A new analysis confirms that the processor powering Huawei's latest flagship smartphones, the Kirin 9030, is manufactured using an advanced but still trailing semiconductor process.

Key Findings:

• Manufacturer: The chip is produced by China's top foundry, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), using an improved version of its 7-nanometer technology, termed the N+3 node.
• Technical Context: According to research firm TechInsights, this N+3 process is a "scaled extension" of SMIC's previous generation (N+2) but remains "substantially less scaled" than the 5-nanometer and more advanced processes commercially deployed by industry leaders Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung Electronics.
• Strategic Significance: The achievement demonstrates steady, incremental progress by China's domestic semiconductor industry amid strict U.S. export controls. However, it also highlights a persistent performance gap with the cutting-edge nodes used by global competitors like Apple, Qualcomm, and Nvidia.

Background: Huawei and SMIC have become focal points in the U.S.-China tech rivalry. In October, China added TechInsights—which has published regular teardown reports on their technological advances—to its "unreliable entity list."

The development underscores China's determination to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency while navigating significant technological and supply chain challenges.