Recently, while talking with test managers from several IC design companies, everyone mentioned the same pain point: lead times for imported test equipment have been extended again. On top of that, after-sales response and technical support have become unreliable. Behind this lies global supply chain volatility, forcing us to revisit an old question: on the global, high-precision stage of semiconductors, are domestic Chinese IC test equipment truly ready?
To answer this, we cannot simply say “yes” or “no”. Instead, we must set aside emotional filters around “domestic substitution” and objectively analyze the current situation from three perspectives: technology, market, and application.
Current Status 1: Breakthroughs in Niche Segments, Catch‑up on Major Fronts
Admittedly, domestic test equipment has made remarkable progress in recent years, especially in several targeted fields.
In analog and mixed-signal testing, low-to-mid range digital testing, and power semiconductor testing, domestic equipment has established a solid foothold. Some models from leading Chinese manufacturers now compete with international brands in test accuracy, stability, and cost-effectiveness. For testing a wide range of consumer and industrial control IC, domestic equipment has become a practical and reliable choice. Like commando teams, they have broken through in specific battlefields.
However, in deep-water areas such as high-end digital testing (SoC testing) and ultra-high-speed RF testing, the landscape is different. These remain the absolute domain of overseas giants such as Teradyne and Advantest. Gaps mainly appear in hard metrics: channel count, maximum data rate, timing precision, and the extensive test pattern libraries and algorithms built over decades. This is not just a hardware issue — it is a system engineering problem that requires massive amounts of real IC test data to refine.
Current Status 2: Ecological Barriers Higher Than Technology Itself
Test equipment is never an isolated machine. Behind it lies a complex ecosystem: precision consumables such as test sockets and probe cards, interfaces with various EDA tools, and mature test solutions for thousands of IC models. Imported equipment has built a closed-loop “equipment‑solution‑service” ecosystem over decades.
Domestic equipment is still mostly focused on “equipment replacement”, while “ecosystem replacement” remains a long road ahead. Many Fabless companies hesitate not because they doubt the hardware itself, but because they worry: “If I use your equipment, will my test programs port smoothly? Will future upgrades be compatible? For complex failures, can I get top-tier engineering support?” These questions test comprehensive service capabilities, which require time and massive real-world cases to build.
Outlook: Substitution Is a Path, Integration and Innovation Are the Future
Therefore, when talking about “substitution”, we should adopt a more positive perspective: complementarity and coexistence.
A visible trend is that domestic equipment is using a “countryside surrounds cities” strategy, accumulating capital and experience in mature processes and the broad mid-range market. Meanwhile, in emerging sectors such as third-generation semiconductors and IClet testing, domestic and international players start at nearly the same level, providing a rare window for domestic equipment to overtake through new tracks.
For IC companies, the most rational strategy may be “divide and conquer”: for mature product lines and cost-sensitive projects, boldly adopt validated domestic equipment to improve supply chain security and reduce costs; for cutting-edge, complex design verification and high-end mass production, continue relying on imported equipment to ensure zero risk. This mixed-layout pattern will likely continue for a long time.
Domestic substitution is by no means a one-time “swap” — it is a long-term process of iteration through application and growth through trust. It requires equipment vendors to tackle core technologies and openly build ecosystems, while IC companies provide more trial opportunities and confidence. It is a journey of mutual progress.
From your perspective: When selecting test equipment, what would be your top motivation to try domestic solutions? Urgent supply chain security, clear cost advantages, or rapid response to specific emerging test needs? Or what do you see as the biggest concern right now? Share your frontline observations and thoughts in the comments. Your real voice is the most important reference for the industry’s progress.
