Xiaomi Heats Up Smartphone Chip Race with Own Design
Xiaomi is making a bold move into the world of semiconductor design, aiming to reduce its reliance on foreign chipmakers like Qualcomm and MediaTek. This ambitious venture signifies a strategic shift for the tech giant, potentially allowing it to gain more control over its product roadmap and potentially develop even more advanced technologies.
Chip Production Slated for 2025
According to reports from Bloomberg, Xiaomi’s in-house chipsets are projected to enter production in 2025. This development is seen not only as a move towards greater independence but also as a strategic catalyst for Xiaomi’s foray into electric vehicles, as stated by Bloomberg.
Cutting-Edge 3nm Fabrication
Adding further fuel to speculation, DigiTimes reports that Xiaomi’s maiden chipset will leverage cutting-edge 3nm fabrication technology. Industry whispers suggest the company finalized the design for this advanced chipset some time ago and is now actively seeking partners to orchestrate mass production.
Breaking Free from Dependency
Currently, Xiaomi relies heavily on chipsets from Qualcomm and MediaTek across its entire smartphone and tablet lineup. While the company previously dipped its toes into the chipset arena with its own Surge S1 chip used in the 2017 Mi 5c, that project ultimately stalled.
This latest endeavor puts Xiaomi in a select group of smartphone manufacturers dedicated to developing their own processors. Only industry giants Apple and Google have successfully integrated home-grown chipsets across their entire smartphone lines.
A Challenging Arena
Samsung, which possesses a substantial chip and semiconductor division, uses its own Exynos chipsets in several of its smartphones.
However, even Samsung continues to rely on Qualcomm chipsets, and more recently MediaTek, for its flagship devices due to their superior performance.
Whether Xiaomi will incorporate its new chip into its high-end phone models remains to be seen. Xiaomi enjoys a close partnership with Qualcomm and has consistently been one of the first manufacturers to launch phones powered by the latest Snapdragon flagship processor.
This new development signals a potential shift in that relationship.
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What is the fabrication process Xiaomi is aiming for with its new chips?
## Xiaomi Heats Up Smartphone Chip Race with Own Design: An Interview
**Interviewer:** Welcome to the show! Today we’re discussing the exciting news that Xiaomi is diving headfirst into the semiconductor market, designing its own chips for Android phones. With us today is tech analyst, Sarah Lin, to break down what this means for Xiaomi and the broader industry. Sarah, thanks for joining us.
**Sarah Lin:** Thanks for having me! This is definitely a big move for Xiaomi and a fascinating development to watch.
**Interviewer:** Absolutely! Let’s start with the basics. Why do you think Xiaomi has decided to start making its own chips now?
**Sarah Lin:** Several factors are at play here. Firstly, like many other tech giants, Xiaomi wants to reduce its reliance on external chipmakers like Qualcomm and MediaTek. By controlling its own chip design, Xiaomi gains more autonomy over its product roadmap and can potentially develop unique features and functionalities. [[1](https://9to5google.com/2024/11/26/xiaomi-chip-report-android-phones-2025/) ]
**Interviewer:** Makes sense. Control is key in this competitive market. We’ve heard whispers that these chips might even follow cutting-edge 3nm fabrication technology. Is there any truth to that?
**Sarah Lin:** Yes, there have been reports from DigiTimes suggesting that Xiaomi is aiming for 3nm fabrication for its initial chipset. This would be a significant achievement, as 3nm technology allows for smaller, more powerful, and efficient chips. It signals Xiaomi’s ambition to be at the forefront of semiconductor technology.
**Interviewer:** Impressive! And when do we expect to see these Xiaomi-powered devices hit the market?
**Sarah Lin:** Reports, including those from Bloomberg, indicate that production is slated for sometime in 2025. That gives them a bit of time to finalize designs, secure manufacturing partners, and ensure everything is ready for a successful launch. [[1](https://9to5google.com/2024/11/26/xiaomi-chip-report-android-phones-2025/)]
**Interviewer:** 2025 is just around the corner! What impact do you foresee these chips having on Xiaomi’s overall strategy, especially considering their growing interest in electric vehicles?
**Sarah Lin:** This move into semiconductors could be a game changer for Xiaomi. It not only strengthens their position in the smartphone market but also opens doors for expansion into other areas, like electric vehicles, as Bloomberg has pointed out. Having its own chipsets would give Xiaomi a crucial advantage in developing custom solutions for autonomous driving and other EV technologies.
**Interviewer:** Fascinating! This certainly sets the stage for an exciting future in the world of tech. Sarah Lin, thanks for sharing your insights on this groundbreaking development.
**Sarah Lin:** My pleasure! It’s going to be a thrilling race to watch.