After Windows Replacement OS, Huawei Set to Launch "Kirin X90" Chip for PCs to Replace Intel

Huawei's Complete PC Ecosystem

Huawei officially introduced the HarmonyOS 5 for PCs operating system for desktop computers yesterday. Additionally, they confirmed the first device running this OS will launch on May 20. As expected, the chip equipped on this device won't be a common commercial processor. Recently, a leak from China revealed important information about a new processor called the Kirin X90.

According to famous leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS), the Huawei Kirin X90 is a desktop processor designed in-house by Huawei. Furthermore, it carries the internal codename Charlotte Pro. Notably, the Kirin 9010 chip—currently used in the Mate 70 phone series—has a similar codename: "Charlotte." This suggests Huawei is likely developing the Kirin X90 based on CPU architecture similar to their mobile chips. However, they've enhanced it to meet PC platform performance requirements.

Kirin X90 Technical Specifications Leaked

According to sources, the Huawei Kirin X90 will feature 10 CPU cores with a 4+4+2 structure. Moreover, it will support 20 processing threads thanks to Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) technology. The chip is also expected to be compatible with Chinese national encryption standards, including SM3 and SM4.

While information about the GPU, manufacturing process, or thermal performance remains unavailable, previous reports suggest the Kirin X90 might feature an integrated 10-core GPU codenamed Maleoon 920.

Additionally, this chip reportedly supports LPDDR5-6400 memory up to 32GB on a 128-bit bus, achieving 100GB/s bandwidth. For storage, the Huawei Kirin X90 can handle up to 2TB SSD and comes equipped with three USB-4 ports.

Huawei's Vertical Integration Strategy

This isn't Huawei's first venture into the personal computer market. However, it marks the first time the company will own both the operating system and domestic processing chip for a desktop device. The self-sufficiency in both hardware and software demonstrates Huawei's strategy to enhance vertical integration. Nevertheless, the actual performance of the Kirin X90 compared to competitors remains an open question.