Huawei has officially entered the desktop computer market with the Qinyun HM650 and HM650g systems, devices that the company describes as built entirely from components manufactured in China. The new machines utilize the Kirin X90 system-on-chip and run Huawei’s proprietary HarmonyOS Enterprise Edition, signaling a significant move toward reducing reliance on Western technology in the domestic market.
According to reports from the Southern China Morning Post, the Qinyun series represents Huawei’s first attempt to offer a complete desktop experience using its own hardware and software architecture. The company asserts that every major component, including the processor, memory, storage, power supply, and wireless connectivity modules, is produced within China. This claim carries weight given the ongoing semiconductor restrictions imposed on Chinese technology firms by the United States and its allies.
Kirin X90 Processor Specifications
At the core of the Qinyun HM650 series is the Kirin X90 system-on-chip, a processor that originally debuted in Huawei’s consumer devices in 2025. The chip features 10 Huawei-designed Armv8-based Taishan CPU cores arranged in a 4+4+2 configuration. All cores support simultaneous multithreading, allowing the processor to handle up to 20 threads concurrently. This architecture is designed to balance performance and efficiency for desktop workloads.
The processor also integrates Huawei’s Maleoon graphics processing unit, which is based on Arm Mali technology, and a dedicated neural processing unit intended to accelerate artificial intelligence tasks. While Huawei has not officially disclosed the manufacturing process for the Kirin X90, analysis by TechInsights confirms that the chip is fabricated by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) using its 7nm-class N+2 process technology. This process node trails the most advanced nodes available from competitors like TSMC and Samsung, but it demonstrates Huawei’s ability to produce PC-class silicon using domestic fabrication capabilities.
The desktop systems are equipped with 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, likely produced by China’s CXMT, and offer storage options of either 256GB or 512GB, potentially using flash memory from YMTC. These specifications target general office and enterprise environments rather than high-performance gaming or heavy creative workstations.
HarmonyOS Enterprise Edition and Compatibility
Software support for the new hardware comes in the form of HarmonyOS Enterprise Edition. Unlike earlier versions of the operating system that relied on Linux components, this edition utilizes Huawei’s own kernel and software architecture. This shift gives Huawei greater control over security updates and system integration, reducing dependence on foreign operating system providers like Microsoft.
The move to a homegrown operating system addresses national security concerns for government and state-owned enterprises that seek to avoid foreign software vulnerabilities. However, the transition presents challenges for broader adoption. The HarmonyOS Enterprise Edition may lack compatibility with existing Windows applications, which remain the standard in many multinational corporations and enterprise environments. This limitation could restrict the initial market for the Qinyun series to organizations specifically targeting domestic software ecosystems.
Despite Huawei’s claims of an entirely domestic supply chain, the reality of semiconductor manufacturing involves complex global interdependencies. While the final assembly and component fabrication occur in China, the production process relies on manufacturing equipment from the Netherlands, the United States, and Japan. Additionally, the design of the chips depends on electronic design automation software primarily developed in the U.S., and certain materials originate from Japan. Intellectual property rights related to the underlying Arm architecture also remain tied to UK-based holdings.
The launch of the Qinyun HM650 series highlights Huawei’s strategy to build a self-sufficient technology stack within China. As Western export controls continue to tighten, domestic firms are accelerating efforts to develop alternative hardware and software solutions. The success of these systems will depend on whether enterprises are willing to adopt a new operating environment and whether Huawei can continue to improve its chip manufacturing yields over time.
Source: Tom’s Hardware
