In the smartphone sector, the ARM architecture has almost become synonymous with mobile processors. Over 90% of smartphones worldwide are equipped with chips based on the ARM architecture, from Apple’s A series to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, and even Huawei’s own Kirin chips, all of which utilize ARM’s design solutions. ARM has established a near-monopoly in the mobile device market thanks to its reduced instruction set architecture and flexible licensing model, earning substantial licensing fees each year.
ARM’s success stems from its business model—it does not directly manufacture chips but profits by licensing its architecture to chip design companies. This asset-light model allows ARM to focus on architecture research and development without bearing the enormous costs of manufacturing. For chip manufacturers, the ARM architecture provides a mature ecosystem and proven performance, significantly lowering the development threshold. This win-win cooperation has enabled ARM to rapidly rise over the past two decades, becoming an unshakeable leader in mobile computing.
1. Huawei Releases Two RISC-V Architecture Chips
However, this situation may be changing. Recently, Huawei released two chips based on the RISC-V architecture—Hi3066M and Hi3065P—marking an important step for this domestic tech giant towards chip independence. Although these two chips are positioned in the mid-to-low-end market, they are capable of meeting the needs of most everyday usage scenarios. The Hi3066M is primarily aimed at smart home and IoT devices, while the Hi3065P is suitable for digital products such as smartphones and tablets. Their release has sparked widespread discussion in the industry, with many beginning to question: does this mean the end of ARM’s good days?
As an open-source instruction set architecture, RISC-V has seen rapid development in recent years. Unlike ARM, RISC-V allows companies to freely use its instruction set without paying high licensing fees, providing chip design companies with greater flexibility and cost advantages. Huawei’s decision to launch RISC-V chips at this time is influenced by both technical considerations and geopolitical factors. In the context of ongoing sanctions from the U.S., reducing reliance on the ARM architecture has become a strategic choice for Huawei. By investing in RISC-V, Huawei can not only avoid potential licensing risks but also gain greater autonomy in chip design.
2. How Significant is the Impact of RISC-V Architecture Chips on ARM?
The market’s reaction to Huawei’s two RISC-V chips has been mixed. Optimists believe this marks the end of ARM’s monopoly, with RISC-V gradually encroaching on ARM’s market share due to its openness and cost advantages. Particularly in the Chinese market, with the rise of domestic alternatives, the RISC-V architecture may gain favor among more manufacturers. As an industry leader, Huawei’s decision to adopt RISC-V will undoubtedly drive the improvement of the entire ecosystem and accelerate the mainstream adoption of RISC-V.
However, the reality may be more complex. Although Huawei’s two RISC-V chips have broken ARM’s monopoly, ARM’s market dominance is unlikely to be shaken in the short term. The ARM architecture has developed over decades into an extremely mature ecosystem, including development tools, software support, and developer communities. In contrast, while RISC-V has made rapid progress, it still has significant shortcomings in high-performance computing, software compatibility, and development ecosystems. Most mainstream mobile applications are optimized for the ARM architecture, and fully migrating to the RISC-V platform will require substantial time and resource investment.
3. ARM and RISC-V Growing Together
Moreover, ARM architecture still has a clear advantage in performance-to-power ratio, especially in the high-end mobile device market. Chips designed by companies like Apple and Qualcomm based on the ARM architecture continue to lead in performance, making it challenging for RISC-V to catch up in this regard. Although RISC-V has made good progress in emerging fields like IoT, it still has a long way to go to challenge ARM’s position in mainstream consumer electronics markets like smartphones.
In the long run, RISC-V indeed represents a future trend in chip architecture, with its open-source characteristics aligning more closely with the democratization of technology in the digital age. Huawei’s entry will undoubtedly accelerate the maturation of the RISC-V ecosystem, providing more choices for the market. However, ARM will not sit idly by; it is responding to challenges through architectural innovation and adjustments to its business model. In the future, it is likely that ARM and RISC-V will coexist long-term, each excelling in different niche markets rather than a simple replacement relationship.
4. Final Thoughts
Huawei’s release of RISC-V chips is an important milestone, marking the beginning of a diversified era in chip architecture. Although ARM’s dominant position is unlikely to be shaken in the short term, the competitive landscape has changed. For the entire industry, this healthy competition will drive technological innovation and cost optimization, ultimately benefiting consumers. For RISC-V to truly threaten ARM’s kingly status, it needs to continue making breakthroughs in performance, ecosystem, and industry chain support. Huawei’s move may very well be a pivotal turning point in this architectural battle.