Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi, recently announced on Weibo that the company is set to unveil its self-developed smartphone chip, ‘XringO1’, by late May.
China’s Chip Ambitions
This move is part of a broader trend among Chinese tech giants to develop their own custom chips, driven by the need for self-reliance in the face of US export restrictions. The US has imposed sanctions on China’s access to advanced AI chips, specifically prohibiting TSMC from producing 7nm or more advanced chips for Chinese clients.
While the ban doesn’t directly target smartphone chips, companies like Xiaomi are proactively diversifying their chip supply chains. By developing their own chips, these companies can reduce their dependence on foreign suppliers like Qualcomm and MediaTek.
Chip Development: A New Era
Xiaomi isn’t the only company to venture into custom chip development. Apple began designing its own chips, known as Apple Silicon, back in 2010 with the ‘A4’ chip for the first iPad and iPhone 4.
Huawei has also been producing its own chips through its HiSilicon division since 2004. The company has developed a range of chips, including the Kirin series for smartphones and the Ascend series for AI applications.
Xiaomi’s chip development journey began in 2014, with the company releasing its first mobile chip, Pengpai S1, in 2017. Since then, it has continued to expand its chip portfolio, including the Surge C1 image signal processor.
Key Players and Their Strategies
- Apple: Develops Apple Silicon chips for various devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches.
- Huawei: Produces Kirin chips for smartphones and Ascend chips for AI applications through its HiSilicon division.
- Xiaomi: Develops custom chips for smartphones, tablets, and other devices, with the XringO1 chip set to be released soon.
In the first quarter of 2025, Xiaomi regained its position as the top smartphone brand in China, surpassing Apple. The company has also launched premium smartphones like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor.