Huawei Technologies: China's #1 Tech Company
Huawei Technologies, founded by Ren Zhengfei in 1987, has grown from a small Shenzhen reseller into China's largest private technology company. Despite facing comprehensive US sanctions since 2019, Huawei has achieved remarkable technological self-sufficiency in chips, operating systems, and 5G infrastructure.
TL;DR
Huawei FY2024 revenue reached 862B RMB (~$119B), returning to growth after sanctions. The company shipped 60M+ smartphones with domestically produced Kirin chips. HarmonyOS has 800M+ devices. Huawei remains the world's #1 telecom equipment maker and China's #1 5G infrastructure provider.
Key Insights
Revenue Recovery
Huawei's FY2024 revenue of 862B RMB (~$119B) represents a strong recovery from the 2021 trough of 636B RMB. Consumer business (smartphones, PCs) drove the rebound, with the automotive division growing over 100% year-over-year. Net profit reached 87B RMB (~$12B).
Chip Self-Sufficiency
Despite US restrictions on advanced chip manufacturing equipment, Huawei's HiSilicon division produced the Kirin 9010 processor using SMIC's 7nm process. The Mate 60 Pro's surprise launch with a domestic 5G chip in 2023 was seen as a landmark moment in China's tech decoupling from the US.
HarmonyOS NEXT
HarmonyOS has surpassed 800M connected devices, making it China's second-largest mobile operating system. HarmonyOS NEXT (launched 2024) drops Android compatibility entirely, creating a fully independent Chinese mobile ecosystem. Over 15,000 native apps have been developed.
5G Leadership
Huawei remains the world's largest telecom equipment vendor with approximately 30% global market share. It has deployed 5G networks in over 100 countries. Despite being banned from 5G in the US, Australia, and parts of Europe, Huawei's 5G business in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America continues growing.
Automotive Push
Huawei's smart automotive solutions division, providing autonomous driving, cockpit systems, and electric drivetrains through the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), now powers AITO (with Seres) and Luxeed (with Chery). The AITO M9 SUV became China's best-selling premium EV in 2024.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Huawei | Apple | Samsung Electronics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 | 1976 | 1938 |
| HQ | Shenzhen | Cupertino | Suwon |
| FY2024 Revenue | 862B RMB ($119B) | $391B | $210B |
| Employees | ~207,000 | ~164,000 | ~270,000 |
| Smartphone Shipments | 60M+ (2024) | 232M | 226M |
| 5G Equipment Share | 30% (global #1) | 0% | 15% |
| Own OS | HarmonyOS (800M+) | iOS | Android/One UI |
| Own Chips | Kirin (HiSilicon) | A-series/M-series | Exynos (partial) |
| Cloud | Huawei Cloud (#2 China) | iCloud | N/A |
| EV Business | HIMA (AITO/Luxeed) | No | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huawei is China's largest private technology company, founded in 1987 by Ren Zhengfei. It operates in telecom equipment (5G, optical networks), consumer electronics (smartphones, PCs, wearables), enterprise technology (cloud, AI), and smart automotive solutions. The company is privately held with employee ownership.
Huawei adapted through: building domestic chip supply (HiSilicon Kirin via SMIC), developing its own operating system (HarmonyOS), pivoting to enterprise/cloud/AI services, expanding into automotive technology, and deepening its presence in markets outside Western sanctions. Revenue dipped but has recovered to pre-sanctions levels.
Huawei remains effectively banned from 5G networks in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and faces restrictions in several European countries. However, it continues to win 5G contracts across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, maintaining its position as the world's #1 telecom equipment vendor.
HarmonyOS NEXT is the latest version of Huawei's operating system that completely removes Android compatibility. It runs only native HarmonyOS applications, creating China's first fully independent mobile software ecosystem. Over 15,000 native apps are available and 800M+ devices run HarmonyOS.
Huawei's HiSilicon subsidiary designs its Kirin processors. Since 2019 US sanctions restricted access to TSMC and Samsung foundries, Kirin chips are manufactured by China's SMIC using 7nm process technology. While behind the cutting-edge 3nm of TSMC, this represents a significant achievement in domestic semiconductor capability.