The Observation Engine

India’s smartphone exports hit new highs in August 2025, surging 39% year-on-year to $1.53 billion , with shipments to the United States (its largest market) nearly tripling compared to last year. This boom marks India as the world’s third-largest mobile exporter , reaffirming the success of government policies and the growing appeal of “Made in India” electronics. Key Export Highlights Overall Exports: August 2025 exports rose from $1.09 billion (August 2024) to $1.53 billion. US Market: Shipments to the US rose from $388 million to $965 million. a 148% year-on-year jump . For April–August FY26, exports to the US reached $8.43 billion, comprising nearly 80% of FY25's full-year total. Long-Term Growth: In 2018, India exported just $0.2 billion in phones. By 2025, annual exports will have hit $24.1 billion , a 119-fold increase, putting India ahead of Vietnam in mobile phone exports. Major Drivers: Apple continues to lead, with Indian-assembled iPhone exports grow...

Today, President Trump signed a sweeping executive order imposing a $100,000 annual fee for each new H-1B visa application. This move could significantly alter the landscape of skilled immigration, the Indian IT sector, and global talent flow. Here's an in-depth look at the order, its context, and its far-reaching consequences. What Does the Executive Order Say? Effective September 21, 2025 , U.S. employers must pay $100,000 for every H-1B visa petition. The rule covers new entries and will last for at least 12 months unless extended. H-1B petitions not accompanied by this fee will be denied, locking out thousands of foreign workers unless companies are willing (and able) to pay the surcharge. U.S. agencies are ordered to close loopholes, such as arrivals on business (B-1/B-2) visas with plans to transition to H-1B jobs, making side-stepping the rule nearly impossible. Impact on the Indian IT Industry Short-Term Pain Immediate Cost Spike: Indian IT giants (TCS, In...

  India has reinforced its position as the third-largest smartphone market globally in 2025, reporting robust growth in sales value and shipment volumes following a two-quarter slump. Major brands, aggressive new launches, and rising demand for premium devices have powered this upturn. Key Market Highlights Market Size and Growth: India’s smartphone industry shipped 70 million units in the first half (H1) of 2025, showing a 0.9% year-over-year growth. Shipments for Q2 alone rose by 7.3–8%, with 37 million units shipped. Value Share Rises: In value terms, India’s share of the global smartphone market rose from 7.7% last year to 7.9% in H1 2025. Premium Shift: The average selling price jumped 8% year-over-year as more consumers upgraded to premium phones. Ultra-premium models (above ₹45,000) saw a 37% growth, the fastest among all price segments. Export Boost: India became the third-largest smartphone exporter with $25 billion in shipments for FY25, only behind Chin...

Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event on September 9, 2025, brought an exciting lineup of brand new hardware and feature upgrades, highlighted by the debut of the thinnest iPhone ever, next-gen AirPods, and major Apple Watch improvements. iPhone Air & iPhone 17 Series iPhone Air: The slimmest and lightest iPhone yet (just 5.6 mm thick), replacing the former Plus model. Features pro-level performance, breakthrough camera systems, and new color options. iPhone 17 Series: Includes the regular iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. This year, all models now start with 256GB storage and feature higher quality OLED displays, always-on ProMotion screens (for the first time even on non-Pro models), and significant camera improvements, three 48MP rear cameras on Pro models with up to 8x optical zoom and 40x digital zoom, and a new 18MP Center Stage selfie camera. AirPods Pro 3 New ergonomic design with five eartip sizes for better fit and comfort. Major upgrades: Industry-leading acti...

Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone 17 launch event is officially scheduled for September 9, 2025, at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California . The event, branded “Awe Dropping,” will introduce a major evolution in the iPhone family—both in terms of design and hardware capabilities. iPhone 17 Series: The Lineup The iPhone 17 lineup will include: iPhone 17 (base model) iPhone 17 Air (Apple’s slimmest-ever phone, replacing the “Plus” model) iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro Max Breakthrough Features & Innovations 1. Ultra-Thin “Air” Model The all-new iPhone 17 Air  boasts jaw-dropping thinness at just 5.5mm, featuring a 6.6-inch display and a pill-shaped camera bump reminiscent of the Google Pixel. Designed for those seeking both portability and performance, with only minimal compromise on camera and battery. 2. Upgraded Cameras Across the Board The entire series is set for a significant camera leap: A 24MP front-facing camera for the best selfi...

Apple is on the verge of a transformative leap for Siri and its devices, a voice-first overhaul that could redefine how millions interact with technology. Slated for a broad release in spring 2026 , Apple’s redesigned Siri is engineered to let users control virtually every aspect of their devices,  hands-free, using only their voice . What’s New in Apple’s Voice-First Strategy? Total Voice Control: Users will be able to tell Siri to find specific photos, edit them, send them to contacts, comment on social posts, shop online, and even log into services, all via natural spoken commands. The vision: Siri will operate your apps just like you would, but without you touching a single button. App Intents: At the heart of this upgrade is the new App Intents framework. This feature lets Siri perform in-app actions across third-party apps (like Uber, Amazon, YouTube, WhatsApp) as well as Apple’s own software, enabling more personalized, context-aware responses that adapt to what’s...