The technological race between China and the United States is once again being reshaped in the semiconductor arena. According to supply chain sources and specialized media outlets, Huawei will unveil its new flagship processor in the last quarter of 2025: the Kirin 9030. This chip will not only be a natural successor to the recent Kirin 9020 but also a milestone in China’s technological self-sufficiency, as it will be entirely manufactured using a domestic node considered equivalent to the 5 nm process.
The Return of Kirin and the Challenge of Self-Sufficiency
The Kirin series had been largely frozen for years due to the restrictions imposed by the U.S. on Huawei and China’s semiconductor ecosystem. The inability to access cutting-edge technologies from TSMC or Samsung seemed to doom the brand to rely on external solutions. However, with the Kirin 9020, Huawei proved it could return to competition by designing and producing a locally made chip.
The Kirin 9030 will take this further: it continues the line of Huawei’s mobile processors while consolidating the use of manufacturing processes developed by SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation), China’s largest chip maker.
N+3: The “Chinese Road” to 5 nm
Leaks suggest that the new chip will be manufactured using SMIC’s N+3 process, a node that offers a density of 125 million transistors per square millimeter (MTr/mm²). This places it midway between TSMC’s N6 (113 MTr/mm²) and Samsung’s initial 5 nm (127 MTr/mm²).
While technically associated with 5 nm, in terms of performance and power consumption, it’s closer to TSMC’s N7P and N6. This means that, although Huawei has yet to reach TSMC’s N5 or N4 levels, the progress is monumental for an industry that previously depended on nodes of 14 nm or larger.
Filtered Specifications of the Kirin 9030
Although Huawei has not officially confirmed the specifications, various sources agree on several key points:
- Architecture: ARMv9-based with proprietary customizations.
- Manufacturing: SMIC’s N+3 process, equivalent to a mature 5 nm node.
- CPU: Up to 8 high-performance cores + 4 efficiency cores.
- GPU: New architecture supporting hardware ray tracing, optimized for AI and mobile gaming.
- AI: Next-generation NPU designed for generative AI and local processing, aligning with Huawei’s strategy to embed AI across all devices.
- Memory: Support for LPDDR5X up to 12 GB.
- Storage: Compatibility with UFS 4.0.
- Connectivity: Full 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.
Expected Models and Estimated Prices
The Kirin 9030 is expected to power various models within the upcoming Huawei Mate 80 and P80 series, each with different configurations. Some analysts suggest Huawei might launch different versions of the chip (such as 9030, 9030E, or even 9030 Ultra) to target different price segments.
In terms of cost, devices featuring the Kirin 9030 are likely to be positioned in the premium segment, easily exceeding €1,000 in Europe, directly competing with Apple and Samsung.
What Does This Mean for China?
The launch of the Kirin 9030 with 5 nm technology is more than just a product announcement: it’s a political and technological message. Despite restrictions on EUV lithography equipment, China has managed to optimize its DUV technology and FinFET architecture to achieve a competitive level.
Although there remains a 2-3 generation gap compared to TSMC or Intel, this milestone shows that the technological isolation enforced by the U.S. has not halted Chinese advancements.
Remaining Challenges
However, the path ahead is not without obstacles:
- Performance and Efficiency: The N+3 process still lags behind in power consumption compared to the most advanced nodes from TSMC.
- Production Volume: SMIC faces limitations in mass manufacturing 5 nm chips without EUV technology.
- Software Ecosystem: Huawei needs to bolster HarmonyOS and AppGallery to stay competitive against Android and iOS.
Global Impact
The arrival of the Kirin 9030 will mark a turning point in the semiconductor geopolitical landscape. For the international market, it signifies that Huawei could re-establish itself as a technological leader in the premium segment, while for China, it represents a victory for industrial self-reliance amid sanctions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is the Kirin 9030 really a 5 nm chip?
It’s manufactured with SMIC’s N+3 node, which offers a density similar to Samsung’s initial 5 nm, though its efficiency more closely resembles TSMC’s N6. Therefore, it’s referred to as an “equivalent to 5 nm,” but with some nuances.
2. What improvements does it have over the Kirin 9020?
The Kirin 9030 increases transistor density, enhances GPU support for ray tracing, provides greater energy efficiency and AI processing power, and includes Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.
3. Will it compete with Apple or Qualcomm chips?
In raw performance, it will still lag behind Apple’s A19 or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, but it is expected to offer a competitive balance that will allow Huawei to regain market share in the premium segment.
4. When will it be available in commercial smartphones?
The first smartphones featuring the Kirin 9030 are expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, likely debuting with the Huawei Mate 80 series.
via: Mydrivers