huawei chip Archives - Gizmochina

Huawei becomes a strong competitor to Nvidia in China’s AI chip market

Joane — Thu, 30 May 2024 09:55:11 +0000

The competitive landscape of China’s AI chip market is undergoing a significant shift as Huawei gains ground against Nvidia. This development follows US sanctions on Huawei and export curbs on Nvidia’s advanced processors, altering the dynamics of the market.

Huawei’s self-developed 910B Ascend chips are rapidly gaining traction across various industries, facilitated by the increasing popularity of “AI boxes.” These AI boxes are all-in-one machines that integrate AI chips, industry-specific algorithms, and pre-trained large AI models, providing ready-to-use solutions for small companies and government entities. They offer a cost-effective way for these organizations to fine-tune large model-based services without substantial investments.

Previously dominated by Nvidia, the mainland market is now seeing a potential shift, with Huawei poised to overtake its American rival. In response to US export restrictions on its A800, H800, and L40S processors, Nvidia has introduced lower-grade chips, such as the H20, tailored for China. However, these chips are being sold at a discount compared to Huawei’s Ascend 910B chips, reflecting the intensified competition and market challenges Nvidia faces.

Huawei’s Ascend ecosystem has grown rapidly, boasting 40 hardware partners, 1,600 software partners, and 2,900 AI application solutions. Prominent Chinese companies like Tianjin Sitonholy and SenseTime are adopting Huawei chips for their AI boxes, with SenseTime anticipating a doubling of its generative AI sales due to these AI boxes.

Analysts predict that Huawei’s expanding AI chip business will soon dominate the market. AI boxes, deemed essential for businesses, are expected to predominantly feature local players led by Huawei. Insights from Pacific Securities and Counterpoint analysts underscore Huawei’s technological capabilities and substantial market potential. However, the pace of Huawei’s ascendancy hinges on its ability to ramp up production, as manufacturing high-performance AI accelerators and server processors is more complex than mobile system-on-a-chip products.

Despite these advancements, Nvidia remains a significant player, having accounted for 90% of AI chips sold in China in the first half of the previous year, compared to Huawei’s 6%. Nevertheless, the market tide is turning, with more Chinese companies launching AI boxes using Huawei chips. Nvidia’s tailored-for-China chips, including the H20, are currently selling at a discount compared to Huawei’s offerings.

Looking ahead, Huawei is expected to prioritize AI chips over mobile chips to secure a leading market position in China. Collaborations with companies like iFlyTek aim to address computing-power bottlenecks, with products like the Spark Number 1 AI box benchmarked against Nvidia’s A100 processor.

Nvidia’s strategic response to this competitive pressure includes price cuts and the introduction of tailored chips for the Chinese market. Despite these efforts, analysts highlight the uncertainty surrounding Nvidia’s future in China amid US-China tensions and a fiercely competitive landscape.

As China’s share of the global AI industry is projected to exceed 30% by 2035, the ongoing battle between Huawei and Nvidia in the AI chip market will have far-reaching implications for both companies and the broader industry.

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GC Daily: Huawei is building a massive $1.6 billion Chip plant

Joel Joseph — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 04:38:12 +0000

A lot has happened over the weekend, with one of the biggest news stories coming from China, revealing how Huawei is building a massive $1.6 billion chip plant in Shanghai.

The report adds that one of the key missions of the plant is to build lithography machines that help manufacture the new-gen microchips inside smartphones and other gadgets. To that end, Huawei has reportedly hired engineers with extensive experience from global chip brands like ASML, Applied Materials, Lam Research, TSMC, Intel, and Micron. They are even paying twice the salaries of local chip makers!

Given how Huawei is desperate to find a breakthrough for its chip problem, expect the working environment to be cut throat.

More details on Huawei’s chip plans are in our article from Saturday here.

In other news, the Redmi Pad Pro, which was launched recently in China, is reportedly getting a 5G version. In case some of you are wondering, yes, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 inside the Pad Pro does support 5G connectivity, but for some reason it was not mentioned in the launch event. Now, new reports suggest that the global variant of the Redmi Pad Pro that’ll launch in India and other international markets will likely feature 5G.

Pixel series is known for its soft and vibrant color options, and that will likely continue with its Pixel 8a model as well. According to the latest renders leaked over the weekend, the Pixel 8a will come in four color options: Obsidian, Mint, Porcelain, and Bay.

Which one would you pick? Personally, I hope the mint green is not as bright as I see in this picture.

Everyone wants to get into the smart ring market lately. I mean, I kind of understand their utility, they are non-intrusive, track key health metrics as good as a smartwatch, and most of all, doesn’t distract you with notifications.

Black Shark wants a piece of this market, and they teased their upcoming smart ring over the weekend. Its smart ring can track heart rate, blood oxygen, HRV (heart rate variability), and body temperature, among other health metrics.

