Insights Archive - Counterpoint https://www.counterpointresearch.com/zh-hans/insights/ Technology Market Research & Industry Analysis Firm Thu, 01 Aug 2024 22:38:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/counter_favicon-150x150.png Insights Archive - Counterpoint https://www.counterpointresearch.com/zh-hans/insights/ 32 32 Global smartphone market grows 8% YoY in Q2 2024; ASP reaches highest level in a second quarter https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/global-smartphone-market-grows-8-yoy-in-q2-2024-asp-reaches-highest-level-in-a-second-quarter/ Thu, 01 Aug 2024 22:26:37 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048593 The global smartphone market grew by 8% YoY to reach 289.1 million unit shipments in Q2 2024. Samsung retained the top position globally, accounting for 19% shipment share. Apple’s shipments registered marginal growth in Q2 2024, however, it led the revenues with 42% share. Among the top five OEMs, Xiaomi grew the fastest, registering 27% […]

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  • The global smartphone market grew by 8% YoY to reach 289.1 million unit shipments in Q2 2024.
  • Samsung retained the top position globally, accounting for 19% shipment share.
  • Apple’s shipments registered marginal growth in Q2 2024, however, it led the revenues with 42% share.
  • Among the top five OEMs, Xiaomi grew the fastest, registering 27% YoY shipment growth.
  • Global smartphone revenues also grew 8% YoY, while the ASP reached the highest level for a second quarter.
  • Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Taipei, Tokyo – August 2, 2024

    Global smartphone shipments grew 8% YoY in the second quarter of 2024, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Market Monitor service. Almost all the regions registered growth, owing to improving consumer sentiment and macroeconomic conditions. This marks the third consecutive quarter posting growth for the global smartphone market.

    Commenting on overall market dynamics, Senior Analyst Prachir Singh said, “Smartphone shipments registered strong growth as key regions continued on a recovery path. Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) emerged as the fastest growing region as Chinese OEMs continued their aggressive push helped by increased demand in smaller markets in the region. Europe and Asia Pacific also registered double-digit growth. The China market grew thanks to a strong performance in the 6.18 sales, which included significant price discounts including Apple iPhone. And consumer sentiment improved in many European markets, reflected in the growth of smartphone shipments in the region, especially in Western Europe (WE), which grew faster than Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Middle East and Africa (MEA) also registered single-digit growth due to a more favourable economic environment as well as increasing push from Chinese OEMs. However, India witnessed a marginal decline due to a seasonal slump aggravated by a severe heatwave.”

    Global smartphone revenues also grew by 8% YoY in Q2 2024. Apple led the smartphone market revenues with a 42% share. Samsung’s revenues grew 5% YoY, due to growth in its ASP as well as shipments. Among the top five OEMs, Xiaomi’s revenue growth was the fastest in a second consecutive quarter as it maintained a strong performance in its key markets. Revenues for the market beyond the top five OEMs also grew significantly, driven by increasing revenues from Huawei, HONOR, Motorola and Transsion brands. The >$800 segment continued to increase its share, growing YoY by 2pp, while taking share from sub-$400 segments.

    Commenting on Apple’s performance, Research Director Jeff Fieldhack said, “There were worries that iPhone volumes would disappoint after North American carriers reported record low upgrade rates and lower iPhone sales. We estimate Apple iPhone volumes were flat and revenue declined by 1% YoY despite Pro series sales growth. Apple’s China sales was down 6.5%, but it could have been a lot worse. Apple’s China sales improved due to attractive discounts offered during the 618 shopping festival. The outlook for Apple looks solid as there is more supply chain excitement for the upcoming iPhone 16 family and big expectations for Apple Intelligence.”

    Samsung led global smartphone shipments during the quarter, driven by the strong performance of Galaxy A-series as well as continued momentum of Galaxy S24 series. According to our latest report, Samsung captured five spots in the top 10 best-selling smartphones. Among the top five brands, Xiaomi was the fastest growing brand followed by vivo. For Xiaomi, MEA and CALA regions were the major growth drivers, while it also gained momentum in its traditional markets like China, India and key APAC countries. While, for vivo, China remained the major growth driver along with India and South-Asian countries. Huawei, HONOR, Motorola and Transsion were the other key brands that gained during the quarter. Huawei continued its strong momentum in China which was the major reason for its growth. HONOR gained in CALA and MEA, in addition to having a strong share in China. The Transsion brands, TECNO, itel and Infinix, performed strongly in Eastern Europe, India and MEA. India, CALA and North American markets were the growth drivers for Motorola. OPPO* experienced a marginal shipment decline, mostly due to a decline in OnePlus’s shipments. OnePlus is experiencing stiff competition in its key markets.

    Commenting on the near-term outlook, Research Director Tarun Pathak said, “In terms of shipments, we see a gradual recovery for the global smartphone market. The ongoing premiumization trend, coupled with the AI trend, is likely going to push up the ASPs and revenues in the coming quarters. Smartphones make the perfect platform for making AI accessible to everyone. Generative AI, especially, is revolutionizing smartphones. It offers personalized experiences, enhances existing features, and allows for more intuitive interactions. We estimate that GenAI’s share of overall smartphone shipments will reach 11% by 2024.”

    *OPPO includes OnePlus since Q3 2021

    Note: Pricing analysis is based on wholesale prices.

    Feel free to reach us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.

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    Hardware Revenues Returns to Growth While Services Continue to Soar for Apple https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/hardware-revenues-returns-to-growth-while-services-continue-to-soar-for-apple/ Thu, 01 Aug 2024 22:05:16 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048585 Apple’s revenues in Q2 2024 (fiscal Q3 2024) returned to growth with 5% YoY gains. The revenue growth was driven by both product and services segments. The product segments collectively grew 2% YoY, rebounding from a 10% YoY decline in Q1 2024. While the services segment continued its double-digit YoY growth (14%) for the fourth […]

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    Apple’s revenues in Q2 2024 (fiscal Q3 2024) returned to growth with 5% YoY gains. The revenue growth was driven by both product and services segments. The product segments collectively grew 2% YoY, rebounding from a 10% YoY decline in Q1 2024. While the services segment continued its double-digit YoY growth (14%) for the fourth consecutive quarter, and continued to account for over one fourth of Apple’s revenue for the second consecutive quarter. The growth helped Apple’s Services revenue reach its highest ever share (28%) within Apple’s total revenues.

    Commenting on the results, Varun Mishra, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint noted, “Despite iPhone revenues declining slightly year on year, there are positives within several key categories, as overall hardware and services both drive growth. iPad and Mac both showed year over year growth. While within iPhones, the favourable product mix towards Pro series continue to drive ASPs. iPad and Mac are benefiting from refreshed product lines. However, the Wearables, Home and Accessories segment continue to decline for the fourth consecutive quarter, thanks to rising competition in the smartwatch segment and a lack of refresh in the AirPods portfolio. However, important launches across hardware categories are expected in H2 2024 which can help the segment back to a positive trajectory.”

    On services, Tarun Pathak, Director at Counterpoint Research noted, “Services, unsurprisingly, have delivered yet another quarter of growth. Further, Apple now has entered the GenAI era with a strong statement, and a great demonstration earlier this year at WWDC. The rising tension of Apple being late to the GenAI race has been released, however, executing its AI strategy across regions will be difficult, and there will be scrutiny on where Apple Intelligence can deliver real value. If Apple is able to key-in to strong use cases, Apple Intelligence will open new arenas for monetization, likely giving a push to an already strong flywheel of services revenue; a positive for the long term.”

    Apple Revenues by Product Categories


    Source: Counterpoint Research Apple 360

    Segment Analysis:

    • iPhone revenue declined 1% YoY, despite shipments remaining flat. On the positive side, the share of Pro series within Apple’s total sales reached 47% during the quarter. Apple also saw an improvement in sales in China during the 618-shopping festival where it offered attractive discounts. China remains a key region for Apple.
    • iPad returns to growth (24% YoY) after five consecutive quarters of revenue decline.
      • Apple did not refresh its iPad portfolio in 2023, so the newly refreshed Pro and the Air series have breathed new life into iPad sales. The positive initial response for Pro model has been favourable for ASPs.
      • The base and mini version is due for refresh and can continue to drive growth in H2 2024.
    • Mac also grew (2% YoY) for third consecutive quarter and was the second fastest growing segment for Apple. This was the first full quarter of sales for the new M3-powered MacBook Air, which helped drive growth.
    • Wearables, Home and Accessories revenue declined 2% YoY. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of decline. The key segments, Watch and AirPods both continued to decline. While this is a seasonally low quarter for Watch, Apple is also facing tough competition in the segment.
      • While the Apple WatchOS dominates the advanced smartwatch segment, there is growing adoption of HarmonyOS and WearOS platforms in 2024. More here
      • Meanwhile, AirPods are due for refresh amid tough competition from low cost but decent quality products.
    • Services continued to soar reaching yet another record share milestone within Apple’s total revenue. The segment still has room for growth and is on a path to become a $100B per year segment in 2025. Apple will also seek to monetize Apple Intelligence in the future, which can further drive growth.

