Xiaomi Commits: Launching the XRING 01, Its First 3nm Chip - Architecture & Future
Xiaomi has formally joined the premium silicon ring with the XRING 01 launch. This is not another chip; this is Xiaomi's first 3-nanometer processor, a clear indication that it's ready to take on giants like Snapdragon, Dimensity, and Apple's A-series. Let's get closer to knowing what makes this new chipset tick.
Under the Hood: A Peek at the XRING 01's Architecture
Built using TSMC's industry-leading second-generation 3nm process technology, the XRING 01 packs an incredible 19 billion transistors onto a 109mm² die. This cutting-edge manufacturing process ensures a huge power efficiency boost.
When it's about raw processing muscle, Xiaomi has taken the unconventional approach with a 10-core CPU layout, veering from the more mainstream 8-core arrangements. The layout is intended to deliver solid performance on both single-core as well as multi-core loads. The division among the cores is quite interesting:
- Two premium Cortex-X925 cores, clocked at a brisk 3.90GHz.
- Six capable Cortex-A725 cores for steady performance.
- Two power-efficient Cortex-A520 cores for light tasks.
For graphics, there is no compromise with the XRING 01. It comes with a powerful 16-core ARM Immortalis-G925 GPU, which can handle demanding games and graphics programs.
Future Plans and Contemporary Innovation
The XRING 01 also features the newest memory and connectivity standards, including LPDDR5T RAM support, super-fast UFS 4.1 storage, Wi-Fi 7, and USB 3.2 Gen 2. This will ensure that devices based on this chip are extremely capable of handling today's demands.
Interestingly, Xiaomi is applying a "chip-binning" strategy as well. A spin of the XRING 01 with adjusted clock speeds will be powering their premium tablet, the Pad 7 Ultra. Initial performance statistics show this binned chip still holds up.
And so, where will we initially see this new silicon in operation. The Xiaomi 15S Pro will be the first smartphone to feature the full-fat XRING 01. It will be interesting to see how this new flagship fares in the real world.
Even though there are as yet only two devices announced to use the XRING 01 on release, it is a giant leap for Xiaomi. It is an open statement towards reducing their reliance on third-party chipset manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek. It will likely take a couple of years before the XRING series becomes a standard feature on Xiaomi products, but the journey has now started.
