It is $2,899 for a 512 GB of storage smartphone. I can't think of the last time a like ostensibly flagship phone didn't have any reviews before it went on sale. That just doesn't happen anymore.>> Yeah. I mean, obviously the thing has been out in Korea and some creators have certainly like imported Korean units. Samsung is just like, "No." And I suspect that means what it usually means, which is they don't want people to review the phone before you can buy it.>> Yeah, the pictures of this phone look great. ...

Market Overview - The S&P 500 is on track for a record close, currently up 0.5%, while the NASDAQ composite is up 1% and the Dow is down 0.8% or about 400 points, primarily due to declines in healthcare stocks, particularly United Health Group [1][2] - Technology stocks are leading the market, with notable gains in companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon, while the semiconductor sector is performing strongly, with Micron up over 6% [1][2] - Bitcoin is hovering above $88,000, and commodity prices are rising due to a slide in the US dollar, with crude oil and gold prices also increasing [1][2] Earnings Season Expectations - Investors are optimistic about the upcoming earnings season, with approximately 90 S&P 500 companies reporting this week, particularly focusing on major tech firms [1][2] - Analysts expect strong top-line and bottom-line numbers from big tech companies, with a significant portion of S&P 500 weight concentrated in 20 names [1][2] - The anticipated capital expenditures for major tech firms are projected to exceed $400 billion this year, indicating a strong focus on AI and cloud investments [22][23] AI and Capital Expenditure Insights - There is a growing emphasis on return on invested capital (ROIC) for AI projects, with expectations that this focus may shift within the next 12 to 18 months [1][2] - The AI boom is expected to continue benefiting productivity and margins for corporations over the long term, despite potential volatility in the market [2][3] - Companies like Microsoft are facing constraints in capacity, which may impact their ability to meet demand for AI-related services [26][32] Trade Developments - A significant trade deal has been announced between India and the EU, aimed at creating a free trade zone and lowering tariffs on over 90% of traded goods [12][13] - This deal is part of a broader trend of trade agreements being formed without US involvement, highlighting a shift in global trade dynamics [12][13] Company-Specific Developments - American Airlines reported a revenue miss due to a government shutdown, estimating a $325 million impact, while JetBlue also reported wider-than-expected losses [42][43] - General Motors (GM) shares reached an all-time high following better-than-expected earnings, with a $6 billion buyback plan announced [45][46] - Nvidia is projected to surpass Apple as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) largest customer by 2026, indicating a shift in the chip sector towards high-performance computing [82][83] Consumer Sentiment and Economic Indicators - US consumer confidence dropped sharply in January, reaching its lowest level since 2014, as inflation remains a significant concern for Americans [68] - The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates, with market expectations indicating no rate cuts in the near term [10][11]

Group 1 - Samsung's first tri-fold smartphone, Galaxy Z Trifold, officially launched in South Korea at a price of 3.5904 million KRW (approximately 17,200 CNY) and will be released in other regions including mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, UAE, and the USA [2] - TSMC is considering changing the production process at its Kumamoto factory from 6nm and 7nm chips to more advanced 4nm technology due to declining demand from major clients like NVIDIA, which may delay the planned mass production originally set for the end of 2027 [2] - CounterPoint Research predicts that global shipments of foldable smartphone panels will increase by 46% year-on-year in 2026, driven by strong demand from Apple's first foldable iPhone, with Samsung Display expected to capture over 50% of the market share [2] Group 2 - The Shenzhen Construction Robot Alliance has been established, aiming to create a collaborative platform focusing on policy implementation, technological innovation, application promotion, market branding, and industrial ecosystem development [2]

Group 1 - The National Market Supervision Administration has proposed a guideline requiring car sales to be clearly priced, prompting responses from major automakers like BYD, Xpeng, and BAIC [2][3] - Xiaomi has clarified that it does not prohibit the sale of its products, countering claims of misinformation regarding its brand [1][2] - OpenAI's CEO announced that the adult mode for ChatGPT is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026, focusing on improving age prediction capabilities first [1][2] Group 2 - Shenzhen Romashi Technology Co., Ltd. was fined over 1.24 million yuan for violating mandatory certification regulations and false advertising [2] - JD.com plans to invest 22 billion yuan over the next five years to provide 150,000 "delivery personnel homes" [7] - Lululemon reported a 7% year-on-year increase in global net revenue for Q3 of fiscal year 2025, reaching 2.6 billion USD [18] Group 3 - The first fully autonomous humanoid robot tour guide solution was launched, integrating various advanced capabilities for diverse applications [8] - Retatrutide, a new weight loss drug from Eli Lilly, showed promising results in clinical trials, with participants losing an average of 23.7% of their body weight [9][10] - NVIDIA's CEO stated that artificial intelligence could potentially increase global GDP fivefold [10] Group 4 - OpenAI released the latest version of its AI model, GPT-5.2, in response to competitive pressures in the generative AI field [22][23] - Samsung launched its first tri-fold smartphone, Galaxy Z Trifold, in South Korea, priced at approximately 1.72 million KRW [22]

