A recent teardown of Huawei’s Qingyun L540 notebook has revealed an unexpected origin for the 5nm Kirin 9006C processor it contains. Contrary to speculations about China’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, the processor was actually manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), not a domestic Chinese manufacturer.
Earlier speculations arose when Huawei released the Mate 60 Pro smartphone powered by a 7nm system on chip believed to be manufactured by China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co. (SMIC). This fueled beliefs that China had made significant advancements in semiconductor technology. However, the investigation into the L540’s underlying silicon revealed that the Kirin 9006C was indeed produced by TSMC.
The similarities between the Kirin 9000 and the Kirin 9006C were observed, with the back end of line (BEOL) stack and process node being consistent with TechInsights’ previous reports on the Kirin 9000. This finding dispels any debates about SMIC’s involvement in the manufacturing process of the Kirin 9006C.
In recent years, the US has imposed strict export controls on Chinese semiconductor manufacturers, including Huawei, in an effort to restrict their capabilities. This has resulted in Huawei facing significant challenges in sourcing components for their devices. The Trump and Biden administrations have both heightened export controls on Chinese designers developing domestic semiconductors to limit their access to advanced technology.
The Register reached out to Huawei for comment on the origin of the L540’s processor but has not received a response yet. The revelation of TSMC as the manufacturer of the processor provides insight into the supply chain challenges that Huawei and other Chinese companies face due to these sanctions.
Despite the sanctions, Huawei continues to innovate and release new products, seeking alternative sources for key components. As the semiconductor industry remains a critical battleground for technological dominance, the dynamics between China and the US will continue to shape the landscape of global technology supply chains.
The source of the article is from the blog be3.sk