Xiaomi 17 Fold reveals its own Xring O3 chip, aimed at reducing reliance on Qualcomm.
Xiaomi's next foldable phone, codenamed Lhasa, is expected to feature the company's own Xring O3 chipset. This is a strategic move to achieve technological self-reliance and optimize performance for its high-end product line.
After a period of absence from the foldable phone market in 2025, Xiaomi is preparing to return with a groundbreaking device in terms of core technology. According to leaked data from Ximitime and the Mi Code database, the new foldable phone (possibly named Xiaomi 17 Fold or MIX Fold 5/6) will not rely entirely on third-party solutions but will integrate its own self-developed processor.
Xring O3 Chip: Xiaomi's Ambition for Self-Reliance
Xiaomi's new device has the internal codename Q18 and the model number "Lhasa," corresponding to the model number 2608BPX34C that previously appeared in the IMEI database. The most important point in this report is the presence of the Xring O3 chipset. This is the next generation of chips designed by Xiaomi itself, succeeding the Xring O1 series previously used in the Xiaomi 15S Pro.
The shift to using its own chips demonstrates the company's long-term strategy of reducing reliance on partners like Qualcomm. This allows Xiaomi to have deeper customization between hardware and software, especially optimizing heat dissipation and power management for the complex foldable screen structure.
Expected specifications of the Xiaomi 17 Max
Besides its foldable phone line, Xiaomi is also finalizing the Xiaomi 17 Max. Unlike the Fold version, the Max model is expected to retain Qualcomm's power with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Below is a detailed specifications table based on leaked information:
| Parameter | Expected details |
|---|---|
| Screen | 6.9-inch flat OLED display, 1.5K resolution. |
| Microprocessors | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Memory (RAM/ROM) | LPDDR5X 16GB / UFS 4.1 1TB |
| Battery capacity | 8,000 mAh |
| Fast charging | 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging. |
| Main camera | Samsung HPE 200 megapixel |
| Secondary camera | 50MP ultra-wide angle, 50MP periscope telephoto. |
Launch time and market context
Despite reports of a delay in the Xiaomi 17 Fold's launch, experts predict it could debut around early July. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 17 Max is expected to appear earlier in China, in May.
The emergence of Xiaomi's own-developed chips will further heat up the high-end smartphone segment, where competitors like OPPO are already boasting impressively thin and light devices like the Find N6, which is only 4.21mm thick when unfolded. The race in 2025 will not only be about design but also about processing performance and technological self-reliance.
