https://www.scmp.com/rss/517275/feed A mobile handset business spun off from Huawei Technologies in 2020, Honor is one of China's leading smartphone brands. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s smartphone and electronics supply chain is adapting its expertise to support the country’s fledgling but fast-growing humanoid robotics industry, as component suppliers seek new growth beyond a slowing mobile market. The sector received a glimpse of that crossover after Honor’s humanoid robot D1, a dark-horse entrant from the smartphone maker, won Beijing’s recent robot half-marathon, beating established Chinese robotics names such as Unitree. Honor entered the humanoid robotics sector... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352212/phones-robots-chinas-supply-chain-eyes-next-growth-curve-humanoid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352212/phones-robots-chinas-supply-chain-eyes-next-growth-curve-humanoid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 04:00:17 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The impact of sky-high costs for memory chips is spreading from smartphones to cars, as China’s electric vehicle (EV) king BYD announced a 21 per cent price increase for its high-end driver-assistance system. Starting on Friday, the price of the optional DiPilot 300 assisted-driving system would rise to 12,000 yuan ($1,757) from 9,900 yuan, BYD said on Tuesday, attributing the decision to “the sharp rise in global storage hardware costs”. The system, which allows cars to navigate themselves on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351842/hit-memory-costs-spreads-phones-evs-chinas-byd-raises-driving-tech-price?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351842/hit-memory-costs-spreads-phones-evs-chinas-byd-raises-driving-tech-price?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:30:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese Big Tech firms from Huawei Technologies’ spin-off Honor to Alibaba Group Holding are moving to the forefront of the country’s robotics push as Beijing seeks to spur growth in the sector. Honor, which separated from Huawei in 2020 to focus on smartphones and wearables and only expanded into robotics last year, emerged as the surprise gold medal winner at the second Beijing humanoid half-marathon on Sunday, besting the country’s robotics darlings from Unitree to X-Humanoid. Its Lightning... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350755/chinese-tech-giants-advance-robotics-push-sector-sees-rapid-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350755/chinese-tech-giants-advance-robotics-push-sector-sees-rapid-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:12 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang The winner of a robot half-marathon held in Beijing on Sunday smashed the human world record by more than six minutes in the latest display of the industry’s rapid development. The humanoid device, known as Lightning, was developed by the Chinese smartphone and gadget company Honor, which only entered the sector last year. Its finishing time of 50 minutes 26 seconds was far quicker than the men’s world record of 57:20 held by the Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo and around 17 minutes faster than the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3350610/winner-beijing-robot-half-marathon-smashes-human-world-record-6-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3350610/winner-beijing-robot-half-marathon-smashes-human-world-record-6-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:01:54 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Huawei Technologies claimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market in the first quarter with its highest share in five years, while Apple saw the strongest growth among the top six players, despite a global memory chip crunch. Huawei held a 20 per cent share in the first three months, the highest since the fourth quarter of 2020, according to a Friday report by Counterpoint Research. Chinese government subsidies that offered a 15 per cent discount for gadgets under 6,000 yuan (US$880), along... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350566/huawei-retains-lead-china-smartphone-market-apple-shipments-surge-first-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350566/huawei-retains-lead-china-smartphone-market-apple-shipments-surge-first-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:00:37 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Xiaomi has raised prices on several smartphone models, joining a broader wave of increases across China’s handset makers as surging memory chip costs ripple through the global consumer electronics supply chain. The company said on Friday that prices for three models would rise by about 200 yuan (US$29), with the adjustments taking effect next Saturday. The move follows similar increases by domestic peers including Oppo, Vivo and Honor in March. Xiaomi attributed the hike to “continued sharp... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348944/xiaomi-lifts-handset-prices-memory-chip-crunch-ripples-through-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348944/xiaomi-lifts-handset-prices-memory-chip-crunch-ripples-through-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:00:13 +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 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings has become a sponsor of OpenClaw after public complaints from the creator of the popular open-source artificial intelligence agent. Tencent and its cloud computing unit officially became sponsors of OpenClaw on Monday, as featured on the project’s GitHub page alongside OpenAI and Chinese AI giant Baidu. The GitHub page has a section that lists the project’s sponsors. Earlier on Sunday, an account belonging to Tencent Cloud Lighthouse – the tech giant’s team... