Huawei and SMIC's Collaboration on the Kirin 9000s Chip
Huawei Technologies has partnered with China's leading chipmaker, SMIC, to produce an innovative 7-nanometer processor, as unveiled by a teardown analysis from TechInsights. This groundbreaking chip powers the recently released Huawei Mate 60 Pro.
Revelations from the Mate 60 Pro Teardown
The Mate 60 Pro, launched last week by Huawei, boasts features like satellite calls but makes no mention of its internal chipset capabilities. TechInsights' report highlighted that the phone operates on the Kirin 9000s chip, manufactured in China by the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC).
China's Strides Towards Domestic Chip Ecosystem
According to TechInsights, the processor is the first to capitalize on SMIC's cutting-edge 7nm technology. This significant development indicates that the Chinese government is progressing in its endeavors to establish a homegrown chip ecosystem.
Huawei's Phone Performance Steals the Show
Consumers in China have taken to social media, sharing teardown videos and conducting speed tests. These insights suggest that the Mate 60 Pro's download speeds can outperform many premium 5G smartphones.
Chinese Social Media Abuzz Over Phone Launch
The launch of the Mate 60 Pro created quite a stir on Chinese social media platforms and state media. Interestingly, its release coincided with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's visit to China.
Huawei's Challenge to US Restrictions
Since 2019, Huawei faced limitations from the U.S., restricting access to vital chipmaking tools. Consequently, the tech giant could only unveil a limited number of 5G models using their reserved chips. However, insider sources informed Reuters in July of Huawei's potential resurgence in the 5G smartphone market. They credited this to Huawei's innovations in semiconductor design and its partnership with SMIC.
Analyst's Take on the New Development
Dan Hutcheson of TechInsights labeled this advancement as a significant challenge to the U.S. He commented, "Raimondo aims to ease tensions, but this chip distinctly conveys China's message: 'We're self-sufficient.'"
