TrendForce’s latest figures reveal that global smartphone production reached around 284 million units in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 1.7% YoY decline. Despite a sharp rise in memory prices since the second half of 2025, the effect on production was minimal because brands still held inventories of cheaper memory components. Additionally, consumer expectations of higher prices in the future have helped sustain short-term demand, cushioning the impact of rising memory costs on production during the quarter.
TrendForce’s latest research reveals that the current AI notebook market is primarily driven by Intel, AMD, Apple, and Qualcomm. However, as it stands, the industry still lacks products capable of fully demonstrating the value of on-device AI computing at scale and creating compelling upgrade incentives for consumers.
According to the latest research by global market intelligence firm TrendForce, branded TV shipments worldwide reached 47.12 million units in 1Q26, marking a 3.3% YoY increase and achieving a post-COVID-19 pandemic high for the same period. However, a QoQ comparison shows a 12.7% decline. Although the demand side of the TV market remained conservative in 1Q26 due to the traditional slow season and a reduction in China’s trade-in subsidies, the tight supply of DRAM and NAND Flash—driven by AI server and advanced computing demands—caused a significant price surge for memory components used in TVs in late 2025. To mitigate subsequent cost pressures, TV brands initiated early stocking activities and order pull-ins, which became the primary driver supporting shipment growth in 1Q26.
TrendForce’s latest research on the display industry reveals that the foldable smartphone market is expected to see Apple enter as early as the second half of 2026, drawing significant attention to related technological advancements.
Global notebook shipments are showing clear signs of further weakening, according to TrendForce’s latest findings on the notebook industry. Subsequently, TrendForce has revised its 2026 full-year shipment forecast downward from -9.2% to -14.8% YoY amid expectations of deteriorating end-market demand and rising supply chain costs, reflecting a deeper industry correction.