Huawei MateBook Fold believed to use 5nm chip, but teardown says otherwise

Huawei MateBook Fold PC emerged as a major excitement for consumers in the market due to its rumored 5nm chip but a teardown has cooled down all the excitement. Looks like the company is still relying on the 7nm chip process technology.

An early input suggested that Huawei’s first foldable PC uses a 5nm Kirin X90 processor. It was a big surprise as the company reportedly achieved this chip breakthrough despite the ongoing US restrictions and supply chain struggles.

But a recent Huawei MateBook Fold PC teardown by TechInsights shows that the chip is not built on a 5nm process. Rather, it has been made using SMIC’s 7nm process node (N+2).

This is the same chip process technology used to build the Kirin 9020 5G chipset for the Huawei Mate 70 series. In that case, the company is lagging by two generations from the US semiconductor capabilities, contradicting Ren Zhengfei’s words.

Ren Zhengfei’s statement:

Huawei Founder Ren Zhengfei recently said that the company’s chip tech is running one generation behind the US. However, it is constantly looking for workarounds that can help it catch up with advanced foreign technologies.

Ren also added that Huawei aims to enhance cluster computing that will eventually bring practical conditions in the company’s chipset business. Know More.

Huawei MateBook Fold Ultimate Design (Image Credits: Huawei)

Although the latest teardown claims that Huawei’s Kirin X90 still relies on the N+2 process instead of the new 5nm (N+3) process. TechInsights also says:

“If Huawei is stuck on a 7nm equivalent SoC, it is multiple generations behind the likes of Apple (M3 and M4 series), AMD (Ryzen 8040 series), and Qualcomm (Snapdragon X Elite series). TSMC, Samsung… make 2nm processes… in the next 12 to 24 months, widening the gap between China’s technology and the rest of the world by at least three generations.”

Kirin X90 has notable performance and efficiency benefits. On the other hand, a rumor said that Huawei could develop a 5nm chipset soon. Although how long the company will take to advance its chip is uncertain at present.

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