Huawei's newest cell phone, the Mate 60 Pro, appears to have a chip that is compatibile with 5G, in spite of the U.S. sanctions that have been imposed in order to stop the Chinese tech giant from gaining access to this technology. The chip, which is made by China's SMIC, has caused anxiety in Washington and raised doubts about how it was able to be managed. A revitalized Huawei could create a hurdle for Apple in China, which is one of the most significant territories for the American company.
Apple is encountering various difficulties in China, with geopolitical difficulties growing and the economic system still not reviving as many had wanted. Yet, according to analysts, the most noteworthy test of all might be a recapturing Huawei after an asserted major semiconductor leap forward that opposed U.S. endorses. The most recent chip, manufactured by China's biggest semiconductor maker SMIC, has caused worry in Washington and has provoked inquiries concerning how it was conceivable, without the organization having the option to get to basic advances. There is additionally examination on whether the cycle being utilized to make these new chips is productive enough on a large scale to keep up a Huawei resurgence.
For years, the U.S. has voiced concerns that Huawei poses a national security risk due to purported ties to the Chinese Communist Party and the country's military. Huawei has vociferously denied any such risk.In 2019, the Trump administration imposed a series of measures that blocked Huawei's access to 5G chips, Google software and its premier mobile processor- components that had been instrumental in establishing the company as the world's biggest smartphone manufacturer.The U.S. sanctions nearly eliminated Huawei's smartphone business.
Huawei is among a select few which have designed their own smartphone processor. HiSilicon, a division of the Chinese firm, undertook this task. However, procuring the chip from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) was rendered impossible due to export restrictions imposed by the U.S., meaning no American technology could be utilised in the chipmaking process.
Shockwaves were sent through the political and tech worlds when the Mate 60 Pro was surprisingly released in China this month. The phone contained a chip made by the Chinese semiconductor manufacturer, SMIC, who are included on the U.S. Entity List. With this blacklist meaning companies are unable to buy American technology, and SMIC being regarded as generations behind the Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, it goes to show the amount of sanctions being imposed for Huawei and SMIC to still be able to achieve such a feat.
Huawei's Kirin 9000S smartphone chip combines a processor and components which seem to be 5G-compatible. 5G stands for the next-generation mobile internet technology which ensures high speeds. Huawei has yet to confirm that the device is 5G-ready, yet tests have shown that the chip can achieve download speeds that are typical of 5G. An analysis of the Mate 60 Pro, conducted by the software firm TechInsights, revealed that the semiconductor has been produced using the 7 nanometer process, the Chinese largest contract chipmaker SMIC.The nanometer measure is used when referring to each individual transistor on a chip; the smaller the transistor is, the larger quantity of them can fit into a semiconductor. Therefore, reduced nanometer size can result in more potent and efficient chips.The 7nm process is well-known in the semiconductor industry, even though it is not the latest technology.SMIC experienced difficulties when attempting to manufacture 7nm chips, due mainly to the unavailability of an ultra expensive EUV lithography machine made by the Dutch firm ASML. This machine was not allowed by its government to enter China.
It was thought that without certain tools, SMIC's capacity to fabricate processed chips would be hindered. Surprisingly, they have managed to do this without said tools. Dan Hutcheson of TechInsights proclaimed in a blogpost recently that the fabrication of the 7nm component proves the growth China's semiconductor industry can achieve without EUV lithography equipments. CNBC were unable to get an immediate response from Huawei regarding this issue.
Technology-wise, the significance lies in SMIC manufacturing 7nm chips without European Vocation Machinery Corporation (ASML) EUV machines. Pranay Kotasthane, deputy director of the Takshashila Institution, informed CNBC that older manufacturing processes are most likely being utilized but not as effectively as they would be with cutting-edge equipment. This is a crucial thing to consider. Although SMIC is able to develop 7nm chips, it is uncertain how effective, lucrative, and sustainable this is long-term. A significant indicator is "yield" - the amount of chips made from a given wafer. A low yield rate reflects an inefficient process and can be pricey. While the yield of the 7nm process in Huawei chips is not known, according to Kotasthane, it is “probably low." It is difficult to decide if SMIC can create the required number of chips for Huawei at an economically viable level.
Washington has been taken aback by the rapid advances in technology. This month the United States Department of Commerce made a statement announcing that they are examining Huawei's chip production nearer. SMIC's 7nm production process has made it obvious that America's export restriction plan is ineffective, likely prompting them to tighten it even further. Kotasthane declared that the U.S. must revise its export control policy as it is clear that it does not work in reality. He further proposed that Washington might take steps to restrict other aspects of chip designing and manufacture.
This month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese central government personnel have been prevented from using iPhones and other foreign-branded phones for work and bringing them into the office. However, last week the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that there are no rules against buying and employing foreign phones. Presently, geopolitical friction between America and China is still an underlying issue, and the possibility of a Huawei comeback could be the most significant menace to Apple.
Will Wong, a senior research manager at IDC, told CNBC that Huawei is expected to present a greater challenge to Apple in China than the geopolitical issue. This is because the company has a similar premium brand image and is considered a source of national pride. Apple has been a highly-regarded smartphone manufacturer and Huawei has been competing with them in this market for years. However, Huawei's sales began to drop due to a lack of 5G technology and the most recent chips in their devices. But if the Mate 60 Pro can help Huawei make a comeback, their phones may become an attractive option once more. Wong also added that Huawei's biggest threat to Apple is their innovation in technology which includes chips but also new form factors like foldables.
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