MacBook Neo helped Apple move against the global PC market in the second quarter of 2026, delivering double-digit Mac shipment growth while most leading computer manufacturers sold fewer units than a year earlier.

Preliminary data from IDC estimates that Apple shipped 6.7 million Macs during the quarter, up 10.1% from 6.1 million in Q2 2025. Its worldwide market share rose from 8.5% to 9.9%, placing the company within a fraction of the 10% threshold.

The rest of the industry moved in the opposite direction. Global shipments fell 4.9% year over year to 68.2 million units, ending nine consecutive quarters of growth. A separate Omdia estimate placed the decline at 3.6% and Apple growth at 15.9%, but both research groups identified the same pattern: the Mac gained ground while established Windows PC vendors contracted or remained flat.

IDC directly connected the Apple increase with the arrival of its lowest-priced notebook. MacBook Neo began shipping in March, giving the model its first complete quarter of retail availability between April and June.

MacBook Neo Drives Mac Shipment Growth

MacBook Neo entered the market as an alternative for buyers previously priced out of the Mac lineup.

The 13-inch notebook launched at $599 with an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of unified memory, a Liquid Retina display and up to 16 hours of video playback. It also brought macOS, Apple Intelligence and integration with the iPhone ecosystem into a price range commonly occupied by mainstream Windows laptops and Chromebooks.

That positioning attracted students, families and first-time Mac customers who did not need the performance or display technology of a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. The four-color aluminum design also gave the entry model a more recognizable identity than the older Mac notebooks that frequently remained on sale through discounts.

IDC had already identified the computer as an unusual source of strength when it revised its notebook forecast earlier in 2026. Demand exceeded initial expectations in several markets, and reported inventory shortages appeared shortly after the March launch.

The effect became much more visible in Q2. MacBook Neo was available for the entire three-month period, allowing Apple to increase production, expand retail distribution and serve customers who could not obtain the computer during its first weeks.

The entry model also widened the Mac lineup without replacing the MacBook Air. Buyers seeking more memory, faster ports, longer wireless web use or additional external-display support could continue moving toward the M5-powered Air, while the less expensive machine handled education, office work, web browsing and communication.

That separation allowed Apple to reach lower price points without reducing the value of its premium notebooks.

Lenovo, HP and Dell Lose Shipments

Apple remained the fourth-largest traditional PC vendor, but its performance contrasted sharply with the companies above it.

Lenovo retained first place with 16.6 million units and 24.4% market share. Its shipments declined 2.1% from the previous year.

HP experienced the steepest drop among the top five, falling 9% to 13 million units. Dell shipped 9.3 million computers, representing a 5% decline. Asus remained nearly flat at 5 million units, up only 0.2%.

Manufacturers outside the five largest brands collectively suffered a 10.5% contraction, indicating that weaker demand and component inflation placed even more pressure on smaller companies.

The figures measure shipments into distribution channels or directly to end users, not confirmed retail purchases by individual consumers. A manufacturer can therefore record shipment growth while some inventory remains unsold in stores or warehouses.

MacBook Neo demand appears to have been strong enough to support Apple production increases rather than simply filling channels. The company reportedly doubled its annual production target after the initial response, although later quarters will reveal how much of Q2 reflected lasting demand rather than launch-period enthusiasm.

Apple also benefits from operating at a scale that provides leverage with memory, storage and semiconductor suppliers. Smaller PC brands face greater difficulty securing components at competitive prices when shortages intensify.

Memory Costs Reverse the PC Recovery

The Q2 contraction arrived after manufacturers and commercial customers accelerated purchases during late 2025 and early 2026.

Buyers expected memory and storage prices to rise, encouraging some businesses to replace computers earlier than planned. Vendors also increased inventories while components remained available.

That activity supported nine quarters of market growth but borrowed demand from later periods. Once the early purchases were completed, the industry faced a more difficult combination of expensive components, cautious consumers and elevated retail prices.

