China bluetooth chip companies
First, there's Huawei. They have their own chips for various purposes, like the Kirin processors for phones. Do they make Bluetooth chips? Maybe under HiSilicon, their semiconductor subsidiary. HiSilicon make some connectivity chips.
Then there's UNISOC, formerly known as Spreadtrum. They are a big semiconductor company in China, providing chips for mobile devices. They probably have Bluetooth solutions as part of their connectivity chipsets.
Realtek is a Taiwanese company, Realtek make Bluetooth and wireless chips.
Beken Corporation (BK) is based in Shanghai and provide Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips.
Actions Semiconductor (Zhuhai) focus on audio and connectivity chips, they make Bluetooth audio chips for headphones and speakers.
Telink Semiconductor is known for low-power wireless chips, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). They are based in Shanghai.
Xingtera (Shenzhen) is a fabless semiconductor company in China. Worth checking if they have Bluetooth products.
Zhuhai Jieli Technology (JL) specialize in Bluetooth audio chips, particularly for TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earbuds. They are a significant player in that market.
BlueX Microelectronics (BlueX) comes up in Bluetooth solutions. They focus on BLE and might cater to IoT devices. Based in Shenzhen.
Goodix is known for fingerprint sensors, but they also have a connectivity division. They acquired a Dutch company, NXP's voice and audio solutions.
AIROHA Technology (a subsidiary of MediaTek) is based in Taiwan,is a major player in Bluetooth chips, especially in audio products.
Shenzhen Bluetrum Technology Co., Ltd. (Bluetrum) is focused on Bluetooth audio chips. They provide solutions for headphones and speakers.
Inplay Semiconductor specialize in IoT and wearable devices, using BLE. Based in Shanghai.
Will Semiconductor (WillSemi) might have some Bluetooth-related products as part of their broader semiconductor offerings.
Cross-check:
- HiSilicon (Huawei): They have Balong modems and Kirin processors, but do they make standalone Bluetooth chips? Maybe integrated into SoCs. Possibly, but maybe more focused on combo chips with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- UNISOC: They offer connectivity solutions including Bluetooth, part of their mobile platforms.
- Realtek: Taiwan-based.
- Beken: Definitely Shanghai-based, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips.
- Actions Semiconductor: Airoha series.Actions Semiconductor is separate from AIROHA. Actions has the ATS series for Bluetooth audio.
- Telink: Yes, based in Shanghai, BLE chips.
- Xingtera: Might focus more on Wi-Fi and networking, but not sure about Bluetooth.
- Zhuhai Jieli: Specialized in Bluetooth audio.
- BlueX: BLE for IoT.
- Goodix: Their acquisition of NXP's voice and audio solutions included Bluetooth technology.
- AIROHA: MediaTek subsidiary in Taiwan.
- Bluetrum: Bluetooth audio.
- Inplay: Focus on BLE for wearables.
- WillSemi: Not sure about Bluetooth specifically. They do mixed-signal chips, maybe including connectivity.
There are other companies might have missed. For example, Cheerzing (Shenzhen) Technology? Not sure. Or perhaps other smaller startups.
So compiling the list, the major companies would be:
1. HiSilicon (Huawei)
2. UNISOC
3. Beken Corporation
4. Actions Semiconductor (Zhuhai)
5. Telink Semiconductor
6. Zhuhai Jieli Technology
7. BlueX Microelectronics
8. Goodix Technology
9. AIROHA Technology (MediaTek subsidiary)
10. Shenzhen Bluetrum Technology
11. Inplay Semiconductor
12. Will Semiconductor
Additionally, checking for any other companies. Maybe Espressif Systems? They are known for ESP32 chips which have Bluetooth. Espressif is based in Shanghai and makes the ESP32 series with integrated Bluetooth.
Also, maybe Nanning RichWave Technology? They are a subsidiary of RichWave in Taiwan, but not sure if they're based in mainland.
Another company: ASR Microelectronics. They focus on IoT chips, maybe including Bluetooth.
Now, ensure each of these indeed produces Bluetooth chips as a major product line.
HiSilicon: Their chips might integrate Bluetooth in SoCs, but do they sell standalone Bluetooth chips? Maybe not. They might be more into integrated connectivity solutions. So maybe HiSilicon is less of a Bluetooth chip company and more into combo chips. So perhaps they shouldn't be listed as a major Bluetooth chip company if they don't offer standalone Bluetooth ICs.
Similarly, UNISOC provides connectivity as part of their mobile platforms. So unless they have standalone Bluetooth chips, they might not be in the list. Need to check.
Beken: Definitely has Bluetooth chips.
Actions Semiconductor: Known for Bluetooth audio chips, especially in TWS earphones.
Telink: BLE chips.
Zhuhai Jieli: Bluetooth audio.
BlueX: BLE for IoT.
Goodix: After acquisition, they have Bluetooth audio solutions.
AIROHA: Yes, Bluetooth audio.
Bluetrum: Bluetooth audio.
Inplay: BLE for wearables.
Espressif: ESP32 series includes Bluetooth/Wi-Fi combo chips.
So perhaps HiSilicon and UNISOC are not primarily Bluetooth chip companies but include Bluetooth in their SoCs.
Looking up UNISOC, they offer RF and connectivity solutions, including Bluetooth, but again as part of their mobile platforms. So maybe they are not standalone Bluetooth chip providers.
Same with HiSilicon. So perhaps the list should exclude them and focus on companies that specifically make Bluetooth chips.
Then the list would be:
1. Beken Corporation
2. Actions Semiconductor
3. Telink Semiconductor
4. Zhuhai Jieli Technology
5. BlueX Microelectronics
6. Goodix Technology
7. AIROHA Technology (MediaTek)
8. Shenzhen Bluetrum Technology
9. Inplay Semiconductor
10. Espressif Systems
11. Will Semiconductor (if they have Bluetooth)
12. XMC (Xiangtan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) – not sure.
Wait, Will Semiconductor (WillSemi) is known for image sensors and display drivers. Maybe they don't do Bluetooth.
Similarly, XMC is a foundry, not a chip designer.
So trimming down, the major ones are Beken, Actions, Telink, Jieli, BlueX, Goodix, AIROHA, Bluetrum, Inplay, Espressif.
Additionally, maybe another company: Shanghai RDA Microelectronics. They were acquired by UNISOC. RDA had Bluetooth solutions.
So RDA (now part of UNISOC) might have contributed to their connectivity chips. But again, if UNISOC is considered a mobile platform provider rather than standalone Bluetooth.
In summary, after careful consideration and excluding companies that don't primarily focus on Bluetooth chips or are part of larger platforms, the major China-based Bluetooth chip companies are:
1. Beken Corporation (BK)
2. Actions Semiconductor (Zhuhai)
3. Telink Semiconductor
4. Zhuhai Jieli Technology (JL)
5. BlueX Microelectronics
6. Goodix Technology
7. AIROHA Technology (MediaTek subsidiary, Taiwan)
8. Shenzhen Bluetrum Technology (Bluetrum)
9. Inplay Semiconductor
10. Espressif Systems