Even the Chinese don't want to copy this

Quick Overview

Chinese smartphone makers, initially eager to emulate Apple's ultra-thin iPhone Air design, have halted follow-up projects due to the iPhone Air's weak sales, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes Asia.

Key Points: Chinese smartphone makers like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo have scrapped or adjusted development plans for devices inspired by the ultra-thin iPhone Air due to weak sales. Key Apple suppliers have dismantled most iPhone Air production lines, leaving only one and a half lines operational, with full production expected to cease by late November. The core difficulty in achieving extreme thinness (under 6mm) involves severe constraints on internal component stacking, compromising camera capabilities and battery life. Samsung's Galaxy S25 edge, another ultra-thin device, faces similar challenges to the iPhone Air. Huawei is experiencing a 'big boom,' with its Mate 80 series allegedly featuring a variable aperture, five cameras (including two periscopes), an 8000-nit screen, and IP59 rating. Huawei's MatePad Edge hybrid tablet reportedly runs HarmonyOS and can emulate Windows applications, supporting up to 13,000 windows simultaneously. TSMC's Q3 2025 revenue forecast predicts High-Performance Computing (HPC) will dominate at 57%, while Smartphone revenue drops to 30%, indicating a major industry shift.

Context: This weekly tech news roundup covers several key developments in the mobile and semiconductor industries, focusing on the disappointing market reception of Apple's ultra-thin iPhone Air, the ambitious product announcements from Huawei, benchmark performance comparisons, and a significant shift in revenue structure for chip manufacturer TSMC. The video also features sponsored segments discussing new products from Insta360 and a new operating system project from Google.

Detailed Analysis

The video begins by reporting that Chinese smartphone makers, including Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, have halted or revised plans for follow-up projects inspired by the ultra-thin iPhone Air following reports of weak sales for the initial device. Industry sources indicate that Apple's suppliers have significantly scaled back production, expecting it to cease by late November, confirming the poor reception of the thin-and-light design concept, which inherently compromises battery life and camera quality due to component stacking limitations. In contrast, Huawei is reportedly succeeding, having launched a full flagship device portfolio, including the Mate 80 series, which boasts an 8000-nit screen, five cameras with variable aperture and periscopes, and an IP59 rating. Furthermore, the Huawei MatePad Edge hybrid tablet is highlighted for running HarmonyOS and emulating Windows applications, supporting up to 13,000 simultaneous windows and direct boot into a Windows environment. A segment on semiconductor trends shows TSMC's Q3 2025 forecast, where HPC (57%) overtakes Smartphone (30%) as the largest revenue source, signaling a shift away from mobile reliance. The news segment also covered Google's 'Aluminium OS' project, an Android-based operating system intended to replace ChromeOS across various form factors, and the Swiss Data Protection Officers imposing a cloud ban on US hyperscalers (AWS, Google, Microsoft) for handling sensitive government data due to concerns over the US Cloud Act. Finally, the video features a sponsored segment showcasing the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 action camera, highlighting its new lens options and accessories, and a power bank with a solid-state battery.