The memory shortage is closely connected to the AI infrastructure boom. Chipmakers are dedicating more production capacity to high-bandwidth memory used by data center accelerators, limiting the supply of conventional DRAM needed for personal computers.

IDC expects little relief before the end of 2027 or early 2028. The research company forecasts an 11.3% decline in worldwide PC shipments across 2026, with the fourth quarter potentially falling 20% from the previous year.

Computer revenue may not decline at the same pace. Manufacturers have raised prices faster than shipments have fallen, allowing them to collect more money from fewer units.

That strategy creates another problem. Retailers and distributors can become trapped with expensive inventory if customers refuse the new prices, forcing promotions or production reductions later.

MacBook Neo initially softened that pressure by giving Apple a new product near the bottom of the notebook market. Its original $599 price made the Mac competitive with midrange Windows machines at the moment many rivals were becoming more expensive.

The Price Increase Creates the Next Test

The strongest Q2 MacBook Neo shipments were recorded while most customers could still buy the computer at its introductory price.

Apple raised the U.S. starting price to $699 in late June as memory and storage costs affected the Mac and iPad lineups. The education price remained at $599, preserving the original offer for eligible students and educators.

A $100 increase changes the comparison with discounted Windows notebooks and places the entry model closer to older MacBook Air configurations available through third-party retailers.

Apple must now determine whether the appeal came primarily from the low launch price or from the combination of macOS, battery life, design and iPhone integration.

The company remains better positioned than many rivals to absorb supply disruption, negotiate long-term component agreements and promote several notebooks at different prices. MacBook Neo also uses an iPhone-class A18 Pro processor rather than an M-series chip, providing another way to manage silicon costs and production capacity.

IDC expects the full PC market to deteriorate during the second half of 2026. Apple will enter that period with almost 10% worldwide share, but the September quarter will be the first to measure MacBook Neo demand almost entirely at the higher $699 retail price.

The post MacBook Neo Defies the Global PC Slump appeared first on AppleMagazine.

Apple is pushing suppliers for a 20% price cut on iPhone 18 Pro Max OLED panels, even as materials and memory chip costs climb.

(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Semiconductor test equipment maker DI is expected to post record quarterly results in the second quarter.

Hana Securities estimated on July 24 that DI will report second-quarter revenue of 160.6 billion won and operating profit of 33.1 billion won. That would represent increases of 34.7% and 169.8%, respectively, from a year earlier, marking the company's highest quarterly figures on record. Combined with first-quarter operating profit of about 18.9 billion won, first-half operating profit is projected to reach 52.0 billion won, surpassing the company's full-year operating profit for last year within six months.

Behind the strong performance are wafer testers for sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) made by DI's subsidiary Digital Frontier (DF). Earlier this year, DF won orders worth 196 billion won from SK hynix for the equipment.

Those deliveries were concentrated in the second quarter. As a result, DF's second-quarter revenue is expected to increase 76.8% from the previous quarter to 96.2 billion won. HBM4 testers also carry higher margins, with the subsidiary's operating margin estimated to have risen to 30% from 26% in the first quarter.

DI's standalone second-quarter revenue is also expected to exceed 60 billion won, supported by higher shipments of package testers. Package testers are used in the step following wafer testing. They inspect semiconductor packages — chips that have been diced from wafers, wrapped in protective material and assembled into finished form. DI has a product lineup capable of testing DRAM, NAND flash and non-memory semiconductors, with Samsung Electronics as its key customer.

The second-half outlook is also positive. Discussions are underway on additional HBM4 tester supply, which is expected to extend related revenue through the end of this year. Commodity DRAM prices have also risen sharply, accelerating customers' capital spending. DF is continuing to ship its own DRAM package testers, and supply of NAND wafer testers began in the third quarter.

Because memory manufacturers had concentrated their existing capital spending on HBM, investment in commodity products is expected to expand over an extended period.

Hana Securities forecast DI's consolidated third-quarter revenue at more than 180 billion won. It estimated full-year revenue of 573 billion won and operating profit of 101.3 billion won.

