Huawei's latest mobile is armed with China's most advanced process node to date despite using blacklisted chipmaker — Huawei Kirin 9030 mobile SoC made on SMIC N+3 process, but can't compete with 5nm node

Huawei's latest mobile SoC, the Kirin 9030, is manufactured using SMIC's N+3 process, which is the most advanced process node in China but falls short of competing with 5nm-class technologies from other chipmakers like TSMC and Samsung. Despite the increased core count in the Kirin 9030 compared to its predecessor, the process is seen as an incremental improvement rather than a true generational leap. TechInsights highlights that while SMIC has made advancements in patterning and design techniques, the N+3 process may face challenges in terms of yield due to aggressive metal pitch scaling. This analysis suggests that SMIC's future progress may rely more on design discipline and innovative libraries rather than further lithographic shrink.