Xiaomi’s 3nm Chipset to Feature MediaTek’s Unreleased 5G Modem

Xiaomi is also rumored to be preparing to launch its own custom silicon chip on a 3nm process next year, a big milestone for the company. Although details remain unconfirmed…

By Hardik Dhamija

December 1, 2024

3 min read

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Xiaomi is also rumored to be preparing to launch its own custom silicon chip on a 3nm process next year, a big milestone for the company. Although details remain unconfirmed by the Chinese tech giant, the most compelling piece surrounding this new venture is the 3nm process, a major stride in semiconductor manufacturing. There are certainly challenges to navigate, including continued U.S. trade sanctions, and the selection of a 5G modem that can accompany this new system-on-chip (SoC).

Xiaomi’s Upcoming 3nm In-House Chipset to Feature MediaTek’s Unreleased T90 5G Modem

According to the latest report, which came from a Weibo tipster with a fairly decent track record for accurate semiconductor predictions, Xiaomi is joining up with MediaTek for its 5G modem. It will be powered by a custom 3nm chipset, which will likely include MediaTek’s not-yet-announced T90 5G modem that’s so new it isn’t even in their listings yet. This would hint at Xiaomi having a more advanced unreleased modem solution that could rival Qualcomm’s in the form of the Snapdragon X80 5G modem.

In fact, MediaTek has stepped their game up in the near future with their Dimensity 9400 chipset, which is the first chipset to be manufactured on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process. This means that MediaTek is moving quickly in the high-end semiconductor space and will likely soon take advantage of TSMC’s 3nm technology to support Xiaomi’s modem. Although we’ve yet to get confirmation about the specifics of the T90 modem, what is clear is that Xiaomi is looking to lessen its reliance on Qualcomm for 5G modems.

The company will need to navigate international trade regulations and develop a competitive modem as it continues its custom silicon project. Nonetheless, the development of custom silicon and its potential frontend partnership with MediaTek creates the possibility of an exciting new chapter in Xiaomi’s evolution within the subject of smartphone production, as it seems to bolster its position with a more secure foundation and lessen dependence on third-party manufacturers.