Oppo has announced the closure of its custom chip development division. The Chinese manufacturer cited the unstable global economy and smartphone industry as the reasons behind this decision.
The division, known as ZEKU, will cease operations after being established in 2019 to design chips used in Oppo’s flagship devices. The chips they produced included the MariSilicon X for enhanced image processing and the MariSilicon Y, a specialized audio chip.
Oppo had previously expressed its intention to create its own chipset, similar to Google’s Tensor or Huawei’s HiSilicon Kirin. However, given the current conditions, particularly the export ban on semiconductors from the US and other countries to China, Oppo has been forced to abandon these ambitions.
Additionally, the smartphone industry, which has not yet stabilized after the pandemic, also contributed to Oppo’s decision. In 2022, smartphone shipments plummeted by 14 percent, with a total decrease of around 300 million units for the first time in the past decade.
No More New MariSilicon X/Y Chip
s With the closure of the ZEKU division, it can be confirmed that Oppo will no longer release any new MariSilicon X or Y chips in the future. However, devices that were already scheduled for release using the MariSilicon chips can still utilize them.
