Xiaomi has launched its first real processor top of the range and the performances do not disappoint: theXRING 01 comes dangerously close to the Snapdragon 8 Elite. But while the numbers are impressive, there remains a question that many are asking themselves: how much is it really energy efficient?
Xiaomi XRING 01: Performance scores on Geekbench
It is a 10-core SoC, an ambitious configuration that aims straight at the heart of industry giants like Qualcomm and MediaTek. The first device to mount it will be the xiaomi 15s pro, identified in tests with the code 25042PN24C, and has already ended up under the magnifying glass of Geekbench.
The numbers speak clearly: 2709 points in single-core e 8125 in multi-core. In comparison, the Xiaomi 15 Pro, based on the Snapdragon 8 Elite, scores 2919 and 8869 points. The gap exists, but it is not sensational. In practice, Xiaomi has pulled a chip out of the hat that can hold its own among the top of the range, and this is an absolute novelty for the brand.
But behind the numbers there is a question that is starting to become insistent: how much does Xiaomi consume X-RING 01?
The chip would be made with a 3 nanometers, the same production process used by its closest rivals. In theory, this should ensure high energy efficiency, but there is one detail that raises more than one eyebrow: there are ten cores, two more than the current standard.
And it's not just a question of quantity: the clusters are divided into four groups, three with two cores and one with four cores, with frequencies ranging from 1,8 GHz and 3,9 GHz.
The best performing cores seem to be the Cortex-X925, while the others should be the Cortex-A725, which brings the architecture closer to that of typical MediaTek chips. Even the GPU, still unconfirmed, will probably be based on an ARM architecture, which further confirms the "ibrido" di Xiaomi, halfway between Qualcomm and MediaTek.
Now, if it is true that the performance is there, the doubt about efficiency remains. The 3nm process is only part of the equation: the optimization of consumption depends on many factors, including the thermal design, the mixed load management and above all software integration. With ten cores in play, the risk of the chip wasting energy in everyday scenarios is real.
The fact that Xiaomi has decided to increase the number of cores could indicate an attempt to balancing performance and multitasking, but this choice may not necessarily pay off in terms of battery life.
However, it cannot be ruled out that the Xiaomi XRING 01 is a sort of test bench for the company, a platform on which to test new solutions in view of a future line of even more refined SoCs.
Less than two weeks from the official presentation, therefore maintenance May, expectations are very high.
