Xiaomi is reportedly planning to launch its own custom-designed 3nm chipset next year, potentially shaking up the mobile processor market and reducing its dependence on Qualcomm and MediaTek.
While most Android smartphone manufacturers rely on readily available chipsets from Qualcomm (Snapdragon) and MediaTek (Dimensity), Xiaomi appears to be taking a different approach. The company likely recognizes the increasing costs of relying on third-party chipsets and sees developing its own silicon as a way to improve profitability.
According to a recent report from DigiTimes, Xiaomi's 3nm chipset is set to be officially unveiled sometime in 2025. The exact timing and specific details about the chip's performance remain unknown.
It's speculated that Xiaomi will utilize TSMC's 3nm process for manufacturing, especially given recent restrictions on 7nm chip shipments to Chinese companies by TSMC and the challenges Samsung is facing with its 3nm yield. However, this partnership could face scrutiny and potential trade sanctions. It's also possible that Xiaomi might need to obtain a license to receive chip shipments from TSMC.
Earlier reports indicated Xiaomi was working on a 4nm chip with performance comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, planned for release in the first half of 2025. Further updates are expected as the situation develops.