Huawei is doubling down on its chipmaking ambitions, reportedly developing two cutting-edge 3nm chips despite US sanctions limiting access to advanced tech.
According to leaks, the Chinese tech giant is exploring both a Gate-All-Around (GAA) FET-based design and a futuristic carbon nanotube-based semiconductor, with a tape-out planned for 2026. This move, if successful, will shake up the global chip industry—here’s how Huawei is pulling it off.
A report from Taiwanese outlet UDN reveals Huawei’s dual-track approach to 3nm chips, building on its recent success with the 5nm Kirin X90, manufactured by SMIC without ASML’s EUV machines. Instead, SMIC used older DUV lithography with multi-patterning, a complex and costly method that achieved a 20% yield—low compared to industry leaders like TSMC.
The 3nm GAA FET chip, which promises better power efficiency and performance compared to the previous Kirin chips, is reportedly on track for a 2026 tape-out, with mass production eyed for 2027 if development stays smooth. Meanwhile, Huawei is experimenting with carbon nanotube-based 3nm chips, a bold leap that could outperform traditional silicon, though progress remains unclear.
The catch? Yields at 3nm could dip even lower due to DUV’s limitations, making mass production pricey and challenging. Huawei is betting big on its $37 billion investment in domestic EUV tech, with some insiders claiming it could be ready by 2026. Posts on X from @zephyr_z9 echo this optimism, but skeptics like ex-ASML engineer @lithos_graphein argue ASML’s EUV dominance is nearly untouchable. Huawei is keeping any EUV breakthroughs under wraps, much like its closely guarded Kirin 9010 rollout.
The 3nm push, using GAA and potentially carbon nanotubes, could close the gap with TSMC and Samsung, who already use EUV for 3nm. If Huawei nails this, it could redefine China’s role in the chip race, but low yields and DUV reliance remain hurdles. Expect more whispers as 2026 nears.
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The post Huawei is working on 3nm chips: here’s how they are pulling it off appeared first on Gizmochina.
