Electronics Manufacturing

HONOR Grows 35% as Middle East Smartphone Market Shrinks 13%

September 28, 2026 – Kuwait City – -- HONOR grew smartphone shipments 35% year on year in the Middle East during the first half of 2026, even as the overall regional market contracted 13%, according to Omdia data cited by the company. The brand was the only major vendor in the region to post growth in the period, moving into second place in the market after posting 73% growth in the first quarter alone.

HONOR captures 24% share of the $300-500 price band

The gains were concentrated in the mid-to-high-end segment. HONOR took a 24% share of the $300-500 price band in the first quarter of 2026, up 130% year on year, narrowing the gap with Samsung in that category. The HONOR X9d, positioned on durability and battery life, became a top seller in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while the HONOR 600 Series delivered double-digit growth in what the company calls the accessible flagship segment.

TCL Opens Industrial Museum, Marks 45 Years With Tripled Revenue

Huizhou – September 28, 2026 -- TCL inaugurated its Industrial Museum in Huizhou, China, marking the company's 45th anniversary on the site where its predecessor, TTK, first began operations in 1981.

Museum spans 23,000 square meters with 3,000 curated artifacts

The facility includes more than 9,000 square meters of exhibition space across six halls and a central atrium. Exhibits include a 1920s Nipkow mechanical scanning disk, China's first television set, China's first commercial computer, and the world's first mass-produced printed OLED 4K display, developed by TCL CSOT in 2024. The television gallery holds over 100 vintage TV sets from around the world.

GTCR Acquires Tactacam From Bertram Capital, Founders Retain Stake

Chicago – September 28, 2026 -- GTCR has closed its acquisition of Tactacam, a cellular-connected camera provider serving more than one million subscribers, buying the company from Bertram Capital and its founders in a deal with undisclosed terms.

Founders retain ownership as CEO stays on to lead the business

Jeff Peel, Tactacam's CEO and co-founder, will continue leading the Company and retain significant ownership alongside co-founder Ben Thorud. Peel said the partnership with GTCR will support continued investment in the Reveal and Defend product lines while preserving the company's customer-focused approach.

Overlord Labs Closes $10M Seed to Scale Battery Chip for Edge AI

San Jose, Calif. – September 25, 2026 -- Overlord Labs, Inc. has closed an oversubscribed Seed round, lifting total funding to $10 million as the fabless semiconductor company moves its GENESIS Battery Intelligence IC from tape-out into product validation.

Seed extension totals $4.35 million led by Band of Angels

The financing comprises $7.25 million in Seed capital and the remainder in non-dilutive strategic development funding. The $4.35 million extension was led by Band of Angels, with participation from Foothill Ventures, Unlock Pacific Ventures, NuFund Venture Group, Sand Hill Angels and Castle Fund, alongside returning angel investors from earlier rounds.

Position Sensor Market to Hit $23.4B by 2032, Fueled by EVs

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 25, 2026 -- The global position sensor market is projected to grow from $14.53 billion in 2026 to $23.40 billion by 2032, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%, according to MarketsandMarkets.

Digital signal output segment set to post fastest growth as automakers demand real-time control

Within signal output categories, the digital segment is expected to register the highest CAGR through 2032, at roughly 8.9%. Digital position sensors transmit processed data directly to electronic control units, PLCs, and microcontrollers, simplifying integration for automotive and industrial automation systems. Growing adoption of digital interfaces such as SENT, PWM, SPI, I2C, and SSI is expanding functionality across electric vehicles, robotics, and smart factory equipment.

Cellid, Megane Top Partner to Launch AR Glasses via Crowdfunding

Tokyo – September 25, 2026 -- Cellid Inc. has entered a business partnership with Megane Top Co., Ltd. to jointly develop and commercialize augmented reality (AR) glasses under Megane Top's own brand, the companies announced.

Preorders open October 23 via crowdfunding platform GREEN FUNDING

The two firms will begin accepting preorders for the jointly developed AR glasses through the GREEN FUNDING crowdfunding platform starting October 23, 2026. Following the campaign, the product will be distributed through Megane Top's nationwide retail network, including its "Megane Ichiba" chain.

MetaOptics Launches OTCQX ADR Programme With J.P. Morgan as Depositary

Singapore – September 24, 2026 -- MetaOptics Ltd, listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange under ticker 9MT, has established a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt programme, with its American Depositary Shares set to trade on OTCQX in the United States.

J.P. Morgan named depositary bank for new ADR structure

The semiconductor optics firm has appointed J.P. Morgan to administer the ADR programme. The Company confirmed the move does not involve new share issuance or capital raising, and its ordinary shares will continue trading on Catalist without material impact to existing shareholders.

Leopard Imaging, Lumotive Launch Solid-State LiDAR for AI Robotics

Fremont, Calif. – September 24, 2026 -- Leopard Imaging and Lumotive have unveiled Sirius Max, a solid-state 3D LiDAR camera module extending iToF depth sensing beyond 20 meters in both indoor and outdoor environments, targeting robotics, industrial automation and autonomous machine markets.

Sirius Max combines programmable beam-steering with 1MP depth resolution

The platform, designated LI-AR0234-AF0130-TX10-GMSL2-140H, integrates Lumotive's TX10 programmable beam-steering transmitter with the onsemi AF0130 depth sensor inside a compact GMSL2 camera module. Unlike conventional flood-illumination time-of-flight systems, Sirius Max uses directional beam steering to dynamically control illumination and scanning, improving optical efficiency, ambient light rejection and signal-to-noise ratio while eliminating moving mechanical parts.

Honor Shipments Hit 71 Million in 2025 After Rebuilding From 3% Share

Beijing – September 24, 2026 -- Honor's global smartphone shipments surpassed 71 million units in 2025, making it the fastest-growing leading smartphone vendor after the company's domestic market share had collapsed to just 3% following its November 2020 spinoff from Huawei.

Shipments climbed 25% in Q1 2026 despite market headwinds

Honor extended its recovery into 2026, with first-quarter shipments rising 25% even as broader smartphone demand faced pressure. The gains follow a period in which the roughly 7,000-person team operated without an owned operating system or manufacturing facilities.

TCL Named Official Preferred TV Partner of Minnesota Vikings

Irvine, Calif. – September 24, 2026 -- TCL has signed a multi-year partnership with the Minnesota Vikings, becoming the NFL franchise's official "Preferred TV," the companies announced.

Deal grants TCL in-stadium branding across U.S. Bank Stadium displays

The agreement gives TCL prominent placement on displays throughout U.S. Bank Stadium, exposing the brand to tens of thousands of fans at every home game. TCL also secures official use of Vikings marks and logos across its advertising and promotional materials as a designated technology partner.