After the release of the Huawei Mate 70 series, one parameter has sparked heated discussions:the Kirin 9030 processor, which has once again improved its energy efficiency ratio.On Zhihu, the related topic has garnered over 550,000 views, with many curious about how strong the energy efficiency ratio of domestic chips really is.This is not just an improvement in technical parameters, but a symbol of the Chinese chip industry breaking through in a tight spot.
Part.01
Kirin 9030: The “Energy Efficiency Revolution” of Domestic ChipsWhat is the energy efficiency ratio?Simply put, the energy efficiency ratio indicates how much work a chip can accomplish per unit of energy consumed.A high energy efficiency ratio means: with the same amount of power, more tasks can be completed, leading to longer battery life and lower heat generation.A low energy efficiency ratio means: completing the same tasks consumes more power, generates more heat, and results in shorter battery life.Why is the energy efficiency ratio important?In mobile devices (phones, tablets), the energy efficiency ratio directly affects:Battery life: A high energy efficiency ratio leads to longer battery life for phones.Heat generation: A high energy efficiency ratio results in lower heat generation, making the phone comfortable to hold.Performance: A high energy efficiency ratio allows the chip to maintain high performance at lower power consumption.How strong is the energy efficiency ratio of the Kirin 9030?Although Huawei has not disclosed detailed data, according to professional evaluations:CPU energy efficiency ratio: improved by about 20-30% compared to the Kirin 9000.GPU energy efficiency ratio: improved by about 30-40% compared to the Kirin 9000.AI computing power energy efficiency ratio: improved by about 50%.This means:Longer battery life: with the same battery capacity, the Kirin 9030 can extend phone battery life by 2-3 hours.Lower heat generation: playing games or shooting videos, the phone remains cool.More stable performance: under long-term high load operation, performance does not throttle.
Part.02
The Technology Breakthrough Behind the Energy Efficiency Ratio: Chinese ChipsHow can energy efficiency ratio be improved without advanced processes?Many are curious: Huawei has been sanctioned and cannot use TSMC’s most advanced 3nm process, so how can it still improve the energy efficiency ratio?The answer is: technological innovation.1. Architecture OptimizationThe performance and energy efficiency of chips depend not only on the process (7nm, 5nm, 3nm) but also on architectural design.Huawei has put effort into architectural design:CPU core optimization: improved instruction set and cache structure, enhancing single-core performance and reducing power consumption.GPU core optimization: optimized rendering pipeline, improving graphics processing efficiency and reducing power consumption.AI core optimization: customized NPU (Neural Processing Unit) specifically for AI tasks, achieving higher efficiency.2. Process ImprovementsAlthough the process is still 7nm (or improved N+1, N+2), Huawei and SMIC have made improvements in the process:FinFET process optimization: improved transistor structure, reducing leakage current and enhancing energy efficiency.Packaging technology: adopting advanced 3D packaging technology, shortening internal chip connections, and reducing power consumption.3. Software and Hardware CollaborationHuawei’s advantage lies not only in chips but also in the HarmonyOS.System-level optimization: HarmonyOS is optimized for Kirin chips, reducing unnecessary background operations and lowering power consumption.AI scheduling: through AI algorithms, intelligently allocating tasks to different cores, enhancing energy efficiency.For example:Assuming you are playing a game:Traditional chips: all cores are active, leading to high power consumption and heat generation.Kirin 9030 + HarmonyOS: AI recognizes the gaming scene, activating only necessary cores while others remain in sleep mode, resulting in low power consumption, less heat, and longer battery life.
Part.03
Why is the energy efficiency ratio the “Survival Path” for Chinese Chips?The process race: Chinese chips are lagging behindIn terms of processes, Chinese chips are indeed behind:TSMC: has already mass-produced 3nm, with 2nm in development.Samsung: has already mass-produced 3nm.SMIC: currently mass-producing 14nm, with 7nm still ramping up, and 3nm is a long way off.Why the lag?Because advanced processes require EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography machines, which China is banned from purchasing.But the process is not the only competitive edgeMany believe that the more advanced the process, the stronger the chip.However, in reality, the process is only part of chip performance.In addition to the process, there are:Architectural design: with the same process, good architectural design leads to better performance and energy efficiency.Process optimization: with the same process, good process optimization leads to higher yield and lower power consumption.Software and hardware collaboration: chip + operating system + application optimization leads to a better overall experience.The strategy for Chinese chips:Since it is impossible to surpass in processes in the short term, efforts will be made in energy efficiency ratios, architectural design, and software-hardware collaboration.This is a strategy of “leveraging strengths and avoiding weaknesses”—achieving breakthroughs in performance and energy efficiency through technological innovation when the most advanced processes are unattainable.
