Five Key Trends for RF/Analog and Sensors in 2025
As 2024 ends, the mobile industry looks ahead to 2025, with generative AI set to transform devices from iPhones to premium Android models, bringing AI inferencing to the edge. Global trade tensions will also take center stage, with the new Trump administration potentially reshaping smartphone chip tariffs and the broader supply chain.
5G advancements, including 5G Advanced and services like 5G RedCap, will reshape the cellular market, while custom silicon from OEMs threatens to disrupt the merchant chip vendor landscape. Additionally, the growth of Chinese image sensor vendors will impact the supply chain, marking 2025 as a pivotal year for mobile innovation.
Five Key Trends for RF/Analog and Sensors in 2025
Trend #1: Generative AI Infused into Every Aspect of Mobile Experience
In 2025, mobile devices will integrate generative AI, with AI accelerators and DRAM crucial for running Large Language Models. This will boost demand for custom silicon and increase processor complexity, benefiting vendors like Qualcomm and MediaTek.
Trend #2: Supply Chain Disruptions and New Foundry Opportunities
2025 will see supply chain disruptions from new tariffs and export bans, impacting semiconductor availability. Intel and TSMC’s advanced fabrication capacities will reshape the global semiconductor landscape.
Trend #3: 5G Advanced Network Rollout
The evolution to 5G Advanced will drive growth in cellular IoT and modem markets. New capabilities like 5G RedCap will increase demand for updated baseband and RF components.
Trend #4: Captive Silicon Ambitions of OEMs
Apple and Xiaomi’s move toward custom silicon will disrupt traditional chip vendors. The shift to vertical integration will reshape the mobile chip market in 2025.
Trend #5: Chinese Image Sensors Vendor Gains Market Share
Chinese image sensor vendors are capturing significant market share, supplying 1.8 billion sensors annually. Their rise is challenging traditional suppliers and reshaping the smartphone sensor market.
Looking Ahead: How 5G, Generative AI, and Global Trade Will Shape the Mobile Industry in 2025
As 5G reaches a critical milestone with network advancements in Release 17 and 18, the mobile industry faces a year of transformation. The integration of generative AI and the complexities of global trade will further disrupt the mobile semiconductor landscape. Stay tuned as TechInsights tracks these shifts, providing insights into the impact on the industry and what’s to come in 2025.
TechInsights Analysts Attending CES® 2025