We also have a dedicated story explaining smart rings and their utility, you can check it out here.

DEAL ALERT: Apple MacBook Air M2 at its Lowest Price This Weekend in the US!

Xiaomi has launched two new outdoor speakers for global markets. The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor and the Sound Pocket come with rugged features like IP67-rated waterproofing and dustproof body. One is a 5W speaker that is small enough to carry in your pocket, while the larger one features a much louder 30W output. More details are here.

More headlines from the Weekend!

Motorola Edge 50 Ultra Peach Fuzz color variant seemingly teased before launch

Motorola may likely launch the Edge 50 Ultra at their global launch event on April 16. A teaser released by the brand gives a first look at the design of the alleged phone, including the new color option.

Redmi K70 Ultra vs Realme GT 6 to happen soon, battery size, charging details emerge

Redmi and Realme have just launched two new performance-focused phones in the Chinese market. Redmi unveiled the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3-powered Redmi Turbo 3 in China, whereas the Realme GT Neo 6 features the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 onboard. A new leak suggests that the two brands will compete again in the sub-flagship category in the coming days in China.

Pixel 8a leaks again, this time in an official carrier listing

The Pixel 8a has been the subject of rumors for a while now, with leaks popping up left and right. Even Google Fi itself accidentally spilled some beans on what we can expect from the upcoming device. Most recently, a tipster caught a glimpse of the phone on a US carrier’s website.

Leaker Evan Blass was quick to spot the Pixel 8a on US Cellular’s website. Apparently, the carrier had uploaded a tutorial for the device before swiftly taking it down.

Gamesir launches X4 mobile game controller with detachable design & customizable layouts

Gamesir has unveiled the X4, a Microsoft-authorized mobile game controller that boasts a detachable design and customizable button layouts in the Chinese market. This controller caters to gamers seeking a versatile and adaptable mobile gaming experience.

Upcoming Motorola Razr foldable makes its first appearance, launch could be imminent

Motorola recently introduced the Edge 50 Pro smartphone, set to be followed by its pricier counterpart, the Edge 50 Ultra, on April 16th. Looking ahead, Motorola’s next smartphone launches might include the Razr series foldable, allegedly called the Razr Plus 2024.

Details about the upcoming Razr smartphone have been scarce, but some information may have now started to trickle in. A new Motorola smartphone with the model number XT2453-2 has received Radio Certification in China.

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Huawei’s Kirin 9006C Mystery: TSMC’s Role Unveiled Amid Global Semiconductor Challenges

Joane — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 11:55:33 +0000

In a recent teardown conducted by TechInsights, the mysterious origin of Huawei’s Kirin 9006C processor in the Qingyun L540 notebook has been unveiled, challenging initial speculations of advanced domestic semiconductor manufacturing in China. Contrary to expectations, the 5nm processor was not crafted by a Chinese company but was revealed to be manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).

This revelation follows Huawei’s previous semiconductor developments, where the Mate 60 Pro smartphone boasted a 7nm system-on-chip reportedly manufactured by China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co. (SMIC). However, the Kirin 9006C’s investigation has dispelled any notions of SMIC involvement, confirming TSMC as the processor’s manufacturer.

The geopolitical context adds complexity to Huawei’s semiconductor journey, as US export controls in 2020 severed Huawei’s access to TSMC around the time of the Kirin 9006C’s fabrication. Sanctions imposed on Chinese GPU vendors Biren and Moore Threads further exacerbated the challenges faced by Chinese semiconductor designers.

Despite these hurdles, Huawei’s technological triumphs, exemplified by the success of the Mate 60 smartphone in 2023, positioned the company as a standard-bearer for Chinese efforts to develop domestic alternatives to Western technologies. The Mate 60’s achievements propelled Huawei beyond the $100 billion revenue threshold, challenging Apple’s iPhone dominance in the Chinese market.

The Kirin 9006C processor represents a significant leap for Huawei into the 5nm territory, reflecting the company’s determination to stay at the forefront of technological advancements. The mystery surrounding how Huawei obtained a three-year-old processor is underscored by the company’s proactive approach to stockpiling semiconductors in response to global restrictions.

Huawei’s strategic investments in chip research and stockpiling and its network of domestic suppliers and manufacturing partners showcase the company’s resilience in navigating the complex landscape of international trade restrictions. The L540 laptop, introduced around 2016, aligns with Huawei’s expansion into mobile and computing devices and coincides with Beijing’s push to replace foreign technology in sensitive environments with domestic alternatives.

Moreover, some online retailers claim the L540 is designed to comply with recent stringent data security requirements in China for sensitive government organs, emphasizing Huawei’s commitment to meet evolving regulatory standards. As the global semiconductor landscape shifts, Huawei’s ability to adapt and innovate remains pivotal to its success in the highly competitive tech industry.