According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the advancements in the Huawei Mate 70 and Kirin chip technology are likely to threaten Apple's position in its second-largest market.
Apple is currently facing declining sales in China, and the introduction of the Huawei Mate 70 could exacerbate the competitive landscape for the company.
Meanwhile, Huawei is making strides in the semiconductor sector despite stringent U.S. trade restrictions. There are rumors that the company is developing a 6nm processor for its upcoming Mate smartphones, promising enhanced efficiency and performance.
With these advancements, Huawei is clearly aiming to strengthen its position against foreign competitors, with Apple being a primary target. The U.S. company had been performing well in China until Huawei began to reclaim market share over the past year.
So far, Huawei has not officially commented on the rumored Kirin chip, although it has provided a brief preview of its new devices. Details regarding their specifications and key features remain undisclosed, with an official announcement expected on November 26.
The WSJ report further highlights that Huawei's steady progress in the chipset arena represents both a security concern for the U.S. and a commercial threat to Apple.
Additionally, Huawei is receiving backing from the Chinese government, which is reportedly advising companies to limit the use of iPhones and Apple products. The government is also facilitating funding for Huawei to expand its retail presence and enhance its research and development efforts.
Another advantage for Huawei in its competition with Apple is its focus on artificial intelligence. Many of Huawei's latest devices already incorporate advanced AI capabilities, while Apple has announced plans to introduce its own AI features in China next year. IDC Vice President Bryan Ma comments on this development.
"The Mate 70 will continue to put more pressure on Apple in China.” Even though Kirin chips still lag behind A-tagged processors in power efficiency, “this might not amount to much of a practical difference as long as the user is able to get through the day without having to worry about charging.”
The anticipated competition between Huawei and Apple in the Chinese premium smartphone market following the launch of the Mate 70 series promises to be intriguing.