The Xiaomi 15S Pro has emerged as a significant milestone for the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, marking the company's return to self-developed processors with the Surge O1 SoC. However, the device has sparked discussions about two distinct aspects: its external baseband implementation and an unexpectedly well-received factory-applied screen protector.
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| Innovative technology showcased in modern electronic devices, indicative of Xiaomi's advancements in smartphone processors |
External Baseband Implementation Reveals Industry Challenges
Xiaomi has openly acknowledged the complexities surrounding baseband development, explaining why the Surge O1 SoC utilizes an external MediaTek T800 5G baseband rather than an integrated solution. The company emphasized that developing 5G baseband technology represents one of the most challenging aspects of smartphone processor design, requiring support for multiple network modes, backward compatibility, and various frequency bands.
Currently, only a handful of global manufacturers possess complete 5G baseband development capabilities. Apple continues to rely on Qualcomm basebands for most iPhone models, with their self-developed C1 baseband appearing only in the iPhone 16e. Samsung combines self-developed and Qualcomm baseband solutions in their Exynos SoCs, while Huawei maintains fully integrated baseband technology in their Kirin processors.
Performance Impact Remains Minimal Despite External Design
Despite utilizing an external baseband configuration, Xiaomi reports that the 15S Pro delivers comparable network performance to mainstream flagship devices in real-world testing environments. The device supports 5G Advanced connectivity and maintains competitive battery life metrics. Internal testing revealed a Daily Operating Usage (DOU) of 1.47 days, closely approaching the 1.50 days achieved by the integrated baseband-equipped 15 Pro model.
The company acknowledged that sustained 5G network usage may result in slightly reduced battery performance compared to integrated solutions, but emphasized that typical daily usage scenarios show negligible differences. Third-party media testing has corroborated these findings, demonstrating similar battery performance between the two models.
Premium Screen Protection Sets New Industry Standard
Beyond the baseband discussion, the Xiaomi 15S Pro has gained unexpected attention for its factory-applied AR anti-reflective screen film. Unlike typical soft films included with smartphones, this premium protection offers superior adhesive quality and coating technology. Industry experts have compared its quality to the official AR film previously offered with the Vivo X100 Ultra, describing it as top-tier soft film protection.
The implementation represents a departure from the industry trend toward reducing included accessories. While many manufacturers have eliminated chargers, earphones, and other accessories citing environmental concerns, Xiaomi has chosen to enhance the unboxing experience with premium screen protection.
Cost Analysis Reveals Minimal Manufacturing Impact
Industry analysis suggests that upgrading from standard PET film to AR anti-reflective protection adds approximately USD 25-30 to manufacturing costs per device. This modest expense covers specialized coating materials, which typically cost eight times more than standard film materials, plus additional quality control processes required for the thicker coating layers.
The minimal cost increase raises questions about why other manufacturers haven't adopted similar approaches, particularly given the positive user reception and media coverage generated by this seemingly minor enhancement.
Industry Implications and Future Outlook
Xiaomi's dual approach with the 15S Pro highlights two contrasting industry trends. The external baseband implementation demonstrates the technical challenges facing companies attempting to develop comprehensive smartphone processors, while the premium screen film represents a counter-trend to widespread accessory reduction.
The company has indicated that baseband development remains a long-term objective, noting that their Surge T1 chip already incorporates a complete 4G baseband for wearable devices. This suggests a gradual progression toward fully integrated 5G solutions in future smartphone processors.
The positive reception of the AR anti-reflective film may influence other manufacturers to reconsider their accessory strategies, potentially leading to enhanced out-of-box experiences across the industry. As smartphone differentiation becomes increasingly challenging, such attention to user experience details could become more significant competitive factors.