Key facts
- Huawei launched its first new smartphone chipset in six years, the Kirin 9050 Pro.
- Huawei's new chipset supports on-device AI computing.
- Huawei's Mate XT2 triple-fold smartphone starts at $2,980.
- Apple unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, starting at $1,999.
- Apple also launched two premium iPhone Pro models.
- Tesla's EV sales in China fell 12.4% in the first seven months of 2026.
- Intel is using ASML's high NA EUV system for production.
- Samsung plans to adopt ASML's high NA EUV system from 2027.
Huawei and Apple are set to launch new foldable smartphones this week, intensifying competition in the premium device market. Huawei, led by consumer electronics chief Richard Yu, unveiled its Kirin 9050 Pro chipset, its first in six years, which supports on-device AI computing. This chipset debuts in the company's new triple-fold smartphone, the Mate XT2, priced from $2,980.
Apple, under newly appointed CEO John Ternus, is entering the foldable segment with its iPhone Duo, starting at $1,999, alongside two premium iPhone Pro models. While Apple is a later entrant compared to Samsung Electronics and Huawei, its arrival is expected to invigorate the foldable market, though initial production of the iPhone Duo is anticipated to be limited due to stringent quality requirements.
Meanwhile, the semiconductor industry's supply chain is seeing increased visibility from material suppliers and equipment makers, particularly in Taiwan. Companies like Germany's Trumpf are significantly expanding their capacity for critical components like EUV laser sources, essential for advanced chip production, and exploring new applications for their lasers in AI infrastructure. Zeiss, another German optics maker, is also enhancing its presence, showcasing advanced metrology tools for complex chip structures and opening a new innovation center.
U.S. metals maker Carpenter Technology is engaging with the Taiwanese chip ecosystem as demand for high-end alloys surges, while material suppliers such as Corning and AGC are investing in semiconductors, viewing their specialty glass as a potential next-generation material for AI chips.
In China, Huawei is playing a central role in the country's push for technological self-sufficiency in chip manufacturing, particularly in developing advanced deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines. This effort involves co-development with manufacturers like Yuliangsheng, which has ties to SiCarrier, a startup reportedly linked to Huawei. The broader initiative aims to reduce reliance on Western export controls.
Separately, Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk are navigating a challenging market in China. Tesla's EV sales in the country have declined, and its Full Self-Driving software faces regulatory delays. Despite these hurdles, Musk has dismissed rumors of selling Tesla's China operations, highlighting the country's importance as a manufacturing, export, and supply hub for its operations, including its Optimus humanoid robot.
In advanced chipmaking technology, Intel, TSMC, and Samsung Electronics have all endorsed ASML's next-generation high NA EUV system, a costly but highly advanced tool for chip production. Intel has already begun using the system for production, while Samsung plans to adopt it from 2027.