Huawei's HiSilicon division, known for its Kirin chipsets, is experiencing a revival in the smartphone chipset market. According to Canalys data, the company managed to ship 8 million Kirin units in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, generating a revenue of $6 billion.
Competitive Landscape
While this is a notable improvement from previous quarters, Huawei still trails behind its major competitors. However, the company did surpass Google's chipset shipments and revenue in Q1 2024. Google shipped only 2 million smartphone SoCs, earning $2 billion in revenue.
In contrast, industry giants Samsung and MediaTek shipped significantly more units. Samsung shipped 18 million units, generating $9 billion, whereas MediaTek led the market with 114 million units but only secured $23 billion in revenue.
Market Leaders
Qualcomm also performed impressively, selling 75 million smartphone SoCs and earning $37 billion this quarter. Apple, the leader in chipset revenue, saw a decline in both shipments and revenue, with 49 million units shipped and $56 billion in revenue, compared to the same period last year.
Despite holding a modest market share of 2.7% in Q1 2024, Huawei's resurgence is making waves in the market. Apple, in particular, is feeling the pressure on its chipset revenue and shipment momentum.
Future Outlook
The trend is anticipated to continue with the upcoming release of Huawei’s Mate 70 series in October and the HarmonyOS Next operating system in September. HarmonyOS, developed in-house by Huawei, aims to reduce reliance on Google’s Android platform.
In summary, the data indicates a gradual comeback for Huawei in the chipset market. However, the company still faces a significant challenge in reclaiming its former market share against established players like Samsung, MediaTek, and Apple.
