Huawei's New Notebook Shows China's SMIC Years Behind TSMC
CHINA, JUN 23 – TechInsights reveals Huawei's MateBook Fold uses SMIC's 7nm chip, which remains three generations behind leading global foundries due to ongoing US export restrictions.
- Huawei introduced the MateBook Fold laptop on May 19, 2025, featuring a foldable 18-inch OLED screen and running HarmonyOS.
- The launch follows persistent US export controls that limit SMIC's ability to produce advanced chips, forcing Huawei to use older 7nm technology.
- TechInsights revealed that the MateBook Fold is powered by Huawei’s Kirin X90 SoC, which is produced by SMIC using its 7-nanometer N+2 fabrication technology introduced in August 2023, rather than the anticipated 5-nanometer process.
- Huawei’s CEO Ren Zhengfei admitted that their chips lag behind American competitors by one generation, while a key U.S. technology official estimated that China’s advancements in AI and semiconductor technology are approximately two years behind those in the United States.
- Huawei’s reliance on older 7nm chips amid ongoing US sanctions suggests China remains several generations behind global foundry leaders advancing toward 2nm technology.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Huawei’s new laptop uses older China-made chip, U.S. curbs stall SMIC, report shows
Huawei’s new MateBook Fold laptop is powered by an older-generation chip made by SMIC, highlighting how U.S. export curbs are hindering China’s top foundry from advancing to next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.
Huawei’s new laptop uses older China-made chip, US curbs stall SMIC, report shows
BEIJING (Reuters) -Huawei Technologies’ new MateBook Fold laptop is powered by an older-generation chip made by SMIC, highlighting how U.S. export curbs are hindering China’s top foundry from advancing to next-generation semiconductor manufacturing, Canadian research firm TechInsights said on Monday. There was widespread speculation in the industry that Huawei would use SMIC’s newer 5nm-equivalent N+3 process node chip in the MateBook Fold that,…
Huawei's New Laptop Adds to Evidence of Stalled Chip Advance
(Bloomberg) — Huawei Technologies Co.’s latest computer product is powered by a chip manufactured using years-old technology, suggesting US sanctions are still preventing China from developing cutting-edge semiconductor technologies.
Huawei’s New Laptop Adds to Evidence of Stalled Chip Advance
Huawei Technologies Co.’s latest computer product is powered by a chip manufactured using years-old technology, suggesting US sanctions are still preventing China from developing cutting-edge semiconductor technologies.
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