Over the past two years, investors put their money into an industry set to become the next big thing in technology: artificial intelligence (AI). This billion-dollar market is set to reach into the trillions in a few years as it potentially changes the way business is done and how our daily lives are organized. All of this is great news for companies that get in early and play a key role, and investors, recognizing this, drove these stocks higher.But, earlier in the first half, many of these players lost th ...

Core Insights - Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone by the end of next year, with a price starting at $2000, aligning with previous reports from analysts [1][2][11] - The foldable iPhone is described as a product that deviates from Apple's traditional innovation approach, entering a market where competitors like Samsung and various Chinese brands have already established themselves [2][4] - The device will feature a book-style design, expanding from a 5.5-inch screen to a 7.8-inch screen, with a thickness of approximately 9 to 9.5 mm when folded [2][4] - Apple plans to use components similar to those found in Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series, including a foldable OLED display [4][5] - The foldable iPhone may incorporate a fingerprint recognition system, potentially reintroducing Touch ID, due to the challenges of implementing Face ID in a foldable format [5][11] - The device is positioned as a "true AI phone," capable of multi-modal and cross-app functionalities, suggesting a new interaction paradigm in the AI era [9][11] - The production timeline indicates that final specifications will be determined in Q2 of this year, with project initiation in the second half of the year and mass production targeted for Q4 2026 [11] - The foldable smartphone market is currently facing challenges, with a reported shipment of 7 million units in China in 2023, representing only 2% of the total smartphone market [13][16] Industry Context - The foldable smartphone category has not yet produced a game-changing product that alters public perception, despite the initial promise of combining the functionalities of a phone, tablet, and PC [14][16] - There is a growing skepticism about the practical applications of foldable smartphones, with the market needing a successful product to validate the category's potential [16][17] - The high price point of the foldable iPhone raises expectations for its performance and capabilities, as it aims to justify its cost by delivering significant advancements in user experience [17]

Core Viewpoint - OPPO is set to launch the K13 Turbo series on July 21, featuring an active cooling fan, which is a significant upgrade over the passive cooling systems commonly used in smartphones. This innovation aims to enhance performance stability during high-demand tasks [1]. Group 1: Market Expectations and Concerns - Many gaming enthusiasts are looking forward to the new release [2]. - However, there are concerns among potential buyers about the risk of significant price drops shortly after launch, similar to the experience with the Find X8 Ultra, which saw a price reduction of 1100 yuan within a month of its release [3][4]. Group 2: Historical Pricing Issues - OPPO has a longstanding issue with rapid price drops across its product lines, with the Find X6 dropping nearly 1000 yuan within six months and the Find X7 series experiencing over 600 yuan reductions shortly after launch [5]. - The Find X8 series, despite being popular, was labeled as the "annual price drop king" due to its quick depreciation [5]. Group 3: Brand Perception and Market Position - A store manager noted that OPPO products often see price drops within just a few days of launch, which could undermine the brand's high-end positioning [6]. - The lack of price stability may hinder OPPO's efforts to compete in the high-end market against brands like Apple and Huawei, which maintain higher resale values and brand prestige [6]. Group 4: Factors Contributing to Price Drops - The first factor is insufficient technological innovation, as OPPO's flagship products primarily focus on camera and display features, which are not high-value differentiators [7][8]. - The second factor is weak channel control, leading to price chaos in the market, especially with discounts offered by smaller retail outlets [11][13]. - The third factor is internal brand competition, particularly between OPPO and OnePlus, which has led to overlapping product offerings and diminished market differentiation [17][18]. Group 5: Market Performance and Challenges - OPPO's global shipment volume declined by 1.7 million units year-on-year in Q1 2025, resulting in a 6.8% drop in market share, making it the only brand among the top five to experience a decline [19]. - The company faces a strategic dilemma between maintaining a broad product range and pursuing a high-end market transformation [20]. Group 6: R&D and Innovation - Despite significant R&D investments, including over 10 billion yuan in chip development, OPPO has struggled to translate its technological advancements into commercial success [34]. - OPPO ranks eighth globally in 5G standard essential patents, yet this has not translated into a competitive advantage in the smartphone market [26]. - The company has faced challenges in brand perception, with consumers often associating OPPO with being "low-key" rather than innovative [28]. Group 7: Legal and Market Challenges - OPPO has been involved in multiple patent disputes, which have negatively impacted its market performance, particularly in Europe, where its foldable phone market share dropped by 63% [40]. - The company needs to balance its R&D efforts with effective commercialization strategies to enhance its market position and brand value [40].

