Huawei Unveils Cutting-Edge 7nm Chip, Questions US Sanctions’ Impact
Chinese tech giant Huawei recently unveiled its latest smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro, equipped with a cutting-edge 7-nanometer processor. This development raises questions about the effectiveness of the US sanctions imposed on the company and their impact on China’s progress in chip technology. The unveiling of the new Huawei chip highlights China’s advancements in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, suggesting that the country’s innovation is far from being hindered.
The Mate 60 Pro features the Kirin 9000s chip, which is manufactured in China by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC). TechInsights, a company that conducted a teardown of the handset, revealed that SMIC utilized its second-generation 7-nanometer process, known as the N+2 node, to produce the Kirin 9000s chip. Remarkably, this chip’s performance is comparable to the ones found in Apple’s iPhones from 2018. Unlike Huawei, Apple’s chips are manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company using a 4-nanometer process.
TechInsights Vice Chair Dan Hutcheson praised SMIC’s technology advancements, stating that their progress seems to have addressed yield-impacting issues in their 7nm technology. This accomplishment showcases China’s commitment to innovation in the fields of AI and semiconductors.
The unveiling of the Mate 60 Pro with its advanced chip reinforces the notion that US sanctions have not been able to stifle China’s chip development. Experts predict that this significant step forward for Huawei will trigger calls for stricter export control licensing for American suppliers, who currently provide Huawei with commodity semiconductors that are not utilized for 5G applications.
Chinese state media outlet CGTN highlighted the significance of Huawei’s new processor, emphasizing that it is the company’s first higher-end Kirin chip released since the US government restricted American businesses from dealing with Huawei. The Global Times, a state-run newspaper in China, echoed this sentiment and claimed that Huawei has managed to break free from the US technology blockade.
It is noteworthy that Apple is set to begin taking preorders for its new iPhones, which will be equipped with 3-nanometer chips. Despite Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro having a 7-nanometer chip, this development underscores the fact that the US sanctions have not succeeded in crippling China’s chip development progress.
In conclusion, the unveiling of the Mate 60 Pro with its cutting-edge 7-nanometer chip demonstrates China’s continued advancements in chip technology, despite US sanctions. Huawei’s achievement raises questions about the effectiveness of these sanctions and emphasizes that China still has significant room to innovate. With its commitment to AI and semiconductors, China is solidifying its position as a global player in the technology sector.
