China’s established smartphone supply chain is transforming to meet growing demand for humanoid robots by repurposing factories and expertise previously focused on mobile devices. Major firms such as Lingyi iTech, Lens Technology, and AAC Technologies are spearheading production efforts, with Foxconn and UBTech ramping up robot manufacturing for domestic and international markets.
- Smartphone components adapted for humanoid robot manufacturing
- Foxconn and UBTech scaling robot production with large orders
- Lingyi iTech aiming for 500,000 robots annually by 2030
What happened
China’s major smartphone component manufacturers are transitioning to humanoid robot production using their precision factories. Companies like Lingyi iTech, which supplies parts to Apple and Samsung, are building new facilities targeting tens of thousands of robots this year and scaling up rapidly thereafter. Lens Technology and AAC Technologies, known for making smartphone glass and acoustic parts respectively, are providing core components for humanoid robots like the Honor D1.
Foxconn, the world’s largest smartphone assembler, is preparing dedicated robot manufacturing lines in Vietnam. UBTech’s Walker S2 humanoid robot has entered mass production in China with substantial orders exceeding 800 million yuan. These efforts are not startups but established firms repurposing existing supply chains to meet new market demands.
Why it matters
The pivot from smartphones to humanoid robots represents a strategic industrial evolution in China. Although smartphone shipments totaled roughly 280 million units in 2025, market growth has stalled, prompting component makers to seek new applications for their precision manufacturing capabilities. The same technologies—motors, sensors, thermal systems, and lightweight materials—that powered smartphones are directly applicable to robotics, enabling rapid adaptation with minimal reinvention.
This transformation underpins China’s ambition to dominate the humanoid robotics sector by leveraging existing infrastructure, talent, and supply networks. While Western manufacturers like Tesla emphasize their Chinese factory’s role in robot production, Chinese firms are already far ahead in scaling mass production and market readiness.
What to watch next
Industry observers should monitor the ramp-up in robot production volumes, particularly Lingyi iTech’s ability to meet its goal of producing 500,000 humanoid robots annually by 2030. Foxconn’s transition from smartphones to robots in Vietnam will also be a critical indicator of global supply chain shifts in electronics assembly.
Additionally, the commercial deployment of humanoid robots on assembly lines—such as UBTech’s collaboration with Foxconn for iPhone production—will reveal how robotics are integrated to improve efficiency and reshape manufacturing workflows. The scale of new orders and market acceptance in China and abroad will define the sector’s trajectory.