[News] SMIC Reportedly to Manufacture 5nm Chips for Huawei Without EUV Machinery

According to a report from global media outlet Wccftech, China’s largest foundry, SMIC, is rumored to produce 5-nanometer chips for Huawei this year, without the need for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines manufactured by Dutch company ASML.

As per a report by Businesskorea, SMIC seems to be able to use old deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines purchased before the sanctions were implemented to manufacture 5-nanometer chips. However, this would incur higher costs and could also affect yields.

Previously reported by the Financial Times, industry sources have indicated that SMIC’s prices for 5-nanometer and 7-nanometer processes are 40% to 50% higher than TSMC’s, and the yield less than one-third of TSMC’s. Later, it was estimated that SMIC’s 5nm chip prices would be up to 50 percent more expensive than TSMC’s on the same lithography, meaning that Huawei would face a tough time selling its Mate 70 series to consumers with a decent margin if it attempts to absorb a majority of those component costs.

Huawei was previously said to be working closely with its local foundry partner to introduce a new Kirin SoC that will be found in the upcoming Mate 70 series, scheduled to be released in October, with SMIC’s 5nm process has been said completed and is ready to mass produce the first batch of wafer.

This means that if Huawei attempts to absorb most of these costs, it will face the challenge of insufficient profit margins when selling the Mate 70 series to consumers. The tech giant may attract customers by promoting its in-house HarmonyOS Next, which is reportedly set to debut with the Mate 70 series. The model is said to be equipped with better efficiency in memory management compared to Google’s Android platform, according to Wccftech.

Meanwhile, Intel has recently secured its supply of the new High-NA EUV (high-numerical aperture extreme ultraviolet) lithography equipment from ASML, which the semiconductor heavyweight will allegedly use on its 18A (1.8nm) and 14A (1.4nm) nodes, according to a report from TheElec.

On the other hand, according to sources cited by a report from Economic Daily News, TSMC’s A16 advanced process node might not necessarily require ASML’s latest advanced chip manufacturing equipment, the High Numerical Aperture Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (High-NA EUV), due to its expensive price.

Read more

• [News] How Costly is the High-NA EUV? TSMC Reportedly Shocked, Considering Not Using the Equipment in its A16 Node
• [News] Intel Secures First Batch of High-NA EUV Equipment from ASML, Ahead of Samsung and SK Hynix

(Photo credit: SMIC)