https://www.scmp.com/rss/330394/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Associated Press Associated Press Remember the iPod? It is making a quiet comeback. Four years after Apple killed off its digital music player, second-hand sales are surging – fuelled in part by young people interested not just in its retro looks but in listening to music in a focused way and with playlists not determined by algorithms. “There’s a growing trend, particularly among younger users, to mitigate the ease with which they can be distracted by smartphones, often driven by mental health and well-being concerns,” says Ben... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3349514/how-get-ipod-and-set-it-apples-music-device-makes-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3349514/how-get-ipod-and-set-it-apples-music-device-makes-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Last week, on April 1 to be exact, Apple reached the grand old age of 50 (almost exactly a year younger than Microsoft), one of a tiny proportion of S&P-listed companies that have stayed the course for half a century. It is a company with which I have had a special connection and a love-hate relationship for most of my adult life. Not that I have ever owned an Apple product (I have always been a loyal Android man) nor any Apple shares; heavens, I wish I had. No. My special connection is more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349541/my-love-hate-relationship-apple-android-user?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349541/my-love-hate-relationship-apple-android-user?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Apple’s accidental roll-out on Tuesday of its highly anticipated Apple Intelligence feature in mainland China – which has yet to receive regulatory approval – before swiftly pulling it could raise the ire of regulators and expose the US tech giant to potential penalties, an industry expert warned. The brief release could have violated local rules on artificial intelligence security evaluations, algorithm filings and data protection, according to You Yunting, a Shanghai-based intellectual... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348527/apples-accidental-ai-feature-roll-out-china-risks-regulatory-backlash-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3348527/apples-accidental-ai-feature-roll-out-china-risks-regulatory-backlash-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:39 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off his first tour of China this year on Wednesday, while the iPhone maker’s chief operating officer visited key suppliers, including Foxconn and Sunwoda, in a sign of the company’s continued focus on the country’s huge market and manufacturing ecosystem. Cook turned up at an Apple Store in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern Sichuan province, in the afternoon as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations. He interacted with celebrities and customers,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347062/apples-tim-cook-visits-china-reliance-chinese-supply-chains-endures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347062/apples-tim-cook-visits-china-reliance-chinese-supply-chains-endures?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone maker Oppo is mounting a fresh challenge in the foldable handset market after launching the latest product in its Find N series, as the industry faces rising memory prices and anticipation builds around Apple’s foldable iPhone. Find N6, launched globally on Tuesday, featured upgraded hinge technology designed to make the crease on the foldable screen “virtually imperceptible”, according to the company. “While foldables offer the advantage of a larger display, the crease has... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346829/chinas-oppo-doubles-down-foldable-smartphones-potential-apple-entry-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346829/chinas-oppo-doubles-down-foldable-smartphones-potential-apple-entry-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu What happens when it is Gen Z’s turn to define and preserve Chinese traditions? The answer may look like a digital almanac app. The Chinese almanac – known as the tong shu or tung shing in Cantonese and huangli in Mandarin – is much more than a date tracker. A rich, ancient guide used to harmonise daily life with the energies of the universe, the Chinese almanac also includes predictions for the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, and can act as a guide for farmers on when to plant crops. Whether looking... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3345506/what-chinese-calendar-gen-z-looks-grandmas-tear-almanac-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3345506/what-chinese-calendar-gen-z-looks-grandmas-tear-almanac-app?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The iPhone 17e, the entry-level addition to Apple’s latest iPhone 17 series, faces an uphill battle in China’s highly competitive smartphone market, according to analysts, as presales for the new handset start on Wednesday. The new budget-priced iPhone “lacks competitiveness”, said IDC China research manager Guo Tianxiang, who pointed out that the handset “still uses outdated moulds, with the chip being the only major upgrade”. “The shortcomings in imaging and display persist, making its overall... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3345273/will-apples-budget-priced-iphone-17e-make-splash-chinas-tough-smartphone-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3345273/will-apples-budget-priced-iphone-17e-make-splash-chinas-tough-smartphone-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has stepped up its overseas expansion with the global launch of its flagship Xiaomi 17 series in Barcelona, in its latest effort to challenge Apple and Samsung in the premium segment. The launch event, held on Saturday ahead of MWC Barcelona, marked the overseas release of Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra, months after the company launched the Xiaomi 17 series domestically. As with the domestic versions, both models are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345016/chinas-xiaomi-launches-premium-smartphone-17-series-globally-challenge-apple-samsung?