Xiaomi was previously reported to have halted its in-house chipset development due to high costs. However, recent rumors suggest the company plans to unveil this custom solution in the first half of 2025. The chip is expected to deliver performance comparable to Qualcomm’s older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, utilizing TSMC’s previous-generation 4nm process.
Rising costs in smartphone chipsets are pushing companies like Xiaomi and Google to pursue custom solutions. Although the specific name of the custom chipset was not disclosed, it has been revealed that it will use TSMC’s 4nm ‘N4P’ process. This would place it a generation behind the anticipated Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and Dimensity 9400. Xiaomi’s choice to use an older manufacturing process is likely a cost-saving measure, especially considering the limited production scale of the chipset.
Despite the older technology, TSMC’s 4nm N4P process is still quite advanced. It has been used in the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Dimensity 9300, indicating that Xiaomi’s future SoC will still offer significant performance and efficiency. Reports suggest that the Xiaomi chip will feature performance levels on par with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and include a 5G modem developed by Unisoc, another Chinese firm. This shift towards custom solutions underscores a broader trend where companies are looking to reduce reliance on dominant players like Qualcomm and MediaTek.
For Xiaomi, the increasing costs of chipsets are a major factor. The forthcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset is rumored to be more expensive than its predecessor, with potential additional costs for its next-generation 5G modem. These financial pressures likely motivate Xiaomi to seek more control over its hardware by developing its own chips.
While the custom Xiaomi chipset isn’t expected to surpass the leading contemporary parts, it signals an important step towards self-sufficiency. Xiaomi’s initiative mirrors Apple’s efforts with its in-house 5G modem, representing a strategic move to build a strong foundational technology. Although it’s improbable that Xiaomi will entirely eliminate its reliance on Qualcomm and MediaTek, the launch of this custom chipset in early 2025 marks a significant milestone.
According to Yogesh Brar, Xiaomi’s SoC project remains robust, with key details as follows:
– Based on TSMC’s N4P process
– Performance comparable to Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
– 5G modem by Unisoc
– Expected reveal in the first half of 2025
The year 2025 appears to be a pivotal period for Xiaomi, with many groundbreaking products in the pipeline.