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346796/tencent-sponsors-openclaw-after-creators-complaints-copying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346796/tencent-sponsors-openclaw-after-creators-complaints-copying?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:44:50 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Chinese smartphone maker Vivo on Monday said it will increase handset prices, citing surging semiconductor and memory costs, joining peers such as Oppo and Honor. Vivo, along with its sub-brand iQOO, will adjust prices from Wednesday, though the scale has not yet been disclosed. The move came in response to the “continued sharp rise in global semiconductor and memory costs”, the company said. Last week, Oppo said it would adjust prices, with the new pricing taking effect on Monday. “We... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346758/chinese-smartphone-makers-vivo-oppo-raise-prices-memory-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346758/chinese-smartphone-makers-vivo-oppo-raise-prices-memory-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:30:08 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang By the time software programmer Guo Cancan realised something had gone horribly wrong with OpenClaw – the task-executing AI agent that has ignited a fervour across China – the damage was already done. While on holiday over the Chinese New Year, Guo was tinkering with the autonomous open-source program. When he attempted to resolve an error that it had made, OpenClaw responded by deleting nearly everything on his computer’s D: drive – a major storage partition – wiping out years of personal data... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346513/inside-openclaw-mania-gripping-china-security-fears-surge-alongside-enthusiasm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346513/inside-openclaw-mania-gripping-china-security-fears-surge-alongside-enthusiasm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng The mobile industry buzzed with excitement over the artificial intelligence revolution showcased at MWC Barcelona 2026, but the optimism was overshadowed by the Middle East crisis and a memory crunch that could reshape the global smartphone supply chain. The AI showcase drew a large crowd, including King Felipe VI of Spain, to the booth of Chinese smartphone maker Honor, which displayed its “Robot Phone” with a built-in camera gimbal designed to become a companion to users. “This brings a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3345760/middle-east-crisis-global-memory-crunch-dim-ai-smartphone-buzz-mwc-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3345760/middle-east-crisis-global-memory-crunch-dim-ai-smartphone-buzz-mwc-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone maker Honor has unveiled a “robot phone” and its first humanoid assistant ahead of MWC Barcelona, alongside its latest foldable handset, in an aggressive bet on artificial intelligence-powered hardware to stand out in the fierce Android competition. Honor’s AI Robot Phone, which featured a motorised, three-axis gimbal arm, could track motion and interact with users through camera movement, the company said in a preview of the handset on Sunday in Barcelona. The camera arm and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345042/chinas-honor-debuts-robot-phone-and-humanoid-companion-push-ai-hardware?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345042/chinas-honor-debuts-robot-phone-and-humanoid-companion-push-ai-hardware?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:01:07 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone makers are set to introduce their latest handsets at MWC Barcelona, as the mobile industry navigates an ongoing memory crunch and a pivot to artificial intelligence. Some Android phone makers are also expected to showcase experimental robots and other AI devices at the annual trade show formerly known as Mobile World Congress, which will run from March 2 to 5. Honor, an independent brand formerly under Huawei Technologies, will unveil more details about its highly anticipated... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3344960/mwc-2026-chinese-smartphone-makers-bet-pivot-ai-weather-memory-chip-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3344960/mwc-2026-chinese-smartphone-makers-bet-pivot-ai-weather-memory-chip-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese electronics companies Insta360 and Vivo are preparing aggressive moves into the gimbal-stabilised camera market, setting up a direct challenge to DJI’s dominance, though analysts warn the newcomers may struggle to match the drone maker’s entrenched content ecosystem. Insta360, a key rival to GoPro, is planning a handheld gimbal camera aimed at DJI’s popular Pocket series, currently slated for release in the first half of the year, according to people familiar with the matter. Separately,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342930/insta360-vivo-challenge-djis-turf-eyeing-slice-gimbal-camera-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342930/insta360-vivo-challenge-djis-turf-eyeing-slice-gimbal-camera-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:11 +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 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 Themis Qi Themis Qi CXMT Corporation, parent of Chinese memory chip giant ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), aims to raise 29.5 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) from an initial public offering in Shanghai to fund technology upgrades, as Beijing presses ahead with its drive for tech self-reliance amid geopolitical tensions. The Shanghai Stock Exchange received CXMT’s application for a listing on the Nasdaq-style Star Market, a filing on the bourse’s website showed on Tuesday night. This marks a critical step towards... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/semiconductors/article/3338246/chinas-dram-giant-cxmt-plans-us42-billion-ipo-shanghais-star-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/semiconductors/article/3338246/chinas-dram-giant-cxmt-plans-us42-billion-ipo-shanghais-star-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 04:30:17 +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 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese tablet makers, including Xiaomi and Honor, have raised prices across their product lines as they scrambled to absorb soaring costs of memory chips. Xiaomi, the Beijing-based smartphone and electric vehicle maker, has imposed mark-ups of 100 yuan (US$14) to 300 yuan on several tablet products this week, including its entry-level Redmi Pad 2 and the premium Xiaomi Pad 8 series. The Redmi Pad 2, launched in June this year with a starting price of 999 yuan, now carries a price tag of 1,199... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336776/memory-crunch-chinese-tablet-makers-xiaomi-and-honor-raise-prices-chip-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336776/memory-crunch-chinese-tablet-makers-xiaomi-and-honor-raise-prices-chip-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korea’s supreme leader, has been spotted with what appears to be a Chinese-made foldable phone. Images released by state media on Sunday showed Kim holding the phone in her right hand during a trip to a hospital opening alongside her brother, Kim Jong-un. Although the brand name cannot be seen in the picture, the phone closely resembles the Chinese brand Honor’s “Magic” line, advertised as “the world’s thinnest foldable smartphone”. The V3 model of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3336430/does-north-koreas-kim-yo-jong-have-new-chinese-smartphone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3336430/does-north-koreas-kim-yo-jong-have-new-chinese-smartphone?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 04:03:27 +0000 Ben Jiang,Ann Cao Ben Jiang,Ann Cao Smart glasses have been technology’s “next big thing” for at least a decade without actually getting very far. Chinese companies now hope that new developments in artificial intelligence (AI) could make the sector take off. Start-ups, such as Rokid, Xreal, Meizu and Rayneo, have introduced AI-powered smart glasses in China this year, along with established tech giants Xiaomi, Baidu and Alibaba. Facebook owner Meta, the global market leader, also debuted the AI-powered Meta Ray-Ban Display... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334327/smart-glasses-makers-see-ai-long-awaited-killer-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3334327/smart-glasses-makers-see-ai-long-awaited-killer-app?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Over 20 Chinese companies have earned a place on Time magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2025” list, with innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) recognised for the first time alongside advances in robotics and consumer electronics. Products from DeepSeek, Unitree Robotics and Huawei Technologies were among those featured on the annual list selected by the magazine’s editors. This year’s edition – covering 300 innovations across 36 categories, the most ever – marks the first time Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331354/chinese-ai-humanoid-robot-make-time-magazines-best-inventions-2025-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331354/chinese-ai-humanoid-robot-make-time-magazines-best-inventions-2025-list?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Honor, the Chinese smartphone maker spun off from Huawei Technologies, on Wednesday teased a concept artificial intelligence-enabled handset featuring a fold-out gimbal-attached camera, as the firm looks to differentiate itself from rival Android device makers in the global market. The “Robot Phone” was unveiled by Honor online in a promotional video that showed the gimbal-stabilised camera unfurl from the back camera module and appear to pivot while tracking its subject’s movement. Honor... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3329238/chinas-honor-teases-robot-phone-new-ai-handset-gimbal-attached-camera?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3329238/chinas-honor-teases-robot-phone-new-ai-handset-gimbal-attached-camera?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:00:17 +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 Hannah Wang Hannah Wang China’s five leading Android-system smartphone brands – Honor, Lenovo, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi – have formed a platform to promote a new privacy permission system, marking a key step towards standardising privacy protection among Android users in the artificial intelligence era. As Chinese smartphone makers rush to equip AI features, the issue of user data collection has become the focus of debate. The initiative by the five brands aims to strike a balance between privacy protection and user data... