Huawei Showcases Advanced Chinese-Made Processor in New Smartphones Despite Controversies

Huawei has unveiled its new flagship smartphones, the Pura 70 series, featuring the company's proprietary Kirin 9010 processor. The Kirin 9010 chip, fabricated using SMIC's 7nm N+ process, is an improvement over the previous Kirin 9000 but still lags behind even mid-tier chips from Snapdragon in terms of performance, according to independent analysis.

Despite the limitations in chip technology, Huawei is showcasing its sustained capabilities in smartphone production and photography. The Pura 70 Ultra is expected to be a top contender in the DxOMark camera rankings, with a 1-inch sensor for the main camera, a retractable lens design resulting in a slimmer profile, a 40-megapixel ultra-wide camera, satellite connectivity, and a 5200mAh battery.

Huawei's ability to produce advanced, Chinese-made processors for its smartphones highlights the company's efforts to reduce its reliance on foreign technology and build up its domestic semiconductor capabilities amidst ongoing trade tensions and sanctions. The Pura 70 Pro series reportedly sold out in one minute after going on sale on April 18, and demand for Huawei's new flagship phones remained high a week later.

Why this matters: Huawei's resurgence in the Chinese market, where it is now on par with Apple in terms of market share, demonstrates its ability to rebuild its consumer business after the impact of U.S. sanctions during the Trump era. This development is part of China's broader efforts to develop its domestic semiconductor industry and reduce reliance on foreign technology.

Huawei experienced a 110% year-on-year growth in China from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024, making it the second top phone brand in the country after HONOR. While supply chain issues still limit Huawei's ability to meet market demand, the new Pura 70 series could further boost the company's performance in Q2 2024.

The strong performance of Huawei and other Chinese smartphone makers, including Oppo and Vivo, has come at the expense of Apple, whose market share in China fell to 15.6% from 17.8% in the fourth quarter. "Huawei achieved a market share of 17%, a 110% year-on-year growth, driven by the success of its Mate 60 and Nova 12 series," according to the IDC report.

Key Takeaways

• Huawei unveiled its new Pura 70 series smartphones with Kirin 9010 chip, lagging behind Snapdragon.
• Pura 70 Ultra features advanced camera setup, satellite connectivity, and 5200mAh battery.
• Huawei aims to reduce reliance on foreign tech, boosting domestic semiconductor capabilities.
• Huawei's market share in China doubled year-on-year, surpassing Apple in Q1 2024.
• Chinese smartphone makers' growth came at the expense of Apple's declining market share in China.