Recently, rumors surrounding OpenAI's first consumer-grade AI hardware have continued to intensify.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, this product, developed by OpenAI in collaboration with former Apple design chief Jony Ive's team, has an appearance resembling a "donut" and is a screenless AI speaker.
The product is expected to launch in 2027 at a price of around $400.
OpenAI's entry into consumer hardware is essentially a migration of the AI interaction gateway.
Previously, large models relied on web pages and mobile apps, but as the contextual dialogue capabilities of large models have matured, screenless devices featuring pure voice interaction do not occupy the user's visual attention, making them suitable for deployment across various scenarios and positioning them as a long-term AI interaction hub.
Recently, market research institutions have comprehensively mapped out the supply chain targets for OpenAI's edge-side hardware, covering assembly, acoustics, motors, CIS, batteries, structural components, chips, shielding components, and other segments, while quantitatively estimating shipment volumes, per-unit value, profitability levels, and earnings elasticity for each manufacturer: under the baseline assumption of 10 million units shipped for the Donut, along with a profit elasticity scenario extrapolated from an optimistic 50 million unit shipment outlook, the value distribution across different supply chain segments varies enormously.
The shift in interaction form has also significantly raised the performance threshold of the underlying hardware.
Far-field voice pickup, real-time conversation, and voice output quality standards are extremely high, making the acoustic chain the core bottleneck determining product experience and the key to hardware differentiation in this competitive space.
Within the entire supply chain, AAC TECH (02018) stands out as a relatively scarce high-value supplier target, offering an integrated solution packaging acoustics, motors, and magnetic attachment modules together, while possessing a triple advantage of high per-unit value, high net margin, and considerable volume ramp-up elasticity.
Its per-unit ASP reaches as high as 500-700 RMB, with a comprehensive profitability level that is highly leading among all core suppliers.
Based on the estimated data, Luxshare Precision (02475) has an ASP of 1,200-1,500 RMB, but its business is primarily whole-device assembly.
Goodix Technology (603160.SH) provides fingerprint recognition chips with an ASP range of 20-40 RMB.
In addition, Zhuhai CosMX is a battery supplier with an ASP of 50-70 RMB; Fulixin and Sunway Communication supply structural components and shielding-related products, with ASPs also falling in the 50-70 RMB range.
According to market rumors, the Donut is only the first product in OpenAI's consumer hardware lineup, and the company will subsequently launch multiple AI hardware terminals including AI earphones, AI glasses, and smart pens.
As the product matrix gradually materializes, core supply chain suppliers are expected to continuously secure orders and realize long-term growth.
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