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    Sub-$100 5G Smartphones Crucial for 5G Democratization https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/sub-100-5g-smartphones-crucial-for-5g-democratization/ Thu, 01 Aug 2024 15:27:08 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048577 5G penetration is rising, two out of three smartphones sold globally were 5G capable, in the first half of 2024. Currently, all smartphone sales priced above $400 are 5G capable, and over half of the sales in $100-$249 price segment come from 5G capable devices, but the <$100 remains untapped. The cheapest 5G phones available […]

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  • 5G penetration is rising, two out of three smartphones sold globally were 5G capable, in the first half of 2024.
  • Currently, all smartphone sales priced above $400 are 5G capable, and over half of the sales in $100-$249 price segment come from 5G capable devices, but the <$100 remains untapped.
  • The cheapest 5G phones available in the market lie in the range of $100-$150, the key now to achieving 5G democratization is to enter lower price bands <$100.
  • The share of 5G smartphones in total global smartphone sales has been rising steadily over the years, as 5G smartphones have been proliferating into more affordable price segments.

    According to Counterpoint’s preliminary estimates, two out of three smartphones sold globally were 5G capable in H1 2024. Since the launch of the first 5G-capable smartphone in 2019, OEMs have been quick to introduce smartphones with this technology. 5G-capable smartphone shipments surpassed 2 billion units in 2023. The first significant push towards 5G adoption was the launch of the iPhone 12 series in 2020, which helped 5G penetration surge to nearly 20% in 2020 from merely 2% in 2019.

    After the initial hypergrowth phase in 2020-21, 5G sales continued to increase but it remained confined to the premium segment since the price of 5G chipsets was high. In the following two years, 5G smartphones lost momentum, slowing down from triple-digit to double-digit percentage growth and then to just single-digit growth in 2023. By this time, mature markets, which has a high share of mid-range to premium smartphones, were becoming saturated, with 5G contribution crossing 80%. The next wave of 5G growth is set to come from emerging markets like Latin America (LATAM), India and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). However, the main challenge here was to bring 5G to affordable entry- to mid-tier price bands. As of H1 2024, Global 5G smartphone ASPs have declined by more than 30% since the technology’s launch in 2019. This has been possible due to chipset makers narrowing the price gap between the 4G and 5G chipsets, and OEMs strategically selecting components to reduce prices. Samsung, Xiaomi, Transsion Group and more, have gradually introduced 5G-capable smartphones at lower prices, encouraging greater adoption in emerging markets.

    Currently, all smartphone sales priced above $400 are 5G capable. The share of 5G smartphones in the $249-$399 segment is also growing rapidly. Nearly half of the $100-$249 price segment is still 4G for now, but the <$100 category remains untapped. The key to achieving 5G democratization is to enter the lower price bands.

    Chipset makers have recognized this opportunity and are making positive efforts to bring 5G to the lower price segments. Recently, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 4S Gen 2 chipset, which enables 5G capabilities, in the <$100 price segment. OEM Xiaomi will be the first to deploy this chipset, with the smartphone expected to be announced by the end of 2024. This will likely give a much-required push to 5G contribution in the <$100 price segment and further add to the complete democratization of 5G in smartphones, completing another evolution of cellular technology in the smartphone industry.

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    Counterpoint Conversations: Qualcomm’s India-first Strategy to Deliver sub-$99 5G Smartphones with Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 5G SoC https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/counterpoint-conversations-qualcomms-india-strategy-sub-99-5g-smartphones/ Thu, 01 Aug 2024 08:03:25 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048522 Qualcomm held its biggest launch event in India “Snapdragon for India” focused on solutions designed from scratch in India and for India. Qualcomm announced Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 as a low-cost 5G mobile platform capable of 1 Gigabit 5G speeds based on the latest 3GPP Release 17 standards optimized for 5G SA (Standalone) architecture. With […]

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    Qualcomm held its biggest launch event in India “Snapdragon for India” focused on solutions designed from scratch in India and for India. Qualcomm announced Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 as a low-cost 5G mobile platform capable of 1 Gigabit 5G speeds based on the latest 3GPP Release 17 standards optimized for 5G SA (Standalone) architecture. With this new chipset, Qualcomm, along with its OEM partners is working towards bringing sub-$99 5G smartphones to drive 5G adoption in emerging markets such as India.

    At the event, Neil Shah, VP of Research at Counterpoint Research, sat down with Savi Soin, SVP and President of Qualcomm India, to talk about Qualcomm’s strategy for India, democratizing 5G and AI for the mass market, strategic partnerships, localizing for India and much more.

    The Interview

    Key Takeaways from the Discussion

    Qualcomm’s Strategy for Emerging Markets Like India

    Products Designed and Developed in India:

    • The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 5G SoC is the first product designed in India, for India.
    • It focuses on addressing the unique needs of Indian consumers.
    • Localization and customization are key elements of Qualcomm’s India strategy.
    • Soin emphasizes building trust and relationships in business operations.

    Affordable 5G Devices to Empower the Masses:

    • Qualcomm is collaborating with OEMs and ODMs to optimize the device BoM cost and deliver a sub-$99 5G smartphone.
    • Xiaomi is the first partner to announce plans to launch affordable 5G smartphones based on the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 platform by the end of this year and other vendors to follow.
    • The strategy focuses on bridging the digital divide and upgrading hundreds of millions of feature phone and 4G users to 5G smartphones.

    Unique Advantage of Having the Development Team in India:

    • Qualcomm India directly engages with ODMs, OEMs, Mobile Operators and other ecosystem players’ development teams to drive innovation and implement solutions.
    • The Qualcomm engineering team is based out of India with core development centers in Hyderabad and Bangalore. Qualcomm will now be deeply involved in designing and developing compute and connectivity solutions for the Indian market as well as globally.
    • Qualcomm is also focusing on India-specific developer strategies from developer conference to evangelism to work with them and optimize different applications and services for the Indian ecosystem for Qualcomm’s platforms benefitting everyone from device vendors to mobile operators to consumers.

    Analyst takeaways

    • This is a pivotal moment for the Indian mobile ecosystem to drive 5G adoption to the masses.
    • More than 600 million mobile phone users in India still use a 4G smartphone. Almost 40% of those users want an affordable but good spec 5G smartphone below $99 or INR 10,000.
    • So far, the most affordable 5G solutions in the market were not specifically designed or optimized for the Indian ecosystem and warranted some amount of subsidies and promotions from OEMs and mobile operators to break the sub-$99 (or INR 10,000) barrier.
    • The Qualcomm Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 will help democratize 5G connectivity and optimized computing experiences for the masses and overcome the sub-$99 barrier with OEM partners.
    • This is great news for mobile operators such as Jio and Airtel as the chipset is optimized with their networks and will help many 2G, 3G and 4G users get across the chasm and move to a more efficient and capable 5G network.

    Related Posts

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    Tesla Financials Improve in Q2 2024; Autonomy, Optimus Robots Can Generate Diverse Revenue Streams https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/tesla-financials-improve-in-q2-2024-autonomy-optimus-robots-can-generate-diverse-revenue-streams/ Thu, 01 Aug 2024 07:25:26 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048505 Tesla’s deliveries and revenue showed significant growth in Q2 after a decline in Q1. The announcement of the Tesla Cybercab has been postponed to October. Tesla aims to diversify its revenue streams by focusing on advanced autonomy and Optimus robots. Tesla’s revenue increased by 20% YoY in Q2 2024 to reach $25 billion driven by […]

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  • Tesla’s deliveries and revenue showed significant growth in Q2 after a decline in Q1.
  • The announcement of the Tesla Cybercab has been postponed to October.
  • Tesla aims to diversify its revenue streams by focusing on advanced autonomy and Optimus robots.
  • Tesla’s revenue increased by 20% YoY in Q2 2024 to reach $25 billion driven by a 15% YoY rise in deliveries. The company delivered 443,956 units during the quarter, marking a significant rebound from the previous quarter’s notable declines in both revenue and deliveries. The US continued to be Tesla’s largest market, followed by China and Europe. During the same period, BYD, one of Tesla’s biggest competitors, delivered 426,039 EVs, trailing Tesla by around 18,000 units and signaling that it is quickly narrowing the gap.

