Samsung Electronics has slipped out of the top three in the global CMOS image sensor (CIS) market for the first time in years, according to newly released data from market research firms. Once the second-largest supplier by shipment volume in 2023, Samsung now ranks fourth, underscoring the growing pressure it faces from China's rapidly evolving semiconductor ecosystem.

Xiaomi's launch of the XRing O1 at its "New Starting Point" event in Beijing marked more than just a new chip release—it was a direct challenge to industry giants Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek. Backed by over CNY13.5 billion (approx. US$1.87 billion) in R&D across four years, the XRing O1 is Xiaomi's first successful flagship SoC since the ill-fated Surge S1, signaling a serious shift in the company's silicon ambitions, as ICsmart and Reuters report.