Customer investment is expected to continue next year. SK hynix will open the cleanroom at P&T7, a semiconductor back-end packaging and test plant in Cheongju. The plant will produce HBM using a 2.5D packaging process. In NAND, Samsung Electronics plans an expansion of its P5 fab at the Pyeongtaek Campus, while SK hynix has also planned an investment in its new M17 fab in Cheongju.

OCI Holdings posted its third consecutive quarter of operating profit, as its Malaysian solar-grade polysilicon subsidiary and Vietnamese wafer subsidiary sold out their currently available production through long-term supply agreements (LTAs).

The company reported second-quarter revenue of 1.0231 trillion won and operating profit of 108 billion won on July 23. Revenue rose 31.8% from a year earlier, while the company returned to an operating profit. The latest results mark its third straight quarter of operating profitability since the fourth quarter of 2025.

OCI TerraSus, OCI Holdings' Malaysia-based polysilicon manufacturing subsidiary, recently signed a long-term agreement with a new US customer for solar-grade polysilicon, fully committing its annual production capacity of 35,000 metric tons. To meet growing solar demand driven by the expansion of AI infrastructure in the US, the company plans to add another 35,000 tons of annual capacity, bringing total production capacity to 70,000 tons by 2029.

Its Vietnam-based wafer subsidiary, NEOSILICON Technologies, has also secured contracts covering its planned 11.5-gigawatt (GW) production capacity through 2029. The company currently operates a 2.7GW production line and has begun supplying products. Shipments to a new US customer are scheduled to begin next year.

OCI Holdings said it has established a non-China (Non-PFE) solar supply chain through its Malaysian polysilicon and Vietnamese wafer operations to respond to changes in US trade policy. The company expects deliveries under newly signed contracts to accelerate once uncertainty surrounding Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act is resolved.

The company is also expanding its US solar power generation business. OCI Energy recently generated returns by selling the 500-megawatt (MW) La Salle project. It is also negotiating a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a major US technology company for another project targeted to begin construction by the end of this year. OCI Energy is currently developing 29 projects centered in Texas with a combined capacity of 6.5GW, including 3.4GW of solar generation and 3.1GW of energy storage systems (ESS).

"The expansion of AI data centers is driving higher electricity demand in the US, further strengthening growth momentum in the solar market," said Lee Woo-hyun, chairman of OCI Holdings. "We will expand investment across the solar value chain based on our differentiated Non-PFE competitiveness while proactively responding to changes in the global supply chain."

TEMC CNS has resumed shipments of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄), a semiconductor precursor used in thin-film deposition, to SK hynix, about 10 months after a fire halted production at its Anseong plant. The company has officially declared a return to normal operations with the first commercial shipment from its new production base in Boeun, North Chungcheong Province.

TEMC CNS held a ceremony on July 23 to mark the first commercial shipment of TiCl₄ from its Boeun Plant 2. About 40 employees, including CEO Lee Dong-jun, Ko Sung-jong, head of Manufacturing Technology, and Koo Ja-kwon, director of Manufacturing Technology, attended the event, which featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the departure of the first delivery truck. The products shipped that day will be supplied to SK hynix's D램 production lines.

"Following the fire at our Anseong plant in September 2025, we have established a new production system and resumed supplying products to our customer," Lee said. "This marks a meaningful new beginning for the company's growth, built on our new manufacturing foundation."

Ko said, "When the fire occurred in 2025, the future looked uncertain, but every employee came together to make this resumption possible. It is a meaningful moment that demonstrates the company's resilience in overcoming adversity."

TEMC CNS completed installation of TiCl₄ production equipment and obtained regulatory approvals for Boeun Plant 2 in December 2025. It began trial operations in January and spent approximately six months completing customer qualification and production line validation. Sample shipments began in June, while the first commercial shipment on July 23 marked the start of full-scale production.

