Google recently launched the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro which use its own Tensor chip. It looks like Google's move will be followed by another well-known Android phone vendor, Oppo.
According to a Nikkei report, Oppo is currently developing high-end systems-on-a-chip (SoC) for its flagship phones. This chip is planned to be launched in 2023 or 2024, depending on the speed of development.
This report from Nikkei does not reveal more detailed information about Oppo's custom SoC. But this report says Oppo will work with TSMC to make the chip and use 3nm processing technology, as quoted from The Verge, Friday (10/22/2021).
Furthermore, the Nikkei report said Oppo has started to increase its investment in the chip sector since the United States imposed sanctions on Huawei. They have also hired chip and artificial intelligence experts from MediaTek, Qualcomm and Huawei.
If this plan becomes a reality, Oppo will be the next big vendor to switch to using its own chipset. Besides Google, other Android phone vendors who design their own chips are Samsung with Exynos chips.
Huawei also used its own Kirin chips for its flagship phones, before its business was hit by trade sanctions from the US. Outside of Android phone vendors, of course there is Apple that uses the Bionic chip for the iPhone and iPad.
Xiaomi also launched its own low-end SoC called the Surge S1 in 2017. But currently their chip development is limited to secondary components such as image signal processors.
Like most Android phone vendors, Oppo currently uses chips made by Qualcomm and MediaTek. If Oppo starts using its own chips, it's likely that Qualcomm and MediaTek could potentially lose one of their biggest customers.
Based on IDC data, Oppo is currently the fourth largest mobile phone vendor in the world. Given that Oppo also shares supply chain and ownership with Vivo, Realme, and OnePlus, it is not impossible that their chips will reach more phones.
