Despite facing sanctions, Huawei has successfully integrated a 5G modem into its domestically produced high-end application processor. This places it on par with Qualcomm and far ahead of many competitors.
Huawei’s flagship smartphones, the Mate 70 and Pura 80, are both equipped with the Kirin 9020 system-on-chip (SoC), but the company only confirmed this information recently. The Kirin 9020 features two high-performance ARM cores running at up to 2.50GHz, six mid-range cores at 2.15GHz, and four high-efficiency cores at 1.60GHz, along with a Mali-G920 GPU running at 840 MHz and the now-revealed Balong 6000 5G modem. This chip is manufactured by SMIC using its 7nm process and is the first chip to integrate a 5G modem.
According to TechInsights, the Kirin 9020 is an incremental upgrade over the previous Kirin 9010 rather than a complete redesign, but its significance lies not in the raw performance boost but in its built-in 5G modem.
Developing a 5G modem for smartphones and tablets is extremely challenging, as it must handle a wide range of frequency bands (generally including common 3G/4G bands, Sub-6GHz, and millimeter-wave bands), advanced multiplexing technologies (OFDM, MU-MIMO, beamforming), and ultra-low latency scheduling, all while maintaining high energy efficiency within the compact form factor of mobile devices. This requires deep expertise in RF front-end design, baseband signal processing, error correction (LDPC, Polar codes), and integration with CPU/GPU subsystems on a single SoC. Additionally, it must comply with 3GPP standards and ensure interoperability with thousands of carrier networks, necessitating long-term algorithm development and chip co-optimization, supported by a vast testing infrastructure.
Developing a 5G modem is no easy task, and integrating it into a smartphone’s system-on-chip is equally challenging; for instance, Apple has yet to achieve this. Therefore, the Kirin 9020 demonstrates Huawei’s ability to advance cutting-edge chip development even under stringent U.S. trade restrictions. To a large extent, it symbolizes resilience against U.S. sanctions.
Meanwhile, the importance of Huawei’s front-end module (FEM) is on par with the baseband in 5G terminals. This module integrates all components from power amplifiers to low-noise amplifiers, as well as from antenna switches to filters. Unlike digital basebands, these RF components are harder to replace, as U.S. sanctions have restricted access to advanced filter and power amplifier technologies, which have long been dominated by American companies like Broadcom and Qorvo. Nevertheless, Huawei has managed to achieve this.
In summary, for Huawei and China, the Kirin 9020 is not just a technological upgrade; it also supports a self-sufficiency strategy and is critically important.