    In the Q2 2024 earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his team covered several important topics, especially the timeline for the Tesla Cybercab, developments related to Optimus robots, and the potential impacts of the upcoming US election on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives.

    Tesla Cybercab timeline

    Tesla CEO: Regarding full self-driving and Robotaxi, we have made a lot of progress with full self-driving in Q2. And with version 12.5 beginning rollout, we think customers will experience a step change improvement in how well supervised full self-driving works.”

    Analyst take: The Robotaxi or Cybercab has always been part of Tesla’s long-term vision. Each update to its full self-driving (FSD) software, especially with breakthroughs like FSD V12, brings Tesla closer to this goal. The new Robotaxi will rely on FSD 12.5 or newer. Tesla has delayed the launch from August to October for some technical updates, but as data collection progresses, the company aims to introduce unsupervised machine learning, potentially rolling out the Robotaxi by next year.

    Optimus robots

    CEO: And at that point, we’ll be providing Optimus robots to outside customers. That will be a production Version 2 of Optimus. For the energy business, this is growing faster than anything else. This is – we are really demand constrained rather than production constrained.”

    Analyst take:  As Tesla nears the limit in reducing manufacturing costs for its S3XY model line-up, the company is now focusing on diversifying its business model. One potential major development is the Optimus robot. Initially showcased in 2021 and used only in Tesla’s production facilities, the upgraded Optimus robot is expected to be launched in 2026. In the long term, this new product could potentially generate revenue equivalent to Tesla’s automotive segment.

    Effect of upcoming election on USA IRA tax credit

    CFO: “And that is the way internally, also even when we’re looking at battery costs, yes, IRA, there are manufacturing credits which we get, but we always drive ourselves to say, OK, what if there is no IRA benefit? And how do we operate in that kind of an environment?

    Analyst take: The increase in EV sales in the US can be largely attributed to the IRA. It has significantly helped in reducing BEV prices. If IRA benefits are reduced or curbed following the upcoming US elections, brands like Ford, GM, BMW, Hyundai, Rivian and Volkswagen may get more adversely affected compared to Tesla. Tesla has over 50% share of the US EV market. Its efficient production processes, in-house development of major components and robust supply chain management enable it to lower the average selling price (ASP) of its vehicles and offer them at more competitive prices, even lower than some ICE vehicles.

    Financial highlights

    In Q2 2024, Tesla’s automotive sector revenue increased by over 14% YoY to reach $19.9 billion. Revenue from regulatory credits doubled from last year to nearly $1 billion, the highest level ever. The reduced ASP of Tesla models is one of the main reasons for the company’s less-than-expected revenue.

    Income from other ventures such as energy storage deployment, charging networks, and additional services rose 54% YoY to reach $5.6 billion. Revenue generation from solar panels and energy storage reached over $3 billion, an 84% YoY increase.

    During the quarter, Tesla’s gross profit amounted to $4.5 billion, marking a 24% YoY rise. This rise can be attributed to high energy storage deployments, increased Cybertruck deliveries, low vehicle and battery manufacturing costs and low raw material costs.

    Outlook

    Earlier this year, Tesla suggested that its annual growth would be modest due to constraints related to ASP reduction. Sales are expected to reach between 1.8 and 1.9 million units by the end of 2024. With the introduction of the Tesla Roadster and a new EV priced under $30,000, Tesla may see better sales growth than the current growth. Tesla also intends to diversify its revenue streams by advancing in autonomy and developing Optimus robots, as the automotive sales growth approaches a plateau.

    Related Posts

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    Scaling to 1,000-Layer 3D NAND in the AI Era https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/scaling-to-1000-layer-3d-nand-in-the-ai-era/ Thu, 01 Aug 2024 05:01:33 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048382 Scaling to 1,000-Layer 3D NAND in the AI Era WHITEPAPER PDF | 17 pages Published date: August 2024 Overview Table of Contents As the demand for 3D NAND Flash surges, the industry is preparing for a leap to 1,000 word-line layers over the next decade, potentially achieving die densities of 100 Gbit/mm². However, scaling beyond […]

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    Scaling to 1,000-Layer 3D NAND
    in the AI Era

    WHITEPAPER

    PDF | 17 pages
    Published date: August 2024

    As the demand for 3D NAND Flash surges, the industry is preparing for a leap to 1,000 word-line layers over the next decade, potentially achieving die densities of 100 Gbit/mm². However, scaling beyond 400 layers introduces significant challenges, such as slow etch rates and vertical profile variability, which demand continuous innovation in etch and deposition technologies.

    This whitepaper, authored by Counterpoint Research in partnership with Lam Research, delves into how Lam’s innovations in etching technologies, including their cryogenic dielectric etch technology, are crucial for overcoming these challenges. Lam’s innovations enable better control of high aspect ratio etches, essential for vertical scaling, while also reducing the environmental impact of the etching process.

    For those interested in the future of 3D NAND and the technologies driving its growth, this whitepaper offers valuable insights into how the industry is pushing the boundaries of memory density and performance.

    To learn more submit the form to receive full whitepaper. 

    - Executive Summary

    - The 3D NAND Revolution

    - The Future Scaling of 3D NAND: Challenges

    - The Future Scaling of 3D NAND: Solutions

    - The Future Scaling of 3D NAND: Enabling Roadmap for AI Era

    - Key Takeaways

    Read more about  Lam Cryo™ 3.0 Cryogenic Etch Technology announcement and details by

    LEAD AUTHORS

    Neil Shah

    Vice President of Research

    Ashwath Rao

    Senior Analyst

    PARTNER

    Lam Research

    lamresearch.com

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    Urban Air Mobility Holds Promise in Easing Traffic, Pollution https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/urban-air-mobility-holds-promise-in-easing-traffic-pollution/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:38:21 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048433 Urban Air Mobility (UAM) refers to a system that can safely and quickly transport passengers and cargo through air in urban areas. Unlike existing aircraft, which are suitable for long-distance and large-capacity transportation, UAM aims at efficient and fast movement within urban areas. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, a UAM service is available on five […]

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  • Urban Air Mobility (UAM) refers to a system that can safely and quickly transport passengers and cargo through air in urban areas. Unlike existing aircraft, which are suitable for long-distance and large-capacity transportation, UAM aims at efficient and fast movement within urban areas.
  • During the 2024 Paris Olympics, a UAM service is available on five routes, including two for tourists. These Olympics will be keenly watched for their role in kicking off a potential UAM boom, just like Tesla did in the case of EVs.
  • Electric vehicles (EVs) and UAM systems have many similarities. Both use electric batteries, require country-wide infrastructure, and can have autonomous driving.
  • As the population becomes more concentrated in big cities, traffic congestion and the pollution due to it are increasing, necessitating more efficient and eco-friendly transportation methods. Low-altitude aircraft running on electric batteries and capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) without a runway have emerged as an alternative. They can ease traffic congestion in an eco-friendly way while requiring minimal infrastructure.

    These electric VTOL (or eVTOL) aircraft require stations called Vertiports for taking off, landing and charging. Besides, regulations and navigation guides are required for the safe operation and management of each aircraft.

    • Due to the nature of UAM, it is necessary to take strong measures against accidents, and noise, in areas with high population density, while ensuring that existing aviation systems do not come in conflict with the new system. Though initially, the current air traffic management (ATM) system will be utilized, a separate system will be put in place once such aircraft become popular.
    • A more powerful battery is required than that of an electric vehicle (EV). Independent operation of propellants must be possible by distributing electrical energy. There is also a possibility of autonomous driving here.
    • Vertiports are likely to be set up near a terminal or on the rooftop of a high-rise building for connectivity with existing mobility systems. To begin with, eVTOL aircraft will utilize existing helipads.

