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TSMC chip found in Huawei AI accelerator, sparking US export violation concerns
Recently, TechInsights found a TSMC-made Ascend 910B chip in a Huawei AI accelerator. The technology research firm notified TSMC of this discovery, and TSMC immediately reported it to the US Department of Commerce.
TSMC emphasized that it had halted all semiconductor shipments to Huawei after September 15, 2020. The chipmaker stated, “We maintain a robust and comprehensive export system for monitoring and ensuring compliance.”
Earlier, TheInformation revealed that the US Department of Commerce was investigating TSMC for potentially producing products for Huawei. However, TSMC stated, “We are not aware of TSMC being the subject of any investigation at this time.”
Reuters, in the meantime, reported that the timing and method by which Huawei obtained the TSMC chip remain unknown. Notably, the 910B chip found in Huawei’s AI accelerator was produced before the US sanctions.
Huawei stated, “Since the US Department of Commerce amended the Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) targeting our company in 2020, we have not produced any chips through TSMC” and added, “Huawei has never launched the 910B chip.”
Back in August 2020, the US Govt placed Huawei on a sanctions list, citing national security concerns. The ban prohibited transactions with semiconductor manufacturers, including TSMC, without a US government license.
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Samsung demonstrates the power of MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ on Galaxy
Samsung equipped the Galaxy Tab S10 series with MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor. It’s the first time the company used MediaTek SoC in its high-end products. Recently, the company posted videos comparing performance and efficiency.
The South Korean tech giant launched the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Ultra on September 27. The new tablets come with MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chip. It offers an 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU, and 14% increase in NPU performance.
Samsung has further improved the experience with Dialogue Boost. It is an AI-powered feature, which amplifies voices over unwanted noise in videos so users can immerse themselves in what they’re viewing with ultra-clear audio.
The company compared the performance of Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Tab S9 Ultra. The demonstration includes processor performance and Dialogue Boost. The videos mentioned next to the content show an official comparison.
Samsung and MediaTek’s partnership may expand further in the future. Despite the availability of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Exynos 2400, the company opted for MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ in the Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra.
There were rumors that the Galaxy S25 could use MediaTek Dimensity 9400 in some markets. However, the processor is now expected to be used in Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE, which could launch in late 2025.
Qualcomm today launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Powered by 2nd-gen Oryon CPU, Adreno GPU and upgraded NPU, the solution is set to deliver exceptional performance on Samsung’s next-gen Galaxy S flagships.
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Samsung Galaxy S25 set for major UWB upgrade with Snapdragon 8 Elite
Snapdragon 8 Elite could bring a major UWB upgrade to Samsung Galaxy S25 series. Samsung won’t need to equip its next-gen Galaxy S phones with UWB technology. Qualcomm confirmed the integration of this tech in its latest chipset.
According to AndroidAuthority, Snapdragon 8 Elite features built-in UWB. This means all Samsung Galaxy S25 series models could bring UWB support, making the vanilla variant match with its Plus and Ultra siblings.
Qualcomm integrated Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB on the FastConnect 7900 system. The system is deeply integrated into the new Snapdragon 8 Elite. It would be interesting to see if Galaxy S25 gets UWB support with Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Samsung has been bringing UWB to its high-end devices through separate chip installation. Previously released Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets supported the inclusion of ultra-wide-band technology.
This time, Qualcomm went beyond with Snapdragon 8 Elite. Integration of UWB into the board will ensure stunning performance. SamMobile assumes that Samsung could disable UWB through a software update on the S25.
Qualcomm recently launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. It is manufactured using a 3nm process node at TSMC Foundry. The company equipped 8 Elite with an in-house Oryon CPU, upgraded NPU, and Adreno GPU.
Ultra-wideband is a short-range wireless communication technology. It utilizes a wide spectrum of frequencies to enable highly accurate spatial awareness and data transmission, unlocking futuristic features like digital car keys.
Samsung could launch the Galaxy S25 series in January next year. The lineup will include three models: Standard, Plus, and Ultra. The final decision on Exynos 2500 could be taken by the end of this month, then we have a clear picture of SoC distribution.
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Specs and Features of Galaxy S25’s Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC
During the Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm officially introduced its latest mobile platform. The Snapdragon 8 Elite, which will power Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series and many other Android flagships, comes with epic specs and features.
Qualcomm equipped Snapdragon 8 Elite with advanced artificial intelligence specs and GenAI features. The company’s AI Engine leverages Qualcomm Adreno GPU, Qualcomm Oryon CPU, and Qualcomm Hexagon NPU.
With Oryon CPU debuting in Qualcomm’s mobile roadmap, the company is able to deliver unprecedented performance. This significance deserves a new, special, most premium variant of its leading 8 series—Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Qualcomm’s Oryon CPU brings an extraordinary performance boost to the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The company has masterfully engineered 2nd generation Oryon CPU to deliver power, speed, and efficiency, with key features including:
- Fastest mobile CPU in the world with 4.32 GHz peak CPU speeds.
- Experience an astounding 45% boost in CPU performance and 44% improved power efficiency.
- The mobile industry’s largest shared cache delivers insanely fast data retrieval.
- Delivers up to 27% in overall power savings, extending your gaming time by up to 2.5 hours.
Samsung is set to debut the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Galaxy S25 series. The flagships will be launched early next year. Integration of this advanced chipset with One UI will further maximize performance and efficiency.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Specs & Features | |
---|---|
Category | Details |
Artificial Intelligence | Qualcomm AI Engine
Qualcomm Sensing Hub
|
5G Modem-RF System | Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF System
Downlink: Up to 10 Gbps Uplink: Up to 3.5 Gbps 8 mmWave carriers, 2×2 MIMO
3GPP Release 17 and Release 18 support 6xCA Downlink 6-antenna support (6 Rx for 4×6 MIMO) Multimode support: 5G NR, NR-DC, EN-DC, LTE, CBRS, WCDMA, LAA, GSM/EDGE, Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) |
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & UWB | Qualcomm FastConnect 7900 Mobile Connectivity System
Integrated Bluetooth
Integrated Ultra Wideband (UWB)
|
CPU | Qualcomm Oryon CPU
|
Camera | Qualcomm Spectra ISP Highlights:
|
Audio | Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite:
|
Display | On-Device Display Support:
Maximum External Display Support:
Variable Refresh Rate support for 240 Hz to 1 Hz
|
Visual Subsystem (GPU) | Adreno GPU
|
Security | Truepic with C2PA for video and audio
IP protection for AI models |
Location | Concurrent GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC
Triple frequency GNSS (L1/L2C/L5) AI-based GNSS Location Gen 3 Sensor-Assisted Positioning 6.0 Urban pedestrian navigation with sidewalk accuracy Global freeway lane-level vehicle navigation |
Charging | Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 Technology |
Memory | Support for dual-channel LP-DDR5x memory, up to 5.3GHz
Memory Density: Up to 24 GB |
General Specifications | Full suite of Snapdragon Elite Gaming features
3nm Process Technology USB Version 3.1 Gen 2; USB Type-C Support Storage: UFS 4.0 Part Number: SM8750-AB |