As Apple, Qualcomm and MediaTek prepare for the technological leap to 2 nanometers, Xiaomi is forced to stop at the 3 nm node. Not by choice, but by constraints imposed by US sanctions. The new XRING O1 chip promises high-level performance, but the challenge with the big names is played on technologically unfavorable ground.
Xiaomi Stuck at 3nm: US Sanctions Slow Chip Development
Xiaomi's new XRING O1 chip is born with top player ambitions. The performances we will see on the first tablet with proprietary SoC, at least on paper, are tempting: we are talking about a level comparable to that of the giants Apple, Qualcomm and MediaTek.
Yet there is a serious problem, which has nothing to do with the skill of Chinese engineers or the quality of the design: the US sanctions barrier.
Due to restrictions imposed by the United States, Xiaomi does not have access to EDA tools (Electronic Design Automation) tools needed to develop more advanced chips, such as 2-nanometer ones. These tools are not just a technical detail: they represent the very essence of progress in processor design.
Without them, moving from a 3nm manufacturing process to a more advanced one becomes impossible. So yes, the gap with Apple & co. is destined to widen, at least for now.
The company, however, is not sitting on its hands: it is investing heavily in research and continues to work on its own solutions, including automotive chips for its electric vehicles and 5G modems. The XRING O1 chip, for example, is a project that the company has presented as internal development.
Although, to be honest, it is not entirely "independent": it is based on the ARM platform, and the company itself confirmed it, speaking of an active collaboration with Xiaomi to optimize performance, consumption and workloads in the SoCs of the devices.
The forced choice to stay on 3nm changes the rules of the game. While Apple , Qualcomm and MediaTek to move to 2nm chips by 2026, Xiaomi will have to squeeze every drop possible from the 3nm process, focusing on optimization rather than extreme miniaturization. This means that every improvement will have to come from other choices: energy balance, performance and efficiency and wise use of artificial intelligence on smartphones.
The fundamental question, however, remains: as long as US sanctions remain in force, Xiaomi will always be one step behind compared to those who have free access to the latest generation EDA technologies.
the eda ban has been suspended