Kirin 9020 Specs and Antutu 11 Score
The Kirin 9020 is Huawei’s flagship system-on-chip (SoC) announced in late 2024, powering the Mate 70 series and Mate X6 foldable. Its Antutu 11 score is approximately 1,250,000, placing it between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 8 Gen 3 in raw performance. This article details the chip’s specifications, benchmark results, and which Huawei phones use it.
Kirin 9020 Specifications Overview
The Kirin 9020 is built on a 7nm-class process (likely SMIC’s N+2), featuring an 8-core CPU in a 1+3+4 arrangement:
- Prime core: 1x Cortex-X1 at 2.53 GHz
- Performance cores: 3x Cortex-A78 at 2.14 GHz
- Efficiency cores: 4x Cortex-A55 at 1.54 GHz
The GPU is a Maleoon 920 with 4 cores, and the NPU is the Da Vinci architecture for AI tasks. The modem is integrated with a Balong 5000 baseband, supporting 5G (sub-6 GHz) but not mmWave. It also includes a new ISP for camera processing, supporting up to 200MP sensors and 4K video at 60fps.
Antutu 11 Benchmark Score
On Antutu 11, the Kirin 9020 scores around 1,250,000 points (average from multiple tests, varying by device and cooling). The breakdown is roughly:
- CPU: ~280,000
- GPU: ~450,000
- Memory: ~200,000
- UX: ~320,000
This score is about 10% higher than the Kirin 9010 (which scores ~1,100,000) and slightly below the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (~1,500,000). In real-world usage, the difference is noticeable in heavy gaming and video editing, but for everyday tasks the chip feels fluid.
Phones That Use the Kirin 9020
The Kirin 9020 is exclusive to Huawei’s high-end lineup. As of early 2025, these devices use it:
- Huawei Mate 70 (base model)
- Huawei Mate 70 Pro
- Huawei Mate 70 Pro+
- Huawei Mate 70 RS Porsche Design
- Huawei Mate X6 (foldable)
Note that the Mate 70 series also has a variant with the Kirin 9010 (the Mate 70E), so check the exact model before buying. The Mate X6 is the only foldable with the 9020 so far.
How the Kirin 9020 Compares to Previous Kirin Chips
Compared to the Kirin 9010 (used in Mate 60 series), the 9020 offers:
- ~15% higher CPU performance (due to higher clock speeds and improved cache)
- ~20% faster GPU (Maleoon 920 vs 910)
- Better power efficiency (same 7nm but refined design)
- Improved NPU for AI tasks (faster image recognition and natural language processing)
The jump is not as large as from Kirin 9000 to 9010, but it’s a solid generational improvement, especially in sustained performance.
Performance in Real-World Use
In daily use, the Kirin 9020 handles everything smoothly. Gaming performance is excellent: Genshin Impact runs at 60fps on high settings, and the device stays cool thanks to a large vapor chamber. Video editing in apps like CapCut is quick, and the NPU accelerates tasks like real-time translation and photo enhancement.
One common misconception is that the 9020 is 5G-only; it also supports 4G and older networks. Another is that it’s a downgrade because it lacks mmWave; in most regions, sub-6 GHz is sufficient, and the lack of mmWave saves battery.
Common Problems and Limitations
While the chip is capable, users have reported a few issues:
- Heat under load: Sustained gaming can cause the device to warm up, but it rarely throttles.
- No mmWave: In countries like the US where mmWave is used, 5G speeds are slower.
- Limited availability: Only in Huawei devices, which lack Google Play services (though most apps work via AppGallery or sideloading).
- Benchmark variance: Antutu scores can vary by 50,000 points depending on firmware and temperature.
How to Check Your Phone’s Antutu Score
If you want to verify the score on your own device, follow these steps:
- Download the Antutu Benchmark app from the Huawei AppGallery (or a trusted APK).
- Close all background apps and let the phone cool down.
- Run the test and wait for it to finish (about 5 minutes).
- Compare your score to the average; a difference of 5-10% is normal.
For best results, charge the phone to at least 50% and enable performance mode in settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kirin 9020 better than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?
No, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 scores higher on Antutu (around 1.5 million) and has better GPU performance. However, the Kirin 9020 is competitive in CPU tasks and often has better AI acceleration due to the dedicated NPU.
Does the Kirin 9020 support 5G?
Yes, it supports sub-6 GHz 5G, but not mmWave. This is a limitation for users in regions like the US where mmWave is common.
Can I use the Kirin 9020 in a non-Huawei phone?
No, the Kirin 9020 is only sold to Huawei for its own devices. It is not available for other manufacturers.
Why is the Kirin 9020 not as fast as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?
The 7nm process is older than TSMC’s 4nm used by Qualcomm, and the CPU cores (Cortex-X1/A78) are older designs. Huawei is constrained by US sanctions, limiting access to the latest process nodes and core licenses.
Will the Kirin 9020 receive software updates for a long time?
Huawei typically provides 4-5 years of major Android updates and security patches. The Mate 70 series should be supported until at least 2029.
Is the Antutu score accurate for real-world performance?
Antutu measures raw compute, but real-world speed depends on software optimization. The Kirin 9020’s score is a good indicator, but daily use may feel faster or slower depending on the app.
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