    The chart below describes a UAM system. eVTOLs transport people and material between major city hubs, with Vertiports being responsible for their takeoff, landing, charging and management. The use of an eVTOL, like other means of transportation, is reserved through an application to ensure a smooth and seamless service. Communication between the aircraft and infrastructure is accomplished using a network, allowing real-time transmission of data.

    Urban Air Mobility Operations and Key Actors

    Source: Boeing

    Major eVTOL manufacturers

    Joby Aviation (USA): As a representative UAM company in the US, Joby Aviation has strengthened its market position by acquiring Uber’s aviation division Elevate. Joby received an investment of $590 million from Toyota in 2020. The company was also granted exclusive rights to operate air taxis in the UAE in 2023.

    Volocopter (Germany): An air taxi service using Volocopter-developed Volocity is scheduled to be operated at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It has also received the authorization to operate in Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city NEOM.

    EHang (China): As the first company to receive unmanned eVTOL certification from the Chinese government, it is developing models for various uses, such as fire fighting, cargo transport, and passenger use.

    Archer Aviation (USA): It has a strategic partnership with Stallantis. Besides developing eVTOLs, the company is also pushing its air taxi business.

    Hyundai Motor Group (South Korea): It is developing an eVTOL aircraft, which was unveiled at CES2024. The company has also established a unit in the US, Supernal.

    UAM infrastructure, such as authorization processes, air traffic control and vertiport operation, differs from country to country. Therefore, it is necessary to look at how each country responds:

    USA: Instead of UAM, the term AAM (advanced air mobility) is more popular, broadening the scope to areas outside the city center. In collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and United States Air Force (USAF), private companies are taking the lead in airframe development and creating the supporting ecosystem, seeking to solidify the country’s leading position in aviation.

    EU: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is preparing an authorization process and related regulations. Besides, an extensive survey of urban residents and future UAM users has been conducted to understand their concerns and needs. As a result, such projects are being promoted first in the public sectors of health and safety.

    China: Already leading the drone space, the country plans to revitalize the unmanned flight business through the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). As much as $44 billion is being planned to be invested in the low-altitude economy by 2026.

    South Korea: The K-UAM roadmap has been in place since 2020. Core technology development projects are being planned to prepare for full commercialization by 2030. About $73 million will be invested over the three years from 2024.

    Analyst take

    UAM helps to provide seamless mobility services in conjunction with other means of transport. For the success of any UAM system, its connections with public transport must be smooth, while its collaborations with existing mobility platform services must be comprehensive.

    Although they are similar to EVs in many ways, UAM systems should be viewed as a public transport option rather than personal transportation. Therefore, the timing of the introduction and popularization of UAM services will be determined by the policies followed by individual countries.

    Related Posts

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    Team Counterpoint
    Xiaomi Back in Top 10 Smartphones List as Apple, Samsung Continue to Dominate https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/global-top-10-best-selling-smartphones-q2-2024/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:39:41 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048442 Samsung and Apple continued to dominate the top 10 list in Q2 2024 with nine spots. Xiaomi cracked the two-quarter complete domination by Apple-Samsung by securing the eighth spot. The iPhone 15 series saw a 4% increase in sales in Q2 2024 compared to its predecessor during the same period last year, reflecting growing consumer […]

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  • Samsung and Apple continued to dominate the top 10 list in Q2 2024 with nine spots.
  • Xiaomi cracked the two-quarter complete domination by Apple-Samsung by securing the eighth spot.
  • The iPhone 15 series saw a 4% increase in sales in Q2 2024 compared to its predecessor during the same period last year, reflecting growing consumer appetite for current-year iPhones.
  • Earlier S24 series launch shifted some of its sales to Q1, but Samsung still managed to increase its overall unit sales in the top 10.
  • Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Taipei, Tokyo – July 31, 2024

    Apple and Samsung continued to dominate the top-10 best-selling smartphones list in Q2 2024, together capturing nine spots, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Monthly Handset Model Sales Tracker. However, this was down one spot from last year’s second quarter when the two brands had captured all 10 spots. Samsung gave up one spot to Xiaomi, which made a comeback to the list after two consecutive quarters of Apple and Samsung’s dominance. Apple retained the number of spots on the list with its four iPhone models. However, the placement of iPhones on the list weakened. While the iPhone 14 series and iPhone 13 had captured all the top four spots in Q2 2023, the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro took the top three spots respectively this quarter. The iPhone 14 could only manage the sixth spot.

    Share of Global Top 10 Best-selling Smartphones, Q2 2024 vs Q2 2023

    Apple’s contribution to the top 10 in terms of total sales volume and sales share declined YoY in Q2 2024. However, the Pro series’ sales volume and share grew, demonstrating, together with a fall in the ranking of the older-generation iPhone, a shift of demand towards higher-end smartphones.

    While a slight decline in the position held by Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra to No. 9 in Q2 2024 when compared with the S23 Ultra’s No. 8 position in Q2 2023, may seem to contradict the premiumization trend, a relatively early launch of the flagship this year, which shifted some of the sales to Q1, played a role. The top Samsung smartphone on the list this quarter was the Galaxy A15 5G, followed by the phone’s 4G version. Offering efficient multitasking capabilities, the A15 series is popular in the lower end of the mid-tier segment. The other two Samsung models on the list also belonged to its A series. The Galaxy A55 5G, which is priced at the higher end of the mid-tier segment and comes with some interesting security features, took the seventh spot. The Galaxy A05, another lower-end model, captured the 10th spot.

    Xiaomi was the only other brand with an entry in the list, with its Redmi 13C 4G taking the eighth spot. Its predecessor, the Redmi 12C, had also made it to the top 10. With the Redmi smartphones’ availability expanding beyond their traditional strongholds in Asia, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA), the Redmi C smartphones are an upgrade over the lower-end A series models, which used to be Redmi’s usual entries on the list.

    Looking at the bigger picture, the number of premium phones in the top 10 in Q2 2024 was five, the same as in Q2 2023, but their cumulative sales as a share of the global smartphone market fell by about 1.5%. The earlier launch of the S24 Ultra and the difficulties the iPhone 15 series had been facing in China contributed to this decline, which does not reflect a broader trend. Moreover, a large part of the Chinese market lost by Apple has gone to Huawei’s premium phones. As the number of GenAI smartphones increases through the year, particularly with the launch of the iPhone 16 series, we expect to see the continuation of a sustained long-term trend towards premiumization.

    Background

    Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

    Follow Counterpoint Research

    press(at)counterpointresearch.com

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    India Smartphone Shipments Fall 2% YoY in April-June Quarter, Record Highest Ever Q2 Value https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/india-smartphone-market-q2-2024/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 04:28:37 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048327 Xiaomi reclaimed the top spot with an 18.9% shipment share, closely followed by vivo with 18.8%. Samsung led the market in terms of value with a 25% share, followed by vivo and Apple. 5G smartphones captured their highest-ever share of 77% in the overall shipments. The INR 20,000-INR 30,000 (~$240-$360) and >INR 45,000 (>~$540) price […]

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  • Xiaomi reclaimed the top spot with an 18.9% shipment share, closely followed by vivo with 18.8%.
  • Samsung led the market in terms of value with a 25% share, followed by vivo and Apple.
  • 5G smartphones captured their highest-ever share of 77% in the overall shipments.
  • The INR 20,000-INR 30,000 (~$240-$360) and >INR 45,000 (>~$540) price bands saw the fastest growth at 25% and 24% YoY, respectively.
  • New Delhi, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo – July 31, 2024

    India’s smartphone shipments fell 2% YoY in Q2 2024 (April-June), according to Counterpoint’s Monthly India Smartphone Tracker. The decline was influenced by a heatwave, a seasonal slump, and slower demand from Q1 2024. In response, OEMs hosted sales events in Q2 to clear inventory, leading to a reduced sell-in and a period of degrowth.

    Commenting on the market’s volume dynamics, Senior Research Analyst Shilpi Jain said, “Heatwave conditions in various regions led to lower footfalls in offline channels and delayed smartphone purchases as consumers prioritized appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators. This reduced demand caused an inventory build-up. However, summer sales at online channels, good harvest and aggressive promotions towards the end of the quarter provided relief to OEMs, helping close the quarter on a better note than at the beginning.

    During the quarter, Xiaomi reclaimed the top spot with a 23% YoY growth in its shipments, driven by a streamlined and focused portfolio that spans from the entry-level to affordable premium segments. To further solidify its position, the company employed a strategy to push flagship handsets, improve marketing and expand distribution channels.”

    Commenting on the market’s value dynamics, Research Analyst Shubham Singh said, “In Q2 2024, India’s smartphone market achieved its highest ever Q2 value, driven by the ongoing trend of premiumization. Consumers continued to upgrade to higher-value smartphones, supported by better trade-in values and easy financing schemes. This resulted in a 24% YoY growth in the ultra-premium (>INR 45,000) segment.

    Samsung led in value terms for the second consecutive quarter, capturing over one-fourth of the market. Its new Fold 6 series is expected to sustain this leadership. With the brand focusing on value over volume, its ultra-premium segment (>INR 45,000) grew by 99% YoY in Q2 2024. vivo took the second spot, driven by its higher-priced models like the V30 series with enhanced cameras.

    Meanwhile, Apple ranked third in value terms. But it is expected to rebound in the next quarter, driven by the recent price cuts across the entire range of iPhones.”

    Other key trends

    • Nothing was the fastest growing brand in H1 2024, witnessing 567% YoY growth in shipments driven by the introduction of new models, including the mid-segment Phone (2a) and budget-segment CMF Phone 1.
    • Motorola saw an 88% YoY growth in Q2 2024, driven by budget-friendly models with a focus on CMF (Color, Material, Finish).
    • Xiaomi sub-brand POCO was the fastest growing brand in the INR 10,000-INR 15,000 (~$120-$180) segment with its 318% YoY growth driven by budget-friendly M-series 5G models.
    • realme experienced a 2% YoY growth by expanding its portfolio with the launch of new P-series models and reintroducing the GT series.
    • In Q2 2024, 5G smartphone shipments in India hit a record 77% share of the overall smartphone market, driven by their declining average selling prices (ASPs). OEMs are competing to launch cheaper 5G models, with Lava introducing the Yuva 5G during the quarter.
    • MediaTek led India’s smartphone chipset market with a 54% share. Qualcomm led the premium segment with a 33% share.
    • The INR 20,000-INR 30,000 (~$240-$360) and >INR 45,000 (>~$540) price bands saw the fastest growth at 25% and 24% YoY respectively.

    Notes:

    • Revenue (value) is based on retail market price.
    • Numbers are preliminary, and the revenue figures for Indian smartphone OEM shipments mentioned in this release do not reflect the actual revenue for some OEMs.

    The comprehensive and in-depth ‘Q2 2024 India Smartphone Tracker’ is available for subscribing clients. 

    Feel free to contact us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.

    The Market Monitor research relies on sell-in (shipments) estimates based on vendors’ IR results and vendor polling, triangulated with sell-through (sales), supply chain checks and secondary research.

    You can also visit our Data Section (updated quarterly) to view the smartphone market shares for World, USChina and India.

    Background

    Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

    Follow Counterpoint Research

    press(at)counterpointresearch.com

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    Team Counterpoint
    AI Chip Start-Ups – Can Domain-Specific Chips Impact Nvidia’s Dominance? https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/ai-chip-start-ups-can-domain-specific-chips-impact-nvidias-dominance/ Mon, 29 Jul 2024 19:19:43 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048222 Modern AI requires a massive amount of processing power, especially when training LLM models. Today, the billions of trillions of calculations required are performed primarily by GPUs, whose parallel processing is well-suited for the task. No company has benefited more from this AI boom than Nvidia. Big tech companies and enterprises alike are fighting for […]

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    Modern AI requires a massive amount of processing power, especially when training LLM models. Today, the billions of trillions of calculations required are performed primarily by GPUs, whose parallel processing is well-suited for the task. No company has benefited more from this AI boom than Nvidia. Big tech companies and enterprises alike are fighting for access to its chips, which are well-suited for training and running advanced AI models.

    For more than 10 years, Nvidia has built an almost unassailable lead in developing silicon that can perform complex AI tasks such as image, facial and speech recognition, as well as generating text for AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. It has achieved this dominance by recognizing the AI trend early on, adapting its chip hardware to suit those AI tasks and investing in its CUDA software ecosystem.

    Nvidia keeps raising the bar. To maintain its leading position, the company now offers customers access to its specialized GPU-based computers, computing services and other tools on a “as-a-Service” basis. To all intents and purposes, this has turned Nvidia from being a chip vendor into a one-stop shop for AI development. However, there are two crucial factors that motivate Nvidia’s rivals, both established chip vendors and start-ups, and that is high pricing and the fear of vendor lock-in by its customers. Clearly, no company wants to be beholden to a dominant vendor and so more competition seems inevitable. The intense demand for AI services and the desire to diversify reliance on a single company are driving the ambitions of rival big chip vendors as well as numerous start-ups.

    In 2017, Google’s Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), a chip designed specifically for Deep Learning. demonstrated that it was possible for new players to build domain-specific chips with better performance, lower power consumption and cost compared to Nvidia’s general-purpose GPUs. Now, the emergence of generative AI with its unique and heavy computational requirements presents new opportunities for domain-specific ASICs vendors.

    Many AI chip start-ups believe that their new silicon innovations exceed Nvidia GPUs in performance and have a significantly lower power consumption since they have been designed specifically for the training and processing of deep neural networks.  However, achieving commercial success has  proven to be much more challenging, particularly with the explosion in foundation models that followed the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. As a result, many start-ups have recently had to re-engineer their designs to handle the massive number of parameters needed for LLMs. Others have changed their business models to become service providers rather than chip vendors.

    Counterpoint Research’s recent report AI Chip Start-Ups – Can Domain-Specific Chips Impact Nvidia’s Dominance?provides an overview of the AI chip start-up market and highlights the opportunities and challenges facing new players entering the burgeoning AI chip market.

    Table of Contents

    Introduction

    Nvidia – A One Stop Ship for AI

    The Compute Challenge

    Established AI Chips Start-Ups

    • Cerebras
    • Groq
    • SambaNova
    • Tenstorrent

    Emerging AI Chip Start-Ups

    • Rivos, Enflame Technology, Rain AI, etc.

    Key Challenges for Start-Ups

    • Technical complexity
    • Funding difficulties
    • The Nvidia effect
    • Open Standards
    • Big Tech

    Analyst Viewpoint

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    Gareth Owen
    Counterpoint & DSCC AR/VR Display Forum https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/counterpoint-dscc-ar-vr-display-forum/ Mon, 29 Jul 2024 12:33:37 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1048156 Counterpoint and DSCC will be hosting the event fully dedicated to the emerging display technologies for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. The conference will be held in-person for the first time in the Silicon Valley on October 01, 2024, gathering leading companies and experts to discuss the latest innovations in display technologies for Augmented Reality […]

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    Counterpoint and DSCC will be hosting the event fully dedicated to the emerging display technologies for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. The conference will be held in-person for the first time in the Silicon Valley on October 01, 2024, gathering leading companies and experts to discuss the latest innovations in display technologies for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.

    About the Event

    When: October 1, 2024
    Where: Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley, Fremont, CA

    Exhibition

    An exhibition area will be provided to showcase new products and prototypes. Space is limited so please get in touch to reserve a spot now. Sponsorship is also available: contact us for more information on the benefits of becoming a sponsor.

    Co-located Event

    The following day, on October 02, 2024 Counterpoint Research and DSCC will hold the Tech Market Research Conference to present the latest insights and market analysis.


    Click here to register and learn more about the event

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    China’s Smartphone Sales Up 6% YoY in Q2 2024 as Demand Recovers https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/china-smartphone-q2-2024/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 22:00:34 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1047881 China’s smartphone market rises 6% YoY thanks to overall demand recovery. vivo solidifies top spot driven by rich product portfolio and strong national distribution network. Apple sees single-digit YoY decline despite increase in Pro series’ share. Generative AI features now making their way into the mid-range, we expect this to tighten competition in Q3 as […]

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  • China’s smartphone market rises 6% YoY thanks to overall demand recovery.
  • vivo solidifies top spot driven by rich product portfolio and strong national distribution network.
  • Apple sees single-digit YoY decline despite increase in Pro series’ share.
  • Generative AI features now making their way into the mid-range, we expect this to tighten competition in Q3 as brands start update cycles on premium models.
  • Beijing, Boston, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, San Diego, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo – July 26, 2024

    China’s smartphone sales increased 6% YoY in Q2 2024, according to Counterpoint’s Market Pulse Service. The robust quarterly performance was in part driven by a 6.8% YoY increase in sales during the 618 shopping festival period held in June where customers enjoyed substantial offers. The Q2 2024 performance further confirms the recovery theme emerging in the world’s largest smartphone market and brightens the global outlook for 2024 smartphone sales.

