Huawei Will Not Launch Midrange Smartphones With Kirin Chips This Year

As of January 3rd, Huawei has made significant strides in its smartphone lineup, particularly with the Mate 60 series and Nova 12 series, which have both been equipped with the new Kirin processors, marking Huawei’s return to 5G technology. This development leads to the question of whether Huawei’s mid-to-low-end models will also follow suit and universally adopt Kirin chips.

According to recent reports from Chinese media, Huawei will not be releasing any 5G smartphones priced below 3000 yuan this year. Due to production limitations, the Kirin chips will be primarily allocated to flagship models.

The newly launched Huawei Nova 12 Pro and Ultra models are equipped with the new Kirin 8000 and Kirin 9000SL chips, respectively, and are priced starting at 3999 yuan and 4399 yuan. However, the Nova 12 Vitality Edition still features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G processor and is priced starting at 2499 yuan.

This pricing strategy indicates that lower-priced models in Huawei’s lineup, such as the Maize and Enjoy series, will continue to support only 4G networks for the time being.

Data from Counterpoint Research shows that in the third quarter, Huawei’s HiSilicon division, based on smartphone processor sales revenue, re-entered the global top five with a 3% market share. This achievement is largely attributed to the strong sales of the Mate 60 series, which features Huawei’s proprietary Kirin chips.

In a recent report by the Korean media outlet The Elec, it was revealed that due to the strong demand for the Mate 60 series, Huawei has set a target of shipping 100 million smartphones next year. This figure is 40% higher than previous forecasts by institutions. This ambitious target suggests that Huawei’s demand for Kirin chips in the coming year will be substantial, potentially driving up its market share in the mobile industry.

In summary, Huawei’s strategy for the year appears to focus on prioritizing its flagship models with the Kirin chipset, while its more affordable models will remain on 4G networks. This approach reflects the company’s adaptation to current market conditions and production capabilities.