TLDR
- Huawei’s Kirin 9030 processor powers the Mate 80 series and reflects continued chip development under US export curbs.
- The chip is manufactured by SMIC using its N+3 node, an upgraded version of its 7-nanometre process.
- TechInsights reported that SMIC’s N+3 process still trails 5-nanometre nodes from TSMC and Samsung.
- SMIC relies on deep ultraviolet multi-patterning since EUV lithography tools remain restricted by US controls.
- Huawei said the Kirin 9030 delivers up to 42% better performance than the previous Kirin 9020 chip.
Huawei’s Kirin 9030 chip, powering the new Mate 80 smartphones, shows advances in China’s chipmaking despite strict US restrictions. South China Morning Post confirms that the processor was manufactured by SMIC using its upgraded 7-nanometre N+3 process. Analysis by TechInsights highlights both performance gains and remaining technological gaps. China continues to develop its local semiconductor capabilities despite lacking access to EUV equipment.
Kirin 9030 Manufactured on N+3 Process by SMIC
According to a recent report by TechInsights, the Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max is powered by the Kirin 9030 processor, which is produced by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC). The chip uses SMIC’s N+3 process, a refined version of its earlier 7-nanometre node. The report described this as a “scaled evolution” with better transistor density.
Despite these improvements, the N+3 process lags behind leading 5-nanometre nodes from TSMC and Samsung. “N+3 remains substantially less scaled than industry 5-nm processes,” said TechInsights analyst Rajesh Krishnamurthy. He also pointed to expected yield difficulties with this approach.
The process relies on deep ultraviolet (DUV) multi-patterning instead of EUV lithography. EUV tools are restricted under US export controls. Chinese fabs are working within those limits to continue advanced chip production.
China Pushes Chip Progress Under Trade Blacklist
Huawei launched the Kirin 9030 with the Mate 80 series in November. It claimed the new chip delivers up to 42% better performance than the Kirin 9020. Huawei did not comment on the latest TechInsights analysis. Since 2019, Huawei has been subject to US trade restrictions. The rules block access to US-origin semiconductor tools and software. SMIC was added to the same blacklist in 2020.
TechInsights confirmed that the Kirin 9030 was built using SMIC’s 7-nanometre technology, not a 5-nanometre process. The report dismissed speculation that Huawei had jumped to more advanced nodes. The MateBook Fold and Mate 70, which were previously released, used similar technology.
TechInsights stated that the N+3 process achieved “meaningful density improvements” despite its limitations. However, it also warned of “significant yield challenges.” The DUV-based process pushes the limits of available tools in China. Kirin chips remain a proxy for measuring China’s chip capabilities as Huawei’s latest launch reinforces local efforts to advance under export pressure.
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