After years of staying in the shadows of Qualcomm and MediaTek, Xiaomi is reportedly gearing up to reenter the silicon race with a new in-house System on Chip (SoC) — and the specs have just leaked.
TSMC 4nm ‘N4P’ Node, ARM v9 Cores, and Imagination GPU Point to a Bold Mid-Range Comeback
According to tipster Fixed Focus Digital (shared via @Jukanlosreve on X), Xiaomi’s comeback chip will not feature bleeding-edge specs like a 3nm node or custom CPU cores, but it could still make a splash in the upper mid-range smartphone segment.
Back to the Lab: Xiaomi’s Rebooted Chip Strategy
The chipset is said to be manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm N4P process — a more mature, cost-effective lithography compared to the bleeding-edge 3nm node that earlier rumors suggested. This could reflect a pragmatic decision from Xiaomi: target volume efficiency and performance balance rather than chase top-tier specs at a premium.
The CPU cluster will reportedly follow a 1+3+4 layout:
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1x Cortex-X925 @ 3.2GHz
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3x Cortex-A725 @ 2.6GHz
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4x Cortex-A520 @ 2.0GHz
This setup is based on ARM’s latest v9 designs but features no custom cores, distinguishing it from Qualcomm’s more recent chipsets, like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the new 8 Gen 4, which have leaned into custom CPU territory.
A Surprise in Graphics: Imagination’s Time to Shine?
The GPU is where things get interesting. The SoC is rumored to pack Imagination Technologies’ IMG DXT72-2304, running at 1.3GHz. Early whispers suggest it could outperform the Adreno 740 found in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 — a bold claim if true, and a welcome return for Imagination Technologies into the mobile performance conversation.
Xiaomi is also expected to integrate its own Image Signal Processor (ISP), while outsourcing other components like the 5G modem and DSP to familiar names like MediaTek, Synopsys, or even Huawei — depending on availability and geopolitical headwinds.
Strategic Move or Wishful Thinking?
If this SoC lands as expected, it likely won’t power Xiaomi’s flagship 15 Ultra, but instead serve as a powerful alternative for upper mid-range offerings like the rumored Xiaomi 15S, slated for release in 2025.
This aligns with Xiaomi’s broader goal of reducing dependency on external suppliers and achieving tighter vertical integration — a playbook well-worn by Apple and increasingly pursued by Google. However, Xiaomi will need to contend with U.S. export restrictions, which have already complicated chip ambitions for several Chinese tech giants. So far, though, the company appears unaffected, as the chip is still reportedly on track for release in 2025.
Proceed with Caution
Still, some skepticism remains. As X user @faridofanani96 rightly points out, Fixed Focus Digital has a mixed track record, and this leak could be another speculative leap. Yet, given the frequency of reports about Xiaomi’s silicon revival — and its tape-out success with a 3nm chip — there’s fire behind the smoke.
Final Thoughts
Xiaomi may not be gunning for Qualcomm’s flagship crown just yet, but this in-house chipset could mark a new era for the company’s hardware ambitions. With a solid mid-range SoC under its belt and potential control over the full hardware-software stack, Xiaomi could reshape its competitive edge in an increasingly crowded market — assuming geopolitical hurdles don’t get in the way.
