Chinese smartphone giants Xiaomi and Unisoc are reportedly making strides towards developing their own 4nm mobile processors, potentially reducing reliance on foreign chipmakers like Qualcomm and MediaTek. This news comes as China pushes for greater self-sufficiency in the semiconductor industry, backed by strong government support.
According to Liberty Times and Commercial Times, both Xiaomi and Unisoc have successfully completed the “tape-out” process for their domestic 4nm chips. This signifies a significant milestone in the development cycle, where the design is finalized and sent to a foundry for manufacturing. However, the reports clarify that these chips utilize foreign intellectual property (IP) cores from ARM and IMG.
Xiaomi has emerged as a major force in smartphone production, ranking third globally behind Apple and Samsung in Q1 2024. Their ambitions extend beyond phones, with rumors suggesting a competitive 4nm chip to rival Huawei’s Kirin 9000s, potentially launching later this year.
The Kirin chip is based on a 7nm process by SMIC, another major Chinese chipmaker. Xiaomi’s past collaborations with Qualcomm position them well for long-term success in the chip development arena.
On the other hand, Unisoc, a Shanghai-based fabless chip designer specializing in mobile communication and connectivity technologies, is also reportedly on the 4nm bandwagon. Their chip is said to have already completed the tape-out stage and achieved performance comparable to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888.
However, analysts caution that widespread adoption of domestically produced 4nm SoCs in Chinese smartphones might not happen until 2026. Currently, established players like MediaTek and Qualcomm hold a dominant position in the Chinese market.
This advancement may mark a pivotal moment for China’s semiconductor industry. Led by Huawei, and now with Xiaomi and Unisoc also entering the arena, domestic chipmakers are poised to potentially challenge international competitors. This shift could diminish China’s dependence on foreign technology, while also promoting innovation and competition globally within the semiconductor sector.
(Via)