Part.04
The Significance of the Kirin 9030: More than Technology, It’s ConfidenceBreaking the “Bottleneck” MythIn the past, many believed that without the most advanced processes, Chinese chips had no future.However, the emergence of the Kirin 9030 has shattered this myth:Even with lagging processes, high-performance and high-energy-efficient chips can still be produced through architectural optimization, process improvements, and software-hardware collaboration.Rebuilding Industry ConfidenceAfter Huawei was sanctioned, many worried: would the Chinese chip industry decline?However, the release of the Kirin 9030 has rebuilt industry confidence:Domestic chips are not incapable; they just need time.As long as we persist in independent research and development, we can break through the “bottleneck”.China has a market of 1.4 billion people, providing ample space for the development of domestic chips.Ecological Construction: Not Just Chips, But Also Operating Systems and ApplicationsHuawei’s strategy is not only to make chips but also to build a complete ecosystem:HarmonyOS: replacing Android to achieve system autonomy and control.Harmony application ecosystem: attracting developers and enriching applications.Harmony smart devices: phones, tablets, watches, headphones, smart homes, building an interconnected ecosystem.Only with chips + operating systems + application ecosystems can we truly break free from dependence on the United States.
Part.05
The Future of Chinese Chips: From “Catching Up” to “Running Alongside”Short-term: Deepening and Refining Mature ProcessesIn the next 3-5 years, the focus of Chinese chips will be on deepening and refining mature processes (14nm, 28nm, 40nm).14nm: SMIC has already mass-produced, continuing to improve yield and reduce costs.7nm: SMIC is ramping up, striving for large-scale production.Mature process applications: automotive chips, IoT chips, industrial control chips, which extensively use mature processes, have a huge market space.Mid-term: Breaking Through Advanced ProcessesIn the next 5-10 years, the goal for Chinese chips is to break through 5nm and 3nm processes.Challenges:EUV lithography machines: China is banned from purchasing, requiring independent research and development, which is extremely difficult.Materials and equipment: many materials and equipment needed for advanced processes are monopolized by foreign countries.But there is hope:Domestic lithography machines: companies like Shanghai Micro Electronics are developing DUV (Deep Ultraviolet) lithography machines, which, although not reaching EUV levels, can achieve 7nm or even 5nm through multiple exposures.New materials and processes: exploring new technologies like GAA (Gate-All-Around) transistors and carbon nanotubes to bypass EUV restrictions.Long-term: From “Running Alongside” to “Leading”In the next 10-20 years, the vision for Chinese chips is to transition from “running alongside” to “leading”.Quantum chips: in the field of quantum computing, China is already in a leading global position, with opportunities for “curve overtaking” in the future.AI chips: in the AI chip field, Chinese companies (Cambricon, Horizon Robotics, Bitmain) are already competitive, with opportunities to lead globally in the future.New storage: in the fields of 3D NAND and DRAM storage chips, Chinese companies (Yangtze Memory, ChangXin Memory) are rapidly catching up, with opportunities to run alongside or even lead in the future.
Part.06
Conclusion: The Kirin 9030 is Just the BeginningThe Huawei Kirin 9030 processor is not just a chip; it is a microcosm of the Chinese chip industry breaking through in a tight spot.It tells us:The process is not the only competitive edge—architecture, processes, and software-hardware collaboration are equally important.The “bottleneck” is not a dead end—by persisting in independent research and development, breakthroughs can be found.The future of Chinese chips is in our own hands—there is a market, talent, and determination, there is hope.The Kirin 9030 is just the beginning.In the future, Chinese chips will surely transition from “catching up” to “running alongside” and even “leading”.Have you used the Huawei Mate 70? What do you think of the Kirin 9030? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments.