Chinese chip stocks rally after Huawei's launch of the Mate 60 Pro phone, with investors speculating that it could be using a 5G capable chip, potentially benefitting China's local semiconductor sector.
Huawei and China's top chipmaker SMIC have developed an advanced 7-nanometer processor for the new Huawei Mate 60 Pro smartphone, marking progress in China's domestic chip ecosystem and a challenge to U.S. restrictions on Huawei's access to chipmaking tools.
China has defied US-led export restrictions by producing a 5G smartphone, Huawei's Mate 60 Pro, using an advanced silicon chip made by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), indicating progress in China's efforts to build a domestic chip ecosystem.
Huawei's Mate 60 Pro is making a comeback in the Chinese smartphone market, but analysts believe its chances of competing with Apple and Samsung globally are slim due to the lack of popular apps like Google Maps and the impact of US sanctions.
The US government is seeking more information about the Huawei Mate 60 Pro smartphone, particularly its advanced chip, to determine if American restrictions on semiconductor exports were bypassed.
The recent unveiling of Huawei's Mate 60 Pro smartphone, powered by the Kirin 9000s chip, has sparked debates about its significance in the US-China technology cold war.
The Huawei Mate 60 Pro's release in China has sparked mockery and nationalist pride on Chinese social media, as it is seen as a symbol of China's technological advancement despite US efforts to restrict its access to advanced chips.
The Mate 60 Pro Plus offers higher RAM and storage options, a tweaked camera system, and a potentially higher price compared to the Mate 60 Pro.
The U.S. government is investigating how Huawei and SMIC managed to create 7nm Kirin 9000S 5G chipsets in violation of American sanctions, while Foxconn workers assembling the Huawei Mate 60 Pro in China are paid 19.2% more than those assembling the iPhone.
Huawei unveiled several new products, including a tablet, smart TV, and ear pods, but remained silent on its breakthrough Mate 60 Pro smartphone powered by a home-grown chip, seen as a significant step toward China's tech self-sufficiency.
Huawei's secretive new smartphone launch of the Mate 60 series, which is speculated to have advanced semiconductor chip technology developed in China, has left fans and experts guessing while raising concerns in the U.S.
Huawei's MatePad Pro 13.2 features a 38.89 Wh battery, HarmonyOS 4, and a 580 g weight, while offering a keyboard case similar to the Surface Pro 9 and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, available in China for around $714.
