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Realme Plans to Offset Rising Component Costs Ahead of New Device Launches, Says Executive

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Realme is preparing to navigate rising smartphone component costs without passing them on to consumers, according to a senior company executive. Reports indicate that prices for storage and memory modules are climbing, largely driven by growing demand for AI processing and cloud infrastructure. Despite these pressures, Realme plans to absorb much of the cost increase ahead of its upcoming product launches, including the recently unveiled Realme GT 8 Pro in China.

The company is exploring strategies to mitigate the impact of higher component prices, such as diversifying its supplier base, refining product design, and enhancing supply chain coordination. Realme’s Head of Product Marketing, Francis Wong, emphasized that these measures are aimed at ensuring that the price of forthcoming devices remains stable, even as the broader industry faces potential cost hikes.

Wong also noted that the price pressure is not limited to premium smartphones; mid-range and budget segments are similarly affected. Rising costs are being driven by multiple factors, including the surge in AI-related hardware demand, shifts in manufacturing priorities, evolving trade policies, and an increasing reliance on local production.

By proactively managing these challenges, Realme aims to maintain consumer trust while continuing to deliver competitively priced devices. The company’s approach highlights a broader trend in the smartphone industry, where brands must balance component costs with market expectations in an increasingly AI-driven tech landscape.

Japan’s TDK Accelerates Launch of Next-Gen Silicon Anode Batteries Amid Strong Smartphone Demand

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TDK Corp, a leading Japanese electronics components manufacturer and key Apple supplier, is fast-tracking the rollout of its next-generation silicon anode batteries, CEO Noboru Saito told Reuters. Originally scheduled for summer, shipments of the third-generation high-energy batteries will begin “very soon.”

The move comes amid surging interest from smartphone makers, as silicon anode batteries promise higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion technologies—allowing for longer battery life and thinner designs.

Key Highlights:

  • Silicon anode batteries, while still a small part of TDK’s portfolio, represent a strategic focus as smartphone OEMs seek energy efficiency gains.

  • TDK plans to launch its fourth-generation battery “sometime next year.”

  • More than half of TDK’s capital investment over the next three years will go toward its energy segment, which includes battery R&D and production.

Broader Strategic Outlook:

Founded in 1935, TDK has transformed from a household name in cassette tapes to a critical supplier of batteries, sensors, and capacitors for the global tech industry. As demand for smartphones, wearables, and IoT devices accelerates, TDK is positioning its advanced battery tech as a growth engine.

CEO Saito, who has led the company since 2022, also flagged geopolitical risk, particularly from the U.S.–China trade tensions under President Donald Trump’s administration. TDK’s latest forecast included both base and risk-adjusted scenarios to reflect uncertainty in U.S. electronics demand.

“I remain concerned,” Saito said, referring to potential impacts on the U.S. smartphone market, a key revenue source for TDK and its clients.

Despite these external pressures, TDK’s acceleration of cutting-edge battery technology underscores its commitment to staying ahead in energy innovation and meeting OEM demand for more compact, powerful power solutions.

India Cuts Import Tax on Key Smartphone Components, Boosting Apple and Xiaomi

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India has eliminated import duties on certain key components used in mobile phone production, as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the annual budget on Saturday. This move is expected to support local manufacturing efforts and benefit companies like Apple and Xiaomi. The electronics sector in India has seen significant growth, with production doubling in the last six years to reach $115 billion in 2024, making the country the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally.

Apple leads the Indian smartphone market, with a 23% share in total revenue for 2024, closely followed by Samsung at 22%, according to Counterpoint research. The components affected by the import tax cuts include items crucial for phone assembly, such as printed circuit board assembly, parts of camera modules, and USB cables, which were previously taxed at 2.5%.

These reductions are part of India’s strategy to strengthen its position in global supply chains amid challenges like U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and the shifting dynamics of U.S.-China trade tensions. India’s decision to lower tariffs comes as a response to warnings from the IT ministry, which noted that without these cuts, the country risked falling behind China and Vietnam in the smartphone export race. The changes aim to make India’s customs duty structure simpler and more trade-friendly, addressing issues like inverted duty structures that hinder efficient local production.