Taiwan’s Foxconn is positioned to benefit significantly from Xiaomi’s launch of its high-spec Mi Note as the contract manufacturer’s subsidiary is likely to assemble half the shipments of the premium ‘phablet’.

Morgan Stanley analyst Jasmine Lu forecasts that mass production of the 5.7-inch Mi Note, which was announced earlier in the month, will begin in a month or two and 8-10 million units will ship over its life-cycle, the Taipei Times said.

Foxconn’s FIH Mobile unit is expected to assemble 50 per cent of the shipments as well as supply the casings, which have a higher average selling price than most of Xiaomi’s models, Lu said in a research note.

She said if FIH Mobile handles that volume of shipments, Xiaomi will account for 45 per cent of its gross profits this year and about 13 per cent of its revenue, the Times said.