New Huawei Kirin X90 chip revealed in state report — possible server and PC chip set to replace the aging Kunpeng 920 design

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Details on specifications are still in the dark.

Kirin-mob
(Image credit: Huawei)

A Chinese state report assessing CPU reliability and security has revealed the HiSilicon Kirin X90, a never-before-seen SoC (via Jukanlosreve on X). For context, HiSilicon serves as Huawei's wholly-owned chip subsidiary. The juxtaposition of this SoC with other server processors positions it as the successor of the aging Kunpeng 920 design that launched back in 2019. To clarify, the report does not disclose important details such as the process technology, specifications, or intended use case. However, Huawei has long used the same underlying architectures for both servers and PCs, and the company reportedly has a new line of laptops coming in April that will leverage its own homegrown HarmonyOS.

Kirin SoCs are primarily used in Huawei's mobile devices and have become increasingly vital to China's goal towards semiconductor autarky after the imposition of sanctions. The Kirin 9000S, Kirin 9000S1, and Kirin 9010 are the company's first homegrown offerings built using SMIC's 7nm technology with custom Arm-based Taishan cores. The latest Kirin 9020 that powers Huawei's Mate 70 series is based on Taishan V120, which can match AMD's Zen 3 cores in Geekbench single-core performance.

Conversely, Huawei's server and PC divisions have been relatively quiet, as evidenced by the lack of new Kunpeng SoC designs since 2019. The new Kirin X90, despite its name, could be a possible successor, considering that Huawei is reportedly launching a new "AI PC" with HarmonyOS next month. It's likely to be fabricated using SMIC's 7nm process featuring Taishan V120 cores based on either the Armv8 or Armv9 architectures, which are not subject to the US trade ban.

In contrast to Loongson's MIPS or LoongArch-based chips, Kunpeng cores employ a custom Arm architecture, which should offer relatively broader compatibility. Despite such advantages, inadequate operating system and software support have consistently been the Achilles' heel of these processors. On the mobile side, Huawei's homegrown HarmonyOS platform works relatively well with its Kirin SoCs. With upcoming laptops expected to be based on HarmonyOS, much of these software-related headwinds should be cleared up for the Kirin X90.

Notebooks carry a different software ecosystem than mobile phones, including specialized applications that developers must port. Furthermore, even general mobile applications on HarmonyOS will need a UI (User Interface) rework for optimal laptop integration.

Similar to previous iterations, it's likely that Huawei will carry over the same design to its desktop and server counterparts. On the consumer side, if our speculation holds, Huawei's integration of custom hardware and software is comparable to Apple silicon Macbooks. The performance and reliability, however, remain uncertain. We can expect Huawei to provide details shortly, provided the April launch rumors are valid.

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Hassam Nasir
Hassam Nasir
Contributing Writer

Hassam Nasir is a die-hard hardware enthusiast with years of experience as a tech editor and writer, focusing on detailed CPU comparisons and general hardware news. When he’s not working, you’ll find him bending tubes for his ever-evolving custom water-loop gaming rig or benchmarking the latest CPUs and GPUs just for fun.