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345016/chinas-xiaomi-launches-premium-smartphone-17-series-globally-challenge-apple-samsung?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies is aiming for a major international comeback, with the overseas release of its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 80 Pro, alongside a new smartwatch and the addition of a “wheelchair mode” to its wearable devices. Powered by the company’s self-designed, China-made Kirin 9030 Pro processor, the overseas version of its Mate 80 Pro handsets will run on the Android-based EMUI 15 operating system, Huawei announced at a launch event in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. While the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344774/huawei-targets-global-comeback-mate-80-pro-smartphone-new-smartwatch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344774/huawei-targets-global-comeback-mate-80-pro-smartphone-new-smartwatch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:01:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Chinese man experienced an emotional roller coaster as he discovered the latest iPhone model he won at his company’s year-end party turned out to be just tiles. The man, known as Jiang Jiang, said his firm played the prank by announcing him as the winner of its year-end party’s grand prize, an iPhone 17 Pro Max. Jiang, from southern China’s Guangdong province, was ecstatic to receive the prize and decided to wait until he got home to open the box and surprise his wife. According to a video he... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343040/chinese-man-wins-iphone-companys-party-finds-tiles-inside-box-instead-demands-apology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343040/chinese-man-wins-iphone-companys-party-finds-tiles-inside-box-instead-demands-apology?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Nasa astronauts venturing deeper in space than any human has travelled will be able to document and share images from the landmark moon mission next month using Nasa-provided Apple iPhones. Crews undertaking a lunar fly-by as part of the Artemis programme, and a preceding International Space Station mission in February, will fly with “the latest smartphones”, Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a social media post. “We are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342706/nasa-allows-astronauts-use-iphones-space-capture-special-moments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342706/nasa-allows-astronauts-use-iphones-space-capture-special-moments?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:45:28 +0000 Ann Cao,Iris Deng Ann Cao,Iris Deng China has emerged as the brightest spot in Apple’s quarterly earnings, as the US tech giant achieved record iPhone revenue in the world’s largest smartphone market. Revenue in Apple’s Greater China region, which comprises mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, surged 38 per cent from a year earlier in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, which ended December 27, the Cupertino-based company said on Friday. That growth, more than double the company’s overall 16 per cent quarterly revenue increase,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341841/china-gives-apple-best-iphone-quarter-history-38-revenue-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341841/china-gives-apple-best-iphone-quarter-history-38-revenue-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:00:25 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang US tech giant Apple is offering discounts of up to 1,000 yuan (US$144) on selected products to customers in mainland China, the latest promotion from the iPhone maker ahead of an expected holiday shopping wave and heightened competition from local rivals. Promoted as a limited-time Lunar New Year offer, Apple said buyers of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus from its mainland China website and official stores between January 24 and 27 would receive the discounts, which also applied to some MacBook,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340838/apple-slashes-prices-lunar-new-year-competition-heats-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340838/apple-slashes-prices-lunar-new-year-competition-heats-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:01:00 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies edged out Apple to reclaim the No 1 spot in mainland China’s smartphone market in 2025, a new report showed, as the domestic handset maker overcame crippling US sanctions. For the full year, Huawei captured 16.4 per cent of China’s smartphone market with 46.7 million units shipped, narrowly beating Apple, which shipped 46.2 million iPhones for a 16.2 per cent share, research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) said on Wednesday. Huawei’s smartphone shipments fell 1.9... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3339863/huawei-reclaims-top-spot-over-apple-china-smartphone-market-after-chip-breakthrough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3339863/huawei-reclaims-top-spot-over-apple-china-smartphone-market-after-chip-breakthrough?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:30:12 +0000 Reuters Reuters Apple will use Google’s Gemini models for its revamped ‍Siri coming later this year under a multi-year deal that deepens the tech giants’ alliance in the artificial intelligence era and bolsters Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI. The deal announced Monday marks a major vote of confidence for Google. Its technology already drives much of Samsung’s “Galaxy AI”, but the Siri deal ⁠unlocks a large market with Apple’s installed base of more than two billion active devices. “After careful... