Huawei’s Resurgence with the Kirin 9000s and Mate 70 Series
In August 2023, Huawei made a big splash in the smartphone world by introducing the Huawei’s Kirin 9000s application processor (AP) with the Mate 60 series. This chip, called a system-on-chip (SoC), was made by SMIC, China’s biggest semiconductor company, and can connect to 5G networks. The launch of this chip was a big deal because the Mate 60 phones were the first Huawei flagships to support 5G since the Mate 40 series in 2020. This comeback was especially important because the U.S. government, under President Trump, had put very tough sanctions on Huawei in 2019 and 2020, making many people wonder if Huawei could survive in the competitive smartphone market.
Navigating U.S. Sanctions
The U.S. government started taking action against Huawei in 2019 by putting it on a special list. This made it hard for Huawei to buy from American suppliers unless they got special permission. In 2020, more rules were added that stopped companies using American technology from sending semiconductors to Huawei without approval. This caused big problems for Huawei, which was the second-biggest customer of TSMC after Apple. The goal was to stop Huawei’s devices from using 5G technology, especially to prevent any possible military uses.
Even though SMIC has made progress, it has some restrictions because it can’t use an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine. This machine is important for making very small chip designs, especially for chips smaller than 6 nanometers. Usually, EUV technology is needed to create these advanced chips. But SMIC has managed to use older deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines to make smaller chips.
Production Techniques and Potential Limitations
To make chips at a 6nm level without using EUV technology, SMIC used a method called multiple exposure. This involves using DUV machines multiple times to create smaller patterns on silicon wafers. This approach allows for more complex chip designs but can lead to lower performance, fewer chips produced successfully, and higher costs for Huawei when buying these chips.
Overall, despite facing many difficulties due to U.S. sanctions, Huawei’s latest products show its ability to innovate. The release of the Kirin 9000s and Kirin 9100 processors marks a significant return for Huawei in the competitive smartphone market, demonstrating its capability to adapt and succeed despite external challenges.
