Oppo, a major Chinese smartphone maker, has announced the dissolution of its ZEKU division, the unit behind the company’s in-house MariSilicon chips. This update comes from the Android Authorized portal, which tracks Oppo’s hardware initiatives.
The move is attributed to continued uncertainty in the global economy and the shifting landscape of the smartphone market. ZEKU, established in 2019, produced two generations of chips: MariSilicon X, a neural processing platform designed to enhance image and video processing through machine learning, and MariSilicon Y, a chip aimed at elevating Bluetooth audio capabilities. MariSilicon components have been integrated into many of Oppo’s flagship devices, underscoring the company’s commitment to on-device AI and audio performance.
Oppo stressed that the shutdown of ZEKU will not impact devices currently equipped with MariSilicon technology. Yet the company has not clarified how this decision will influence its future chip development plans or on-device AI features for upcoming models.
The trend of smartphone makers pursuing proprietary silicon isn’t unique to Oppo. Google, Vivo, and Xiaomi have all pursued internal chip strategies intended to boost image quality, on-device machine learning tasks, and overall device efficiency. These efforts reflect a broader industry push to differentiate hardware and software capabilities by developing custom silicon tailored to specific applications and user experiences.
Reports from technology coverage sources noted at the time of various product showcases suggested that device makers were increasingly touting chip-level innovations as a key differentiator. Analysts point out that even as some brands scale back aggressive hardware diversification, the interest in dedicated processors for imaging, AI workloads, and audio remains strong among leading manufacturers. The conversation around these hardware paths continues to evolve as new generations of chips emerge and as software ecosystems adapt to on-device processing advantages, power constraints, and integration with cloud-based services. (Source attribution: Android Authorized portal; industry coverage notes from technology press.)