Huawei will use dual processor options starting with the Mate40 at the earliest, with both MediaTek and Samsung as possible suppliers, Yicai.com cited Qualcomm as well as MediaTek insiders as saying.
Huawei's stockpile on the 5G chip Kirin 9000 can support the Mate40's higher end version, but Huawei's flagship series shipments are usually above the 10 million level, a chipmaker insider said.
Here are all the leaks about the upcoming Huawei Mate40 series
The stockpile on the Kirin high-tier series is between 8 million and 9 million, and on the standard version Huawei is likely to use processors from other companies, the person said.
Huawei began to increase the purchase of MediaTek chips in May, and even offered for $10 more for each chip, the person said.
"Three weeks ago, Huawei updated the latest flagship phone chip roadmap for Chinese customers. Many specifications at a glance is dominated by MediaTek," the insider said.
MediaTek staff said they could not disclose any details because of a "confidentiality agreement". But reports said Huawei recently ordered 120 million chips from MediaTek, and six of the mobile phones released this year have used MediaTek chips.
The main contenders for the 5G chip platform are now Huawei's Hisilicon, Qualcomm, MediaTek and South Korea's Samsung.
Although there were reports that Samsung and Huawei are exploring a deal, Samsung may soon be able to manufacture advanced chips for Huawei's 5G devices, but the process will see difficulties, Yicai.com said.
