SoftBank and Intel Partner to Develop Next-Generation Memory Chips for AI Data Centers 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering 
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 
SpaceX Updates Starlink Privacy Policy to Allow AI Training as xAI Merger Talks and IPO Loom 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
Amazon Stock Rebounds After Earnings as $200B Capex Plan Sparks AI Spending Debate 
Nintendo Shares Slide After Earnings Miss Raises Switch 2 Margin Concerns 
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off 
Instagram Outage Disrupts Thousands of U.S. Users 
Nvidia Nears $20 Billion OpenAI Investment as AI Funding Race Intensifies 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down After Layoffs 
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge 
Smartphone shipments for Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung (KS:005930) declined in Q4 as competition from Chinese companies like Xiaomi (OTC:XIACF) intensified, according to preliminary data from IDC. Despite a rebound in the global smartphone market after two years of decline, Apple’s shipments fell 4.1% to 76.9 million units, and Samsung's dipped 2.7% to 51.7 million units.
Chinese smartphone makers, including Xiaomi, Oppo, and Honor, captured a record 56% of the global market in the quarter, driven by their success in low-end and mid-range devices. Xiaomi led the growth, with shipments surging 15.4% in 2024, while Apple and Samsung saw annual declines of 0.9% and 1.4%, respectively.
Apple held an 18.7% market share globally in 2024, slightly ahead of Samsung at 18%. Xiaomi followed with a 13.6% share, reflecting its aggressive expansion in Europe and Africa. The surge in Chinese brands highlights their ability to cater to emerging markets while leveraging strong domestic demand.
IDC noted decreased consumer interest in foldable smartphones, despite heavy promotions. As a result, manufacturers are reallocating research and design budgets away from foldables. "While growth in 2025 looks promising, uncertainty around potential U.S. tariffs adds risk," said IDC's Nabila Popal.
The global smartphone market continues to evolve, with Chinese companies gaining dominance and traditional leaders like Apple and Samsung facing mounting pressure.
