Huawei chip technology has been developed as a workaround to match leading semiconductors manufactured by global companies by 2031.
Specifically, the Chinese company aims to produce high-end chips without using the specialized machinery restricted by U.S. trade barriers.
The company expects to design computers and mobile processors that match the transistor density of a 1.4-nanometer process within five years. Meanwhile, global competitors like Intel, TSMC, and Samsung aim to mass-produce 1.4-nanometer chips using ASML equipment.
To achieve this, the company focuses on improving computing efficiency by stacking multiple layers of circuits within a single chip. Consequently, this method reduces the time required to move data between the layers.
“Our solution is feasible and affordable,”
He Tingbo, president of Huawei’s chip arm
U.S. Restrictions and Market Context
The U.S. government blacklisted the company in 2019 and restricted access to advanced semiconductor technologies in 2022. As a result, the firm has worked to build a domestic supply chain.
This effort aligns with a broader national push for technological self-sufficiency in the semiconductor sector. Furthermore, the company has produced 381 chip models over the past six years using this Huawei chip technology.
Development of Huawei Chip Technology
The upcoming Kirin smartphone chips, scheduled for release this fall, will feature the new LogicFolding architecture. Notably, this architecture is designed to enhance performance in mobile devices and artificial intelligence applications.
However, the company has not provided an independent evaluation of these performance claims.
Technical Challenges of Circuit Stacking
Traditional manufacturing techniques are approaching physical limits as components cannot be made infinitely smaller. Therefore, stacking circuits has emerged as an alternative, though it faces issues like overheating.
In addition, engineers must write complex code to coordinate the stacked layers effectively. These thermal and software hurdles require significant development time to resolve.
Future Outlook and Viability
The company achieved stable results with this technology only within the past year. Meanwhile, it must collaborate with data centers to prove the system in large-scale artificial intelligence applications.
This validation process is expected to take considerable time before commercial deployment. Lian Jye Su, an analyst at Omdia, stated that this Huawei chip technology represents an alternative path forward during supply chain challenges.