8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Pierce2623
    For context “matching zen3 in Geekbench” puts them at just over 50% of what Apple’s M4 does single core lol and still WAY behind current Android cellphone chips in single core.
    Reply
  • usertests
    Pierce2623 said:
    For context “matching zen3 in Geekbench” puts them at just over 50% of what Apple’s M4 does single core lol and still WAY behind current Android cellphone chips in single core.
    The important part is that it works and they can make it themselves. They can iterate on the design and come up with more advanced nodes later. SMIC 7nm is obviously going to be behind TSMC N3E (Apple M4, Snapdragon 8 Elite, etc). The performance level is more than enough for office PCs, and maybe servers, although I'm sure they'd like more power efficiency.
    Reply
  • circadia
    Pierce2623 said:
    For context “matching zen3 in Geekbench” puts them at just over 50% of what Apple’s M4 does single core lol and still WAY behind current Android cellphone chips in single core.
    and Geekbench is not even that reliable as a benchmark software, at least for PC platforms.
    Reply
  • Ed roman
    It amazes me how all these other companies like apple Google Samsung are terrified of Huawei's resilience. At work we sell Samsung and Apple products and I am amazed of how much lack of knowledge consumers about both Samsung and Apple. All they know is what the commercials say. This is the only knowledge they have about these products. When my personal opinion is asked I tell them these are the products that broke people buy to be like wealthy consumers. I have tried apple Samsung htc one plus Nokia Motorola and I still find that Huawei is the best product on the market. I have 3 Huawei cell phone's. A p10 plus a mate 10 pro and amate 40 pro. The first 2 are 13 and 12 years old and the last one is over 3 years old they all work perfectly fine and charge just like when I purchased them. I also have a gt2 pro watch which I call the g shock of smart watches. Had the Google apple Samsung ban not interfering with Huawei's production we would have seen a 2nm chip by now. These geek bench score mean nothing to the average consumer. Your devices will only go a fast as the internet speed available. I buy Huawei because it's value for the money. I have never seen an apple cell phone last more than 10 years. Only one apple product that will last more than that is the Mac mini mine is 17 years old and still works well. I don't like any other apple product but the Mac mini. The day it does I will purchase a new Mac mini. Lift this sanction on Huawei and let the consumer choose without putting fake news about how and why not to purchase certain products. Let's not forget that Xiaomi is the second best cell phone after Huawei.
    Reply
  • Geef
    The first few words say it all: 'A Chinese state report'

    Who wants to bet there are ZERO benchmarks and ZERO third party reviews?

    Is it just how Chinese society is? It is expected you always say your new product is way better, even if it isn't. (Not trying to be political)
    Reply
  • nookoool
    Geef said:
    The first few words say it all: 'A Chinese state report'

    Who wants to bet there are ZERO benchmarks and ZERO third party reviews?