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3322486/chinas-android-phone-makers-promote-new-privacy-permission-platform-protect-user-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3322486/chinas-android-phone-makers-promote-new-privacy-permission-platform-protect-user-data?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:00:15 +0000 Reuters Reuters Samsung Electronics on Wednesday unveiled thinner, lighter new foldable phones as it aims to fend off Chinese competition in the higher-margin, premium segment that remains untapped by arch rival Apple. The stakes are high. The South Korean company lost its global smartphone crown to Apple in 2023, and faces growing competition from Chinese rivals like Huawei Technologies and Honor. Meanwhile, Samsung’s mainstay chip business has suffered a profit slump stemming in part from its delayed supply... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3317632/samsung-bets-slimmer-ai-foldable-phones-challenge-apple-chinese-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3317632/samsung-bets-slimmer-ai-foldable-phones-challenge-apple-chinese-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 03:51:06 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Honor, the Chinese smartphone maker spun off from Huawei Technologies, has unveiled what it touted as the world’s “thinnest and lightest” foldable smartphone, boasting built-in agentic artificial intelligence (AI) as competition heats up among Chinese handset brands. The Magic V5 smartphone, with prices starting at 8,999 yuan (US$1,256), measures just 8.8 millimetres thick when folded and weighs 217 grams, the company said during its Wednesday launch event. The device is Honor’s first flagship... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3316692/honor-launches-thinnest-foldable-smartphone-new-ai-agent-amid-steep-competition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3316692/honor-launches-thinnest-foldable-smartphone-new-ai-agent-amid-steep-competition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:43:26 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang China’s fourth-largest smartphone maker Honor took an important step towards a domestic stock market debut on Thursday by filing documents with securities regulators. The company completed initial public offering (IPO) counselling recordation, the formal filing of pre-IPO guidance with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). The step is required for companies seeking to list mainland shares, known as A shares. The Shenzhen-based company, a spin-off from smartphone and... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3316056/chinese-smartphone-maker-honor-moves-closer-listing-share-market-perks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3316056/chinese-smartphone-maker-honor-moves-closer-listing-share-market-perks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 05:28:10 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow The new US-China trade framework makes clear that China will face high tariffs on exports to the US and restrictions on importing US technology. The nation’s government and business leaders are adapting to this new reality. Chinese Premier Li Qiang this week highlighted modernisation and expanding domestic consumption as he called on officials to anticipate challenges amid a “complex and severe” external situation. The message underscores the government’s push to develop domestic technology to... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3314240/china-adapts-tariffs-lujiazui-forum-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3314240/china-adapts-tariffs-lujiazui-forum-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Chinese smartphone maker Honor has joined the country’s heated race to develop robots, as it aims to reposition itself as an artificial intelligence (AI) player amid heightened competition in the Android handset market. Honor said on Wednesday that it would develop its own robots, and that it had already helped Chinese start-up Unitree Robotics break the record for running speed by a humanoid robot. The Shenzhen-based firm, a spin-off from telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies, said that... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3312162/smartphone-maker-honor-joins-robotics-race-after-pledging-us10-billion-ai-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3312162/smartphone-maker-honor-joins-robotics-race-after-pledging-us10-billion-ai-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 May 2025 12:00:18 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hongkonger and Christian William Soo Yau-kung beat the odds by starting a new chapter in his career eight years ago at the age of 50, relocating to the Islamic country of Qatar, an unconventional choice perhaps for expats. “Working for Qatar [Airways] is like playing an international match as I get to work alongside top engineers from around the world – holding almost 200 different passports – which motivates me to learn more and do better,” the flight operations engineer said. “While most... