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China’s Xiaomi claims new phone chip rivals Apple at a cheaper price

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Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi is developing its own chip called Xring O1.

Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images

BEIJING — Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi is taking on Apple’s iPhone with an advanced chip and a cheaper phone.

Xiaomi is winning the battle on the pricing of its latest phone. The new Xiaomi 15S Pro starts at 5,499 yuan ($764) — making it eligible for a state-subsidized discount — and is significantly cheaper than Apple models containing the company’s most advanced phone chip. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at 7,999 yuan, while the iPhone Pro Max model begins at 9,999 yuan — above the 6,000 yuan cut-off for a Chinese government discount for consumers.

And Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun claims his company also has a competitive chip, saying at a launch event on Thursday that Xiaomi’s new Xring O1 beat Apple’s A18 Pro on several technical metrics, including the ability to operate a game with less heat.

CNBC has not independently verified these claims. CNBC has reached out to Apple for comment.

“Apple is still number one,” Lei said in Mandarin, according to a CNBC translation. He said the Xring O1’s performance should not be seen as an attempt to pressure Apple, but rather as an indicator of the great effort Xiaomi made to develop a comparable processor.

The U.S. has increasingly restricted China’s ability to access high-end equipment for developing advanced semiconductors used in training artificial intelligence models.

Lei did not discuss any significant AI features for the 15S Pro, but showed how it could be used to lock and unlock a compatible car.

He announced that Xiaomi will spend 200 billion yuan on research and development in the next five years, starting from 2026, and predicted 30% revenue growth this year.

Lei had teased the 3 nanometer chip last week on Chinese social media app Weibo. He later noted the chip is in mass production and said the company would invest at least 50 billion yuan ($6.9 billion) over the next 10 years in its own chip development.

Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max use A18 Pro chips built on the same 3 nanometer process.
Around 40% of Xiaomi’s phones currently use chips by Qualcomm and MediaTek, according to Counterpoint Research Partner Niel Shah.

Xiaomi spent 13.5 billion ($1.87 billion) over four years to develop the Xring O1, Lei said in a social media post. He revealed that the company started developing chips in 2014 and unveiled one in 2017, before temporarily suspending such research.

Last spring, Xiaomi launched its first electric car, the SU7 sedan, with a price $4,000 below that of Tesla’s Model 3 at the time. Ford CEO Jim Farley said he spent months driving a Xiaomi electric car, as he tried to assess competition from Chinese automakers.

Xiaomi’s first SUV, called the YU7, will be officially released in July, Lei said in a social media post, noting the car’s price wouldn’t be revealed Thursday. Lei did share some promotional images and car features at the event.

The company delivered more than 28,000 vehicles in April, down from its record of more than 29,000 during the previous month. That comes after the crash of an SU7 vehicle in China, which left three people dead. China has since required automakers to use more conservative language when advertising driver-assist systems.

Xiaomi is set to release its first-quarter results on May 27, after the company in March reported record revenue and net profit for 2024. Sales generated from overseas markets last year accounted for nearly 42% of total revenue.

The company’s shares remain more than 50% higher year-to-date.

— CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal and Bernice Ooi contributed to this report.

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Amazon is selling an $800 portable power station for $550, and shoppers 'love the mobile design and durability'

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TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Camping is a fun summer activity. What’s not fun is having no access to electricity. You can’t charge your phone, watch TV, or make your morning cup of coffee. Thankfully, portable power stations allow you to do all that and more. It’s literally like bringing along a giant battery for all of your electronics. Portable power stations are also good to have around your home in case of power outages.

There’s just the problem of price. Portable power stations are notoriously expensive, especially ones that have a larger energy storage capacity. The good news is that we were able to find a solid deal on a 1,056-watt-hour (or 1 kilowatt-hour) power station. This $800 Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station is $550 at Amazon for a limited time. At 31% off, you’re saving $250.

Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station, $550 (was $800) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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The Anker Solix C1000 features a power output of 1,800 watts, making it strong enough to handle multiple electronics and small appliances at once. It has 11total power ports. You get two USB-A and USB-C ports, a car socket, and six AC outlets. Additionally, it also functions as a night light and has a handle for easy carrying. It weighs about 28 pounds.

Now let’s talk about charging. There are two ways you can charge the Anker Solix C1000. The first way is just by plugging it into a standard AC wall outlet. Or if you have the portable solar panels (sold separately), you simply connect the wires and place the panels in the sun. When plugged into an AC outlet, your power station can be fully charged in about an hour. If you charge up with solar, it’ll likely take around two hours. The digital display on the front of the power station shows you the battery and charging status.

Related: Walmart is selling a $1,120 storage shed for only $150, and shoppers say it’s ‘incredibly useful’

Shoppers have found multiple uses for this portable power station. “We bought it mainly for short power outages and to run our refrigerator, but it will have many other uses for sure,” one shopper said. “Just this past week, I had to do some repairs to our floating dock, and there is no extension cord long enough to reach, so I brought this Anker Solix C1000 and it powered our two saws and drills without any issue at all. It’s very cool and has lots of different outlets. Very impressive unit!”

Others say they get daily use out of it. “I love it. I use it every day. I am traveling and camping everywhere,” one shopper shared. “I use it to power a car mobile refrigerator, a little portable air conditioner, and of course, my iPhone and other electronics, and sometimes an electric stove. It can take on all tasks with no problem. I love the mobile design and durability.”

You don’t need to be ‘roughing it’ the next time you go camping. Consider grabbing the Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station to keep all your devices charged and bring along a few essentials for the kitchen or living room. You’ll feel like you never left home. 

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Amazon is selling a 'high-quality' $525 Citizen Eco-Drive watch for $260, and buyers love its 'useful functions'

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TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Time is the most valuable thing any of us has. Therefore, why not keep track of it in the most accurate and stylish way possible, relishing every second? Amazon can help you do that with its incredible selection of high-end watches. One of them, from Citizen, is currently available for half off, and we think it ticks all the boxes.

The Citizen Calandrier Eco-Drive Watch is on sale for $260 right now, which is 50% off the regular price of $525. Not only does this watch give you the time, but it even tells you the day and the date.

Citizen Calandrier Eco-Drive Watch, $260 (was $625) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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While a watch that tells the time is useful, one that does that and lets you know exactly what day and date it is can keep you on schedule better than you might imagine. In addition to the time, day, and date functions, this watch has a 24-hour tracker and world time function, so you can know what time it is anywhere in the world.

With a stainless steel case and bracelet, the timepiece oozes elegance and durability. Its blue dial is highly legible and attractive, and is sure to get you plenty of compliments. It also has a scratch-resistant mineral crystal and 100 meters of water resistance. The Japan-made quartz movement inside operates off of solar energy, provided by the Eco-Drive technology within.

Related: Amazon is selling $100 Reebok sneakers for $60, and shoppers love how ‘comfortable and lightweight’ they are

Amazon customers raved about this watch. One called it “my favorite watch,” adding, “I fell in love with how it looked…It feels and looks like a very high-quality watch. All the functions work perfectly and are not hard to read.”

Another touted the “beautiful blue dial,” and said, “I love good-looking watches…but if the design can incorporate useful functions as well, it’s a winner for me. And this watch does all of that.”

The Citizen Calandrier Eco-Drive Watch will let you know exactly when you are, and it can do so in style. It can also do so for only $260 at the moment, so why not take a chance? We would never waste your time if it weren’t worth it.

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Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Circle, Visa, Carnival, Halliburton, Adobe and more

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These are the stocks posting the largest moves in midday trading.

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