Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone and electric vehicle maker, has announced plans to launch its self-developed smartphone chip, the Xring O1. Revealed by Lu Weibing, president of Xiaomi Group, the new chip is set to power not only the company’s flagship smartphones but also a range of other devices across multiple product categories.
The introduction of the Xring O1 marks Xiaomi’s significant return to in-house system-on-a-chip (SoC) development, a venture it first embarked upon in 2017 with the Surge S1. That initial effort made Xiaomi the fourth global brand, alongside Apple, Samsung, and Huawei, to produce a self-designed processor.
During a live-streamed product preview celebrating Xiaomi’s 15th anniversary, Lu described the Xring O1 as a “pivotal milestone” in the company’s decade-long journey in semiconductors. “This chip will be used in several products beyond smartphones,” he said, although he did not provide specifics about its manufacturing process.
The announcement follows a teaser from Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, who hinted on social media platform Weibo that the chip would be launched later this month.
Xiaomi began its chip development endeavors in 2014. The Surge S1 debuted in the Xiaomi 5C smartphone in 2017 but did not gain significant commercial traction. Subsequently, the company shifted its focus to specialized chips for imaging, charging, and power management. The development of the Xring O1 signals Xiaomi’s renewed commitment to core smartphone chip innovation.
In addition to the chip announcement, Lu revealed that Xiaomi will provide more details about its second electric vehicle model, the YU7, an electric SUV, at a launch event later this month. This move showcases Xiaomi’s ongoing expansion into the electric vehicle market.
