Xiaomi prepares XRing O2 - the second generation of its own processor
A Fixed Focus Digital source has confirmed that Xiaomi plans to release its second self-developed XRing O2 chip in the second or third quarter of 2026, continuing to expand its technological independence.
What is known about Xiaomi's processor design
Architecture: XRing O2 is based on an unknown new ARM architecture. It is said to have a ~15% increase in IPC (instructions per clock cycle) compared to current ARM technologies, but it is not specified which ones. Also, the chip may include powerful Cortex-X9 cores, which other flagships such as the Dimensity 9500 will have. Xiaomi will use TSMC's 3-nm N3E process, the same process used in the XRing O1.
Why It Matters
ARM has a flexible licensing system - any company can purchase either a licence to manufacture a finished circuit or an extended licence with the ability to make changes to the architecture. Large microelectronics manufacturers (Apple, Samsung, Huawei) use the second type of licence, expanding those blocks and instructions that they consider necessary. Therefore, their processors, although compatible at the byte-code level and able to run the same operating systems and applications, have different performance under different types of loads.
Xiaomi has decided to follow in Huawei's footsteps and begin to gradually move away from Western technology in order to be more independent in times of tropical typhoon-like policy from the White House. Xiaomi claims that despite licensing ARM technology, their first XRing O1 processor has its own architecture, memory subsystem, and manufacturing techniques. XRing O1 has already proven its competitiveness - it is used in Xiaomi 15S Pro and Pad 7 Ultra. It is likely that Xiaomi is only going to expand the use of its own components, and we will see Snapdragon chips in their devices less and less.
ARM's loyal licensing policy has both its advantages and disadvantages. We have already seen the advantage - amid the stagnation of desktop x86, ARM developed rapidly and eventually broke into personal computers. But then we see the fragmentation and creation of proprietary technologies by each major company. It is not yet clear whether this process will become dark feudalism or the flowering of Renaissance ideas, so I ask you not to rush to take up torches and pitchforks and go against the "heretical" architecture you do not like.
Source: www.gizmochina.com
