Semiconductors & AI Chips Weekly Briefing

September 25, 2026

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. ^17181920

Sources

1. Qualcomm · LinkedIn post · September 24 Qualcomm renews patent license with Apple through 2027
2. Yahoo Finance · September 24 Qualcomm secures long-term Apple patent deal, easing revenue fears
3. Yahoo Tech · September 24 Your next Snapdragon phone may run AI agents without the cloud
4. Qualcomm · Announcement · September 22 Qualcomm launches two fastest mobile SoCs for agentic AI smartphones
5. Sammy Fans · September 24 Samsung and SK Hynix eye 190 trillion won profit in Q3 2026
6. Business Korea · September 20 Samsung, SK hynix Near Early Completion of 35 Trillion Won Buybacks
7. MarketWatch · September 21 AMD Surpasses $1 Trillion Valuation, Becomes Seventh Chip Stock to Do So
8. Crypto Briefing · September 17 Nvidia, Alphabet, AMD secure 85% of 2027 HBM supply
9. Yahoo Finance · September 18 NVIDIA CEO Says AI Spending Flywheel Is ‘Really, Really Flying’
10. TechNode · September 22 Yangtze Memory wins first substantive injunction in 3D NAND patent fight with Micron
11. Yahoo Finance · September 23 China s YMTC wins patent battle against Micron in ongoing 3-year legal war over memory patents
12. The Indian Express · September 20 China’s CXMT says new memory-chip platform enters mass production | Technology News - The Indian Express
13. China Daily · September 19 CXMT boosts wafer output by over 50%
14. Seoul Economic Daily · September 20 China's CXMT Starts Mass Production on 5th-Generation DRAM Process
15. Indrastra · September 19 China's CXMT Challenges the Limits of U.S. Chip Export Controls
16. Startup Fortune · September 19 TSMC and Samsung Just Admitted They Need ASML's $400 Million Machine
17. Dataquest · September 23 Kioxia and Sandisk to invest over $31 billion in Japan, etending leadership in memory industry
18. Dataquest · September 23 Kioxia and Sandisk to invest over $31 billion in Japan, etending leadership in memory industry
19. Yahoo Finance · September 24 Marvell Just Unveiled a 2nm Breakthrough for AI Data Centers
20. Yahoo Finance · September 21 Marvell Shares Rally After Unveiling 1.6T Optical Technology for AI Networks