Earlier this week, a leak from prominent tech tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) hinted at a new Kirin chip in the works at Huawei. Today, DCS made a follow-up on Weibo, China’s social media platform, revealing some additional details.Kirin 9100: Leaked details suggest energy efficiency on par with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
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The leak suggests Huawei will likely adopt a “domestically developed n+2/3 process” to manufacture its next Kirin chip, likely dubbed the Kirin 9100. This translates to a 5nm node with DCS explaining that it will use Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) lithography with multiple patterning for manufacturing.
While Huawei will be able to achieve 5nm-like transistor sizes via this approach, it will not be identical to the leading-edge EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography used by TSMC and Samsung.
Additionally, since DUV lithography requires multiple exposures to achieve the desired pattern on the chip, it can lead to higher production costs and potentially lower chip yield compared to EUV, which can print out more intricate designs even with a single exposure.
Regardless of this, DCS notes that the new chip will offer “quite obvious” improvements in energy efficiency compared to the previous Kirin chip.
However, it may not quite match the efficiency of Qualcomm’s latest offerings as it is set to be on par with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, as per tipster. If not, DCS says the new Kirin chip would definitely be more efficient than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.
It’s important to note that these are still leaks, and details like the specific Kirin model number, core configuration, and targeted release date are still unknown.
Moreover, the leak does not clarify which foundry will manufacture the chip. While DCS mentions that it will be domestically produced since TSMC and Samsung are not options due to US restrictions, it’s unclear which Chinese foundry has the capability for a 5nm DUV process. SMIC is a potential candidate, but it is under scrutiny from the US government regarding its ability to produce advanced chips.Kirin 9100: Leaked details suggest energy efficiency on par with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
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