Huawei's New Smartphone: A Product of the US-China Tech War
Local Sourcing Amidst International Tensions
Despite facing strict export controls and being blacklisted by Washington, Chinese tech titan Huawei continues to function, even producing new high-tech smartphones using components sourced increasingly from domestic suppliers.
A recent teardown analysis by tech repair firm iFixit and consultancy TechSearch International, initially reported by Reuters, reveals that Huawei's Pura 70 Pro features a NAND memory chip domestically sourced from HiSilicon, Huawei's in-house chip unit.
The Pura 70 Handset and the Kirin 9010 Chipset
The Pura 70 handset operates on a Huawei-made advanced processing chipset called the Kirin 9010. iFixit and TechSearch suggest this new chip is an "enhanced version" of the advanced chip used by Huawei's Mate 60 series, which was launched last year to rival Apple's iPhone 15 lineup.
Shahram Mokhtari, iFixit's lead teardown technician, stated, "While we cannot provide an exact percentage, we'd say the domestic component usage is high, and definitely higher than in the Mate 60."
Self-Sufficiency in the Face of Tech War
Mokhtari further explained that this is all about self-sufficiency. The escalating tech war between Beijing and Washington is pushing Huawei to source more handset components domestically. This development is concerning for Washington politicians who have spent years sanctioning China to prevent them from acquiring high-tech Western chips and chip-making tools. However, the restrictions seem to be backfiring, as Huawei now produces smartphones with more domestically sourced chips than ever before.
The Future of Huawei's Smartphone Production
The day when Chinese state media, such as the Global Times, proudly announces that Huawei's phones are entirely made with domestic parts may not be far off, considering the current trajectory.
Analysts cited by Reuters believe that Huawei's phones are making a dent in the iPhone's market share in the world's largest handset market.
Foreign Components in the Pura 70
However, not all components of the Pura 70 are sourced domestically. The analysis by IFixit and TechSearch shows that the DRAM chip is made by South Korean company SK Hynix.
In light of the chip restrictions, SK Hynix informed Reuters that it has been "strictly complying with the relevant policies since the restrictions against Huawei were announced and has also suspended any transactions with the company since then."
Significance of the 7nm Processor
The analysis revealed that the Pura 70 Pro uses a 7 nanometers (nm) processor, similar to the chip used in the Mate 60. This is significant as the news of a 7nm node on the 9000S caused a stir last year when US lawmakers faced the possibility that the sanctions imposed on Chinese chipmakers might not hinder their technological progress.
Huawei's Resurgence and Washington's Reaction
Huawei's resurgence and its challenge to Apple have angered Washington. Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that the US revoked licenses that allowed Huawei to purchase semiconductors from Qualcomm and Intel.
Key Takeaway
The main takeaway is that Huawei is determined to source all components from local suppliers as the tech war between China and the US intensifies.
What's Your Take?
This article provides a fascinating insight into the ongoing tech war between the US and China and how it's influencing the production strategies of major tech companies like Huawei. What are your thoughts on this issue? Don't forget to share this article with your friends and sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.