Huawei and Chinese chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) have developed a 7-nanometer microprocessor to power the Mate 60 Pro, the Chinese brand’s latest smartphone, according to a report by analyst firm TechInsights consulted by the agency. Reuters.
This new chip, the Kirin 9000s, would constitute a considerable leap forward in the manufacture of this type of component by China, at a time when everything is being done by the United States to restrict the technological capacities of the Middle Kingdom in terms of of chips.
The brand’s new smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro, was released in China last week. The specifications provided advertised its ability to make satellite calls, but offered no information on the power of the onboard microprocessor.
We find on the new high-end smartphone all the features expected for such a product: 6.82-inch Oled LTPO screen (1260 x 2720 pixels), Kirin 9000s chip, 12 GB of RAM at least, triple photo module including the main (50 megapixel sensor) includes a variable aperture lens (f1.4-f/4), 5000 mAh battery with fast charging at 88 W wired and 50 W wireless… everything is there, so , including IP68 certification, except 5G and Android with Google services. It also runs on HarmonyOS 4.0, its operating system in China. On the price side, count a minimum of 6999 yuan, or nearly 900 € at the current exchange rate, excluding taxes.
An investment fund endowed with 40 billion dollars
The Kirin 9000s is therefore etched with a thinness of 7nm, the most advanced technology from manufacturer SMIC, which very strongly suggests that the Chinese government is making progress in its attempts to build a national chip ecosystem. Beijing is preparing to launch a new state-backed investment fund that aims to raise around $40 billion to develop the industry, according to Reuters.
Test and disassembly videos published on social networks have made it possible to learn more about this famous processor. They suggest that the Mate 60 Pro offers blazingly fast download speeds, better than current high-end 5G smartphones.
In 2019, the United States restricted Huawei’s access to the latest chip technologies, considered strategic, in particular for fear of military use. This new Kirin chip would be a snub for Washington, according to Dan Hutcheson, vice president of TechInsights, interviewed by Reuters. China thus shows that it can now do without American technology. “This is a great geopolitical challenge for countries that have sought to restrict access [de la Chine] essential manufacturing technologies. The result could be even greater restrictions than exist today“, added Dan Hutcheson in a press release.
According to Bloomberg, this discovery prompted investors to rush to the stock market on SMIC, which has seen its capitalization increase by nearly $ 5 billion in recent days.