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3310966/opportunity-i-could-not-let-pass-hong-kong-expats-embrace-life-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3310966/opportunity-i-could-not-let-pass-hong-kong-expats-embrace-life-qatar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 02:30:07 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Chinese smartphone makers looking to compete with Apple and Samsung Electronics globally are turning to Google for artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, but they face challenges such as a lack of differentiation and compelling use cases, according to analysts. At MWC Barcelona this week, Xiaomi, Honor, Oppo and other Chinese handset vendors showcased their latest AI smartphones, emphasising features developed using Google’s Gemini model. Targeting a global audience at one of the world’s... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3300983/mwc-2025-chinese-smartphone-makers-turn-google-ai-compete-globally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3300983/mwc-2025-chinese-smartphone-makers-turn-google-ai-compete-globally?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:00:14 +0000 Iris Deng,Xinmei Shen Iris Deng,Xinmei Shen Honor’s newly appointed CEO pledged to invest US$10 billion over the next five years to drive the artificial intelligence (AI) transformation of the Chinese smartphone maker, as it seeks to integrate the technology across the company’s devices. The “Alpha” investment plan would support Honor’s new strategy to evolve from a smartphone maker into an ecosystem company focused on AI devices, CEO James Li Jian announced on Sunday in Barcelona ahead of the annual MWC mobile trade show. The initiative... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3300662/honor-unveils-us10-billion-investment-drive-ai-upgrade-smartphones-tablets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3300662/honor-unveils-us10-billion-investment-drive-ai-upgrade-smartphones-tablets?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Mar 2025 23:00:15 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Apple and its rivals in the Chinese smartphone market are in a heated race to adopt the country’s fast-improving artificial intelligence (AI) models, including those from DeepSeek and Alibaba Group Holding. The iPhone maker struck a deal to use Alibaba’s Qwen models for Apple Intelligence in mainland China, the South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday, citing sources. Apple Intelligence is supported by OpenAI’s ChatGPT in most international markets, but in China, only AI models approved by... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3298522/chinas-smartphone-brands-embrace-deepseeks-ai-models-apple-partners-alibaba?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3298522/chinas-smartphone-brands-embrace-deepseeks-ai-models-apple-partners-alibaba?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:51:22 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s antitrust investigation into Google, which does not offer most of its consumer-facing services including search and email in the country, seems to make little sense on the surface, but analysts said the move could be seen as a warning shot to the US and a threat to the Android operating system. The inquiry into Google was unveiled on Tuesday in tandem with China’s fresh tariffs on US imports and new export controls of certain minerals, as well as the addition of two US companies to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3297518/chinas-antitrust-probe-google-seen-warning-shot-us-android-target?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3297518/chinas-antitrust-probe-google-seen-warning-shot-us-android-target?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:40:45 +0000 Wency Chen,Iris Deng Wency Chen,Iris Deng Chinese smartphone giant Honor’s long-standing chief executive, George Zhao Ming, has resigned owing to personal reasons, according to the company, as veteran Huawei Technologies executive Li Jian takes the helm of the firm amid its preparations to go public. In an announcement on Friday, Honor’s board of directors acknowledged Zhao’s “outstanding contributions to the company during his tenure” and expected his successor Li to “continue to deliver innovative products and experiences to consumers... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3295264/smartphone-giant-honor-names-huawei-veteran-lead-firm-ceo-george-zhao-ming-resigns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3295264/smartphone-giant-honor-names-huawei-veteran-lead-firm-ceo-george-zhao-ming-resigns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:19:04 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Apple’s latest iPhone models are mostly excluded from China’s new subsidy scheme for boosting domestic consumption, giving domestic smartphone makers the opportunity to lift sales on the back of the stimulus measure. China will offer a 15 per cent subsidy for purchases of smartphones, tablets and smartwatches that cost under 6,000 yuan (US$818), in line with the government’s expanded trade-in scheme for consumer goods, according to a notice on Wednesday by the National Development and Reform... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293944/apples-pricey-iphones-out-chinas-new-subsidy-scheme-ceiling-capped-us818?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293944/apples-pricey-iphones-out-chinas-new-subsidy-scheme-ceiling-capped-us818?