    Vivo maintained its top position in the Chinese smartphone market with an 18.5% share in Q2 2024, followed by Apple with 15.5% and Huawei with 15.4%. vivo not only retained the top position but also improved its product mix. The premium X series accounted for a bigger sales share than past years. The X100 Ultra, which offers a great photography experience, was added to the X series during the quarter.

    Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max accounted for about 50% of Apple’s sales in Q2 2024, higher than the 47% contributed by the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max in the year-ago quarter. This reflects Chinese iOS users’ strong preference for the Pro models as these variants offer better processing, photography and display.

    Notes: OPPO includes OnePlus; Xiaomi includes Redmi; vivo includes iQOO; Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.  Source: Counterpoint Market Pulse Service

    Huawei’s sales jumped 44.5% YoY in Q2 2024, the fastest among OEMs in China, thanks to the Pura 70 series and Nova 12 series. However, Huawei’s market share of 15.4% during the quarter was still lower than the peak of about 30% it once achieved in 2020. Huawei renamed the P series to Pura and launched the Pura 70 in April 2024. The Pura series embodies the integration of aesthetics and technology, while emphasizing on strong photography performance.

    OEMs updated their mid-end products in Q2 2024, including the vivo S19, OPPO Reno12 and HONOR 200. These products feature enhanced photography capabilities, especially for selfies and colorful back cover designs to attract female users.

    OEMs have begun their AI marketing campaigns, leveraging generative AI features to differentiate their products in the premium and mid-end segments. A typical use case is eliminating unwanted objects in image backgrounds, which was a practical and well-received new camera feature. Counterpoint expects pioneering OEMs to deliver more generative AI-powered innovations to Chinese smartphone users in H2 2024.

    China’s smartphone market performance in Q2 2024 further substantiates our single-digit YoY growth forecast for 2024. In Q3 2024, Chinese OEMs are expected to update their premium product lines, including bar-type and foldable models, which will further intensify competition in the market.

    Background

    Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in Technology products in the TMT industry. It services major technology firms and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analysis of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are experts in the industry with an average tenure of 13 years in the high-tech industry.

    Follow Counterpoint Research

    press(at)counterpointresearch.com

    Related Posts

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    Team Counterpoint
    Why Enterprise-specific Devices Are a SMART Choice https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/why-enterprise-specific-devices-are-a-smart-choice/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 13:12:34 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1047905 Why Enterprise-specific Devices Are a SMART Choice WHITEPAPER Jointly released by Counterpoint Research in partnership with Social Mobile. PDF | 14 pages Published date: July 25, 2024 Overview Table of Contents For mobile devices used in specific enterprise use cases, it is often possible to use consumer-grade devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and more. […]

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    Why Enterprise-specific Devices Are a SMART Choice

    WHITEPAPER

    Jointly released by Counterpoint Research in partnership with Social Mobile.

    PDF | 14 pages
    Published date: July 25, 2024

    For mobile devices used in specific enterprise use cases, it is often possible to use consumer-grade devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and more. While superficially capable, they are often not optimal for the task. Our research highlights why this is and why choosing an enterprise-grade device can shorten the project timeline, streamline operations and provide significant total cost of ownership savings.

    In this report, Counterpoint Research worked with Social Mobile to uncover the subtle and not so subtle factors that enterprises should consider when developing solutions for their specific use cases.  In preparing this report, Counterpoint Research interviewed a diverse group of executives from various industries, including healthcare, hospitality, social care, and government. The participants hold roles in operations, product management, IT, and other technical positions. Each company represented utilizes mobile devices to deliver their respective products and services.

    For enterprise-specific use cases, we advise organizations to make the SMART choice, where SMART stands for:  Specialized, Maintainable, Approved, Remotely Managed, and Total Value. 

    To learn more submit the form to receive full Whitepaper.  

    • Why Use Enterprise Specific Devices? 
    • Specialized 
    • Maintainable 
    • Approved 
    • Remotely Managed 
    • Total Value 
    • Conclusion

    LEAD AUTHORS

    Peter Richardson

    Vice President of Research

    Hanish Bhatia

    Associate Director

    PARTNER

    socialmobile.com

    2057 Coolidge Street
    Hollywood, FL, 33020
    United States

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    Team Counterpoint
    ET Telecom: Open RAN Summit Ft. Neil Shah https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/et-telecom-open-ran-summit-ft-neil-shah/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 07:52:16 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1047857 Our Research Vice President Neil Shah is joining ET Telecom’s Open RAN Summit on 31st July, 2024. He will also be moderating a panel discussion. More details below: Session: Will the Indian industry embrace Open RAN technology? When: Wednesday, July 31, 2024 Where: Virtual Keynote: Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay – CEO, C-DOT Speakers: Rajesh Singh, EVP – […]

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    Our Research Vice President Neil Shah is joining ET Telecom’s Open RAN Summit on 31st July, 2024. He will also be moderating a panel discussion. More details below:

    Session: Will the Indian industry embrace Open RAN technology?
    When: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
    Where: Virtual

    Keynote:

    • Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay – CEO, C-DOT

    Speakers:

    • Rajesh Singh, EVP – Network Planning and Strategy, Vodafone Idea
    • SP Kochhar – Director General, COAI
    • Manish Mangal – CTO, Telecom and Global Business Head, Network Services, Tech Mahindra
    • Chitranjan Singh – CEO, Ananant Systems

    About the Event:

    Open RAN will be a critical part of 5G. But are there challenges on the road to implementation. ET Telecom’s sessions during the Open RAN Summit will deliberate on the benefits and shortcomings in the context of the Indian telecom industry. ET Telecom, a specialized vertical of the Economic Times, will conduct Tech Series 2024 – on Open RAN bringing technology heads, and industry officials to discuss the technology and telecom industry’s shift to Open RAN.

    To know more about the event, click here

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    Counterpoint Research will be attending 5G Americas Virtual Forum https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/counterpoint-research-will-be-attending-5g-americas-virtual-forum/ Wed, 24 Jul 2024 06:10:33 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1047783 Our Senior Analyst, Tina Lu, will be speaking at the 5G Americas Virtual Forum on 24th July, 2024. Session: 5G FWA Growth in Latin America Date: 24th July, 2024 Time: 1.20 PM ET About the Event: 5G Americas is an industry trade organization comprised of leading telecommunications service providers and manufacturers. The organization’s mission is to promote […]

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    Our Senior Analyst, Tina Lu, will be speaking at the 5G Americas Virtual Forum on 24th July, 2024.

    Session: 5G FWA Growth in Latin America
    Date: 24th July, 2024
    Time: 1.20 PM ET

    About the Event:
    5G Americas is an industry trade organization comprised of leading telecommunications service providers and manufacturers. The organization’s mission is to promote and foster the advancement and full capabilities of LTE wireless technologies and their evolution to 5G, across all networks, services, applications and connected devices in the ecosystem in the Americas.
    They are committed to developing a connected wireless community while leading the development of 5G for the entire Americas. 5G Americas is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, USA.


    To know more about the event, click here

     

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    Team Counterpoint
    Counterpoint Conversations: Dell Copilot+ PCs Promise Unique AI Features, Long Battery Life https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/counterpoint-conversations-dell-copilot-plus-pcs-ai-features-long-battery-life/ Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:04:14 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1047786 Dell recently unveiled two new Copilot+ PCs powered by the Snapdragon X platform. These include the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite SoC and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus powered by the Snapdragon X Plus SoC. Focused on power, efficiency and bringing on-device AI and GenAI experiences to masses, the new PCs are Microsoft’s fresh […]

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    Dell recently unveiled two new Copilot+ PCs powered by the Snapdragon X platform. These include the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite SoC and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus powered by the Snapdragon X Plus SoC. Focused on power, efficiency and bringing on-device AI and GenAI experiences to masses, the new PCs are Microsoft’s fresh attempt at finally making Windows on Arm dream a reality.

    At the recent launch event in New Delhi, India, Ritesh Bendre, Global Content Manager at Counterpoint Research sat down with Atul Mehta, Senior Director and General Manager for India Consumer Channel at Dell Technologies to talk about new Copilot+ PCs. They discussed key features and AI experiences, target audience of the new PCs and much more.

