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 officially announced its self-developed SoC chip, the "Xuanjie O1," which is based on a second-generation 3nm process technology, marking a significant milestone for Chinese manufacturers in the smartphone chip industry [3][5]. Group 1: Chip Development and Background - The development of the Xuanjie O1 chip has been in progress for over 10 years, with a significant investment of over 13.5 billion RMB (approximately 1.9 billion USD) over the last four years [5]. - Xiaomi's chip development history includes the launch of the "Surge S1" in 2017, which was deemed a failure, leading to a temporary halt in SoC development until the recent revival in 2021 [3][5]. - The current R&D team for Xiaomi's chip development has grown to over 2,500 members, indicating a robust commitment to advancing its technology [5]. Group 2: Performance Metrics - The Xuanjie O1 achieved a single-core score of 2709 and a multi-core score of 8125 in the Geekbench 6 benchmark tests, showcasing competitive performance among flagship chips [8][10]. - Compared to other leading chips, the Xuanjie O1's performance is positioned as follows: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite scored 3228 (single-core) and 10688 (multi-core), while MediaTek Dimensity 9400 scored 2958 (single-core) and 9155 (multi-core) [10]. - The performance metrics suggest that if the Xuanjie O1 proves effective in real-world applications, it could significantly enhance Xiaomi's market position and reputation beyond being perceived as an "assembly factory" [10].

Core Insights - The smartphone industry is undergoing an AI revolution, with manufacturers increasingly integrating AI features into their new products, marking a shift from traditional hardware innovation to AI-driven functionalities [2][5][14] - IDC forecasts a dramatic increase in AI smartphone shipments in China, with a year-on-year growth of 591% in 2024, and a penetration rate rising from 3% in 2023 to 22% [4] - The competition among smartphone manufacturers is shifting from hardware specifications to AI capabilities, emphasizing the need for end-to-end AI design from chips to operating systems [8][13] Group 1: Industry Trends - The AI smartphone market is expected to reach 1.18 billion units by 2025, accounting for 40.7% of the overall market [4] - High-end smartphones priced above $600 are projected to exceed 30.9% of the market share, with AI features contributing 75% of their premium pricing [4] - The average replacement cycle for smartphones has extended to 51 months, prompting manufacturers to focus on AI to drive consumer upgrades [5] Group 2: Technological Developments - The new generation of smartphones must feature advanced AI capabilities, including large model computing power, system-level AI integration, and proactive service in various scenarios [8][16] - AI's impact on imaging technology is significant, with innovations allowing for real-time analysis and optimization of images, enhancing capabilities beyond traditional photography [10][11] - The relationship between hardware manufacturers and AI developers is evolving, with companies like Qualcomm and Huawei creating ecosystems that support AI development and deployment [17][22] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Major smartphone manufacturers are divided into three camps: Apple, Huawei, and an open ecosystem represented by brands like Xiaomi and Honor, each pursuing different AI strategies [20][22] - Huawei is positioned to lead in the AI smartphone market due to its strong R&D investment and technological capabilities in AI chipsets and cloud collaboration [22][23] - The future of smartphones may not solely rely on traditional devices, raising questions about the evolution of AI-native smart devices beyond current smartphones [23][24]