Oppo Ends Production of MariSilicon Custom Chip; A Sudden Shift in Strategy

In an unexpected turn of events, Oppo made the decision to discontinue its in-house custom chip, MariSilicon, merely two years after its introduction. This move comes at a time when several leading brands, including Google and Xiaomi, are leaning towards developing their own custom chips.

Farewell to MariSilicon, Cut Short in Its Prime Oppo has officially confirmed through Android Authority that it is abandoning its plans for advancing the custom chip market. The ZEKU chip design facility, responsible for manufacturing the custom chips, has been abruptly shut down.

An Oppo spokesperson stated, “Due to uncertainties in the global economy and the smartphone industry, OPPO has had to make challenging adjustments for long-term development. Consequently, the company has decided to cease the operation of ZEKU.”

Oppo initially introduced MariSilicon to the world at the INNO Day 2021 event. The first smartphone to feature the custom Oppo NPU was the Find X5 series, which made its debut in 2022. That same year, Oppo also unveiled its custom audio chip known as MariSilicon Y. Both MariSilicon X and Y exhibited potential and capabilities that could have been further enhanced.

Aside from the stated reason, Oppo has not provided any specific justification for discontinuing MariSilicon. It is not as though the brand failed to create a noteworthy chipset that did not meet its intended purpose. For instance, the recent Oppo Find X6 combined Hasselblad’s color science with the dedicated MariSilicon NPU, resulting in remarkable picture quality, especially in low-light conditions. The chipset also contributed to excellent 4K video performance.

Oppo assures that this decision will not impact existing phones equipped with MariSilicon X. It remains to be seen what new approach Oppo will take to enhance imaging capabilities in its flagship Find X series. We eagerly await further updates on this matter. Now, we turn to you: What are your thoughts on custom chipsets and their impact on the overall smartphone experience? Share your opinions in the comments section below.