In case you missed it, Huawei, the Chinese tech giant grappling with US sanctions, unveiled its latest flagship smartphones, the Mate 60 and Mate 60 Pro, last week.
The surprise presales launch of the Mate 60 Pro, priced at 6,999 yuan (US$962), left tech enthusiasts buzzing about Huawei's ability to craft its chips.
The spotlight, however, is shining on Huawei's Kirin 9000S processor, a chip developed in-house, which has raised concerns and prompted a US government probe.
Huawei's Bold Move Amidst Sanctions
Huawei has faced an uphill battle since the US government imposed sanctions, effectively cutting off the company's access to critical foreign chip-making technology.
Now enter the Kirin 9000S processor: a custom-made chip that Huawei claims powers its latest smartphones. Given the restrictions on semiconductor exports to Huawei, the chip's creation has raised eyebrows.
The Kirin 9000S is manufactured using a 7nm process, a feat many believed impossible due to the sanctions. TechInsights' teardown of the Mate 60 Pro confirmed the 7nm processor's presence, further fueling speculation.
While the US government has banned its companies from selling software and equipment to Huawei, including crucial components for chip manufacturing, Huawei's sourcing of these components remains a mystery.
Engadget highlights that acquiring such advanced machinery by local chip supplier SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) from ASML, at least through direct means, is highly improbable without triggering concerns.
Reports suggest that the release of the Mate 60 Pro should not catch anyone off guard, given that the imposed restrictions essentially compelled Chinese entities to intensify their focus on innovation.
Kirin 9000S vs. Snapdragon 888
Benchmark tests conducted by Chinese tech blog Geekerwan suggest that the Kirin 9000S's performance is on par with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888, a processor considered two generations ahead.
This raises questions about how Huawei managed to bridge this technological gap under sanctions. The Kirin 9000S boasts a unique architecture, combining big and middle cores based on Huawei's "TaiShan" design and Arm's Cortex-A510 cores.
It is also the first mobile processor to support multi-threading with eight cores and 12 threads.
A Closer Look at Huawei's Chip Tech
CNN reports that the US government has taken notice of Huawei's Kirin 9000S processor and its implications.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the need for more information about the chip's composition and character, given the restrictions on semiconductor exports to Huawei.
This probe reflects the US government's concerns over potential national security risks and the impact of these restrictions on Huawei's device business.
What's Next for Huawei?
As we await further details about these devices, rumors suggest that Huawei will reveal more in late September, conveniently avoiding the iPhone 15 release frenzy.
If all four of Huawei's latest smartphones indeed run on the Kirin 9000S, it could signify Huawei's confidence in its chip production capabilities, potentially dealing another blow to the US sanctions.
Stay posted here at Tech Times.
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