Xiaomi 17 introduces the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as CEO Lei Jun discusses the XRING chip and the company's premium technology strategy.

      A photograph taken with the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max

      Credit: Xiaomi

      On Thursday, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun delivered his sixth annual address in Beijing, centered around the theme "Change." The speech recounted the company’s evolution over the last five years and, for the first time, provided details about the development of its proprietary XRING chip. The event also marked the introduction of the new Xiaomi 17 smartphone series.

      Lei stated that the company's transformation was prompted by a period of reflection five years ago, when Xiaomi's revenue exceeded RMB 200 billion ($28 billion), yet progress in the premium segment slowed. Following a thorough evaluation, Xiaomi decided to shift from being an “internet company” to a “technology company,” establishing “technology as the foundation” as its core principle. The development of the XRING chip became a crucial milestone in this strategy.

      Significance: Last March, Xiaomi unveiled its branded vehicle, making it the first tech company to operate across the three primary sectors of smartphones, cars, and home appliances. This May, the company presented the XRING O1, the first flagship chip developed on the advanced 3nm process in mainland China.

      Details: On Thursday, Xiaomi introduced the Xiaomi 17 series, which the company claims is intended to be a direct competitor to the iPhone. Forgoing the “16” branding, the lineup features the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max.

      The 17 series showcases Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 mobile platform, fabricated on TSMC’s 3nm process. The CPU performance is reported to rival Apple’s A19 Pro (from the iPhone 17 series), while the GPU achieves a 34.6% improvement. The Pro series also includes the “Xiaomi Share Back Screen,” a rear display integrated into the camera module that allows for personalized interaction and creative photography.

      During the annual address, Lei Jun reflected on Xiaomi’s transformation over the past five years, noting that it arose from a moment of significant contemplation in 2020. At that time, despite achieving over RMB 200 billion ($28 billion) in annual revenue and breaking into the Fortune Global 500, Lei expressed feelings of concern. With fierce competition from major players like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei, Xiaomi saw limited prospects for surpassing them, according to Lei. He remarked, “Many team members are also fatigued and want to take a break, yet the competition in the next decade will only intensify.”

      To tackle these challenges, Lei Jun announced Xiaomi's transition from an internet company to a technology company, pledging RMB 200 billion ($28 billion) over the following five years for core technology development. He emphasized the importance of chips for Xiaomi’s future, stating that developing an in-house smartphone SoC would require at least a decade and at least RMB 50 billion ($7 billion) in investment.

      Background: In his annual address, Lei Jun also reflected on Xiaomi’s previous challenges in chip development. According to Lei, chip production is essential for Xiaomi to secure a position in the premium market and necessitates long-term investment and patience.

      In 2014, Xiaomi launched Pinecone Electronics, a wholly-owned subsidiary focused on creating in-house smartphone SoCs. In 2017, it released the Surge S1, but the project faced difficulties in penetrating the mid-to-low-end market, with only about 600,000 units of the Xiaomi 5C sold.

      Xiaomi subsequently paused SoC development to build expertise, invest in core technologies, and attract talent. In 2021, it reignited its chipmaking initiative with a new team. In May, the XRING O1 chip completed its first wafer production and testing, and it was launched in May 2025 utilizing a 3nm process, now integrated into the Xiaomi 15S Pro flagship smartphone and the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra.

      Jessie Wu is a tech journalist based in Shanghai. She focuses on consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. Connect with her via email: [email protected].