Six Months Later, Kirin 9020 Asks: “What Do You Say Now?”
In April of this year, Huawei launched its P70 series. Though the company avoided holding a launch event or revealing specific details about the chipset, benchmarking software quickly identified it as the Kirin 9010. Performance tests showed a 20% improvement over its predecessor, the Kirin 9000S.
Just two months later, in June, during an investment conference, TSMC Chairman Mark Liu was asked about Huawei and its competition with TSMC. His response was dismissive:
“There will always be competitors, but Huawei catching up to TSMC? That’s out of the question.”
The remark clearly downplayed Huawei’s capabilities, suggesting the idea of Huawei surpassing TSMC in chip manufacturing was laughable—if even Samsung, with its immense resources, couldn’t do it, how could Huawei?
Fast Forward Six Months
In November, Huawei’s latest chipset, the Kirin 9020, has decisively proven TSMC wrong. Benchmarks from platforms like AnTuTu, Master Lu, and Geekbench reveal the Kirin 9020’s performance is comparable to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ released in 2022. This is a 4nm chip, which means Huawei has achieved high-end chip manufacturing without access to ASML’s cutting-edge EUV lithography machines—a feat many thought impossible.
The Miracle Behind the Progress
To put this achievement in perspective:
1.A Narrowing Gap: The Kirin 9020’s capabilities suggest that Huawei is now only two years behind TSMC in advanced chip manufacturing. Given that Huawei was cut off from critical chip supplies in 2020, the fact that they’ve achieved this in just four years is nothing short of a technological miracle.
2.Remaining Silent: Interestingly, Huawei has not publicly disclosed details about the Kirin 9020’s manufacturing process—such as who produced the chip or its exact specifications. This strategic silence leaves TSMC and Western nations guessing.
What Does This Mean for the Industry?
Huawei’s achievement with the Kirin 9020 isn’t just a milestone for the company; it’s a statement to the global tech industry. Despite sanctions and being cut off from critical supply chains, Huawei has demonstrated resilience and innovation, shrinking the gap with TSMC to a level no one thought possible.
The message from Huawei seems clear: “You underestimated us. Now, catch up if you can.”
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