# consumer electronics
Latest news and articles about consumer electronics
Total: 12 articles found
Year of the Horse Preview: AI Will Drive the Next Wave of Consumer Tech — Is Apple’s Next Big Thing a Foldable iPhone?
AI is set to be the defining force in consumer electronics for the lunar Year of the Horse, driving changes across chips, sensors and software. While foldable phones are a logical battleground — and a possible next hit for Apple — the real competition will be about integrating efficient on-device intelligence, managing supply-chain costs and meeting regulatory expectations.
Beijing Pumps Rmb62.5bn into Spring Festival Stimulus, Turning Smart Gadgets Into This Year’s Must‑Buy
China has launched a Rmb62.5 billion Spring Festival subsidy program that prioritises trade‑ins for affordable smart devices, offering consumers 15% rebates up to Rmb500 on phones, tablets and wearables priced under Rmb6,000. The measures aim to stimulate near‑term spending while accelerating mass adoption of connected hardware, benefiting mid‑range manufacturers and related supply chains.
China Boots Up Spring Festival Trade‑In Subsidies to Prime Consumer Demand
China’s Ministry of Commerce has ordered robust implementation of trade‑in subsidies for appliances, electronics and automobiles during the nine‑day 2026 Spring Festival holiday, prioritising offline channels and rural participation. The policy is a targeted consumption stimulus designed to boost holiday spending, support physical retailers and protect subsidy integrity through upgraded information systems and anti‑fraud measures.
Once China’s TV King, Konka Stumbles into Crisis after RMB100bn Impairment ‘Bomb’
Konka, once China’s leading TV maker, warned of a record RMB125.8–155.7 billion loss in 2025 after massive impairment charges, pushing its net assets into negative territory and exposing it to delisting risk. Years of shrinking TV demand, sprawling diversification, governance lapses and heavy indebtedness have left few easy rescue options despite intervention by new majority owner China Resources.
Konka's Fall: China’s Once-Dominant TV Maker Posts Billions in Losses and Faces Delisting Risk
Konka, once a leader in China’s television market, warned of a RMB 12.58–15.57 billion net loss for 2025 and faces a likely negative net-asset position and possible delisting. Years of shrinking TV sales, sprawling diversification, mounting impairments and governance lapses have culminated in a balance-sheet crisis that China Resources has begun to address but cannot resolve alone.
From ‘TV King’ to Balance‑Sheet Crisis: Konka Warns of RMB125–156bn Annual Loss, Fuels Delisting Fears
Konka, a once‑dominant Chinese television maker, has warned of an RMB12.6–15.6 billion full‑year loss for 2025 driven by large fourth‑quarter impairment charges. The forecast has pushed the company toward negative net assets, raised delisting risks, and intensified governance probes following a recent state‑linked takeover.
Apple Slashes Prices in China: iPhone Air Sees Record RMB 2,500 Cut in Tmall New‑Year Blitz
Apple has initiated a major New‑Year promotion in China via its Tmall flagship, cutting up to RMB 2,500 from the iPhone Air’s launch price and offering discounts across Macs, iPads and accessories. The sale — timed for Lunar New Year and supported by limited stock allocations — signals aggressive channel management and highlights the Chinese market’s growing price sensitivity and the role of eSIM adoption in Apple’s local strategy.
Apple China Rolls Out Short Lunar‑New‑Year Price Cuts — Up to ¥1,000 Off Select Devices
Apple China is offering up to ¥1,000 off selected devices on its website from 24–27 January 2026, covering iPhone 16 models but excluding iPhone 17. The limited‑time move is aimed at stimulating Lunar‑New‑Year purchases, managing inventory and competing with domestic rivals while preserving overall pricing strategy.
TCL to Take Operational Control of Sony’s TV Business in Move That Could Accelerate Industry Consolidation
TCL Electronics and Sony have agreed a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture in which TCL would hold 51% and Sony 49% to run Sony’s home entertainment business, including BRAVIA-branded TVs. The deal, subject to a final agreement by March 2026 and operations beginning April 2027, would give TCL operational control of Sony’s TV unit and could accelerate consolidation in the global television market. The transaction pairs TCL’s rising manufacturing and panel capacity with Sony’s premium brand, promising scale and market-share gains but raising questions about brand stewardship, regulatory approval and competitive responses from other global players.
How AI’s Appetite for Memory Is Turning Chip Windfalls Into an ‘AI Tax’ on Consumers
SK Hynix and Samsung are reallocating memory capacity to serve AI data centres, driving a surge in HBM and SSD demand that has pushed memory prices sharply higher. The result is higher costs and stealth downgrades for consumer devices, with ordinary buyers effectively shouldering the bill for large‑scale AI infrastructure build‑outs.
Memory Modules Soar: Daily Price Swings and a Consumer Electronics Squeeze in 2026
Memory module prices in China have surged sharply in early 2026, with daily volatility and near-doubling in some segments driven by AI, data-centre demand and seasonal restocking. The spike threatens to raise consumer electronics prices, squeeze OEM margins and invite heavy capital spending that could sow future overcapacity risks.
Memory Prices Rocket as AI Squeezes Supply Chain — Devices, OEMs and Shoppers Feel the Pinch
A sharp surge in memory and SSD prices driven by AI-related demand is pushing up the cost of laptops, phones and assembled PCs while inflating profits at major memory makers. Industry insiders expect the tightness to persist through 2026 as capacity expansion lags explosive demand for AI-optimised storage.