Xiaomi Unveils XRING O1 Chip, Becomes Second Brand Globally to Mass-Produce 3nm SoC

Xiaomi Unveils XRING O1 Chip, Becomes Second Brand Globally to Mass-Produce 3nm SoC

Last Updated May - 23 - 2025, 12:44 PM | Source : Fela News

Xiaomi launches its advanced in-house XRING O1 chip, joining Apple as the only smartphone maker to mass-produce 3nm chips. The move boosts China’s push for tech

On Thursday, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi introduced its latest in-house mobile chip, marking a major achievement as domestic companies ramp up efforts to build self-reliant technology amid growing global trade tensions.

Xiaomi, known for its broad product range that includes smartphones, home appliances, and electric vehicles, has now become only the second smartphone brand after Apple to mass-produce a 3-nanometre chip—a cutting-edge development in the semiconductor world. Speaking at the launch event, company founder Lei Jun admitted that the journey to this point had been arduous, humorously likening it to being “harder than ascending to heaven.”

The new chip, named XRING O1, follows Xiaomi’s initial foray into semiconductors with its 2017 Surge S1 chip, which was eventually shelved due to financial and technical setbacks. According to Lei, it took more than a decade of persistence to bring the XRING O1 to life.

"These 11 years were filled with hardship, sweat, and untold struggles," Lei said. "It required immense courage and resolve to continue on this path."

The XRING O1 chip will debut in Xiaomi's newly launched 15S Pro smartphone and Pad 7 Ultra tablet, which were revealed alongside a preview of the company’s first electric SUV.

With this development, Xiaomi becomes the fourth smartphone maker globally to design its own system-on-chip (SoC), joining Apple, Samsung, and China’s Huawei. The move underscores China’s broader strategy to reduce dependency on foreign tech as U.S. export controls increasingly limit Chinese access to advanced chipmaking tools and materials.

"This is a further step toward China achieving technological self-reliance in vital sectors like ICT and electronics," said Stephen Ezell of the U.S.-based Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF).

Due to current restrictions, Chinese chipmakers lack access to the advanced manufacturing equipment needed to independently produce 5nm and smaller chips, forcing them to rely on foreign fabrication services. Xiaomi has not revealed which foundry is manufacturing the XRING O1, though Lei noted it uses the same second-generation 3nm technology found in Apple’s latest processors, which are produced by Taiwan’s TSMC.

According to Washington-based semiconductor expert Ray Wang, the XRING O1 represents a strategic milestone for Xiaomi, reducing its dependence on third-party chip designers such as MediaTek and Qualcomm.

“In the long run, controlling its own SoC development will shield Xiaomi’s devices from geopolitical risks and supply chain volatility,” Wang said.

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