Samsung to make second-gen Google Tensor chip
Last year, we saw Google unveil its first mobile chipset in the form of the Tensor SoC powering its current Pixel 6 lineup. While the first-gen Tensor chipset wasn't as powerful as the Snapdragon 888 or the Apple A15, it had significant advantages in terms of GPU performance, machine learning, and AI capabilities. Now, Google is set to bring the next-gen Tensor chipset with its Pixel 7 series later this year, and the latest rumor offers some insight into the upcoming chip. See details below.
Samsung may have started production of Google Tensor 2 SoC
According to a recent report by Korea's DDaily, Google has retained Samsung to develop its next-gen Tensor chipset, possibly the Tensor 2 SoC, ahead of the release of the Pixel 7 series later this year.
It has also been revealed that Samsung is using 4nm architecture to develop the Tensor 2 SoC. To recall, the first-gen Tensor chipset was also manufactured by Samsung using 5nm architecture.
This means that the Tensor 2 chipset is expected to be more (power-efficient) than its predecessor. However, the report notes that despite the upgraded manufacturing architecture, Tensor 2 is expected to offer similar or slightly better CPU and GPU performance than the first-gen Tensor SoCs. This could help Google keep the price of its Pixel 7 devices similar to the price of the Pixel 6 model.
Other details (regarding Google's upcoming chipset) are still unknown. However, we can expect to tag along with some AI improvements.
Meanwhile, the Pixel 7 series, which Google teased during its I/O 2022 event last month, is expected to come with a slightly tweaked design and upgraded camera but the same display as the Pixel 6 series. Although the tech giant has not revealed the exact launch date, it is expected to arrive sometime in October alongside the Pixel Watch. We expect more information about the Pixel 7 series or the Google Tensor 2 chipset in the coming days. So, stay tuned for further updates.