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese smartphone market is experiencing a decline in shipments, with a total of 69 million units shipped in Q2 2023, marking a 4% year-on-year decrease, the first negative growth in six quarters [1][2]. Group 1: Market Overview - In Q2 2023, Huawei led the market with 12.5 million units shipped, reclaiming the top position for the first time in over four years due to the impact of U.S. sanctions on smartphone production and sales [1]. - Vivo and OPPO followed closely behind Huawei, while Xiaomi ranked fourth with a 3% increase in shipments, making it the only major brand to see growth during this period [1]. - Apple ranked fifth, facing continued pressure from Chinese competitors, and adjusted the prices of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro to fall within the range of government subsidies, which helped mitigate the decline in shipments [2]. Group 2: Government Policies and Market Dynamics - The Chinese government has been issuing subsidies for old-for-new exchanges, but the effectiveness of these measures is diminishing due to confusion in implementation at the local government level [1]. - Smartphone manufacturers are strategically reducing shipments and managing inventory levels, utilizing promotional events like the 6.18 sales to facilitate inventory clearance [1]. - IDC forecasts that the Chinese smartphone market will remain sluggish until the second half of 2025, citing a challenging economic environment and low consumer confidence as key factors [2].

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Overweight" rating to Xiaomi Corp, indicating a positive outlook for the stock's performance relative to its industry peers [4][64]. Core Insights - Xiaomi's global smartphone shipment in 2Q25 is expected to exceed its performance in 1Q25, with preliminary data suggesting a slight year-over-year increase of 0.6% to 42.5 million units, securing a 14.4% global market share [1][2]. - The overall global smartphone shipment in 2Q25 is projected to be 295.2 million units, reflecting a modest increase of 1.0% year-over-year according to IDC [1]. - Samsung remains the market leader with 58 million units shipped, representing a 7.9% year-over-year increase and a 19.7% market share, while Apple follows with 46.4 million units and a 15.7% share [2]. Summary by Sections Shipment Performance - Xiaomi's shipment is anticipated to surpass its previous quarter's performance, with a total of 42.5 million units shipped in 2Q25, marking a 0.6% increase year-over-year [2]. - The global smartphone market is experiencing slight growth, with IDC reporting a total shipment of 295.2 million units in 2Q25, up 1.0% year-over-year [1]. Market Position - Xiaomi ranks third in the global smartphone market, holding a 14.4% share, while Samsung and Apple hold the first and second positions, respectively [2]. - Canalys data indicates a 1% year-over-year decline in global smartphone shipments, with Xiaomi's market share slightly lower at 15% compared to IDC's figures [3]. Financial Metrics - The report provides financial projections for Xiaomi, estimating revenue growth from RMB 365.9 billion in 2024 to RMB 687.1 billion by 2027, with corresponding EPS growth from RMB 1.07 to RMB 2.56 over the same period [4].

【环球网科技报道】近年来，智能手机市场经历了从单纯追求硬件参数到注重用户体验的转变。然而，在这个过程中，一个不容忽视的趋势逐渐显现：手机 作为日常生活中的必备品，消费者希望它时刻在线，且在各种环境下都能坚固耐用。根据TechInsights智能手机团队的最新研究表明，全球的换机率为 23.8%，周期为51个月，消费者对"耐用性"的关注度首次超越"性能"。 在日常生活中，手机跌落、进水等意外情况时有发生，尤其是对于户外工作者、小镇家庭用户等群体而言，手机的耐用性能直接关系到使用成本与安全感。 在黑龙江漠河的极寒工地，建筑工人老张的智能手机因低温自动关机；在重庆山城的快递站点，配送员小王今年已因跌落更换了三次屏幕，这些真实案例折 射出中国数亿户外工作者面临的用机痛点。 荣耀率先将目光聚焦在这一类人群上，7月15日，荣耀发布的荣耀X70机型，从"抗摔、防水、续航"三大维度取得突破，同时下放诸多旗舰级体验，重构千 元档手机耐用价值体系，推动行业朝着技术普惠的方向大步迈进。 荣耀X70此次也实现了主流厂商中首个达到IP69K工业级防水标准的机型，并且同时通过了IP66、IP68、IP69等满级防水认证。IP69K标准的 ...

Core Insights - Channel incentives are becoming a key strategy in the smartphone industry, helping brands enhance sales and brand influence in a sluggish market [2][5] - The report provides an in-depth analysis of how to leverage a scientific channel incentive system to drive sales growth, covering best practices from strategy design to operational implementation [2][5] - It gathers insights from various participants in the smartphone channel ecosystem, including brands, distributors, retailers, supply chain partners, and regional market experts, to explore the evolution and innovation of incentive models [2][5] Summary by Sections - **Main Incentive Models**: The report showcases three mainstream incentive models and their application cases, revealing practical experiences from leading brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, and Vivo globally [5] - **Participants Involved**: Key participants include smartphone manufacturers and brands (e.g., Xiaomi, Samsung, Vivo), channel distributors, retail networks, and service providers for operational and financial system construction [6] - **Operational Framework**: The report serves as a practical guide detailing how manufacturers can establish a reliable and scalable backend system to ensure the accurate, transparent, and large-scale implementation of incentive measures [5]

Core Insights - The global smartphone market is projected to decline by 1% year-on-year in Q2 2025, marking the first drop in six consecutive quarters, reflecting cautious consumer sentiment and macroeconomic uncertainties [1][2][4] - Samsung maintained its market leadership with a 19% share, followed by Apple at 16% and Xiaomi at 15%, while Transsion and OPPO each held 9% [1][5] Market Performance - Despite a slight decrease in shipments, major manufacturers demonstrated stability and resilience amid a slowing market due to the waning replacement demand from the pandemic and ongoing weak consumer demand [2][4] - The U.S. market is an exception, where manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Motorola maintained high inventory levels in response to geopolitical and regulatory uncertainties [2] Consumer Behavior - Many consumers who delayed upgrades in early 2025 are expected to make purchases during year-end shopping festivals and promotional events, with effective pricing strategies and promotions being crucial for success [4] - Price-sensitive consumers remain the primary drivers of upgrade demand, preferring to replace old devices at reasonable prices [4] Market Share Data - The preliminary market share data for Q2 2025 shows: - Samsung: 19% - Apple: 16% - Xiaomi: 15% - Transsion: 9% - OPPO: 9% - Others: 33% [5] Industry Outlook - The smartphone industry is anticipated to stabilize in 2025, with manufacturers prepared to address the expected flat market, leveraging new product launches that emphasize design, ecosystem innovation, and privacy features [4][6]

Product Launches & Pricing - Samsung introduced three new foldable smartphones aimed at a broader audience [1] - The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is Samsung's most affordable folding phone at $900 [1] - The Galaxy Watch 8 starts at $350 (40mm), a $50 increase from the Galaxy Watch 7 [5] - The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic starts at $450 (46mm) [5] - The updated Galaxy Watch Ultra with 64 GB storage starts at $650 [6] Design & Features - The Fold 7's thickness is reduced to 8.9% mm when closed, compared to 14.9% mm on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 [2] - The Galaxy Z Flip 7 features slimmer bezels for an all-screen look [2] - The outer display (Flex Window) on the Flip 7 is now 4.1% inches, up from 3.4% inches on the Flip 6 [3] - The Galaxy Watch 8 series includes Google Wear OS 6 with Gemini AI chatbot [4] - The Galaxy Watch 8 series features improved battery life, brighter display, slimmer body, and advanced health features [4] Processor - Samsung is using its own Exynos processor for the Flip 7, marking the first time it's used its own processor on a foldable device [3] - The Fold 7 uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip [3]

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has pulled off something Apple failed to do despite a decade-long attempt, and that’s to make a car.@Lindadalew looks at what helped Xiaomi overtake Apple’s EV ambitions https://t.co/kteGLsksYg https://t.co/CcnyZStONT ...