The company plans to restore TiCl₄ shipments to pre-fire levels by the end of this year. Before the fire, TEMC CNS supplied approximately 10 billion won worth of TiCl₄ annually to SK hynix. Demand for TiCl₄ and other semiconductor precursors is expected to increase as SK hynix ramps up new D램 production lines, including M15X in Cheongju and the first fab at its Yongin semiconductor cluster. Additional demand exceeding previous supply volumes is expected beginning next year.

TEMC CNS has also restored production of hexachlorodisilane (HCDS), another precursor whose production was halted by the same fire, after relocating the production line to Boeun Plant 2. Shipments to overseas customers, including those in China, began in May, while major customers are currently conducting final production line qualification. The company expects to complete the evaluation process and resume mass production of HCDS later this year.

The resumption of production came about two months earlier than initially expected after the company accelerated consolidation of manufacturing operations at its Boeun facility. Prior to the fire, TEMC CNS had planned to relocate precursor production from Anseong to Boeun Plant 2 by the second half of 2027 to improve manufacturing efficiency and prepare for customers' new production lines. Boeun Plant 2 had previously manufactured products including bis(diethylamino)silane (BDEAS) and disilane (Si₂H₆).

Following the fire, the company converted its long-term investment plan into an accelerated production recovery project by establishing new TiCl₄ and HCDS production lines at Boeun. It also relocated its headquarters from Anseong to Boeun in March, completing consolidation of its manufacturing base. The damaged Anseong Plant 1 is now being considered for future new business operations.

The relocation has nearly doubled the company's TiCl₄ production capacity compared with its previous facility. The new production line incorporates smart factory technologies, automating purification and filling processes while introducing real-time production data management to improve manufacturing efficiency and product consistency. The proximity of parent company TEMC's manufacturing facilities is also expected to generate logistics synergies.

A fire on September 6, 2025, destroyed the TiCl₄ and HCDS production facilities at TEMC CNS's Anseong Plant 1 in Gyeonggi Province. Because the finished goods warehouse was not damaged, the company continued supplying customers through November 2025 using approximately two months of inventory. During the subsequent supply interruption, Merck and Soulbrain, which were already approved suppliers to the same customers, filled the supply gap.

TiCl₄ is a precursor used to form titanium nitride (TiN) thin films during semiconductor deposition processes. A precursor is a chemical material used before a reaction takes place. TiN is used in D램 capacitor electrodes and as a protective barrier for metal interconnects, reducing leakage current and preventing copper diffusion into surrounding dielectric layers to improve semiconductor reliability.

HCDS is a precursor used to deposit silicon nitride (SiN) and silicon oxide (SiO) films. These materials are widely used as insulating and protective layers in D램 and NAND flash devices.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics has signed a multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) supply agreement worth approximately 300 billion won with a major global company for artificial intelligence (AI) servers. To date, the company has secured cumulative long-term agreements (LTAs) worth about 2.3 trillion won in this segment.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced on July 23, 2026, that it signed a supply contract valued at approximately 295.1 billion won with a major global client. The contract value accounts for 2.6% of the company’s consolidated revenue from last year. The contract period runs for one year, from Jan. 1, 2027, to Dec. 31, 2027. The client's identity was not disclosed due to confidentiality terms.

Under the agreement, Samsung Electro-Mechanics will supply high-performance MLCCs for AI servers and data center systems. The company stated that the deal reflects market recognition of its MLCC design capabilities, high reliability under extreme temperature and voltage conditions, and robust production quality management.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics has been steadily expanding LTAs with global clients, focusing on components for AI servers. In May, the company signed an LTA worth about 1.5 trillion won for silicon capacitors (Si-Cap). In June, it secured another AI server MLCC supply contract worth approximately 450 billion won with a global cloud service provider (CSP).

Industry analysts note that securing consecutive, large-scale long-term MLCC supply contracts is unusual, as MLCCs are increasingly viewed as strategic components determining the stability and performance of AI infrastructure.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics currently holds more than 40% of the global AI server MLCC market, sharing the lead with Japan's Murata Manufacturing. The company is actively discussing mid- to long-term supply plans with multiple global customers to secure stable demand and accelerate its portfolio shift toward high-value-added products.

