Kirin 970 Phone

In 2026, the Kirin 970, Huawei's 2017 flagship AI processor, has transitioned from a high-end daily driver to a specialized legacy component with a strong presence in the secondary and utility markets.

Product & Performance Status (2026)

The Kirin 970 is widely recognized as a pioneer, being the first mobile SoC to feature a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) Tecnologia.

• Benchmarks: It currently scores approximately 220,000 on AnTuTu v8, placing it below modern budget chips like the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (~310,000) Alibaba.
• Use Cases: While it struggles with modern flagship software, it remains highly relevant for offline-first productivity, media hubs (dedicated e-readers/streaming), and casual gaming AlibabaYugatech.
• Thermal Efficiency: Its mature thermal management keeps sustained load temperatures under 42°C, ensuring stable performance for media consumption Tecnologia.

Market Trends & Insights

• Resale Value: Used Kirin 970 devices (e.g., Honor Note 10, Huawei Mate 10 Pro) are popular in the $65–$110 USD price bracket Tecnologia. Buyers prioritize the premium hardware quality (e.g., AMOLED displays) over software longevity.
• Ecosystem Persistence: In regions with GMS restrictions, the chip remains viable due to the maturity of Huawei’s EMUI/AppGallery ecosystem Alibaba.
• Historical Significance: Its NPU legacy paved the way for the current AI chip race, shifting the industry toward specialized hardware for machine learning Tecnologia.

Sourcing Landscape

The B2B market for Kirin 970 devices is primarily dominated by refurbished and used phone wholesalers .

• Availability: Direct new stock is rare, but bulk supplies of used Huawei P20 Pro and Mate 10 series are available through major Chinese electronics trading hubs in Shenzhen and Guangzhou AlibabaAlibaba.
• Supplier Capability: Most wholesalers provide 100% quality control and multi-grade used phone categories to match different budget requirements Alibaba.

The shopping data collected for similar legacy and entry-level devices is available in the attached deliverable.