Xiaomi plans release in-house XRing chip each year

Xiaomi president Lu Weibing told that Xiaomi expects to release a new XRing smartphone processor each year. The XRing O1 SoC, launched last year, uses a 3nm process.

Lu said future chips will debut in a device in China before appearing overseas.

He also said Xiaomi plans to combine the XRing O1 chip with its HyperOS operating system and an AI assistant into one device this year.

The assistant will accompany Xiaomi’s EVs when they go overseas, with EVs expected in Europe in 2027.

Lu said Xiaomi may partner with Google to use Gemini models for the overseas assistant.

Last year, CEO Lei Jun said the company would invest at least 50 billion yuan (about US$6.9 billion) over the next 10 years in chip development, though VP Xu Fei said the company could not promise annual chip releases.

🔗 Source: CNBC

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Xiaomi’s chip aims to challenge rivals with a 10-core design

XRing O1 is Xiaomi’s first flagship processor, and it posts more than 2.5 million points in the AnTuTu 10 benchmark 2.
Instead of the usual octa-core layout, the chip uses a 10-core CPU design 3.
The CPU pairs with a 16-core Arm Immortalis (Mali) G925 graphics processing unit (GPU), with more cores than the version in MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 family 4.
Xiaomi still uses MediaTek for the phone’s 5G modem, which underlines how hard it is to build every part of an advanced chip stack alone 3.

Geopolitical pressure is fueling a global chip push

Xiaomi’s move toward in-house silicon (custom chips designed by the company) fits a wider push by Chinese tech firms to lean less on U.S. technology 4.
The shift follows expanded U.S. export controls run by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) that limit China’s access to advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment 5.
With its own high-end processors, Xiaomi seeks steadier access to components and may cut dependence on U.S.-based suppliers like Qualcomm in some devices 3.
If the plan works, Xiaomi could ship a device this year that combines XRing O1, its HyperOS operating system, and an AI assistant, while also supporting a longer-term effort to sell its electric vehicles (EVs) overseas, with Europe targeted for 2027 1.