Group 1 - Xiaomi clarified that the claim "Xiaomi does not allow selling Xiaomi" is completely false and a distortion of facts [3] - The company stated that their complaints against certain accounts were due to malicious imitation and defamation, not against the normal use of the term "Xiaomi" [3] - Xiaomi's founder Lei Jun confirmed the launch of "quasi-new cars" for sale, which are new cars that have undergone official repairs and inspections [9] Group 2 - The State Administration for Market Regulation issued a draft guideline requiring car sales to be clearly priced, with responses from companies like BYD and Xpeng [6] - The guideline mandates that car sales must include detailed information about optional accessories and delivery timelines [6] - A recent incident in Hubei province involving a procurement project raised concerns about the integrity of the evaluation process, leading to a government investigation [7] Group 3 - JD.com announced plans to invest 22 billion over the next five years to provide 150,000 housing units for its delivery personnel [10] - The company has already provided 28,000 housing units for its frontline employees [10] Group 4 - The release of a new weight loss drug by Eli Lilly showed promising results, with participants losing an average of 23.7% of their body weight over 68 weeks [12] - The drug works by combining three different gut hormones, offering advantages over existing treatments [12] Group 5 - OpenAI released the latest version of its AI model, GPT-5.2, in response to increasing competition in the generative AI field [28] - The rapid updates to the model highlight the competitive pressure within the AI industry [28] Group 6 - Samsung launched its first tri-fold smartphone, the Galaxy Z Trifold, in South Korea, priced at approximately 1.72 million KRW [28] - The device will be available in other markets, including China and the US, at a later date [28]

Group 1 - ByteDance is being questioned by Chinese regulators regarding the controversial smart assistant embedded in the upcoming Nubia M153 smartphone, raising concerns about cybersecurity, data security, and potential competition issues [4][5] - OpenAI and Microsoft are facing a lawsuit in the U.S. that links the ChatGPT AI chatbot to a murder case, marking the first instance of such a direct connection between AI chat tools and homicide [5] - Taobao has expanded its "no penalty for late delivery" policy nationwide, aiming to improve rider income and service efficiency through a positive incentive mechanism [5] Group 2 - JD.com is recruiting talent in the field of edge AI chips, focusing on integrated storage and computing chips for use in robots and smart home devices, offering salaries ranging from 40,000 to 100,000 [9][10] - Douyin has launched a "Douyin Pay" feature, allowing consumers to pay at merchant stores through the Douyin app, streamlining the payment process without needing to switch to third-party applications [10] - Honor's brand marketing president, Guo Rui, has left the company, potentially to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, after previously holding significant roles at Huawei and Honor [10] Group 3 - JD.com plans to invest 22 billion over the next five years to provide 150,000 housing units for delivery personnel, enhancing living conditions for its workers [13] - OpenAI has released GPT-5.2, which has shown improved benchmark scores compared to Google, indicating a competitive response to Google's advancements in AI [16] - SoftBank's Masayoshi Son has reduced the amount of shares pledged to lenders by 2.1 billion, reflecting a strategic move amid fluctuating tech wealth driven by AI investments [16] Group 4 - Wanda Film has completed a strategic investment in the interactive entertainment brand "Pailifang," aiming to explore new consumer scenarios in image socialization [17] - Several companies, including Nidejia and Bihui Biotechnology, have recently completed significant financing rounds, indicating active investment interest in various sectors [17][18] - Samsung has launched its first tri-fold smartphone, the Galaxy Z Trifold, in South Korea, priced at approximately 1.72 million KRW [18] Group 5 - Tesla's U.S. sales in November fell nearly 23% year-on-year, reaching the lowest level in four years, largely due to the removal of federal tax incentives for electric vehicles [23][27] - The global shipment of foldable smartphone panels is expected to grow by 46% by 2026, driven by demand from Apple's first foldable iPhone [23] - The Chinese market is seeing a significant increase in the box office for the 2025 New Year film season, surpassing 3.5 billion [25]

