A new analysis by TechanaLye, a semiconductor research company, reveals that China’s semiconductor industry is rapidly advancing, with its leading chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), producing 7-nanometer chips that rival the performance of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s (TSMC) 5-nanometer chips.
The analysis, conducted by TechanaLye CEO Hiroharu Shimizu, compared Huawei’s Kirin 9010 chip, manufactured by SMIC, with the Kirin 9000 chip, manufactured by TSMC, both designed by Huawei subsidiary HiSilicon. The study found that the two chips, despite a difference in nanometer size, have similar performance levels and chip area.
“SMIC’s capabilities are approaching a level three years behind TSMC, based purely on performance of the chips that were shipped,” Shimizu stated. “HiSilicon’s design capabilities have also improved, demonstrating their ability to produce chips with comparable performance as TSMC’s 5-nm products.”
The analysis suggests that China’s semiconductor industry is making significant strides, particularly in the area of mass production. SMIC’s success in producing competitive 7nm chips, despite U.S. export restrictions on advanced chip technology, highlights the limitations of such measures in stemming China’s technological progress.
The study also found that Huawei’s Pura 70 Pro smartphone is equipped with 37 semiconductors, with 86% of them manufactured in China. This indicates a growing reliance on domestic chip production within the Chinese tech sector.
“The U.S. regulations so far have only slightly delayed Chinese innovation,” Shimizu concluded. “Instead, they have sparked efforts by the Chinese chip industry to boost domestic production.”
This development has significant implications for the global semiconductor industry. TSMC, currently the world’s leading chipmaker, faces increasing competition from China as the technological gap narrows. The industry is likely to see a shift in power dynamics as China continues to invest heavily in its domestic semiconductor ecosystem.
About TechanaLye
TechanaLye is a Tokyo-based semiconductor research company that analyzes and dissects electronic devices to understand the underlying technology and manufacturing processes.
