China’s AI hardware market is expected to exceed 1.1 trillion yuan ($140 billion) in 2025, according to a new report from research firm RUNTO. This marks a 13.4% year-on-year increase and excludes AI smartphones and vehicles. The report also forecasts sustained growth over the next five years, driven by rapid AI integration across consumer electronics. As AI hardware expands, demand for high-end display panels is set to rise sharply. TCL, with its strong presence in the display industry, is expected to benefit significantly.

AI features have already reached deep into the Chinese consumer tech market. AI TVs now account for over 70% of shipments, offering features such as picture enhancement, voice control, and content suggestions. AI laptops make up 50% of available models, and AI tablets account for 76%. Wearables like smartwatches and AI bands have reached over 85% penetration, while AI smart glasses now represent 65% of all smart eyewear sales. AI smart locks and surveillance cameras have both passed the 25% mark.

Analysts expect the AI hardware boom to shift display panel demand toward the high-end segment. Most AI-enabled devices initially launch in premium categories before features expand to lower-tier models. This trend supports higher-margin panel shipments and strengthens the position of suppliers like TCL Technology and BOE, who already lead in advanced display manufacturing.

TCL is also applying AI to improve display production. In June, TCL CSOT launched X-Intelligence 3.0, a vertical AI model focused on reasoning for the display industry. This model supports domain-specific decision-making and can offer solutions that go beyond traditional engineering approaches. TCL uses it to optimize manufacturing processes and improve efficiency.

As AI continues to shape the next generation of consumer electronics, TCL’s investment in both display technology and AI-driven manufacturing gives it a clear advantage in a rapidly evolving market.

In related news, TCL shipments dropped 23% in Q2 2025 amid rising demand for Indian-made smartphones in the US, while Samsung and Sony have just stepped into the RGB-Mini LED race—but they’re already playing catch-up.

The US smartphone market just got a fresh update, and it’s a mixed bag depending on where you sit. According to the latest Canalys report for Q2 2025, overall shipments ticked up by a modest 1% year-over-year, reaching 27.1 million units. But the real story is in the brand-by-brand breakdown, and it’s a rollercoaster.

Apple, long the dominant force in the US, saw iPhone shipments dip by 11%, falling to 13.3 million units. That’s a steep reversal from the previous quarter, where Apple had posted a 25% growth surge. Despite the drop, Apple still holds the top spot with 49% market share. But the winds are shifting.

Samsung, on the other hand, had a breakout quarter. The Korean giant grew its shipments by a massive 38%, up to 8.3 million units, tightening its grip on second place with a 31% share. Motorola continues its quiet expansion, registering a 2% bump to 3.2 million units. Google also edged up with a 13% growth in Pixel shipments, now holding a 3% slice of the pie.

Then there’s TCL.

TCL shipped 700,000 smartphones in the US in Q2 2025, down from 1 million units in the same quarter last year, a sharp 23% decline. That figure puts the brand neck and neck with Google, and just above the “Others” category, which also slid 34%. It’s not a great quarter for TCL in the US, at least in raw numbers. But it’s also not entirely unexpected.

The decline comes amid a significant shift in global manufacturing. US imports of China-assembled smartphones dropped from 61% in Q2 2024 to just 25% this quarter, according to Canalys. Meanwhile, phones assembled in India shot up 240% year-over-year, now making up 44% of US smartphone imports. For TCL, whose phones are primarily assembled in China, this is a supply chain challenge as much as a market one.

What happens next will depend on how fast TCL adapts to the geopolitical and logistical realities shaping the mobile world. It’s worth noting that the company has shown resilience in other markets and categories, including its growing presence in TVs and display tech. But for now, its US smartphone business is facing stiff headwinds.

In related news, Samsung and Sony are stepping into the RGB Mini LED game—but they’re already lagging behind. Also, learn how to fine-tune your TCL TV for the best picture quality.

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Samsung and Sony are gearing up to spotlight their latest RGB Mini LED technologies at IFA 2025 in Germany this September. Samsung plans to unveil a massive 115-inch RGB Micro LED TV, while Sony will showcase its professional-grade RGB Mini LED display system, focusing on high color accuracy and image depth. Their involvement signals a broader industry shift toward RGB-based backlighting, and it’s also a nod to China’s growing influence in the display tech space.

RGB Mini LED is emerging as a major advancement in display technology. Unlike traditional Mini LED or quantum dot-based systems, it uses separate red, green, and blue backlight sources. This setup allows for precise color control alongside typical brightness and spatial modulation. The result is better color accuracy, a wider color gamut reaching up to 97 percent of BT.2020, brighter visuals, wider viewing angles, and improved energy efficiency, making it a promising option for the next generation of premium displays.

Chinese brands, especially Hisense, are ahead of the curve. Hisense was the first to mass-produce RGB Mini LED TVs. It developed the “Xinxin H7,” the world’s first AI image chip designed for RGB light color co-control. Paired with a custom algorithm, the chip enables 3×26-bit precision and manages 15,680 color control zones, providing much finer adjustments to hue, saturation, and brightness than conventional solutions.

Hisense has also tackled some of the tougher engineering challenges around RGB LED chip development, boosting purity, efficiency, and durability. These improvements not only enable reliable large-scale production but also form a self-sufficient RGB Mini LED ecosystem within China.

Analysts believe that Samsung and Sony joining the scene will accelerate R&D and help reduce manufacturing costs. Their presence could also lead to deeper collaborations with Chinese suppliers, expanding the global supply chain around RGB Mini LED.

In related news, don’t miss our recent guide on calibrating your TCL TV for optimal picture quality.

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