Can Huawei Mass Produce Advanced Phone Chips Amid US Sanctions? Here's What the Evidence Reveals

The ability of Chinese firm Huawei to produce smartphones with advanced chips in large volumes has again become a subject of heated debate amid US sanctions.

Can Huawei Mass Produce Advanced Phone Chips?

However, on Tuesday, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo noted that the US has no evidence that Huawei can produce smartphones with advanced semiconductors on a large scale, TechCrunch reported.

This statement starkly contradicts earlier reports from prominent tech research firms, which suggested that Huawei was poised for a formidable re-entry into the 5G smartphone arena by the year's end.

These speculations gained further traction following the late August launch of the Mate 60 Pro. According to an analysis by TechInsights, this device operates on a 7nm system-on-chip (SoC) crafted by Huawei's chip division, HiSilicon, and manufactured by China's semiconductor juggernaut, SMIC.

TechInsights' assessment not only underscored the technical strides achieved by China's semiconductor industry without employing EUV lithography tools but also emphasized the monumental nature of this accomplishment.

However, Raimondo's statement counterbalances this narrative by spotlighting the lack of concrete evidence supporting the large-scale production of seven-nanometer chips.

The genesis of this debate can be traced back to 2019 when the US government made the consequential decision to include Huawei in an entity list, citing grave national security concerns.

This move barred Huawei from accessing high-end chipmaking tools from the US. The aftermath of this decision dealt a significant blow to Huawei's handset business, compelling the company to diversify its revenue streams into realms like IoT and automotive.

Huawei CEO Says He's an Apple Fan

In related news, Ren Zhengfei, the founder and CEO of Huawei, continued to voice his admiration for Apple, advocating against what he perceives as foreign brand "xenophobia."

Despite the fiercely competitive landscape that pits Huawei against Apple in the global smartphone market, Ren views Apple as a fount of invaluable insights.

Ren recently shared his perspective during the Huawei-sponsored International Collegiate Programming Contest. He highlighted that Huawei consistently dissects the distinguishing features of Apple's products.

Furthermore, he disclosed a personal connection to Apple, revealing that his daughter relied on Apple products during her studies in the US. This likely pertains to his youngest daughter, Annabel Yao, who attended Harvard University from 2016 to 2020.

Ren's reverence for Apple transcends mere surface-level compliments. In 2019, he implored Huawei to draw wisdom from Apple's pricing strategies, affirming his dedication to cultivating a culture of perpetual improvement within Huawei.

"I'm very happy to have a teacher that gives us the opportunity to learn and compare [our performance]. In that sense, it would not be an exaggeration to call me an Apple fan," he noted.