Tang Jianguo, the chief economist of Beijing’s Municipal Economy and Information Technology Bureau, commended Xiaomi for its achievement in a report aired by state broadcaster Beijing Radio and Television Station (BRTV). However, the smartphone giant has yet to confirm or comment on the development.
The praise stems from the firm’s reported success in “taping out” the 3-nm chip design, a critical step before mass production.
Despite the initial euphoria, details about the chip are now scarce, as reports were swiftly taken down from Chinese media outlets.
Xiaomi, which has an in-house semiconductor design unit that customizes chips primarily using imported components, has yet to respond to requests for clarification.
The company’s semiconductor projects, including the S1 mobile system-on-chip and C1 image sensor, mark a growing focus on local chip design amid the broader US-China tech conflict.
This development occurs in a landscape where US sanctions have limited Chinese companies’ access to advanced semiconductor technologies, though Xiaomi has not yet faced the same stringent restrictions as companies like Huawei.
Xiaomi’s silence contrasts with the attention on Chinese tech advancements, particularly in semiconductor development, which is central to the country’s goal of reducing dependency on foreign technology and countering US-imposed tech sanctions.