    The Interview

    Key Takeaways from the Discussion

    Dell’s definition of AI PCs:

    • AI PCs, compared to traditional PCs, feature an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) alongside CPU and GPU to offload AI related tasks.
    • These PCs also come with a dedicated Copilot button for quick access.
    • The Copilot+ PCs also offer up to 27 hours of battery life for the XPS 13, and up to 21 hours for the Inspiron 14 Plus.

    Differentiating AI features of Dell Copilot+ PCs:

    These PCs come with AI features like:

    • Live captions with translation in up to 44 different languages, all happening on-device.
    • Windows Studio Effects to add background blur to videos, auto-framing and more.
    • Cocreation tools for AI generated images and more.

    Dell’s target audience:

    The Copilot+ PCs are designed to cater to a wide range of users, including:

    • Professionals.
    • Gamers.
    • Content creators.
    • Students and programmers.

    Atul also highlighted that some of key factors users consider when choosing a laptop include multitasking, workload and processing requirements.

    Positioning and future of AI PCs as per Dell:

    • In terms of positioning, Dell acknowledges the premiumization trend in the PC industry, and these laptops are designed for premium users.
    • Talking about the future of AI PCs, Mr. Mehta highlighted that growth in AI use cases over time will also fuel the explosion of these AI devices.
    • Dell is excited to be one of the leading vendors in the AI PC market, and also across other categories such as all-in-one PCs, cloud solutions and data centers.

    Analyst Takeaways:

    • Battery life is one of the key-selling points for these Windows on ARM, Copilot+ PCs, and with Dell claiming up to 27 hours of backup on XPS 13, we will be looking forward to test and see how it actually performs in everyday usage.
    • Compatibility with x86 apps has been a challenge for traditional Windows on ARM PCs, however, more compatible hygeine apps have been announced this time around where app developers have worked with Qualcomm and Microsoft to drive native development as well as run well on the Prism emulator. The stability and growth of apps will be something which will drive long-term success, for Arm based AI PCs.
    • While Apple has been successful in completely transitioning away from the Intel x86-based compute platforms to ARM based Apple Silicon, it remains to be seen how long does it take for the ARM based Copilot+ PCs to gain considerable share in the x86 dominated PC market.
    • Copilot+ PCs promises a step change in Windows PCs segment by bringing exceptional battery life and cutting-edge AI capabilities. It will be key to see how Microsoft, Qualcomm and OEMs together communicate these benefits to the average consumers and enterprises through channels strongly influenced by Intel.
    • AMD and Intel with their upcoming CoPilot+ PC centric platforms will make a strong play to defend their market share slip away from Qualcomm Snapdragon X based Windows on ARM AI PCs.
    • We forecast AI laptops will grow to over 70% of total PC shipments by 2027.

    Related Posts

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    Samsung’s Reinforced Galaxy Watch 7 Lineup to Boost Revenue Growth in 2024 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/samsungs-reinforced-galaxy-watch-7-lineup-to-boost-revenue-growth-in-2024/ Mon, 22 Jul 2024 06:58:05 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1047733 Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 7 and the high-end Galaxy Watch Ultra at the Galaxy Unpacked event, following the release of its entry-level Galaxy Watch FE in June. This diversification reflects Samsung’s strategy to boost revenue growth, similar to trends seen with other major smartwatch OEMs like Huawei and Apple. The Galaxy Watch 7 features […]

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  • Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 7 and the high-end Galaxy Watch Ultra at the Galaxy Unpacked event, following the release of its entry-level Galaxy Watch FE in June.
  • This diversification reflects Samsung’s strategy to boost revenue growth, similar to trends seen with other major smartwatch OEMs like Huawei and Apple.
  • The Galaxy Watch 7 features improved battery capacity, Exynos W1000 chipset and Galaxy AI.
  • Samsung Electronics launched its latest smartwatch iteration, the Galaxy Watch 7, along with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, a completely new high-end variant, on July 10 during the Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris. Samsung also unveiled its new lineup of foldable smartphones alongside the Galaxy Ring at the event.

    With this, Samsung’s latest smartwatch lineup now consists of the Galaxy Watch 7 base model, Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Watch FE – another new smartwatch variant introduced in June, targeting the entry-level segment. This reflects Samsung’s diversification strategy to boost revenue growth, a method adopted by most major smartwatch OEMs. The Galaxy Watch Classic/Pro was not released at this year’s Galaxy Unpacked event.

    Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 features significantly improved specifications compared to the previous iteration. The new lineup boasts better battery capacity and usage time, and is equipped with the Exynos W1000 wearable chipset, the first wearable chipset to utilize the 3nm process.

    Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Samsung’s new smartwatch collection is the Galaxy AI, which has been driving the GenAI craze on smartphones. The freshly adopted Galaxy AI feature can analyze health indicators and remember users’ habits based on personal health data obtained from the devices. The feature is expected to provide a more systematic approach to predicting and diagnosing future health conditions. Additionally, it can also present new directions in various fields such as medical care and sports. Galaxy AI’s other functions include translation, text conversion assist, text summarization and automatic generation of customized text messages directly on the smartwatch.

    Table 1: Specifications Comparison of Samsung’s New Smartwatch Lineup

    Source: Samsung

    The newly added Galaxy Watch Ultra is priced at $649.99, which is 1.5x higher than the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, one of the more expensive models in last year’s lineup. Meanwhile, the release price of the Galaxy Watch 7 base model remains almost similar to last year’s iteration, despite its upgraded specifications surpassing those of the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

    The Galaxy Watch Ultra’s price point does not overlap with the Classic (or Pro) as this is Samsung’s first time introducing this price point. However, this does not completely replace the Classic (or Pro), and we cannot rule out the possibility that the Ultra will be released simultaneously with the Classic (or Pro) smartwatch in the future. If that happens, the Galaxy Watch lineup will consist of four tiers – FE, Basic, Classic (or Pro) and Ultra. The Galaxy Watch FE, which was released for the first time in June this year, has become the entry-level option in the Galaxy Watch series, with the launch price set at $199 for non-cellular models.

    Samsung has been diversifying its smartwatch lineup like most major smartwatch OEMs. For example, Huawei and its various types of smartwatches. Alongside basic smartwatches that perform only simple functions, Huawei is also launching HLOS smartwatches like the Huawei Watch GT 4, which support third-party apps. Huawei also offers kids smartwatches specifically designed for children, such as the Huawei Children Watch 5.

    Apple has also recently shown a pattern of segmenting its lineup. Apple introduced its entry-level first-generation Apple Watch SE in 2020, about five years after it first began selling the Apple Watch. In 2022, Apple recorded its highest-ever annual shipment helped by the high-end Apple Watch Ultra and the second generation Apple Watch SE, which were both launched during the same year. Apple achieved this result despite an 8% decline in Apple Watch S8 shipments compared to its predecessor.

    Picture 1: Apple, Samsung, Huawei’s HLOS Smartwatch Lineup
    * Note: The most recently released models for each lineup are listed, with the price indicating the release price.

    Samsung, having newly established both an entry-level and high-end lineup this year, is also expected to see a rebound in both shipments and revenue. The Galaxy Watch FE appears to be highly appealing to consumers in emerging countries who have been using low-end smartwatches thus far, as it allows them to experience the latest market technology like Galaxy AI through products from Samsung’s high-end brand within their budget. This will enable more people to enter the Galaxy ecosystem.

    The launch of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is expected to provide Android smartphone users with a viable alternative to Garmin, especially in the high-end smartwatch market priced over $500. In 2023, revenue of high-end (>$500) smartwatch market accounted for 27% of total smartwatch revenue. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is expected to help Samsung increase its smartwatch revenue in 2024, potentially displacing some of the current market leaders.

    The diversification of smartwatch lineups is expected to manifest in various directions throughout the market in the future. For example, HLOS smartwatch brands are likely to segment into affordable premium, premium and ultra-premium categories. In contrast, low-cost smartwatch brands, represented by local Indian brands, are expected to strive to even encroach on the remaining smart band and fitness tracker markets by organizing their own lineups toward ultra-low, low and mid-low without entering the high-end (>$500) market.

