Commentary: Honor retools for humanoid robotics, rewrites AI device playbook

Honor’s surprise win at this year’s Beijing humanoid robot half-marathon has stirred industry debate, not only for its on-track performance but for what the move signals about shifting competitive dynamics. The smartphone maker’s cross-sector push into robotics has reignited questions over whether embodied AI and humanoid systems could trigger a new round of market reshuffling.

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Amkor records strong 1Q26, advanced packaging expected to triple YoY

Amkor Technology is off to a record start in 2026. First-quarter revenue hit US$1.68 billion, up 27% from the prior year, driven by record performance in AI data center applications and a fourth consecutive quarter of growth in automotive and industrial segments. Earnings per diluted share came in at US$0.33, beating analyst expectations on the back of a favorable product mix and disciplined cost management. The company’s strategy is firmly anchored in high-value advanced packaging for AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC). CEO Kevin Engel noted that several High-Density Fan-Out (HDFO) programs are underway, with a new data center CPU device beginning its ramp this quarter.

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ASE signs cybersecurity MOU with national institute to shore up semiconductor defenses

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and the National Institute of Cyber Security signed a memorandum of understanding on April 28 to establish a joint cyber defense, intelligence sharing, and cooperation framework aimed at countering complex global cyber threats. The agreement will integrate technical resources and real-time threat intelligence to strengthen industry-wide defenses for the semiconductor sector, with an emphasis on protecting smart manufacturing and core corporate assets in Kaohsiung.

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LG reportedly plans to expand its India manufacturing footprint

New Daily reports that LG Electronics has decided to expand its manufacturing footprint in India, with a major investment of about KRW1.4 trillion (approximately US$1.0 billion) to upgrade its home appliance production facility in Greater Noida. The move comes as LG Group Chair Koo Kwang-mo participates in a presidential economic delegation visiting India and Vietnam, underscoring the strategic importance of the investment timing.

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Macronix returns to profit in 1Q26, citing tighter supply and higher memory prices

Macronix’s return to profitability in the first quarter of 2026 signals supply constraints and stronger memory pricing, with implications for global flash markets and customer supply chains. The Taiwan-based memory maker reported wider margins, robust NAND growth, and reduced inventories, suggesting that tighter industry supply and higher ASPs could significantly reshape pricing and sourcing worldwide.

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Restocking, cost pass-through lift Eternal Materials to 1Q26 profit gains

Eternal Materials’s stronger March and first-quarter 2026 results signal resilience across global supply chains of synthetic resins and electronic materials. Rising sales, steady margins, and effective cost pass-through have eased concerns about Middle East uncertainty and raw material availability, while shipment growth and niche product gains point to expanding momentum.

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