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3339665/apple-google-strike-gemini-deal-revamped-siri-major-win-alphabet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3339665/apple-google-strike-gemini-deal-revamped-siri-major-win-alphabet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:53:20 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng The global memory-chip crunch has forced a mainland Chinese smartphone manufacturer to pull the plug on the launch of a new handset, making it one of the first cancellations affecting the wider industry due to surging prices of the key component. DreamSmart Group said that its Meizu smartphone brand had cancelled the release of Meizu 22 Air, a slim handset similar to Apple’s iPhone Air. “The sharp rise in memory prices since the fourth quarter has not only impacted [production] costs, but also... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3339566/surging-memory-chip-prices-force-chinese-smartphone-maker-meizu-abandon-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3339566/surging-memory-chip-prices-force-chinese-smartphone-maker-meizu-abandon-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Xiaomi on Thursday unveiled the 17 Ultra, its latest premium smartphone model that features improved night photography and mobile imaging capabilities on the back of the firm’s enhanced partnership with German camera maker Leica. “We work together to build future-proof optical technology … and completely reshape the mobile photography experience,” Xiaomi president Lu Weibing said at the handset’s launch. In a side-by-side comparison of dimly lit photos taken in Hong Kong with Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337738/xiaomis-17-ultra-backed-leica-challenges-apples-iphone-pro-max-mobile-imaging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337738/xiaomis-17-ultra-backed-leica-challenges-apples-iphone-pro-max-mobile-imaging?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:00:11 +0000 Sheena Khemaney Sheena Khemaney These monochrome pieces for men are classic building blocks that go together to make a powerful statement look – a look that speaks of status and discretion. iPhone 17 Pro Mr P. jacket Tudor Black Bay watch Louis Vuitton pouch Ralph Lauren tie Chopard ballpoint Pen https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/luxury-news/article/3334746/christmas-2025-gift-guide-mens-monochrome-pieces-tudor-louis-vuitton-ralph-lauren-chopard-and-apple?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/luxury-news/article/3334746/christmas-2025-gift-guide-mens-monochrome-pieces-tudor-louis-vuitton-ralph-lauren-chopard-and-apple?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 22:00:10 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies on Tuesday revealed that its next-generation Kirin 9030 system-on-a-chip powers the more advanced models of its newly launched 5G Mate 80 series smartphones. Shenzhen-based Huawei listed the Kirin 9030 as the processor for the 12-gigabyte random access memory (RAM) version of the Mate 80 Pro, while its Kirin 9030 Pro version is built into the 16GB RAM Mate 80 Pro, the Mate 80 Pro Max and Mate 80 RS models, according to the official website for the company’s latest flagship... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3334108/huaweis-latest-kirin-9030-processor-powers-premium-mate-80-smartphones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3334108/huaweis-latest-kirin-9030-processor-powers-premium-mate-80-smartphones?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:25:25 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group and OpenAI on Friday announced an agreement to design and build artificial intelligence data centre hardware, the latest in a string of infrastructure deals for the US creator of ChatGPT. Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer, has seen profits soar after shifting its focus from low-margin iPhone assembly to AI servers that are now in huge demand, as firms plough hundreds of billions of dollars into the technology. Optimism over AI has... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3333657/taiwans-foxconn-expands-ai-hardware-push-openai-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3333657/taiwans-foxconn-expands-ai-hardware-push-openai-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:52:44 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies is set to launch its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 80 series, and a new foldable handset next Tuesday, as industry speculation swirls over the use of its next-generation Kirin 9030 processor in these devices. The Shenzhen-based telecommunications equipment maker on Monday said its new Mate series – including the basic Mate 80, Mate 80 Pro, Mate 80 Pro Max and Mate 80 RS models – would be available for pre-order, but pricing and technical specifications were not... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3333269/huaweis-new-mate-80-foldable-mate-x7-handsets-square-against-apple-xiaomi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3333269/huaweis-new-mate-80-foldable-mate-x7-handsets-square-against-apple-xiaomi?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:00:15 +0000 dpa dpa Motorola is a little late to the party for ultra-slim smartphones. But with its new Edge 70, it is making a distinct statement as it aims to take on the iPhone Air and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. That statement begins with the design of this 5.9mm-thick smartphone. Motorola has collaborated with Pantone to create three eye-catching colour combinations. The 6.67-inch OLED display is beautifully bright and has a very narrow bezel around the screen. At 159 grams (5.6oz) and with its aluminium... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3333206/motorola-edge-70-review-ultra-slim-phone-takes-iphone-air-samsung-galaxy-s25-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3333206/motorola-edge-70-review-ultra-slim-phone-takes-iphone-air-samsung-galaxy-s25-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Foxconn Technology Group, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer, posted a 17 per cent rise in third-quarter profit on Wednesday, beating market forecasts, on sustained strength in demand for artificial intelligence servers. Net profit for the July-September period for Nvidia’s biggest server maker and Apple’s top iPhone assembler was T$57.67 billion (US$1.89 billion), higher than the consensus estimate of T$50.4 billion compiled by London Stock Exchange Group. Taiwan-based... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3332455/nvidia-and-apple-supplier-foxconn-posts-17-rise-third-quarter-profit-beats-forecasts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3332455/nvidia-and-apple-supplier-foxconn-posts-17-rise-third-quarter-profit-beats-forecasts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:13:47 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) posted its slowest monthly revenue growth in more than a year, lending credence to concerns that the artificial intelligence stock rally is not justified by the industry’s business prospects. TSMC, the main contract manufacturer to AI chip leader Nvidia, posted a 16.9 per cent rise in sales for October, the slowest pace since February 2024. Still, that tracks with the average analyst estimate for a 16 per cent sales increase in the current quarter.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3332309/semiconductor-giant-tsmc-posts-slowest-growth-18-months-amid-ai-bubble-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3332309/semiconductor-giant-tsmc-posts-slowest-growth-18-months-amid-ai-bubble-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:43:37 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple plans to pay about US$1 billion a year for an ultrapowerful 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model developed by Alphabet’s Google that would help run its long-promised overhaul of the Siri voice assistant, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Following an extensive evaluation period, the two companies are now finalising an agreement that would give Apple access to Google’s technology, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3331786/apple-nears-us1-billion-year-deal-use-googles-gemini-ai-model-siri?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3331786/apple-nears-us1-billion-year-deal-use-googles-gemini-ai-model-siri?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:27:27 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Apple is struggling in China as sales decline amid cutthroat competition with domestic brands, but CEO Tim Cook says he is confident of a rebound on the back of rising demand for the iPhone 17 line-up. The US tech giant’s revenue in Greater China, which covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, dropped 4 per cent year on year to US$14.5 billion in the three months ended September, the company reported on Thursday. On a conference call with analysts, Cook attributed China’s sales weakness to... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3331037/can-iphone-17-right-apples-ship-china-us-tech-giants-ceo-tim-cook-thinks-so?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3331037/can-iphone-17-right-apples-ship-china-us-tech-giants-ceo-tim-cook-thinks-so?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook is looking forward to launching the company’s artificial intelligence system in China, following the successful effort to release the iPhone Air in the vast market. Capping his six-day visit to the country last week, Cook said at an event in Shanghai on Saturday that AI was “making a difference in people’s lives” and that Apple was “working on getting [Apple Intelligence] into China right now”. No timeline was provided. Apple Intelligence – a built-in AI feature of the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329686/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pushes-ai-system-launch-china-after-iphone-air-release?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329686/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pushes-ai-system-launch-china-after-iphone-air-release?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple’s latest generation of iPhones is off to a faster start than usual, with its most basic model surging in popularity in the US and China. The iPhone 17 series outsold the iPhone 16 range by 14 per cent over their respective first 10 days on sale in the US and China, according to Counterpoint Research. The data, giving the first quantified indication of consumer response in Apple’s top two markets, shows the standard iPhone 17 is in much higher demand than the corresponding US$799 model last... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329640/apples-new-iphone-17-outsells-previous-generation-14-us-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329640/apples-new-iphone-17-outsells-previous-generation-14-us-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 06:15:04 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The launch of the iPhone Air as the first eSIM-supported smartphone sold in China marks a pivotal moment in the country’s telecoms history, as state-owned mobile carriers vie for dominance in a changing landscape. Beijing approved “commercial trials” of the handset’s eSIM function by the country’s “Big Three” telecoms operators – China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom – last week, and the iPhone Air sold out within minutes of its release on Friday. Domestic brands quickly followed suit.