Huawei stagnates

Huawei's latest laptop line still uses old technology. Photo: NurPhoto .

According to a report from analyst firm TechInsights , the latest foldable Huawei MateBook X Pro is equipped with a processor manufactured on the 7nm process of SMIC. This is the same technology used in the Mate 60 Pro phone line, launched in 2023.

Compared to top rivals like TSMC, which is expected to mass produce 2nm chips by the end of this year, SMIC’s technology is at least three generations behind, a clear reflection of the long-term impact of the technology controls that the US has imposed on China over the years.

Huawei launched a foldable laptop-tablet hybrid in May, powered by its own HarmonyOS operating system. The device represents the Chinese tech giant’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Western technology and compete with giants like Apple and Microsoft.

However, China still faces a series of challenges in its journey to develop next-generation chips. The US-led technology restrictions have cut off Beijing’s access to advanced chipmaking equipment and technology, including ASML’s extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system.

“This information shows that SMIC has not yet achieved mass production capability at the equivalent of 5nm. US technology controls continue to hinder SMIC's ability to catch up with global competitors in the field of advanced chips for mobile devices, personal computers, and cloud computing/AI," TechInsights commented.

Huawei surprised everyone when it announced its domestically produced 7nm chips last year. Since then, the company has made little progress in this area. According to Jeffrey Kessler, the US Under Secretary of Commerce for Trade and Security, Huawei expects to produce about 200,000 Ascend AI chips in 2025, due to the impact of export restrictions.

The US administration sees China as a strategic rival in the global AI race. In addition to blocking China’s access to high-end chipmaking equipment, Washington has also restricted companies like Nvidia from selling high-performance AI chips to customers in the East Asian country on national security grounds. In that context, Beijing expects Huawei and SMIC to become key forces in the country’s semiconductor development strategy.

Responding to concerns about the embargo, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei said that Chinese technology can still develop in its own way. Ren added that domestic companies can apply techniques such as “chip stacking” to achieve performance comparable to the world’s most advanced semiconductor lines.

Source: https://znews.vn/dau-hieu-chung-lai-cua-huawei-post1563338.html