Core Viewpoint - Xiaomi's self-developed 3nm smartphone SoC, "Xuanjie O1," is set to be officially released on May 22, marking a significant milestone in the company's decade-long chip development journey. This positions Xiaomi as the fourth company globally to design its own 3nm smartphone SoC, following Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek [2][4]. Chip Development and Market Position - The Xuanjie O1 is primarily aimed at high-end flagship products, with initial production estimates conservatively set at several hundred thousand units due to high initial costs from small-scale production [2][4]. - Xiaomi's strategy includes using a self-developed application processor (AP) while likely relying on MediaTek for the baseband processor (BP), as developing a proprietary BP involves high patent costs and complex compatibility challenges [6][8]. Competitive Landscape - Xiaomi aims to enhance its position in the high-end smartphone market, where competitors like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei already utilize self-developed SoCs. The self-developed SoC is seen as crucial for differentiation, cost control, and energy optimization [8][9]. - As of March 2024, Xiaomi holds a 24.3% market share in the 4000-5000 yuan price segment in mainland China, indicating progress in its high-end market strategy [8]. Relationship with Third-Party Suppliers - Despite the introduction of its own chip, Xiaomi will continue to collaborate with Qualcomm and MediaTek for various product lines, as the self-developed chip requires multiple generations for market validation and cost optimization [10][11]. - Qualcomm's CEO has stated that Xiaomi's self-developed chip is not expected to impact its business, and both companies have reaffirmed their partnership through a multi-year agreement [11]. Investment and Development History - Xiaomi has invested over 13.5 billion yuan in chip development from 2021 to April 2025, with an expected investment of over 6 billion yuan in 2023 alone. The R&D team has grown to over 2,500 members [12][13].

Core Viewpoint - Xiaomi has achieved a significant milestone by starting mass production of its self-developed 3nm flagship chip, the "Xuanjie O1," positioning itself as the fourth global company to release a self-developed 3nm mobile processor after Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek [4][10]. Group 1: Chip Development Journey - The development of the "Xuanjie O1" chip has been a decade-long journey for Xiaomi, with cumulative R&D investment exceeding 13.5 billion RMB as of April 2023 [5][7]. - Xiaomi's chip development began in 2014 with the establishment of Beijing Pinecone Electronics, leading to the release of its first self-developed chip, the Surge S1, in 2017 [6][8]. - After initial setbacks, Xiaomi shifted focus from SoC chips to other types of chips, eventually restarting SoC chip development in 2021 [6][9]. Group 2: Investment and Future Plans - Xiaomi plans to invest over 60 billion RMB in R&D this year, with a total investment exceeding 100 billion RMB from 2022 to 2026, focusing on AI, OS, and chip technologies [7][10]. - The company has invested in 110 semiconductor and electronics-related firms since 2017, covering various fields including optical chips and automotive chips [9]. Group 3: Market Position and Challenges - The successful mass production of the "Xuanjie O1" chip is expected to intensify competition in the mobile industry, challenging not only Qualcomm and MediaTek but also the limits of Moore's Law [11]. - Xiaomi's CEO has emphasized the necessity of substantial sales volume to support the high R&D costs associated with chip development, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving market penetration [10].