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:00:18 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding’s cloud computing unit is providing its Tongyi Qianwen large language model (LLM) to Transsion, the leading smartphone vendor in Africa, as more Chinese handset makers integrate generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies into their devices. Alibaba Cloud on Tuesday announced a partnership with Transsion that will see Tongyi Qianwen power the GenAI features of the Phantom V Fold2, the latest flagship Android 5G smartphone from the Shenzhen-based handset maker’s... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3293897/alibaba-powers-ai-drive-transsion-top-chinese-smartphone-vendor-africa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3293897/alibaba-powers-ai-drive-transsion-top-chinese-smartphone-vendor-africa?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone maker Honor plans to expand in Indonesia to tap into the growing appetite for premium handsets in Southeast Asia’s largest economy and most populous country. Shenzhen-based Honor, which was spun off in 2020 as an independent company by Huawei Technologies, expects to launch more than 30 products that range from smartphones to wearables, as well as open over 10 “experience” stores across the Indonesian archipelago this year, according to Justin Li, president of Honor South... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293624/chinese-smartphone-maker-honor-targets-indonesias-growing-appetite-premium-handsets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3293624/chinese-smartphone-maker-honor-targets-indonesias-growing-appetite-premium-handsets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 01:00:19 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese technology giant Tencent Holdings announced on Friday a new strategic partnership with smartphone maker Honor for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), giving a boost to a domestic rival to Apple, which has yet to settle on a partner to launch AI on iPhones in the country. Shenzhen-based Tencent said in a post on its official WeChat account that the “long-term collaboration” with Honor, a spin-off smartphone brand from Huawei Technologies, will see the deep integration of its... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3291754/tencent-teams-smartphone-maker-honor-ai-while-apple-searches-partner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3291754/tencent-teams-smartphone-maker-honor-ai-while-apple-searches-partner?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:00:11 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Huawei Technologies gained more ground in mainland China’s high-end smartphone segment in the third quarter, narrowing the gap with US rival Apple, which still leads that handset category, the latest data from research firm Canalys showed. Shenzhen-based Huawei’s domestic shipments of premium-priced smartphones – handsets that cost more than US$600 – surged 34 per cent in the September quarter from a year earlier, resulting in a 33 per cent share, according to a report released by Canalys on... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3289747/huawei-premium-smartphone-shipments-surge-apple-continues-lead-segment-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3289747/huawei-premium-smartphone-shipments-surge-apple-continues-lead-segment-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:30:16 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Oppo has brought back its high-end Find X series smartphones to overseas markets in a renewed international push, as Chinese Android handset vendors step up expansion efforts amid cutthroat competition at home. The Chinese smartphone giant – the world’s fourth-largest handset vendor by shipments last quarter, according to research firm IDC – on Thursday held the global launch of its new Find X8 and Find X8 Pro in Bali, Indonesia. The launch comes after a two-year hiatus for Oppo’s flagship... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3287683/oppo-brings-back-premium-find-x-smartphones-global-markets-amid-slow-growth-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3287683/oppo-brings-back-premium-find-x-smartphones-global-markets-amid-slow-growth-home?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Nov 2024 01:00:15 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Apple saw a sharp decrease in iPhone sales across China during this year’s Singles’ Day, the world’s biggest shopping festival, amid stiff competition from mainland smartphone rivals and weak domestic consumption, according to a new report. The country’s two-week Singles’ Day sales period this year yielded “a double-digit, year-on-year decline in iPhone sales”, as Apple “faced pressure from an abnormally high number” of new flagship smartphone models that domestic competitors launched just... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3287516/apples-iphone-sales-fall-during-chinas-singles-day-shopping-festival-report-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3287516/apples-iphone-sales-fall-during-chinas-singles-day-shopping-festival-report-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:00:23 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone makers from Honor to Xiaomi are flexing their muscles in on-device artificial-intelligence (AI) software, trying to get a head start in their home market before Apple launches its own competing system there. Honor, a spin-off from Huawei Technologies, on Wednesday debuted its self-developed AI agent Yoyo on its new flagship Magic 7 series handsets. The tool is designed to help users complete tasks on their smartphones with simple voice commands. At the launch event, Honor CEO... