Huawei is preparing a 5nm Kirin chip, but it will not be available in 2025
Despite the release of the flagship line Huawei Pura 80 with 7nm Kirin 9020 chip, the company is already working on the next technological step. According to a Chinese insider under the pseudonym "Smart chip consultant", 5nm chip development is in progressBut no devices with it will appear until 2026.
The main problem is lack of access to EUV lithography, which is necessary for mass production on the 5-nm process technology. Due to US export restrictions, China's SMIC uses multi-pattern DUV lithography, that leads to high complexity, low yield and rising costsEven with successful development, The production of chips in large volumes is impossible without significant technological breakthroughs.
However, Huawei is betting on internal development - the company has already created EDA tools for the 14nm level, which made it possible to implement the 7-nm Kirin 9020. But for 5 nm it may be necessary new architecture of automated design, especially in the context of the embargo on modern EDA platforms. If successful, Huawei and SMIC will be able to completely abandon foreign technologies - but not before 2026.
