On March 14, the China Information Technology Security Evaluation Center said that the Kirin X90 chip - a CPU developed by Huawei's HiSilicon - has been certified by the national level 2 for security reliability.

Certification, although voluntary, allows companies to evaluate the security level of computers, server CPUs, and systems researched, designed, and manufactured domestically, serving as a premise for widespread application.

Huawei Digitimes
Huawei seeks to reduce dependence on US technology under pressure from sanctions. Photo: Digitimes

Previously, two other chips developed by Huawei were also certified, including the Kirin 9000C - used in the Qingyun W515x personal computer (PC) and the Kirin 9006C used in the Qingyun L540 laptop. The Qingyun computer line is designed for government and business users.

Huawei is under pressure from US sanctions, forcing the Chinese company to find ways to replace US-origin components in its devices.

In May 2024, Washington revoked special licenses that chip suppliers like Qualcomm and Intel used to sell older-generation semiconductor chips to Huawei.

Most of Huawei’s personal laptops use Intel Core chips, with the exception of the Matebook E Go, which uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. The company’s license to use Microsoft Windows also expired this month without renewal.

According to news site Thepaper , the Chinese company plans to launch personal computers running the HarmonyOS operating system later this year.

The last time Huawei introduced a computer was the MateBook GT14 in August 2024. The device is equipped with an Intel Core chip and Windows operating system.

A month later, Richard Yu Chengdong, President of Huawei's consumer business, told China Central Television that their current laptops could be the last to run Windows.

Huawei is stepping up efforts to expand its PC business. Shipments of notebooks and desktops are expected to increase 15% in 2024 to 4.3 million units, according to a report by research firm Canalys.

Huawei has an 11% market share in mainland China, while Lenovo leads with 35%. However, the company's growth momentum weakened in the fourth quarter of 2024 due to lack of new products. In the last three months of last year, the company sold 1.1 million PCs.

(According to SCMP)