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329515/how-iphone-airs-esim-debut-reshapes-chinas-telecoms-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329515/how-iphone-airs-esim-debut-reshapes-chinas-telecoms-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 01:00:17 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Apple’s iPhone Air sold out within minutes of its launch in China on Friday, underscoring the device’s popularity among Chinese consumers despite competition from Android devices. The strong sales followed CEO Tim Cook’s visit this week to promote the product in the world’s largest smartphone market amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and the US. As chairman of an advisory body at Tsinghua University’s management school, Cook also met Vice-Premier He Lifeng on Thursday. Pre-sales... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329336/apples-iphone-air-sells-out-minutes-china-after-ceo-tim-cooks-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329336/apples-iphone-air-sells-out-minutes-china-after-ceo-tim-cooks-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday committed the US tech company to increased investment in China, even as trade tensions intensify between the world’s two largest economies. Cook made the pledge in a meeting with Li Lecheng, who heads the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), in Beijing after the US executive spent two days in Shanghai during his second visit to China this year. The two sides “exchanged views on the development of Apple’s business in China and strengthening... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329133/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pledges-increased-investment-china-meeting-miit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329133/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pledges-increased-investment-china-meeting-miit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:00:15 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple is preparing to expand its manufacturing operations in Vietnam as part of a push into the smart home market and an ongoing effort to lessen its dependence on China. The company is developing a range of new home devices for next year, including indoor security cameras and a display designed to control appliances and serve as a house command hub. A more advanced tabletop robot – capable of using motors and sensors to move – is slated to follow in 2027. All three products are on track to be... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329042/apple-taps-chinas-byd-build-homepod-screen-tabletop-robot-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329042/apple-taps-chinas-byd-build-homepod-screen-tabletop-robot-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 02:06:23 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook’s latest visit to China this year turned out to herald the launch of the iPhone Air on the mainland, as the country’s three major telecommunications network operators start commercial trials of the eSIM function on smartphones. China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom each confirmed on Monday that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approved the eSIM trials, as Cook later that evening joined Apple’s live streaming session on ByteDance-owned platform Douyin... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328992/apple-ceo-tim-cooks-latest-china-visit-powers-promotional-blitz-iphone-air?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328992/apple-ceo-tim-cooks-latest-china-visit-powers-promotional-blitz-iphone-air?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:30:17 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday said the iPhone Air would make its official debut in China next week, with pre-orders to start on Friday, according to his post on Weibo. Cook’s announcement was made on the same day that China Unicom said it received government approval to conduct commercial trials for eSIM functions on smartphones. Cook kicked off his second visit to China this year, meeting the men behind Pop Mart’s Labubu toys. He met Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, creator of the popular Labubu... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328861/apple-ceo-tim-cook-says-iphone-air-release-china-next-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328861/apple-ceo-tim-cook-says-iphone-air-release-china-next-week?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:30:07 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Early sales of Xiaomi’s 17-series smartphones have “exceeded expectations”, according to the company’s founder and CEO Lei Jun, bolstering the phonemaker’s efforts to challenge Apple and Huawei in China’s premium handset market. The head of the company’s phone division apologised for “insufficient stock” in a posting on social media platform Weibo on Tuesday. More than 1 million Xiaomi 17 phones were sold within the first week of sales, surpassing the performance of last year’s Xiaomi 15, the... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3328368/xiaomi-steps-apple-competition-china-smartphone-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3328368/xiaomi-steps-apple-competition-china-smartphone-market?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:05:43 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen The initial sales results of Xiaomi’s new 17-series smartphones have “exceeded expectations” so far, according to company founder, chairman and CEO Lei Jun in a Tuesday post on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo. Beijing-based Xiaomi launched its 17-series smartphones last month, two weeks after Apple introduced its iPhone 17 models. In a separate Weibo post on Tuesday, Xiaomi’s smartphone business president, Lu Weibing, apologised for the “insufficient stock” of the company’s new flagship... