At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona, Xiaomi shared fresh details about its long-term technology roadmap. The company is reportedly preparing to upgrade its in-house smartphone chips every year and expand its artificial intelligence (AI) assistant to international markets.
Speaking to a publication on the sidelines of the event, Xiaomi President Lu Weibing said the next version of the company’s proprietary chip is expected in 2026. This will mark the beginning of an annual refresh cycle for Xiaomi’s mobile processors. The strategy mirrors companies like Apple and Google, which use their own in-house silicon to power smartphones.
Lu described chip development as a strategic move for the company. “This is a long-term commitment. We are going to continue investing in chip development,” he said.
Last year, Xiaomi introduced its first modern in-house smartphone processor, the XRing O1. Built on TSMC’s 3nm process, the chip debuted in the Xiaomi 15S Pro and the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra. It marked a major step in Xiaomi’s efforts to build custom silicon for its devices.
While the company has not shared technical details about upcoming versions, future chips are expected to deliver better performance and improved efficiency. Currently, the XRing 01 SoC is available only in China. However, Weibing emphasised that it plans to bring its proprietary chips to smartphones sold in global markets, not just within its home country.
Beyond chips, Xiaomi is also working on expanding its AI assistant internationally. At present, Xiao AI operates mainly within China and integrates with it smartphones, smart home products, and other connected devices. It remains limited to the domestic market.
Lu confirmed that the company is preparing to introduce an AI assistant for overseas markets as part of its global expansion. It has earlier stated that it plans to launch its electric vehicles in Europe around 2027. The broader goal is to integrate the AI assistant across smartphones, smart devices, and EVs.
“We want the AI assistant across smartphones and cars,” Lu said, outlining the vision for a connected ecosystem.
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