Details are revealed in Google’s roadmap for Tensor G4 SoCs the next flagships of the Pixel 9 series, between collaborations with Samsung and independent development.
When we think of Google, most of us imagine the famous search engine. But the company, which has always been a technological leader, is also trying to establish itself in the market for customized mobile phone chips. With the introduction of the Tensor G1, integrated into the Pixel 6, Google has opened a new page in its innovation history.
This first attempt, while promising, was not entirely independent. The company enlisted the help of Samsung’s LSI division and borrowed one of their reference designs. However, with Tensor G2, Google has increased the level of personalization and placed an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) performance.
While rumors have been circulating about a fully custom chip for the Pixel 9 in 2024, recent revelations suggest those plans will be pushed back by a year. A leak has provided interesting details about the future Tensor G4 and Google’s bespoke chip approach.
The ambitious chip project “Redondo” for the Pixel 9 series, which is based on TSMC’s advanced 3nm technology, has encountered obstacles. Despite the delays, Google doesn’t seem to want to put the project on hold entirely. “Redondo” will serve as a test model for the future Pixel 10 (Pixel X) SoC in 2025, testing many of the key elements of the upcoming chip “Laguna Beach”currently in development under the codename “Space”.
Despite the challenges, Google’s long-term goal remains clear: to launch its custom Tensor chip with the Pixel 10 series in 2025. But that raises a crucial question: Which chip will power the Pixel 9? It seems that Google has decided to maintain its partnership with Samsung for another year and has opted for a more advanced version of the Tensor G3.
Reliable sources like Android Authority have revealed that Tensor G4 is known internally as “Zuma Pro”while the upcoming Tensor G3 for the Pixel 8 is simply named “Zuma”. This nomenclature suggests a direct evolution of Tensor G4 from G3, with likely performance improvements.
However, the Tensor G3 promises to provide a breath of fresh air. The chip is expected to have 9 CPU cores in a 4+4+1 arrangement and integrate advanced technologies and a potentially improved TPU with frequencies of up to 1.1 GHz.
And as a backstory, the Tensor G2 is known internally as “Whitechapel Pro”the Tensor G1 was named “Whitechapel”with the focus being on efficiency improvements rather than significant performance increases.
Looking ahead, many details remain obscure. However, if Google were to match or even exceed the performance of Apple’s A-series chips, we could see a revolution in the smartphone market and the Pixel series would become a true giant among Android devices.
