The Huawei Kirin 710A represents a watershed moment for domestic semiconductor manufacturing rather than a leap in raw processing power. Launched as a revision of the original Kirin 710, this mid-range system-on-chip (SoC) shifted production away from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC). By utilizing SMIC's 14nm FinFET node, the processor became the first mainstream commercial application processor entirely fabbed within mainland China under strict export controls. While its performance specs sit firmly in the budget and mid-tier category, its significance lies in supply chain independence and localized silicon fabrication mastery.
Understanding this silicon requires looking beyond marketing terms to examine core architecture, thermal behavior, and manufacturing realities. The processor relies on an eight-core layout split into two clusters: four performance ARM Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and four efficiency Cortex-A53 cores running at 1.7 GHz. Graphics are handled by a Mali-G51 MP4 GPU. Compared to the TSMC-fabbed Kirin 710—which reached 2.2 GHz—the SMIC-produced variant traded a slight clock speed reduction for domestic supply chain security.
Architectural Breakdown and Specifications
The chip's physical makeup dictates its capabilities in everyday mobile devices like the Huawei Enjoy 20e or Honor 9C. Built on a 14-nanometer process, the layout prioritizes thermal stability and cost-efficiency over high-end gaming speeds.
- CPU Cluster: Four Cortex-A73 cores handle demanding tasks like web rendering and UI navigation, while four Cortex-A53 cores manage background processes to preserve battery life.
- GPU Configuration: The Mali-G51 MP4 graphics processor provides basic multimedia decoding and casual gaming performance, supporting titles like PUBG Mobile at medium settings with stable frame rates.
- Memory Support: The chip pairs with LPDDR4X memory running at 1866 MHz, balancing bandwidth with power conservation.
- Connectivity: Integrated LTE Cat. 12 modem limits data speeds to 4G networks, omitting modern 5G integration entirely.
The Shift to SMIC 14nm Fabrication
The primary distinction of the Kirin 710A is its foundry transition. The original 2018 Kirin 710 was manufactured using TSMC's 12nm process. When trade restrictions cut Huawei off from foreign foundries utilizing American toolsets, shifting production to SMIC became an existential priority.
SMIC's 14nm FinFET node required redesigning layout blocks to match domestic equipment capabilities. Independent teardowns by firms like TechInsights confirmed that the silicon represented a genuine domestic fab milestone. Although 14nm lagged behind the 7nm and 5nm nodes dominating flagship phones at the time, it established the foundational ecosystem required for domestic foundries to scale up toward more advanced nodes.
Real-World Performance and Benchmarks
Evaluating the processor on raw benchmarks reveals a modest profile suited for entry-level tasks. AnTuTu scores hover around 340,000 points, while Geekbench single-core numbers sit near 318 with multi-core scores around 1,201.
In practice, devices powered by this chip handle messaging, video streaming, and social media smoothly. However, heavy multitasking or sustained 3D gaming causes thermal throttling due to the older 14nm node's power draw. Power consumption under load is higher than its 12nm predecessor, making a 5,000 mAh battery common in devices utilizing this chip to ensure all-day endurance.
Common Misconceptions
Market discussions around domestic Chinese silicon often mix up generational capabilities.
- Not a Flagship Processor: Despite media framing linking domestic chips to flagship excellence, the Kirin 710A is strictly a budget-tier component. It was never designed to compete with high-end Kirin 9000 series chips.
- Absence of Dedicated NPU: Unlike higher-end HiSilicon chips, this model lacks a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), handling AI tasks through general CPU and GPU blocks.
- No 5G Integration: The modem is strictly 4G LTE, reflecting the technological constraints of early domestic foundry runs during its development window.
Frequently Asked Questions
What devices use the Kirin 710A?
The chip powers several budget-friendly Huawei and Honor devices released between 2020 and 2022, including the Huawei Enjoy 20e, Honor 9C, and select regional variants of entry-level tablets.
How does it compare to the original Kirin 710?
The original Kirin 710 was built on TSMC's 12nm process with a maximum CPU clock speed of 2.2 GHz. The 710A is built on SMIC's 14nm process with a reduced clock speed of 2.0 GHz, resulting in slightly lower efficiency and raw performance.
Why is this chip historically significant?
It marked the first commercial system-on-chip produced entirely within mainland China's domestic foundry ecosystem, serving as a stepping stone for local semiconductor supply chains.
Can it run modern mobile games?
It handles casual titles and esports games like Mobile Legends or PUBG on moderate settings, but struggles with graphically demanding, unoptimized open-world titles.
