Apple's New iMac Features M4 Chip and AI Capabilities, AI Phone Year Ushers in Consumer Electronics Renewal Wave

Apple's New iMac Features M4 Chip and AI Capabilities, AI Phone Year Ushers in Consumer Electronics Renewal WaveOn Monday, Apple unveiled its new all-in-one iMac desktop computer featuring the latest and most powerful M4 chip and Artificial Intelligence (AppleIntelligence) capabilities. Priced at $1299, the iMac is now available for pre-order and will ship on November 8th

Apple's New iMac Features M4 Chip and AI Capabilities, AI Phone Year Ushers in Consumer Electronics Renewal Wave

On Monday, Apple unveiled its new all-in-one iMac desktop computer featuring the latest and most powerful M4 chip and Artificial Intelligence (AppleIntelligence) capabilities. Priced at $1299, the iMac is now available for pre-order and will ship on November 8th. AppleIntelligence functionality, compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices meeting hardware requirements, includes integration of ChatGPT services into Siri and a new batch of AI features, including image generation, that will be rolled out in December.

This marks Apple's official entry into the generative AI competition, integrating it into its product ecosystem, signaling a new stage for smartphones as the hardware gateway for AI applications.

I. AI Phones: Core Terminals of the New Era

2024 is hailed as the "AI Phone Year," with major smartphone manufacturers releasing flagship models equipped with generative AI capabilities. AI has evolved from being a product-level differentiation to a comprehensive strategy at the operational and corporate levels. IDC predicts that global shipments of next-generation AI phones will reach 170 million units in 2024, accounting for 15% of overall smartphone shipments. The AI phone share in the Chinese market will also grow rapidly, exceeding 50% by 2027.

Fang Jing, an analyst at Minsheng Securities, states that the current moment is crucial for AI applications to compete for hardware gateways, and smartphones, as the world's best-selling electronic products, have become a battleground. In the future, large models are expected to become a new system parallel to Android and iOS, spurring rapid growth in AI applications. Innovation in terminal applications will accelerate.

AI-powered smartphones can be compared to the impact of 5G, driving a new wave of consumer electronics upgrades. As the core terminal in the era of large models, smartphones will ultimately become everyone's personal intelligent assistants.

II. Apple Doubles Down on AI, Giants Lead the Transformation

Apple's increased investment in generative AI and the entry of tech giants into the AI phone market will bring about a global transformation in the mobile phone industry, triggering a new wave of upgrades. Relevant industry chain companies are poised to benefit.

On one hand, Apple's entry will further drive the development of AI phones, accelerating the popularization and application of AI technology. On the other hand, Apple's robust ecosystem and user base will provide strong development momentum for AI phones.

III. Relevant Listed Companies

As AI phones rapidly develop, related industry chain companies will seize new growth opportunities.

Siquan New Materials: The company specializes in thermal solutions, with products widely used in consumer electronics. Driven by the trend of AI technology integration, consumer electronics terminals are experiencing new market opportunities. For example, several international tech giants have launched AI phones and AI PCs this year, placing stricter functional and thermal performance requirements on comprehensive cooling solutions, which will benefit the company and secure more orders.

Furong Technology: The company's products are already supplied to AI phones. With the expansion of the AI phone market size, the company will gain new growth opportunities.

Zhongshi Technology: The company's main products include high-thermal conductivity graphite products and thermal interface materials, with broad applicability in the AI phone field. According to the company's prospectus, Zhongshi Technology became an officially certified graphite material supplier for Apple in 2014, supplying un-die-cut synthetic graphite materials to Apple's die-cutting supplier, Mairui, as specified. In 2016, Zhongshi Technology obtained die-cutting supplier qualification from Apple and can directly deliver die-cut synthetic graphite products to Apple's assembly plant.

In conclusion, Apple's new iMac featuring the M4 chip and AI capabilities, coupled with the entry of tech giants into the AI phone market, signifies the advent of the AI Phone Year. This trend will drive the direction of the consumer electronics industry in the coming years. Related industry chain companies will also experience new growth opportunities, making them worthy of attention.