Xiaomi 17 Ultra Launch Faces Chip Crisis Challenges
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 28 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AAPL?
Source: CNBC
- Flagship Phone Launch: Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on March 28, 2026, despite soaring memory chip prices threatening sales, demonstrating Xiaomi's determination to compete in the high-end market.
- Pricing Strategy: Despite memory prices surging between 80% and 90% in Q1, Xiaomi has maintained the pricing strategy with the Xiaomi 17 starting at 999 euros ($1,179) and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra at 1,499 euros, aiming to attract high-end consumers.
- Market Outlook Challenges: Gartner forecasts a potential 13% increase in smartphone prices in 2026, while IDC predicts a 12.9% decline in the smartphone market due to chip shortages, posing a threat to Xiaomi's mid-range device sales.
- Electric Vehicle Business Growth: Xiaomi's electric vehicle business now accounts for about a quarter of total sales in China, with nearly 200% surge in sales, becoming a crucial revenue source amid the memory crunch, even as smartphone revenue declined by 3% year-on-year.
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Analyst Views on AAPL
Wall Street analysts forecast AAPL stock price to rise
27 Analyst Rating
17 Buy
9 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 255.630
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
Current: 255.630
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
About AAPL
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related services. Its product categories include iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home and Accessories. Its software platforms include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Its services include advertising, AppleCare, cloud services, digital content and payment services. The Company operates various platforms, including the App Store, that allow customers to discover and download applications and digital content, such as books, music, video, games and podcasts. It also offers digital content through subscription-based services, including Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+. Its products include iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Air, AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Coca-Cola's Dividend King Status: Berkshire holds a 9.3% stake in Coca-Cola, and since investing in 1988, the stock has delivered a total return of 3,580%, which, while below the S&P 500, is supported by consistent dividend growth, making it a cornerstone for long-term investment.
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- Escalating Security Threats: Iran's Revolutionary Guard has designated 18 tech companies, including Oracle, as 'legitimate targets' in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes, indicating the increasing significance of tech assets in conflicts.
- Industry Impact: James Henderson, CEO of risk management firm Healix, noted that the threats against tech companies are part of a sustained pattern, suggesting that future crises may target data centers and cloud platforms as much as traditional strategic sites.
- Historical Context: In March, Iran attacked Amazon Web Services data centers, causing outages in several apps and digital services in the UAE, underscoring the serious cybersecurity landscape in the region.
See More
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- Incident Overview: Oracle's building in Dubai sustained minor damage from debris due to an aerial interception, with no injuries reported; however, this incident highlights escalating tensions in the Middle East that could impact Oracle's operational safety in the region.
- Threats to Tech Companies: Iran's Revolutionary Guard has designated 18 U.S. tech firms, including Oracle, as 'legitimate targets' in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes, which raises the operational risks for these companies in the Middle East.
- Rising Cybersecurity Risks: As threats against tech companies escalate, risk management expert James Henderson notes that tech assets are now viewed as integral to the conflict, suggesting future attacks may target data centers and cloud platforms, increasing security vulnerabilities in the industry.
- Historical Context: Iran previously attacked Amazon Web Services data centers in early March, causing outages in various apps and digital services in the UAE, and a repeat of such incidents could severely impact Oracle and other tech firms' operations.
See More
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- TSMC's AI Potential: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), a global leader in chip manufacturing, holds a market cap of $1.8 trillion and is poised to benefit from broad market demand in AI chip production, particularly in smartphones and personal computers over the coming years.
- Broadcom's Custom Chip Advantage: Broadcom (AVGO) forecasts over $100 billion in AI chip revenue by 2027, successfully carving out a niche in the AI market with its custom chips designed for specific tasks, reflecting strong customer demand and market potential.
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- Market Environment Challenges: Despite concerns about the economy and geopolitical factors affecting the Magnificent Seven tech stocks, emerging companies like TSMC, Broadcom, and Nebius Group demonstrate robust growth potential, positioning themselves as future market leaders.
See More
Future Outlook for the Magnificent Seven Tech Stocks
- Tech Stock Performance Review: The remarkable growth of the S&P 500 over the past few years is partly attributed to the 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks—Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla—which have become household names due to their impressive growth.
- AI Market Concerns: Despite their strong past performance, these tech giants have recently faced stagnation or declines in stock prices amid concerns about the artificial intelligence (AI) revenue opportunities and uncertainties in the economic and geopolitical landscape, reflecting market caution regarding future growth.
- Potential Replacement Stocks: In light of the challenges facing the 'Magnificent Seven', Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Broadcom, and Nebius Group are seen as potential replacements, with TSMC playing a crucial role in AI chip manufacturing and Nebius focusing on AI workloads, indicating strong growth potential.
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