Core Insights - The global foldable smartphone market is expected to see significant growth in 2026, driven by Apple's first foldable iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy Z Trifold, with an annual growth rate projected at 30% [1][4] - By 2025, global foldable smartphone shipments are anticipated to reach 20.6 million units, a 10% increase from the previous year, with a long-term compound annual growth rate of 17% until 2029 [1][4] - Foldable smartphones are projected to account for over 10% of the total smartphone market value by 2029, marking a substantial shift in the high-end mobile device sector [1][4] Industry Dynamics - The introduction of Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to reshape the market structure, with Apple likely to capture over 22% of the shipment share in its launch year and 34% of the revenue share due to a high average selling price of $2,400 [3][5] - Major manufacturers are focusing on substantial innovations to stimulate upgrade demand as the traditional smartphone market becomes saturated and user upgrade cycles lengthen [6] - Foldable devices, including tri-fold models, are seen as a key direction for overcoming current industry bottlenecks, with their average price being approximately three times that of regular smartphones, enhancing brand value and profitability for participating companies [6]

Product Launch & Innovation - Samsung has announced the Galaxy Z Trifold, its first double-folding phone, launching in Korea in a couple of weeks [1] - The Galaxy Z Trifold features a 10-inch internal screen with two outer panels that fold inward [2] - The device includes a 200 megapixel camera and is fully water resistant [4] Design & Features - The Trifold has a screen on the back panel, potentially protecting the inner screen, unlike Huawei's Mate XT [3] - The device is powered by batteries in each panel, totaling 5600 milliamp hours [3] Pricing & Availability - Korean pricing is approximately $2,500 [4] - The Galaxy Z Trifold is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2026 [4] Market Positioning - Only one other company is currently manufacturing a trifold phone, positioning Samsung as a key player in this emerging market [1] - The "Trifold" name has become associated with this type of phone, despite only folding twice [5]

Economic Overview - U.S. households are facing a record-high debt burden, with significant increases in mortgages, car loans, credit card balances, and student loans, indicating ongoing financial pressures on consumers [2][10] - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell refrained from commenting on the current economy or monetary policy during a recent event, amidst reports that young college graduates are struggling to secure employment compared to high-school-educated individuals, suggesting a shift in labor market dynamics [3] Technology and Trade Developments - Samsung has launched its Galaxy Z Trifold, marking its entry into the trifold phone market, with plans for a U.S. release in 2026 [4][10] - The U.S. and South Korea confirmed a retroactive 15% tariff reduction on South Korean automobiles, positively impacting Hyundai Motor's shares, which rose by 4% following the announcement [5][10] Asia-Pacific Market Insights - Asian markets are opening higher, diverging from losses on Wall Street, indicating a difference in investor sentiment [6][10] - Australia's economic data shows mixed results, with a 6.4% month-over-month decline in building approvals and a current account deficit of AUD 16.6 billion, wider than expected, yet firm metal prices have supported gains in Australian shares [7][10] Currency and Commodities - HSBC forecasts that the U.S. Dollar may reach a bottom by early 2026 before rebounding, while the NZD/USD pair remains steady above 0.5700 [11] - In the commodities market, profit-taking has led to a slight dip in gold prices, while Japan's 40-year JGB yield increased by 1.5 basis points to 3.745% [11]

Core Insights - Huawei and Samsung are both expected to launch their new tri-fold smartphones around September, with Samsung's mobile head announcing plans for a release by the end of the year [1] - The Huawei tri-fold phone will feature a Kirin processor, while Samsung's device will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, indicating a direct competition in the high-end market [1] - Samsung has registered the trademark Galaxy Z Trifold, suggesting a branding strategy that aligns with its existing Galaxy Z series [1][2] Group 1 - Samsung's Galaxy Z Trifold is rumored to be an inward-folding phone with a separate screen cover, differing from Huawei's Mate XT which folds in a "Z" shape [2] - Huawei's new tri-fold phone, codenamed "Greenlan," will have similar aesthetics to its predecessor Mate XT, available in four colors, and is expected to have improved features [3] - The Mate XT has a retail price exceeding 22,000 yuan, with sales around 500,000 units, indicating strong market performance and potential for higher sales with the new model [3] Group 2 - A Samsung executive confirmed that the hardware for the tri-fold phone is ready for production, but the company is assessing market demand for the design [4] - Samsung plans to begin small-scale production of the tri-fold phone in September, primarily targeting the Korean and Chinese markets, with an estimated factory price of 4 million KRW (approximately 20,840 yuan) [4] - The first mass-produced tri-fold phone, Huawei's Mate XT Ultimate Design, has a starting price of 19,999 yuan, highlighting competitive pricing strategies in the market [4]