Huawei To Launch MacBook Competitor Soon, Suggests Kirin X90 Certification

Huawei is preparing to launch a new line of notebooks featuring its own proprietary chipset instead of relying on Intel or AMD solutions. The company recently received certification for its first PC processor in China, signaling a major step toward greater independence in the global computing market.

According to information published by China’s Information Security Evaluation Center and shared by the website Huawei Central, the Huawei Kirin X90 PC will be based on ARM architecture. This move aligns Huawei with other industry leaders, such as Apple, whose ARM-based M-series chips have delivered impressive performance and energy efficiency in MacBooks. By adopting a similar approach, Huawei aims to compete with Apple’s laptops by offering high-performing devices with enhanced battery life.

Additionally, Huawei has certified other chips designed for connected notebooks, which may include 5G modem support. While no detailed technical specifications have been released, all of these new processors will follow the ARM architecture and are expected to be manufactured using SMIC’s 7nm process. This suggests Huawei is making strides in advanced semiconductor production despite ongoing U.S. trade restrictions that have limited its access to cutting-edge chip fabrication technologies.

A significant shift is also expected in Huawei’s software ecosystem. The upcoming notebooks will likely run HarmonyOS Next instead of Windows, as Microsoft’s license to collaborate with Huawei is set to expire at the end of March. Given the escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, it is unlikely that the U.S. government will renew this permission. As a result, Huawei is accelerating its transition to a fully proprietary operating system, reducing its reliance on American technology.

The introduction of the Kirin X90 PC represents a bold step for Huawei in the computing industry;With a proprietary ARM-based chipset, potential 5G connectivity, and an independent software platform, the company is positioning itself as a major player in the growing ARM laptop market. However, challenges remain, including competition with Apple and the broader x86 ecosystem. Whether Huawei’s strategy will succeed depends on the performance of its new chips, the maturity of HarmonyOS, and its ability to attract developers to its ecosystem.

Filed in Computers. Read more about ARM and Huawei.