Huawei 896-Line LiDAR Breaks Records | Generated by AI
Huawei’s 896 线 refers to Huawei’s latest mass-produced LiDAR (激光雷达, often called “radar” in this context for autonomous driving), which has 896 lines (or channels). In LiDAR terminology, “lines” (线) means the number of laser beams/channels emitted vertically (vertical resolution). Higher line count = denser point cloud data, more detailed 3D mapping of the environment, better detection of small/distant/low-reflectivity objects.
Huawei announced this 896-line dual-optical-path (双光路) image-grade LiDAR on March 4, 2026 (today’s date), claiming it’s the world’s highest line count for mass-produced automotive LiDAR. It uses a “one-body dual-focus” architecture (一体双焦): one path for wide-angle near-field coverage, another for long-focus far-field detail, creating an “image-like” high-definition perception (from “point cloud” to near “imaging” level). Key claims include:
- 120 meters detection of 14 cm small/low obstacles (e.g., fallen tire, brick, small carton).
- Up to 77–190% improvement in distance for low-reflectivity/odd-shaped objects vs. 192-line LiDAR.
- 55 meters clear dynamic details (e.g., dog wagging tail).
- First deployed on models like AITO M9 (问界M9) and Maextro/Zunjie S800 (尊界S800), with more Huawei ecosystem (“华系”) vehicles to follow.
Hesai’s 500 线 — Hesai (禾赛) doesn’t have a widely publicized mass-produced 500-line product as a flagship spec. Hesai’s recent high-end products include:
- ATX series (up to 256 lines in refreshed versions, focused on compact long-range for L2+/ADAS).
- Higher-end like ETX (true 800 lines announced in 2025, with 400m range at 10% reflectivity, aimed at L3/L4).
There are mentions of ~500-line radars in the industry (including some Huawei earlier filings around 500 lines), but Hesai’s main push is toward 256–800 lines depending on model. No direct “Hesai 500线” as a headline product stands out in recent data.
Is Huawei’s 896-line better than Hesai’s “500-line”?
Yes, on paper and in announced specs, Huawei’s 896-line is superior in raw line count/resolution/density:
- Much higher vertical resolution → denser points → clearer small/far/low objects.
- Huawei claims 4x resolution vs. previous 192-line, with real-world tests showing major gains in critical scenarios (high-speed small obstacles, night/rain/fog robustness).
- It’s positioned as a generational leap to “image-grade” perception.
However, LiDAR performance isn’t only about line count. Other factors matter:
- Angular resolution (horizontal/vertical).
- Range (Hesai’s ETX hits 400m).
- Power consumption, size, cost, reliability (e.g., Hesai emphasizes self-developed chips and “photon isolation” for zero false positives).
- Real-world fusion with other sensors (cameras, mmWave radar) in the full ADAS stack.
Huawei’s 896-line currently holds the mass-production record for line count (as of March 2026 announcements), making it “better” in high-density close-to-mid-range detail perception crucial for avoiding small road hazards. Hesai remains strong in ultra-long-range or cost-effective segments.
In short: Huawei’s 896线 is currently the higher-spec leader in line density for production vehicles, especially for ultra-precise small-object detection at highway speeds.