In a significant challenge to the decades-long dominance of the Wintel alliance (Intel processors and Microsoft Windows) and Apple's integrated ecosystem, Huawei is making a bold move into the personal computer market with its own self-developed Kirin X90 CPU and HarmonyOS operating system. This strategic pivot, as detailed in recent analyses, signals a formidable push for technological autonomy amidst a complex global landscape.

For decades, the PC world has been bifurcated: Apple's tightly controlled hardware-software integration and the sprawling Wintel alliance, which became the bedrock for millions of software applications. This "path dependency" has made it incredibly difficult for any new contender to emerge, a vulnerability that China reportedly recognized as far back as 1999 regarding its reliance on US components and operating systems.

Huawei’s OS Push: From Smartphones to PCs

In early 2023, HarmonyOS held just 8% of China’s smartphone OS market, far behind Android (72%) and iOS (20%). But by Q4 2024, Huawei’s HarmonyOS NEXT surged to 19%, overtaking iOS (17%) and closing in on Android (64%). Buoyed by this growth, Huawei is now targeting the PC OS market.

In early 2025, Windows dominated China’s PC market with an 80.18% share, while macOS lagged behind at 1.21%. Huawei aims to challenge this duopoly with its self-developed HarmonyOS PC, touting faster boot times and AI features. While dethroning Windows may take time, surpassing macOS appears within reach.

The Kirin X90 and HarmonyOS: A Watershed Moment?

Operating under significant external pressure and sanctions, Huawei's recent launch of personal computers powered by their self-developed Kirin X90 CPU and HarmonyOS is being described by sources as a "watershed moment." This isn't merely about competing within the existing structure; it's about creating a parallel, independent ecosystem.

The Kirin X90, Huawei's own PC processor, employs modern CPU design techniques such as hyper-threading and a combination of "big" and "middle" cores, aiming for both performance and efficiency. Performance comparisons suggest the Kirin X90 is positioned roughly between Apple's M1 and M2 chips and comparable to certain Intel i7 processors in specific benchmarks, according to China’s state media, CCTV.

Although the official manufacturer has not been disclosed, industry insiders speculate that SMIC or Huawei itself led the production process, completely bypassing external dependencies such as TSMC.

This series of technological breakthroughs demonstrates the viability of domestic semiconductor equipment in advanced manufacturing processes.

Chinese media claimed that on the equipment side, Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE)’s SSA/800-10W lithography machine has significantly improved overlay accuracy. In the materials sector, the yield rate of 12-inch silicon wafers from Shanghai Silicon Industry Group has surpassed 90%. In the packaging and testing phase, JCET’s high-density packaging technology has reduced chip area by 30%.

“These collective breakthroughs may push the localization rate of Chinese semiconductor equipment from 7% in 2020 to 35% by 2025,” said a Netease report.

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The 'Nanometer' Claim: Beyond the Number

Much buzz has surrounded Huawei's "five-nanometer process" claim for the Kirin X90. However, Rocky Uriankhai, a semiconductor geopolitical consultant, caution against a literal interpretation of the "nanometer" number in modern chip manufacturing. Historically, this figure related directly to the physical size of transistors, but physical scaling hit limitations around the 28-millimeter node. Today, the "N number" is more of a marketing term or an indicator of relative performance, power efficiency, and transistor density compared to previous generations.

Sources suggest the Kirin X90 is likely manufactured using domestic capabilities, possibly a six- or seven-nanometer process node, or an enhanced version, according to Tom’s Hardware and Uriankhai. The crucial question, as implied by analyses, is not the label itself, but whether the overall package—the chip design combined with the manufacturing process—actually measures up in terms of real-world performance, power efficiency, and transistor density against chips labeled five-nanometer by leading foundries. Crucially, the manufacturing yield—the percentage of working chips from each silicon wafer—remains a major bottleneck, especially for newer or less mature processes.

The Shadow Network and Geopolitical Implications

Huawei's pursuit of independence extends beyond technological specifications; it is deeply strategic. Reports point to a "shadow network" involving state-owned entities, with SCII identified as a key investment and coordination body. This network reportedly employs strategies like encouraging related companies to relocate, acquiring private tech firms, and founding new entities with low public profiles. The clear goal is to navigate sanctions, access technology and expertise (potentially leveraging historical relationships with firms in places like Taiwan), and quietly build up domestic manufacturing capabilities while minimizing international scrutiny.

However, this strategy, which can sometimes obscure true performance or nature, raises difficult questions. Critics argue that such moves, driven by political imperatives rather than purely market economics, can erode international trust. A lack of transparency and the blurring of lines between civilian and potential military applications can make it harder for other countries and companies to verify the nature and intent of the technology, potentially leading to broader, more restrictive sanctions and shifting dynamics from commercial competition to political confrontation.

The Enduring Ecosystem Challenge

Despite the significant technical progress in chip design and manufacturing, the "ecosystem challenge" remains a substantial hurdle for Huawei's PC ambitions. To truly gain market share, Huawei needs developers to build and optimize applications natively for HarmonyOS. While compatibility layers can bridge the gap initially, a vibrant, native software ecosystem is essential for long-term user attraction and retention.

Huawei is also exploring alternatives like the open-standard RISC-V chip architecture, which could circumvent some licensing issues, and advanced packaging techniques like chiplets to navigate limitations in manufacturing capabilities. However, acknowledged delays in mass-producing advanced AI chips indicate that this journey is fraught with "difficulty and challenges" on multiple levels: technical, economic, and political—a path described by one Chinese idiom as "pushing through thorns and overcoming obstacles."

The Big Question

Huawei's move represents a remarkably bold strategic play against entrenched tech giants. While technical progress in domestic chip design and manufacturing is evident, the path to true independence in the PC market is incredibly challenging. The decades of Wintel and Apple dominance have created deep roots in software compatibility, developer skills, user expectations, and established supply chains. Shaking this requires not only matching or beating competitors technologically but also gaining widespread market acceptance, navigating geopolitical hurdles, and fostering a vibrant software ecosystem.

The ultimate question remains: How will these powerful competing forces—the drive for autonomy versus the established global order—ultimately reshape the global tech landscape in the years to come?

Reference

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2. WuyatheWorld commentary on Kirin X90 chip process

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