufacturing orders are handled by Samsung’s foundry division, while some of Samsung’s mobile chips use Qualcomm’s main processors. If MediaTek succeeds in integrating its Dimensity 9400 into Samsung’s smartphone supply chain, it would be a significant milestone for MediaTek.

The report from The Chosun Daily also highlighted that from Samsung’s perspective, choosing Dimensity to reduce costs and diversify the supply chain is a sensible decision.

Read more

• [News] Samsung Adopts Dimensity 9300+ Instead of Snapdragon, the First Time for Its Flagship Tablet to Feature MediaTek AP
• [News] MediaTek Announces 4nm Dimensity 7300 Series Chips, Supporting Foldable Devices

(Photo credit: MediaTek)

According to a report from Korean media outlet ZDNet Korea, the yield rate for Samsung Electronics’ latest Exynos 2500 processor has improved to slightly below 20% from single digits in the first quarter. However, the current yield rate is still said to be falling short of mass production standards. It remains uncertain whether it can be used in the flagship Galaxy S25 series smartphones in the future.

The report further indicates that this yield rate is still insufficient for mass production, which typically requires yields to be increased to over 60%. Therefore, Samsung Electronics’ System LSI department reportedly plans to work on improving the yield rate of the Exynos 2500 processor in the second half of this year.

The report states that it is still uncertain whether the Exynos 2500 processor can be used in the future Galaxy S25 series flagship smartphones. Since there is still considerable time before the official launch of the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung hopes to improve the yield rate of the Exynos 2500 processor to 60% by October this year.

On the other hand, TSMC is overwhelmed with 3nm orders, with major companies like Apple, NVIDIA, AMD, Qualcomm, Intel, and MediaTek all utilizing TSMC’s 3nm process. Per a report from TechNews, during TSMC’s technology forum on May 23, the 3nm production capacity this year has more than tripled compared to last year, but this is actually still not enough, so efforts are still being made to meet customer demand.

Read more

• [News] Major Clients Reportedly Fully Allocate TSMC’s Production Capacity Until 2026, 3nm Process in High Demand
• [News] Samsung Reportedly to Challenge Apple/TSMC with 3nm Exynos W1000

(Photo credit: Samsung)

Though being capable of running AI features may be the primary focus for global smartphones this year, due to restrictions on AI products’ usage in China, the Wall Street Journal reports that the upcoming new iPhone, expected at the end of the year, will not be able to use ChatGPT in China. Apple has reportedly been in discussions with companies like Baidu for potential partnerships, but no progress has been made yet.

China is Apple’s largest market for iPhones outside the United States. While smartphones from various brands will integrate AI this year at full throttle, incorporating apps like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, these apps from Western countries are not permitted for use in the Chinese market. According to the Wall Street Journal, industry insiders indicate that Apple is still searching for a Chinese AI partner. However, with the new iPhone set to launch in a few months, no progress has been made.

Notably, as per a report from TrendForce, in the first quarter, Apple faced a decline in sales in the Chinese market, resulting in a  drop in annual production to 47.9 million units.

In China, companies must obtain government approval to release AI devices. As of March this year, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission has approved 117 generative AI products, none of which are from brands outside of China.

The Wall Street Journal, citing industry sources, reported that Apple had tentatively inquired with Chinese authorities earlier this year about the possibility of allowing foreign language AI models on their smartphones. While believing approval to be unlikely, Apple has reportedly sought partnerships with local companies instead.

One of Apple’s main competitors, Samsung, has already launched the Galaxy S24 this year, featuring real-time translation and AI-enhanced photo editing and search capabilities. Samsung’s phone includes its own generative AI and also collaborates with Google. However, since Google’s AI tool Gemini is not permitted for use in China, Samsung has shifted to partnering with Baidu and Meitu AI.

It is not new for global tech companies to adjust their product and service offerings to cater to the Chinese market. For example, Apple uses state-owned enterprise servers for iCloud in China, and the recently launched Vision Pro cannot stream Apple TV+ in the country.

Read more

• Q1 Smartphone Production Increases Due to Low Base Last Year, Expected to Decline 5–10% in Q2, Says TrendForce
• [News] Continued Slump in iPhone Demand in China – February Shipments Reportedly Plunge by 33%

(Photo credit: Apple)