If TSMC builds the fully customized Tensor G5 chip, the 2025 Pixel 10 could see another price hike،
The Google Tensor G3 chipset that powers the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could help the new Pixel phones handle some of the AI features they offer, including Magic Editor, which lets users move and resize a subject in a picture. , change the background lighting of a photo, and much more. Another new AI feature is the Audio Magic Eraser which eliminates some annoying sounds made on the audio track of a
video you have recorded.
The problem is that when it comes to raw power and energy efficiency, the
G3 tensor I can’t come close to the recently announced Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or even a three-year-old Apple A-series application processor. As noted
Wccftech earlier this month, the Geekbench battle between the A14 Bionic and the
G3 tensor saw Apple’s older SoC win both single-core (2139 vs. 1760) and multi-core (5093 vs. 4442) tests. It would seem that
Google wants Tensor chips to exude performance and efficiency, like Apple’s chips do.
First “fully customized by Google” Tensor chip expected to be 2025 G5 for Pixel 10 series
As we’ve already noted, the Tensor G4 that will be present in next year’s Pixel 9
series won’t be the first chipset customized by Google, although that was the original plan. That honor will go to the Tensor G5 which will fittingly sit inside the Pixel 10. According to tipster “X”
@OreXda, the Tensor G4 processor will be designed by Samsung or Google. The latter firm will design the GPU and the Backend.
Even though Google is involved in the design of most of the G4, there shouldn’t be much of an upgrade until the Tensor G5, which the tipster says will be designed entirely by Google. The Tensor G5 could end up being manufactured by TSMC using its 3nm process node. However, switching from Samsung Foundry to TSMC will cost Google more, which could force Google to increase the price of the Pixel 10 series or accept a lower profit margin.
On the other hand, if Samsung Foundry can show that its 3nm process node can match TSMC, especially in terms of yield, Google could continue to hand the business over to Samsung. And speaking of business, in the United States, Google has increased the price of Pixel 8 And Pixel 8 Pro of $100, so if Google feels comfortable with Samsung Foundry, perhaps the Pixel 10 series won’t require a price hike after all.
Google hopes Tensor G5 will be completely free of Samsung influence
The problem here is that it’s simply too early to know. A former Google executive said over the summer that the Tensor G4 would only be partially customized by Google, while the Tensor G5 would be designed entirely by Google and would also feature advanced packaging technology. The former Google executive also said the company isn’t sure if it’s worth creating custom chipsets for the Pixel line because the phone hasn’t been a big seller since Google launched the first Pixel models and Pixel XL in 2016. Google hopes the Tensor G5 will be completely Samsung-free, although it still plans to license Arm’s CPU cores.
Tensor chips have slowly improved since the Tensor G1, an Exynos 2100 with major changes, was used to power the Pixel 6 series. With a focus on AI, it will be interesting to see what new Google features will come to Tensor G5 and whether these features can help sell the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro to more consumers in 2025.
