Xiaomi’s first self-developed flagship chip, the Xuanjie O1, was launched in May 2025 alongside the Xiaomi 15S Pro and the Pad 7 Ultra. As a significant product marking Xiaomi’s return to the mobile SoC market after several years, its performance and market response have garnered considerable attention.
1. Technical Performance: Performance Ranks Among the Top Tier, Imaging and Energy Efficiency Stand Out
1. Hardware Architecture and Process Technology
The Xuanjie O1 utilizes TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process (N3E), integrating 19 billion transistors within a 109mm² area, comparable to Apple’s A18 Pro. Its CPU features a unique ten-core four-cluster design:
– 2 Cortex-X925 super-large cores with a frequency of 3.9GHz: Providing instantaneous burst performance, scoring 2892 in Geekbench 6 single-core and 8974 in multi-core, surpassing A18 Pro’s single-core score of 3018 and multi-core score of 7751.
– 4 performance cores A725 at 3.4GHz + 2 efficiency cores A725 at 1.9GHz: Balancing multi-tasking and daily usage power consumption.
– 2 efficiency cores A520 at 1.8GHz: Responsible for low-load scenarios such as standby and music playback.
2. Performance Testing Data
– Theoretical Benchmark Scores: AnTuTu comprehensive score of over 2.47 million, GFXBench 1080P Aztec Ruins Vulkan frame rate of 233FPS, surpassing A18 Pro.
– Gaming Performance:
– “Genshin Impact”: Under maximum graphics + 60 FPS mode, the average frame rate is 59.8FPS in a 25°C environment, with a device temperature of 44.1°C; in a high-temperature (33°C) environment, the average frame rate is 52FPS, with brightness and frame rate fluctuations but no frame locking.
– “Ningchao”: Average frame rate of 58.2FPS, with brief stuttering during intense skill effects, but overall smoothness is better than contemporaneous Snapdragon 8 Elite models.
– Imaging Capabilities:
– Night Video: The three-stage ISP architecture enhances processing speed, with noise control at 5x zoom outperforming the iPhone 16 Pro, and significant improvements in stabilization and ghosting issues.
– Static Photography: Algorithm tuning still needs optimization, with some scenes’ color reproduction and dynamic range weaker than the Huawei Mate 70 Pro+.
3. Energy Efficiency and Power Consumption
– Power Consumption Advantage at the Same Performance Level: The efficiency of the super-large cores is on par with Dimensity 9400 and Snapdragon 8 Elite, while GPU efficiency leads A18 Pro but lags behind Snapdragon 8 Elite.
– Endurance Shortcomings: The Xiaomi 15S Pro (5000mAh battery) can sustain continuous gaming for about 4.5 hours on a 5G network, lower than the Snapdragon 8 Gen3-equipped Xiaomi 15 Pro (about 5.2 hours), with the external MediaTek T800 modem leading to higher communication power consumption.
2. Market Performance: Sales Did Not Meet Expectations, but Technical Validation is Significant
1. Product Positioning and Pricing
The Xiaomi 15S Pro: Starting price of 5499 yuan (4999 yuan after national subsidies), competing with Huawei Mate 70 Pro+ (starting at 6999 yuan) and iPhone 16 Pro (starting at 7999 yuan).
The Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra: Starting price of 4999 yuan, equipped with the same chip, targeting productivity scenarios.
2. Sales Data and Market Share
Short-term Sales: As of July 2025, the Xiaomi 15S Pro has approximately 5000 reviews on JD.com, and the Pad 7 Ultra has sold over 2000 units, significantly lower than contemporaneous flagship models from Huawei and Apple.
Market Share: The Xuanjie O1 accounted for 0.6% of the Android chip market in Q2 2025, entering the statistical list for the first time, slightly below Samsung’s Exynos (0.7%).
3. Supply Chain and Production Capacity
TSMC’s tight 3nm production capacity has limited the supply of the Xuanjie O1, with multiple versions of the Xiaomi 15S Pro experiencing inventory shortages, and some channels have paused pre-orders.
Lei Jun revealed that only 400,000 units of the first batch of Xuanjie O1 were produced, mainly for technology validation, while the second-generation O2 chip will expand mass production and enter the automotive field.
3. Consumer Feedback: Performance Recognized, Endurance and Price Become Controversial Focus
1. Positive Feedback
Strong Performance: Users generally recognize the gaming performance of the Xuanjie O1, stating it can run “Genshin Impact at full frame without pressure” and that “application launch speed is faster than Snapdragon”.
Imaging Improvements: Night video shooting effects are praised as “finally catching up to the iPhone”, with significant progress in stabilization and ghosting control.
Design Details: The gold power button and XRing logo on the Xiaomi 15S Pro received positive reviews, being described as “highly recognizable and exquisite”.
2. Negative Feedback
Endurance Issues: Under 5G networks, endurance “drops significantly”, with heavy usage (gaming + video) only lasting 7 hours, significantly lower than competing products in the same price range.
Heat Control: The device temperature is relatively high during prolonged gaming, especially in the upper area and edges, suggesting the use of a phone case.
Price-Performance Controversy: The 5000 yuan price point is considered “too high for brand premium”, with some users turning to the discounted Xiaomi 15 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen3).
3. Industry and Expert Opinions
Technological Breakthrough: Peking University professor Yao Yang stated that the Xuanjie O1 “drives progress in the Chinese chip industry”, while former Meizu executive Li Nan believes it “achieves self-developed level efficiency using public architecture, far exceeding expectations”.
Strategic Significance: Compared to OPPO’s aggressive route, Xiaomi’s use of a “public version IP + external modem” strategy is more pragmatic, reducing technical risks while completing team integration.
– Future Challenges: Geek Bay pointed out that the Xuanjie O1 needs to address issues such as modem integration, mass production costs (with a single R&D cost exceeding 1000 USD), and software ecosystem (insufficient NPU application scenarios).
4. Milestone Breakthrough, Future Still Needs Climbing
The launch of the Xuanjie O1 marks a key step for Xiaomi in the field of self-developed chips. Its performance and imaging innovations have been recognized by the market, but shortcomings in endurance, mass production costs, and brand premium remain core factors limiting its popularity. For consumers, if pursuing extreme performance and domestic technology sentiment, the Xuanjie O1 model is worth trying; if more balanced experience is prioritized, Snapdragon/Dimensity flagships remain a more reliable choice. With plans for the Xuanjie O2 (to be launched in 2026) to integrate self-developed modems and expand into the automotive field, whether Xiaomi can establish a foothold in the high-end market still requires time to verify.