Huawei’s Kirin Processor Making a Comeback After Years of US Sanctions

Huawei’s Kirin processor is is making a comeback into action, overcoming years of US sanctions and chip shortages to reclaim a top-five spot among global chipmakers. In a Counterpoint Research report for Q3 2023, it’s revealed that Huawei’s chipmaking arm, Hisilicon, is now chilling comfortably in fifth place, holding a cool 3% share of the global market.

This turnaround is nothing short of epic for the Chinese tech giant, which faced some serious hurdles after getting the cold shoulder from the US government. But guess what? They bounced back, and it’s all thanks to a savvy move in 2023:

• The Mate 60 series: Packed with the mighty 5G-ready Kirin 9000s processor, these smartphones became the talk of the town in China, proving that folks at home were eagerly waiting for Kirin’s comeback.
• A range of Kirin-powered gadgets: Foldable phones like the Mate X5 and tablets like the MatePad Pro 13.2 got a thumbs up, cementing Huawei’s presence in different tech realms.
• Whispers of a mid-range expansion: Brace yourselves for the Nova 12 series, likely rocking Kirin processors and expected to keep the Huawei momentum going strong in 2024.

Tough Competition Ahead:

• Qualcomm is the boss: With a whopping 40% market share, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powering top-notch Chinese flagships, Qualcomm is holding the crown.
• Apple is hot on their heels: The iPhone 15 series keeps Apple in the game with a 31% share.
• Others holding their ground: MediaTek (15%), Samsung (7%), and Unisoc (2%) are doing their thing, and Google’s Tensor SoC even grabs a 1% slice of the pie.

Even with these tech titans, Huawei’s jump back into the top five is like a show of pure grit and innovation. Backed by their home turf and rumored plans for mid-range domination, Huawei might just give Qualcomm and Apple a run for their money in the years to come.