AI server MLCCs are high-value components requiring up to ten times the volume of general servers, with as many as 600,000 units installed per server rack. They must deliver ultra-small form factors, high capacity, and operational stability in high-temperature and high-voltage environments, presenting high technical entry barriers.

"Based on customer trust, we will lead the AI component market by developing next-generation advanced products and building a stable supply system," said Chang Duck-hyun, CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics.

UniTest will supply semiconductor inspection equipment for sixth-generation High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM4) to SK Hynix under a contract worth approximately 22.4 billion won.

UniTest disclosed on July 23 that it signed a semiconductor inspection equipment supply agreement with SK Hynix. The contract value is 22.38 billion won, equivalent to 20.31% of UniTest's consolidated annual revenue of 110.195 billion won last year.

The supplied equipment is an HBM4 wafer tester. The system is a burn-in test machine that verifies the performance and defects of individual chips on wafers with completed circuits under high-temperature and high-voltage conditions.

The equipment completed quality verification for SK Hynix's mass production lines in the first quarter of this year. UniTest previously signed a 29.5 billion won equipment supply contract in May. Including the latest agreement, the total contract value exceeds 51.8 billion won.

UniTest will supply the equipment to SK Hynix's Cheongju P&T6 packaging and testing production facility by the contract deadline of October 8 and complete installation, setup and trial operation.

UniTest's HBM4 tester requires approximately three months to manufacture. However, the latest contract was secured in advance through prior discussions with SK Hynix regarding supply volume.

There are no deposits or advance payments under the agreement. UniTest will receive 90% of the contract value after delivering the equipment into the semiconductor fab, with the remaining 10% paid after setup is completed. The company manufactures the equipment internally without outsourcing production.

UniTest reported consolidated revenue of 22.4 billion won and an operating loss of 2.5 billion won in the first quarter of this year. Its gross profit margin was 29.91%.

Applied Materials Korea has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ChildFund Korea to support science and cultural arts education for children in local communities, the company said on July 23.

​Under the agreement, Applied Materials Korea will sponsor the "AI & Semiconductor Classroom with Applied" and the "Traditional Culture and Arts Classroom with Applied" programs. The company will also donate PCs to local children's centers. The initiative aims to expand future generations' access to technology and help bridge the digital divide.

​The AI & Semiconductor Classroom is a revamped version of the "Science Classroom with Applied" program, which the company has supported for the past six years. Reflecting the growing emphasis on AI education, the updated curriculum will provide hands-on interdisciplinary learning that connects AI and semiconductors. Participants will gain practical experience with AI vision sensors, AI robot kits, and Applied Materials' semiconductor science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) kits.

​Through the integrated curriculum, students will be able to intuitively understand the fundamental principles of how individual components, data, system design, and user requirements work together to operate large-scale systems. The program is also designed to strengthen engineering thinking and creativity.

​The education program has also been expanded beyond local children's centers to include elementary schools. Beginning this year, approximately 330 students—including fourth- to sixth-grade elementary school students in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek, as well as children attending local children's centers in Seongnam—will participate.

​Applied Materials Korea has supported the Traditional Culture and Arts Classroom since 2024, marking its third year this year. The 2026 program will serve about 500 children at 40 local children's centers across Seongnam, Icheon, Hwaseong, and Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province.

​Participants will make traditional Korean masks and learn Talchum, the traditional Korean mask dance recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The program is intended to foster creativity, emotional development, and communication skills.

​The company will also donate 90 laptops and 12 speakers to 67 local children's centers across the four regions to enhance educational effectiveness and help create sustainable learning environments. The laptops were previously used by Applied Materials Korea employees for work and will be refurbished before being provided to children and local community organizations.

​"Supporting future generations means helping children understand their own culture while inspiring them to imagine the future," said Park Kwang-sun, Country President of Applied Materials Korea. "By supporting both advanced technology education and cultural experiences, we hope to foster the creativity, confidence, and critical thinking skills of children who will lead future innovation."