    Related Posts

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    BlackBerry QNX Enables Software Development in Cloud using AWS https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/blackberry-qnx-enables-software-development-in-cloud-using-aws/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 05:35:45 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1047680 As the complexity of software increases in the SDV era, the need to develop hardware and software separately is increasing. The cloud was a means for collecting vehicle information or distributing software in the automotive environment, but it has now emerged as an integrated development environment that provides powerful resources anywhere in the world, even […]

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  • As the complexity of software increases in the SDV era, the need to develop hardware and software separately is increasing.
  • The cloud was a means for collecting vehicle information or distributing software in the automotive environment, but it has now emerged as an integrated development environment that provides powerful resources anywhere in the world, even without a vehicle.
  • BlackBerry’s QNX and AWS are providing a software development package on the public cloud. Stellantis N.V. was able to use this to build a virtual cockpit platform and introduce infotainment features and apps with a development cycle 100x faster than before.
  • As the automobile market moves toward Software Defined Vehicles (SDV), the environment for automotive software development is becoming increasingly important. Since the software on each vehicle model has different hardware characteristics based on their unique operating systems (OSs), it is important to test the software by directly running it on the vehicle. However, building and testing software directly on the hardware target system involves security issues and high costs. Therefore, emulating and testing the relevant software virtually can save a lot of time and resources.

    Various methods are being used to determine how realistic the vehicle software emulation can be. Generally, the actual target image working in the vehicle is deployed on a virtual machine in the development environment, which is then tested while running.

    QNX announced the QNX Accelerate plan in 2023, which is a cloud-based method of distributing and deploying target images using AWS. Currently, three OSs and one hypervisor are listed as Amazon Machine Image (AMI) in the AWS Market place, as shown in Table 1.

    Table 1. QNX products on AWS marketplace

    Each of these AMIs can be launched and used as an instance with a hypervisor. It is also possible to run multiple different images simultaneously. The user connects the Eclipse-based IDE provided by QNX to the Cloud and makes developments based on these AMIs after creating an account and setting up the environment to use AWS.

    Figure 1 shows BlackBerry IVY as an example of how the target image uploaded to the actual cloud and the target in the actual vehicle hardware can be tested equally. BlackBerry IVY is a cloud-based automotive software platform that can provide QNX OS, which can deploy not only targets but also images posted on AWS. The image on the left is running on AWS, and the one on the right is from an actual vehicle. This shows that development and testing are possible without an actual vehicle by using tools and environments and using the same image.

    Figure 1. Parity between cloud IVY target and hardware IVY target
    Source: Amazon.com

    QNX currently releases software development packages using AWS so that partner companies that need immediate development can use them. There are also plans to share and update software development packages if OEMs wish to use other cloud-based development environments, such as MS Azure.

    Stellantis N.V. is the leading player using software development packages. The company formed Stellantis Virtual Engineering Workbench (VEW) together with QNX and AWS and is known to have introduced infotainment technology 100x faster than before in the case of the virtual cockpit platform. Through a software-driven approach and deploying QNX hypervisor in the cloud, Stellantis N.V. was able to quickly build infotainment features and applications by replicating the experience in the cockpit and making changes based on real-time feedback.

    Benefits

    From QNX’s perspective, software development packages are shared periodically using AWS, making it easier to perform security patches and OS upgrades on vehicle models that use the same OS. Additionally, it is expected that quality management will be easy as modern software development methods such as continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) test-driven development can be equally applied.

    On the partner’s side, AWS’ pay-as-you-go policy may be burdensome, but it is expected to be more efficient as it reduces large upfront hardware investment costs and allows planning of usage according to the project budget. Developers can use the same development environment anytime, anywhere in the world and develop software separately from hardware with accumulated experiences in real time without a physical hardware system.

    In the context of OEMs and partners, ensuring reliability and safety is important. OEMs can update vehicle information and software development environments periodically using a cloud environment. Partners are also expected to be able to follow the OEM’s standardized development methods and quality management regulations. This cloud-based software development helps expedite infrastructure set up, enhance collaboration, shorten waiting times and improve software development efficiency.

    Viewpoint

    • This new development will trigger more cloud-based software development for the automotive ecosystem. Cars will become more like consumer electronics or computers, similar to the evolution from feature phones to smartphones.
    • QNX is trying to approach developers and partners more easily through real-time updates and packages that are open to the public cloud.
    • Automotive OSs have traditionally been closed. QNX is working towards an open ecosystem, similar to the PC or smartphone development environment. This is a major step towards SDVs.

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    Counterpoint Research Weekly Newsletter https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/counterpoint-newsletter/ Thu, 18 Jul 2024 07:00:14 +0000 http://cpr.presscat.kr/insights/counterpoint-newsletter/ Read the latest edition of our insightful weekly newsletter on this page. You can also subscribe to receive it straight in your inbox every week. Weekly NewsletterJuly 18, 2024 Is the Global Smartphone Market Finally Rebounding? Fill in this form to subscribe to our newsletter. Also read: Global XR (AR & VR Headsets) Market Share: […]

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    Read the latest edition of our insightful weekly newsletter on this page. You can also subscribe to receive it straight in your inbox every week.

    Weekly Newsletter
    July 18, 2024

    Is the Global Smartphone Market Finally Rebounding?

    Fill in this form to subscribe to our newsletter.

    Also read:

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    Counterpoint Conversations: Samsung Pushes Foldables and Galaxy AI for Enterprise Mobility https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/counterpoint-conversations-samsung-foldables-galaxy-ai-enterprise-mobility/ Thu, 18 Jul 2024 05:54:31 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1047635 At the Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung announced its sixth-generation foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6, alongside new smartwatches, TWS and a new health ring. The Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 are also Samsung’s latest devices to feature Galaxy AI, Samsung’s on-device and cloud-based GenAI features on board. At the event, […]

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    At the Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung announced its sixth-generation foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6, alongside new smartwatches, TWS and a new health ring. The Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 are also Samsung’s latest devices to feature Galaxy AI, Samsung’s on-device and cloud-based GenAI features on board.

    At the event, Gerrit Schneemann, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research, sat down with Brad Haczynski, SVP & GM Mobile eXperience B2B, USA, at Samsung, to discuss the new launches, AI and more. They also discussed the increasingly interconnected ecosystem of devices for enterprises and users looking for the latest in mobile productivity hardware.

    The Interview

    Key Takeaways from the Discussion

    • Samsung is positioning its ecosystem of devices as a complete solution for businesses of all sizes. In the mobility sector, this ranges from entry-level devices for fleet deployment (A-series), all the way to foldables, in addition to tablets and laptops.
    • The Galaxy Z Fold has replaced the Note series as a productivity powerhouse. Samsung believes that this type of device can be utilized as a main computing device for workers moving between offices and client locations.
    • Galaxy AI features easily fit into workflows and can enhance productivity. However, Samsung is aware that in regulatory environments, businesses need clarity on how AI capabilities are delivered (on-device vs cloud).
    • Samsung offers businesses the option to customize AI features and has an established security and privacy brand called Samsung
    • Wearables are likely to have become more important for businesses in two ways – they can monitor employees to ensure safety, provide health benefits and incentivize healthy behaviors. They can also be deployed by companies as gateways to the end consumer to enable health monitoring in different scenarios.
    • Samsung’s Energy Score is an example of how wearables, combined with AI, can deliver personalized health tracking.

    Analyst Takeaways

    • Samsung continues to focus on the Galaxy Z Fold6 as a productivity tool for enterprise clients, where mobile computing is increasingly essential. It offers employees access to a flexible computing platform, which can be used as a standalone device or connect to external displays and accessories with always-on connectivity, is an attractive solution, despite the device’s flagship price.
    • Over the last five generations of the device, Samsung has partnered with app developers to optimize their enterprise applications for the larger Fold display.
    • Galaxy AI features bring another element of productivity to the table. Features like real-time translation and transcription are ideal for enterprise users.
    • Samsung has also invested heavily in its Knox security platform over the years, and it can now integrate AI capabilities in a way that allows enterprises to stay within their internal regulations and guidelines while taking advantage of novel productivity features.
    • The launch of the Galaxy Ring illustrates Samsung’s desire to create a broad ecosystem of devices that can address many use cases for business users and create B2B2C relationships as well – a win-win for Samsung and its partners.
    • Furthermore, the fast evolution of Galaxy AI capabilities since the initial launch earlier this year showcases Samsung’s focus on rapid iteration to drive AI use cases and features into more aspects of the mobile user experience and deliver them to a larger part of the existing user base.

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