Xiaomi to Launch Self-Developed XringO1 Mobile Chip in Late May
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Xiaomi will launch its new self-developed mobile chip, the XringO1, in late May, the company announced Thursday.
Chief Executive Officer Lei Jun revealed the news on his Weibo account, marking a renewed push by the Chinese smartphone and electric vehicle maker into proprietary chip development.
The XringO1 was designed in-house by Xiaomi’s chip design unit using ARM architecture and manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) with its advanced 3-nanometre process, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
Xiaomi aims to eventually integrate the chip into its premium consumer electronics, including smartphones and tablets, the source said.
The company began designing chips in 2014 and launched its first mobile processor, the 28-nanometre Pengpai S1, in 2017. That chip debuted in the Xiaomi 5C smartphone.
By 2019, Xiaomi had shifted focus to simpler chips such as image sensors and power management ICs due to the high cost of mobile processor development. The company resumed development of mobile chips in 2021.
Xiaomi’s move comes amid intensifying competition in China’s smartphone market, where rivals like Huawei and Apple use custom-designed chips to enhance user experience and ecosystem integration.
Apple began designing its own chips in 2010 and now uses Apple silicon across most of its products, including the M series for Macs and iPads, the A series for iPhones and iPads, and the S series for Apple Watch.
Earlier this year, Xiaomi launched its most premium smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, with a base model priced at 6,499 yuan (USD 901.29). The device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor.
Qualcomm has been Xiaomi’s main chip supplier. The U.S. company reported a 46% increase in revenue from China, reaching USD 17.8 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 29, 2024.
Despite U.S. export restrictions imposed last year, TSMC is still allowed to manufacture smartphone chips for mainland Chinese clients, as these are largely exempt from the rules targeting AI chips requiring 7-nanometre or more advanced nodes.
Xiaomi to launch XringO1 chip in late May
Chip designed in-house, manufactured by TSMC using 3-nm process
Marks Xiaomi’s return to mobile chip development after 2019 pause
Source: REUTERS