In a challenging global smartphone market, HONOR has demonstrated exceptional growth, according to the latest industry reports.

Data from Counterpoint Research reveals that global smartphone shipments declined by 6% year-over-year in Q1 2026. Despite this downturn, HONOR stood out by achieving the highest growth among leading brands, exceeding 25% year-over-year.

Further reinforcing this performance, IDC reported that HONOR also ranked as the fastest-growing brand among the top 10 smartphone manufacturers globally.

Counterpoint attributes HONOR’s strong performance to its strategic overseas expansion and regionally tailored product portfolio. This growth was further supported by aggressive promotional efforts and effective strategic execution, enabling the company to outperform the broader market even amid rising component cost pressures.

HONOR’s strong global momentum reflects its ability to consistently deliver high-quality, competitive products tailored to diverse consumer needs across markets, supported by a growing ecosystem of connected devices and IoT products that enhance user experience and drive brand loyalty.

Building on this success, HONOR is set to expand its presence in the Middle East and Africa region with the upcoming launch of its HONOR 600 Series including HONOR 600 and HONOR 600 Pro. The new lineup will feature a flagship-level 200MP AI camera system, powerful AI imaging capabilities including AI Image to Video 2.0, and an industry-leading 7,000mAh battery. Combined with premium design and flagship-class performance, the series is positioned to redefine user experience in its segment.

As competition intensifies across the global smartphone landscape, HONOR’s strong performance underscores its growing influence among leading brands. With continued investment in innovation, ecosystem development, and regional expansion, the company is well positioned to capture new opportunities and sustain its growth momentum in the quarters ahead.

Intel has introduced its latest Intel Core Series 3 mobile processors, aimed at expanding advanced computing capabilities to value buyers, commercial users, and essential edge deployments.

The launch reflects a broader shift in the industry, where performance, efficiency, and AI readiness are no longer confined to premium systems but are increasingly expected across all tiers of computing.

Built on the architectural foundations of Intel’s newer Core platforms and leveraging advanced process technology, the Core Series 3 processors are designed to deliver a balanced combination of performance, battery efficiency, and scalability. The focus is on enabling reliable, everyday computing while supporting emerging workloads, including AI-driven applications.

Driving Value-Oriented Performance

Intel positions Core Series 3 as a significant upgrade path for users operating on older systems. Compared to five-year-old PCs, the new processors deliver up to 47% improvement in single-thread performance and up to 41% gains in multi-thread workloads. GPU-based AI performance also sees notable enhancements, enabling improved responsiveness in modern applications.

This performance uplift is complemented by a strong emphasis on efficiency, with reduced processor power consumption and optimisations aimed at extending battery life for mobile systems.

AI Capability Moves to the Mainstream

One of the key differentiators of the Core Series 3 platform is the introduction of hybrid AI-ready architecture within the value segment. With support for up to 40 platform TOPS, Intel is enabling a new class of systems capable of handling AI workloads at the device level.

The platform also integrates modern connectivity standards, including Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6, ensuring compatibility with next-generation peripherals and networks.

Expanding into Essential Edge Deployments

Beyond traditional laptops, Intel is positioning Core Series 3 as a scalable solution for edge computing environments. The processors are designed to support a wide range of applications, including robotics, smart buildings, retail systems, and industrial deployments.

By combining AI acceleration with energy efficiency, the platform aims to deliver the performance required for real-time processing while maintaining operational reliability in diverse environments.

Ecosystem and Availability

Intel expects broad adoption across the ecosystem, with more than 70 designs from OEM partners set to launch across multiple form factors. Consumer and commercial systems powered by Core Series 3 are rolling out through 2026, while edge-focused deployments are expected from Q2 onwards.

Cloudera, the only company bringing AI to data anywhere, today released its latest global survey, The Data Readiness Index: Understanding the Foundations for Successful AI, examining how prepared enterprises are to support AI at scale. Surveying more than 300 IT leaders in the EMEA region, including strong insights from Saudi Arabia, the report finds that while AI adoption is growing, most organizations still lack the data foundation needed for success.

The findings highlight a sharp contrast in how effectively organizations track their data. Nearly 9 in 10 EMEA  IT leaders claim complete visibility into where all their data resides, compared to just 32% of respondents in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, 62% of Saudi respondents cite data access restrictions as a major roadblock to effective data use.

This gap highlights an emerging ‘AI readiness illusion’: the belief that organizations are prepared to scale AI even as critical data challenges remain unresolved.

“Enterprises aren’t struggling to adopt AI, they’re struggling to operationalize it beyond experiments,” said Sergio Gago, Chief Technology Officer at Cloudera. “AI is only as effective as the data that fuels it. Without seamless access to all their data, organizations limit the accuracy, trust, and business value that AI can deliver. You can’t do AI without data.”

AI Adoption is High, but ROI Remains Elusive

While AI is now deeply embedded across the enterprise, achieving consistent returns on investment remains difficult due to a sharp geographical divide in implementation hurdles. Across EMEA, the struggle is largely centered on the inputs, with data quality issues (18%) and cost overruns (16%) cited as the primary causes of lackluster ROI. However, Saudi Arabia presents a different challenge focused on execution. In the Kingdom, weak integration into workflows is the overwhelming barrier at 29%, nearly doubling the concern over data quality, which sits at 15%.

These regional nuances are further tangled by significant infrastructure limitations. Around 65% of respondents in KSA report that performance constraints have hindered operational initiatives, highlighting the immense difficulty of scaling AI across fragmented environments.

Bridging The Data Gap

At the core of these challenges is a significant disconnect between data optimism and operational reality.

The report highlights that 95% of KSA respondents are highly confident in their data, but only 32% of that data is currently fully governed. While this outpaces the broader EMEA region, where only 26% of data is governed despite 91% confidence, it highlights a critical execution gap that organizations are now racing to fill.

The Kingdom is uniquely positioned to bridge this divide with 100% of Saudi respondents ready to adopt new governance frameworks, and 79% being extremely willing to transform their operations. This regional commitment suggests that Saudi Arabia’s proactive approach will likely outpace its peers in the race toward AI and digital maturity.

Strategic Alignment and the Accountability Gap

While leadership in both the EMEA and KSA regions understands the necessity of data infrastructure, the execution and accountability frameworks are worlds apart. More than 90% of EMEA respondents report a well-defined data strategy tied directly to business objectives, while only over half  (53%) of Saudi Arabian respondents feel the same level of alignment.

Accountability and internal culture further widen this divide. In EMEA, 69% of leaders hold the CIO or CTO chiefly responsible for data readiness, whereas in Saudi Arabia, only 35% place ultimate responsibility on this role, indicating a more emerging ownership structure.

Beyond accountability and alignment, respondents in Saudi Arabia face a unique internal hurdle: 50% struggle with insufficient data literacy, while nearly a third (32%) cite a lack of executive sponsorship.

Data Readiness Will Define the Next Phase of Enterprise AI

As enterprise AI shifts from experimentation to execution, data readiness is emerging as the defining factor separating leaders from laggards.

Organizations able to fully access and govern all their data, wherever it resides, are far better equipped to deliver trusted, scalable AI. Notably, every respondent in the report indicated their organization is willing to adapt existing frameworks to support true data readiness.

As enterprises confront the limits of the AI readiness illusion, the path forward is clear: unlocking AI’s full value will require more than ambition; it will demand genuine data readiness. Those that close this gap will be best positioned to drive lasting impact and lead the next era of intelligent business.