Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun says firm invested 21B yuan in chipmaking

This disclosure moves Xiaomi from a smartphone maker into a deeper semiconductor commitment, signaling that consumer hardware margins may increasingly hinge on in-house silicon. The scale of the investment, set against a decade-long plan, suggests a strategic pivot that could reshape supply-chain dependencies and competitive positioning in the Chinese electronics sector. For market watchers, the key question is whether Xiaomi's chip roadmap stays on schedule and translates into product differentiation, as delays or yield issues would expose the firm to the same volatility that has affected other vertically integrating hardware firms.