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3284663/chinese-smartphone-brands-beat-apple-ai-punch-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3284663/chinese-smartphone-brands-beat-apple-ai-punch-home?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:00:08 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s smartphone market is on track to record its first annual sales growth in five years, according to Counterpoint Research, which placed Apple out of the top-five domestic rankings in the third quarter. Sales in the world’s largest smartphone market rose 2.3 per cent year on year in the September quarter, marking four consecutive quarters of growth that reinforce projections of a low single-digit increase in 2024, according to a Counterpoint report on Monday. Chinese smartphone vendors... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3284324/china-smartphone-market-close-2024-first-annual-sales-growth-5-years-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3284324/china-smartphone-market-close-2024-first-annual-sales-growth-5-years-report?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:00:12 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi and Honor appear ready to follow rival Huawei Technologies’ lead by launching their own trifold models, as public records show that the two firms have each previously applied for a design patent on a double-hinged handset. According to a filing released by China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), Beijing-based Xiaomi had already applied for a design patent on a double-hinged smartphone with three rear cameras in 2022. The agency’s record... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3279188/xiaomi-honor-look-ready-push-tri-fold-handsets-following-lead-huaweis-mate-xt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3279188/xiaomi-honor-look-ready-push-tri-fold-handsets-following-lead-huaweis-mate-xt?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Sep 2024 23:00:09 +0000 Iris Deng,Ben Jiang Iris Deng,Ben Jiang Huawei Technologies saw reservations for its new Mate XT, the world’s first trifold smartphone, surge to more than 3 million after pre-orders started over the weekend, with scalpers listing the handset for at least 20,000 yuan (US$2,821) on the grey market. Around 3.04 million people have made reservations to buy the Mate XT as of Monday afternoon, just two days after Shenzhen-based Huawei launched pre-orders for its latest 5G smartphone model via its official e-commerce platform... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3277808/huawei-mate-xt-tri-fold-handset-sees-over-3-million-pre-orders-ahead-iphone-16-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3277808/huawei-mate-xt-tri-fold-handset-sees-over-3-million-pre-orders-ahead-iphone-16-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Sep 2024 12:00:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Beijing-based Zhipu AI, one of China’s four artificial intelligence (AI) “tigers”, has raised an undisclosed amount in a new funding round – led by a state-backed investor, which put the start-up’s value at around 20 billion yuan (US$2.8 billion). Proceeds from Zhipu AI’s latest financing round – estimated to be worth “billions of yuan”, according to a report on Thursday by local media outlet 36Kr – will be used to “support technological innovation and ecosystem buildout” for its large language... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3277324/chinese-unicorn-zhipu-raises-new-funding-state-backed-investor-amid-mainland-ai-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3277324/chinese-unicorn-zhipu-raises-new-funding-state-backed-investor-amid-mainland-ai-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Sep 2024 09:00:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Samsung Electronics has notified employees in mainland China of a restructuring that will eliminate about 130 positions – equivalent to 8 per cent of domestic sales staff – according to South Korean media reports, as the company continues to grapple with sluggish smartphone and television demand in the world’s second-largest economy. This marks the start of a broader restructuring initiative that would potentially cut up to 30 per cent of Samsung’s mainland workforce by next year, the Seoul... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3277208/samsung-said-slash-8-sales-team-mainland-china-amid-weak-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3277208/samsung-said-slash-8-sales-team-mainland-china-amid-weak-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:02:40 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese smartphone brand Honor surpassed Samsung Electronics to become the No 1 foldable-handset maker in western Europe, according to data from industry consultancy Counterpoint Research. Honor – a spin-off from Huawei Technologies – took that crown for the first time in the second quarter. Western Europe is the second-largest foldable handset market after China and a fierce battleground for players including Motorola, Oppo, OnePlus and Google, according to a new Counterpoint report. Honor,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3276886/honor-overtakes-samsung-claim-top-spot-west-europes-foldable-smartphone-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3276886/honor-overtakes-samsung-claim-top-spot-west-europes-foldable-smartphone-market?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:00:13 +0000