Qualcomm has reported sales of $10.98 billion, registering 17 percent increase, for its fiscal second quarter ended March 30.
Qualcomm’s revenue from smartphone business was $6.929 billion (up 12 percent). Qualcomm’s revenue from IoT business was $1.581 billion (up 27 percent). Qualcomm’s revenue from Automotive business was $959 million (up 59 percent).
Qualcomm continues to dominate the smartphone market by supplying key players like Apple and major Chinese manufacturers, including Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo. In Q1 2025, Apple led with 55 million iPhone shipments, followed by Xiaomi with 41.8 million, Oppo with 22.9 million, and Vivo with 22.7 million units shipped, Canalys analysts indicated recently.
Global smartphone shipments rose 1.5 percent in the first three months of the year, according to data from research firm IDC.
Qualcomm expects a sales range with a midpoint of $10.3 billion for its current fiscal quarter. Both IDC and Canalys are yet to provide forecast on the global smartphone industry for the second-quarter of 2025 in the wake of uncertainties induced by Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Recently Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon X85 5G Modem-RF platform, its most advanced modem-to-antenna system to date, marking the 8th generation of 5G modems and 4th generation of AI-powered 5G connectivity.
Since mid-2024, over 85 Snapdragon X-powered PC designs are in development or production, with more than 100 expected by 2026.
In the automotive sector, 30 new designs and 14 commercial launches were achieved using the Snapdragon Digital Chassis, totaling 29 launches this fiscal year.
In Industrial IoT, Qualcomm strengthened its leadership through strategic acquisitions of Edge Impulse and FocusAI.
Qualcomm feels the pressure
Qualcomm is increasingly feeling the pressure from ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions, which have been intensified by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
Although Qualcomm’s chips for smartphones have so far been spared from direct tariffs, the economic uncertainty and potential for future levies are affecting demand forecasts and investor sentiment.
Qualcomm acknowledged in its latest earnings call that it faces a modest direct impact from current tariffs but emphasized the unpredictability of the situation due to rapid developments in trade policies. A key vulnerability lies in Qualcomm’s heavy exposure to China, which contributed around 46 percent of its total revenue last fiscal year.
Qualcomm CFO Palkhiwala said that Qualcomm is forecasting it will retain a 70 percent share in the products Apple launches in the fall, when the iPhone maker typically unveils its latest gadgets.
As the global economic climate cools, particularly in sectors like smartphones, IoT, and automotive — where Qualcomm has significant stakes — demand is expected to slow further. Analysts have warned that the looming threat of semiconductor-specific tariffs, along with competitive pressures from Apple’s in-house modem development, could dampen Qualcomm’s long-term growth outlook.
Apple alone accounted for 27 percent of Qualcomm’s revenue in the second quarter, but that figure is expected to shrink as Apple phases out Qualcomm’s chips by 2027, Reuters news report said.
“As we navigate the current macroeconomic and trade environment, we remain focused on the critical factors we can control – our leading technology roadmap, product portfolio, strong customer relationships and operational efficiencies,” CEO Cristiano Amon said in a statement.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