    Is it just how Chinese society is? It is expected you always say your new product is way better, even if it isn't. (Not trying to be political)
    The report has a row entry which indicated a new cpu is coming out called kirin x90. The rest is creative writing from tomshardware writer who likely can not read a single Chinese character. Not sure if your comment is political but sounds sorta racist/bias
    Reply
  • circadia
    Ed roman said:
    It amazes me how all these other companies like apple Google Samsung are terrified of Huawei's resilience. At work we sell Samsung and Apple products and I am amazed of how much lack of knowledge consumers about both Samsung and Apple. All they know is what the commercials say. This is the only knowledge they have about these products. When my personal opinion is asked I tell them these are the products that broke people buy to be like wealthy consumers. I have tried apple Samsung htc one plus Nokia Motorola and I still find that Huawei is the best product on the market. I have 3 Huawei cell phone's. A p10 plus a mate 10 pro and amate 40 pro. The first 2 are 13 and 12 years old and the last one is over 3 years old they all work perfectly fine and charge just like when I purchased them. I also have a gt2 pro watch which I call the g shock of smart watches. Had the Google apple Samsung ban not interfering with Huawei's production we would have seen a 2nm chip by now. These geek bench score mean nothing to the average consumer. Your devices will only go a fast as the internet speed available. I buy Huawei because it's value for the money. I have never seen an apple cell phone last more than 10 years. Only one apple product that will last more than that is the Mac mini mine is 17 years old and still works well. I don't like any other apple product but the Mac mini. The day it does I will purchase a new Mac mini. Lift this sanction on Huawei and let the consumer choose without putting fake news about how and why not to purchase certain products. Let's not forget that Xiaomi is the second best cell phone after Huawei.
    hoo boy, every time Tom's Hardware post anything related to Chinese tech, there are always new accounts like you shilling for those things. Not saying they are bad, but it seems you all are ignorant of a few things:
    Is this the same Huawei you're talking so highly of? https://carnewschina.com/2025/03/17/huawei-sues-chinese-influencer-over-maextro-s800-luxury-sedan-criticism/ It seems they cannot take criticism well at all.
    Why should those Western companies be "terrified of" Huawei's "resilience"?
    What about knowledgeable consumers who intentionally bought Apple iPhones/Samsung Galaxy phones? What about truly wealthy people, too?
    While yes, the Geekbench scores generally don't matter to the normal consumer, they do mean a lot to mobile gamers and enthusiasts. Believe it or not, mobile gaming is a very lucrative market in Asia, and generally you want the best value for your money (or else you might as well just tell the average consumers to buy dumb phones), so it does matter, even if it's just a bit. (Also, what the <Mod Edit> is the "your devices will only go as fast as the internet speed available" point???)
    About your Huawei cellphones and watch, that's just your personal experience. If you really want to drag them in, my Huawei MediaPad T1 8.0 (that I bought from a decade ago) has very laggy UI, and its battery health deteriorated very quickly. Same goes for your points about not seeing an Apple device lasting more than ten years and about buying Huawei because it's "value for money", too.
    Google, Apple, Samsung... didn't "ban" Huawei, it was the US government, and the ban didn't even specify to ban Huawei's phones, hence why its subsidiaries (like Honor) are running around and making phones with Android and Google Play services just fine.
    Your fake news accusation sounds very much like a certain world leader...
    "Xiaomi is the second best cell phone after Huawei":
    Reply
  • Pierce2623
    Ed roman said:
    It amazes me how all these other companies like apple Google Samsung are terrified of Huawei's resilience. At work we sell Samsung and Apple products and I am amazed of how much lack of knowledge consumers about both Samsung and Apple. All they know is what the commercials say. This is the only knowledge they have about these products. When my personal opinion is asked I tell them these are the products that broke people buy to be like wealthy consumers. I have tried apple Samsung htc one plus Nokia Motorola and I still find that Huawei is the best product on the market. I have 3 Huawei cell phone's. A p10 plus a mate 10 pro and amate 40 pro. The first 2 are 13 and 12 years old and the last one is over 3 years old they all work perfectly fine and charge just like when I purchased them. I also have a gt2 pro watch which I call the g shock of smart watches. Had the Google apple Samsung ban not interfering with Huawei's production we would have seen a 2nm chip by now. These geek bench score mean nothing to the average consumer. Your devices will only go a fast as the internet speed available. I buy Huawei because it's value for the money. I have never seen an apple cell phone last more than 10 years. Only one apple product that will last more than that is the Mac mini mine is 17 years old and still works well. I don't like any other apple product but the Mac mini. The day it does I will purchase a new Mac mini. Lift this sanction on Huawei and let the consumer choose without putting fake news about how and why not to purchase certain products. Let's not forget that Xiaomi is the second best cell phone after Huawei.
    That one that’s over three years old is faster than their new models.
    circadia said:
    hoo boy, every time Tom's Hardware post anything related to Chinese tech, there are always new accounts like you shilling for those things. Not saying they are bad, but it seems you all are ignorant of a few things:
    Is this the same Huawei you're talking so highly of? https://carnewschina.com/2025/03/17/huawei-sues-chinese-influencer-over-maextro-s800-luxury-sedan-criticism/ It seems they cannot take criticism well at all.
    Why should those Western companies be "terrified of" Huawei's "resilience"?
    What about knowledgeable consumers who intentionally bought Apple iPhones/Samsung Galaxy phones? What about truly wealthy people, too?
    While yes, the Geekbench scores generally don't matter to the normal consumer, they do mean a lot to mobile gamers and enthusiasts. Believe it or not, mobile gaming is a very lucrative market in Asia, and generally you want the best value for your money (or else you might as well just tell the average consumers to buy dumb phones), so it does matter, even if it's just a bit. (Also, what the <Mod Edit> is the "your devices will only go as fast as the internet speed available" point???)
    About your Huawei cellphones and watch, that's just your personal experience. If you really want to drag them in, my Huawei MediaPad T1 8.0 (that I bought from a decade ago) has very laggy UI, and its battery health deteriorated very quickly. Same goes for your points about not seeing an Apple device lasting more than ten years and about buying Huawei because it's "value for money", too.
    Google, Apple, Samsung... didn't "ban" Huawei, it was the US government, and the ban didn't even specify to ban Huawei's phones, hence why its subsidiaries (like Honor) are running around and making phones with Android and Google Play services just fine.
    Your fake news accusation sounds very much like a certain world leader...
    "Xiaomi is the second best cell phone after Huawei":
    100%. Also there’s millions of still functional more than 10 years old iPods just sitting in drawers all across the US lol.
    Reply