Semiconductors & AI Chips Weekly Briefing
Qualcomm and Apple renewed their patent deal as AI demand drives record memory profits, China’s CXMT hits mass production, and AMD hits a $1T valuation.
- Qualcomm renewed its patent licensing agreement with Apple through 2027 and launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, which is designed to run agentic AI locally on mobile devices. 1234
- Samsung and SK Hynix moved toward early completion of massive share buyback programs as they forecast record profits for late 2026 fueled by strong memory demand. 56
- Nvidia reported accelerating demand for AI computing as major tech firms compete to secure 85% of global high-bandwidth memory supply through 2027, while AMD briefly surpassed a $1 trillion market valuation. 789
- China's CXMT commenced mass production on its fifth-generation DRAM process to challenge global leaders, while domestic peer YMTC secured a German court injunction against Micron for patent infringement. 101112131415
- TSMC and Samsung joined Intel in committing to ASML's $400 million High-NA EUV machines, the only tools capable of printing next-generation AI chips. 16
- Other notable developments include Kioxia and SanDisk's $31 billion investment plan for Japan, a $100 billion Arizona commitment by a leading Taiwanese firm, and Marvell's unveiling of 2nm optical technology for AI data centers. 1718192021
Sources
- Qualcomm renews patent license with Apple through 2027
- Qualcomm secures long-term Apple patent deal, easing revenue fears
- Your next Snapdragon phone may run AI agents without the cloud
- Qualcomm launches two fastest mobile SoCs for agentic AI smartphones
- Samsung and SK Hynix eye 190 trillion won profit in Q3 2026
- Samsung, SK hynix Near Early Completion of 35 Trillion Won Buybacks
- AMD Surpasses $1 Trillion Valuation, Becomes Seventh Chip Stock to Do So
- Nvidia, Alphabet, AMD secure 85% of 2027 HBM supply
- NVIDIA CEO Says AI Spending Flywheel Is ‘Really, Really Flying’
- Yangtze Memory wins first substantive injunction in 3D NAND patent fight with Micron
- China s YMTC wins patent battle against Micron in ongoing 3-year legal war over memory patents
- China’s CXMT says new memory-chip platform enters mass production | Technology News - The Indian Express
- CXMT boosts wafer output by over 50%
- China's CXMT Starts Mass Production on 5th-Generation DRAM Process
- China's CXMT Challenges the Limits of U.S. Chip Export Controls
- TSMC and Samsung Just Admitted They Need ASML's $400 Million Machine
- Ranked: The World’s 10 Biggest Foreign Investors
- Kioxia and Sandisk to invest over $31 billion in Japan, etending leadership in memory industry
- Kioxia and Sandisk to invest over $31 billion in Japan, etending leadership in memory industry
- Marvell Just Unveiled a 2nm Breakthrough for AI Data Centers
- Marvell Shares Rally After Unveiling 1.6T Optical Technology for AI Networks