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328250/xiaomis-initial-17-series-handset-sales-exceeded-expectations-against-iphone-17-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328250/xiaomis-initial-17-series-handset-sales-exceeded-expectations-against-iphone-17-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:00:18 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Xiaomi is resolute in maintaining its lead over Apple in the world’s largest smartphone market, as the Chinese gadget maker goes head to head with the US technology giant with its freshly unveiled flagship handset series, the Xiaomi 17. Speaking after Thursday night’s product launch in Beijing, founder and CEO Lei Jun said “it’s time for everyone to get reacquainted with Xiaomi phones”, adding that the Xiaomi 17 series “has surpassed the iPhone 17 series in many areas”, according to a report... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3327018/xiaomi-makes-bold-attempt-challenge-apples-iphone-17-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3327018/xiaomi-makes-bold-attempt-challenge-apples-iphone-17-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Xiaomi on Thursday launched its new 17-series smartphones, about two weeks after Apple introduced its iPhone 17 models, as the Beijing-based company ramped up its efforts in the premium handset market. The models unveiled at an event in Beijing were the standard Xiaomi 17 and flagship models, the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max – all of which run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. At the launch, Xiaomi founder, chairman and CEO Lei Jun touted the new 17-series models’ thin design and a new... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326887/xiaomi-unveils-17-series-smartphones-ramps-efforts-premium-handset-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326887/xiaomi-unveils-17-series-smartphones-ramps-efforts-premium-handset-market?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:06:41 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Super Typhoon Ragasa disrupted production of Apple’s iPhones in Shenzhen and crucial pre-holiday shipments by cross-border e-commerce merchants, as the year’s strongest storm barrelled towards southern China with heavy rain and hurricane-force winds. The world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer, Foxconn Technology Group, on Tuesday suspended assembly work at its Shenzhen unit – the innovative Product Enclosure Business Group, responsible for high-speed connectors, memory and other... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326663/super-typhoon-ragasa-disrupts-iphone-production-cross-border-e-commerce-southern-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3326663/super-typhoon-ragasa-disrupts-iphone-production-cross-border-e-commerce-southern-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:00:19 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg For the past four years, some Apple customers have been waiting for a significant redesign before buying a new iPhone. The time has come for those consumers, with the iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max and iPhone Air going on sale. It is the first time since 2020 that Apple has rolled out several new phone designs. Alongside the new handsets, it also released the Apple Watch SE, Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3 and AirPods Pro 3 into stores on Friday. The new phones, which bring a fresh look in addition to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3326343/apple-takes-bite-out-competition-queues-form-long-awaited-iphone-17?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3326343/apple-takes-bite-out-competition-queues-form-long-awaited-iphone-17?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 04:01:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese tech giant Xiaomi will skip directly to the Xiaomi 17 smartphone series after last year’s Xiaomi 15 line-up in a bold move to compete against Apple, which unveiled the iPhone 17 family last week. “The Xiaomi 17 series represents a generational leap in product capability,” said Lei Jun, the founder, chairman and CEO of Xiaomi, in a social media post on Monday. The new devices were “fully benchmarked against the iPhone and ready for head-to-head competition!” he added. Xiaomi has moved up... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325617/xiaomi-skips-ahead-17-smartphone-series-take-iphone-17-heated-chinese-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325617/xiaomi-skips-ahead-17-smartphone-series-take-iphone-17-heated-chinese-market?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Pre-order sales of Apple’s new iPhone 17 series have got off to a robust start in China, shattering previous records despite delays in the shipment of the iPhone Air. In the first minute after pre-orders began at 8pm Friday local time, sales on JD.com – one of China’s largest online shopping platforms – surpassed the first-day pre-order volume of last year’s iPhone 16 series, according to the e-commerce operator. The standard iPhone 17 with 256GB of storage emerged as the most popular variant,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325424/chinese-pre-orders-apples-iphone-17-break-records-amid-strong-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325424/chinese-pre-orders-apples-iphone-17-break-records-amid-strong-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 06:00:47 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple is likely to delay Chinese shipments of its new iPhone Air, the thinnest model ever, as the company works with mainland authorities to resolve regulatory issues related to the use of an embedded SIM. As of Friday morning, Apple had revised iPhone Air ordering details for the mainland, replacing the original launch schedule with “release information to be updated later”. Previously, the company stated that pre-orders would start at 8pm Friday local time, while deliveries would begin on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325322/apple-postpones-iphone-air-release-china-beijing-keeps-tight-grip-esim-approval?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325322/apple-postpones-iphone-air-release-china-beijing-keeps-tight-grip-esim-approval?