2023-09-04 09:25:00
Huawei’s latest high-end smartphone won’t make history by the level of its sales, which seem to be limited by very low stocks. It might, however, represent a major technological advance for the Chinestill affected by the significant chip export restrictions put in place by Washington.
SOC engraved in 7 nm
Launched discreetly at the end of August, the Huawei Mate Pro 60 is indeed equipped with a new System-on-a-Chip (SoC) engraved in 7 nm by the Chinese company Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), according to the first analyzes carried out by the Canadian firm TechInsights. It would be the first time that a Chinese group has been able to produce such advanced components (which are nevertheless still several generations behind).
The new SoC developed by Huawei would be equipped with a 5G chip allowing to obtain speeds equivalent to those of the modems of Qualcomm, which equip the last iPhones, according to tests carried out by Bloomberg. Huawei has not confirmed that its smartphone can connect to 5G, a point generally highlighted in marketing speech, especially in China where the latest generation of mobile internet is already very established.
Several elements still remain to be determined. First, SMIC’s production capacities: the Mate Pro 60 quickly ran out of stock. Then, the production costs, which might be much higher. Finally, the equipment used by SMIC: some observers wonder if the company has managed to get their hands on a system of extreme ultraviolet radiation lithography from the Dutch ASML, whose export to China is prohibited.
Warning for the United States
This first raises the question of the effectiveness of the American sanctions once morest Huawei, placed in September 2020 on a blacklist by Washington. Since then, the company can no longer buy components from American manufacturers, but also from foreign groups that use American equipment, without authorisation. In other words, almost all players in the sector, even Chinese producers like SMIC.
Last year, the Biden administration went even further, limiting exports to China of the most advanced chips and the equipment needed to produce them. Under pressure from Washington, the Netherlands and the Japan also limited machinery exports. Faced with these sanctions, Beijing has increased its investments in the sector tenfold, hoping to make up for years of delay. The Mate 60 Pro thus represents a first warning for UNITED STATES.
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