Overview

• Huawei's new Kirin 9020 processor, featured in the Mate 70 Pro+, is manufactured using SMIC's 7nm process, the same technology used for its predecessor, the Kirin 9010.
• The Kirin 9020 offers incremental improvements, such as a 15% larger die size and increased cache, which slightly boost performance over the Kirin 9010.
• U.S. trade restrictions prevent Huawei and its partner SMIC from accessing extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) technology, essential for more advanced chip manufacturing.
• Despite rumors of a 5nm upgrade, analysts confirm that SMIC has not achieved commercially viable yields for 5nm chips, leaving Huawei reliant on older processes until at least 2026.
• While Huawei reports strong demand for the Mate 70 series, analysts predict weaker sales compared to the Mate 60 due to limited technological advancements in the new chipset.