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:00:28 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Alibaba Group Holding on Friday open-sourced its latest artificial intelligence model, built on the new Qwen3-Next architecture, which is 10 times more powerful but costs only a 10th to build compared to its predecessor. The company’s Qwen team said it adopted an array of architectural innovations aimed at maximising performance while minimising computational costs, according to a note published on the developer platform GitHub. The model is developed by Alibaba Cloud, the AI and cloud computing... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325272/alibaba-releases-next-generation-qwen3-model-ai-rivalry-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325272/alibaba-releases-next-generation-qwen3-model-ai-rivalry-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:41:36 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Apple unveiled a panoply of updated gadgets at this year’s biggest product launch on Tuesday, with its ultra-thin iPhone Air grabbing much of the limelight. Customers in mainland China, one of Apple’s most lucrative markets, however, may be less inclined to join the scramble for the new model because of regulatory uncertainties related to the new phone’s adoption of eSIM technology in place of physical SIM cards. The release of the iPhone Air may be limited or staggered in the country in its... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3324959/apples-new-iphone-air-esim-star-companys-product-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3324959/apples-new-iphone-air-esim-star-companys-product-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 23:09:30 +0000 Reuters Reuters When Apple debuts new iPhones on Tuesday, analysts say its biggest challenge will be to ride out another ho-hum launch as rivals have skated past it in embedding artificial intelligence into their products and services. The biggest draw this year could be a rumoured “iPhone Air”, a phone slimmer than what Apple has sold before and taking its name from the company’s slender laptop, MacBook Air. Apple would need to iron out how to pack batteries and cameras into a thinner device, analysts said,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324814/apple-iphone-event-may-lack-sparkle-rumoured-iphone-air-likely-spur-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324814/apple-iphone-event-may-lack-sparkle-rumoured-iphone-air-likely-spur-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 03:00:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Huawei Technologies has launched the Mate XTs – its second trifold smartphone, which is more affordable than its predecessor – just five days before Apple is set to unveil its new iPhone 17 series. Powered by Huawei’s self-developed Kirin 9020 chipset and running on the company’s proprietary HarmonyOS ecosystem, the Mate XTs boasted a 36 per cent performance improvement, Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, said during the launch event in Shenzhen on Thursday. The... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324358/huawei-unveils-us2500-trifold-smartphone-ahead-apples-iphone-17-reveal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324358/huawei-unveils-us2500-trifold-smartphone-ahead-apples-iphone-17-reveal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 11:30:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The world’s thinnest iPhone may face a delayed arrival in one of Apple’s most critical markets, as the embedded-Sim infrastructure is not ready for a nationwide roll-out in time for the iPhone 17 launch this month. Shop assistants at two Apple authorised resellers in Foshan, in southern Guangdong province, said they have not received any training regarding the eSim support. In comparison, employees at resellers in the European Union were asked to complete a relevant course by Friday, MacRumors... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324223/china-debut-thinner-iphone-17-likely-face-hurdles-amid-smartphone-esim-uncertainty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324223/china-debut-thinner-iphone-17-likely-face-hurdles-amid-smartphone-esim-uncertainty?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple plans to hold its big fall product launch on September 9, when the company is expected to introduce an iPhone 17 line-up that includes a new skinnier version of its signature device. The event will begin at 10am and stream online, continuing a strategy of virtual launches that began in the Covid era. The tagline for the event is “awe dropping”, according to an invitation posted online and sent to media. The focus of the event will be the company’s new smartphones, including an updated base... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3323275/apple-hold-september-9-event-introduce-iphone-17-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3323275/apple-hold-september-9-event-introduce-iphone-17-line?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 04:00:18 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Apple assembly partner Foxconn has recalled about 300 Chinese engineers from a factory in India, the latest setback for the iPhone maker’s push to rapidly expand in the country. The extraction of Chinese workers from the factory of Yuzhan Technology, a Foxconn component unit, in southern Tamil Nadu state is the second such move in a few months. Foxconn has started flying in engineers from Taiwan to replace staff leaving, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named as the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3322937/apples-india-push-tested-foxconn-recalls-300-chinese-staff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3322937/apples-india-push-tested-foxconn-recalls-300-chinese-staff?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 13:46:37 +0000